Love is in the air: Eat at couple-owned restaurants in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam

Could you work with your spouse? Surprisingly — or not — many couples in the dining industry do. From coffee shops to restaurants to jazz clubs, there are a lot in the lower Hudson Valley. More than 70 by my count.

What's the secret?

In true partnership fashion, the answer comes down to respect, meaning each has their own responsibilities while at the same time complimenting each other.

"Restaurants are broken down by divisions in my eyes," said Vittorio Lanni of Lanni's Cucina Verace in Sparkill. His wife Kimberly handles the spirit program and bar duties, as well as the floor reservations and seating chart, while he's in the charge of the kitchen.

"She doesn't question the back of the house and I don’t question the front," he stressed. "Plain and simple."

The other secret to success? A fierce passion for the business as both partners have the same goal.

Some, like Christina and Matt Safarowic of Freddy's in Pleasantville and Melanie Lahara-Kenyon and Marc Kenyon of Our Place in Yorktown Heights, even have "meet cute romcom" stories of meeting (and working) at the same restaurant (The Cookery in Dobbs Ferry for the Safarowics and Red Hat on the River in Irvington for the Kenyons).

"When Marc and I began our relationship, we talked about having a place of our own," said Lahara-Kenyon. "Having grown up in the business it was always my dream, and meeting Marc he realized he had that dream too."

That doesn't mean everything's perfect all the time (I wouldn't believe them anyway if they said it was).

"Do we butt heads at certain times under pressure situations?" said Lanni. "Absolutely. But it makes us stronger and better at what we do as a power industry couple and married couple.

"We both need each other to succeed and we both know that. It’s a team effort that makes the restaurant flow smoothly."

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Added Floria Uli who, along with her husband Gino, owns Hudson Prime in Irvington and Divino Cucina Italiana in Hastings-on-Hudson: "These restaurants are more than just businesses for us. They are our livelihood and a part of the legacy that we have built and can pass on to our children."

The two, who have been married 24 years (18 of which have been in the restaurant business) added: "There really is no secret — just love and respect for one another and the passion we share to feed people amazing food."

With Valentine's Day Feb. 14 and love in the air, now's the time to consider frequenting one of these spots. A sampling follows. Read on to find one in your county. Know of one not on our list? Email [email protected].

Rockland

• Cheryl Baun and Paolo Garcia Mendoza, Karenderya, Nyack

• Vittorio Lanni and Kimberly Auth Lanni, Lanni's Cucina Verace, Sparkill

• Mabel and Rogelio Rosas, Nova Kitchen Restaurant and Bar, Blauvelt

• Bernie and Anne Reilly, Reilly's Public House, Piermont

• Mersina and Jorge Ocampo, The Breakfast & Burger Club, Nyack

• Alex and Cassie Vursta, Flights & Pints, Nyack

• Fay and Tai Nham, Mekong District One and Mekong District, Nyack

• Shannon and Dave Bagatta, Peach Pit Bowl Shop & Kitchen, New City

• Hank and Maureen Hovorka, TWK Community Market & Cafe, Piermont

• Daout Celestin and Diana Spain, Sidewalk Bistro, Piermont

• Kevin Reilly and Maria Santini, Roost Restaurant & Union Arts Center, Sparkill

• Louiedell and Tony Scotto, DPNB Pasta & Provisions, Nyack

• Celia Moscoso and Rosalio Mazariego, Allie's Bakery, Orangeburg

• Roberto and Clara Ortega, Bella's Kitchen, Pearl River

• Ricardo Petroni and Maria José Vasena, Round Table Brewery, Garnerville

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Westchester

• Faith and Cole Rivers, The Black Cow Coffee Co., Croton-on-Hudson

• Brenda Delpezo and Fabian Marquez, Latusion, Port Chester

• Anthony and Antonella Lancione, Alessia's Trattoria, Mamaroneck

• Christina and Matt Safarowic, Freddy's Restaurant, Pleasantville

• Floria and Gino Uli, Hudson Prime Steakhouse, Irvington and Divino Cucina Italiana, Hastings-on-Hudson

• Hassan and Alberta Jarane, Mint Premium Foods and Pik Nik BBQ, Tarrytown

• Ali and Mike Nazzaro, Laughing Horse Coffee & Tea Co., Harrison

• Tatyana and David Chiappinelli, Bella's Bake Shop, Mount Kisco

• Lisa and Dave Ocasio, The Tasty Table, Ossining

• Melanie Lahara-Kenyon and Marc Kenyon, Our Place Kitchen & Bar, Yorktown Heights

