Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Behind the Blog: Ithacork

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We're wrapping up the year on a festive note as we go "Behind the Blog" to meet Tom Mansell of Ithacork. Though he's relatively new to the local wine scene, his blog offers a fresh, fun, and scientific perspective that makes wine easy to understand and worth getting excited about.

In this interview, Tom takes Dave on a tasting tour of some of his favorite Finger Lakes wines, covering the best grapes of our region. With the enthusiastic mind of a chemist, he helps Dave learn something new about how wine works, how we taste, and generally makes wine less intimidating and easier to comprehend. This episode is 96 minutes long, but it's worth listening to every minute, a perfect download to listen to on your holiday travels. However you choose to listen, and no matter how much you already know about wine, you can still learn something from Tom.

This is also our last podcast of 2009. We'll be back next year with new episodes of our regular Eating Ithaca podcast. In the meantime, you can find updates by following us on Twitter and on Facebook. We'd also love to hear from you, so write a comment here on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-216-8624 (607-21-MUNCH), or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

If you really enjoy what we create here at Eating Ithaca, why not make a donation? Your support goes directly to helping us keep this blog and podcast running, and keep making it even better as we go. Just click on the Donate button on the main page and you'll be helping us keep Eating Ithaca!


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MORE ON TOM MANSELL:

THE WINES WE TASTED:

TOM ALSO RECOMMENDS:

TOM'S PICKS FOR FINGER LAKES SPARKLING WINES:

ALSO DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

Friday, December 18, 2009

Ithaca Dining Update

We've seen a lot of changes in the local dining scene this year but we're not done yet. Here's the latest news you need to know about what's happening for Ithaca Eaters:

OPENINGS

COMING SOON

CLOSINGS
  • Our friends at 14850 Dining reported that Hog's Back BBQ has decided to close while they search for a new location. Mark writes that the owner "hopes to reopen in another Ithaca location -- perhaps the former Olivia location near East Hill Plaza -- before long." Like Mark, we'd love to see someone bring good food back to that location.

East Hill Plaza can also count on changes in grocery shopping options in 2010, as the P&C Grocery chain filed for bankruptcy in November. According to the Ithaca Journal, the Price Chopper chain has made a bid to buy P&C, but there is currently no way to be sure that any of the three P&C stores in Ithaca (at East Hill Plaza, North Triphammer Road, and Hancock Street) would be converted or sold by whatever chain eventually buys them out. In the meantime, for those who rely on P&C for certain brands and unique choices others don't have, the coming change is sad news. We'll keep covering this story as it develops.

If you've got more info on any of these topics, or have heard of another opening or closing we should share, leave us a comment below or drop us a line: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

Happy Eating!


Saturday, December 5, 2009

Behind the Blog: Ithaca's Food Web

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We're taking a break from our regular podcast series to introduce you to some of the other local food bloggers who have been making names for themselves in the Ithaca food community. We've been lucky enough to get to know a few of these people over the past year and we're excited to share their stories with you.

This time we're talking with Alison Fromme, creator of the blog Ithaca's Food Web, which is a uniquely hyperlocal resource for news stories on food-related issues in Ithaca and Tompkins County. Alison writes about everything from local cooking trends and farming updates to broader topics of food safety and the ongoing debates over natural gas drilling and its potential effects on agriculture in our area. She also has the best calendar of food-related events in Ithaca we've seen.

If you missed it, you can also listen our first "Behind the Blog" podcast for our chat with Amy from the Eggs on Sunday cooking blog. We'll have another episode in this special "Behind the Blog" series in a couple weeks, as well as more ongoing updates on the local food scene here on our website. For continuing updates on everything we're doing, be sure to follow us on Twitter and on Facebook. We'd also love to hear from you directly: write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-216-8624 (607-21-MUNCH), or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

Have you taken our Eating Ithaca Audience Survey yet? We're taking time to make improvements to our site and we'd love to know what you think about what we're doing. It should only take 5 minutes for you to participate, and everyone who completes the survey is eligible to be entered in our drawing to win one of two $25 gift cards for Ithaca Coffee Company. The more people we hear from, the better we'll know what you enjoy about Eating Ithaca, so please CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR SURVEY and thanks for your help!


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Links for this episode:

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

We need your input!

