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Meet Tina Zaccardi: The Woman Behind The Italian Cookie

Do you follow Tina Ziccardi Bakes, aka @theItalianCookie? Her media pages are loaded with baked deliciousness that is not only drool worthy, but is downright eye-candy perfection! Following her grand win on “The Great American Baking Show” Season 4 (Hulu), Augustina Zaccardi (Tina) became a bit of a local celebrity right here in Westchester. Her huge fan base from her hometown of Eastchester rooted her on with each baking challenge, becoming more difficult as each week passed. We all watch in amazement as contestants fly through the challenges on each food competition, but meeting with Zaccardi and listening to her describe what it is really like to be on a cooking show was enlightening. She described the experience, which filmed in England, to be competitive yet jovial and the contenders to have more comradery than might be expected in a contest pitting bakers against each other in difficult timed elimination assignments. Although they were in a heated competition, they became somewhat of a family and are still in close contact with each other today.

Beer, Booze, + BBQ: Here's What’s Happening at Captain Lawrence Barrel House

On the heels of renovating their Elmsford taproom and menu overhaul, then adding a distillery, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company’s expansion continues on the outskirts Downtown Mount Kisco.

Captain Lawrence Barrel House—sure to be dubbed Captain Lawrence Kisco by many—is different from the main brewery in terms of they’re not actually brewing beer or distilling spirits here. “Barrel House” should give away that this satellite version of Captain Lawrence is for barrel storage and aging booze produced by their distillery, Current Spirits. Whiskey, bourbon, single malt, and barrel-rested gin are all on the premises soaking up all those toasted oaky notes as we speak, and soon, giant oak foeders (pronounced food-ers) for aging sour beer will make their way into the back rooms.

And Captain Lawrence Barrel House isn’t just a honey hole for storage and aging, it’s there for your socializing and beer drinking enjoyment.

Visitors can expect 16 draft lines of mostly of Captain Lawrence beer, plus a few reserved for their own hard seltzer and a cider guest tap. Additionally, for non-craft beer nerds, there are three wines, pours and tasting flights of Current Spirits lineup of liquors, and canned cocktails, and mixed drinks like an old fashioned, spicy margarita, and a Moscow Mule.

As far as where to sip on your quaff, you have options. Pull up at the bar, grab a table in the dining room, or head out back where there’s an outdoor biergarten with obligatory picnic tables and string lights.

Once you pick which part of the Barrel House to post up at, pair your pint with some pub grub. Regulars of the main brewery will certainly recognize some of Kisco’s menu put in place by executive chef Forrest Pasternack (formerly of the lauded Bailey’s Backyard in Ridgefield, CT) who took over the reigns shortly after Tim Ocasio’s departure. Tacos, wings, a must-eat LaFrieda blend burger, and a fried chicken sandwich are familiar at both locations.