We Are Upstate NY With Foodie Eryn Veronesi of Hudson-Valley-Eats
INSIDE+OUT Upstate NY is pleased to introduce Eryn Veronesi, 5th Generation Hudson Valley raised content creator and culinary storyteller who loves to share her epicurean passions. She has been mapping the valley for all the best spots to taste, shop, and support, then shares her findings on @hudson_valley_eats her Instagram profile. Not only is she inspiring a robust following on Instagram, she’s also joining our INSIDE+OUT team of contributors to help spread the word even further about all things divinely epicurean and local. When we first met, we asked Eryn what she loves most about the Hudson Valley food scene?
“There is something for everyone! I started going to different food pop-ups and farm-to-table dinners where I saw these amazing experiences that spotlighted the farmers, the freshest produce, and talented chefs. I love how you can try so many different cuisines at different price points. My goal is to spotlight the entire spectrum of experiences – from fast casual and street food to tasting menus and fine dining.”
To find out more about Eryn’s Hudson Valley culinary adventures read below. And don’t forget to follow her on instagram!
INSIDE+OUT UPSTATE NY: Where are you originally from, and how did you wind up in the Hudson Valley?
Eryn Veronesi: I was born and raised in the Hudson Valley! I grew up in Highland and am the fifth generation living on the same property. My family immigrated to the United States from Europe in the early 1900s and my grandparents met in New York City. They fell in love with the Hudson Valley and moved their entire family to Highland…the rest is history.
You have quite a following on Instagram, where you showcase local food and purveyors. What is your goal for sharing the Hudson Valley food scene in this way on Social Media?
There are so many amazing restaurants, chefs and food enthusiasts that are passionate about what they are doing. Every opportunity that I get to meet someone new and learn about them gets me more excited to share these experiences with others. Friends and family members would ask me where I’d recommend they eat. Plus, I went to school for marketing. I felt social media was a great platform to share my experiences with others on a larger scale, which is why I started the Hudson Valley Eats Instagram page in 2020. As it has grown, I’ve had friends and family help with the page, which has made it a lot of fun to do together!
How did your love of food happen?
I started watching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations when I was 15-16 years old and it really opened my mind to travel and food. It was so interesting to me that he could go to all these places across the world. Then, he did a Hudson Valley episode since he was a CIA grad and I thought it was the coolest thing that he visited New Paltz. The connectivity to my local roots – along with the amount of places across the world you can visit – became so intriguing to me. I have always enjoyed researching different cultures, whether in New York City or traveling. I love how much you can learn about a person or culture based on food. I started traveling as much as I could (and continue to do so). However, I began to explore the Hudson Valley on a larger scale.
What is unique about the Hudson Valley and the food scene here?
There is something for everyone! I started going to different food pop-ups and farm-to-table dinners, where I saw amazing experiences that spotlighted the farmers, the freshest produce and talented chefs. I love how you can try so many different cuisines at different price points. My goal is to spotlight the entire spectrum of experiences, from fast casual and street food to tasting menus and fine dining.
What do you love most about eating your way through the Hudson Valley?
So many of the chefs I’ve had the chance to meet try to use local Hudson Valley products and that makes it even more special to me because we get to support each other throughout the process. From meats, dairy, vegetables, fruits, spices and more, if you look hard enough, you can find ingredients being used.
I also love how I can drive by a place so many times and then one day stop in and be blown away by the food. It’s so easy to miss restaurants or be unaware that something exists. I’ve had such great feedback from my followers about them being able to try a new restaurant that they never would have known about otherwise—that makes me feel so good about what I’ve been doing!
How do you stay connected to food and learn about new restaurants and purveyors?
I am constantly doing research! I will spend hours reading different resources to see what is going on, from social media and magazines, to local events and restaurants. Then, I look into each one further. Social media has become a huge resource for connecting and staying connected with people.
So many wonderful memories can be made around cooking and sharing food. How do you connect to and foster community around food?
I feed off of the passion I see from others! When I see someone excited about what they are doing, what they are making or what products they are selling, I love to learn more. I like to speak to people, get to know them, hear their stories and learn what motivates them. I have driven hours for a freshly made ravioli, perfectly crafted sandwich or fresh croissant. Those are just a couple of examples. As I’ve continued to meet more people, they’ve continued to connect me with others and it’s grown from there.
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If you could have a meal with anyone, who would it be?
Definitely Anthony Bourdain!
What food could you eat every night and never tire of?
I don’t think I can choose just one…I prefer to have something different every night. I could probably narrow things down to the top 5 or 10 food items I like to have regularly.
What food/snack/meal reminds you of your childhood?
Rouladen from Mountain Brahaus in Gardiner. Chocolate Mousse from Mama Mexico in NYC (unfortunately, it’s now closed). Moose Tracks ice cream.
Name three things you always have in your fridge or pantry.
Quality butter, fresh pasta and cheese.
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What music do you like to listen to when you cook? Wait – do you cook, or do you eat out?
HA! I love to cook when I have friends and family over, but I mainly go out to eat during the week and on the weekends. I am a huge fan of early 2000s hits—either in my own kitchen or on the way to a restaurant in my car.
What is the best meal you’ve ever had?
I can’t decide on just one! Here are a few that come to mind:
Nicholas Leiss, Farm 2 Chef’s Table, Cornucopia Dinner at Hover Farms in Columbia County.
The Modestos at Callisto Farm in High Falls.
The tasting menu at Cozna in Annecy, France.
Bruto in Denver, Colorado.
Press in St. Helena, California.
In your opinion, what makes a dish great? What is your go-to comfort food?
Quality, fresh products – some of the most amazing things I’ve tasted don’t have a huge amount of ingredients, but the quality is the best. My mom is an amazing cook, so I love anything she makes – chili, Swedish meatballs, soups, sauce, etc.
Where, in your opinion, is the best place to travel for a foodie vacation (other than the Hudson Valley, of course)?
I would be on the first flight to Europe – Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Greece – love them all!
What are you most proud of when it comes to Hudson Valley Eats?
When someone asks me for recommendations, I love to introduce them to a restaurant that they didn’t know before, whether they are a local or someone out of town visiting.
What are you working on right now that you’re excited about?
I am so excited for spring to be here and for all of the farmers’ markets to open again. Luckily, some are open all year round, so I’ve been able to go to those, but I love the full farmers market experience with fresh produce, flowers and sunshine. I want to do more to spotlight different farmers and makers this year.
What is your current state of mind?
Optimistic, adventurous and excited for what’s to come!
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All photos by Eryn Veronesi. Follow Hudson-Valley-Eats on Instagram
Click HERE to see all of our exclusive interviews with the amazing folks who proudly call the Hudson Valley home.
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