Got 5 minutes to spare? We're inviting everyone in the Eating Ithaca audience to participate in our audience survey and share your honest feedback on our website. This is not something we plan to do very often, but we're working hard behind the scenes to make our website and podcast as good as they can be, so we'd love to hear from as many of you as possible.

CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR SURVEY

Our survey has now ended. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Need more incentive? The great people at Ithaca Coffee Company and Triphammer Wines & Spirits have graciously donated two $25 gift cards for their stores, which we'll be giving away to two lucky survey respondents!

Please take 5 minutes to answer some questions for us. We promise it's all anonymous and you won't get spammed or put on any lists. But you could win a $25 gift card from a great local foods company, and even if you don't win you'll be helping us make Eating Ithaca a bigger and better part of our local foods community.

Thanks!

Monday, November 30, 2009

Ithaca Restaurants Update

Here is a brief update on some of the new openings and changes ahead for the local Ithaca dining scene, much of it happening within two blocks at the intersection of Cayuga Street and West State Street:

  • Wildfire Bistro (106 S. Cauyga St. | 607-277-9143) is now officially open for lunch and dinner and they've posted menus for both on their new website: www.Wildfire-Restaurant.com. Looks like an interesting mix of mid-priced options, with nothing over $20 on either menu. We're intrigued by the $9 "Grown-up Mac & Cheese" on the Comfort Zone portion of the menu, which offers an option to add lobster for an additional $6. There is also a nice mix of meats, seafood, and vegetarian options on both menus. Have you tried any of these yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

  • We also checked in with Bandwagon Brew Pub (114 North Cayuga Street) this weekend. They're currently brewing their first batches of house beer and training staff. They say they're on track to have their official opening by December 15th. Keep an eye on their website (www.bandwagonbeer.com) or follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/BandwagonBeer) to stay up to date.

  • Looks like the former Ithaca Diner is soon to reopen as the Prize Diner. The new owner told us she's planning to keep it a breakfast and lunch diner operation like its predecessor, but with shiny new equipment behind the counter and a revamped interior. She aims to open for business within a week or two as well.

  • Also new to Downtown Ithaca is the Green Street Station branch of Gimme! Coffee, their 3rd Ithaca location. It's a cozy space across from the new Cinemapolis, and currently one of the test spots for their new modern pour-over coffee options. Give 'em a try!

  • Changes are afoot up at the Food Court at the Shops at Ithaca Mall on Triphammer Road. When Sicilian Delight pizzeria took over the space vacated by Wendy's, they left a blank store that left many shoppers wondering what would happen to their corner. Now an answer has appeared: Mo's Pit BBQ is moving in. We know little about how good or bad this will be, but their website (www.mospitbbq.com) shows they are a regional chain. When you add them to the other recent additions of Hogs Back BBQ and Razorback BBQ, it seems 2009 is the year that barbeque cuisine tries to take Ithaca by storm yet again. We'll have to wait and see if they can make it into the next decade longer than the last wave did (i.e. Ralph's, Billy Bob Jack's, Bistro Q) in this decade. Also at the Mall for a limited time is Doug's Fish Fry To Go. Check out their website for the complete schedule, as they'll only be at this location on weekends through January 1st. Save yourself the trip to Cortland and get some of the best onion rings around while you can!

We're also continuing to watch for the arrival of a Panera Bread, expected to open in 2010 in the new building under construction at K-Mart Plaza, and rumors of other national chain restaurants persist for the Meadow Street shopping district as well. If you've got more info on any of these new restaurant openings, or have heard of another opening we should share, leave us a comment below or drop us a line: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

Happy Eating!


Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Local Foods for A Special Cause on December 2nd

If you love local food and are looking to share the spirit of giving this season, there is a great event happening just one week from today that you should consider. It’s the 3rd Annual “Evening to Remember Gala” wine and food tasting event to benefit Alzheimer’s Research, sponsored by Ithaca Coffee Company and Triphammer Wines & Spirits. All money raised goes towards the Alzheimer’s Association of Central New York. Standard tickets are $55 Pre-sale and $60 @ the door. VIP tickets are $100. VIP include a special VIP room with 50+ Rare/Expensive Wines and Cheese and Chocolate pairings from Ithaca Coffee Company and you get to come in at 5:30pm.

