Hello Dear Community,

 

Welcome to our first official newsletter! 

 

As our menu begins to transition from peak summer produce to the first of fall harvest, we want to take this moment to mark a special milestone; 

six official months of serving you. 

 

Bushels of apples and squashes now fill our storerooms as we move deeper into October. The colorful leaves falling outside are a stark contrast to the cold, bleak spring day that we opened. The trees were barely budding then, a light snow was flurrying outside and there was much anticipation for the arrival of the first spring veggies and our first guests…it feels like both years ago and just yesterday. 

 

We quietly opened our doors on March 22nd of this year, just a few days after the spring equinox, welcoming a few friends and locals in for a commencing meal. Now, at the first frost, we find ourselves a complete growing season later; with a full dining room and deeper roots, as we move into the heart of leaf-peeping season. 

 

Time…and timing…is a funny thing.

 

Building Isabela has been, more than anything, a lesson in trusting right timing. She is a dream come to life, a dream originally seeded over seven years ago. And this little seed required many growing seasons before she was finally ready to sprout Earth side.

 

As I’m sure is no surprise to any of you, opening a restaurant is no walk in the park. Before coming to be as you currently know her, Isabela was deeply imagined, re-imagined and nearly launched in two different cities (two wildly different climates), six different spaces, and with five different sets of potential investors…all of which ultimately fell through at the eleventh hour; before the right mix of luck and hard work finally paid off. 

 

(Pour a glass of wine for Jose and he might just share this Odyssey in depth with you..)

 

The journey to opening Isabela has been a constant exercise in meeting each season as it comes, surrendering to uncertainty and recognizing the blessings when they arrive (even those that definitely do not look like blessings at the time). 

 

After the rain comes the flowers, right?

 

I say this only to illustrate how deeply we know that this is exactly where she is meant to be. It is an honor to join the community here in Amenia and to orient towards our mutual growth and shared flourishing. To everyone who has helped us build this place and make it our home: thank you. We look forward to continuing to nurture strong relationships with our producers and deepen friendships within our local community. 

 

Breaking bread and sharing a meal after all is one of the best ways to foster deep connection and bring people of all walks of life together under one roof. More of this please. Our aim is to weave Mother Nature’s magic with our own creativity, ground in a sense of place…and serve you something both beautiful and delicious, every single day.

 

 

Well, it was not an accident, possibly a magnetic pull, but most definitely a strategic choice. Isabela was envisioned as a cocina de cercanías which translates to “a kitchen of the nearby.” And Amenia has abundant offerings that allow us to do exactly that.

 

Here, we have access to ingredients at their absolute peak, harvested just minutes from the restaurant and arriving on your plate only hours or days out of the ground. It's a rare luxury in today’s global food system. And this, according to Jose, is the foundation of truly delicious flavor. 

 

Amenia also happens to sit in a uniquely connected spot in the tri-state area, where the Hudson Valley meets western Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts. Two major roads pass through the center of town, and the nearby Wassaic train stop on the Metro-North line makes it easily accessible for visitors coming up from New York City and beyond.

 

 

Isabela is the name of Jose’s hometown in Puerto Rico; a quiet surf town on the island’s west side. 

 

Some of us spend our whole lives rooted in the place we were born. Others of us carry that place with us, called to a more nomadic path through the world. In Jose’s case, it’s the latter. Jose chose to name his first solo project after his hometown as an homage to “bringing home with you, wherever you are”. 

 

And no, the food at Isabela (in Amenia) isn’t Puerto Rican. But if you’ve ever visited the island, you’ll recognize the spirit within it.

 

We have many stories to share and in the coming editions, you can expect producer spotlights, seasonal recipes, behind-the-scenes insights, industry talk, and more.

 

In the meantime, we look forward to seeing you at Isabela soon. 

 

Cheers!