Vermont is a certified tourist destination with a wide variety of ski resorts that locals and seasonal visitors can readily enjoy at a moment’s notice. Ludlow, Vermont, is specifically known for the Okemo Mountain Resort, a big ski resort lauded as one of the best in Vermont. With such a scenic location and with tons of visitors coming in and out, Andrew Molen decided to open up his very own Italian steakhouse, Alta Tuscan Grille.
The idea became bigger than he imagined, becoming a surefire hit to all Okemo Mountain diners looking for good food, great ambiance, and a smile from the chef, Andrew Molen himself. “What we are looking to do is to be one of Vermont’s first formal dining rooms that allows you to come and still be casual and enjoy your meal,” said Chef Andrew.
Located beside the big ski resort Okemo Mountain, Alta Tuscan Grille is built with a professional atmosphere that boasts some of the most delicious food the state of Vermont has ever seen. Troy Caruso, a developer who fell in love with Ludlow five years ago, partnered with Andrew Molen to establish Alta Tuscan Grille. Upon visiting Ludlow, Troy immediately envisioned building an extraordinary culinary destination for the locals and the seasonal visitors from New York, Connecticut, Boston, and New Hampshire.
The delectable food at Alta Tuscan Grille has captivated visitors and locals alike. The menu alone has been lauded as one of the finer things in Ludlow as the restaurant offers fresh whole fish, a 38 oz aged tomahawk steak along with other beautifully cut meats and some wonderful Italian dishes. In addition, each meal is complemented by the most enticing of sauces, including the chimichurri, red wine sauce, peppercorn, and romesco.
Andrew Molen was inspired by his Mother’s work as a successful restaurateur in New York City. At an early age, he quickly gained a passion for the culinary arts and hospitality industry as he worked in his family restaurant, Samalita’s. Eventually, through his hard work, passion, he acquired an even bigger role in his family’s restaurant. Sooner than Andrew Molen realized, he grew a burning passion for blazing his own trail in the restaurant industry. So he transitioned out of the family business to work in managerial roles for some of the finest restaurants in New York City.
Andrew Molen’s remarkable resume includes some of the finest restaurants in New York, such as Insieme in the Michelangelo Hotel, Chez Josephine, Southgate Restaurant in Jumeirah Essex House, the Plaza Food Hall in the Plaza Hotel, Sunset Beach of AB Hotels, the London Hotel’s Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Jean Georges’ Topping Rose House, and Todd English Enterprises.
Nowadays, Andrew Molen is carving an even bigger path for himself. Following in his Mother’s footsteps, he has now become a full-fledged restaurateur with his newest restaurant Alta Tuscan Grille. The restaurant was inspired by the cuisine and culture of Italy’s Apuan mountain range and has brought Ludlow, Vermont, a diverse menu highlighted by many Tuscan staples.
Alta Tuscan Grille strives to seamlessly blend the makings of a classic Italian restaurant, an American steakhouse, a wide variety of creative cocktails, and an environment that pays tribute to the surrounding local region of Ludlow.
