Westchester — Blog — Not NYC Bites

Meet Tina Zaccardi: The Woman Behind The Italian Cookie

Do you follow Tina Ziccardi Bakes, aka @theItalianCookie? Her media pages are loaded with baked deliciousness that is not only drool worthy, but is downright eye-candy perfection! Following her grand win on “The Great American Baking Show” Season 4 (Hulu), Augustina Zaccardi (Tina) became a bit of a local celebrity right here in Westchester. Her huge fan base from her hometown of Eastchester rooted her on with each baking challenge, becoming more difficult as each week passed. We all watch in amazement as contestants fly through the challenges on each food competition, but meeting with Zaccardi and listening to her describe what it is really like to be on a cooking show was enlightening. She described the experience, which filmed in England, to be competitive yet jovial and the contenders to have more comradery than might be expected in a contest pitting bakers against each other in difficult timed elimination assignments. Although they were in a heated competition, they became somewhat of a family and are still in close contact with each other today.

"The Barn" at The Bedford Post Inn: Yep...It's THAT Good

The 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.”

RestaurantsKristin L. WolfeAugust 7, 2020Bedford, Westchester, Openings, American, Homepage, Celebrity ChefComment

Bagel Pickup Service, Blithe Bagels, Set to Open for Business

Not many would open a business during a pandemic. Don’t tell that to Tina Selsky. For Selsky, it was the perfect time to launch her bagel pickup service, Blithe Bagels, based out of her home in Peekskill.

Selsky—a footwear designer by trade who spent seven years with Coach, who’s now at the upstart Thursday Boot Company—had always wanted to break into the food service industry with her husband, Matthew. The idea for a bagel-based business came about in the days and months leading up to the couple’s wedding. Selsky mentioned that she didn’t want to go on one of those “dreaded wedding diets.” To resist, she got creative and found different ways to eat what she wanted to eat. One of those was a bagel recipe (since tweaked, no doubt) that was half the carbs and half the calories of store brand bagels.

“We always talked about opening a small shop or a B&B,” she says. “I love bagels! We both do! And I ate these every day leading up to our wedding, so I wanted to share these with everyone locally.”

A beginning business model for Blithe Bagels came to fruition during the COVID-19 quarantine. Selsky simply had more time while working from home for over a month. “Even though I’ve been working from home full time, I finally had a little more time to commit, design a website, and put together all the logistics of how it would work,” she says.

Before Blithe Bagels officially launches on April 16, 2020, what should one expect at first bite?

FeaturesAndrew DominickApril 15, 2020Homepage, bagels, COVID-19, Peekskill, Westchester, Bakery Comment

Westchester Chefs Doing Good Things: Ways YOU CAN HELP Others in This Crisis

We interrupt your daily dose of horror to tell you how some chefs are changing the landscape and helping people in the community WHO NEEED YOUR HELP NOW. Whether they’re providing meals to people out of work in the restaurant industry, trying to keep some of their employees working, or donating meals to first responders and hospitals, these are a few programs we can ALL get behind. If you have the resources, please consider making donations to these incredible programs, and celebrate those just doing good work.

If YOU have a program that you would like to tell us about, please contact us.

FeaturesAbbe WichmanMarch 28, 2020Westchester, Chef, COVID-19, Fundraiser, Homepage, Home DeliveryComment

Westchester Breweries Offering Takeout and Delivery During COVID-19

Much like restaurants that have switched over to takeout and delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, breweries have adapted, too.

If your beer stash is dwindling down or if you simply want to keep supporting local beer as you usually would—minus the taproom experience—this list should help you stock your fridge and the breweries will no doubt appreciate the business.

Stay safe and soon enough we’ll be back to nerdy beer conversation and saying, “Cheers!” But in the meantime…

Restaurants, FeaturesAndrew DominickMarch 24, 2020Westchester, Brewery, craft beer, HomepageComment

Chef David DiBari's The Cookery - Kickin’ Ass Since 2009

On many occasions, you’ll walk into The Cookery (or see it in Instagram stories) and see David Dibari, Chef Sajin Renae, and the crew in the kitchen, experimenting, and making delicious magic as they do. The passion they have for food, good food, and for collective, creative energy emanates each Dibari location (like The Parlor, Eugene’s Diner, Doughnation). But, let’s celebrate The Cookery for a minute, shall we. They’ve just turned 10 and are being celebrated far and wide. And guess what? There’s a lot to celebrate.

RestaurantsKristin L. WolfeMarch 7, 2020Dobbs Ferry, Westchester, Brunch, HomepageComment

Michelin Heralded Maria Restaurant in New Rochelle...One Year Later

The Westchester dining scene has been simmering in New York City’s backyard. A few acclaimed chefs have made their way up the Hudson River, succumbing to high city rents, among other reasons. And residents here have become savvy to good restaurants, and have steadily come to expect the same quality of food and service closer to home.

The 2020 Michelin Guide has now included eight Westchester County eateries on its Bib Gourmand list, which includes Maria in New Rochelle, a hit restaurant that is just over a year old.

RestaurantsSibylla ChipaziwaFebruary 23, 2020New Rochelle, Westchester, Michelin, Italian, Lunch, Homepage

OKO Japanese Inspired Cuisine Opens in Rye

OKO, 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.

RestaurantsAndrew DominickJanuary 3, 2020Rye, Westchester, Japanese, Sushi, Cocktails, Lunch, Openings, Celebrity Chef, HomepageComment