Trevor at Ithaca Coffee Co. gave us the full details:
Event: December 2nd, 2009, 6:00-9:00pm @ the Clarion Hotel behind the Triphammer Mall. We have all of our Wine and Spirits Reps pouring wines from around the world as well as Ithaca Beer, Wagner Beer, Finger Lakes Distilling, Dr. Frank, Glenora, Americana Vineyards, Chateau Lafayette Reneau, Bellwether, Six Mile Creek, and a bunch more. For food we’ve got signature creations from: NorthStar, Blue Stone, The Rose, Rogues' Harbor, Joe’s, Ithaca Coffee Co., Crystal Lake Café and East Shore Café. Plus we’ve got local band Mudbone playing the gala.

Silent Auction:
We have over $13,00 in Donations for our Silent Auction including: 1 Week Timeshare in Florida ($2,000 value), Team Autographed Buffalo Sabres Jersey ($500 value), Autographed Marty Turco Dallas Stars Jersey ($350 value), 4 Crown Royal VIP NASCAR Tickets at The Glen ($2,000 value), a Finger Lakes Air Tour ($300 value), 2 Taste of The Nation VIP Tickets and 2 SOS Dinner Tickets ($400 value), and a lot more.
You can find more information about the event on their Facebook page, or call (607) 257-2626. If want to eat and drink really well to support a great cause, buy your tickets and kick off the holiday season with a reason to be merry all winter long.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Behind the Blog: Eggs on Sunday

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While we're taking a break from our regular podcast, we thought we'd introduce you to some of the other food bloggers who have recently added their unique points of view to the local food community. We'll be talking with three of these bloggers in these special episodes, each featuring a chat with someone we've come to know within the past year.

For this episode, we're talking with Amy Maltzan of the Eggs On Sunday cooking blog. Each of her posts features a great recipe and her personal tips on why you should make it and how, along with some gorgeous photos of the results. She's passionate about cooking with local, seasonal ingredients, and not afraid to share her cooking and baking struggles as well as her triumphs. It was an enlightening conversation that we hope will inspire you to check out her blog and get cooking!

We'll have another episode in this special "Behind the Blog" series in a couple weeks, as well as some other special material here on our website. For continuing updates on everything we're doing, be sure to follow us on Twitter and on Facebook. We'd also love to hear from you directly: write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-216-8624 (607-21-MUNCH), or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

If you really enjoy what we create here at Eating Ithaca, why not make a donation? Your support goes directly to helping us keep this blog and podcast running, and keep making it even better as we go. Just click on the Donate button on the main page and you'll be helping us keep Eating Ithaca!


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Links for this episode:


Amy's Cookbook Recommendations:

Amy's Cooking Blog Recommendations:

Monday, October 26, 2009

Ep. 45: Autumn's Harvest Farm, New BBQ, and Goodbye for Now

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With Thanksgiving now only weeks away, we went looking for some of the best locally-raised, all natural turkeys we could find, and Autumn's Harvest Farm in Romulus is one of the few places that everyone seems to love. Their pasture-raised meats are used by some of the best chefs in our region, including Deb Whiting at Red Newt Wine Cellars & Bistro, and previous podcast guest Sam Izzo of Simply Red Bistro. In this podcast, we'll talk with farmer Tim Hawes about his animals and try to find out why he has some of the happiest turkeys around.

And as we continue eating our way through every Ithaca restaurant from A-Z, we finish our look back through the alphabet for restaurants that we've missed and end up at Hog's Back BBQ, which has officially taken over the space formerly occupied by Pangea. We were pleasantly surprised by the experience, and have all the details you need to know. Plus we've got the latest news on new restaurant openings in Ithaca and upcoming food events.

We've decided to make this our last full-length episode of 2009 so we can take some time off to rework some details behind the scenes, make some upgrades and improve the Eating Ithaca experience for everyone. But we're not gone for good, and we'll have a lot more blog entries and even a few mini-episodes of the podcast for you in the coming months.

For continuing updates on everything we're doing, be sure to follow us on Twitter and on Facebook. We'd also love to hear from you directly: write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-216-8624 (607-21-MUNCH), or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

If you really enjoy what we create here at Eating Ithaca, why not make a donation? Your support goes directly to helping us keep this blog and podcast running, and keep making it even better as we go. Just click on the Donate button on the main page and you'll be helping us keep Eating Ithaca!


