Valley Table - Summer 2023
Valley Table - Summer 2023
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How Junior's Became the Most Famous Name in Cheesecake
That spontaneous spirit and nimbleness have served Junior’s well since its inception in 1950. From a single restaurant, now its flagship, in Brooklyn, New York, founded by Rosen’s grandfather Harry, the company has grown into four separate businesses under the Junior’s umbrella: five restaurants and outposts, mail order, wholesale, and a fledgling licensing operation with ready to eat food and Junior’s merchandise.
When Rosen joined Junior’s in 1993, he wanted to continue to invigorate the fami
When Rosen joined Junior’s in 1993, he wanted to continue to invigorate the fami
Ten Homakase Does At-Home Sushi Experiences in Westchester
Take your date night or dinner party to the next level with an at-home, expandable nigiri dinner crafted by an expert sushi chef.
Growing up in a Ukrainian immigrant family with its own food traditions, Max Weiss wanted to understand those of other cultures. That’s why he was intrigued by restaurants, where he could explore entire cultures within four walls.
Weiss was particularly enchanted by sushi counters and the omakase experience. A failed attempt through his sushi-chef network to find on
Growing up in a Ukrainian immigrant family with its own food traditions, Max Weiss wanted to understand those of other cultures. That’s why he was intrigued by restaurants, where he could explore entire cultures within four walls.
Weiss was particularly enchanted by sushi counters and the omakase experience. A failed attempt through his sushi-chef network to find on
10 Exquisite Elderflower Cocktails to Enjoy Now
When elderflower liqueur burst onto the bar scene in 2007, courtesy of St-Germain (pronounced Sahn-jer-MAHN), this new kind of liqueur with a delicate floral and fruity flavor quickly gained a following. Originally featured in light spring and summer drinks, mixologists and drinkers alike have since discovered the botanical goes well with a variety of liquors and spirits and herbs and spices. This versatility has earned elderflower liqueur a permanent berth on cocktail menus year-round. Here are
Alan Rosen on Junior's Cheesecake & Life in Westchester
Purchase’s Alan Rosen, the man behind the treasured Junior’s cheesecake empire, dishes on loving the restaurant business.
Alan Rosen opens the door with a warm smile and ushers a visitor into his white center-hall Colonial, set in a leafy Purchase cul-de-sac. Before settling into his spacious office to chat, he offers the visitor a bottle of water and a glass, pointing out the tempting cheese platter he had assembled.
Clearly for Rosen — who runs Junior’s, the iconic cheesecake-and-restaurant
Alan Rosen opens the door with a warm smile and ushers a visitor into his white center-hall Colonial, set in a leafy Purchase cul-de-sac. Before settling into his spacious office to chat, he offers the visitor a bottle of water and a glass, pointing out the tempting cheese platter he had assembled.
Clearly for Rosen — who runs Junior’s, the iconic cheesecake-and-restaurant
Cheese Shops We Love: Cold Spring Cheese Shop
“It's not just so much {that} I love cheese,” says Timothy Haskell, explaining why he decided to open Cold Spring Cheese Shop. “I just love the culture of cheese shops, specifically all the things that are interspersed, gourmet things and things that go with cheese, fun charcuterie platters, the meats, jams, honeys. It usually has the best chips, crackers, and all of those.” An immersive and traditional theater director and events producer who created haunted houses and was one of the founding p
How a Wisconsin Couple is Making Cheese to Save the Yak
Nicole Porter wants to help save the yak. And she’s come up with an inventive if unorthodox plan to do so: by making yak’s milk cheese. “Yak cheese saves the yak because every piece of cheese makes it possible for farmers to have a reason to breed yaks,” says Porter, co-owner of Prairie Sky in Rolling Hills, Wisconsin. She and her husband, Dan Salvato, import and sell Tibetan-made yak cheese and hope to breed a large enough pure heritage herd at their ranch to have local dairies produce a domest
Don Lewis Is Reviving the Grain Economy in New York's Hudson Valley
Only a third of factory farms have permits to discharge waste into water, soil, and air. A new legal effort from environmental groups seeks enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
Westchester Local Food Project Supports Community and Sustainability
Digging the garden at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon. Courtesy of D.I.G Farm.
The Westchester Local Food Project builds community and a healthy, sustainable, local food system one veggie garden at a time.
“One of the things I realized is that a lot of people are very disconnected from their food and where it comes from,” says Allison Turcan, explaining why she formed the Westchester Local Food Project (WLFP) this past spring.
Turcan aims to change that. The founder of nonprofit D.I
The Westchester Local Food Project builds community and a healthy, sustainable, local food system one veggie garden at a time.
“One of the things I realized is that a lot of people are very disconnected from their food and where it comes from,” says Allison Turcan, explaining why she formed the Westchester Local Food Project (WLFP) this past spring.
