Keith Luce Reaches Kickstarter Goal For Meat Curing House

Chef Keith Luce has realized his goal of raising funds through a Kickstarter campaign for a new meat curing house on Love Lane in Mattituck.

"I'm thankful and ecstatic about the result," Luce said Monday. "I am amazed by what a powerful tool social media is. Crowd funding allowed me to jumpstart a passion project and build a network of like-minded enthusiasts with a genuine interest in my soon to be offered products, and the region as a whole, prior to diving into this project without the security that there are in fact consumers interested in what I will have to offer."

Next steps, Luce said, involve "a lot of work. The facility needs to be prepared and equipment purchased. I also have a few surprises up my sleeve that will be formalized by the end of the week," he said.

Most of the funding was realized in past days: In late February, with 12 days remaining in the Kickstarter campaign that started in January to raise funds for a meat curing house on Love Lane, Keith Luce was still in need of over 75 percent of his goal, though wrote that he remained confident in reaching it.

 to purchase the equipment and space necessary to offer, "True farm to table artisan products with a focus on cured meats from humanely raised animals being raised on my family farm."

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"This project is about preserving a way of life, as well as diversifying an artisan food scene that has taken hold on the 'last frontier' of Long Island. I truly believe that the more like-minded people that congregate and set up shop on the North Fork, the better the chance its agricultural heritage and open space will be preserved for generations to come."

Luce has his eyes on the Love Lane Market space, which has remained closed since the fall. Owner Mike Avella told Patch in December that he planned to reopen as soon as possible.