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Get more information on topics from this episode:

Monday, October 12, 2009

Ep. 44: Operation Frontline and Coal House Cafe

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In the excellent new "Food Issue" of the New York Times Magazine, the cover story on British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver follows his recent efforts to improve the eating and cooking habits of everyday Americans. It's an article worth reading, but it overlooks an important fact: there's already a nationwide organization doing that same thing, and they've been doing it for over 15 years.

For this episode, we're going behind the scenes with Operation Frontline, a part of Share Our Strength, whose mission is to end childhood hunger. Operation Frontline outreach programs aim to reconnect families with food and healthy eating through free cooking and nutrition classes. To see what they're doing in the Ithaca community, we'll talk with Julia Hastings-Black, program director for Operation Frontline with Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Edie Spaulding, who shares a personal story of how Operation Frontline classes changed the way her family cooks at home. Plus we have details on how to get your tickets to the Chef's Night Out Dinners, 3 dinners on 3 nights, each featuring 5 courses by 5 different chefs, all raising funds to support Operation Frontline. It's a special dining series not to be missed.

We're still eating our way through every Ithaca restaurant from A-Z, and looking back through the alphabet for new entries brings us to the Coal House Cafe, which is already improving on what its predecessor - Queen of Tarts - started. Hear our review plus the latest local food news and events in this episode.

For continuing updates throughout the week, be sure to follow us on Twitter and on Facebook. We'd also love to hear from you directly: write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

If you really enjoy what we create here at Eating Ithaca, why not make a donation? Your support goes directly to helping us keep this blog and podcast running, and keep making it even better as we go. Just click on the Donate button on the main page and you'll be helping us keep Eating Ithaca!

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Get more information on topics from this episode:

Monday, September 28, 2009

Ep. 43: Apples and Burgers and Fries

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The Fall fruit season is in full swing in Ithaca, and in this podcast we're visiting the Cornell Orchards, where they've been growing, researching, and developing amazing apples and other fruits for over a century. Our guest, Deborah Clover, is sales manager of the orchard store and she's got a unique behind-the-scenes perspective on how apples get from trees to our tables.

And we've got a review of the newest contender on the local burger scene, as we visit the brand new Ithaca location of Five Guys Burgers and Fries. The restaurant chain already has a strong following of devoted burger lovers who rave about the quality and flavor of this food, and we were not disappointed.

Plus we updates on the other new restaurants opening soon, as well as the latest on upcoming events for local food lovers! Be sure to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week, and stay in touch: you can write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

If you really enjoy what we create here at Eating Ithaca, why not make a donation? Your support goes directly to helping us keep this blog and podcast running, and keep making it even better as we go. Just click on the Donate button on the main page and you'll be helping us keep Eating Ithaca!

Click Play to Listen to Episode 43








Stuff we talked about in this episode:


Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Gary Redmond: Sustainability is Everything

Whenever I record an interview for the podcast, it seems there is always something the person I'm talking to says either just before or just after the conversation that I wish had been part of the actual interview. Sometimes I manage to get it recorded and edit it into the interview anyway, but other times I find myself talking with someone after the recorder has been turned off and then scrambling to hit record again because they've continued to say something special.

That's exactly what happened when I interviewed Gary Redmond for our recent podcast. After we had finished the interview and was preparing to pack up, Gary continued sharing thoughts on some of the bigger challenges we are facing and I managed to catch the best part of what he said. Here's a transcribed version for you:

GARY: ...For a long time, I always thought that human intelligence was this evolutionary dead end, that it really wasn’t working because of what we produced on this Earth, you know? And it seemed like, okay, I think we would have been better off if we didn’t have those choices... and then just a couple, few years ago I realized Oh, I’m not looking at it as a process, I’m looking at it as an endpoint of where we were. You know, the fact of the matter is... intelligence is a process that, once we developed a consciousness and an awareness of ourselves, and we had choices, it’s obvious you’re gonna make BAD choices, you know? And so we have this learning curve to go through... we’d gone to one extreme to where we’d made all these bad choices, we’d made all these decisions, and we’re seeing the results of them right now. And now what we have to do is start making coherent choices, making choices that are sustainable, that have a longer vision... And every decision that you make should be based on that concept of “Does this make sense in the bigger realm of things?”

DAVE: And what you just said, you didn’t even really use any words specific to food -- you could have been talking about the economy as well.

