Jeanne Muchnick

Creative content strategist proficient in multimedia platforms with proven track record for engaging and retaining readers

Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Dining in 2020: Look back at key moments for Rockland, Westchester restaurants and diners

Dining in 2020: Look back at key moments for Rockland, Westchester restaurants and diners 2020 was some year. Everyone was impacted by the pandemic in some way, but for those in the restaurant business, the last 12 months have been a heck of a ride, from being forced to close entirely, then reopening, then closing again. Some started selling groceries; others bought heaters and igloos; everyone learned to pivot. There have been many casualties, but just as many stories of resilience from resta
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

'Rocky's' of the pandemic: Despite the blows, these restaurants are still standing

'Rocky's' of the pandemic: Despite the blows, these restaurants are still standing Restaurants in Rockland and Westchester took numerous hits this year, but owners say they are more prepared than ever to deal with what's next. A rollercoaster. Like a movie. Surreal. Crazy. Draining. These are some of the adjectives used by Westchester and Rockland chefs and restaurateurs to describe their last year. Despite the highs and lows — and there were some very low lows including losing a large percent
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Pandemic changed their plans: How entrepreneurs turned food passions into businesses

Pandemic changed their plans: How entrepreneurs turned food passions into businesses Working (and getting furloughed twice) in the catering business during the initial months of the pandemic got Hartsdale resident Christina Mariani thinking she'd be better off launching something of her own. Ditto for West Nyack resident Sara Cann, who, after losing her job at a restaurant group in Manhattan, was inspired to join forces with her mom and start selling baked goods. Such are the stories — and the
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Ghost kitchens: Why this takeout trend is finding fans in Westchester, Rockland

Ghost kitchens: Why this takeout trend is finding fans in Westchester, Rockland Ghost kitchens are "a new and fun trend that's here to stay." John Sharp, who co-owns three Peekskill restaurants — Birdsall House, Gleason's and The Factoria — had to reinvent his business to stay in business. In December, he started a ghost kitchen at Gleason's. The concept, called Spano's Greek House (after Chef Sturges Spanos), features a completely different menu than what you'd find at Gleason's, including l
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Fast casual restaurants that focus on takeout continue to open in Westchester

Fast casual restaurants that focus on takeout continue to open in Westchester Nick Mesce of The Taco Project has built a business on fast casual. Mesce and his partners Carmelo Milio and Sebastian Aliberti have opened locations in Yonkers, Tarrytown and Bronxville. All feature an order-at-the-counter model with a smattering of seats; it's a set-up designed for takeout. But as they move forward with their new space – they plan to open a fourth location at 465 Bedford Road in Pleasantville in la
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

12 restaurants we can't bear to lose, from a classic bar & grill to a fine dining all-star

12 restaurants we can't bear to lose, from a classic bar & grill to a fine dining all-star The corner bistro where you always order a bowl of briny mussels. The old-school tavern that never fails to cook your cheeseburger to charred perfection. The bakery where the smell of freshly baked muffins fill the air. And the unpretentious Vietnamese spot where steaming bowls of pho consistently satisfy. These places are part of our collective soul, the community pillars that make us proud to live wher
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Hot cocoa bombs are the food craze of 2020 and stores can't keep them in stock

Hot cocoa bombs are the food craze of 2020 and stores can't keep them in stock Since debuting on social media in November, these chocolate culinary creations have become the year's most sought-after sensations. It's almost like the cronut craze of 2013 all over again. But crazier. Sharon Foley of Sparkill guestimates she's bought at least 20 since early December, many of which she and her wife have given away as gifts. Ditto for Stephanie Duval of Croton-on-Hudson who's “bombed” at least 10 o
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Working at home with a spouse or partner? Find a 'do not bother me'\u00a0spot, expert says

Working at home with a spouse or partner? Find a 'do not bother me' spot, expert says These days, Judy Herbst is still adapting to working at her Larchmont, New York, home, which often means motioning her attorney husband to be quiet while she's on the phone, or moving her computer around so her colleagues on the other side of a Zoom call don't see him – sometimes in his bathrobe – in the background. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the director of marketing for Worthy.com, an online auction h
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

'Dinner with Jeanne' takes 20 diners to the not-yet-open Jay Street Cafe in Katonah

'Dinner with Jeanne' takes 20 diners to the not-yet-open Jay Street Cafe in Katonah A bit of Mayberry has come to Katonah in the form of the new Jay Street Cafe — and 20 diners got a sneak peek as part of lohud's "Dinner with Jeanne." The exclusive dining series provides a first look — and taste — at new, not yet-open-to-the-public restaurants. The cafe will open sometime next week (check their social media for details). For the first time, guests were treated to breakfast for dinner — think
Rockland/Westchester Journal News •

Diners enjoyed a 7-course meal at Kanopi in White Plains as part of 'Dinner with Jeanne'

Diners enjoyed a 7-course meal at Kanopi in White Plains as part of 'Dinner with Jeanne' How would you like to dine in the tallest building between the Bronx and Boston? Now you can, thanks to the opening of Kanopi Restaurant, a new fine dining establishment with killer views on the 42nd floor of the Ritz-Carlton in White Plains. The restaurant, featuring seasonal "Portuguese Hudson Valley cuisine," is run by Anthony Gonçalves, the former chef/owner behind Trotter’s, Peniche and 42. Nine peop
lohud •

