Hazelnut Kitchen glad to serve supportive community

Late last month, Hazelnut Kitchen, located on East Main Street in the village of Trumansburg, reopened its dining room for eager customers, bringing a welcome change to what had been a challenging time for the restaurant during initial COVID-19 shutdowns.

Owners Lisa Jonckheere and Justin Paterson have had to get creative to stay afloat, and residents have consistently shown support and encouragement every step of the way.

Hazelnut Kitchen has a long history in the village, with Jonckheere and Paterson purchasing the business in 2012.

“We took over from Christina and Jonah McKeough, who had the same business philosophies, the same respect for food and farmers,” Jonckheere said. “I wanted us to continue what they had started.”

Since then, Jonckheere said Hazelnut has grown even more, becoming part of the culture of the village with its values of buying local products and helping local farmers.

COVID-19, as it has with so many other businesses we’ve covered in Trumansburg, halted that growth and created a host of challenges for Jonckheere and Paterson.

“Initially, we just shut everything down the day before we were told to shut down,” Jonckheere said. “[We] came up with a to-go menu to get rid of everything so there was no spoilage, and we were really thankful for the community to come out and help us.”

It didn’t take long for them to realize that the shutdown wasn’t just a two-week ordeal.

“We had to come up with a plan,” Jonckheere said. “So, we started doing to-gos, and the community’s been really great every week and supporting us, which is really, truly heartwarming and wonderful.”

Hazelnut Kitchen implemented its to-go service Hazelnut at Home, offering foods like soups, salads and others and products like locally produced soaps and aroma therapies. The menu for Hazelnut at Home changes week by week, with available items listed on its website.

As the situation evolved, Jonckheere said they learned they had to be ahead of the curve as much as possible, so they often adjusted their business model. Accommodating the needs involved in running a to-go operation required a lot of changes, having to take orders and payment over the phone and coordinating how customers pick up that food in a safe way.

“We’re trying to keep it safe for not only the community, but our employees,” Jonckheere said. “They’re coming in, they’re taking the risk, and we’re really thankful that they want to be a part of the solution.”

Jonckheere and Paterson continue to prioritize the health and safety of their employees, even after reopening for indoor dining after the county entered phase three of reopening. Indoor dining also meant having to change practices yet again.

“The guests wear masks to come into the restaurant but don’t have to wear them when they’re seated,” she said. “And so, we just need to make sure that our employees feel safe and make sure they’re OK.”

On top of that is a concern for the future, as COVID-19 has created an unpredictable situation that requires on-the-fly thinking at all times.

“It is weird,” Jonckheere said. “Your business plan is usually for five years, 10 years, and now, it’s two weeks. So, that’s been very difficult, the plan and things that sort of change your mindset on how to operate your business. You want to be long term and successful.”

Making things more difficult are the restrictions of Hazelnut Kitchen’s building.

“Our building’s very, very narrow, and so, to keep six feet apart from each other, we can’t even reach 50% [capacity],” Jonckheere said. “You just can’t fill the restaurant. And I feel bad for the farmers because we’re operating at less than 50%, so they planted all the seeds and started growing everything in the spring, and now, we’re just not able to buy the crops that are ready to be harvested.”

Jonckheere said that though she’d like to see some additional aid for small businesses like hers that are struggling during this time, the support the Trumansburg community has shown Hazelnut Kitchen has been crucial to their success.

Jonckheere said that the community has often dropped by the restaurant with flowers or shared pictures of their food with them, and no matter what Hazelnut Kitchen needs to stay open and safe, the community has accommodated.

“Trumansburg has been very consistent, outstanding, according to all of the local businesses,” she said. “And I’m really, really thankful that we live here. … Everyone’s been really warming our hearts, and we’re so appreciative of everybody. Thank you for helping us to stay afloat.”

Visit Hazelnut Kitchen at 53 E. Main St., online at hazelnutkitchen.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/hazelnutkitchentrumansburg for more information.