GARY: That’s just it, yeah! It’s... it’s everything. It’s not just food. But the agriculture is such a basic part of it because agriculture, local foods, IS economic, it IS about energy, it IS about the environment, it IS about nutrition, it’s all those things that we’re having problems with and it all can be solved by basically returning to or reinventing a local economy that’s based on sustainability.

You can listen to an MP3 version of the recording here (or right click to download and save).

I hope you find what Gary Redmond has to say inspiring and thoughtful. If you haven't already, listen to our full interview with Gary in Episode 42 of the podcast, and check out the Regional Access website: www.RegionalAccess.net to learn more about his work.

--Dave

Friday, September 18, 2009

New Restaurants Opening in Ithaca - REVISED!

In our most recent episode of the podcast, we mentioned a surprisingly long list of new restaurant openings that we were expecting to see open in the coming weeks. Since then, I’ve had a chance to talk with some of the people involved and I’m happy to provide this update of some exciting new dining options about to hit Ithaca in the coming weeks (REVISED 9/21/09):
  • On the East Hill, the Queen Of Tarts on Maple Ave. has officially become the Coal House Cafe under its new owners. They’re working on expanding the menu of fresh daily sandwiches and soups, but be aware that street work is expected to cause closures at different ends of Maple Ave. in the coming weeks so you'll need to plan accordingly. You can get further updates on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/coalhousecafe
  • Just down the street on Dryden Road in Collegetown, Xeo’s Cafe (pronounced SAY-ohs) is now open in the space vacated by Cà Phê House last winter. The owner, Sebastian, is preparing authentic Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches and noodle bowls fresh every day, and is committed to using local or handmade ingredients as much as possible, which he updates on a list next to his menu board. We can’t wait to give it a try! UPDATE: I tried his special bánh mì for lunch today. Really tasty and spicy, packed with layers of contrasting textures and flavors. He's still setting up the place and doesn't yet have beverages for sale, but even just picking up a sandwich or noodle bowl to go is worth the trip for now. -Dave
  • Five Guys Burgers and Fries has told us they’re still on track to open on Sunday, September 20th in the Ithaca Shopping Plaza on Elmira Rd (MAP). Regular hours will be 11:00am - 10:00pm every day. Some may wonder why so many of us are making a big deal about this opening. The best answer I can give is that they have a product that is uniquely delicious, an old-fashioned, no-nonsense approach to making and serving the best of only three things: burgers, hot dogs, and fries. And they make all of those things really, really well, fresh to order, with the best ingredients. We’ll have a full review of Five Guys in our next podcast, but if you can’t wait until then, head on down and get in line. You’ll be glad you did. UPDATE: Five Guys told us they served approx. 2,000 people on their opening day in Ithaca! Check out our photos of the first 1/2 hour on our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatingithaca/tags/fiveguysburgersfries/
  • Sammy’s Pizzeria says they hope to open the new Sammy’s Italian Buffet & Grill on or near September 20th October 1st. They’ve been renovating the space formerly occupied by King Buffet in Tops Plaza (722 S. Meadow St. next to Gnomon Copy), installing a new pizza oven and grill, and the updated dining room includes a simulated "starlight" ceiling that will also provide a regular "fireworks" show each night. You can check out a video preview for the new restaurant on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bn0HfBPRTVw
  • Wildfire - An American Bistro is currently on track to open the first weekend in October, taking over the former Ithaca outpost of the Lost Dog Cafe on South Cayuga Street. When I stopped by to peek at the renovation work, owner Teresa Miller told me they’re looking forward to starting some training runs for their staff in a couple weeks, but they’re still testing the menu for now. If the work in progress I saw continues, the space will have a new lighter color and warm feeling that could make it more appealing for brunch hours than the moody darkness of the old Lost Dog. You can find the original announcement about the opening here: http://www.lansingstar.com/content/view/5145/77/
  • Just down the street, Bandwagon Brewery is also nearing completion of their new underground brewpub. Not underground like a secret, but literally underground, as they’ll be in the space below street level on N. Cayuga Street next to the Clinton House that used to be home to the Jamaican restaurant Yah! Mon (formerly Jamaica Pat’s) but has been vacant for over a year. I met one of the owners putting some finishing touches on repainting the space and he said they’re hoping to open in mid-October, perhaps as soon as the 15th. They’ll have a full menu of simple comfort foods, and they’ll also be brewing their own beer onsite. If it lives up to its promise, it will likely become a popular spot to cozy up to the bar and escape from the approaching winter chills.
Other openings are still to come, including the highly anticipated relaunch of the vegetarian/vegan restaurant on Stewart Ave. formerly known as ABC Cafe. The new owners, all former ABC Cafe staff, are still working on renovations behind papered windows and no opening date has been set. In fact, they’re still working on what to call the new place due to the financial troubles associated with the ABC Cafe name. For now, you can follow their progress via their new website and their Facebook group page, or follow them on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/BeyondABC

