Pasta by Hudson founder and president Brandon Fay opened his Chelsea location late last year, at a time when COVID-19 hadn’t crested to anyone’s lasting satisfaction, and the vaccine was months away from the point of mass public access. The opening of any small business–anywhere, at any point in time, is a risk–but Pasta by Hudson (named for Brandon’s daughter, not the West Side river) bet big, opening up when extraordinary circumstances were forcing other mom and pop shops to give up. Just over six months later, Brandon and crew are going strong, serving fresh, consistently delicious meals made on-site. Chelsea Community News recently quizzed Pasta by Hudson’s prime mover and shaker, whose constant presence at the store’s outside dining structure might find him cleaning tables, taking orders, chatting up out-of-towners, or charming regulars. (True to form, like so many other small business owners who are viable, visible parts of the community, he prefers to be referred to by his first name).
Chelsea Community News Editor & Staff (CCNews): What was your opening date, for the Chelsea location?
Brandon Fay, Founder/President: We opened Pasta By Hudson Chelsea [180 Seventh Ave. btw. W. 20th and 21st Sts.] on November 22, 2020, which was the Sunday before Thanksgiving. I remember very clearly thinking, “We go opening on the eve of Thanksgiving week, this is very serendipitous and ironic.” It wasn’t planned, and here we are at the height of the pandemic, opening on what should be a beautiful holiday week. It was a crazy time in the city. Parts of New York City were still “surging” from COVID-19, long lines on every corner to get a rapid test for COVID. The whole city was tired from being stuck inside for almost a year.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, people were going to get tested and mass exit the City for the holiday. Sure enough, that Monday, the city was a ghost town. By the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the long lines for City MD and Urgent Care were all but gone, and another million-plus people left the city. And Pasta By Hudson Chelsea was now open: The brown paper that once covered the windows are down, changing the landscape of Chelsea with fresh pasta to go, in a Chinese-style container.
CCNews: How did you find the space, and how did it match your needs?
Brandon: Pasta by Hudson Chelsea only had about 14 seats inside. There were many restrictions on indoor dinning, and we didn’t have outdoor dinning yet—but the foundation of Pasta By Hudson was built on delivery, pick-up, and take-out. In that sense, we were built for the restrictions of the pandemic. We have a very small footprint, approx. 400 Square Feet, so food to go was our sweet spot. Now, with the city being empty, we would be one of the very few new restaurants to actually open in NYC at the height of the pandemic—or a post-COVID world.
CCNews: Yeah, why did you open up in the middle of a pandemic?
Brandon: The city needed something to smile about, something to distract them from the same old routine of leaving their homes wearing plastic gloves and a mask and sanitizing their grocery shopping. This was also the height of the U.S. Presidential election. It was a very challenging time.
The opening of PBH was official and VERY well-received. I kept to the basics of my core values of hospitality and business. I made it a point to greet every single person with a fresh-baked chocolate chip cookie and a very warm smile. I met a lot of GREAT people in Chelsea. Shared a lot of stories. The most common thing I heard was, “Wow, welcome to the neighborhood” and, “Isn’t this is a really bad time to open a restaurant?” Despite hearing that, I smiled and kept cooking.
For me, personally, this was the best time. My Columbus Circle store [in Turnstile Underground Market] was closed. It still is, and I’m hoping to reopen this fall. With the Chelsea location, I was going to bet on NYC. I wanted to be a part of the rebirth. I wanted to be one of the reasons people smiled. I made fresh pasta, thin-crust pizzas. I cook with fresh vegetables and lots of fresh herbs, about 5-10 pounds of basil and parsley a day. If you know how much herbs weigh, you know that’s a lot, HA! I only use Maldon sea salt. I knew if I stuck to my number one ingredient, which is cooking with lots of love, we’d be a smashing success. No one else in NYC is cooking with fresh pasta in a fast, casual setting in a take-out style container, with as many options for sides and different sauces. We literally make our pasta fresh every day, in-house. We have four different pasta, and you can pick and choose your pasta shape with whatever sauce you like. We give great value and very generous portions. We managed to give the quality of a full-service, five-star restaurant in a very casual environment. Our Cheesy Meatball, as seen on ABC’s Shark Tank, is a huge hit. “Mr. Wonderful” himself said, “The best meatball I’ve ever had.” We literally stuff our meatball with an ounce of fresh mozzarella. We sell about 100 meatballs a day.
CCNews: What are the most popular items on the menu?
