Ciao Bella Italian sandwich in Nyack is Jeanne Muchnick's Best Thing She Ate This Week
The personality and sunny dispositions of Scott Young and Joe Garreffa, the married couple behind Scott & Joe, are one reason to visit this charming Nyack cheese shop. The other? Their sandwiches.
In case you thought this was JUST a cheese shop, think again. There's a 14-seat bistro in the back which is open for brunch and lunch as well as for private parties (Tina Fey and Amy Poehler were here). The room is also used for events such as tastings and cheese and wine classes.
And there's a curated selection of wines, available by the glass or by the bottle, everything from juicy rosés to bold, luscious reds, and celebratory bubbles.
The star attraction, however, is the cheese: 30 to 40 hand-picked varieties in addition to artisan gourmet spreads, olive oils, salts, sauces, crackers and more, mostly from the U.S, and Europe, though you'll occasionally find cheese from Australia or Canada mixed in.
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As much as I love all that, it's the Ciao Bella sandwich, with its warm melted mozzarella, garlic roasted tomatoes, basil, prosciutto di Parma, soppressata, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic, nestled in a freshly baked ciabatta, that qualifies as the best thing I ate this week.
Served with a side of chips, it's simple yet delicious.
I also enjoyed a small cheese plate with Double Bubal Water Buffalo Gouda and Vacherousse Double Cream Brie. True confession: I didn't think I'd like the L'Epicurien pistachio curd Young added to my plate as it's not the prettiest green ever but I ended up quickly changing my mind and buying a jar to take home.
Other popular items include the Flinck aged gouda, with its notes of butterscotch, bourbon, and brown butter and the Cremeux des Citeaux brie which tastes like cheese heaven.
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Also on their menu: a Tuscany salad (with mozzarella, roasted peppers, garlic roasted tomato, salami, shaved parm, Marcona almonds, arugula, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic), a carrot toast, paté, charcuterie and cheese boards and other sandwiches such as The Euro (serrano Jamon, Manchego, arugula and fig jam on ciabatta) and The French Farmer (brie, apple, arugula and fig jam on ciabatta).
The couple's passion for local, gourmet and also all things European shines through in their store which has a cheese case in the front, a shelf of wares on the side and the bistro in the back. The two are well-travelled and well versed in food.
Many in town, in fact, may know Garreffa from his Joey G's Nyack Food Tours which has been operating since March 2021. Together, they now offer Scott & Joe: Adventures for the Food Obsessed (Young is a former event and travel planner). Their first group trip (they did a solo one last year) featuring the gastronomic wonders of France and Italy, is planned for September 2025.
Said Young: "Lifelong memories will be created as we journey from Lyon, to Annecy, through the Alps, culminating with the world's largest festival dedicated to raw milk cheese in Piedmont, Italy."
If you go
Address: 4 S. Broadway, Nyack, 845-535-3736, scottandjoe.co.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; Bistro service ends one hour prior to closing.
Good to know: They do catering, custom boards and a box of the month delivered to your door. Each month has a new theme, a few surprises, and a carefully curated selection by Young.
Mark your calendars: Come end of summer/early fall, Young and Garreffa are hosting an exclusive five-course chef's dinner called "A Stunning Summer Soirée," taking place at a private residence on the Hudson (date to be announced). Or book their Italy tour set for September 2025.
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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Muchnick's Best Thing I Ate: Italian sandwich in Rockland
