By Melanie Young and David Ransom, The Connected Table
Photo: Courtesy of Melanie Young
Wine and food radio-show hosts, Melanie Young and David Ransom, join the Organic Hudson Valley family this month as food and dining columnists. The two have lived in Gardiner since 2006, but their connection goes back further.
A bottle of Hudson Valley wine brought them together in 1989. Ransom’s family owned Rivendell Winery (now Robibero); Young owned a culinary marketing and events agency in New York City. Both were introduced by a mutual friend in the industry.
They lost touch over time as they pursued separate careers and lives, but in 2003, they reconnected at a dinner party in Manhattan hosted by the same friend and rekindled a friendship that evolved into a romance over more bottles of wine.
In 2006, Ransom proposed to Young on stage at the James Beard Foundation Awards, a program she was responsible for helping create and manage (you can view the proposal on YouTube). Wedded in New Orleans, where Young has family, the two will have been married 12 years in March.
They have transformed their passion for good food, fine wine and travel into a business as writers, wine and food consultants and cohosts of a 50-minute weekly national radio show, The Connected Table LIVE! and companion mini-podcast series, The Connected Table SIPS! Both shows can be heard anytime on iHeart Radio online or through its free mobile app, as well as iTunes and other major podcast platforms.
“We spotlight personalities and thought leaders who help shape the food, wine, spirits and hospitality around the world. It’s all about sharing the stories about interesting people in the business of producing delicious food and fine beverage through engaging conversation,” said Young. “We call ourselves ‘the insatiably curious culinary couple.’”
Young and Ransom enjoy living in the Hudson Valley, visiting restaurants, attending wine and food events, cooking and entertaining, hiking and practicing yoga. They host their show from Gardiner but also travel to locations around the state, country and world to research stories.
Several Hudson Valley food and beverage personalities have been guests on The Connected Table LIVE!, including Chef Waldy Malouf at the Culinary Institute of America, wine writer and educator Kevin Zraly, Angry Orchard head cider maker Ryan Burk, Hudson Whiskey’s Ralph Erenzo, T Salon’s Miriam Novalle and Deborah Brenner, founder of Women of the Vine & Spirits. Melanie, who is also a certified holistic health coach, hosts a separate radio show on health and nutrition for women called Fearless Fabulous You! She has interviewed many local wellness personalities, including Stone Wave Yoga’s Liz Glover Wilson and COCORAU founder Konstanze Zeller.
“We want to spotlight more of the amazing people who make the Hudson Valley such a delicious place to live and to visit,” Young said. The couple is planning a special podcast series with Organic Hudson Valley to spotlight the diverse food and drink culture in the region. To inquire about spotlighting your business, contact Melanie Young. █
