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Chef JoJo’s Cookshop has been in the works since 2022 and is almost ready for its big debut.
Joanna Siegel, an East Islip High School graduate and longtime private Hamptons chef from Islip, has spent two decades preparing meals in Hamptons kitchens. Now, she is set to launch her own market in Bay Shore this Thursday at 1895 Union Blvd, Siegel announced on social media.
She plans to offer farm-fresh produce and dairy, freshly baked bread, locally sourced steak, poultry, seafood and much more.
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Siegel is opening her shop in the former Dynasty Café building, which closed in March 2018 after 34 years in business. The building had remained vacant ever since.
The space, just under 800 square feet, has been transformed. A brand-new kitchen occupies the rear of the building, featuring an 18-foot cook line, while the front half has been designed as a market.
What’s in store
Siegel told Greater Long Island she will take the lead on conceiving the rotating to-go menus, with she and two other chefs that she’s hired tweaking the dishes and executing. Tap here to see her menu.
They’ll also be taking suggestions for future menu items.
Chef JoJo’s Cookshop won’t be offering trays of food, as with traditional caterers, but customers could certainly buy plenty of food for a small dinner party at their house if they’re looking to impress.
Steaks will be at the ready and packaged in the market, as well as pasture-raised chicken, local shellfish and seasonal fish filets.
And ingredients.
Plenty of ingredients, most from farms and dairy farms within the state.
Style wise, Siegel wasn’t looking to go over-the-top on a Hamptons feel. The space was vanilla when she got the keys, so she went with a copper and green look for a French countryside vibe.
“It’s also a little Hamptons-ish, but not overkill,” she said. “It’s not me bringing the Hamptons here; it’s just bringing the farms here.”
In the future, she’ll be looking to host chef’s table private dining experiences for 4 to 6 guests at a time.
“Once the meals are moving and everything else, we’ll implement that,” she said.
The ultimate goal is to offer clean, local and fresh eating options for busy locals, and perhaps those looking to pack away dinners for a weekend or an entire week across the bay on Fire Island.
It’ll also be a great spot to pick up a hostess gift on the way to a party, she said.
“Let’s say you were going to a dinner party and you wanted to bring something different,” she said, “it’ll be a great place to pick up a cheese board, charcuterie board. Or we’ll fill a basket with items from the pantry,” she said.
“And we have really good coffee. So come in and get a nice cup of coffee.”
Chef JoJo’s Cookshop is opening in Bay Shore at 1895 Union Blvd. on Thursday, Sept. 26. A grand opening is set for Oct. 2. Click here for more details.
— Reporting with Mike White
Top: Inside the new Chef JoJo’s Cookshop. (Courtesy)
