Move over avocado, there are new toasts in town

Everyone knows avocado toast is a biggie for brunch or lunch. But what about marinated and roasted mushrooms (oyster, shitake, cremini) with truffle butter and radicchio on a slice of Balthazar bread lightly lathered with extra virgin olive oil and whipped mascarpone? Or roasted squash puree, fried basil leaves, burrata and sunflower seeds?

Suddenly, there are more toasts at more Lower Hudson Valley eateries than ever, with artisan combinations featuring everything from Bulgarian feta to figs to spicy tuna tartare. Perched perfectly atop golden, just-right toasted bread (and usually also available gluten-free), these simple pleasures usually come with heft, meaning you may need to move beyond your hands to a knife and fork.

Why the sudden draw? Michael Boulos, owner of The Raconteur Bar & Kitchen in Pleasantville, believes the reason they've grown in popularity is because of their accessibility. "It's something simple and easy to understand," he said. "Plus, they're generally low-cost and not a huge portion."

Gretchen Menzies, owner of The Katonah Reading Room in Katonah, agrees, crediting their popularity to the fact that they're not as filling as sandwiches. "They're always interesting and something you don't see everywhere," she said. "They're also easy to eat, and make sense at all hours. I want them for breakfast AND lunch."

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So, where can you find these creative items with their fusion of flavors? A sampling follows.

Rockland

Art Cafe of Nyack, Nyack

There's toast and then there's toastini, which this Mediterranean coffeeshop boasts eight of. Served sandwich style or open-faced (just ask!), you can get them in eight different cheese combinations including brie (with cream cheese, roma tomato and onion), goat (with onions and sundried tomato dressing), gruyere (french gruyere, fresh mozzarella, mushroom and red onion), three cheese (goat, mozzarella, muenster and roma tomato) and mozzarella (with roma tomato and pesto). There's also a Bulgarian toastini with Bulgarian feta, Israeli pickle, onion and roma tomato in addition to hummus (with olive tapenade) and pesto (with goat cheese, pesto and organic hard boiled egg).

Avocado toast is also an option, dressed with olive tapenade, an over easy egg, and Bulgarian feta that's topped with a seed and nut mix. You can sub vegan feta/tofu scramble to be made vegan and/or with gluten-free toast. 65 S. Broadway, 845-353-4230, artcafenyack.com

Cafe Diem, Pearl River

Fresh salmon and a poached egg comprise the Salmon Benedict here, with more toasts to come. Yes, there's avocado (and yes, it's still a fan fave complete with a poached egg, sea salt, olive oil and chili flakes), but diners can also expect smoked salmon with capers and red onion; whipped goat cheese topped with strawberries, fresh herbs and extra virgin olive oil; and heirloom tomato bruschetta with garlic confit and balsamic glaze. Also in the works: burrata toast and peanut butter with a host of toppings. 40 S. Main St., 845-795-8100, cafediempr.com

Peach Pit Bowl Shop & Kitchen, New City

The world is your oyster at this healthy eatery where, along with avocado toast (on low carb or gluten-free bread), you'll find a host of "Not So Regular Toasts" including banana, peanut butter and a drizzle of honey; strawberry, almond butter and honey; strawberry, banana, and Nutella; and the same combo with a drizzle of vegan cookie butter. In addition, there's "The Boca Toast," (cream cheese, smoked salmon, sliced avocado, pickled onions, everything seasoning and lemon olive oil), "Apollo Toast," (house made avocado mash, feta cheese, olive tapenade, cherry tomato, pickled onions and lemon olive oil) and "Power Toast," (house made avocado mash, crumbled applewood, smoked bacon and fried or hard boiled egg). 62 N. Main St., 845-708-5312, peachpitbowlshopkitchen.com

Scott & Joe, Nyack

The "House Favorite" is just that — a local fave. Topped with prosciutto butter, prosciutto di parma, burrata, basil, extra virgin olive oil, and aged balsamic, it's served opened face on artisanal toast. Come summer co-owner Scott Young likes to add thinly sliced cantaloupe. There's always one toast at this cheese shop, with its bistro menu and ambiance. But if you're lucky, Young may feature another (he did a squash one this past fall). 4 S. Broadway, 845-535-3736, scottandjoe.co

The Village Blend, Sloatsburg

There's nothing better than a hot mug of fresh brewed coffee and a simple toast to start your day. At this cozy coffeeshop you get both. Toasts, which are available in whole wheat, sourdough or gluten-free, can be topped with butter, jam, peanut butter, cinnamon sugar, Nutella or almond butter. 86 Orange Turnpike, 845-712-5585, thevillageblend.net

