Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

Four upstate chefs nominated by the James Beard Foundation

Four upstate chefs nominated by the James Beard Foundation

Stissing House in Pine Plains.

Christine Bates

The semifinalists for the James Beard Awards were announced Jan. 24.

In the Best Chefs in New York State category, four upstate chefs were recognized: Clare de Boer of Stissing House in Pine Plains, Doris Choi of Good Night in Woodstock, Shaina Loew-Banayan of Café Mutton in Hudson and Chris Mauricio of Harana Market in Accord. The final nominees will be announced in April, followed by an awards ceremony with the winners in June, complete with a red carpet, lifetime achievement awards, and lots of chefs wearing aprons.

Also, like the Oscars, the selection process and the judges who decide the winners are not revealed. FAQs on the foundation’s website state, “The Voting Body, including judges chosen for their expertise per program, then reviews and votes on the eligible entries to determine the nominees and winners, as applicable to each program.”

The yearly James Beard Foundation Awards include wide recognition in many categories including best chef, best restaurant, best new restaurant, outstanding bar, outstanding wine programs, pastry chefs, hospitality, and bakery. Last year, Stissing House was a semifinalist for Best New Restaurant along with 29 other eateries across the country, and that’s just one category. The Best New Restaurant winner last year was Kann, in the Pacific Northwest, serving Haitian-inspired cuisine.

The New York Times publishes its own list of 50 Best Restaurants and included Stissing House among only five restaurants in New York, including New York City, in its 2023 list.

Christine Bates

Latest News

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Voters wait in a line that stretch out the door to receive their ballots at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voting machines had recorded a total of more than 700 ballots cast in Millerton by 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

Democratic candidates in northeast Dutchess County succeeded along with their counterparts in state and federal elections. Voters turned out to express dissatisfaction with a turbulent economy, the Trump administration and — in the case of Pine Plains's race for Town Supervisor — issues with transparency and police surveillance.

Pine Plains was the only town in northeast Dutchess County with a contested Town Supervisor race. Republican incumbent Brian Walsh, seeking his third reelection, lost to Democratic challenger Trevor Roush. Roush is a sitting Town Board member who was first elected to the board in November 2025.

Keep ReadingShow less
elections

The Millerton News - November 5, 2026

The Millerton News - November 5, 2026

Download directly

Eric Alexander wins County Legislature reelection campaign

Eric Alexander wins County Legislature reelection campaign

County Legislator Eric Alexander leads a meeting of the Dutchess County Legislature's Public Safety Committee on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Alexander represents the towns of Amenia, Washington, the Village of Millbrook and a portion of the Town of Pleasant Valley

Photo by Aly Morrissey

Democratic candidates made gains and held ground across Northern Dutchess County in elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

County Legislator Eric Alexander has retained his seat after winning against Republican challenger Stefanie Hubert. As of 10:15 p.m., Alexander had secured 56.8% of the vote.

Keep ReadingShow less
elections
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

A Halloween scream with David Arquette

A Halloween scream with David Arquette

David Arquette, left, talks with moderator Victor Dandridge during “Behind the Scream” at the Warner Theatre in Torrington on Oct. 31.

D.H. Callahan

This December marks the 30th anniversary of Wes Craven’s “Scream,” one of the most influential movies in horror history. On Saturday, Oct. 31, David Arquette, one of the film’s stars, came to the Warner Theatre in Torrington for a Halloween screening and conversation billed as “Behind the Scream.”

“Scream” was met with critical praise when it premiered in 1996, with many noting its satirical, self-aware look at the horror genre without the usual trappings of camp or kitsch. Featuring a cast of mid-1990s A-listers including Drew Barrymoore, Matthew Lillard, Rose McGowan, Liev Schreiber, Neve Campbell and “Friends” star Courteney Cox, the movie was destined to be part of the cinematic zeitgeist.

Keep ReadingShow less
film

After 30 years, Dave Jones is shifting into lower gear

After 30 years, Dave Jones is shifting into lower gear


Now, 30 years later and in his late 60s, Jones is at the point in his life where he’s ‘figuring out how to land the plane.’

My husband and I first met Dave Jones in 2019, after we’d just moved into our house in Lakeville, a former auto repair garage with 14-foot-high ceilings that had been renovated into a residence. One day, when we woke up to a dead car battery, we called Lakeville Automotive, the nearest repair shop. Jones answered the phone a bit gruffly but then surprised us by showing up in half an hour to jump-start our car. We invited him inside for coffee, and looking around, he said with a grin that for 10 years, back in the day, he’d stored his Mazda Miata right in our living room.

Keep ReadingShow less
our community

A different kind of neighborhood bar

A different kind of neighborhood bar

Ryan Andrade brings his passion for inventive cocktails and neighborhood hospitality to Le Bar in Sharon.

D.H. Callahan

When Ryan Andrade moved back to the Tri-Corner region during the pandemic, he wasn’t looking to create a new kind of neighborhood bar. But by the time he connected with Robert Arbor of Le Gamin in Sharon, his vision was clear. In May, they brought that vision to life at a revitalized Le Bar.

Andrade grew up around Millerton, attending the Webutuck High School before heading to Western New England University, where he studied psychology. He’d been slinging coffee since high school but didn’t catch the cocktail bug until managing a cafe at the SoHo Grand Hotel, which, thanks to an international clientele accustomed to different time zones, had a morning bar service. It was there that Andrade discovered the seemingly infinite possibilities of the cocktail world. While there was only so much one could do with coffee, learning about the potential for cocktails, with their shelves and cabinets of curious ingredients, had Andrade feeling like a kid in a candy shop. It wasn’t long before he was seeking out mentors to teach him the industry secrets required of an innovative mixologist.

Keep ReadingShow less
business
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.