Tastes of the Season

Celebrate the harvest of Pride of New York apples by holding at Fly Creek Cider Mill’s 11th annual AppleFest. This long-standing, well-attended festival is a fall family-fun event that includes plenty of apple and cider sampling, a large display of antique tractors, a variety of children’s games, pumpkin painting, scarecrow making and live musical entertainment the weekend of September 20-21. 

Closing out September on 27-28, in the Finger Lakes, is the Naples Grape Festival! at Naples Memorial Town Park, Rte 21S in Naples.   No admission charge to enter, $5 donations for samplings.  Vendors with arts, crafts and food are on hand along with music and the ever popular - wine tastings. Try new grape products, the grape pie contest & grape stomping. Leisurely wagon rides are available at Widmers Winery from 10am - 5pm.  Phone: 585-374-2240 

In the Catskills, celebrate the 6th Annual Cauliflower Festival in Margaretville on September 27.  There will be cook-offs and cooking demonstrations, music and square dancing, clogging and an on-site antique appraiser.

New York City hosts the Foodnetwork’s 2008 NYC Wine and Food Festival, October 9-12, at Chelsea Market - a one stop culinary experience.  Throughout October meet Foodnetwork celebrity chefs, watch demonstrations and kids will enjoy the ‘hands-on’ cooking activities and special entertainment.  Traverse the HUGE indoor arcade style food market on 16th Street to experience a true food lover’s paradise.    

If a four-course candlelit meal, with period music playing in the background, games from yesteryear and old-fashioned hospitality at hand, sounds inviting, Evening at the Tavern, in Cooperstown is meant for you.  Reserve your space at Bump Tavern and peruse a menu designed and based on foods that were served in rural 19th-century New York taverns.   Dinner includes soup, vegetables, roast meat, fresh bread, and dessert. Guests are offered a tour of the historic tavern with the museum’s interpretative hosts. Available only on: October 11; November 1; November 8, November 15.

The 48th Annual Indian Foods Dinner, held on October 18 in Salamanca, is a wonderful opportunity to sample traditional Seneca Indian food. The menu includes roast turkey, roast venison, hull corn soup, boiled corn bread, mashed beans, squash, fried salt pork and other traditional foods. Crafts and baked goods will be sold.  Reservations may be made by calling 716-945-1529 or 945-2047.

Sunday, October 26, is the 18th Annual International Cuisine, at Fort William Henry Conference Center in Lake George.  Sample food from 30 of the area's top restaurants, enjoy entertainment take a chance at the silent auction.  All proceeds to benefit World Awareness Children’s Museum, contact 518-793-2773 for more information.

Get a work-out when you sign up for boot camp – culinary style that is, at The Culinary Institute of America in the beautiful Hudson Valley.  Whether it’s a day class or up to five days of instruction, you will be taught by master chefs the skills and ideas for creating an array of meals including soups, sauces, seafood, desserts, and specialty meals from barbecue to French cuisine.  Not ready for class? Dinner reservations on a Friday or Saturday can require advance planning, but same-day reservations are often available for lunch and dinner on weekdays.