This is a blog about the history of restaurants, so you won’t see me mentioning many contemporary places. Here is the exception. On our way back from a stimulating food conference in State College PA (jointly sponsored by the Association for the Study of Food and Society and the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society) we stopped overnight in the Finger Lakes region of New York and had a wonderful dinner at Suzanne. It is located in a farmhouse on Route 414, Lodi, in the midst of the wineries that are perched overlooking long sloping green terraces on the east side of Seneca Lake.
It was perfect from start to finish. The food was beautiful and delicious. I especially liked that the flavors came from the food itself rather than an overload of butter, cream, and salt. (Not that I don’t love all those bad things.) This came through very strongly in the warm asparagus soup. The wine, the best of the local wineries, was excellent also. And the pleasant yet simple dining room had a charming European feel to it. Suzanne is worth a trip out of your way.
© Jan Whitaker, 2009
We eat in restaurants several times a week and yet know very little about their history. I plan to dip into my archive of research and images every so often to present a little tidbit that highlights aspects of our American restaurant culture. Let me know your thoughts.
4 Comments
June 2, 2009 at 12:26 am
Sounds like an amazing place to dine. I bet the wine list is really good too, being that it’s located amongst the vineyards. Cheers!
June 2, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Hi Jan, I live about 10 miles away from State College. How long did it take you to get to the Finger Lakes? That restaurant sounds like my kind of place. You didn’t by chance stop at the Nittany Inn by Pleasant Gap? It has recently been renovated after two devastating fires. The valley view is spectacular, although, I haven’t dined there yet.
June 5, 2009 at 7:11 am
I love restaurants and eating out. Just reading your descriptions makes me want to experience it.
Can’t wait to read more.
July 1, 2009 at 10:27 am
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