May, 2001 issue

Having identified more than 200 restaurants and food-related businesses in the area from Cortlandt to Yonkers, HRTW is inviting them all to join the gourmet bonanza. Letters explaining the concept, along with an application form will be mailed by the end of the month. An appropriate logo and poster are in the design stage. A suggestion to also publish the guide in Spanish was applauded at a recent planning session.

For a fee of $25, business owners are encouraged to be included in the "Feastival Guide," which will be liberally distributed in the area and beyond, and available on the HRTW web-site. Listings will include the name, address, telephone number, price range, a brief description of the type of food and a web-site, if available.

There may also be an opportunity for restaurants to offer a "Feastival Special," such as a free glass of wine with a dinner entree or a distinctive house dessert.

Plans for the guide also include some related items of historical interest, to amuse and entertain visitors. For instance, Washington Irving maintained Tarrytown was so named because farmers enjoyed "tarrying" in the local saloons, but others argue it was named because of the Dutch word for wheat, which was grown in the area. The wine cellars at Croton Point Park are considered the oldest in the nation and there are many stories about the pickle factories in the area.

The five HRTW Farmers' Markets in Peekskill, Ossining, Tarrytown, Hastings and Yonkers are being contacted and asked to include special, perhaps "Harvest Feastival" events during the fall.

John Chervokas, Chairperson of HRTW and Supervisor of the Town of Ossining, has suggested each community plan its own food-related event. As an example, he noted the success of "Noshing Night" in Ossining last fall, when restaurants on Main Street provided samples of house specialties for pedestrian guests. For a nominal fee, they visited seven downtown restaurants, and to the delight of restaurateurs, returned at later dates for complete meals.

Mr. Chervokas said, "The 'Feastival' is a great way to unite our communities and provide awareness of our many fine food establishments. HRTW's mission has always been economic development, now it is gastronomic development, too."

Additional forms for restaurants, cafes, food markets, delicatessens, pizza makers, bakeries, wine merchants, beer distributors and other specialty stores are available by calling (914) 232-6583.