TWA Hotel at JFK Airport: Now boarding

Ready for take-off: TWA Hotel opens at JFK Airport with retro touches, a refitted plane, and a modern food court The new TWA Hotel at JFK Airport's Terminal 5, which officially opened May 15, is one heck of a ride. The structure — what had been the original 1962 Trans World Airlines terminal, now meticulously refurbished — is part modern hotel, part retro museum, part time warp airport lounge, part modern day food court, and all around Instagram cat nip. It is owned by New York-based MCR and M
lohud •

Best food trucks: Where to find them in Westchester County

From tacos to plantain burgers: Westchester has a food truck for you It seems there are two kinds of food trucks these days: the roadside favorites that provide cheap eats for people on the go (think hots dogs and tacos) and the more upscale newcomers that have popped up in recent years, upping the food game but still offering a tasty alternative for those looking for a quick, affordable meal. Each mobile kitchen provides fast service, a sense of community (even if it's with cars whizzing by)
lohud •

Lohud food reporter Jeanne Muchnick spends the day on a food truck.

Lohud's food writer offers behind-the-scenes view of her shift on a food truck "Behind!, behind!, behind!" This was my mantra as I executed the delicate dance of working with three others on a food truck. I'd warn 'behind!' every time I squeezed past my crew to cut fries, slice Brussels spouts, grill chicken, trim lamb and bag orders — all while trying not to step on anyone's toes (figuratively and literally). It's all part of life on The Souvlaki Truck in Yonkers where chef/owner George Krin
lohud •

6 chefs reveal the stories behind their tattoos

Wearing their heart on their sleeves (and shoulders and chests): local chefs talk tattoos Tattoos. They seem to be a chef thing (as well as a brewer's thing). Chalk it up to being creative. Or artistic. Or just liking them. Isaac Fitzgerald, co-author of "Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos (with Recipes)," said chefs tend to like bodily displays of permanent art because they're badges of honor that show dedication "to the highs and lows, the silly and the serious sides of
lohud •

Spring dining 2019: 16 new restaurants open in Westchester

Traditionally, April is the season of new restaurant openings. And Westchester doesn't disappoint. There are 16 places that have opened within the past few weeks with more on the horizon. Blue Bamboo, Mount Vernon: Olivia Williams grew up cooking in her native Jamaica starting at age 7 and continued after she moved to the U.S. at 12. Now, the self-taught chef is serving her native West Indian cuisine at her new restaurant — her first — where diners will find oxtail, curried goat, sweet chili wi
lohud •

Hudson Yards NYC is open: A look at the restaurants

Hudson Yards NYC opens: How are the restaurants at the $25 billion development? The food motto at The Shops at Hudson Yards, the new seven-floor shopping center on Manhattan's far West Side at West 34th Street, is "The World on a Plate." Promotional materials herald the kitchens of the world's celebrated chefs — Jose Andres, Thomas Keller and David Chang and Costas Spiliadis, among them — with food served amidst spectacular settings! Yes, it's a chi-chi mall and yes some of the restaurants ha
Everett Potter's Travel Report •

Market Madness: Visiting Israel’s Lively “Shuks”

Food may not be the first thing you think of when you think of Israel but if you appreciate the riot of colors and aromas that make up an outdoor market – the bright piles of turmeric, cardamom and cumin, open sacks of nuts, pyramids of golden apricots, rows of plump olives, and the most artful displays of syrup-soaked pastries, artisanal cheeses and an encyclopedic assortment of herbs — then you’re in for a treat. It’s not only the heady fragrances that grab your attention (did I mention the g
lohud •

Hudson Valley craft beer movement: Brewing the economy or flat?

Is craft beer a brewing economic engine in the Hudson Valley or soon-to-be flat? When Matt Curtin and Eric Gearity were looking to open Sing Sing Kill Brewery in Ossining in 2018, they thought a lot about oversaturation. Seemingly, there was a craft brewery in nearly every nearby community, with more on the horizon. In Westchester County there were eight breweries including their own, as well as five in Rockland County. Of those, seven didn’t exist five years prior. "The scene has really expl
Today.com •

6 trips that’ll thrill your family, even your teen

Let’s face it: Once your kids hit the adolescent years, they become harder to please. Which is why family vacations need to WOW 'em with something special — as well as keep you and the rest of your gang engaged. Some are very high priced; others are more reasonable, and one is tax-deductible. Here, some options that will so enthrall your teen, he or she just might balk at coming home. Surf ’n’ swim The place: Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa, San Diego, Calif.What’s in it for them: Opt for the
lohud.com •

Iced, iced baby: Polar vortex does not deter iced coffee fans

But that doesn't mean some die-hard iced coffee and tea drinkers are changing their habits. Despite the single digit temperatures, Joe Agnello said he always drinks iced coffee, year round no matter the temperature. "I just enjoy a cold beverage over a hot one any day," posted Agnello, one of dozens of commenters on a lohudfood Facebook post. For Larchmont's Duke Frost (no pun on the last name), it would have to be way colder, like negative 20 for him to go hot. And, for the first day ever, p
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