Day 4: Finger Lakes Family Reunion: Sapsucker Woods; Moosewood (Ithaca) & Little Venice (Trumansburg): Hitting our stride?

Sapsucker Woods at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a marvel: Colette grew up a few miles from here and insisted we come; and am I glad she did; it's awesome and I'm not a bird person.

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The Moosewood Café, open now for some 40 years, was a revelation when it opened and I recall a meal shortly thereafter as well as its famed cookbook.  For better or worse it hasn't changed much, serving vegetarian and fish food from largely local sources with bio-natural-etc wines & beers.

We were 21 or so, spread out a bit (but more on that later) and I'll just record what Colette and I had: terrific corn chips with just OK guacamole; ab-fab poached and chilled shrimp with a divine classic zippy tomato sauce; a locavore plate (local goat cheese with honey and bread and apples); and a cheese-mushroom quesadilla that was disappointing and characterless.

I have no idea of the bill since my wonderful daughters picked it up.

Go?  Well, as of last night, Colette received a nasty call from the snarky reservation queen who said that her colleague should NOT have combined 3 reservations when Colette consulted her two days ago.  Having 3 reservations for 8 each was OK, but combining them was a "NO NO".  She said that having a 'large party' was not possible on a holiday, that we could pay $1000 to rent the porch dining room.   When told that Colette had been encouraged to combine the reservation by her colleague, she 'huffily' said the reservation would be honored.  Aside from that unfortunate interchange, the staff was wonderful, e.g. service was very good.

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The Little Venice in was the last reunion of the reunion of 28 of Colette's extended family - in one room, all together, was terrific.

Dinners consisted of a salad bar, and choices of chicken parmesan, lasagna and a birthday carrot cake.

Our bill, once again, was picked up by my marvelous daughter.