Brandon: From the Columbus circle location our Rigatoni Vodka sauce with white wine fennel sausage Bolognese recipe has not changed. It has a cult following and is still the number one selling dish. That’s a must-try. Our signature thin-crust pizza is a new edition to the menu, with hits like the Prosciutto de Parma and Arugula Pizza. The prosciutto is served over a bed of organic arugula topped with shaved Parmesan and drizzled with a balsamic glaze. Then Vodka Chicken Parm Pizza or just the classic Margherita is a huge hit. Again we use lots and lots of fresh herbs everywhere and we only finish all of our pastas and pizza with Maldon sea salt, which is some of the best sea salt you can use. I joke and say, “Maldon sea salt is an actual food group!” It’s a superfood. I can eat it by itself all day long, LOL.
When I opened the outside dining, I wanted to make sure it was a reflection of the quality of our food and extension of our beautiful indoor dinning room and open, newly built kitchen. I think I succeeded, lol. We now have one of the most-photographed outside gazebos on all of Seventh Ave. All day long, people stop and take photos. I wanted to make sure I made Chelsea proud to have a beautiful street cafe on Seventh. It’s intimate, with a lot of beautiful flowers, and you feel like you’re eating under a pergola set on a hilltop in Tuscany. You almost forget that the NYC yellow cabs and local delivery trucks are in the background. We really created something special. Our outside gazebo is available for outdoor dinning and can be booked privately for a few hours for any special event.
We are very grateful that we get to cook for a really great community. There really is no other place like Chelsea. It reminds me of the good old days. People walk in my restaurant just to say hello, share a smile and laugh, and get a quick taste of something we just made fresh.
CCNews: How has business been?
Brandon: Well, when we opened, it was slow. Many times, I doubted what the outcome would be. But I stuck to it, keeping focused and making sure we delivered an excellent product; that we made people laugh and their bellies smile. Eventually, we would get over that first big hurdle that any new restaurant faces, pandemic or no pandemic. Getting established, finding solid ground, working through all the hiccups, organizing the place and figuring out what works and what doesn’t. And boy, did a lot of things not work. Ha!
We made it through December—and by the time January came around, we had noticed one big change: People were back. Slowly but surely, the city was coming back to life. Week after week, business was growing. Fast forward to April, and there was actually traffic in the city again. We went from using one 50-pound bag of flour a week to make our fresh pasta to 2-3 bags a day.
Pasta by Hudson Chelsea opened in November—and now, we’re a real part of the neighborhood. People tell us that, and we feel it every day. I know now more than ever, people need to smile and eat. I know I offer a delicious menu that is great for pick-up and delivery as well as dine-in. We now have a wine bar. We offer Italian hidden gems and locally sourced beer on draft as well as a Boozy Slushie Bar. The Slushies are huge hit! I truly believe in Pasta by Hudson Chelsea, and I know we are going to be around for a very long time!
Chelsea Community News is made possible with the help of our awesome advertisers, and the support of our readers. If you like what you see, please consider taking part in our GoFundMe campaign (click here). To make a direct donation, give feedback, or send a Letter to the Editor, email scott@chelseacommunitynews.com.
Pingback: securecheats halo hacks
Pingback: undetected rust cheats
Pingback: apex wallhack
Pingback: pubg cheats
Pingback: undetected vanguard cheats
Pingback: download unlock tool
Pingback: micro french bulldog
Pingback: isla mujeres golf cart rental
Pingback: french bulldog rescue
Pingback: designer dogs
Pingback: esports domain
Pingback: porn
Pingback: blockchain
Pingback: best probiotic for french bulldogs
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: 스포츠분석
Pingback: 무료스포츠중계
Pingback: dog yorkie mix
Pingback: french bulldog shih tzu mix
Pingback: micro american bullies
Pingback: mixed breed pomeranian chihuahua
Pingback: porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: live sex cams
Pingback: live webcam girls
Pingback: بطاقه ايوا
Pingback: spam
Pingback: houston french bulldogs for sale
Pingback: Honeywell
Pingback: atizapán de zaragoza clima
Pingback: clima en chimalhuacan
Pingback: hd porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: hd porn
Pingback: french bulldog adoption
Pingback: clima en chimalhuacan
Pingback: atizapán de zaragoza clima
Pingback: cuautitlan izcalli clima
Pingback: clima en chimalhuacan
Pingback: cuautitlan izcalli clima
Pingback: atizapán de zaragoza clima
Pingback: atizapán de zaragoza clima
