Breadmaker popular for his 'scavenger hunt' opens new retail location in Westchester

The Hudson Oven finally has a permanent home.

What started as a scavenger hunt for sourdough bread in 2016 — basically a cabinet filled with freshly baked French country loaves that Founder Chase Fox Harnett originally called "Dough for Dough" — will open Oct. 15 on South Riverside in Croton-on-Hudson.

Harnett's charming wooden armoire, which the Piermont native used to sell his bread on a "pay what you think it's worth" honor system, quickly gained a following. In 2019, he began posting about the cabinet's location on Sundays at various tucked away spots along Westchester's River Towns (hence, the Hudson name).

Often, the bread would sell out with customers, many of whom became email subscribers to better find the cabinet, clamoring for more.

Now, they'll have it. While the Sourdough Scavenger Hunt still exists on select Sundays — it's near and dear to Harnett's heart — he hopes to bring folks to his new space, both for his artisan breads and for the scones, cookies, crackers, cake, granola, biscuits, stews, soups, salads, dips and roast chicken made by his wife (and fellow Rockland native) Madison (the two got married two weeks ago).

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There will also be coffee. And, customers can expect a new puffed corn snack that Harnett will reveal for the first time on Opening Day in addition to new breads such as an olive loaf and cranberry walnut.

Two bakers with a vision

The couple, who met in high school, came to baking via different routes. Chase Harnett had a desire to recreate the food experience he had during a semester abroad in Paris when he was a 19-year-old Pace University student — he's now 28. And 27-year-old Madison learned the ropes working in catering at Mimi's Plate in Tappan (she studied psychology at Manhattan College).

Chase Harnett credits Nyack resident Tom Daly, who was baking bread out of his garage, for getting him started and teaching him everything he knows. Daly is also the one who sold him a rare, portable oven —a 5,000-pound firebox made by Turtle Rock Masonry that sits atop a trailer.

Chase Harnett was also, for a time, devoted to pizza, churning out perfectly crisped pies at festivals, private parties and events throughout the tri-state area via a mobile oven, all while working a day job as a farm assistant at Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills. Madison Harnett also had a stint in pastry at Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

What attracts Harnett's avid following — aside from the sense of adventure he offers his customers with the bread cabinet — is his artful approach to baking and his passion for sourcing local, something Madison is also committed to.

That means regional flour using grain from Farmer Ground Flour in Ithaca, a small-scale, sustainable, organic grain farm and mill.

Started baking at Ossining home

For a long time the couple, who live in Ossining, baked out of their home. Madison's creations were often included in the bread cabinet, to gauge what customers liked.

Having the retail location, they said, opens up new opportunities for them, both for production and interaction. The new space is quadruple what they had before, allowing them to chat with their customers, something the cupboard didn't offer.

"We always got such nice notes whether it was something left in the cabinet, or an email or an Instagram message," said Chase. "But now we'll get to further build those relationships."

The Harnetts also offer an "intelligent locker" inside their store's vestibule, meaning if you come after hours (and you've pre-ordered and signed up), you can still get bread. "It's all about expanding accessibility," said Chase.

The new storefront also features his popular bread, pizza and cookie bricks, artisinal flour blends you just add water to and bake at home.

If you go

Address: 385 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, thehudsonoven.com

Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday to Sunday are regular hours; but on Opening Day, hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Good to know: Harnett will offer his new puffed corn snack on Opening Day.

FYI: You can park in the gravel parking lot across the street at Franzoso Contracting.

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Croton-on-Hudson restaurant Hudson Oven opens location