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IntoxiKate Travel Guide: Asian Cuisine in Westchester

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

The past few months have been very hard on us all, but if I have learned anything during quarantine it’s this—we’ve come out of it with stronger family values and an incredible sense of community. Oh, and enough banana bread to feed the entire country!

While the pandemic may keep us hopping on planes for a bit, spending several weeks in our homes only incited wanderlust. Luckily, we have no shortage of culture in our own backyard. And one of the easiest ways to explore a new culture is diving into its cuisine.

That’s why I’ve created these easy-to-use, new IntoxiKate Travel Guides. Focused on different cuisines and topics, these online, interactive magazines allow you to explore new restaurants, dishes, and more—all in your own backyard. First up? Asian cuisine in Westchester.

If you decide to explore alone or with the family, I’d love to see it! Join the conversation—simply use the hashtag #IntoxiKateTravel.

Here’s to spending a summer learning more about our world, enjoying new dishes, and living life deliciously!

To get started, simply click on the cover below.

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Kanopi At Home

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

Safety and sanitary protocols aside, if there’s anything we learned the past few months, is that our small business owners—especially restaurants—know how to pivot. Week after week, we watched social media posts and read news stories about different ways chefs were trying to serve our community. And serve us they did—from recreating their concepts to offer takeout, making meal after meal for workers on the front line, and popping up shops so we can purchase the items we love to cook at home.

Enter: Chef Anthony Gonçavles and his team at Kanopi.

Way up in the clouds—42 stories to be exact—atop the Ritz Carlton in White Plains, Gonçavles has a 360-degree view of Westchester. Not immune to the pandemic—Kanopi is a premier restaurant and catering space—he, like many in his industry, decided to switch things up to provide a service to his customers and support local purveyors.

Gonçavles created Kanopi at Home, sourcing top-quality ingredients, butchering organic meats, and preparing specialty items for delivery or curbside pickup. Last week, I found myself face-to-face with Colin Mead, event guru at Kanopi, at my front door, with a box full of goodies to try. (Spoiler alert: It was also a box I whole-heartedly enjoyed.)

What’s in the Box?

The quick answer—everything I could possibly need to put together three-or-four incredible, five-star restaurant-quality meals at home.

The fresh homemade pasta—Semolina Rigatoni and Thick Spaghetti to be exact—were enjoyed with the two sauces included; we paired the Rigatoni with the Cacio E Pepe and the Spaghetti with the Marcona Almond Pesto (which was my FAV).

The Elote (Mexican Street Corn) dressed with cotija cheese, lime mayo, and cayenne had a bit of a much needed kick. We easily reheated that on the grill in the metal tin they came in alongside the chicken sausage.

And while I loved the chicken sausage, I will 100% go back for the lamb sausage, which was an excellent surprise. Made front lamb shoulder and rack ends, the meat was encased with the perfect blend of smoked paprika, piri piri, coriander, and fennel seed for a flavorful, snappy sausage.

The box also included items I could use in my own recipes. The most beautiful brown and blue fresh eggs—with bright orange yolks—were fried over-easy for breakfast.

The Kanopi Honey Vinegar was drizzled over a green salad.

There are some things from the pandemic I really hope I don’t see again. But there are some things—like Kanopi at Home—that are here to stay. With all crazy events comes growth and innovation, and we have no shortage of that in Westchester. I thank Chef Anthony Gonçavles and his team for thinking of me, and providing me a sense of normalcy (and pure deliciousness) during this crazy time.

Ordering Kanopi at Home

Customize your Kanopi at Home experience. Orders will be fulfilled every Thursday & Friday.  Order deadline is 5pm the day prior to your pick up or delivery.  Curbside Pickup is available 3:00-5:00PM; and delivery from 1:00-5:00PM.

$35 Minimum order for Pickup. $85 Minimum order for Delivery + $15 Delivery fee. Delivery is available to much of Westchester & Fairfield counties. Please contact us directly if you encounter any trouble when entering your address for delivery.

