Hudson Valley Mediterranean – May, 2026

News from Gigi: 🍋🌿🍓🍷☀️

Hello & Happy June!

We’ve moved through the whirlwind of May weekends filled with graduations, Mother’s Day, and Memorial Day gatherings, and now the rhythm of summer begins to settle in at Gigi: a buzzing patio, lively dining rooms, fresh and frozen cocktails humming away behind the bar, Mediterranean wines flowing, and menus filled with lighter, vibrant dishes built around beautiful local farm ingredients.

This is one of my favorite times of year at the restaurant. The days stretch longer, guests linger a little longer, and the energy feels relaxed, social, and full of possibility. Alongside our regular menus, we’re especially excited to continue our Sunday Suppers with Table & Place. In June, we travel to Provence—celebrating the sun-drenched flavors of Southern France with intimate dinners inspired by the region's markets, coastlines, and countryside. Then in July, the series moves to Liguria, where the Italian Riviera’s vibrant herbs, seafood, olive oil, and summer vegetables will shape the table.

We’re looking forward to sharing this Hudson Valley summer season with all of you—both at Gigi and around these special communal tables in the months ahead.

Laura

Patio Season Has Arrived!

May didn't give us many perfect patio days, but June is here—and with it comes the season we've all been waiting for. We love this time of year when Gigi expands outdoors and guests can enjoy lunch, dinner, cocktails, and conversation al fresco in the heart of Rhinebeck.

On those occasional rainy summer days, our tent provides a comfortable alternative, and as always, well-behaved, leashed pups are welcome on the patio and offered water service. It's one of our favorite traditions.



A quick reminder: patio seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. We gladly accept reservations for parties of all sizes indoors, which guarantees indoor seating, but we do not reserve patio tables. The good news? We have nearly 60 outdoor seats, so even if there is a brief wait, it's usually a short one. We also have two benches on our footprint where you can relax while waiting, and we'd be happy to invite you to the bar or offer a cool drink while your table is prepared.

For indoor reservations:

📞 845.876.1007

💌 reservations@gigihudsonvalley.com

🔗 RESY: link in profile or: https://resy.com/cities/rhinebeck-ny/venues/gigi-trattoria

We look forward to sharing another beautiful Hudson Valley summer with you. ☀️🍷🐾🌿

Women’s Networking Wednesday, June 10th

As we head into this last stretch of spring—just before summer’s pace takes over—I’m looking ahead to our next Women’s Networking Wednesday at Gigi on June 10th.

April’s gathering was a joy, with a warm, engaged group and some wonderful new faces from Inside+Out Upstate NY and Hudson Valley Women in Business. These evenings have become one of my favorite traditions—where introductions turn into real conversations, and connections feel easy and genuine.



It’s not a large event, but it carries a special energy—open, welcoming, and refreshingly unpretentious. Each month is a reminder of how many thoughtful, accomplished women call this region home.

If you’ve been thinking about joining us, June is the perfect time to step in.

As always:

🍷 Glass wines are 50% off

🍴 Light snacks are provided

🕠 5:30–7:00 PM at the Gigi bar

I hope you’ll stop by, say hello, and be part of the conversation.

✨Sunday Supper Series at Gigi: Table & Place with Chef Rich Reeves

Wow—what a delicious visit to Rome we had in April with Table & Place and Chef Rich Reeve. Out of the energy of these gatherings—and the kind of conversations that linger after a great service—something special is truly taking shape at Gigi.



These intimate Sunday Suppers are designed to bring people together through exceptional food, beautiful wines, and the kind of connection that reminds us why we gather in the first place. Bella Roma delivered just that—an unhurried, convivial evening filled with great flavor, storytelling, and a table that didn’t want to leave.

In June, we’re off to Provence.

Join us on June 14th and June 28th as we bring the sun and spirit of the region to the table—bright flavors, beautiful ingredients, and a menu that captures the ease and elegance of southern France. We’ll also be offering an optional four-course wine pairing ($30) to complement the experience.



A glimpse of the menu is below.

Join us at the table. 🍷



Reservations and deposits are available online:

📞 845.876.1007

💌 reservations@gigihudsonvalley.com

🔗 https://tableandplace.square.site

I hope you’ll join us at the table.

Jeanne Kelly: Credit, Community & Paying It Forward

Jeanne Kelly and I have known each other since the opening of Gigi in 2001, although we’ve become much closer over the last several years through shared interests in supporting women, entrepreneurship, and community networking.