Turcan aims to change that. The founder of nonprofit D.I
Developing an equitable farm system in the Hudson Valley
The Chester Agricultural Center, a 270-acre sustainable farming operation in Orange County, is planting the seeds for an equitable and inclusive food system in the region by providing affordable land access and infrastructure to BIPOC, LGBTQ and beginner farmers. Four of the CAC’s seven-member farms are owned by BIPOC, LGBTQ and/or Latinx women.
“The Chester Ag Center has been huge for us in starting our farm,” said Jane Hayes-Hodge, an owner of Rise & Root Farm, which has been part of the Ches
“The Chester Ag Center has been huge for us in starting our farm,” said Jane Hayes-Hodge, an owner of Rise & Root Farm, which has been part of the Ches
Dirty Dog Farm forges a new path in cattle farming
GERMANTOWN — “We’re partners (with the land),” said Jesse Warner, explaining the philosophy behind Dirty Dog Farm, the cattle farm he runs with Josh Schwab in this Columbia County town. “I’m using the animals to help me adapt to the land to what I need it to be profitable, to be nutritious for the animals and for us.”
Walking the peaceful, abundantly grassy pastures on a brilliantly sunny June day, the men, in their early 30s, are more than happy to expound on how their modern approach — which
Walking the peaceful, abundantly grassy pastures on a brilliantly sunny June day, the men, in their early 30s, are more than happy to expound on how their modern approach — which
Five Upstate New York Restaurants Worth the Trip —
Food and art coalesce at this one-of-a-kind former diner in Hudson, open since 2015. The space, filled with art, light, color, and music, exudes playfulness, as does the vibrant food with Latin American and South Asian origins. Chef-owner Carla Kaya Perez-Gallardo describes the menu and the hospitality at Lil’ Deb’s Oasis as “tropical comfort food.”
The art influence here comes directly from Perez-Gallardo, a three-time James Beard Award nominee, who arrived at cooking by way of making art. Her
The art influence here comes directly from Perez-Gallardo, a three-time James Beard Award nominee, who arrived at cooking by way of making art. Her
How Investment and Starting Capital Influence Women-Owned Spirits Brands
“We started to look for money,” says Mhairi Voelsgen, recalling her initial attempt to raise capital for a whiskey distillery a decade ago. But when she was told during a pitch session that no one was going to give $3 million to a woman, she knew she would not be able to fund her dream.
The experience was disheartening, says Voelsgen, now founder and CEO of organic botanical distillery BroVo Spirits. A veteran marketing strategist descended from a long line of strong women, Voelsgen says they w
The experience was disheartening, says Voelsgen, now founder and CEO of organic botanical distillery BroVo Spirits. A veteran marketing strategist descended from a long line of strong women, Voelsgen says they w
Get Your Gouda and Gruyere at Westchester's Top Cheese Shops
Calling all cheese lovers! Whether you’re celebrating National Cheese Day or putting together the perfect cheeseboard, here’s where to shop.
By Liz Susman Karp, with additional reporting by Lindsey Smith
Enhancing the area’s dining scene are a number of specialty shops that offer a wide variety of cheeses from all over, along with knowledgeable service and a passion for the product.
Each store has its own personality and philosophy, but all are distinguished by a personal touch, with cheesemo
By Liz Susman Karp, with additional reporting by Lindsey Smith
Enhancing the area’s dining scene are a number of specialty shops that offer a wide variety of cheeses from all over, along with knowledgeable service and a passion for the product.
Each store has its own personality and philosophy, but all are distinguished by a personal touch, with cheesemo
How the Sisters of Our Lady of Angels Are Making Cheese
“We knew nothing about making cheese, absolutely nothing,” chuckles Sr Barbara of Our Lady of Angels Monastery, (OLA) reflecting on the order’s decision to produce the two-pound, red wax-covered wheels of Gouda cheese it has been hand-crafting since 1990. “We were a little naive, we thought we just get some milk, you follow the recipe, and make some cheese. But there's a long learning curve.” The Sisters’ efforts have proved successful. Their pale yellow, semi-firm Gouda is sweet, mild, and crea
Westchester Women Making Waves Supports Local Businesswomen
Otherwise known as WWMW, the collective hopes to act as a resource and support for female business owners in Westchester.
There’s a new networking game in town — and this one is exclusively for women. Westchester Women Making Waves (WWMW), a networking group for female entrepreneurs, business owners, founders, philanthropists, and investors throughout the county, is the creation of LMNOP Bakery owner/founder Anne Mayhew and culinary blogger Jenny Indig, who writes the Bedford Balabusta blog.
