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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 July 2012

Created: 16 July 2012

Last Updated: 17 July 2012

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Before last week, I thought I had experienced about as much pizza as one diner could want – wood-fired, brick oven, clay oven, California pizza – you name it. So when a friend suggested we drive to Port Chester to check out a new pizza place, I couldn’t imagine why we needed to burn all that gas when there are so many great slices to be had right here in Scarsdale.

But in an effort to be accommodating I set a date to check out Coals, wood–grilled pizza. Yes, grilled not baked.

Though Coals has only been open for a few weeks we found the place hopping on a Friday night in July. The bar offers many beers on tap and by the bottle – and Coals changes their selection of microbrews all the time – so there’s always another one to taste. And if tasting is what you like to do, you can order a beer flight of four, four ounce samples for just $8. After I sipped a few from the flight, I settled on a tall frosted glass of Breckenridge Agave Wheat from Denver. When I turned around again the glass was empty and I accused my friend of downing it. I was quickly corrected and told that I had drained the glass -- and I didn’t even know I liked beer!

Now for the food – the menu is simple but appealing. There are large salads with nice greens and Italian cheeses, homemade mozzarella and grilled red peppers and a mixed green salad with a rich slab of gooey gorgonzola. But the chef's specialty is the pizza, so save room. They come on large plates – really too much for one person but when you go to Coals, you’ll find yourself eating too much.

A lover of truffle oil, I spotted the “Rustic” with fontinella, fresh mozzarella, roasted mushrooms and truffle oil – and did not offer to share it. Others at the table tried the “smokey joe” with fontinella, smoked mozzarella, tomato, pecorino and sweet onions as well as the “dean martin” which had fontinella, mozzarella, tomato pepperoni and pecorino. Since the dough is grilled on a grate over an open fire, it is flat, crusty and infused with the aroma of the warm fire. Add all of these fresh ingredients as toppings and you’re in for a treat.

To get the full Coals experience we were encouraged to try a dessert pizza and ordered the nutella pizza. For anyone who likes hazelnut this is a must.

Better yet – prices are reasonable. Appetizers ranged from $8 to $11 with pizzas from $11 to $15. It’s hard to think where you would get another meal as good for just $25.

Coals in Port Chester is actually the second pizza spot for Bill Etzel who opened the first Coals near Albert Einstein Hospital seven years ago. Etzel trained at the Institute for Culinary Education so though the atmosphere is casual, the food is sophisticated. Coals also offers hamburgers and will be adding a choice of sandwiches to their menu – but I assure you that if you go now, you’ll have a memorable meal.

Coals
35 1/2 North Main Street
Port Chester, New York 10573
914-305-3220
www.coalspizza.com

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Published: 22 August 2012

Created: 22 August 2012

Last Updated: 22 August 2012

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CEO of Steiner Sports, owner of Last Licks and Scarsdale resident Brandon Steiner, has written his second book, You Gotta Have Balls, which will be hitting the shelves this September. The book follows the story of how Brandon Steiner came from humble beginnings in Brooklyn to build his sports empire, supplying the reader with business tips along the way.

Given the number of business books out there, the question, “What makes this book unique?” becomes important. When asked this, Steiner explained that unlike other, analytical, cut-and-dry business books, this is a “story-telling book.” The real life situations explored in the book make the business ideas easier for readers to relate to. In addition, Steiner revealed that the book “gets past the obvious stuff,” and gets to the core of what makes a business a success.

Steiner stated that he hopes the book will give readers “a greater appreciation for entrepreneurism at its finest and purist” and “wider and improved view of sports marketing.” In addition, Steiner commented that this would not be his last book. He plans on possibly writing a book about parenting, in which he finds “good” parents and asks them for their secrets. Another one of his ideas is to write a table-top book with stories about some of the most famous autographs from his store and how they came about.

Steiner devotes much of his time and energy to improving the Westchester community. He contributes to many Westchester charities, including Family Services of Westchester, which was able to open two homes for homeless Westchester teenage boys and girls with Steiner’s help. In addition, the Steiner family hosted Keith Martinez for two years as part of the STEP program. STEP, a.k.a., the Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Plan, is an independent community program that identifies promising students of color and enables them to attend Scarsdale High School for their junior and senior years. Both of Steiner’s children attended Scarsdale High School.

If you want to see some sports memorabilia, or just get some ice-cream, you can stop by Last Licks, Steiner’s ice cream/sports memorabilia store in the Heathcote Five Corners.

To learn more about Brandon Steiner, click here.

Author: Jonathan Greenberg is a sophomore at Scarsale High School, where he writes for the school newspaper and plays baseball.

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Published: 05 July 2012

Created: 05 July 2012

Last Updated: 05 July 2012

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Greenacres celebrated another great Independence Day on the morning of July 4th with games, food, fun and a patriotic display. Though early morning rain threatened to cancel the well-planned event, skies cleared and the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, led by Kathy Steves, produced a morning of fun that was enjoyed by everyone from babies in strollers to seniors.

There were spoon races, a candy hunt, a three-legged race, a sack race, multiple heats of the dash, a foul shot contest, the Greenacres gallop and the famous water balloon toss. See the results of all contests below.

Brownies presented the flag and Greenacres' own Jon Ceske played taps on the trumpet. Then came the famous Greenacres Gallop and overheated participants were cooled with a water spray courtesy of the Scarsdale Fire Department. A visit from Mayor Flisser, County Executive Rob Astorino and Scarsdale Trustee Kay Eisenman, a Greenacres resident herself, topped off a celebratory day.

Photos courtesy of John Leslie. Contest results from Karen Ceske and Kathy Steves.