Empire City Insider

empire cityinsider

WINTER 2015

Molly Rappoli

Editor-in-Chief

Nicole Gull McElroy

Writer/Editor

Jessica Patton Pellegrino

Copy Editor

Sean Hamrock

Staff Photographer

Copyright © 2013

“Empire City Insider” is

owned and published by

Yonkers Racing Corporation,

810 Yonkers Avenue,

Yonkers, New York 10704

All rights reserved, which in-

cludes the right to reproduce

this work or portion thereof in

any form whatsoever, without

the prior written consent of

Yonkers Racing Corporation.

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empirecity.com ∙ 2

CONTENTS

Yonkers Brewing

Co. is committed

to this city and its

history, and makes

great beer.

26

5 Starting Gate

6 Odds

8 Clare’s Corner 10 Winner’s Circle

12 What’s Happening 21 Watering Hole 22 In the Kitchen

24 Food Break

26 Co-Star

30 MGM Special 36 Photo Finish

40 Last Call

empirecitycasino.com ∙ 5

STARTING GATE

Part of the reason Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway has been such a staple in Westchester County over the years is

that we’re always looking for new ways to meet our guests’ needs. We want you to have fun when you’re visiting us, and we’re happy to try something new if it means making your time here richer. That attitude is at the root of every-thing we do, including the addition of our new online gaming site, play.empirecitycasino.com. With the growth of online gaming, it seemed a natural fit for our business to move online. We love the idea of offering our guests the op-portunity to play their favorite games from our casino floor at home or on the go. Use your computer, tablet or phone to sign in, and off you go. We’ve got everything from blackjack to rou-lette royale, and even a handful of slots. Plus, just for signing in, you’ll earn points. It’s such a simple and easy way to stay connected with

us even when you can’t make it to the casino floor. Plus, it’s fun! We hope you’ll give it a try and let us know what you think. After all, who says you can have too much of a good thing? Another part of our expansion that has me excited is the new and improved grab ‘n’ go, which we now call Lil’ Cocina. There, you’ll find a fresh take on quick eats from a new Tex-Mex station with authentic ingredients and recipes, to a fry station that serves up some exciting menu items along with tried and true customer favorites. There is a new burger bar with cre-ative twists on the classic we all know and love, plus fast and healthy take-away options such as sandwiches and snacks that will keep you going just when you need the pick me up. When you’re eating at Lil’ Cocina, we know you’re tight on time, but that doesn’t mean your op-tions should be less interesting or delicious than they are at any one of our restaurants.

Making Strides

Mayor Mike Spano and wife Mary Calvi with June and Timothy Rooney

Lil’ Cocina

ODDS

It Pays to PlayWe have some of the best slot machines anywhere here at Empire City Casino. Cruise the casino floor and hit the slots. You’re sure to have fun!

6 ∙ Winter 2015

The most popular slot of all

time, this machine offers more

ways to spin and win! No mat-

ter what your preference with

this classic game, there’s a wheel waiting for you.

Bally Technologies makes

this five-reel, 30 payline slot. It offers bonus rounds with

a two times pay, three times

pay, Locking Wilds, or Quick

Hit Fever! With five levels of jackpots, each spin offers

nonstop action.

Quick Hit Las Vegas features

an exciting free games

bonus that awards up to 25

free games! Each round has

Quick Hit scatter pay

and five levels of Quick Hit jackpots, too.

Another IGT slot machine,

this game has five reels and 40 paylines. Instead of a bo-

nus round, look for a wild icon

(a howling wolf!) for a big win.

Slot machines date back to

the late 1800s. They were

known as “one-armed ban-

dits” because early on they

are operated with just one

lever on the side of the ma-

chine (not to mention a hu-

morous nod to the possibil-

ity that if luck doesn’t strike, you’ll lose your money).

This IGT game has a triple

symbol feature to build antici-

pation for players. The bonus

round is sparked by free

game symbols on round two,

three and four.

95%

Video Slot MachinePay Out

Percentage(MORE WINS FOR YOU!)

About the GameMinimum Bet

95%

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93%

92%

DID YOU KNOW?

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CLARE’S CORNER

8 ∙ Winter 2015

There is no better way to indulge after a satisfying meal than with dessert. At Em-pire City Casino, we aren’t shy about how

great our desserts are, and for good reason. Af-ter a long day of filming episodes of Lucky Break I’ve been known to treat myself to a homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream sundae at Dan

Rooney’s. Of course, my sweet tooth doesn’t discriminate. We’ve got quite a few items on our restaurants’ menus that have tempted me more than once when only something sweet would do. This Valentine’s Day, bring your sweetie for one of my favorite desserts. Don’t forget to tell them Clare sent you!

The Sweetest Treats


SLICE OF HOMEThe apple crumb pie at Dan Rooney’s is homemade and takes you back to the all-American classic you’ve probably had at your mom’s Thanksgiving table. But what is great about our pie is that it’s an individual serving – one tiny pie just for you. That way you don’t have to share the crust or the fill-ing (or whatever your personal favorite part of the pie is) with anyone else unless you want to. We use Granny Smith apples and always finish it with a drizzle of caramel over the strussel crumb topping. Enjoy it with a scoop of our homemade vanilla ice cream.

PEANUT BUTTER LOVERAnyone who loves peanut butter as much as I do will tell you that the chocolate peanut but-ter cake, is nothing short of perfect. Chef Di-ana Brosgole-Labozzetta starts with her dark chocolate cake made with the perfect amount of dark cocoa. She then adds peanut but-ter icing and a ganache drizzled on top. The homemade peanut butter icing has the per-fect balance of salty and sweet (without being too sweet). It’s so delicious that we offer it at two locations on our property: Dan Rooney’s and the Food Court.

