If you are looking for the perfect low key restaurant with fabulous food then run, don’t walk, over to the new restaurant HUSH Bistro, located on 291 Main St. in Farmingdale.
Owner and chef Marc Bynum grew up in Farmingdale and returned to the community that he loves to create a unique restaurant that adds to the quality of the charming main street in Farmingdale. Bynum is a two-time winner of the Food network show Chopped and has been a chef at Prime, Four Food Studios, Carlyle on the Green and Tellers. As he celebrates
HUSH’s four month anniversary, Bynum discussed what the restaurant represents.
“It is designed as a speak easy 1920s Harlem renaissance, the era of good food, good drinks, good music, that’s what we are trying to emulate here,” he said. “We do New American cuisine, good classic food with a twist done to perfection.”
Bynum has been cooking for the past 22 years and at the age of 36 decided it was time to open his own restaurant. He also has his own consulting company, M Bynum Creations, where he travels throughout the country helping people with their restaurants.
He is dedicated to cooking healthy food because his grandmother and aunt died of heart disease. He said, “I’m passionate about food and changing your relationship with food and how it works with your body is important to your heart.”
There is a lot of thought that went into the restaurant, including the wine list.
“Our wine list is exclusively from Long Island,” Bynum said. “Every wine we pour is local. It is something I wanted to do because not everyone does it. If you go to France, Spain, or
Australia they do it there, why can’t we do it on Long Island? It might be a little bit pricey but it is giving back to the local [makers]. You know exactly where the wine is coming from.
I know these wine makers. We live on a self-sustainable island with award- winning wines.”
Bynum is very passionate about Long Island and giving back.
“People say you have to go to the city for fine food; no, food is food. The beautiful thing about food is it is great where ever the chef is at,” he said. “It doesn’t matter, it cuts through color barriers, financial barriers. It is the one medium that connects everybody. Everybody eats.”
“One guy told me that you are getting the press because you are African American. No, before they know I am African American they taste the food, the food is good and that’s what draws them in, not the color of any body’s skin,” Bynum said. “Good food is good food at the end of the day. You may not like me but if I give you a good dish there is connectivity and you are more inclined to hear what that person has to say based on what you have just given them. That is why I am so passionate about food.”
Bynum had a message, “Yes I am a chef, but my story is more than food. Food just gets you in the door. Food gets you to know who I am and when we sit and talk you realize that this is more than just food. I am passionate about Long Island because this is where I am from. I am from Farmingdale. I didn’t go to culinary school, I went to Boces. I didn’t go to culinary school, but I took those skills that I learned and honed them. Some of the best artists and chefs never went to school, but they practiced their skills.”
He has been well received by the community since he opened Hush. “The community is great and a lot of people have followed my career. I’ve never been shy about saying I am from Farmingdale. This town raised me.”