We’ll keep you posted on these and all other new restaurant openings or closings to come. In the meantime, we hope you’ll get out there and enjoy some of your favorite dining spots as we head into Fall. If you discover something you love, let us know about it. Together, we can all be Eating Ithaca!

--Dave

Thursday, September 17, 2009

When Frites Compete, Ithaca Wins

Earlier this week, we got a great email from a listener, Sarah, who mentioned her family’s trip to the NY State Fair:
On going to the state fair there are lots of 'fresh' or hand-cut type french fry type vendors, which we were planning on partaking of BUT our 2-year old melted into a puddle of tears at the overwhelmingness of the fair before we could get the fries. Which is understandable as many grown adults also lose their minds after several hours at the state fair. Anyways, when we got to the car we started discussing where we could get really good-not frozen fries in the Ithaca/Cortland area. We couldn't think of any or how to begin searching. I see that 5 guys will be opening very soon, which would fit the ticket, but thought you might know of some other places. Thanks!
Of course, that seemed like an easy enough question, and I have a hands down favorite that I always recommend without a moment’s hesitation: Fine Line Bistro without a doubt has the best fries we’ve ever had in Ithaca. Period.

But I didn’t reply to Sarah right away, because I realized that “fries” actually means something different to different people. When I think of “the best” fries, I think first and foremost of the Belgian-style frites, which have a very specific character and flavor and texture that is, to me, what every Idaho Russet dreams of one day becoming; they taste fried but not fatty, crisp but not stiff, and full of perfectly steamy puffed potato deliciousness. That's because they are cooked in a more labor-intensive method that requires extensive soaking, and two stages of frying, ideally at two different temperatures, something not every restaurant kitchen is equipped to do or has time for. But for anyone who has tasted frites like these, it’s hard to go back to anything less. As far as we’ve seen, Chef Seth Gregory at Fine Line Bistro is the only one in Ithaca serving these authentic twice-fried frites, and the difference is quite clear. Served with an authentic, tangy aioli sauce, there is nothing better.

But I was curious if anyone else felt the same, so I asked our Twitter followers for their favorites. I was a little dismayed that nobody else mentioned Fine Line, but not at all surprised who was mentioned most. Okay, it’s an un-scientific poll to be sure, but here were the replies for favorite fries in Ithaca (click the @names and links to read the original Tweet replies):


Dijon Bistro comes out on top from @sushigrade, @eruditeogre, @munierSalem, @mhaithaca, and @dansr.

Maxie's also got a couple mentions from @natedogreimer and @mhaithaca.

Of course, @mhaithaca is also the foodie behind 14850 Dining who has eaten as many of Ithaca fries as we have, probably more. He also gave nods to Ithaca Ale House and The Nines. Others pointed out more obscure options like Stella’s, The State Diner, and Kilpatrick’s Pub, and even some options that no longer exist.

And while I’m very glad nobody mentioned any of the national chain fast food franchises in town, this creates more complications than it solves, since none of these places even really serve the same kind of fries. Many of these are “seasoned” fries, where the flavor of the spices that coat them are the defining appeal. Others are “sauced” fries, covered in cheese or gravy, perfect for those all night weekend pub crawls.

But none of these options are even what dear listener Sarah wrote us about. She’s looking for the State Fair hand-cut style fries that are something else all together. To me, that means tender, thick-cut fries with strips of skin here and there, shiny and hot from the fryer and covered in salt, served in a paper bag or cardboard boat with a small tub of ketchup on the side for dunking. Sorry Sarah, but the only place you’re going to get those on a regular basis in Ithaca will be when Five Guys Burgers & Fries officially opens on Sunday, Sept. 20th. But oh, will they be worth waiting for...

