342 Warren Street
What do you do, and what makes it unique?
I do a little bit of everything, but with this project, I’ve really tried to merge my background in Southeast Asian food and classical French training into something more driven by the classic Americana vibe of the old roadhouses and supper clubs that were so dominant in the restaurant scene decades ago. Informed by all of the experiences I’ve had the ability to have from all around the globe, the goal at Saint Florian is to provide a bit of nostalgia with some modernized touches, and the only end game for me is tasty food and drinks that people dig on and attentive, warm service.
What brought you to Hudson, and how long have you been here?
I first came to Hudson to participate in an event (shoutout to Ramp Fest!) and then made the full time move up in 2014 and have been in and out ever since! I moved out West to Washington to start another project just before the pandemic, and came back to visit in 2023, where I fell back in love, both with the town and an amazing human being, which brought me back full time.
What’s it like being a part of Hudson’s business community?
We’re very fortunate as a community to have so much creative spirit and such a plethora of unique businesses that sometimes it feels like even though I’ve been here for a while, I still haven’t seen or explored it all. It’s been really amazing to launch a project and to experience all aspects of engaging the public and getting to meet other folks and business owners, and to hear about their operations, challenges, and experiences.
What makes Hudson unique from other places you’ve lived or worked?
I’ve always been in love with the physical beauty of the town and surroundings, as well as how folks seem to be engaging with everything that happens here. I’ve never quite experienced the level of community engagement I have in Hudson , and I think that Gossips, which is so incredible on it’s own (and Carol does such a wonderful job of keeping things detailed and accurate), is really an amazing peek under the hood of the community and various voices, as well as how polarizing basically anything can be.
What is one thing visitors to Hudson shouldn’t miss while they’re here?
I mean, you just haven’t even really done Hudson if you haven’t visited the Law Offices of John K. Friedman, PLLC. No appointment necessary – just head on up to the office and drop on by! (I of course jest, there are simply too many wonderful aspects of the community to lock it down to just one).
What’s your idea of a perfect weekend in and around Hudson?
Weekends aren’t really in my vocabulary, as that’s when our industry is in full go-mode, but it certainly would start with taking a very handsome pup for a long walk down to the river with my loved ones, hopefully with an iced latte from Supernatural in hand, and then ideally, some napping and lots of strolling up and down Warren with loads of eating and drinking.
What is your favorite memory of being in Hudson (so far)?
I think that amongst all of my favorite memories, walking into the restaurant on our opening day was such a surreal experience. I’ve been in this business since I was 13 years old, so seeing a lifetime of work come to full fruition, without tools and boxes and stuff everywhere, was just such a wonderful moment to experience. Coupled with the perfect fall weather we had, I’ll never forget that day.
