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“It’s an artificial cheapness that’s associated with meat in America. I rather you spend your money on a good burger and just do it less frequently.”

Meet Andrew Chiappinelli, the owner of Grazin’, the world’s FIRST farm-to-table direct, 100% Animal Welfare Approved grassfed & finished burger joint based in Hudson, NY. When it comes to burgers, Andrew is a proud man. He’s so thick with pride you can see it, especially while rolling out and portioning his specialty, pasture-raised burger blend. It took him 6 long years to get his vision for Grazin’ up and running, and now he finally feels like people are catching on.

Here, what looks like a diner and smells like a diner is far from the norm. As Andrew will tell you, he has to be ok with disrupting certain expectations. The 1947 stainless steel facade might lure people in, but, it’s not unheard of for new customers to walk out once they find the colas are all made to order and the homemade mayo costs an extra buck. For me, it’s well worth it. And I wasn’t going anywhere. This is a place to come for clean eating. A place where burgers don’t sit like bricks in your stomach. A place where a healthy respect for animals, sustainability and local agriculture can be found in every single bite. Watch Andrew’s story and see for yourself!

I hope I convince you to take a trip upstate to support good food makers. Though burgers are the mainstays on the menu, you can also find great egg options, soups, salads and sandwiches daily. I highly recommend starting with the plain Grazin’ burger, just to taste the nuances of the grassfed meat. For something more adventurous, ask about the burger special of the day or splurge on the “Uncle Dude” – the layers of jalapeno relish w/house-made chipotle mayo over bacon and local cheddar is a flavor bomb worth coming back for. Truth be told, I ate an Uncle Dude with a side of fries and felt great. You’ll see it in the piece, it’s no small burger. It was a wonder I didn’t slip into my usual burger coma, a satisfying feeling that’ll keep me coming back to Grazin’s thoughtful, clean food.

Thanks so much for watching food. curated.! Happy Summer Eating!