The O-town Scene

Local Eats Public displays of affection the Public Restaurant and Lounge is a Delaware County hot spot Contributed photo The Public Restaurant and Lounge is a comfortable meeting place, where you might run into a musician, an actor, a radio host, the local VDF chief or some school teachers chatting over a glass of wine. Founded as a cocktail lounge by architect Andrew Williams, the Public Lounge has expanded since 2007 into the Public Restaurant and Lounge. Over the past three years, it has become a popular spot in the historic hamlet of Roxbury. Owners and partners, Jill Healy and Trish Adams, have a mission to bring fresh, ethnically inspired cuisine to a clientele that varies from full-time residents and second homeowners, to downstate and interna- tional visitors staying at The Roxbury, a boutique motel, next door. Second homeowners once themselves, Healy and Adams made Rox- bury their full-time home several years ago, leaving behind hectic urban careers. When they tackled the Catskills food scene, they knew the Roxbury’s cosmopolitan visitors would expect a diverse and sophisticat- ed cuisine – the surprise was that their local friends were just as thrilled to see the Public’s menu grow into more eclectic offerings. For Healy, food has always been an avocation. With the help of an es- sential Main Street revitalization grant, Public was able to build a full commercial kitchen. Whether it’s a coconut milk Thai soup with fresh galangal root, kaffir lime leaves and birds-eye chilies (all imported from Thailand) or a fresh baby arugula salad with Loire Valley goat cheese and Asian pear, the menu is always a creative work-in-progress, especially on weekends. But some standards are always on hand: fresh salmon, tuna and tilapia, continued on page 11 10 O-Town Scene Jan. 20, 2011

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