After experiencing a personal credit crisis early in life, Jeanne turned that challenge into her life’s work—helping people better understand and improve their credit. In 2000, she founded The Kelly Group and went on to become a nationally recognized credit coach, author, media personality, and host of the podcast Credit Over Coffee. Along the way, she authored three books: The 90-Day Credit Challenge, The Credit Makeover, and Making It Happen. As her work expanded into advising high-net-worth individuals and public audiences, Jeanne became a trusted national voice on financial literacy and empowerment.

Jeanne and I also connect through a mutual love of food and hospitality. During a five-year stretch before COVID, she regularly brought her office team to Gigi for Friday lunches. It was here that she met Jesse, who the group affectionately nicknamed the “Happy Friday Waitress.”

As fate would have it, Jesse later introduced Jeanne to her father, Vito, while she was working behind the bar at another local restaurant and both happened to be guests. Today, Jeanne and Vito share a beautiful blended family with four daughters—Jesse, Tina, Victoria, and Cassandra—along with two beloved pups and a wide circle of local friends and family.

When I asked Jeanne about her passions, three things came up immediately: the New York Yankees, family, and the Rhinebeck community. Although she enjoys traveling, she says her true paradise is home. When she's not helping clients navigate their financial futures, you'll often find her reading, working on puzzles, or practicing meditation and positive affirmations—small daily habits that help keep her grounded and focused. She also believes strongly in giving back, sponsoring four people each year through their credit journeys and mentoring young women entering the field.

One of her current pride and joys is her new 2026 app, Credit Boss Lady, which combines budgeting tools, debt management strategies, and credit education into an accessible platform designed to help users create a personalized financial roadmap. Jeanne is especially excited that the platform now allows her to reach and support thousands more people on their financial journeys.

What strikes me most about Jeanne is how naturally she blends professional expertise with generosity, mentorship, community spirit, and genuine kindness—qualities that feel increasingly important in today’s world.

Men’s Health Beyond Protein Shakes

One thing I’ve realized, writing this newsletter, is that many of the topics naturally tend to skew toward women—perhaps because of the conversations happening around wellness, community, caregiving, and even our Women’s Networking Wednesdays at Gigi. But lately, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about men’s health as well, and how narrow the nutrition conversation for men has often become.

For years, “men’s nutrition” has been framed largely around protein shakes, supplements, body composition, and performance. While protein and strength absolutely matter—especially as men age—I think we’ve sometimes overlooked the larger picture: cardiovascular health, visceral fat, inflammation, gut health, stress, sleep, alcohol, cooking skills, and the growing impact of ultra-processed foods on long-term well-being. Many men have learned how to fuel themselves, but not necessarily how to nourish themselves.

What interests me most now is the growing shift toward a more sustainable version of men’s health—one rooted less in extremes and more in longevity, resilience, strength, and real food.

In many ways, traditional Mediterranean food culture quietly addressed these ideas long before they became trends: shared meals, seasonal ingredients, healthy fats, beans, fish, greens, movement, balance, and pleasure at the table. It’s a conversation I look forward to exploring more in the months ahead.

🌿 Creamy Zucchini & White Bean Soup

Soon enough, many of us will be swimming in zucchini from gardens, farm stands, and generous neighbors—and this silky soup is one of my favorite ways to put the season’s abundance to good use. It’s a perfect example of how the Mediterranean kitchen creates richness without relying on heavy cream. White beans provide body, fiber, and plant-based protein, while extra virgin olive oil adds depth and satisfying flavor. A handful of spinach stirred in at the end adds freshness, color, and another layer of nourishment. Light enough for a warm-weather lunch yet satisfying enough for a simple supper, this is the kind of flexible seasonal cooking that carries us beautifully through summer.

4 to 6 servings


Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for serving

1 large yellow onion, finely chopped

3 garlic cloves, chopped

3 celery stalks, diced

2 medium carrots, diced

2 medium zucchini, cut into ½-inch cubes

1 (15-ounce) can white beans, rinsed and drained

½ teaspoon Italian seasoning

Pinch to ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 cups vegetable stock

3 cups baby spinach

½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Optional: whole grain croutons or shaved Parmesan for serving

How to Make It

1. Heat the olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, celery, and carrots and sauté for 5 to 7 minutes, until softened and fragrant.
2. Stir in the zucchini, white beans, Italian seasoning, cayenne, a pinch of salt, and several grinds of black pepper. Add the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer.
3. Cover partially and cook for about 15 minutes, until the vegetables are very tender.
4. Stir in the spinach and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until wilted.
5. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth and velvety. For a more rustic texture, blend only partially.
6. Stir in the lemon juice and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
7. Serve warm with an additional drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and, if desired, whole grain croutons or shaved Parmesan.