When it comes to the classic frites I love, Fine Line Bistro will always be tops in my book, and if you have not tried them yet you are definitely missing out. That said, I’ll admit that Dijon comes as a close second to what Fine Line has perfected. In fact, I probably am disappointed by Dijon's fries most because they come so close to getting it right only to fall just short. If only they would stop putting more than just salt on their fries (I’ll never understand the value of parsley on fries) and maybe consider the two-stage frying method, they would be able to finally offer a more authentic moules frites experience for Ithaca diners.

If you'd like to hear more of our thoughts on this, you listen to our podcast review of Dijon Bistro in Ep. 18 and our review of Fine Line Bistro in Ep. 22. Even better, I encourage anyone who really cares about this to try making your own batch of authentic Belgian-style frites (this recipe is fantastic and easy) and you’ll see what a difference the twice-fried french fry can make.

What do YOU think? Something we overlooked here? Agree/Disagree? Bring it on! Leave us a comment below.

Keep Eating Ithaca!
--Dave

Where to get your fries fix:

Monday, September 14, 2009

Ep. 42: Gary Redmond's Regional Access & New Vegan Dining

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Without a doubt, Gary Redmond is one of the most enthusiastic and passionate forces of the Finger Lakes food community we've ever met. His company, Regional Access, is celebrating its 20th year even as they continue to explore new ways of sharing the best foods of our region and beyond. Our interview with Gary is bound to get you thinking about just how much is possible for a sustainable future in New York.

We're also continuing to eat our way through every restaurant in Ithaca in alphabetical order, this time looking back to seek out the restaurants that have opened since our first pass through the letters A to H. In this episode, we're checking out the new vegan restaurant Food For the Planet on West Buffalo Street, which both surprised and disappointed us. Hear our review for the full story.

Plus we have lots of news on other new restaurants opening in the weeks to come, as well as the latest on upcoming events for local food lovers! Be sure to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week, and stay in touch: you can write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

If you really enjoy what we create here at Eating Ithaca, why not make a donation? Your support goes directly to helping us keep this blog and podcast running, and keep making it even better as we go. Just click on the Donate button on the main page and you'll be helping us keep Eating Ithaca!

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Monday, August 31, 2009

Ep. 41: Ithaca Beer & Ithaca Bakery

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The Ithaca Brew Fest is right around the corner, so it's a perfect time to be talking to the man behind the brew at Ithaca Beer, Jeff "Chief" O'Neil. He's an enthusiastic beer maker and "Hop Head" and has been creating award-winning ales for Ithaca's oldest full-time brewery since 2002. In fact he was such an enthusiastic guest, we got more interview from him than we could fit into the podcast. Instead, we've created a separate uncut version of the interview featuring an extra 15 minutes of our conversation that you can download:

Click here to listen to (or right click to download) the full, uncut version of our chat with Ithaca Beer's Executive Brewer Jeff O'Neil (53 minutes).

Our restaurant review for this week takes us at last to the super sandwich kingdom of Ithaca Bakery and its many splendors. Plus we have lots of news on upcoming events, some new websites you should be checking out, and listener feedback!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week, and stay in touch: you can write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com.

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Monday, August 10, 2009

Ep. 40: Ten Things Part 4!

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We're over the hill with "Ten Things" Part 4, filled with topical discussions, ruminations on why we love to cook and the people who inspire us, plus tastings and reviews of foods from near and far. The only way to really know what's here is to download and listen!

If you are a fan of what we're doing here and would like to help us continue covering the Ithaca dining scene and bringing you conversations with people in our regional food community, please consider making a donation by clicking on the DONATE button on our main page. And any time you want to get in touch or be part of a future episode, you may leave a comment on the blog, call our voicemail line anytime at 607-215-4392, or send an email to: feedback at eatingithaca dot com. Remember to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week!

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Monday, July 27, 2009

Ep. 39: Distilling the Finger Lakes

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In this show, we head west to Seneca Lake for a visit with the guys behind Finger Lakes Distilling to discover how they're turning the best all-natural Finger Lakes fruits and grains into artisanal spirits, including their elegant Vintners Vodka and the Seneca Drums Gin that has already found a small following among local cocktail connoisseurs. And we've got a very nice Finger Lakes Distilling hat to give away to one lucky listener!

We're also checking in on the bounty of new fruits and summer vegetables that are appearing at the Ithaca Farmers' Market, and our latest restaurant review takes a look at one of the more unique pizza options in town at Italian Carry Out. Plus we have updates on breaking restaurant gossip and news of local foodie events on the way.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week, and stay in touch: you can write a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email with your thoughts to: feedback [at] eatingithaca [dot] com. Thanks for listening!

