Hazelnut Kitchen

A couple of weeks ago I was driving through Trumansburg on my way back to Ithaca from Palmyra (I had been kidnapped for a Mormon adventure at the Hill Cumorah Pageant), and we passed by a restaurant that caught my eye. “Hazelnut Kitchen,” I said. “Well, that sounds like a lovely place to have dinner.” It turns out my instincts were right.

When I got home I checked out their menu online. Everything sounded phenomenal. One problem—they were going to be closed for the next couple of weeks. Luckily they reopened the last weekend I would be in Ithaca. Perfect. I filled in my friend (and one of my favorite dining companions) Lara on my plan to enjoy a meal at Hazelnut Kitchen before I departed and she was all about it.

So for my last night of a wonderful six weeks in Ithaca, we headed over to Trumansburg for one last fantastic meal together. Since I was in a celebratory mood (and feeling a mix of emotions ranging from sadness at saying farewells to joy and appreciation for new friendships forged and old ones strengthened to anticipation for what’s to come next) I opted for a sparkling white wine. I don’t have the name of the wine, but the menu described it as “dry, crisp, toasty.” Tall elegant glass flutes filled with bubbles just brings a smile to one’s face. We cheersed to the Summer of Freedom (which will hopefully transition smoothly into a Life of Freedom) and sipped our chilled white wine that bursted with effervescence.

Selecting items from the menu proved difficult as everything sounded amazing. After a detailed reading of and discussion regarding nearly every dish on the menu we decided on one first course item and two second course entrees. Not wanting to break from our modus operandi, we planned on sharing everything.

Our first course consisted of organic spicy greens, fresh figs, jambon de bayonne, balsamic vinaigrette, and Lively Run blue cheese. The plate was lined with ultra-thin slices of glistening jambon, its shades ranging from deep magenta to soft sunset pink to lines of soft white fat. Atop the jambon was a bouquet of spicy greens coated lightly in a balsamic vinaigrette that balanced a delicate line of acidity, oil, and spice. The slice of Lively Run goat cheese draped across the greens had lovely blue-green veins of mold laced throughout the hard, off-white cheese. (Lively Run is a local goat farm in the Finger Lakes area that produces goat milk and goat milk cheese.) Along the side of the plate were figs sliced in half—their intoxicating sweetness shining through with every taste. While each component displayed its own distinctive characteristics and delight, the best bite was one that included a little bit of each fine ingredient, bringing together a heavenly blend of flavors.

For one the entrees we ordered one of the specials, which consisted of sautéed shrimp and steamed mussels, with chorizo sausage, tomatoes, basil, sweet corn, garlic, and roasted red peppers. This aromatic dish arrived at the table in a large white bowl—the array of mussels nestled in a shallow layer of light-brown broth. The combined scent of spices, sausage, and basil wafted out over the table, inciting desire and anticipation for the first bite.

We also shared the star anise dusted duck breast with red cherry reduction, aromatic jasmine rice, and sautéed pac choi. We were informed by our server that this dish was the chef’s specialty and once I took the first bite it was apparent why. The chef’s recommendation is to order the duck medium rare, but when the dishes first arrived there was a little mix up. Even though my digital camera is out of commission right now, I decided to try and use my disposable camera to capture the two beautiful entrees. As I got the camera ready I noticed the chef moving anxiously nearby. “I’m sorry,” he approached us, “but did you order the duck medium rare?”

“Yes, we did,” I said. As I looked down I noticed that the duck breast appeared dark mahogany brown through the center—not exactly medium rare.

“Well, there was a mix up. Another table ordered the exact same dishes except they got the duck medium well. So I’m just going to bring these over to the other table and get yours in just a minute.”

I was glad that the chef caught the mistake before we started eating—the medium-well duck looked pretty sad. When the medium-rare duck did arrive it was a thing of beauty. The flesh of the duck radiated from a ruby red sensuous center outward towards the artfully and gently cooked periphery that retained the duck’s moisture and tenderness. The skin was crisped and encrusted with a light dusting of star anise that enhanced the tender fatty flavor of the duck with subtle sweetness and a tickle of licorice. The red cherry reduction formed a lovely sweet-yet-sour burgundy bed that pooled around the cloud of fluffy jasmine rice. I wasn’t sure what to expect of “pac choi,” but when it arrived it appeared to be baby bok choy, so perhaps it is just another spelling. The little bundles of crunchy almost translucent white stems with deep green tender leaves added an enjoyable texture and hadn’t been overworked in the cooking process. They seemed have been either simply braised or steamed and the flavor of the bok choy was allowed to speak for itself (taste for itself?).

