The Northeast Hop Alliance will be celebrating its second 2010 Field Days event, the Hop Pickin’ Picnic, August 28th from 10am-3pm at Foothill Hops Farm in Munnsville, NY. Tickets are $10 for NeHA members and $20 for non-members. A delicious lunch will be provided by Holy Smoke BBQ along with thirst-quenching samples of Empire Brewing Company’s Empire State Pale Ale – brewed by Brewmaster Tim Butler with 100% local hops grown from Foothill Hops Farm. To register, please call 315-684-3001 ext. 125. The Northeast Hop Alliance is 501(c)(6) not-for-profit created to reestablish a hop culture in New York and the Northeast and to preserve the hop heritage and architecture of the past. Kate and Larry Fisher, owners of Foothill Hops Farm (Larry is also President of the Northeast Hop Alliance) have been growing and selling hops for 9 years. They started with one rhizome in 2001 and have grown their operation to over 2,000 hills. The Hop Pickin’ Picnic provides a hands-on opportunity to walk through the hop fields and see the Foothill Hops harvester and separator – build by Larry using expired patents. The Fishers will be harvesting Willamette and Cascade varieties this year along with several varieties of certified organic hops. The Fishers sell pelletized and dry leaf hops to local breweries and home brewers. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to witness a small-scale “field to dryer” operation. Following the Hop Pickin’ Picnic will be an exquisitely prepared four course dinner and beer pairing at the Ye Olde Landmark Tavern in Bouckville. Cooperstown Brewery will be in attendance to showcase their variety of brews. The dinner will begin at 5pm and is $40 per person, tax and gratuity not included. Seating is limited, so call (315) 893-1810 to reserve your seat today. If you are traveling from far, the Ye Olde Landmark also has a limited number of colonial style rooms still available for an overnight stay. To reserve a room, call (315) 893-1810. The dinner and beer pairing menu is as follows:
Summer Vegetable Terrine Arugula pesto, parmesan crisp Nine Man Golden Ale
Spicy Corn Soup cilantro oil, crispy tortilla Back Yard India Pale Ale Grilled Pork Loin molasses barbecue sauce, toasted barley salad, roasted green beans Strike Out Stout
The Hop Pickin’ Picnic is brought to you by the Northeast Hop Alliance, Madison County Agricultural Economic Development Program, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, New York State Brewers Association, Madison County Tourism, and the Empire Brewing Company.
On Saturday, September 18 from 12-2pm at the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main Street will be The Taste of Hops: a food and beer pairing. This event is one of the many activities happening at the 15th Annual Madison County Hop Fest on September 18th! From 2:30-5:30 on the society’s grounds under the Beer Sampling Tent come sample over 40 styles of craft beer from the following breweries: Matt-Saranac; Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, BluePoint; Butternuts; Magic Hat; Southern Tier, Long Trail, Ithaca, Sam Adams, Empire, Middle Ages, Cooperstown, Ommegang, and more!! Tickets for the Beer Sampling are $25 advance and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Kraig’s Kegs/ Corey’s Beverages in Sherrill, the Madison County Historical Society, or online at www.mchs1900.org/hopfest. In its fourth year, the Taste of Hops: a food and beer pairing matches an area restaurant with a craft brewery to create an appetizer that uses beer as one of the ingredients. The restaurants participating this year are: Blue Barbecue of Chittenango; Colgate Inn of Hamilton; Johnnie’s Pier 31 of Canastota; Someplace Else of Canastota; Ye Olde Landmark Tavern of Bouckville; and Zabroso of Oneida. Tickets are limited- only 150 will be sold. Tickets are $15 advance or $20 at the door if available. Tickets can be purchased online, or by sending a check payable to the Madison County Historical Society, or by contacting the participating restaurants. The Hop Fest opens on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 11:00 am- 5:30 pm with video presentations on a variety of hop related topics throughout the afternoon and the crowning of the Madison County Hop Fest King at 2:00 pm. Stop in the Hop Shop for some hop-related items and