KID AT HEARTIce cream and sorbet are classic standbys that never disappoint. They are both made right here in our kitchens — so delicious. We have staple scoops like vanilla, chocolate and mint chocolate chip, and then more inventive twists like Guinness. Pinch even pairs their desserts with beer! How does pumpkin cheesecake ice cream served with a pumpkin ale sound?

QUICK TREAT FOR THE ROAD

Our Lemon squares off the menu at the Food Court are just the thing when you want a re-freshing, light dessert. A perfect palate cleanser, the lemon custard is ex-actly what you want at the end of a filling, deli-cious meal. Chef Bros-gole-Labozzetta has cre-ated something simple, clean and refreshing with these lemon squares. Fresh lemon juice is key when making these tasty treats. Topped with pow-dered sugar, these lemon squares are a sure way to get a taste of summer all year round.

These are

some of my

favorite desserts

offered at

Empire City!

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER SPECIALS:

DAN ROONEY’S: Roasted bone-in duck or chicken breast with stir-fried vegetables and a blood orange sauce, caramel pot de crème, toffee popcorn and spiced nuts.

PINCH: Homemade seafood lasagna, served with a mixed green salad, or beef Wel-lington, mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables in a red wine sauce and heart-shaped chocolates.

WINNER’S CIRCLE

10 ∙ Winter 2015

Check out some familiar faces at a host of events held here at Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway in the last several months.

IT’S PARTY TIME

HAVE YOUR NEXT PARTY WITH US: From the mayor’s birthday to a 21st birthday celebration, we’ve been very busy throwing parties lately. IntoxiKate held their West-chester #FoodieNation event here, while we also hosted New York Sire Stakes 25th an-niversary party. Contact Jodi Bergin ([email protected]) for your next party!

FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL: Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway joined forces with the North American Amateur Drivers Association to raise funds at this year’s Fall Harvest Festi-val for the Greater NYC Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

TREE LIGHTING: We kicked off the holiday season right on November 29 with a tree lighting, caroling, winter treats and a visit from the big guy in red. In ad-dition, guests to the event made generous donations to the annual toy and coat drive.

COOKING CLASS: At our live cooking event, Pinch Execu-tive Chef Fabienne Eymard began with a live turkey! The demonstration was held for Elite, Presi-dents and VIP Club members and the food she prepared, as always, was a huge hit.

PHOTOS BY: KATIE SCHLIENTZ, MAYRA ESCAMILLA, MIKE LIZZI, SEAN HAMROCK

WHAT’S HAPPENING

12 ∙ Winter 2015

GU

TTE

R C

RE

DIT

With our new online casino, Empire City players have the option to play some of their favorite games whenever they like, wherever they are. It’s an incredible way to stay connected and have fun, even when a trip to Yonkers isn’t in the cards.

Empire City Casino has been hard at work on the concept of an online casino for the last several years. Now all of that hard work

has paid off with the debut of Empire City Casino Online. That’s where you can take with you all of the fun from our casino floor, wherever you go, whenever you like. “Our online casino allows gam-ers to play with a known brand and complements our existing casino property,” says Ryan Murphy, Vice President of Marketing. “Empire City Casino Online allows our players to play some of their favorite casino games, even if they can’t make it to the property and be rewarded for playing those games.” So far, says Murphy, the response from customers has been excellent, particularly on days when the weather isn’t ideal for driving or getting to the casino seems a tall order. “Our goal is to sim-ply provide our valued Empire Club members an-other great form of entertainment and when they play online, we hope they see value and have fun playing at Empire City Casino Online.”

Plug (in) and Play


WHAT’S HAPPENING

WHAT IS IT:Empire City Casino Online Gaming is a new way for our guests to play. Accessed on your mobile phone, tablet or through any web browser, you can play table games such as blackjack, roulette royale and an exciting array of slots. Look-ing for more excitement? No problem. Straight from the Ca-sino floor, you’ll find some of our most popular slots: Roaming Reels, Dragon Lines and Total Meltdown. Empire City Online Casino is a free-to-play website with no real money. Sign up with your Empire Rewards Card in minutes, or complete our easy registration. Simply visit play.empirecitycasino.com, click “Sign Up” and off you go!

E.C. ONLINE GAMING

WHO IS IT FOR?

As long as you’re at least 18 years old, you can play, and sign up is free. While you never have to pay to play on the site, you can buy bundles of credits to increase your online balance. That’s not all: Pur-chase online and re-ceive loyalty points on your Empire Club Card. (For example, spend $40 and re-ceive 200 Empire Points, while $3,000 will get you 15,000 Empire Points.)

HOW IT WORKS:Register and you’ll instantly re-ceive 5,000 credits. Every day you log in to your account, you’ll earn an additional 500 credits simply by signing in. Loyalty points are awarded weekly, and are activated by Empire City the following Monday at 5 p.m. If after 30 days you haven’t ac-tivated your points, you’ll lose them. You can activate your points at any p r o m o t i o n s booth. Sever-al games are marked VIP on the site. To play these games, you must have at least 20,000 credits in your online casino account.

THE THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW!

