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Meet Steven Carson
In March of 2021, Steven Carson moved to the Southern Finger Lakes from the Greater Boston area where he was a domestic cheese buyer for Formaggio Kitchen, a cheese shop/specialty food store in Boston.
His move was prompted for a number of reasons, with proximity to the family being the biggest one. His brother and family live in South Bristol, and his parents live in Canandaigua during the summer. With a niece and nephews, all five and under, he really wanted to get some important uncle time in.
He was also motivated by his brother’s wood-fired pizza eatery, Bristol’s Pizza, which he has been helping to operate. And of course, like so many, COVID was the catalyst that made the decision to move much easier.
Steven is admittedly a foodie, making the Southern Finger Lakes the perfect place to be. “I’ve worked in fine-dining most of my career and living in Boston spoiled me with the variety of options for food, whether it be dine-in or delivery. Thankfully, I have Wegman’s and a culinary degree. You can’t beat a home-cooked meal!”
After running the pizza business for the summer, Steven started working at McGregor Vineyard in Dundee. Initially, he was just helping out in the tasting room, however, he’s recently accepted the assistant tasting room manager position, an experience he finds has really complemented his professional journey. “After selling and serving wine for so long, it has been fantastic living in a wine-producing area and having the opportunity to get a look at the industry from a fresh perspective.”
Steven spends a lot of time cooking and tries to enjoy as much time with his family as his schedule allows. And, he’s making sure to make the most of his easy access to nature and the outdoors. “During the summer, I’m either hiking or on the lake with my family. Hopefully, we’ll be in a better spot this upcoming spring and summer so that I can see some live music!”
Currently settled in Canandaigua, Steven’s commute to Dundee is about a 50-minute drive, a pretty standard driving time for the area, but something newcomers might need to adjust to. However, Steven doesn’t mind, “[The commute] gives me some good podcast time.”
Something else that makes the drive more enjoyable: no traffic. “It has been really nice to be in an area with much less population density,” Steven said, adding, “It was a bit nerve-racking living in a major metropolitan area during a global pandemic, especially when you are relying on public transportation.”
As he settles in and learns more about his new hometown, Steven has this advice to offer those who might be looking to relocate from a metropolitan area, “Expect for things to slow down quite a bit. That was exactly what I was looking for after living in cities for so long.” He also recommends embracing your adventurous spirit. “Get in your car and drive around. There are so many small villages and towns that each have something unique to explore!”
Thank you, Steven, for sharing your story with us!
Learn more about life, work, and play in the Southern Finger Lakes and the resources available for those looking for something new.