Pingback: atizapán de zaragoza clima
Pingback: clima en neza
Pingback: condiciones climaticas queretaro
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: nj fertility acupuncture
Pingback: french bulldog for sale
Pingback: registry dog
Pingback: floodle puppies for sale
Pingback: floodle
Pingback: houston tx salons
Pingback: in vitro fertilization mexico
Pingback: french bulldog texas
Pingback: french pitbull puppy
Pingback: texas heeler
Pingback: live cam sex
Pingback: cheap adult webcams
Pingback: free nude chat
Pingback: french bulldog puppies for sale $200
Pingback: blue french bulldog
Pingback: de zaragoza
Pingback: chimalhuacan
Pingback: izcalli
Pingback: chanel dog bowl
Pingback: mzplay
Pingback: child porn kingroyal
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: Instagram URL Shortener
Pingback: hp servis izmir
Pingback: karşıyaka psikolog
Pingback: Kim oldugumu bılıyorsun
Pingback: silivri avukat
Pingback: meritking ( haberi kaldırın pişman olursunuz )
Pingback: meritking şikayetvar
Pingback: onur özden anti seo çalışmaları
Pingback: çorlu klima servisi
Pingback: meritking news
Pingback: meritking gir
Pingback: meritking giriş
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: child porn watch
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: yapay kızlık zarı
Pingback: geciktirici kremler
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: ankara psikolog
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: cristiano ronaldo skills
Pingback: football skills
Pingback: kütahya günlük apart
Pingback: takipçi satın al tumblr
Pingback: porn
Pingback: web tasarım fiyatları
Pingback: Buy instagram followers
Pingback: itme.xyz
Pingback: kütahya günlük apart daire
Pingback: MasumINTL
Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
Pingback: track location by phone number
Pingback: Bulk URL Shortener
Pingback: masumintl.com
Pingback: itme.xyz
Pingback: Konya Evden Eve Nakliyat
Pingback: Konya Evden Eve Nakliyat
Pingback: FB URL Shortener
Pingback: ItMe.Xyz
Pingback: Konya SEO Uzmanı
Pingback: Konya SEO Uzmanı
Pingback: fuck google
Pingback: gaziantep saat tamiri
Pingback: inovapin.com
Pingback: alintilarım tumblr
Pingback: prague erotic massage
Pingback: prague tantra massage
Pingback: sakakrizi tumblr
Pingback: gece tumblr
Pingback: sex
Pingback: rize tumblr
Pingback: gebze epoksi zemin kaplama
Pingback: istanbul dental teknik servis
Pingback: sex
Pingback: sultangazi rent a car
Pingback: ankara travesti ilanları
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: children porn
Pingback: fuck
Pingback: ankaratravesti.xyz
Pingback: edebiyat tumblr
Pingback: ankara travesti
Pingback: anal porno
Pingback: bugatti tumblr
Pingback: kadinlar
Pingback: bmw
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: 918kiss
Pingback: pg slot
Pingback: porn
Pingback: anal porn
Pingback: fuck google
Pingback: anal porn
Pingback: bursa travesti
Pingback: denizli masaj salonu
Pingback: porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: 918kiss
Pingback: casino porna
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: Kuliah Mudah
Pingback: samsung taşınabilir ssd
Pingback: افضل جامعة يمنية
Pingback: Queen Arwa University EDURank
Pingback: Queen Arwa University digital identity
Pingback: مجلة جامعة الملكة أروى
Pingback: live cam sex
Pingback: iyibilirdik
Pingback: spinco
Pingback: Kampus Tertua
Pingback: live webcam sex
Pingback: cheap amateur webcams
Pingback: live cam sex
Pingback: free cam girls
Pingback: cheap webcam sex
Pingback: live adult webcams
Pingback: porn
Pingback: animal porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: anal porn
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: animal porn
Pingback: jojobet twitter
Pingback: jojobet
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: moscow jobs
Pingback: tokyo jobs
Pingback: london jobs
Pingback: porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: casino porna
Pingback: porn
Pingback: bu site sitemap tarafından güncellenmiştir
Pingback: itsMasum.Com
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: Bu website sitemap ile güçlendirilmiştir
Pingback: kralbet
Pingback: yasam ayavefe
Pingback: sikiş
Pingback: izmir travesti
Pingback: porn
Pingback: istanbul travesti
Pingback: hd porno izle
Pingback: porno izleme sitesi
Pingback: elazığ escort
Pingback: erzincan escort
Pingback: etiler escort
Pingback: eyüpsultan escort
Pingback: fethiye escort
Pingback: gaziemir escort
Pingback: gaziosmanpaşa escort
Pingback: izmir travesti
Pingback: sex
Pingback: çeşme transfer
Pingback: porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: bağcılar escort
Pingback: porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: xxlargeseodigi
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: fuck porn
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: izmir escort
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: Grandpashabet
