the proof is in...: Roadtrip to Ithaca, Vol. 136

Last month on our drive to NYC, we got sidetracked by the amazing upstate NY scenery. We decided to take a couple of extra days to explore the Finger Lakes. Ithaca was definitely a highlight. Today, we are featuring a cool cocktail from the famous Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca, NY. Cheers John! For more information on proof brands visit www.proofbrands.com

the moosewood 1 1/2 oz proof vodka • 1/4 oz simple syrup • 2” piece of English cucumber, skin removed • 1/4 tsp fresh lemon • small bunch of mint (2-3 large stalks)

In a shaker muddle mint and cucumber. Add vodka, simple syrup, lemon & ice.
Shake very hard and strain into a chilled martini glass

Ithaca is gorges Sitting on the shores of Cayuga Lake, the largest of the Finger Lakes, the hilly town of Ithaca is surrounded by dense forests, towering waterfalls, and many gorges. The natural beauty has a distinctly academic feel, as local universities have filled the woods with museums and education centers like The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which features a 220 acre wildlife sanctuary.

We were in Ithaca for two days, but we managed to see and do a lot of great things.

Our hotel was right on the Cornell University Campus. If you are into hiking, camping and the outdoors in general, you will love this place. Here were some definite highlights.

Robert H. Treman State Park is an area of wild beauty, with the rugged gorge called Enfield Glen as its scenic highlight. Winding trails follow the gorge past 12 waterfalls, including the 115-foot Lucifer Falls, to where visitors can see a mile-and-a-half down the wooded gorge as it winds its way to the lower park. Campers can choose from tent or RV sites or cabins. Enjoy nine miles of hiking trails, or swim in a stream-fed pool beneath a waterfall.

Taughannock Falls This 215-foot waterfall is one of the most spectacular, in a region that is full of waterfalls. The stream has carved a long, deep gorge on its way down to Cayuga Lake. Hiking up that gorge provides a great build-up to the falls themselves.

Ithaca Commons Downtown Ithaca has a two-block pedestrian mall which has some neat shops, fine restaurants, bars, and galleries. The Ithaca Commons is the heart of downtown. Concerts and festivals are held here as well.

Cornell Plantations Cornell University has an attractive campus, whose main attraction is the Plantations. These extensive botanical gardens offer plenty of hiking and a lot of good photo ops. Dating back over a century, they have long been a favorite place for Cornell alumni to visit when the return to campus.

Moosewood Restaurant With their emphasis on healthful natural foods cuisine, Moosewood Restaurant has operated successfully for thirty-eight years and has been acclaimed as a driving force in the world of creative vegetarian cooking. Moosewood was named one of the thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th Century by Bon Appétit magazine. Visit their website for cookbooks, recipes and all other information.

(www.moosewoodcooks.com)

We decided to dine at the famous Moosewood Restaurant, where we sampled our the moosewood cocktail. The food was decent, but we found ourselves eating a second dinner about an hour later.

Starting at 6:30pm Friday evening, make your way up to the Danforth in Toronto for Taste of the Danforth. It runs all weekend long. (www.tasteofthedanforth.com)