Guacamole on Fleek

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)

Hey party people! Happy Fourth of July weekend! I know you are all probably just as excited about a Guacamole long weekend as I am so I’ll keep today’s post short, sweet, and super valuable. I get a lot of questions in my inbox about making reservations at McKinney and Doyle, wine suggestions, and favorite cocktails. But the one question that I get more often than any others is … how do you make McKinney and Doyle guacamole?!Continue Reading

Happy Father’s Day! Spoil Dad With This Recipe

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)

Happy (early) Father’s Day! Aside from possibly embarrassing my dad with one of my all time favorite photos of him, I want to take today to help you spoil your own father on Sunday. Now, when I think FullSizeRender-1Mother’s Day, I immediately think brunch (this is obviously true of many because Mother’s Day brunch at the restaurant is always pure insanity). But when I think Father’s Day, my mind goes right to barbeque. Whether or not that’s how you plan to celebrate this weekend doesn’t matter because the recipe I’m going to share with you is sure to be a hit.Continue Reading

Be the Belle of the (BBQ) Ball

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)

Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone which means it’s officially summer, right? Well it is in my book anyway. Over the Bell of the BBQ Ballweekend across the country, grills were sparked up for their kickoff barbeque, beaches opened to the public, and we went ham on burgers, hot dogs, and pasta salad. Ready or not, grilling season is here. It’s amazing how much better a burger tastes when it comes off a piping hot grill, don’t you think? But it seems that less and less people are kicking it old school with charcoal these days and it’s a shame. Some people may consider charcoal grills to be too high maintenance but I think they’re great. Plus, there are some major benefits to using charcoal compared to gas and so if you’re not on board yet, you may think again after today’s post.Continue Reading

You HAVE to Try This Pasta Trick

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)

So you guys know by now that I’m a foodie turned health nut. Don’t worry this blog will never focus on kale and quinoa (though I do love enjoying both of those ingredients on a regular basis). However, from time to time I may share some fun chef tricks that You HAVE to try this pasta trickdon’t include adding more butter, oil, or sugar. Like today! I am going to share a cooking hack with you that will make every pasta dish you ever prepare taste even more decadent and lush and it all starts with the water.Continue Reading