14 ∙ Winter 2015

16 ∙ Winter 2015

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Dance MachineIf you haven’t already taken in some live music at the Entertainment Lounge at Empire City Casino, any night the band FDR Drive is playing would be a great time to start. Neal Gerard is a founding member of the band, which now has eight members and plays Empire City monthly. He sat down with us to share a bit of the band’s story.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DOES FDR DRIVE PLAY? We play dance music from the ’70s up to what’s playing on the radio right now. Stuff that comes out on the radio this week, we’ll be playing next week or the week after. We’ll play anything from Sinatra to Etta James to The Black Eyed Peas. HOW DID YOU START PLAYING AT EMPIRE CITY? We kept sending in demo tapes, and I guess someone listened and liked us. We started at Empire City maybe once every two or three months, and developed a huge follow-ing there. Now we play at the casino every New Year’s Eve. It’s a huge party. WHAT HAS THE STANDING GIG HERE DONE FOR YOUR BAND? We use Empire City as a place where we can showcase what we do. If people want to see us to hire us for weddings or private events, they can come see us here. Plus, Empire City has allowed us to test out new music. It’s great. And we love playing there. They have a great sound crew and Bill Wilson, who books the bands really takes care of us. They know how many singers we have and who needs microphones. It’s now to the point where they have it down to a science, and we come in, set up and bang it out really quickly.

The Entertainment Lounge has live music every day, except Mondays.

Check empirecitycasino.com for specific times and performances.

IS THIS A FULL-TIME JOB FOR YOU? Some of us work, some of us don’t. I’m retired NYPD. Another guy in the band is retired NYPD as well, and he is an attorney now. One of the male singers, Tony, he does this full-time. An-other woman is a mom and her husband is an NYPD sergeant. She’s really busy but always makes time. Another guy, Charlie, he sells cars. They keyboard player came to us from the Phil-ippines about a year ago. He’s a professional on every instrument. IS EVERYONE LOCAL? Most of us live in the Bronx and Westchester County. One of us lives in Queens and one band member lives in Rock-land County. The nucleus of the band, though, lives in the Bronx and Westchester County.WHAT’S YOUR REHEARSAL SCHEDULE LIKE? We rehearse every week at my house. That’s why we’re so tight and learn the latest music that comes out. Bands like ours often sound like lounge acts. We don’t. We are very thoughtful and driving. We’re so high energy. We just played at a club this weekend and some lady asked us to play a slow song, and we couldn’t accommodate her. We want people on the dance floor moving. We get everybody on his or her feet.

Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de MéxicoDIRECT FROM MÉXICO CITYSaturday, February 14th, 2015 – 8 p.m.Tickets: $35, $30, $25 | Children 12 & under $10 any seatEnrique Bátiz, Music Director and Chief ConductorPROGRAM INCLUDESThree Spanish Dances – Enrique GranadosNoches en los Jardines de España – Manuel de FallaSymphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68 – Johannes Brahms

PRESENT THIS AD AT THE BOX OFFICE OR CALL WITH CODE "CASINO" TO RECEIVE $5 OFF SELECT SHOWS!

Present this ad or mention code “CASINO” when calling Lehman Center Box Office to get $5 off per ticket. Maximum of 2 tickets per ad. Discount only available for select shows, please call our

Box Office at (718)960-8835 for a full listing of events. Discounts cannot be combined. Only while Supplies last.

Offer not available online.

Todd Ellison’s

Broadway Moves to the BronxROMANCE OF BROADWAYA NIGHT OF BROADWAY HITS IN CONCERT!Featuring David Hibbard, from Broadways “Spamalot,” “Billy Elliot,” and “Cats,” Lewis Cleale who will be taking a night off from “The Book of Mormon,” Kathryn Guthrie from New York City Opera, and Kirsten Wyatt from Broadways “Annie,” “Elf.”Saturday, March 21st, 2015 – 3 p.m.Tickets: $25, $20, $15 | Children 12 & under $10 any seat$100 Per Person Includes Pre-Concert Reception, Preferred VIP Seating, and a Meet And Greet With The Artists.

Sal Abbatiello Presents the 2nd Annual

Rock & Roll is Here to Stay ConcertDOO WOP RETURNS TO LEHMAN CENTER FOR ANOTHER NIGHT OF OLDIES AND FUNFeaturing The Duprees, The Platters, The Belmonts, Barbara Harris & The Toys, Larry Chance & The Earls, and The Rag Dolls A Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Revue. Hosted By Johnny Z of WFAS 1230AM & Sal Abbatiello. Dj Conchi Playing All the Classics Throughout The Night.Saturday, January 24th, 2015 – 8 p.m.Tickets: $55, $50, $45Produced by Lehman Center & Sal Abbatiello

250 Bedford Park Blvd West, Bronx, New York 10468

Box Office 718.960.8833 Online tickets

www.LehmanCenter.org Program Subject to Change. Box office fees will apply.

ENAMORADOSIndia & Ismael MirandaTHE CONCERTTogether for the first time to Celebrate Valentine’s Day.Saturday, February 7th, 2015 – 8 p.m.Tickets: $65, $55, $50

Tango Buenos AiresDIRECT FROM BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA! EXPERIENCE ARGENTINA’S PASSIONATE AND DRAMATIC DANCE FORMSunday, February 22nd, 2015 – 4 p.m.Tickets: $35, $30, $25

A Fever Records & Sal Abbatiello Presents

Forever Freestyle 9A LEHMAN CENTER FAVORITE!THE LATIN-FLAVORED ‘80S DANCE MUSIC SENSATION!Performing live on stage, TKA/K7, Judy Torres, George Lamond, The Cover Girls, Noel, Lisette Melendez, Sugar Hill Gang, Rob Base, Soave, Coro and Nocerra. More artists to be announced! Hosted by Sal Abbatiello & Speedy. Music by Dj Lucho, Dj Solo, and The Whiteboy Dj Kys.Saturday, March 7th, 2015 – 8 p.m.Tickets: $100, $65, $60, $55

Moscow Festival Ballet:

Romeo and JulietROMANCE, DRAMA, AND ENCHANTMENT IN THE WORLD’S GREATEST TRAGIC LOVE STORYSunday, March 15th, 2015 – 4 p.m.Tickets: $45, $40, $25 | Children 12 & under $10 any seat

Russian National Ballet Theatre:

Swan LakeAN INTERNATIONAL FAVORITE!Sunday, April 12th, 2015 – 4 p.m.Tickets: $45, $40, $25 | Children 12 & under $10 any seat

Special Offer

18 ∙ Winter 2015

WHAT’S HAPPENING

GREAT EIGHTS: On Mondays, Empire Club mem-bers can earn eight times their points in baccarat, plus enjoy $8 drink specials in the lounge, $8 frozen cocktails at Dan Rooney’s and $8 specials in the Food Court.

