What Makes Good Food, Great?

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

This post was authored by the one and only Shannon McKinney (aka Dad), owner of McKinney & Doyle, in April of 2015.

One of my favorite duties at McKinney and Doyle is creating new dishes for our menus.  I’ve got it made when you think about.  I have access to almost any ingredient I need through our suppliers and 3 walk in coolers What Makes Good Food, Great?filled with fresh seafood, meats, vegetables, cheese, herbs and spices.  Plus I have a wonderful group of chefs and prep cooks that make sure plenty of onions, potatoes and carrots are already cleaned and peeled, stocks are ready to use and when it comes time to clean up?  well, lets just say that aside from wiping down the table I used, that gets done for me too.  Not a bad gig if you can get it.Continue Reading

10 Must Read Blog Posts for Easter

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

If you ask me, Easter is underrated in terms of food. It’s overshadowed by Thanksgiving and Christmas but the truth is, spring cuisine is hard to beat and it’s about time that this Sunday’s holiday got some well Easter treatsdeserved foodie recognition. From brunch to dinner and all the snacks in between, Easter is full of delicacies and the following blog posts from some of my favorite sources will help you start to see all the glorious foodie potential that Easter has to offer.

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Ten Books All Foodies Should Read

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

A picture may say a thousand words but nothing tells a story quite like a book. I’ve always loved the food The Making of a Chefindustry. It’s hard not to when you parents have such a passion for it. But I think my passion really took off after my dad recommended I read one of his favorite books; “The Making of a Chef, Mastering Heat at The Culinary Institute of America”  by Michael Ruhlman. Continue Reading