hop plants, and beer pint glasses. Throughout the afternoon purchase your raffle tickets to win great beer related merchandise. Visit with the American Home Brewers Association all day. Stop by the North East Hop Alliance tent and Foothill Hops and learn about the many developments of hop growing in Madison County today. Check out the Great Lakes Brewing News booth and the Beer Connoisseur Magazine booth.Make your reservations now for the paired beer dinner at Blue Barbecue on Friday, Sept.17. Tickets for the dinner are $45. Reservations required by Sept.7. For more information about the 15th Annual Madison County Hop Fest please contact the Madison County Historical Society at 435 Main Street in Oneida, 315-363-4136, 315-361-9735 or www.mchs1900.org/hopfest. On Facebook you can find us at Madison County Hop Fest. All proceeds from the Madison County Hop Fest support the educational programming at the Madison County Historical Society. There is no admission to attend the Hop Fest. Admission is charged for the Paired Beer Dinner, Taste of Hops, Beer Sampling. No one under the age of 21 will be permitted to enter the events where beer is served. Proper id is required for entrance to all areas where beer is served! Please do not bring children, strollers, or pets to the event. Tickets will be available for designated drivers (who must be 21 years of age) at the entrance of the beer-sampling tent. Last year, Colgate Inn Chef, Chris Angle won Best of the Best at last year’s Taste of Hops. At this year’s Taste of Hops, come vote for the restaurant that you think has the Best Food and Beer Pairing; Best use of local products; and help us choose the location of the 2011 paired beer dinner.
It may be the end of July, but these two headline September Events in Madison County are right around the corner. Now is the time to make your plans and reservations for Craft Days and Hop Fest. Both events take place at the Madison County Historical Society and both events should be at the top of your list of things to do this fall.
Summer is in full swing and so are all the fun events that make Central New York such a great place to live and visit. Here are a few events that you don't want to miss this weekend: 1. Fresh Gala-- The FRESH! Gala will be held on Sunday and it is a fund-raising event that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Madison County agriculture. The Fresh! Gala will be held at Endless Trails Farm in Hubbardsville with local food prepared by Serendipity Catering, live music, a silent auction, and beer from the Empire Brewery made with Foothill Hops Farm hops. You can still get tickets for the event at Price Chopper and a few will be available at the door. 2. Cazenovia Counterpoint--A festival of contemporary music, art & writing featuring regional artists, CNY natives & guests, presented by the Society of New Music. This 30th year of the festival features The Arts & the Natural World 'ear to the ground & eyes toward heaven' 3. Lorenzo Driving Competition --Join us for the 32nd annual driving competition. Horse and carriage driving competition featuring tests of skill, timing, and style. Exhibits, sales, refreshments, demonstrations. The show runs 8am until 5pm both days and admission is free. 4. Farmer's Markets-- The bounty from Central New York's fields is on full display at farmer's markets in Oneida, Cazenovia, Canastota, and Hamilton this weekend. Find a ton of fresh produce and support your local farmers. 5. Family Day of Croquet -- Abolitionist Gerrit Smith liked to play a game or two of croquet daily during the summer. In honor of Smith’s summer recreation on a court near his house, the Grounds Squad of the Gerrit Smith Estate National Historic Landmark has planned a Family Day of Croquet on Sunday, July 18 from 2 – 6 p.m. on the grounds of Smith’s 19th Century home. The event will be attended by local croquet enthusiasts and a group dressed in croquet outfits. Croquet can be played by amateurs of all ages, and is enjoying a national resurgence. The public is urged to join in reviving this tradition. Croquet attire of the 19th or 21st Century is encouraged but not required. Now you have no excuses when someone tells you there is nothing to do this weekend. Don't forget our event page for a full listing of things happening in and around CNY this weekend.