FIVE FOR FIVE TUESDAYS: Every Tuesday, in the Month of February, Empire Club members can earn five Empire Points to receive $5 in free play. The first 500 members to visit the promo-tions booth will receive one free NY Lottery Take Five scratch-off ticket, while in the Entertainment Lounge, we’ll be serving $5 Ba-cardi drink specials from 5 to 10 p.m. and enjoying live music from 8 to 10:30 p.m.

FOREVER YOUNG: On Wednesdays, Empire Club members 55 years and older can earn 10 Empire Points playing any slot machine to receive $10 free play, as well as free valet service upon arrival.

BALLY’S EARLY BIRD AND BIG DICE ROLL:

Every Thursday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Empire Club members can earn five points on Bally/SDG slots to receive a $5 Bally free play for redemption at any of the ca-sino’s promotions booths. For the dice roll on Thursdays between 3 and 6 p.m., you’ll receive a prize for the number of Empire City lo-gos you roll on your turn. Depend-ing on how you roll, you can win up to $10,000 cash!

Winter PromotionsDon’t miss out on the amaz-ing deals running each week through the end of February.

The City That Doesn’t SleepGrab yourself that extra cup of coffee and settle in for some late-night/early morning slots at Empire City with our promtion, Night Owl.

Through the month of February, Mon-day through Thursday, it pays to lose some sleep. Empire Club members can earn 10 points playing any slot between the hours of 12 and 6 a.m. To receive your $10 Free Play, visit a promotions booth.

Racing:Yonkers Raceway’s 2015 live harness season is set to begin Friday, January 9, pending approval of the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC).

Once again, all the leading horses and horsemen are returning, including 2014 leading drivers Jason Bartlett, Brian Sears, George Brennan, Dan Dube and Jordan Stratton. At press time, the standard five-program-per-week live schedule was in play, with first post every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 p.m., and Tuesday at 1 p.m. (again, pending NYSGC approval). There’ll be changes to the sched-ule throughout the season, with Yonkers exporting its signal to France and other European countries.There is also the best simulcasting, available around our nighttime live schedule as well as every afternoon (with a few exceptions). Aqueduct races (usually) Wednesday through Sunday, though there are excep-tions here as well.

Valentine’s Day PromotionsDon’t miss out on a special something for your special someone this February.

Friday, February 13: Five Empire Club members will each win a $500 diamond necklance in a 9 p.m. draw-ing. Earn 100 Empire Points between noon and 8:30 p.m. to be entered into the drawing.

Saturday, February 14: We’ll be giving away sets of one-carat cubic zirconia earrings at the promotions booth. (While supplies last, of course.) Surprise your favorite sweetie with some Valentine’s Day bling.

> Please visit a promotions booth for complete rules and details for all promotions listed.

Westchester is a thoroughly exciting destination.

Westchester County offers unexpected arts and cultural activities, world-class theaters, historic homes and high-energy indoor sports. With diverse dining options and accommodations for every budget, Westchester County has lots to see, do and experience all year long.

To meet in Westchester County in the Hudson Valley, go to VisitWestchesterNY.com.

for year-round entertainmentmeet me

in Westchester

Wolf Conservational Center, South Salem, NY

PerfectPairs

WATERING HOLE

Our resident wine guy tees up three

of his favorite bottles that pair well

with so many of your favorite meals

at Empire City Casino.

Alberto Hernandez knows wine and loves food.

Part of his job as dining room manager for

Nonno’s Trattoria and Empire Terrace Res-

taurant is to pair the two for the restaurants’ menus, making perfect matches for each spot. “I work closely with the kitchen and I do pair wines with our meals,” says Hernandez. “I’m always trying to find similarity in flavors and balance how the elements will work well together.” One thing Hernandez says he never forgets is price point: “A lot of people get scared by price tags.” That’s why he does his best to choose ap-

proachable wines that won’t break the bank, making for empty glasses, full bellies and happy customers. At the end of the day, says Hernandez, “If you really like the wine, you’ll be able to enjoy any bottle with your meal.” Herewith, a few of his go-to bottles to try both at home and on your next visits to Nonno’s and Empire Terrace.

CHIANTI DOCG, RUFFINO, TUSCANY, ITALY, 2013 When it comes time to eat at Nonno’s Trattoria, this bottle of Chianti is a sure thing. “We have a lot of pasta dishes on the menu, and the Ruffino Chianti usually pairs well with nearly everything we have here,” says Hernandez, who particularly likes to serve it with a pappardelle Bolognese, lasagna or cheese ravioli. This is a medium-bodied wine with a

smooth, aromatic finish.

PINOT GRIGIO, BARONE FINI VALDADIGE, TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE, ITALY, 2012 “This is one of our best sellers,” says Hernadez. “It’s great alone or as an accompaniment to light dishes.” Fairly acidic, Hernandez likes to pair the Barone Fini with dishes such as shrimp scampi, chicken francese or veal picatta. This wine has received more awards than any other white wine from its region. “It’s almost like adding another squeeze of

lemon to your meal.”

