Screen Shot 2022-02-27 at 10.54.55 PM.png

Tell me about
Grandma's Kitchen!

Grandma's Kitchen is an all vegan bakery and cafe located in Montour Falls, New York. We create freshly cooked, made from scratch meals and bakery items in our converted 1881 building that was the former home of the Falls Woodcraft Gift Shop for 36 years. All recipes featured are the veganized versions of our families' recipes.

As small business owners as well as residents of the Montour Falls community, we value the interconnectedness of our area's small businesses. We feature many local ingredients at our cafe including a special blend of coffee from Seneca Sunrise called Kitchen Queen Coffee and organic seasonal vegetables from the Montour Market and Ever Green Farm CSA. Our menu changes with the seasons based on the fruits and vegetables that are growing in the Finger Lakes Region.

Grandma's Kitchen opened in October 2021. Mike (he/him) and Casey (she/her) Easterling started the cafe after relocating to Upstate New York from New York City. Mike and Casey decided to relocate to Montour Falls after visiting the area for many years going to Farm Sanctuary. They searched for a mixed use property where they could have a business on the lower level and a residence on the level above. When they first visited 123 South Catherine Street, they knew it was the perfect location for their new cafe. After spending 17 years in New York City, Mike and Casey aspire to get involved and make a difference in their new community.

The name Grandma's Kitchen is inspired by Casey's two grandmas, Leila Jenkins (Grandma Jenkins) and Marge Kellar (Grandma Kellar). Casey grew up helping Grandma Jenkins make family recipes for holiday dinners and Grandma Kellar taught Casey how to bake, always helping her to win blue ribbons at the Summit County Fair for her Tempting Rolls.

Other inspirations for the Grandma's Kitchen concept are all of the delicious vegan restaurants Mike and Casey have visited in NYC and around the county; the Gentle Gourmet in Paris, France where Mike and Casey enjoyed prix fixe meals with other travelers from around the world as well as prepared picnic lunches; and the incredible vegan tea parties available in Victoria, Canada.

Meet the Grandma's Kitchen Team

Co-Owner, Baker, Social Media, Website

Casey Easterling

Casey is the creative force behind Grandma's Kitchen's bakery, Instagram, Facebook, & Website. She grew up cooking with her Grandmas, Leila and Marge, who are the inspirations behind the Grandma's Kitchen concept where everything tastes like Grandma's, only vegan! Casey relocated to Montour Falls in July 2021 to open the cafe after 16 years as an educator in New York City specializing in literacy and English as a Second Language. Casey continues to tutor students in the Montour Falls area through her private tutoring business, I Love Phonics Tutoring. Casey is currently pursuing certification in Orton Gillingham at the Associate B Level. Casey loves Christmas, Farm Sanctuary, and amusement parks, especially Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, her home state. Casey has been meat free since 2007 and vegan since 2009. She and her partner and Grandma's Kitchen co-owner, Mike Easterling, have organized vegan events in New York City since 2011 under the name 90 Lives Creative Vegan Outreach. Casey's education includes a bachelors degree in Biology with a minor in French from The University of Akron as well as two masters degrees from New York University in Foreign Language Education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and Literacy. Casey is active at her church in NYC, Metropolitan Community Church of New York.

Co-Owner, Cook, Facilities, Financials

Mike Easterling

Mike is the creative force behind Grandma's Kitchen's savory selections. Mike has dreamed of opening a cafe since he was a child. Prior to relocating to Montour Falls, Mike worked in food and housing justice, as a small business administrator, and also owned and operated a concessions company providing service to Off Broadway theaters in New York City. Mike continues to work in a hybrid setting for Metropolitan Community Church of New York and MCCNY Charities, Inc., which operates a homeless shelter for queer youth as well as a food pantry. Mike is currently a candidate for the ministry within the MCC denomination, which is a global denomination of LGBTQIA+ churches which offer a spiritual home for all. Mike enjoys road trips traveling the country visiting amusement parks and riding roller coasters. Mike has been a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts for many years. Mike has been meat free since 2007 and vegan since 2009. Mike and his partner and Grandma's Kitchen's co-owner, Casey Easterling, have organized vegan events in New York City since 2011 under the name 90 Lives Creative Vegan Outreach. Mike's education includes degrees in Communications as well as Business Administration.

Tell me about Grandma's Kitchen!

Meet the Grandma's Kitchen Team

Tell me about
Grandma's Kitchen!