The kickoff for the Madison County Buy Local Week 2010 happens on SUNDAY, July 18, from 3-6 pm at Endless Trails Farm and Guesthouse in Hubbardsville, just 10 minutes east of Hamilton. The event, hosted by Madison County's Agricultural Economic Development Program, is called the Fresh! Gala, a fundraiser that celebrates the diversity and vibrancy of Madison County agriculture. Local sponsors of Buy Local Week include Price Chopper, Cazenovia Equipment, National Grid, Cornell University’s Cooperative Extension of Madison County, Central New York Bounty, Madison County Tourism, Shapna Tea and Coffee, and Serendipity Caterers.
The mission of the AED Program is to maintain, develop, and promote a viable agricultural economy that benefits Madison County. AED’s priorities are to market Madison County’s agricultural products and services by creating market opportunities and encouraging value-added enterprises, as well as maintaining an agricultural land base to support a viable agricultural economy by assisting existing farmers and attracting and supporting new farmers.
The Endless Trails Farm and Guesthouse, owned and operated by Dave and Pam Williams and Dan and Melissa Williams is located at 8856 Larkin Road in Hubbardsville. The farm raises grass fed beef under the name Sunnybrook Farm, which can be ordered by calling 315-841-8384, and is part of 340 acres of land adjacent to the Brookfield Trail System. The trail system consists of 130 miles of groomed trails maintained by the New York State Department of Conservation. The trails are open to horse enthusiasts, mountain bikers, cross-country skiers, and snowmobilers. Horse owners who want to get away for a few days or a few weeks can stable their horses on the premises in the 12 horse stalls available for guest use.
The guesthouse features six upstairs bedrooms, four with private baths and a suite that includes a shared bath. Guests have full use of the kitchen, living areas, enclosed porch, patio, and covered deck. The guesthouse is available to rent by the week, by the weekend, or by the day. The whole house can be rented for a group, or individual rooms can be rented.
The Fresh! Gala at this unique venue promises a great time for everyone with its beautiful setting in the outdoor covered pavilion, local food prepared by Stephanie Holzbaur’s Serendipity Catering, beer made with hops grown in Madison County at Foothill Hops Farm, live music by Larry Hoyt and the Good Acoustics, and a silent auction. Funds raised will be used to support the mission of the Agricultural Economic Development Program.
Ticket prices are $35 per person or $65 per couple and are available at ten Price Chopper stores: 142 Genesee Street in Oneida, Madison Marketplace on Route 12B north of Hamilton, 1917 Genesee Street and the North Utica Shopping Center in Utica, 1790 Black River Blvd. in Rome, 4535 Commercial Drive in New Hartford, 2525 Erie Blvd and 4713 Onondaga Blvd. in Syracuse, 3863 State Route 31 in Liverpool, and 5701 East Circle Drive in Cicero. Tickets are also available online at http://buylocalweek2010.eventbrite.com/ and must be purchased prior to the event. No tickets will be sold at the door. For more information, including a map and directions, visit www.madisoncountyagriculture.com.
UPDATE: The Horned Dorset Inn is reopening for 2012. Click here to learn more.
We don't normally play favorites and do our own reviews on this website, but last night I had the chance to visit a landmark Madison County Restaurant and want to share our experience with you, so here it is, and who knows maybe this will become a regular addition to our site.
Last night my wife and I had the opportunity to eat dinner at the legendary Horned Dorset Inn in Leonardsville, NY.For those of you who are unfamiliar with Leonardsville, it sits in the Unadilla River Valley along NY Route 8.It is about 20 miles south of Utica and 90 minutes south east of Syracuse.The Horned Dorset has been hosting diners celebrating the best of life since the late 1970’s and is a place that should be at the top of your list when it comes to your list of places to go in New York State.
It was a celebration of 7 years of marriage for Lorrell and I and we decided we wanted to do something a little different, and since I had never had the chance to made it down to the Horned Dorset to see for myself what all the fuss was about, it was a perfect opportunity.I had spoken to the owner Kingsley Wratten many times about programs going on at Madison County Tourism, but we never seemed to be able to connect to meet in person so I could learn about the inn and restaurant.Boy I am glad we finally got together.