CABERNET SAUVIGNON, WILLIAM HILL, NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, 2009“I usually like to pair this wine with steak,” says Hernandez. The William Hill Napa Cabernet has hints of dark fruit and blueberry, as well as an earthy undertone that pair fantastically with beef. “We have a sirloin, and even though it’s a full-bodied wine, it complements very well with our cowboy ribeye and our prime rib at Empire Terrace. Tannin in the wine needs fat in the meat.”

Cheat Sheet 1. Pair earthy wines with earthy

foods. That way they can comple-

ment each other with similar flavors. 2. Red wines go well with meats

that have good fat content. The

tannins in the wine (a full-bod-

ied cabernet) work with the fat.

3. Light citrus wines pair beautifully

with foods containing some acidity.


22 ∙ Winter 2015

IN THE KITCHEN

Game On

With intense flavor and the homey feel that comes with colder temps and snowy days, game meats are an

adventurous option when the dinner bell rings. “They have a special occasion kind of feel to them,” says Chef Gaurav Navin, executive chef at Empire City Casino. That’s why, says Navin, this year he’s hoping to experiment by adding some game meat dishes to the menus at Empire City. And, while some people may shy away from these dishes, they needn’t. If seasoned well (Navin likes to use a rub or marinade) and incorporated in the right

recipe, game meats can be as approachable as any other protein out there. “A very basic thing is rabbit stew. It tastes just like chicken and breaks down beautifully,” says Navin. “It would be perfect for a cold winter night. Quail can be stuffed with raisins and cranberries. A sweet tangy sauce as a glaze on top would be great. Venison is also an excellent choice. It’s versatile and goes well with so many dishes.” When you’re visiting us this winter, look out for some game meat additions to our offerings, and maybe even try adding a recipe or two into the mix at home.

If you want a meat-and-potatoes kind of meal, wild game is a wonderful option for the winter months.


Rack of Wild Boar with Blueberry Balsamic GastriqueServes 4

BOAR:1 lb. wild boar rack, approximately 4 to 5 chops1 Tbsp. cracked coriander seedsSea salt and fresh cracked black peppercorns to taste Season boar with salt, pepper and coriander seeds. In a heavy- bottomed sauté pan seasoned with a tablespoon olive oil, sear chops on all sides at medium heat.

Place in a roasting tray and cook for 10 to 12 minutes at 350°F for medium doneness. Let the rack rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

SAUCE:1 Tbsp. shallots, finely chopped ½ Tbsp. garlic, finely chopped 4 oz. fresh blueberries¼ cup aged balsamic vinegar 1 Tbsp. whole-grain mustard1 cup chicken stock 1 cup apple cider1 Tbsp. fresh sage, finely chopped 1 Tbsp. butterSalt and pepper to taste

Sauté shallots and garlic at medium heat until golden brown. Add chicken stock and apple cider, and reduce to half. Add mustard, blueberries and balsamic vinegar. Bring to simmer again and finish with sage, salt, pepper and butter.

POTATOES:1 cup Idaho or red skin potatoes, cut into 1-inch dice 1 Tbsp. oil1 tsp. ground cumin1 tsp. smoked paprika1 tsp. cajun seasoning1 tsp. garlic powderSalt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Place in a roasting tray and cook for 15 to 20 minutes at 350°F.

ASSEMBLY:Serve individually sliced boar chops with blueberry sauce drizzled over or spread underneath, with roasted potatoes.

FOOD BREAK

Lil’ Cocina, the new grab ‘n’ go, has been in the works for a while. Now that it’s up and running, meet one of the guys behind the scenes.

All in the Details

When Sanjay Gussain came to work at Empire City Casino as part of the team behind the new grab ‘n’ go concept, he knew he was heading into unfamiliar territory. “I come from a hotel

background,” says Gussain, noting that he’s been a bit of a restaurant industry globetrotter for the last 15 years. “I’ve worked in Dubai, New Zealand and Australia. This is the first time I’ve been exposed to a different type of market with a grab ‘N’ go.” So far, so good, says Gus-sain. The change has been a welcomed one, and he says, the team has been open to suggestions and ideas on how to improve right from the start.

It’s no surpise, then, that details have been a main focus at Lil’ Cocina. At the Mexican station, Gussain says, the team has enlisted a small, local Mexican bakery to supply everything from conchas to tres leches for the dessert menu. And on the sandwich station, there’ve already been minor changes that have made big differences. “We had a panini on the menu we thought would be better as a cold sandwich.” For now, as Gussain and his team work out the kinks, they are de-lighted with the customer response: “It’s all about streamlining, getting it right and putting things perfect.”

24 ∙ Winter 2015

SANJAY GUSSAIN: With a background in the luxury hotel industry, Gussain

came to Empire City to help open and run

Lil’ Cocina.

Office of Economic Development | 87 Nepperhan Ave., Suite 307, Yonkers, NY 10701 | 1-844-GenYNow

For the bright minds of Mindspark, moving to Yonkers was a no-brainer. In whatwas once an old factory building, Mindspark is now designing today’s latestdigital applications for online audiences. Mindspark’s beautifully designed officespace with its spectacular Hudson River views is the ideal environment forcreative thinkers. So if you’re thinking of moving your business, think Yonkers.

Tim Allen & Eric EsterlisCO-PRESIDENTSMindspark InteractiveYonkers, NY

26 ∙ Winter 2015

CO-STAR

John Rubbo and Nick Califano are Yonkers natives (and former high school rivals). They co-own Yonkers Brewing Co.