Order for curbside pickup: https://bbot.menu/kanopipickup/

Order for delivery: https://bbot.menu/kanopidelivery/

P.S. You won’t want to miss a bit of White Plains nostalgia with the Trotters Pop Up to go. Offering some of the best items from the ‘good old days,’ this pop up is available for pickup Thursday and Friday from 4:30 to 7:30 PM. Order now: https://www.exploretock.com/kanopi/

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eat + drinkRENDEREDrestaurant newswestchester

RENDERED: David Kurdys on Restaurant Hospitality

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

Is hospitality a lost art? Did the pandemic put an end to traditional service? David Kurdys, manager and sommelier from L’inizio, and I dive into discussing these questions and more on the next episode of RENDERED.

As the restaurants open up—facing new safety protocols after a hiatus from in-house service—I challenge you to really listen to David’s perspective on his front of the house role during COVID-19. David has a great sense of humor but offers a somewhat painful perspective on what his work life has looked like for the past three months working in an essential business.

David says, “There’s something good that will come out of all this.” And you know what? There can be… We, as diners, can understand the Davids of the world a bit better, fully understanding WE are an intricate part of the interaction and responsible for our own experience. We can step into a restaurant now and be a bit more patient and forgiving, fully understanding what it takes to binging food to table.

About RENDERED

Rendered (verb): melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities

RENDERED is dedicated to uncovering the spark of bringing food to table. The show focuses on the business of food—through interviews and visual storytelling via unfettered access, the show explores the ‘switch’ or focused passion that drove people to go to work in the food industry and the challenges they face making their way every single day in a highly competitive, and ever-changing business. (This concept has been registered with the Writers Guild of America East.)

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Taking Over: @TaraRosenblum on Instagram

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

HAPPENING NOW! News 12 reporter Tara Rosenblum has graciously given me full access to take over her Instagram account (@TaraRosenblum) today, so buckle up, because we’re about to live life deliciously!
{Thank you, Tara!} 

For the skinny on where to order from tonight, on Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, and more check out my recommendations in Tara’s stories.

I’ll be sharing throughout the afternoon and into the evening, so check back for more! (And a BIG announcement!) 🎉

View the Takeout Tuesday Takeover

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Alvin & Friends Sunday Brunch now available for takeout

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

Breaking News: Alvin & Friends Sunday Brunch now available for take out!

Have you been missing Alvin & Friends’ famous Sunday Brunch? We’ve created a special take out menu of brunch favorites available for curbside pick up on Sundays ONLY from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Choose from an assortment of Eggs and Omelets, plus some of our best-loved dishes like Chicken & Waffles, Shrimp & Grits, Sweet Plantains Foster French Toast and our new Breakfast Burger (grilled andouille sausage,two eggs, jerk remoulade and cheddar cheese on a toasted English muffin). 

And because it’s not brunch without some Punch, we’re also offering bottles of Alvin’s famous (and my favorite!) Trini style Rum Punch as well as Sorrel (with or without Rum). Call 654-6549 to make your Brunch order!

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eat + drinkFood BusinessIntoxiKateRENDEREDrestaurant news

Introducing RENDERED with First Guest Constantine Kalandranis

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

Rendered (verb): melt (fat or lard) in order to separate out impurities

RENDERED is dedicated to uncovering the spark of bringing food to table. The show focuses on the business of food— through interviews and visual storytelling via unfettered access, the show explores the ‘switch’ or focused passion that drove people to go to work in the food industry and the challenges they face making their way every single day in a highly competitive, and ever-changing business.

Constantine Kalandranis, chef/owner of 273 Kitchen (Harrison, NY) and 8 North Broadway (Nyack, NY), talks about how his restaurants have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The small business owner also sheds light on the expenses of a typical restaurant, how those expenses look in the current environment, how he’s pivoted to a takeout model, and more.

This concept has been registered with the Writers Guild of America East.

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Covid-19 and the Restaurant Industry: Real Talk with Ellen Sledge of Penny Lick Ice Cream

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

A very real conversation of the state of Westchester’s restaurant industry, the impact of Covid-19, and where we could be in a matter of months. Thank you to my first guest, Ellen Sledge of Penny Lick Ice Cream Company in Hastings-on-Hudson, who describes the current state of affairs at her company and the current reality for those in the food business.

For the list of restaurants who are currently offering takeout and delivery, please click here: https://intoxikate.com/westchester-restaurants-delivery-takeout/

Please note: The list is updated in realtime, so please check back and hit ‘refresh’ for the most up-to-date listing, organized by town.