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There’s a new networking game in town — and this one is exclusively for women. Westchester Women Making Waves (WWMW), a networking group for female entrepreneurs, business owners, founders, philanthropists, and investors throughout the county, is the creation of LMNOP Bakery owner/founder Anne Mayhew and culinary blogger Jenny Indig, who writes the Bedford Balabusta blog.
“
Farmers Trial Climate-Friendly Chickpeas in Upstate New York
Only a third of factory farms have permits to discharge waste into water, soil, and air. A new legal effort from environmental groups seeks enforcement of the Clean Water Act.
How to Pair Cheese and Flavored Honey
In the world of cheese, honey is considered a universal condiment because its sweetness and viscosity so beautifully complement the tangy, salty dairy product. With over 300 unique kinds of honey available in the United States alone, each originating from a different floral source, the opportunities for pairing honey with cheese are diverse and wide-ranging. Experimentation is the name of the game say cheesemongers and honey sommeliers, and personal preferences rule. “There's no wrong and there'
Apollonia Cruises the Hudson River to Transport Local Goods
An eco-friendly ship cuts costs and carbon emissions when transporting area-crafted products by using our very own superhighway—the Hudson River.
Is there a future for sail freight on the Hudson River? Sam Merrett, captain of the schooner Apollonia, thinks so. “I’ve always been drawn toward practical solutions that you can implement now,” says Merrett, referring to the current environmental crisis. Sail freight is a part of a growing sustainable transportation movement around the world. Benefit
Is there a future for sail freight on the Hudson River? Sam Merrett, captain of the schooner Apollonia, thinks so. “I’ve always been drawn toward practical solutions that you can implement now,” says Merrett, referring to the current environmental crisis. Sail freight is a part of a growing sustainable transportation movement around the world. Benefit
Elderflower Liqueur: So Good It's the Bartender's Ketchup
In 2007, the sleepy world of liqueurs was jolted by the introduction of a new kind of liqueur, one created from the delicate white elderflowers grown in the foothills of the French Alps. This elixir, named St-Germain for the area of Paris that figured prominently in the French Art Deco and Belle Epoque periods, captured the almost elusively floral and fruity essence of the blossoms of the elder tree. The success of this new and original liqueur sparked a renewed interest in the category.
Third
Third
Exploring the Magic of Honey Paired with Cheese
“The rule of thumb is, at least in the cheese world, and according to me,” says Ivy Ronquillo, owner of Second Mouse Cheese in Pleasantville, New York, “is that honey is the one universal condiment. It works with everything. And every cheese works with honey.” Ronquillo’s referring to that most magical pairing: cheese and honey. She attributes it to cheese’s natural tanginess and saltiness which balances “very, very well” with honey’s sweetness and unctuousness. “Texturally speaking, and in term
Meet the college women who kickstarted Sojourner Truth Day
When four young women from the Kingston area set out to designate Nov. 26 as Sojourner Truth Day, they were surprised by how quickly their push to commemorate the famous abolitionist and women’s rights activist caught on in Kingston, the Town of Esopus, and Ulster County.
Now, state legislators are following their example, and the women’s efforts could turn the day into a statewide celebration.
“It seemed like a dream, a little idea,” says Aleshanee Emmanuel, of the successful efforts she led
Now, state legislators are following their example, and the women’s efforts could turn the day into a statewide celebration.
“It seemed like a dream, a little idea,” says Aleshanee Emmanuel, of the successful efforts she led
Chef Dan Kluger on Cooking for a Living and Life in Westchester
James Beard Award-winning Chef Dan Kluger shares discovering a love of hospitality, along with local, seasonal food.
Acclaimed chef Dan Kluger, owner of Loring Place in Greenwich Village and Penny Bridge in Long Island City, and the author of Chasing Flavor: Techniques and Recipes to Cook Fearlessly, initially planned to study physical therapy.
Fortunately for those who appreciate his distinctive take on seasonal, farm-fresh food — layering textures and flavor, and often combining salty, spicy
Acclaimed chef Dan Kluger, owner of Loring Place in Greenwich Village and Penny Bridge in Long Island City, and the author of Chasing Flavor: Techniques and Recipes to Cook Fearlessly, initially planned to study physical therapy.
Fortunately for those who appreciate his distinctive take on seasonal, farm-fresh food — layering textures and flavor, and often combining salty, spicy
How Burek Pastry Makers are Connecting People, Sharing Roots & Culture
“Make burek, not war” is a common adage in Alida Malushi’s native Balkans. The phrase underscores the extent to which these golden coils of phyllo filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables are ingrained in the region’s history and way of life. Burek’s unique position as a cultural touchstone prompted Malushi and her niece, Ariana Tolka, to found Balkan Bites in 2017. Burek was hard to find in the United States, and the pair thought, “how can we use this amazing food and share our cuisine and cultu
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