If you’re a New Yorker, you know about hus-tle. For business partners and native Yonkers residents John Rubbo and Nick Califano,

their hustle began without them even really knowing it. Both living in town after college, the two guys reconnected as members of Sons of Italy. Rubbo, now 32, was working in the mayor’s office and Califano, now 30, had a job in finance. At one of their club meetings, the two swapped stories of making wine with their grandfathers. Eventually, the conversa-tion moved toward making beer — something neither of the two had done but wanted to try. They agreed it might be fun and at a get-together, they’d have some fun with their first brew and use some friends as guinea pigs. “Our friends, like a lot of New Yorkers, are bru-tally honest,” says Rubbo. “It was a nice-tasting beer. We were all impressed. We had fun mak-ing it and it was something we were proud of.” Of course, their successful college try gave them confidence and led to more fun with the beer kit, and more testing on friends and

Born and Brewed

Yonkers Brewing Co. is owned and run by Yon-kers natives John Rubbo and Nick Califano. The two have set out to make a meaningful mark on the city’s waterfront.

ODDSCO-STAR

family ... and far less tasty brews. Faced with a challenge — like any good New Yorkers — the guys raised their game and mustered some se-rious hustle. Before too long, Rubbo was cold calling brewers throughout the country like Jim Koch at Boston Beer Company to get a sense of what made guys like Koch (and their beers) successful. “I was so surprised that people were happy to take a minute out of their day and talk to me,” says Rubbo. “We loved the beer from Brooklyn Brewery and Sam Adams. The two of them first focused on quality and market-ing. They didn’t start with a physical brewery. They wanted control of the process. These were models that worked.” With a blueprint in hand, Rubbo and Califano set off to start their own brewery. They found a plant in Bloom-field, CT, and began a nationwide search for a head brewer. Little by little, the guys con-tinued to follow their blueprint. Now, after nearly three years in busi-ness, they are about to open their brewery doors in an historic space — the old Yonkers Trol-ley Barn building — along the city’s waterfront. You can find their beers at local shops, in the aisles of Stew Leonard’s and here at Empire City. Approach-able and easy drinking, Yonkers Brewing Co. beers are very popular here. The relationship between the brewing company and the casino began when Taryn Duffy, director of public af-fairs at Empire City, met Rubbo at a Yonkers street festival in 2013. Duffy immediately knew there was potential for the brewing company and the casino to work together, and introduced herself to Rubbo. “It was kismet,” says Duffy. “Empire City was in the middle of an expan-sion that included two new restaurants, both

slated to have robust craft beer programs. But not just any craft beer; only New York-brewed craft beer. “When I saw that Yonkers Brewing Co. banner at the festival, I knew it was a part-nership that had to happen and I went to find the man behind the beer.” Duffy introduced her-self to Rubbo, and so began a great partner-ship. From there, Rubbo met the folks who run the restaurants here at Empire City and began collaborating on beers made specifically for the casino and track. “It gave us an opportu-nity to be creative and make some really neat beers,” says Rubbo. Plus, he says, the local movement is big, and New Yorkers, particularly Westchester natives, are always excited about

supporting the local mom-and-pop, espe-cially if that mom-and-pop makes a

good product. In fact, next time you’re here at Empire City,

take a break from playing and grab a pint of Yon-kers. (We’re partial to Dan Rooney’s Hon-ey Blonde and Dan Rooney’s IPA since they were made just for us...) “They are light, well-balanced

beers that anyone can enjoy,” says Rubbo, not-

ing that Yonkers Brewing has also made a stout, an

Irish red and a Belgian beer for the bar at Pinch. “There was a

ton of free reign when we worked with Pinch, but we really tried to base the beers there around Chef Fabienne’s menu.” Overall, he says, the collaboration with the restaurants at Empire City has been a lot of fun, and al-lowed his team to be creative in an entirely new way. Plus, its helped expand the brand’s reach throughout the New York area — some-thing that weighs pretty heavily for these two local guys. “The local movement is sexy, and people really want to support it,” says Rubbo, noting that New Yorkers and Westchester na-tives have truly rallied around the brand right from the start.

28 ∙ Winter 2015

“When I saw that

Yonkers Brewing Co.

banner at that festival,

I knew it was a

partnership that had to

happen and I went to find

the man behind the beer.”

-Taryn Duffy,

Director of Public Affairs at Empire City


NEXT LEVELThis year, Rubbo and Califano are taking their business to the next level by opening a brick and mortar space: their very own brewery. On October 6, 2013, the guys began construction on an old trolley building on the waterfront in historic Yon-kers. “It has 21-foot ceilings and a tremendous amout of steel,” says Rubbo. “It’s just 23 minutes from Grand Central and directly across the street from the Yonkers train station.” A steel-framed brick building built in the Renaissance Revival style, the trolley barn is listed on the National Reg-ister of Historic Places since it is the only remnant of the Yonkers trolley system. (Funny enough, Rubbo and Califano have hired an electrician to work on the property whose great-grandfather was a Yonkers trolley driver.) After 50 years of use as a trolley barn, the building eventually became home to government offices for another 20 years. It then sat empty for the next 30 years, until a de-veloper bought it and converted the barn into loft apartments, gutting the interior. It’s a completely unique space that Rubbo and Califano are sure will resonate with their customers, and falls in line with the commitment the partners feel to their company and to the roots they have here in Yon-kers. While the focus at the brewery will of course be beer, food and wine will be a major concentra-tion and complement to the beer list. “Our menu is along the lines of cheese plates, meats and pa-ninis,” says Rubbo. “We also want to offer a great brunch.” The Yonkers Brewing Co. team (made up of 16 full-time employees, along with the elbow grease and expertise of a handful of family mem-bers and friends who’ve pitched in at festivals and local events from the start) is already hard at work booking live music and local events every night of the week. The idea, says Rubbo, is to make the brewery a place people want to gather and en-joy some great food and drink. “We are incredibly excited to get the place open here on the water-front,” says Rubbo. “It was a terrific opportunity to work with Empire City right out of the gate. Being in Yonkers and working with local business – that came through when they gave us the chance to make some pretty neat beers for them. We are very grateful for that opportunity.”

