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Health & Fitness

"I will be back," Vows Caravela's Founder Fernando Cabral

"I am not retiring,"  Caravela founder Fernando Cabral told Patch today. "I will be back (in the restaurant business)," he advised. 

But for the immediate future, he said his plans were to take some time off and to spend more time with his wife.

Cabral had some advice for his former patrons. "They should eat at my son Henry's restaurant," he said. He was referring to Tarry Tavern, opened in Tarrytown in 2010 at 27 Main Street by Henry Cabral.

Henry Cabral commented that the closing of Caravela was a very emotional experience for him; he said he "grew up" in the restaurant.

Caravela's dishes were predominantly of Portuguese and Brazilian origin and influence while the menu at Tarry Tavern is mostly contemporary American along with tavern fare. Tarry Tavern expresses a preference for preparing meals with products obtained from New York State farms. 

The economy is mainly responsible for the closing of Caravela. Many upscale culinary institutions have been hard hit by the economy and are gone. Operating an upscale restaurant during a difficult economy is always a tough go. Fine dining restaurants are especially vulnerable because their customer base shrinks and remaining loyal patrons often spend less. 

For example, La Caravelle, a legendary New York City restaurant (named after the same Portuguese sailing ship as Tarrytown's Caravela although the restaurant was French) was one of many top-rated Manhattan eateries to close their doors during the last decade because of the economy.

Tarry Tavern replaced Lago di Como, a Northern Italian eatery that like Caravela had a long run in Tarrytown.
 
A sushi Thai restaurant will move into the space on Broadway in Tarrytown that was formerly occupied by Caravela. 

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