Chef for Groton’s Benn Conger Inn lends support to victims of domestic violence 

When Rob Newman happened upon a Facebook ad for chefs to participate in the Cortland YWCA’s annual “Chefs Take a Stand Against Domestic Violence” event, he immediately thought it would be fun and wanted to do it, but he never dreamed how impactful it would be for him.  

Newman is the chef at Groton’s historic Benn Conger Inn (The Benn) and is known there and beyond as Chef Bobby Todd. 

“My full name is Robert Todd Newman, and a dear friend from long ago, who has since passed away, gave me the nickname ‘Bobby Todd,’” Newman explained. “When I began cooking professionally, I wanted to honor him by becoming ‘Chef Bobby Todd.’” 

The event, held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, benefits YWCA Cortland’s Aid to Victims of Violence program, which provides free services such as assisting clients in obtaining orders of protection and accompanying them to the hospital or courtroom, offering both off-site emergency housing and permanent supportive housing at Grace Brown House, where women victims of domestic violence and their children can stay while they reestablish their lives, and basic, immediate needs such as clothing or toiletries. The event raised over $28,000. 

Newman decided he would enter an appetizer — shrimp and crab cakes with a chive and lemon aioli —– and he won second place.  

“I was honored to have won something,” Newman said, “but the victims are the real winners. I was so impacted by being a part of that. I can’t wait to do it again next year!” 

Newman said he made 200 of his award-winning appetizers for the event, and they were gone quickly. He is very grateful for the sponsorship of Christine (Clare) Brennan, who owns The Benn, and its general manager, Drew Clare —– both of whom are his relatives. 

Christine and her husband, Edward, purchased the inn in the spring of 2021. Christine involved her entire family in the purchasing decision and hired her nephew, Drew Clare, as vice president and general manager. Other members of the family also hold positions, including Newman as its chef. The Nov. 17, 2021 issue of this column tells the story of Christine’s childhood ties to what has become an award-winning venue here in Groton.  

Christine’s grandmother, Carmela Ardito, and Newman’s grandmother, Catherine Gentile, were sisters. Christine’s grandparents and parents were the owners of Don’s Restaurant in Groton, until Newman’s parents, Richard and Kay, purchased it from them and ran it until Rob was 13 years old. They sold the restaurant at that point, and it became Farrell’s.  

“I started making meatballs in the restaurant when I was about seven years old,” Rob said, “and I also learned to make sausage, pasta and more. I’ve always loved food because it’s so universal. I started making a homemade pizza for myself every Saturday morning growing up, and that fostered a real passion for food in me.” 

Aside from his passion for food, Rob also played football and golf in high school and is a 1977 Groton High School alumnus. He earned his associate degree in liberal arts from Tompkins Cortland Community College in 1979, with a concentration in business.  

“I figured business was the way to go because I had no clue what I wanted to do,” Rob said. “I went to James Madison University in Virginia next and got my BBA [Bachelor of Business Administration] in marketing and economics. I graduated in December 1982 and got a job as the assistant marketing director for Pyramid Companies. I worked at the mall here in Ithaca and became the director after four months.” 

Six months later, Rob was promoted to director of specialty leasing for the Pyramid Companies’ corporate office in Syracuse. For the next five years, he lived in various cities, including Albany.  

“At that point, I still didn’t do anything with food, other than throwing dinner parties,” Rob said. “I lived in Albany for another five years, working as the executive recruiter for Management Recruiters. Then, I started my own recruiting company, Newman Associates, until things dried up in the recruiting industry.”  

Rob then took a drastic turn and started an automotive paint refinishing business, but he needed more of a challenge.  

“I became friends with Frank Costanzo, who owned Costanzo’s Restaurant in Mechanicsville, New York. He had these old-school ’50s-style pizza ovens that he never used, so I said, ‘Let’s fire them up!’” 

Fire them up they did, and from there, Rob started a pizza and catering business that lasted until Frank passed away in 2008. It was at that point that Rob moved back to the Groton area and launched Blue Moon Catering.  

“It was a solo gig,” Rob said, “but I loved it. I catered all kinds of things —– but then Covid killed it for me. I got a job as a cook at SUNY Cortland and was there about two years before I started as the chef for The Benn Conger.” 

In the meantime, Rob met his wife, Linda, and they married in December 2011. Linda has two grown children, and Rob is very proud to have two grandchildren as a result. He is also an avid golfer, loves to cook for fun, does gardening and hiking and loves to travel. 

“I feel like I’ve come full circle, being back at the inn,” Rob said. “I used to run around here playing with my cousins as a child, and when I was at James Madison, I would come back here during summers and breaks and work. Margaret and Bob Oaksford were the original owners who turned the house into a bed and breakfast. I learned to be a sous chef, dishwasher and anything else. Bob was a great teacher.” 

While Rob has been delighted preparing food for holiday parties, buffet dinners, tapas and wine pairing events and more, he is looking forward to the next step, which will be opening The Benn for dinner every Thursday and Friday evening starting in mid-February 2024.  

“I love to provide a great product at a fair price, and I buy and support local sources for my food products,” Rob said. “I don’t like to buy things if I don’t know where they came from. My motto is that I am only as good as my last meal. I can’t take shortcuts to provide the best experience I can for people, so that keeps me on my toes!” 

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922.  

In brief: 

Groton Community Choir performances 

Under the direction of Ginny Casey, the Groton Community Choir will present its 73rd musical cantata, “This Little Baby is a King.” 

This popular group of singers will have four performances: Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at Groton Community Church, 204 E. Cortland St.; Saturday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m. at Brooktondale Baptist Church, 2311 Slaterville Rd., Ithaca; Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. at Dryden Baptist Church, 138 Virgil Rd.; and Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at Groton Assembly of God, 701 S. Main St. Crown City Brass will also perform.  

All locations are handicapped accessible. Light refreshments will follow each performance. There is no charge for the concerts, but freewill donations will be gratefully accepted to assist the choir in purchasing music for future performances.  

Tompkins County Emergency Response Fire Service Award 

In October, the Department of Emergency Response developed and presented its first annual Fire Service Awards for Tompkins County in recognition of Fire Prevention Month.  

Congratulations to the McLean Fire Department for having received the Fire Coordinator Appreciation Award for continued support to the Department of Emergency Response and to fire service in general in Tompkins County. McLean houses a rehab unit that provides support to all first responders at any type of incident. This unit responds not only to get responders out of the weather into a temperature-controlled environment; it also provides them with food and beverages so they can have the energy to complete the task at hand. On several occasions, McLean has been requested to offer its rehab unit to go all over Tompkins County and aid first responders. 

Opportunity for giving 

This Christmas, the Groton Community Cupboard (GCC) will transition from its reverse advent calendar and start a new tradition called $25 for 25 days. Please consider donating $25 within the next 25 days. This will help the GCC to continue its mission of providing food for those in need. All donations can be mailed to Groton Community Cupboard, P.O. Box 152, Groton, NY 13073.