Pingback: porn
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: сука пари
Pingback: сука пари
Pingback: детские азартные игры
Pingback: детские азартные игры
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: meritking giriş
Pingback: madridbet
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: porn
Pingback: ギャンブル
Pingback: ギャンブル
Pingback: madridbet
Pingback: fuck google
Pingback: okey oyna
Pingback: sikiş
Pingback: fuck google
Pingback: madridbet
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: Grandpashabet
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: buy propecia walgreens
Pingback: buy propecia ebay
Pingback: zamazingo1
Pingback: logilogilogi
Pingback: madridbet
Pingback: meriking
Pingback: porno}
Pingback: A片
Pingback: stromectol ivermectin 3 mg
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: 1civilization
Pingback: ivermectin ivermectinst
Pingback: stromectol pills
Pingback: bahis siteleri
Pingback: topical ivermectin for scabies
Pingback: ivermectin ebay
Pingback: ivermectin lotion
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: grandpashabet
Pingback: fuck google
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: ivermectin usa price
Pingback: child porn
Pingback: ivermectin japan
Pingback: ivermectin 3mg
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: elexusbet
Pingback: eurocasino
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: madritbet
Pingback: stromectol covid
Pingback: ivermectin 6 mg tablets
Pingback: order stromectol online
Pingback: luckylands
Pingback: madridbet
Pingback: cost of stromectol medication
Pingback: ivermectin 50ml
Pingback: ivermectin lotion 0.5
Pingback: eurocasino
Pingback: eurocasino
Pingback: where can i buy ivermectin
Pingback: ivermectin antiviral
Pingback: buy lasix furosemide
Pingback: trcasino
Pingback: eurocasino
Pingback: can i buy furosemide online
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: ivermectin over the counter uk
Pingback: mylan tadalafil
Pingback: stromectol generic name
Pingback: get stromectol online
Pingback: tadalafil femme
Pingback: where to buy ivermectin in canada
Pingback: ivermectin tablets over counter
Pingback: stromectol 5 mg
Pingback: how to get cialis prescription online canada
Pingback: uttar pradesh ivermectin
Pingback: buy cialis without a prescription
Pingback: ivermectin powder
Pingback: cialis best price
Pingback: buy generic viagra online without prescription
Pingback: cialis 20mg online
Pingback: tadalafil cost walgreens
Pingback: biggest no deposit welcome bonus
Pingback: ivermectina oral
Pingback: ivermectin tablets uk
Pingback: stromectol usa
Pingback: cialis super active
Pingback: best online casinos usa
Pingback: eurocasino
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: revatio sildenafil
Pingback: cialis with dapoxetine
Pingback: side effects of prednisone in humans
Pingback: ivermectin medication
Pingback: cialis generic medication
Pingback: cialis generic medication
Pingback: tadalafilo
Pingback: tadalafil generic availability
Pingback: levitra vs cialis reddit
Pingback: Esport
Pingback: buy cialis online no prescription
Pingback: covid pill
Pingback: tadalafil prescription price
Pingback: cost of prednisone 20mg
Pingback: prednisone 20mg
Pingback: tombala siteleri
Pingback: generic cialis walgreens price
Pingback: tadalafil dosages
Pingback: cialis generic
Pingback: where to purchase sildenafil pills
Pingback: ivermectin tablets uk
Pingback: where to buy cialis otc
Pingback: sildenafil citrate tablets
Pingback: super cialis
Pingback: baymavi
Pingback: baymavi
Pingback: canadian online pharmacy
Pingback: where to buy generic cialis in usa
Pingback: daily generic cialis
Pingback: ivermectin cost uk
Pingback: best price genuine viagra
Pingback: purchase cialis online
Pingback: generic viagra name
Pingback: ivermectin goodrx
Pingback: cost of stromectol medication
Pingback: tadalafil online
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: elexusbet
Pingback: alternative to cialis
Pingback: prednisone 40mg cheap
Pingback: meritking
Pingback: madridbet
Pingback: meritroyalbet
Pingback: ivermectin ontario
Pingback: ignition casino in the us
Pingback: ivermectin
Pingback: flccc ivermectin
Pingback: cost of ivermectin
Pingback: Anonymous
Pingback: Anonymous
Pingback: buy ivermectin online
Pingback: p6448#Let's talk about health care? (Page 1) – Discussions générales – Forums - Totems-Scouts.be
Pingback: New York Weed Dispensary
Pingback: For Three Small Businesses, Chelsea is Their Choice for a ‘Second’ Chance – Chelsea Community News
Pingback: Crop of Shops Proves That Chelsea Wins When it Comes in ‘Second’ – Chelsea Community News
Pingback: หลังคาชิงเกิ้ลรูฟ
Pingback: en iyi casino siteleri
Pingback: replicas breitling gents watches
Pingback: Replica rolex swiss knockoff
Pingback: ruger sr9 for sale
Pingback: Drag is the New Superstar on Pasta by Hudson’s Menu – Chelsea Community News