Suzanne--Finger Lakes NY (pics)

Since I had to go spend some time at the USDA grape repository in Geneva, TODG and I decided that we'd see what was to eat thereabouts. Dicksond's blessing of Suzanne was good enough for me. But a look at the website showed they were open only from Thurs-Sun--and we were looking at Monday night. Disappointment, nest-pah? So I called and lo! and behold, "some drivers are going to come up from Watkins Glen and we'll be open, but with a very limited menu only; is that ok?" You bet it was!

The restaurant is high on the east slope gently rolling down to Lake Seneca. It was beautiful in the sun set:



From inside, the view was even richer:





We started with a local pinot.

I must admit to being quite impressed with this wine. Pinot is justifiably recognized as incredibly difficult to work with, in the field AND in the cellar. So far as I'm concerned, the Californians *still* don't have it right, and probably won't ever: wrong climate, wrong sun. Oregon comes much closer; and this wine certainly equalled some of Oregon's best efforts: perfect color, restrained but correct nose, and absolutely fabuluous mouth feel. I suspect that daylength and sun angle are even more important than we think. Fine wine.

As promised, the menu was short:


TODG got the salad, a perfect melange of local greens lightly and simply dressed.


I took the crab charlotte,


a beautiful construction of crab, most excellent ripe tomatoes, al dente asparagas and perfectly fresh crab. A fine matching of flavors, the crunchy asparagas was a treat, although we both thought that the potatoes were texturally out of place. Local produce, regional shellfish, it all makes for real freshness.

TODG's duck was exactly right: cooked just au point, lovely crispy outside, very rich flavor--local duck, a muscovy: a far better, tastier, leaner duck than we're used to.



They were out of the halibut, so I went with the beef (? I'm from Kansas City--what other choice on the menu did I have?! :^), medium rare.



Nice outside finish, and the port wine sauce was lovely. BTW, note the knife. Here's a close up for the marque's many LTH fans out there:



We were tooo full for desert. A shared glass of local port (not so good, I've made better), and a couple of coffees. Slow leisurely drive back to Geneva, beddy-bye to get ready for my encounter with the vines on the morrow.

Our first trip to the Finger Lakes was a blast. TODG spent the next day at the various memorials to the suffragette movement in Seneca Falls, the next town over, while I got up close and personal with a few blooming vines, trying to get them pregnant, so to say. I'll tell you how it worked out, in a few months!

Suzanne is worth a special trip, something I hope is obvious from my/our words here.

Geo

Oooops! forgot the cite to Dicksond's article:

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5057


Sorry!

Geo

Thanks for the photos and glad you liked it Geo.

The food was very good, but this also was a case where the entire experience came together for me. The lovely bride for company, beautiful location, great wine, excellent ingredients treated lovingly. And how can you not love a place where they give you a break between courses so you can retreat to the porch and watch the glorious sunset over the lake? The last golden days of summer 2005 brought back to me.

A special place.

PS. Sorry I missed this when it could have been useful, Geo, but PM me if you want an email list of some other Finger Lake suggestions a friend provided. Can't say I know anything more than his comments about them, but they do seem interesting.

I am thinking I will go back in late August.

dicksond--

I (and TODG as well!) so much appreciated your steering us that way. As you so well note, it's a very special place. We enjoyed ourselves immensly.

We might be going back next Spring, so I'll get in touch with you then. Tnx for the offer.

Geo