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Chef’s Notes

For the smoothest texture, blend the soup while the vegetables are very soft and fully cooked.

Cannellini beans create the creamiest result, though any mild white bean works well.

A final drizzle of olive oil adds richness and aroma just before serving.

Make It Your Own

Swap spinach for kale, Swiss chard, or basil.

Top with grilled shrimp or chickpeas for additional protein.

For a brighter summer version, finish with fresh basil and extra lemon zest.

Serve alongside grilled whole-grain bread rubbed with garlic.

Easy Entertaining, the Gigi Way

It’s officially the season to gather again. The days are longer, the patio is buzzing, and impromptu summer dinners somehow become the evenings we remember most. Entertaining doesn’t need to be complicated to feel special—in fact, it’s often better when it’s relaxed, abundant, and easy.

That’s the spirit behind Gigi’s Easy Entertaining menu. We’ve refreshed it for the season with Mediterranean-inspired dishes designed for sharing: shrimp skewers oreganato, crispy artichoke ricotta fritters, cacio e pepe arancini, BBQ country ribs with Calabrian chile honey, and bright summer sides like our Mediterranean potato salad.

It’s the way we love to cook at Gigi—flavorful food built around good ingredients, meant to be passed around the table without creating stress for the host. Everything can be ordered online in just a few clicks for backyard dinners, cocktail gatherings, weekends with guests, or simple summer entertaining.



Prefer not to host at home? Gigi’s Private Room offers a warm, fully serviced space for up to 30 guests—perfect for easy summer celebrations.

Order ahead, chill the rosé, and let the rest unfold.

🔗 Gigi Easy Entertaining Catering

📞 845.758.8060

💌 catering@gigihudsonvalley.com

Before It Was a Diet, It Was the Table

I was recently invited to contribute an article to Today’s Dietitian exploring something that has shaped both my personal and professional life for decades: the Italian Mediterranean table—not simply as a “diet,” but as a way of living, cooking, gathering, and nourishing ourselves.

In Cultural Foodways: The Italian Mediterranean Table, I reflect on how traditional Mediterranean eating patterns were built long before nutrition trends and social media—rooted instead in seasonality, simplicity, balance, hospitality, and the deep connection between food, family, and community.

The piece also explores how many of the healthiest eating patterns in the world evolved naturally through culture and daily life, rather than rigid rules or restrictions. It’s a perspective that continues to influence everything we do at Gigi and throughout my work in Food as Medicine.

I’m grateful to Today’s Dietitian for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation.

📖 Read the article here:

Cultural Foodways: The Italian Mediterranean Table

On the Air with Jonna & Keryl

What a good time joining Happy Hour with Jonna & Keryl for such a spirited, high-energy conversation. Between plenty of laughter and lively back-and-forth, we also explored some serious topics—food, hospitality, nutrition, community, and the evolving way we think about eating today.

We talked about my journey from public health nutrition and culinary work to building Gigi Trattoria over the last 25 years, along with the growing Food as Medicine movement and why I continue to believe deeply in the power of delicious, thoughtfully prepared food to bring people together while supporting health and well-being.

Jonna and Keryl bring such warmth, curiosity, and great energy to the conversation, and I truly loved being part of it.



🎧 Listen here:

Happy Hour w/ Jonna & Keryl featuring Laura Pensiero

Where Food & Purpose Intersect

As I close this month’s newsletter, I’m reflecting on a recent visit to Gigi from Woodie Kessel, his wife, and friends—a gathering that reminded me why the table remains such an important place in my life and work.

Woodie is a physician, public health leader, former Assistant Surgeon General, and former Deputy Director for Medicine and Science at the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. We first worked together years ago through the Strang Cancer Prevention Center and continue to share overlapping passions around public health, nutrition, and creating healthier futures for children through Healthy Children, Healthy Futures alongside another longtime friend and colleague, public health and education expert BJ Carter.

As different worlds and professional experiences continue to crisscross throughout my life, I realize more and more how Gigi has quietly become a point of intersection—a place where food, hospitality, public health, friendship, conversation, and community naturally come together around the table. In a time when so much feels fast and fragmented, I remain deeply grateful for the people, relationships, and shared purpose that continue to gather here.

Wishing you all a beautiful start to summer,

Laura