Richard Romano whipped up his very first batch of Screamin’ Onionz to bring to a pool party in 1996, and he received enthusiastic feedback. Years went by without a second thought about taking the onion recipe any further until a life-altering nightmare made the Romanos reevaluate everything. Their son was born three months early at just 1 pound, 14 ounces. As they tended to their son in Vassar Brothers Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Alicia encouraged Richard t

Photos by Patti Hale Step into Tomáš Tapas Bar & Restaurant at 900 Route 376 in Wappingers Falls and prepare to be transported by the warmth—and elegance—of the room, the food and the people. There to greet you is a friendly and courteous team that includes owners Lynn and Tomáš Monoši (the š is pronounced “sh”). Be seated in a chair designed to keep you comfortable for hours and peruse a menu of assorted Tapas—appetizers, hot and cold—to be enjoyed individually or shared, fr

There’s always something pleasurable about watching someone really good at something doing that thing. Butcher, author and instructor Thomas Schneller is one of those people, and you’ll have the chance to watch him in action at the 4th annual Snout to Tail Event at Kesicke Farms in Red Hook. It’s a 2-Saturday event, March 17th and 24th from 9-3, put on by, and to benefit Slow Food Hudson Valley. The first Saturday, you’ll have a chance to watch Tom break down, or butcher a pi

You would have to be living under a rock for the last 10 years if you have not heard of the farm-to-table movement, but John Lekic, owner of Le Express Bistro & Bar, is taking this concept to a whole new level. Lekic’s menu at Le Express has always been centered around a vast majority of the ingredients being sourced from local farms and food producers, but Lekic is looking at the bigger picture and he is on a mission to help put the Hudson Valley on the map for food, wine a

I talk to many chefs who say they were born to be in the kitchen, but Jamal Kamal is the first chef who I have ever spoken to who was actually born in a kitchen. Yes that is right, Kamal, was born at home in his family’s kitchen and that may be the reason he can’t get enough of the restaurant business. Over the last nine years Kamal has opened a total of four restaurants in the Cold Spring/Beacon area, Angelina’s, Beacon Bread Company, Tito Santana’s and his latest, Ziatün. K

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It’s hard enough to make it in the restaurant business. Combine that with English not being your native language and a restaurant location off the beaten path and the challenge is even harder. But that didn’t stop Genaro Garcia and his family from creating two successful restaurants. Garcia and his family own and operate Gaby’s Café locations in Ellenville and Rhinebeck. Perhaps the key to Gaby’s Cafe success is the welcoming atmosphere and how much Garcia and his family enj