Andrew Dominick

Jan 24, 2025 | l8r.it | Andrew Dominick |Raphael Beretta

Note: A shorter version of this digital article ran in our February 2025 print issue. From bootlegging in the Prohibition era to the recent craft beverage resurgence, the Hudson Valley has a reputation for serving up inventive booze. It remains the country’s oldest winemaking region, and area breweries have taken advantage of ideal hop-growing conditions and other local ingredients for beers with unparalleled flavor. However, few Valley specialties pack more of a punch than its liquor.

Jan 23, 2025 | westchestermagazine.com | Andrew Dominick

When it’s cold outside and the usual heartwarming pour of a neat dram isn’t cutting it, you need something that may not necessarily be higher in ABV, but something that’s higher in temperature. The oldest known — and most quintessential — of the hot cocktails is a toddy. A hot toddy is usually served with hot water and citrus (typically lemon) or tea with a healthy glug of brown liquor, usually whiskey.

Nov 1, 2024 | westchestermagazine.com | Andrew Dominick

We’re waiting…And, breweries, if you’re going to brew a pumpkin beer that ends up tasting like a liquified baked sweet potato anyway, let’s ditch the cinnamony, nutmeggy, sugared rim pint glasses, too. You know who you are. Let’s leave pumpkin spice and everything nice to Starbucks. This fall, and every fall thereafter, let’s switch out the pumpkin for a cask ale at a British pub or a barleywine at a brewery. Something with apples instead? No problem.

Oct 26, 2023 | westchestermagazine.com | Andrew Dominick

If you find yourself in Hartsdale, specifically at the new Matanzas Cuban Cafe, and you meet its owner, Annarella Hernandez-Dias, you’ll feel her passion for her family and culture immediately. Although she just opened Matanzas (named after the city located on Cuba’s north shore) this summer, the idea to serve Cuban comfort food was one that had been cooking for a while. “It’s a passion project that I originally wanted to start with my father, but he passed in 2017 from ALS,” she says.

Sep 28, 2023 | westchestermagazine.com | Andrew Dominick

Suarez beer. Photo by Andrew DominickLeave pumpkin spice and everything nice to Starbucks and enjoy a real fall beer from local breweries instead. When’s the last time you had a pumpkin beer that you were blown away by? We’ll wait…And, breweries, if you’re going brew a pumpkin beer that ends up tasting like a liquified baked sweet potato anyway, let’s ditch the cinnamony, nutmeggy, sugared-rim pint glasses, too. You know who you are.