• Dylan Hardman and Stacey Belmont, Here Coffee + Beer, Ossining

• Beth and Les Barnes, Saltaire Oyster Bar and Fish House, Port Chester

• Dean and Odelya Vivolo, Trattoria Vivolo, Harrison

• Jim and Jennifer Vellano, Bedford Candy Bar and G.E. Brown, Bedford

• Brianne Myers and Marc Taxiera, Augustine's Salumeria, Mamaroneck

• Tamara and Ehud Cafri, The Falafel Place, Yonkers, White Plains and Pita House, Tarrytown

• Jennifer and Jeffrey Kohn, The Kneaded Bread, Port Chester

• Chase and Madison Harnett, The Hudson Oven, Croton-on-Hudson

• Giusy Verni and Ben O'Connell, Red Hat on the River, Irvington

• Lydia and Gary Kris, The Pamplemousse Project, White Plains

• Kevin McNeill and Ruth Walter, Dobbs & Bishop Fine Cheese, Scarsdale and Bronxville

• Natalie and Jason Charles and Peter and April Olsen, Cafe 117, Bedford Hills (the Charles' also own Bazodee Street Foods)

• Toni Senecal and Tracy Shea, Croton Tapsmith, Croton-on-Hudson

• Heather and Scott Fratangelo, L'inzio, Ardsley

• Philip and Kenelyn Gioio, Wanna Empanada, Ossining

• Hever and Dina Palacios, Iron Vine Tapas Bar And Restaurant and Taco District, Peekskill

• Tracy Shea and Toni Senecal, Croton Tapsmith, Croton-on-Hudson

• Alicia and Mike Love, Coffee Lab Roasters, Tarrytown and Eastchester

• Maria and Anthony Amato, Foley's Club Lounge and Crawdaddy's Creole Kitchen, Pleasantville

• Brittany Vellucci and Michael Ridd, Wildcraft Baking Co., Irvington

• Nordine Achbani and Soumia Sedki, Argana Restaurant & Bar, Port Chester

• Enrique and Consuelo Estrada, La Catrina of Westchester, Croton-on-Hudson

• Pete and Gretchen Menzies, Katonah Reading Room, Katonah

• Vince and Evelyn Autera, Primal Bowls, Yorktown Heights

• Joey and Violet Ruday, Flames Bar and Grill, Briarcliff Manor

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• Edgar Carrillo and Norma Cuenca, Coco Taqueria in Yonkers and Sleepy Hollow

• Andrea Calstier and Elena Oliver, Cenadou and La Bastide by Andrea Calstier, North Salem

• Susan and Chris O'Keefe, Baked by Susan, Croton-on-Hudson

• John and Joanne Piazza, Bar 141, Thornwood

• Lino and Victoria Cacsire, La Casa de Nina, Hawthorne

• Rui and Vasiliki Giannopoulos (aka "Bessie") Cunha, Pappous Greek Kitchen, Yorktown Heights

• Drew and Leigh Hodgson, The Hamlet and The Ambleside, Mount Kisco

• Abel and Karla Magana, Bistro 512 and Terra Rustica, Briarcliff Manor

• Julianne and Noah Mrnacaj, The Producer Coffee Studio, Port Chester

• Marco and Fiona Lojano, The Tav'ery and Rosie's Bistro Italiano, Bronxville

• Deyanira and Felix Castillo, Chop it Up Salads and Smoothies, White Plains

• Jonathan Langsam and Rosie Hernandez, Falafel Taco, Pleasantville

• Peter and Karen Herrero, Sam's of Gedney Way, White Plains

• Roisin Flanagan and Shane Clifford, Jack's Bar, Eastchester (and coming soon to Mamaroneck: Jill's)

• Michelle and Erich Smith, The Farmer's Grind, South Salem

• Peter and Kelly Thomas, Dimitri’s Gyro Grill, Harrison

• Drew Claxton and Ted Bitter, Bean Runner Cafe, Peekskill

• Frank and Tiffany Donato, Bellacosa Wine & Tapas Bar, Dobbs Ferry

• Mariana and Stephen Brophy, Little Cabin Sandwich Shop, Cortlandt, Bedford Hills

Putnam

• Casey and Kaitlin Troutman, Rye Republic, Brewster

• Cassie and Rich Parente, Clock Tower Grill, Brewster

• Ian Hendrickson-Smith and Jenny Larisey, Uncle Cheef, Brewster

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: Could you work with your spouse? These NY restauranters do