Oui Oui Cuisine
2 Eliza Street, Beacon
After building a following inside the Hudson Valley Food Hall, Oui Oui Cuisine has moved into its own brick-and-mortar space at 2 Eliza Street in Beacon, taking over the former home of Afghan restaurant Nansense. The project from husband-and-wife team Georges and Laura Goba-Byrne began as a pastel-pink food trailer before evolving into the food hall stall, where their playful blend of French cafe fare and American comfort food quickly drew a loyal crowd.
The Beacon restaurant keeps much of that familiar menu intact. Croque sandwiches, French onion soup, steak frites, and brisket poutine remain staples, alongside pastries and café-style breakfast items that nod to the couple’s French influences. The new kitchen also allows for a slightly expanded lineup of small plates and specials. For fans who discovered Oui Oui at the food hall—or at pop-ups and catering events around the region—the move mainly means more space, more seating, and more opportunities to drop in for its easygoing Franco-American comfort cooking.
Shake Shack
35 Winslow Gate Road, Poughkeepsie
The global burger chain founded by restaurateur Danny Meyer now has a foothold in Poughkeepsie. Shake Shack opened a new location at Hudson Heritage Plaza across from Marist University, bringing its fast-casual take on classic roadside fare to one of the region’s busiest commercial corridors.
Known for its ShackBurger, crinkle-cut fries, chicken sandwiches, and frozen custard shakes, the New York–born brand built its reputation on upgrading the fast-food formula with higher-quality ingredients and a slightly more polished approach to the classic burger stand. The Poughkeepsie restaurant marks the company’s latest expansion in the Hudson Valley, joining existing locations in places like Woodbury Common and nearby Danbury, Connecticut. For local diners, the arrival adds another recognizable name to the Route 9 dining strip—one that promises burgers, shakes, and a reliably brisk line at the counter.
Tiny Town Market
920 Route 82, Ancram
Just off the Taconic Parkway in the hamlet of West Taghkanic, a renovated barn has become home to Tiny Town Farm Store & Grocer, a small but thoughtfully stocked market founded by Alejandra and Peter Stewart in partnership with restaurateur Chul Kim. The shop blends everyday staples with a curated selection of Hudson Valley products, creating the feel of a modern rural general store.
Shelves feature dairy from Ronnybrook and regional cheesemakers, mushrooms from Tivoli Mushrooms, honey from Taconic Range Apiary, and meats from farms such as Kinderhook and Overlook, alongside pantry items like preserved lemons, za’atar, and specialty spices.
The project grew out of the founders’ move from Brooklyn and their desire to build something rooted in the local food community. More than a farm stand, the store aims to function as a neighborhood pantry and gathering spot for residents and travelers passing through Columbia County.
Sixside Market
33 Academy Street, Poughkeepsie
Inside the sprawling industrial building that houses the Academy, a new community marketplace is beginning to take shape. Sixside Market, launched in March by Jordan Schinella and Damel Harrison, brings together farmers, food vendors, and local makers for a recurring indoor market aimed at turning Saturdays in Poughkeepsie into a gathering place for the city.
The idea grew out of the pair’s work inside the Academy’s kitchens and events program, where they saw both the potential of the space and the absence of a thriving community market in the city. Early editions of the market have featured about 20 vendors selling everything from prepared foods to locally made goods, with organizers aiming to curate a balanced mix rather than overcrowding any one category.
For Harrison, who previously cooked at Hudson Valley destinations like Hotel Kinsley and Inness, the long-term vision is bigger than a pop-up market. Future plans include a restaurant inside the building that cooks directly with ingredients sourced from market vendors—connecting the farmers selling carrots or potatoes with the dishes coming out of the kitchen.
Cookbook Social
May 2 at the Fuller Building in Kingston
In an era when recipes are only a Google search away, Kingston’s upcoming Cookbook Social argues that cookbooks still matter—because they carry stories, memories, and the voices of the people who wrote them. Hosted by cookbook author Rebecca Ffrench of Upstate Table and food editor Jenna Helwig, the May 2 gathering brings together 13 cookbook authors for an afternoon devoted to food writing and the culture surrounding it.
The event begins with onstage conversations about how cookbooks are made and why they continue to resonate, before shifting into a more relaxed reception where guests can meet authors, sample dishes, and purchase signed books through Rough Draft Bar & Books. Seasonal Hudson Valley ingredients will feature prominently, with chef Lee Kalpakis preparing dishes inspired by cookbook recipes. Proceeds from the event will also support the Kingston YMCA Farm Project.
This article appears in April 2026.
