Foodies Heaven

Sorry, folks. I was distracted by the luscious tomatoes...admiring them, frying them, and then feeding them to my friends. Fried Red Tomatoes. That's where it's at. We're heading into the late harvest season (pumpkin! my fav) and I've been busy attempting use all the wonderful goodies from my CSA share every week, as well as learning how to make blueberry jam and freeze fresh strawberries. It doesn't take a genius, but there is definitely a learning curve to wasting as little as possible during the bountiful summer months.

And food is important. Luckily for us all, Central New York is a magnificent region for fresh and delicious foods. Let's start with where to get fresh veggies, organic/free range meat & eggs, handmade cheeses, flowers, and ripe, seasonal fruit everyweek. The source for the best info on this kinda thing is Cookin' in Da Cuse. I'll see if she wants to link with this blog. Here is another great reference: The NY Farmer's Market Federation.

One great resource for fresh, seasonal food news is the Edible Finger Lakes Guide. Check it out here. And pick up your free copy at almost any independent coffee shop in town.

the CNY Regional Market, near the Train/Bus Station and Carousel Mall

2100 Park St # 3
Syracuse, NY 13208

315-422-8647‎

open Saturdays only. Make sure to ask the people you're buying from where their produce is from to make sure you're buying fresh picked and supporting our region's farmers.
Hint- they'll likely say some town you've never heard of with NY just after the town name. They might however say they're from Mexico. Unless the person you're speaking with swears in Spanish every 3rd word, they're refering to Mexico, NY. And you're golden.

The Downtown Farmer's Market is open on Tuesdays 7am-4pm in downtown Syracuse, in a parking lot at the corner of S. Salina and E. Washington Streets. It operates from mid-June until mid-October. And it's a great lunchtime destination; like a weekly carnival actually. It's wonderful.

The Loguen Park Farmer's Market on the green at the intersection of E. Genesee Street and Lexington Ave. Open on Thursdays from 2pm-7pm, mid-June through October. A small but determined bunch of farmers. The produce is fresh and delicious. Come on down and support this growing effort!

Apparently, there are several other markets that I never even knew about in Manlius, Camillus, and Skaneateles. See the NY Farmer's Market Federation link above for more details. The most surprising was the one mentioned in Cookin' in da Cuse about a Farmer's Market happening on the Syracuse University Hill in the parking lot at the corner of Waverly and Crouse Streets. Highly intriguing.

There is much more to say on this topic, and there will be many more posts- have no fear.

Movie Night

Conveniently, the cheapest movie theater around also has the best popcorn. Why, yes, I'm speaking about the Hollywood Theater in Mattydale. The Hollywood has 2nd run movies right after the blood-for-entertainment cinemas knock them off the marquee. And the best part (aside from tasty popcorn and their eco-concious TP) the movie shows for the modest price of $1.75 per person ($1.25 on Tuesday nights). To get there: Mattydale is just 10 min up Rt 81 N from Syracuse. Get off at the Mattydale exit and keep going right onto the main drag. The cinema is up a couple stop lights on the right after the ice cream place with the lit up cone on top of it.

Looking for dinner & a movie? China Road, right across the street, has the BEST CHINESE food in the area. And OIP (Original Italian Pizza), home of arguably the best chargrilled chicken wings (order 'em mild & chargrilled and get happy) in the area also has a place just a couple blocks closer to the highway than China Road.

Tied for 2nd (in my book) are the Palace Theatre in Eastwood which shows a random assortment of off-the-beaten track movies and the Manlius Arts Cinema in, well, Manlius. The Palace is recently refurbished, with a yummy-food cafe inside and a bea-u-tiful party space upstairs. Get on their listserve for insider info on what they're showing and when.

The Manlius has oft been described as an airplane hangar and it can feel a tad claustrophobic. On the other hand, it is independently owned and managed by the same people who were managing the now transitioning Westcott Cinema- and the lineup of films is regularly scheduled and interesting. Check the paper for times- and here's a tip- never park out on the wild streets of downtown Manlius. Park behind the theater if you like to keep your car (and your life) intact.

Syracuse Film Festival! Check out the newest info at http://www.syrfilm.com/
It happens every year in the spring (April/May) and is an ode to our love of the movies. All for you, film buffs.

and....

The Fingerlakes Drive-in is the last remaining drive-in in the region. I've never been but always wanted to check it out. What can I say? ...it's neat. So do me a favor, go for a drive and let me know how it went.

Finger Lakes Drive-In
Route 5Auburn, NY 13021
Phone: (315) 252-3969
Showtimes
Location notes: located 2 miles west of the Finger Mall in Aurelius at Route 20.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for....

Ice Cream.

Ohhhh, did you guess from the rhyme? Or were you just craving a bit of normal summer fun in this very atypically rainy weather? (August is usually full of gorgeous blue skies, hot night-time breezes, and sun sun sun.)

Put these places on the top of your ice cream wish list:
Gannon's Isle
best hard ice cream in town
hand-made and sourced from local, hormone-free Byrne Dairy
corner of Valley Drive and East Seneca Turnpike
open until 10pm during the summer months
closed during the winter

Arctic Isle
best soft ice cream in town
210 W. Seneca Turnpike
open all year round, until 10pm

Heading south? check out Purity ice cream in Ithaca for their fresh, creamy flavors. They source all natural ingredients and get their stuff only from local dairies.
700 Cascadilla St. Ithaca NY, 14850 USA
Sunday – Thursday open 11am to 9pm
Friday – Saturday open 11am to 11pm

Word.

Welcome to Syracuse.

I just don't know about you. No really, I don't. I don't know where you've come from, or where you're going...or even how long you're going to stay. And I'm guessing you don't know about Syracuse. Maybe you just got here. Maybe you just got back. I'm in the latter camp- a Syracuse native who returned a year ago.

Well, anyway, I wanted to say "hello and welcome!" This blog is an entry point into the hidden Syracuse- the places to go, to eat, to see, to experience. Live it, love it. Enjoy!