Take three bakers. Mix in a pandemic that has us craving carbs and sweets. Sprinkle in some dedicated followers. That’s the recipe for two new bakeries that recently opened in Westchester – Wildly Cakes in Dobbs Ferry and Flour Power in Pelham.
Read MoreTaking their mutual love and knowledge of the restaurant industry and bringing it to the area where one of them grew up, Billy Bishop and Peter Smith recently opened Billy & Pete’s Social House. The restaurant’s convivial spirit and contemporary American-themed food (with Italian accents) has already garnered enthusiastic reaction from the Mamaroneck/Larchmont area.
While the duo had to introduce the restaurant with a slightly smaller menu than originally planned, they are already finding an enthusiastic audience for their pizzas, cocktails and the bite-sized, pop in your mouth donuts that are sold on weekends at a window at the side of the restaurant.
Read MoreTGB Restaurant Group, owners and operators of The Granola Bar’s five locations proudly announces the launch of their ghost kitchen concept; The Taco Bar. This evening taco and burrito concept opens every night from 5-9pm based out of The Granola Bar of Rye location. Customers can order for pick-up and delivery only via UberEats, GrubHub, or by calling the store directly at 914-709-4229.
Co-owner Julie Mountain continues; “The Taco Bar is such a natural extension of what are doing during the daytime with The Granola Bar and allows us to show versatility and ability to pivot during these times.”
Executive chef Neil Rohricht continues to flex his delicious culinary expertise at The Taco Bar creating a flavorful and easy to navigate menu that appeals to everyone in the family.
You can find The Taco Bar menu at: https://thegranolabarct.com/qr_menu/the-taco-bar/
Read MoreOn a hot summer’s night… (cue Meatloaf), who wants to cook? The tradition of eating Chinese food on Friday night goes back to my childhood days, so on a recent Friday night it was CHIGO for us. If you are a long time Westchester diner you may remember Tung Sing or South Seas from your youth. There were only a few Chinese-food spots where you could also take out food. Forward a few years (wink wink) and there are a plethora of spots from which to get your dumpling fix, but none that compare to CHIGO. What makes this delivery only spot in Hawthorne different is the quality of the ingredients that make up each delicious dish!
A bit of background before we get to the eats will help you to appreciate the thoughtfulness that has gone into this brand. This is the latest incarnation from the brains behind WUJI - pure fresh Chinese; LULU - classic Chinese healthy ingredients; and CHINA WHITE - homegrown organic Chinese. If you have ever dined at any of these restaurants you understand the high level of service and the superior quality of the food.
Read MoreThe Barn at Bedford - Just See What Love There are very few meals that truly linger days after I have them. Ohhhh, but when one does, I’m inclined to get out my imaginary megaphone and shout. The Charred Octopus at The Barn has had me positively awestruck. Our very editor here at CTbites asked me, “It was that good?” “Yes, Boss Lady, it was realllllllly good.” As one of three new eateries housed within The Bedford Post Inn, The Barn is in the midst of a fresh start. Again. Chef Roxanne Spruance and her crew had only just taken on the restaurants, and restructured and revived The Barn, just a few months before the pandemic hit, so the June Phase 2 re-opening has given them yet another chance to really open. Chef feels lucky. She says, “Thankfully, despite the timing, we’ve hardly skipped a beat.”
Read MoreIn continuing their domination of Northern Westchester, Craig and Glen Bernardi, the two brothers behind Bobo’s Café, opened their third location in Baldwin Place a week before the Covid-19 pandemic forced them to temporarily close their doors. All three cafes are open once again, with an app making contact-free ordering for curbside pickup a snap. You can also meander up to the door and place an order but be forewarned – these joints are hopping.
Baldwin Place joins the original Somers location, and the second one opened last year in Chappaqua, as a go-to spot for great coffee drinks, an elevated café menu, and convivial atmospheres. If they did a reboot of “Cheers” in a café, Bobo’s could be the inspiration.
Read MoreEvolve or dissolve is what they say and this family business has done just that – growing and growing and needing more and more space to accommodate their ever expanding line of bakery items. Constantly evolving, Baked by Susan (BbS) prides itself on making handmade old-fashioned baked goods fresh daily, and thanks to more square feet will now be expanding its savory line of goods. The new wide open space at 379 South Riverside in Croton-on-Hudson will be closer to the train station and therefore offering extended hours to accommodate hungry commuters. Join them for a soft opening this week, and a "party like" grand opening on March 7!
Read MoreOKO, featuring Japanese inspired cuisine and Nigiri sushi from celebrated chef and Westchester native Chef Brian Lewis, has opened in Rye, New York at 29 Purchase Street (the corner of Locust Avenue.
If you’ve got your finger on the pulse of the Westchester County food scene, there’s a good chance you’re jonesing to eat at OKO. OKO is brought to you by Chef Brian Lewis—fresh off a James Beard semifinalist nomination—a name CT residents are familiar with from his critically acclaimed Westport CT restaurant, The Cottage. At OKO, Lewis is changing things up, as he plans to showcase his passion for Japanese ingredients and cooking techniques.
Read MoreIf donut heaven exists, it may very well look like MAD Donuts at The Westchester. The décor, outfitted in white (faux) flowers with splashes of color on the wall, photos of such heavenly deities as Anthony Bourdain and Jimi Hendrix, and the neon sign with its message “donuts and chill” – if this isn’t heaven it’s at least an instagrammer’s dream.
Read MoreOver the past few years, Hapa Food Truck and chef/owner Chris Gonzalez have gained quite the following. I’m guilty of following up a few weightlifting sessions at Crunch Gym with a Hapa Burger or tacos when Gonzalez parked his trucked at the Priceline building. So, yes, I’m a fan just as much as all of you are. But every winter, Hapa goes into hibernation, leaving many of us yearning for warmer weather and his Filipino-Hawaiian inspired food.
Well, friends, you don’t have to wait for spring and tracking Hapa down just got a whole lot easier. Gonzalez now has a physical Hapa location in Mamaroneck’s new microbrewery, Decadent Ales inside of the popular craft beer store, Half Time.
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