Since the day The Valley Table first put thoughts to print in 1998, food has remained priority number one. More to the point, the relationships surrounding food are – and have always been – the chief focus. From writing about anticipated new restaurants and seasonal ingredients to interviewing talented local makers and sharing delectable, healthy recipes, we relish the opportunity to share the Hudson Valley’s culinary talents with our community of hungry readers. That’s why we couldn’t be more thrilled to announce that The Valley Table magazine and Hudson Valley Restaurant Week are now members of the Today Media family.
As many loyal readers likely know by now, The Valley Table got its start in the Hudson Valley in 1998, when husband-and-wife duo Janet Crawshaw and Jerry Novesky sought to give a voice to local chefs, farmers, and makers. Eight years later, they launched Hudson Valley Restaurant Week to share the Hudson Valley’s rich culinary offerings with the foodie community even further.
Like The Valley Table, Today Media also has longstanding roots in the region. After getting started as a newspaper and printing company in 1948, it expanded across five states to publish four monthly lifestyle magazines, including Delaware Today, Hudson Valley Magazine, Main Line Today, and Westchester Magazine. It also produces more than 10 specialty publications and hosts dozens of highly anticipated signature events, like Hudson Valley Magazine’s Burger & Beer Bash in August and Westchester Magazine’s weeklong Wine & Food Festival.
Now part of the Today Media family, The Valley Table and Hudson Valley Restaurant Week will further enrich a shared mission to tell the stories of food, restaurants, and the people who make them possible.
“This acquisition enables Today Media to expand its audience and build on The Valley Table’s success while honoring the mission and values that have made Valley Table an authority in its specialty,” enthuses Michael Martinelli, Today Media’s Hudson Valley Group Publisher. “It will also bring together two of the largest, most iconic food events in the region, as many of the restaurants that participate in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week will also be featured at Westchester Magazine’s Wine & Food Festival, June 4-9.”
As Martinelli notes, this summer is going to be a momentous one for Today Media, The Valley Table, and the Hudson Valley community as a whole. Beginning with the Wine & Food Festival in June, the publication family kicks off its summer series of events, which also include the Best of Westchester Party on July 24, Hudson Valley Magazine’s Burger & Beer Bash on August 15, Westchester Magazine’s Wingfest on September 26, and the Best of Hudson Valley Party on October 10. Once those wrap, Hudson Valley Restaurant Week returns for a flavorful fall season from November 4 to 17.
Regarding the acquisition announcement, The Valley Table publisher and Hudson Valley Restaurant Week co-founder Janet Crawshaw notes, “Today Media’s deep roots in the Hudson Valley and its expertise in publishing make it the perfect fit for carrying on and growing The Valley Table magazine, its digital platforms, and Restaurant Week event.”
So what does it all mean for food-loving residents in the Hudson Valley?
Even more wining and dining, of course. As publication continues for both Today Media and The Valley Table, locals can look forward to even more food features, insider dining tips, and restaurant profiles. On the event spectrum, Today Media’s food-filled fests and Hudson Valley Restaurant Week will be even bigger and better than ever before, thanks to new, expanded collaborations and partnerships with local restaurants and chefs.
“It’s no coincidence that we are seeing world-class restaurants and top-tier chefs planting their flags throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley,” observes Peter X. Kelly of Xaviars Restaurant Group and the Hudson Valley Restaurant Week Advisory Board. “The culinary landscape has evolved over the years, and it will only get better.”