If you are a restaurant owner or chef who would like to be added to the list, please click here: https://forms.gle/T6yJb89iZsJsmyvt8

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eat + drinkrestaurant news

Westchester Restaurants Offering Takeout & Delivery

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz
Westchester Restaurants takeout

For a full list of restaurants offering takeout and delivery under the current circumstances, please click here. This list will be updated in realtime and includes the restaurant name, details, and menus in one, easy-to-use list. All links are live, so feel free to click on them!

This list has been shared with local media, bloggers, and Instagrammers, so it is being used as a resource for media as well as the general public.

Please note: If you are a restauranteur or chef that would like to be included, please take 3 minutes to provide your information here.

For more ways to help local restaurants who are currently forced to close doors to in-service dining due to the COVID-19 virus, please share this information.

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Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Postponed

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

Fishkill, NY – March 16, 2020 – Spring Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, which was to begin today, has officially been postponed. Today Media, along with its advisory board of local restauranteurs, agree that this is a prudent step in consideration of the COVID-19 pandemic and New York State’s recent mandate restricting restaurant business. The annual celebration of restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley will take place at a later date.

This is a difficult time for all restaurants, and we will continue to promote those that remain open for take-out, curb-side pickup or delivery. When the dust settles on this awful virus, we will begin planning our next restaurant week, celebrating the local restaurateurs, producers, and artisans that make this region a culinary destination.

Stay connected with us for updated information at valleytable.com, @valleytable  #HVRW

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6 Ways You Can Support Local Restaurants Right Now

by Katie Schlientz
written by Katie Schlientz

This post was amended Monday, March 16th after Governor Cuomo closed restaurants’ doors, allowing them to only serve customers through takeout and delivery.

The COVID-19 virus is here, and I know you are feeling the impact. For many of us, the mandated quarantines, implemented rules, and new regulations have interrupted our lives, and have a lot of us working from home.

But some of us cannot work from home. The livelihood comes to a complete stop. This is true when it comes to those in the hospitality industry. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I’d like to share a reality with you—if restaurants are shuttered for weeks, they will not be able to pay bills and staff will be laid off.

I will remind you of the IntoxiKate mission—to support local restaurants to the best of my ability.

Restaurants have always made safety for their staff and clientele a priority, but please note—they are taking extra precautions at this time.

Below are 6 ways you can support local restaurants and shops in your community…

With various degrees of physical participation. I hope you can partake in one or two of the suggestions below. And I hope you help spread the word. Because together, as a community, we can move mountains… Even from home.

1. ORDER OUT OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CURBSIDE PICKUP…

If you do not feel comfortable dining out, try calling to see if you can pick up your favorite meal. Most locations are offering curbside pickup, making it extremely convenient for you! Please note—many bakeries, coffeehouses, and gourmet shops are doing this as well.

2. … AND CALL DIRECTLY

Not all are doing this, but many restaurants are keeping waitstaff employed by allowing them to make local deliveries. Instead of ordering through third-party platforms like UberEats and Seamless, who take a percentage of the profits, call the restaurant directly to see if there are other ways to get your food delivered. It may also save you money!

3. Order a Bottle of Wine with Dinner

Okay, it goes without saying that this tip should be enjoyed by those 21 and over, but with the recent state-wide mandated closures, Governor Cuomo has provided a waiver for establishments to provide takeout alcohol. (Something we may all need at this point!)

4. PURCHASE GIFT CARDS

Purchase a gift card now and use it later! Again, many are taking information over the phone and will mail it directly to you.

5. BOOK A PARTY IN ADVANCE

Have a birthday party or need to schedule a special occasion a few months away? Now is a great time to reach out to the event planner or restaurant owner to book your party. Have an event already booked in the next few weeks? If you can, instead of canceling, try to reschedule. We will all need to do some celebrating when this is all over!

6. POST ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

Don’t want to risk any of it? Okay, that’s cool! Spread a smile on social media by posting about your favorite restaurant. Share their messages with friends. Post your favorite dish. Share a photo of you enjoying your takeout meal. It will be a much needed (but brief) escape from the news. Flood our feeds with positivity.

BONUS: Call your Representatives and Senators.

You can be connected to the capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121. Demand that restaurants and those working in the food industry be part of the federal stimulus plan. Don’t know what to say? Click here for a helpful script.

Stay safe, and restaurant on!

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