Writing by Josephine D’Ippolito Photography by Justin Negard Be different this holiday season and make these cookies instead Perhaps it’s the festive magic in the air, or, more likely, the irresistible aromas of vanilla, caramel and cinnamon wafting through our kitchens. Whatever it is, holiday cookies are a cherished tradition unlike any other. Even those who normally avoid sugar seem ...

Writing by Gia Miller Photography by Justin Negard When sisters Joana and Meto Herrera took over Armonk’s Mariachi Mexico from their father in 2013, they had one main goal: it should look, taste and sound just like home. During the restaurant’s long-standing January break, they transformed the Tex-Mex favorite into something that reminded them of Tlaxcuapan, the small town in ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard As the summer wanes and you want just a few more miles out of your summer fruit, here’s a refreshing cocktail that incorporates end-of-season peaches and basil. Ingredients Serves Two 4 oz. fresh peach juice 8 basil leaves 2 Tbsp. of maple syrup 8 oz. whiskey or bourbon 2 egg whites 6 ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard This drink is in memory of my father.  When I was a teenager, my father made pitchers of his high-octane piña coladas, serving them to friends and family during summer dinners and parties at our house.  Back then, piña coladas were overly boozy and sweet, so I’ve created an elevated version that ...

By Gia Miller Photography by Justin Negard One late October morning in 2009, Sunny Cover (pronounced like “clover” without the “l”) put on her beige 1940s vintage women’s business suit and drove from Peekskill to Hawthorne to meet with the board of Community Capital New York—they were her last hope. Cover needed $63,000 to save her beloved coffee shop, Peekskill ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard Two of the things I enjoy about fat-washing alcohol are the layered flavor profiles and the subtle hint of the spirit. This delicate flavor allows the drinker to enjoy a spirit they wouldn’t otherwise try. For this drink, I used a fat-washed whiskey to create a beverage that combines the flavors of ...

Writing by Dr. Elixir Photography by Justin Negard It’s pretty easy to elevate your drinks to be on par with the pros—all it takes is a willingness to DIY. One way to create exceptional cocktails is to “fat wash” your favorite alcohols by infusing them with something oily (for instructions, click here).  For my first fat washing experiment, I infused ...

By Dr. Elixir Mixing cocktails at home can easily result in your cocktails matching or exceeding cocktails served in most restaurants.  A technique that has been around for a long time that is now coming back in fashion is “fat washing” the alcohol.  This is an easy to do technique that has the unique benefits of softening the harshness of ...

Writing by Ava Fleisher Photography by Justin Negard Envision, if you will, a hot summer day amidst the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020. With the sun beaming down on the parking lot of Northern Westchester Hospital, healthcare workers flocked to a trailer where free lunches were served by Jason Charles and his family, who own what is ...