Ithaca A Foodie Town

Ithaca is a small city in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. just a four-hour drive away from New York City. It's home to Ivy League Cornell University and Ithaca College, and surrounded by gorges, waterfalls, lakefronts, and 28,000 acres of public forestland. The eclectic mix of cuisines found in the town is a result of its diverse student population, while proximity to abundant farmlands has given rise to a thriving farmers’ market and plenty of farm-to-table places. In fact, Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than New York City.

Sitting on the edge of Cayuga Lake is the Ithaca Farmer's Market, an effort by 150 growers, craftspeople, and food artisans selling everything from local organic produce to Cambodian delicacies. Did you know that Ithaca’s best-known eatery,

Moosewood Restaurant does not serve meat? It was named one of the thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th century by Bon Appétit magazine, and menu changes on a daily basis.

A 3 hour culinary walking adventure in Ithaca gave us a taste for the town's history, culture and architecture. We visited 6 different one-of-a-kind restaurants,each one diverse from the other. It was interesting to note that 5 0f the 6 places we visited had female owners or female co-owners. Each owner showed a commitment to local sourcing whenever possible, plant based foods, many offering gluten and dairy free options and all embraced fair trade products.  

Along the walking tour we learned that there is a movement to revitalize downtown Ithaca.   Ithaca Murals is a volunteer network of mural artists and organizers, who have facilitated the creation of numerous works of public art in downtown area. Some murals were still works in progress. Information about each mural can be found at https://www.ithacamurals.com

This whimsical mural depicts firefighters who represent the building which once housed a fire station. 
Did You Know? Ithaca lays claim to being the first city to create the ice cream cherry sundae. If you look closely along one sidewalk there is this marker with this claim to fame in 1892.

Stop One; Mama Said Hand Pies with Globally Inspired Flavors (a variety of fillings potato based)

Stop Two: Moosewood Restaurant (all vegetarian restaurant that has published several cookbooks and won many awards) 
Two soups and a Tofu Stir Fried Dish

Disclaimer:Unfortunately I polished off these wonderful soup samplings before I remembered a photo.

Stop Three: Ten Forward Cafe Star Trek- themed Plant-Based Cafe  (owner is a Star Trek fan) 
 

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie (dairy free) and Seitan Panni Sandwich (vegan cheese and  vegan mayo) 
Stop Four: F. Oliver's Oils and Vinegars and Speciality Spices

Olive oil tasting with infused balsamic vinegar and popcorn lime infused oil peppered with a taco seasoning.

Stop Five: Hawi Ethiopian Cuisine
Dovo Tibs (chicken, beets and carrots )

Served with Injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, originating from the Horn of Africa.

Stop Six: Sweet Melissa's Ice Cream 

An unusual but winning combination Oreo Cookies and Earl Grey tea. 

Thanks Cathy for such a great tour!

A step back into a town reminiscent of settings found in To Kill a Mockingbird, Tom Sawyer and F.Scott Fitzgerald Aurora