Westchester

Katonah Reading Room, Katonah

Toast is king at this coffeeshop/bookstore/gift shop with six versions usually available including the queen bee herself: Avocado, which is mashed with olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt and a scrambled egg on top. More out-of-the-box combinations include "The Granny Toast," with peanut butter, Granny Smith apple, housemade granola, and honey drizzle; the "Cram Bam Thank You Ma'am," with ricotta cheese, house made cranberry jam, honey, prosciutto and a sprinkle of salt; "Dilly" with creamy dill hummus, topped with lemon dill cucumber salad, red onion and crispy chickpeas; "Fig-et About It" with ricotta, fig jam, Mike’s hot honey, pistachios, fresh figs, and salt; "Honey, Please" with warmed brie, sautéed apples, pecans, and rosemary infused honey drizzle; "Garden Party" featuring roasted red pepper hummus, lemony cucumber and carrot ribbons, feta, pickled onion, and cracked pepper; and "Sass-Squash" with roasted squash puree, fried basil leaves, burrata and sunflower seeds.

Come summer, they also do seasonal versions including a tomato toast and a blueberry toast, the latter of which this food reporter is addicted to.

Menzies said her goal from Day One was to create a top toast afficionado spot. "We always had an avocado toast and often one or two other types in the beginning," she said. "Now toasts make up about half of our menu." The three "regulars" are the avocado, the avocado with scrambled eggs and the "Granny," with three specialty toasts rotated weekly. All are served on either gluten-free bread or Wave Hill grilled country bread and are made to order. 19 Edgemont Road, 914-334-8019, katonahreadingroom.com

Nella's Nutri-Bar, Croton-on-Hudson

Expect lots of good-for-you choices at this fast, casual eatery where the motto is ""Live a fruitful life." Sure you can get an acai bowl and swing on the eatery's four swings that grace a table towards the front (perfect for the Insta!), but why not go for something more toasty? The eatery, which Nelli Servedio opened in Feb. 2020, has been under new ownership since Jan. 2021, with Owner Kristi Godek's mantra: "Just a girl who decided to go for it." The California-esque spot with its breezy, neighborly vibe and down-to-earth ambiance, has six toasts: The Barese (with avocado, arugula and balsamic vinaigrette); the Vegan Caprese (with avocado, tomato, basil, salt and pepper); the Nutella (with Nutella, strawberries and powdered sugar); Hummus (with hummus, cucumbers and everything bagel seasoning); Peanut Butter (with peanut butter, banana slices, chocolate chips and a drizzle of honey); and Sprouts (with hummus, avocado, alfalfa sprouts and everything bagel seasoning). 2 Maple St., 914-259-2296, nellasnutribar.com

The Granola Bar, Rye

The Granola Bar may have gotten a facelift and a rebrand last March with new décor, evening hours, a full bar, and a nighttime menu featuring shareable plates. But its avocado toast, which put it on the map originally (along with its granola), still reigns supreme. You can get it "classic" on Tuscan bread, with feta and crushed red pepper, or with apple, goat cheese and honey. It's also available with a soft or hard boiled egg or with tuna tartar. Other toasts include "Spicy Tuna Tartar & Everything Bagel," (avocado, tuna, chili cream cheese on an everything bagel); "Truffle Honey Ricotta Toast" (whipped ricotta and truffle honey on toasted sourdough); and Mushroom (whipped ricotta, roasted mushrooms and chimichurri). With each you can add additional veggies or protein such as bacon, egg, chicken and pickled onions. Bread choices include gluten-free, multigrain, sourdough or Tuscan. 96 Purchase St., 914-709-4229, thegranolabar.com

The Raconteur Bar & Kitchen, Pleasantville

Burrata bruschetta with pistachio pesto and arugula ranks high on the menu here. So, too, does the newly created mushroom, which is topped with a balsamic reduction and fresh micro herbs. Boulos said he started playing with different toasts for a brunch menu, but when brunch didn't take off, he had to do something else with the bread he had from Balthazar. "The toasts were the perfect way for our little one-person kitchen to utilize the great ingredients we already had in new and interesting ways," he said. "I also love introducing new flavors that are simple, but maybe different than what most people are used to."

Case in point: The labne yogurt spread with truffle honey, za'taar, bee pollen and cilantro, which is something he'd never tried before, but ended up loving (as do many of his customers). Other toast options include pimiento cheese (sharp cheddar spread, hot pepper jelly); country toast (paté de campagne, fig and onion marmalade, fleur de sel, chive); and the aforementioned burrata and truffled labne. He also offers bread and butter with blueberry butter and rosemary salt. 10 Marble Ave., 914-769-4040, theraconteurbar.com

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Who serves avocado, other artisan toasts in Westchester, Rockland NY