My disposable camera did capture an image of the entrees. It’s a pretty pathetic photograph of such amazing food, but it’s all we’ve got for this meal!

A dinner at Hazelnut Kitchen was well worth the short drive from Ithaca. If you are in the Finger Lakes region then this restaurant that blends the warm comfort of home with fresh, elegant culinary delights is a must try. Reservations are recommended and the menu changes at least every month.

Apollo Chinese Restaurant

Every once in a while I just get a craving for simple, delicious pork fried rice. Basic greasy fried rice from your standard Chinese place—nothing special, just good comfort food.

I recently had this craving for two months. I don’t know why I didn’t do anything about it—the craving would come, I would consider getting Chinese food, and then I would do something else. On one recent hot and humid afternoon I decided to do something about it. I think that the weather really put me over the edge. The oppressive heat was so reminiscent of China that I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. I kept thinking about how I used to walk down the street from my apartment and visit this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the corner with a man spooning out fried rice into buckets for just a few measly cents in U.S. currency. I would go pick up a bucket of egg or beef fried rice and then savor the salty MSG, filling rice, and chili heat. Granted, the fried rice I would buy on the corner in Chengdu was quite different than the American-Chinese food of my craving, but somewhere in my mind fried rice and hot weather are knit together.

Being unsure where to get some good fried rice in the Collegetown area of Ithaca, NY, I checked out my friend Celeste’s blog 90 Restaurants, 90 Days, a site on which she documents her culinary experiences in Ithaca before leaving the area to pursue other ventures. This blog became a go-to for me during my time in Ithaca. After checking out Celeste’s reviews of a few Asian restaurants I honed in on Apollo Chinese Restaurant, and was immediately convinced that it was the best option. It sounded like the best cure for my craving and they were right around the corner from me.

One of the most satisfying parts of the experience was that when I walked into Apollo the scent immediately took me back to the smell of food in China. It’s so interesting how a particular scent can transport you through space and time, and I definitely experienced that on my recent venture to Apollo. The pork fried rice was exactly what I was craving. My ideal pork fried rice consists of greasy, salty rice laden with hunks of bright red roast pork, bits of scrambled egg, onions, carrots, and peas. I like the rice to be brown from a bit of soy sauce and slightly crispy and clumped together—perfect for scooping up glorious mouthfuls with chopsticks. This was exactly what Apollo delivered.

When I checked out the menu and was tempted to order a few dishes, but it was really just the pork fried rice I was interested in. Even though I was getting a very basic dish I got the feeling (and can see evidence of it in Celeste’s review) that they do “real” Chinese food right. I was more than satisfied and had my craving filled by the fried rice, but if I were to return again I’d probably want to try out their steamed pork buns, one of their various noodle soups, Peking duck, or double sautéed pork (I’m guessing this is the same as twice cooked pork, one of my favorite dishes). Alas, I’m far departed from Ithaca now, but if you’re in the area and looking for a fried-rice fix then it’s the right place to be.

Asia Cuisine

One of the Nimbo Stratus/Digital Wizdom traditions is to go out to sushi. While in Ithaca we hit up Asia Cuisine for a delicious sushi lunch.

As per usual, we split everything. We kicked the meal off with some hot sake.  Drinking sake was always a college ritual of ours. At some point along our educational career we determined that the uplifting qualities of sake made it easier for us to write papers. Right. Whether or not it really elevates our mental capabilities, we still love sake and a trip to Ithaca would not have been complete if we didn't indulge in some warm and invigorating sake.

We also ordered some miso soup and edamame as appetizers. These two salty dishes are a great way to start off a sushi meal. Apparently in Japan miso soup is not served until the end of the meal, but I've always enjoyed it as a way to prep the stomach and palate for sushi rolls.

 

The first rolls to arrive were the spicy salmon and rainbow roll. The spicy salmon was rolled up with fatty, creamy avocado—it had a nice burst of heat to it. I also really love rainbow rolls—they are essentially crab and avocado rolls topped with an assortment of raw fish. It’s a great way to try out some clean, fresh fish flavors. The rainbow roll was served with tuna, salmon, avocado, and a white fish.

Next up was the Tompkins Roll—an extravagant fried roll. It came with spicy tuna, scallions, sesame seeds, masago, and avocado. The entire roll was deep fried and served up with a creamy sauce drizzled on top. It was absolutely delicious, but a little bit over the top. Even between the two of us we couldn't finish it, so it's definitely a great roll to share when you're dining with a lot of people. 