The new brewery at Yonkers Brewing Co. will

be located at 92 Main Street in Yonkers and will open at 11:30 a.m.

Monday through Friday (10 a.m. on weekends). They’ll close at 10 p.m. on school nights, and

midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. There’ll be a full menu, and local talent nearly every night

of the week.

30 ∙ Winter 2015

A rendering of the new arena that will sit between New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts.All photographs courtesy of MGM Resorts International.

MGM SPECIAL


Soon enough, a visit to Las Vegas’ New York-New York and Monte Carlo resorts will also mean easy access to some incredible

arena-style entertainment, from music to special events to sports. One of the biggest headlines to hit Las Vegas this fall was the announcement from MGM Resorts International and AEG that the two would be co-developing and building a new arena. The project will boast 20,000 seats and will be located right between New York - New York and Monte Carlo resorts and casinos. Con-struction is well under way, and the arena is ex-pected to be complete in spring 2016. The $375 million venue is privately funded and run by Las Vegas Arena Company, a business jointly owned by MGM and AEG. “This partnership was com-mitted from the start that this would be a privately funded arena, and we are proud to have accom-plished this goal,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO at MGM Resorts International. “While construction is progressing on-site, our industry-leading entertainment teams are working behind the scenes, already seeking out and developing new and expanded events to fill this new stage. This entertainment programming will carry our city forward for years to come, fortifying Las Ve-gas as the entertainment capital of the world.” Designed by Populous, a leading commercial architecture firm, the arena will have 50 luxury suites as well as more than 24 private loge boxes and other “specially designed luxury features” not yet seen in arenas of this kind.

A New Face on the

Vegas Strip

MGM SPECIAL

32 ∙ Winter 2015

One of the best parts of New York City is the sidewalk culture. On nearly every city block, you can find (in good weather) people having cocktails, coffee or a meal at tables lining the block. It makes for a colorful walk on any cross street or avenue ─ the collective energy is pal-pable for even the most tuned-out passersby. In the last year, New York-New York hotel and ca-sino has taken a cue from its namesake city on the East Coast and begun to cultivate its own sidewalk culture, right in the heart of Las Ve-gas. In March 2014, MGM Resorts unveiled a revamped Strip-front façade with a newly imag-ined plaza, expanded outdoor dining patio, and four new retail spaces. The idea was to borrow

a little bit of that Manhattan neighborhood vibe and create a space for guests to hang out and take in the Strip in an entirely new way.

With more than 2,000 rooms and 104 suites, New York-New York is made up of 12 resort towers that represent some of the most iconic architecture in the New York City skyline, from The Empire State Building and The Chrysler Building to Liberty Plaza and The New Yorker Hotel. Inside, the property offers more than 84,000 square feet of gaming space, includ-ing 2,000 slot, video poker and video keno ma-chines, as well as table games such as black-jack, craps, roulette, mini-baccarat, pai gow poker and Let It Ride. In addition, the resort has more than 21,000 square feet of meeting space that can hold up to 300 people. The property has a level four (out of five) Green Key Eco-Rating. In addition to the new façade, MGM ex-panded upon what New York-New York already offered its guests. From an arena, to Hershey’s Chocolate World, to a September 11 Tribute, Cirque du Soleil Zumanity, it’s a must-see.

TOM’S URBANNamed by Gourmet Magazine to their list of the “Top 25 Food Entrepreneurs of the Last Quarter Century,” Tom Ryan is the brains behind Tom’s Urban who has infused his passion for travel and world flavors into one restaurant concept, which now has a home at New York-New York. A res-taurant devoted to “understanding food on a lo-cal basis,” a meal at Tom’s Urban promises to surprise you with every plate. Initially founded in Denver, CO, the concept eventually worked its way to Los Angeles and, now, Las Vegas as part of the new outdoor area at New York-New York. Try inventive dishes such as truffled cracked lobster sliders, ginger chicken pot stickers and havana carnitas sandwich.

THE BIG APPLE ROLLER COASTERWith cars designed to look like classic taxicabs; The roller coaster is 203 feet high and has a 144-foot vertical drop at its highest point. It’s the first coaster to feature a 180-degree heartline twist.

SHAKE SHACKLike Tom’s Urban, Shake Shack has also landed on the Strip as part of the new façade at New York-New York. A modern day burger stand, Shake Shack is one of entrepreneur Danny Meyer’s most beloved outposts of his Union Square Hospitality Group (Union Square Café, The Modern and Gramercy Tavern).

NINE FINE IRISHMENThe patio at this authentic Irish pub has been given new life with the outdoor and pedestrian expansion at the hotel and casino. With an old New England feel and nestled into an incredible vantage point to take in the Strip, the pub’s new patio will transport you to New York City.

SWATCHOne of the new retail shops in the revamped pedestrian area at New York-New York, Swatch is a brand everyone knows and loves. Pop in and check out some of the newest and most creative designs from this iconic watchmaker.

New York- New York

ODDS

Clockwise from top: The pedestrian walkway at New York-New York; The Big Apple Coaster’s “heartline” turn; Shake Shack’s new outpost here on the Strip; Lady Liberty, Vegas style.


CO-STAR

Top: During your stay, grab tickets to see the highly acclaimed Blue Man Group. Bottom: Monte Carlo has more than 2,900 rooms, including 224 suites.