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Monday, July 13, 2009

Ep. 38: Following Nathan, "Food Inc." on Film

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We're talking with Nathan Winters of FollowNathan.org, who is on an adventurous, interactive bike ride across the continent dedicated to raising awareness for sustainability, recycling, and conservation. As he goes, he's also interviewing people he meets and uploading the videos and photos from his encounters on his website to share with the world. He stopped in Ithaca for a few days as part of his journey and we got to find out more about what he learned in our community.

Nathan also paid a visit to the Ithaca Farmers' Market, which he called "hands down the best farmer's market he's seen," (check out his video from the market here). We've got our own update from the market in this episode, and our latest restaurant review offers multiple trips to the steam tables at Imperial Kitchen Buffet off Triphammer Road. Plus we're sharing our thoughts on the new documentary "Food Inc." now playing at Cinemapolis.

Remember to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week, and we'd love to get your feedback on the show. Leave a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email to: feedback at eatingithaca dot com. Thanks for listening!

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Monday, June 29, 2009

Ep. 37: Eat, Drink, and Get Married!

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The Finger Lakes have long been a popular destination for weddings and that means lots of opportunities for brides & grooms to make local foods a part of their celebration. Our guests Tina and Katie of Word of Mouth Catering in Trumansburg have spent nearly two decades making those special meals an important part of celebrations throughout our region.

We've also got a report on what's new at the Ithaca Farmers' Market, and our latest restaurant review has us experiencing the mysterious retro charms of the Ichabod Lounge on Elmira Road. Plus we have updates on the latest local restaurant gossip and news of big foodie events on the way.

Remember to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week, and we'd love to get your feedback on the show. Leave a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email to: feedback at eatingithaca dot com. Thanks for listening!

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Monday, June 15, 2009

Ep. 36 - End of an Era for Ithaca Dining

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When it was announced earlier this year that the ABC Cafe would be closing its doors on June 21st, a many Ithacans began making plans to make the most of its final days. We sit down with this beloved restaurant's owner, Ken Hallett, to hear more about why he's decided it's time to move on.

But ABC Cafe isn't the only prominent dining option we're losing this month, and we'll talk about the closing of Willow in Fall Creek, and the Queen of Tarts on East Hill.

We also are checking out what's new at the Ithaca Farmers' Market, and we've got dining reviews for the Green Cafe in Collegetown and The Corners Deli in Cayuga Heights.

We've been getting lots of great feedback lately, and we'd love to hear more! Leave a comment on the blog, leave a message on our voicemail line 607-215-4392, or send an email to: feedback at eatingithaca dot com. And you can follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week!

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Monday, June 1, 2009

Ep. 35 - Chowcast and the Legendary Hot Truck Experience

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It's an Epic Podcasting Crossover Event, as we are joined by Sous & The Chef from Chowcast.net for a celebration of the unique Ithaca ritual that is The Hot Truck! In this episode you'll meet Sous & The Chef and find out more about their past in Ithaca, and then they stick around to help us review our late night Hot Truck meal. Check out photos from our night at our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eatingithaca

And when you're done listening to this episode, be sure to visit www.Chowcast.net to hear the other half of the show as Dave & Andrea of Eating Ithaca become the guests on the Chowcast podcast and enthusiastically embrace their explicit language format. It's not to be missed!

If you enjoy our podcast, we'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the blog, call our voicemail line anytime at 607-215-4392, or send an email to: feedback at eatingithaca dot com. Remember to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week!

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Ep. 34 - Ithaca Taste of the Nation and Lunch at Hope's Way

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It's almost time for one of the biggest annual foodie events in town, the Ithaca Taste of the Nation tasting dinner featuring 50 top restaurants and wineries from all around the region. We're talking with the man behind the scenes, Jerry Dietz, about just what makes this event so important.

Want to know what's new at the Ithaca Farmers' Market? We're visiting the booths of more great vendors. And in our latest restaurant review we're heading to lunch at Hope's Way at the Triphammer Mall to see how it stacks up to the competition.

If you enjoy our podcast, we'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the blog, call our voicemail line anytime at 607-215-4392, or send an email to: feedback at eatingithaca dot com. Remember to follow us on Twitter for continuing updates throughout the week!

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