For an affordable, casual, and delicious sushi meal in Ithaca, definitely hit up Asia Cuisine.

Felicia's Atomic Lounge

One of my favorite things is an innovative, perfectly crafted cocktail, and Felicia’s Atomic Lounge in Ithaca, New York, is a prime spot to get such creative concoctions. Located at 508 West State Street, Felicia’s offers a plethora of interesting cocktails and a variety of tasty beers and microbrews. After our fabulous dinner at Just a Taste, Lara and I headed over to Felicia’s to indulge in some of their delicious libations.

The atmosphere at Felicia’s is welcoming, the bartenders are friendly, and they clearly take their cocktails seriously. It’s a great place to meet up with friends, enjoy good conversation, and throw back a few. I wish I could have tried all their creations, but a girl can only drink so much!

Here’s a sampling of what they serve at Felicia’s, but you’ll have to make the trip yourself to get the real experience:

Horny NinjaRita:

Fresh grated ginger, lime juice elixir, and Hornitos tequila

The Beet Down

State Street '75:

Citrus vodka, champagne, lemon juice, with an orange twist

Hot Toddy

Just a Taste

Looking for good tapas and wine in Ithaca, New York? Then Just a Taste is the place to be. This casual little restaurant is serving up delicious tapas from a menu that changes often, keeping the dining experience interesting and innovative. Just a Taste also uses products from local farms, which means the food is not only fresh but also supports other local businesses.

I recently headed to Just a Taste while visiting my friend Lara in Ithaca. To start off we were offered three wines to taste, which were all delicious. Lara opted for the Chardonnay that we sampled, but I decided to try out one of their wine flights. 

A wine flight is an excellent way to try out a few wines if you can’t make up your mind, and Just a Taste offers a wide array of wines and wine flights. I ordered the Spanish flight. First up was the Cercavins—a nice light, acidic white wine called “Guillamina” from Costers del Segre. The three reds were all much richer in flavor and absolutely delicious. The first red was the Tempranillo—a fruity, spicy Rioja wine called “Glorioso Reserva” from the winery Bodegas Palacio. La Mano Mencia Roble from Bierzo came next, and the flight finished with a Garnacha from the winery Mas Sorrer in Montsant. 

While the wine was flowing, we still needed to pair it with some tasty tapas. First up were seared scallops in chili-lime butter with daikon salsa and sticky rice. It was an amazing way to start off dinner. The scallops had a beautiful sear on the outside, and the inside flesh was soft and tender. The sticky rice was cooked perfectly and the daikon salsa was a great accompaniment to the scallops. And this was only the beginning.

Next up were local Brussels sprouts sautéed in brown butter with garlic, pecans, and Romano cheese. Lara said these were one of the dishes that Just a Taste is known for, and I could see why. The Brussels sprouts were cooked just right—crispy on the outside from being sautéed and soft in the center. And what’s better than some garlic and cheese?  

The garlic braised greens with tomatoes, walnuts, stilton blue cheese, and sherry vinegar—another Just a Taste classic—was also amazing. I never thought braised greens could make a lady swoon, but this dish is pretty powerful with its decadent flavors. 

Clams steamed in white wine with lemon, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and bay leaves came next. The clams were plump and juicy, and the accompanying garlic and onions did not overshadow their clean, fresh flavors. Everything was perfectly balanced.

Next came the eggplant braised in coconut curry, fried papadam, cilantro, lime, goat cheese, and pomegranate seeds. The papadam—a crispy Indian flatbread—was great for picking up the curried eggplant, and the pomegranate seeds offered a whimsical pop of sweet and tart flavor. 

The five spice pork belly with sautéed Chinese cabbage and snow peas and sweet soy blew everything else out of the water. Lara had never tried pork belly before, so I insisted she try it. The pork belly was prepared in a way I haven’t experienced yet. I’ve usually had it braised and served in a sauce, but these thick, tender hunks of pork belly were just lightly seasoned with five spice and served with a nice and crispy exterior. The sautéed Chinese cabbage with snow peas was absolutely divine—a superb rendition of Chinese cuisine. 

I doubt that it’s possible to go wrong at Just a Taste. Everything was delicious and exquisitely prepared. Whether you’re in the mood for a glass of wine, a snack, or a complete meal, Just a Taste in Ithaca will satisfy your cravings.