#ThinkPink (and rosé wine)

"Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees, it brought me to my feet," — Michael Douglas

October is a lot of things. It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's National Pizza Month. And it's Halloween.

So which should we tackle first?My mom died from breast cancer almost 30 years ago (in October!) so this is a cause near and dear to my heart. Unfortunately, I can't make it but YOU should hightail it/mark your calendar for Oct. 17 at RiverMarket in Tarrytown for a #ThinkPink Happy Hour featuring local influencer bartenders pouring Liquid Geography Mencía Rosé, a dry, floral wine with strawberry flavors.

Olé & Obrigado is the wine distributor and will be donating 50% of Liquid Geography Mencía Rosé profits to support cancer care, research, and education, as well as Wine on Wheels, an organization that helps those with disabilities experience life to the fullest. Other restaurants serving it this month include Little Drunken Chef (White Plains), Augustine’s Salumeria (Mamaroneck), Birdsall House (Peekskill), O Mandarin (Hartsdale), Alvin & Friends (New Rochelle), Club Car Grille (Irvington), Meritage (Scarsdale), Sonora (Port Chester), Billy & Pete’s Social (Larchmont), Billy & Pete’s Burger Bar (Larchmont), Heritage 147 (Larchmont), RiverMarket Bar + Kitchen (Tarrytown) and Little Dean’s Oyster Bar + Eatery (Nyack).

It will also be in a new sorbet by Penny Lick Ice Cream, which has locations in Mamaroneck and Hastings. Local restaurant advocate Kate Schlientz is behind the initiative.

And if you're craving rosé after all that — and if there are still tickets left — there's a four-course $95 "Wine & Brine" event TONIGHT at Little Dean's in Nyack starting at 6:30 p.m. More info HERE .

Little Dean's, it should be noted, is for the first time under its new rebrand, participating in Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, which starts later this month (another Oct. event!) so check out details in my story below.

Next on the agenda

Next: Let's talk openings and closings. A lot, right? I had one person "complain" to me on Instagram that all I do is cover closings. One: I don't think that's true. There are far more openings than closings.

But two: It's part of my job and what's happening in the dining landscape. I just report it: I have no control over how many or who is or isn't closing.

Two big blows this past week: X20 Xaviars on the Hudson in Yonkers, the last of Chef Peter X Kelly's restaurants (though he's now at The Abbey Inn & Spa in Peekskill), and Le Gateau Suisse Bakery which had been in Orangeburg for more than 30 years. Inflation is a big reason behind these closures, at least for the bakery, but so, too, is simply a changing landscape that may have places busy on holidays and weekends but not so busy mid-week, which isn't enough to pay the bills, let alone, make a living.

Still: Openings are everywhere. Did you see my Insta post on Vida, a new Spanish restaurant coming soon to Thornwood? (story to come). Plus there's Taco Bahama, which opened yesterday in Tuckahoe. And I'm still chasing Trata on the River in Piermont which opens Friday at 5 p.m. (look for a story next week). I also know Fat Stu's is opening soon in Port Chester as is Lulu's Kitchenette (highlighted here) in Pleasantville. Know of one I missed? I had 23 coming soon HERE but know there are more.

Plus, let's not forget the ones that REopened like Piero's in Harrison and Mamajuana Cafe Prime in Hartsdale and the new ownerships of two more Westchester spots listed in my story below.

Best Bites

(Things I ate — and loved — this week)

• Chicken parm at Piero's in Harrison. I had written that this restaurant closed in May — and it did. I also wrote that it reopened under new management in June. However Owner Gary Gjoka told me a lot of people — since the first story still comes up on Google — think they're closed. So I went to do an Insta post. As you may recall from my last "Best Thing I Ate," I love Italian food. And Piero's chicken parm, which pretty much took up the entire plate, is rock star good: Saucy, cheesy and a pure delight. I love that it comes with a choice of either pasta or a veggie. I also love that Thursday nights are $20 Chicken Parm Nights (though it's only $6 more any other night). Trust me and go here: I also loved their arugula salad, clams casino, stuffed mushrooms, tiramisu and lemon sorbet.
• Korean beef tacos at Taco Bahama in Tuckahoe. What's fun is that you get one (for $4) and can mix and match to your heart's content. I also sampled (and devoured!) the falafel tacos. Plus, the ambiance is California Cool. I'll be the first to admit I was a huge fan of Nutmeg Cafe which had been here before but Taco Bahama Owner Luca Lucido did an awesome job transforming the space. More deets in my story below.
• Gluten-free (and vegan!) chocolate chip cookie from Sweet & Salty Queens. This cookie freezes great; I actually bought it a few weeks ago at the Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow Farmers Market but just recently defrosted it. Now, I'm addicted and already plotting my visit for Oct. 26 when they're back at the TaSH. You can also find them Oct. 19 at the Peekskill Farmers Market and Oct. 20 and 27 in Beacon. Also, every Friday Peekskill Coffee has a limited supply of their cookies and doughnuts starting October 18.

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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: #ThinkPink (and rosé wine)