MGM SPECIAL

34 ∙ Winter 2015

Much like its neighbor New York-New York, Monte Carlo underwent a bit of a renais-sance in spring 2014. The outdoor space at the resort was transformed into a European-style thoroughfare and dining scene stacked with casual restaurants and bars perfectly located to take in the sights and sounds of the Las Vegas Strip. Open since 1996, Mon-te Carlo is one of MGM’s most iconic prop-erties, with more than 2,900 guest rooms, including 224 suites. As for the casino, there are more than 100,000 square feet of gam-ing with more than 1,600 slot machines, race and sports book and a poker room. Table games include blackjack, craps, baccarat, mini-baccarat, roulette, big six wheel, Carib-bean stud, three-card poker, pai gow and Let It Ride. If you’re new to craps or poker, take a lesson. They’re held every day for craps and on weekdays only for poker at 11 a.m. There are also 30,000 square feet of meet-ing and event space, as well as three outdoor pools (the Lagoon Pool, a Wave Pool and a Lazy River), a spa and a salon. Plus, treat yourself to a Blue Man Group performance: You won’t see anything else like it, combin-ing music, comedy and multimedia. Or, book a table at one of the new restaurants (see story at right) and eateries at Monte Carlo.

On the top floor of the hotel, find Hotel32, a boutique hotel offering a truly VIP expe-rience with suite, loft and penthouse ac-commodations. Guests there are afforded personal greeting upon arrival, a key-card access elevator, in-suite check in and the help of dedicated suite assistants who serve as a personal concierge. At Lounge32, on the same floor, you’ll find refreshments and cocktails available only to Hotel32 guests.

DOUBLE BARREL ROADHOUSECome and see live music here and enjoy an array of craft cocktails, beer and a menu with a Southern bent. Choose from roadhouse slid-ers, BBQ chicken lettuce wraps, mini corn dogs and deep-fried s’mores. With plenty of space to mingle (12,000 square feet between inside and out) you won’t get bored taking in the scene, since there’s entertainment every way you turn (custom bar “rituals” and performances on el-evated catwalks surrounding the bars).

YUSHOA Japanese grill and noodle house created by Chicago-based chef Matthias Merges, Yusho has an easy, approachable menu, and seating that ranges from outdoor patio to tables with views of the open kitchen.

800 DEGREESIf you love pizza, you’ll really love this place. Build your own pie and have it cooked for a min-ute in an 800-degree oven. Choose from Mar-gherita, bianca and marinara pizzas (among others), as well as sides like truffle cheese bread, meatballs and antipasti.

SAMBALATTEThis award-winning Vegas coffee joint joined Monte Carlo resort last year with a top-notch coffee lab featuring “the theatre of coffee” so guests can take in the expert roasting process in style.

BLVD CREAMERYThe imaginative ice cream shop offers inven-tive flavors, sundaes, popsicles, shakes, fla-vored milks, floats and ice cream sandwiches that will meet the needs of even the sweetest tooth. Made daily, the selections at Blvd are complemented by the pastel-inspired décor and an In-die-alternative soundtrack.

Monte Carlo


36 ∙ Winter 2015

PHOTO FINISH


Walk to Cure Diabetes: At last fall’s JDRF Walk to Cure Dia-betes, participants raised more than $448,000 to fund research and raise awareness for the disease. The three-mile walk was held October 26 here at Yonkers Raceway. PHOTO BY: MICHAEL ROONEY

38 ∙ Winter 2015

PHOTO FINISH


Yonkers Trot: Three-year-old colt Nuncio (driven by Johnny Camp-bell) won the $500,000 Yonkers Trot on October 24 at Yonkers Raceway. He finished the mile in 1:56, making it his tenth win of the year. PHOTO BY: MIKE LIZZI

LAST CALL

40 ∙ Winter 2015

Hey, BartenderLuis DeLeon has been a bartender with Brian Boru at Empire City Casino for five years. He’s worked at neighborhood haunts, nightclubs and even famed comedy club Caroline’s. Next time you’re playing with us, have a craft cocktail from one of the warmest guys we know.

WHERE’D YOU WORK BEFORE EMPIRE CITY? Empire City com-pletes things for me because I’ve worked in every genre of venue out there, from neighborhood bars to nightclubs. I worked at Caroline’s on Broadway. It was a 10-year ten-ure. It was a good job and I had a lot of fun there.

WHAT MAKES YOU GOOD AT YOUR JOB? Its funny. I have to say it’s an old saying: If you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life. I am very comfortable around people. I like to treat peo-ple how I’d like to be treated. Be-ing warm to others is easy for me. I feel like I’ve been at a party for the past 20 years.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? I grew up in the Bronx. Born and raised. My first job was at an Ital-ian restaurant on 59th street called Trattoria Pino. It was right across from Bloomingdale’s at that time. That was my first restaurant gig. I was a truck driver before I was a bartender. I hated getting up at 2 a.m. The first words out of my mouth were, ‘Oh crap.’

WHAT’S YOUR LATEST CRE-ATION? I was in a bartending contest for downtown Yonkers. It involved making a specialty cock-

tail to help generate business for downtown Yonkers and the city’s restaurants. I made an orange ba-sil mojito. It was so good. It’s made with vodka and rum, and of course fresh basil is a definite must. You’d never know it, but orange and basil magically go together.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAIL TO DRINK? I like Maker’s Mark, neat. Beer chaser.

FAVORITE TO MAKE? I’d be lying if I didn’t say I like the easy ones. [Laughs.] But I do like to step up my game. I would say it changes. My cosmos are incredible. No one ever complains about those.

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL CUS-TOMER. I like people who come in with energy. I’m constantly dancing behind the bar. You’re here to have a good time, so you should have a good time.

WHEN YOU’RE NOT WORKING, HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME? Outside of work I’m a huge cook. I’m an entertainer. Mondays are my relaxing day and Sunday I’m cooking for friends and family. I’m partying on Sunday and I’m re-laxing on Monday. I also like riding my motorcycle.

Empire City Insider - Winter 2015

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