X2O's Peter X. Kelly Shares His Favorite Things In Westchester And Beyond

Art. The beautiful and changing displays of the Hudson River Museum in downtown Yonkers. Plus, the new Planetarium “is out of this world.”

Bill Murray, a great friend and the best actor on the planet. And he loves Slovenia Vodka.

Cookery restaurant. Sure, David DiBari could use a haircut and a shave, but that boy can cook.

Dylan, my son (sun!) and my inspiration. While I know everyone thinks their child is the best, mine truly is! He’s handsome, smart, athletic, and NICE!

Empathy. Something most of us could use more of when interacting with others.

Farming. The Hudson Valley farmers are the unsung heroes of the Westchester dining scene.

Guests who visit my restaurants have my utmost thanks and respect.

Hudson River. There is no more beautiful body of water in the world, period! I look out on it every day and its majestic beauty astonishes me.

I, as there is no “I” in my culinary team.

James, my younger brother, is my source of inspiration for all things culinary and humorous.

Katonah. Home to the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, one of the gems of Westchester, and the fabulous Katonah Museum of Art, which hosted me as a guest lecturer.

Lyndhurst. The site of the very first Westchester Wine & Food Festival and a very beautiful Hudson River property.

Monday, my day off spent with my X-traordinarily patient (and wonderful) wife. We sneak into a 1 pm movie (empty theater) and then either I cook dinner for us or we are off to have dinner at a friend’s restaurant.

Ned, my older brother and my source for wisdom. He has been at my side since the very first day in business more than 30 years ago and has always pushed me to make the right decisions. 

Oenophile. In my hunt for the greatest wine, I will try them all if that’s what it takes!

Pork, because it’s not “just” the other white meat. It’s about the jowl, the foot, the belly, the leg, the shoulder, THE TASTE!!

Queen. My dearly missed mom, Harriet Kelly, who always said, “Nothing good is ever easy.” She raised 12 children but I was her favorite.

Rica, my wife and my love. Thank God for women with bad taste in men. She’s beautiful, kind, smart, and a great mom. That’s why I can’t wait to retire so I can spend all my days with her.

Silver Lake in Croton brings back so many childhood memories of summertime: bologna sandwiches, a great tree swing, riding the rapids, and the joys of swimming with all your friends.

Tappan Zee Bridge. I spend a lot of time traversing this structure; let’s hope they get the new one right.

Unbelievable: The Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen at Hudson Valley Hospital Center, where I hope to make a difference. The team at this hospital should be a model for every healthcare facility in the country.

Vodka, as in Slovenia Vodka, my newest project and, in my humble opinion, the greatest vodka being made today.

Westchester. County Executive Rob Astorino is our hope for the next governor of New York. (Taller is not always better.)

X Really?

Yonkers. “The City of Gracious Living” is my biggest source of satisfaction and frustration. 

Zombie. How I feel at the end of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week.  I love welcoming new guests and showing off the Hudson Valley to the throngs of people that populate my restaurants during these two weeks, but it is tiring!