The Inn has four rooms, and while we did not stay the night, I found myself thinking about the next time I want to “get out of town” and making the mental notes that this place would be fun to stay at.With two queen rooms downstairs in this Victorian home, and two suites upstairs, the inn has very nice accommodations for people traveling to Colgate University, Hamilton College, Cooperstown or points in between.Kingsley told us that he has plans to renovate several other homes in the vicinity and to be able to rent more rooms in the Leonardsville area.
The restaurant is right next door to the inn and has been a labor of love for well over 33 years for Kingsley and his wife Roberta.When they found the property it was caving in, and like many historical buildings in Upstate NY it was real close to being a memory.First they replaced the roof, and then with a table saw and a lot of ingenuity they piece-by-piece put the place back together.The amazing thing about both the Inn and the restaurant is that many pieces inside come from historic mansions all over New York State that were facing the wrecking ball, sometimes immanently.Kingsley told us of the grand doors inside the dining rooms that were minutes from being destroyed when he convinced the demolition crew to go to lunch a little early so he and his wife could remove them and take them home.There is a lot of sweat equity in this place.
Join the Brae Loch Inn in Cazenovia for stations of Scottish food featuring Haggis Purses, Baked Cheddar with Raspberry sauce, Poached Salmon, Lamb Carving Station, Steak Pie, Sticky Toffee Pudding and more! There will also be Live Celtic Music by Cassidy/McCale and Scotch Tasting. Advanced reservations are required by calling 315-655-3431. Cost is $30 per person. Even better, make it an escape and book your room at the Brae Loch and don't worry about driving home.
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that Central New Yorkers can’t enjoy locally-produced foods. Meadowood Farms and Circa Restaurant of Cazenovia have organized a “Fourth Saturday” Winter Farmers’ Market. On Saturday Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, a group of local producers will gather at Circa Restaurant to sell their farm-raised products. Meadowood Farms will offer pasture-raised lamb and beef, wool blankets and sheepskins. They will be joined by several other local producers, including Ingallside Meadows Farm, selling pastured pork, beef, and eggs; Dutch Girl Cheese, selling artisan goat and cow’s milk cheeses; and Owen Tallman, selling gourmet mushrooms. In addition, Alambria Springs of Lebanon will share information about their Community Supported Agriculture program. Bee Tolman, manager of Meadowood Farms, explains that in past winters, her customers have had to come to the farm to pick up their lamb and beef. “They risked life and limb, leaving the tropics of Cazenovia and Manlius, to brave the blasts of frozen precipitation up here on the ridge,” Tolman said. “Now our customers can pick up their meat in a warm place, even relax and have a cup of Alicyn’s coffee if they’d like.” Furthermore, she says, it’s a nice environment for the farmers in the winter. “Winter can be isolating,” Tolman said. “Now we get to chat with one another. I talk to Daniel [of Ingallside Meadows] about his pasture management and visit with Renata about her experiences making incredible cheese.” Circa Restaurant’s chef and owner, Alicyn Hart, has long been a supporter of locally-produced food, Tolman said. All of the farmers at the Fourth Saturday market also supply her restaurant with menu ingredients. “I like hosting this market because it offers my customers and the larger community an opportunity to meet the farmers who grow our food,” Hart said. “It’s an extension of the farm-to-fork initiative that I’ve been part of for the last four years.” The Fourth Saturday Winter Farmers’ Market at Circa Restaurant will also be held Saturday, March 27 and Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. Circa Restaurant is located on Main Street by the traffic light in the center of Cazenovia. The farmers at this new market invite everyone to come and discover the variety of local farm products available, even in the depths of winter.
The fourth and final installment of the Tastes of New York State features Madison County once again. This webisode shows off winter activities across that state and at the 5:42 mark of the video Madison County is featured. They visited Critz Farms, Nelson Farms, the village of Hamilton and had dinner at the Copper Turret. Check it out!
You've found the official blog for Madison County Tourism, We are located in the heart of Central New York State just minutes from Syracuse and Utica. Stop back often and visit us soon!
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