New Restaurant in Cold Spring Highlands Current Audio Stories

Couple takes over former Hudson Hil's spot
The breakfast-and-lunch spot formerly known as Hudson Hil's is now the Cozy Corner Café. Expect the hours and menu to expand and say hello to happy hour once the new owners get a liquor license.
Eventually, Ramiro Prolo and Jessika Martinez aspire to offer weekend dinners as a curated experience with wine pairings. Breakfast and lunch will still be served with brunch-style cocktails available.
Prolo, who hails from Uruguay, and Martinez, born in Argentina, met in Miami, moved to the New York City area and looked in the northern suburbs for a place to open a restaurant.
"We know Cold Spring and love it," said Prolo. "We walked by Hudson Hil's and talked about how it would be perfect for us. The next time we passed by, maybe three months later, we saw the 'For Sale' sign and figured life was telling us something."
For now, the couple is living with family in Westchester County. They hope to open before the end of the month. A cousin, a niece, an aunt and an uncle painted, cleaned and spruced up the warren of six rooms, including prep stations.
Though many changes are coming to the menu, the couple decided to leave the bones of the two dining rooms alone. Martinez holds three college degrees, including in interior design, and plans to add minimalist touches to the rustic, blue-and-white décor.
"I want to keep what's good and add some flowers and plants for an organic, unprocessed-food, get-away-from-the-city vibe," she said.
Aside from overseeing the design, she will work behind the scenes to create cocktails and plate the food with artistry. Wine selections will lean toward Italy, Argentina and California, she said.
During the fallow winter months, Martinez plans to offer events centered on wine and art. "It will take some time to study Cold Spring and figure out what people need and want," said Martinez, whose background is in marketing.
The restaurant side is Prolo's. He rose to management positions at upscale Miami hotspots Hosteria Romana and Fifi's on the Beach and said he understands the importance of smooth service.
"We served 500 tables every day - it was crazy," he said. For now, he is auditioning chefs. His sister will oversee the fresh pastry program.
The fare at Cozy Corner will be American, a catch-all phrase, but the offerings are far more extensive than what was offered at Hudson Hil's. The accent is Italian because Prolo and Martinez have forebears from the country.
Their local partners include Cold Spring Fish in Philipstown and Trax Coffee in Beacon. Meat comes from an upstate farm. Seafood selections will eventually expand. Salads and toasts will revolve around the seasons. None of the sides should cost more than $5, they said.
Beyond a bone-in rib-eye steak with rosemary, Argentinian influences will include choripan sausage, chimichurri sauce akin to spicy pesto, and an empanada appetizer with a twist.
"Instead of ground beef, we'll cut a steak into small pieces with a knife," Prolo said. "Like everything, I am going for simple, but good."