The Wonder of the Leaves~ Finger Lakes

The Leaves and Colors in the Finger Lakes

Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in the Finger Lakes.  We all enjoy the colors of autumn leaves. Did you ever wonder how and why a fall leaf changes color? Why a maple leaf turns bright red? Where do the yellows and oranges come from?

Japanese Maple Leaf

Here is a quick review of what you may already know.  Leaves are nature’s food factories. The plants use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. Oxygen is a gas in the air that we breathe. Glucose is a kind of sugar. Plants use glucose as food for energy and for growing. The way plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar is called photosynthesis–putting together with light. A chemical called chlorophyll helps make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color.

The Colors of Yellow and Orange

But as the summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter and the trees begin to get ready for winter. The trees will rest, and begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, then we begin to see the yellow and orange colors that have been in the leaves all along just covered up by the green chlorophyll.

The Red Maple Leaf

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this glucose into a red color.

The Oak Leaf Changes

The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves.

The leaves create the beauty of fall foliage in our region, but they are also the subject of many works of local art, agriculture and culinary delights.  

It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful colors we enjoy in the fall and the experience of being in the Finger Lakes.  Plan a Finger Lakes Get Away now,  pack your bags, your camera and come drive  the Finger Lakes.

Another Great Finger Lakes Find!

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Juniper Wins Slice, Dice & Spice NY 2009

Team Juniper Wins!

Congratulations to Chef Kate Elliott of Juniper in Buffalo and her team on winning the 2009 Slice, Dice and Spice NY Championship!  It was an awesome competition at the New York Wine & Culinary Center in Canandaigua.   A great afternoon of frenzy, food, wine and fun as 3 pro chefs and their amateur teams came together vying to become the 2009  Slice, Dice and Spice NY Pro-Am Cook Off Champions.  It doesn’t get much better than this–or taste so good!  Check out the chefs and theFinger Lakes restaurants.  The winning team members included: 

Chef Kate  Elliott, Juniper, Elmwood Avenue in Buffalo

Laura Kenyon, from SUNY Geneseo and a Farmers Market foodie

Russ Kenyon, attorney, Kenyon and Kenyon, Canandaigua

 Angela Parr, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Canandaigua

 Kathleen Houser , Aunt Hattie’s Tea Party, Victor

Great Finger Lakes Finds!

Slice Dice and Spice NY Finals

Did you realize that the Slice Dice and Spice NY finals will be held this Sunday at the New York Wine & Culinary Center? And that it is FREE and open to the public. 1 – 4 on Sunday October 25th. Questions? 585-394-7070

Slice Dice and Spice NY

And The Winners Are!

The first round of competition in the 2009 Slice, Dice and Spice NY Culinary Pro-Am was held on Monday, October 19th, at the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua.  Nine Chefs from area restaurants and their amateur teams competed–THREE were selected! 

The Winning Teams chosen by the judges to move forward to Sunday’s final competition are:

Team Warfield's

Chef Michael Bommelje – Warfield’s Restaurant,  in Clifton Springs

Team Juniper

Chef Kate Elliott – Juniper,  in Buffalo

Team Doc's Lakeside

Chef Nick Rada – Doc’s Lakeside Seafood & Steakhouse, in Canandaigua.

The excitement continues as now each of these three teams will compete once again in the finals for the title of the 2009 Slice, Dice, and Spice NY Pro-Am cook-off Champions!  YOU can come and cheer them on.  The competition begins on Sunday, October 25th at  12 noon at the Wine & Culinary Center! In addition to the cook-off (which will be simulcast throughout the center) you can enjoy culinary treats from over 30 tasting booths representing Finger Lakes finest!  And maybe even more important….IT’S FREE!  So bring friends and family and join us for a great afternoon of fun, food and wine. 

Yet another Great Finger Lakes Find!

Slice, Dice & Spice NY~The Teams The Times

Tomorrow is the day…here is the schedule for the first day of competition-October 19th at the New York Wine & Culinary Center located in Canandaigua.  Nine teams lead by the chefs from local restaurants and their “foodies” compete for the ulitmate title of 2009 Slice, Dice and Spice NY Champions! Admission it FREE.  Don’t Miss It!

Slice, Dice & Spice~ The Teams are Ready!

Let the Competition Begin!

We are only 2 days away from the beginning of the Slice, Dice & Spice NY Pro-Am Cook Off.  On Monday, October 19th, 9 area chefs and their amateur teams will compete to win. There will be only 3 teams to move on to the finals scheduled at the New York Wine & Culinary Center  in Canandaigua next Sunday, October 25th.  Chefs representing restaurants from Ontario County and Buffalo will face off to win a chance to become the 2009 Slice, Dice & Spice NY Champion!  It’s a competition not to miss and both events are FREE to attend!  What could be more fun?  It’s all about the food and wine from the Finger Lakes, come and visit and savor the flavor of the Finger Lakes.  Stay tuned to Great Finger Lakes Finds, or better yet go and cheer your favorite team on to win!

Slice, Dice & Spice NY ~ The Restaurants

 

Slice, Dice and Spice NY 2009

The competition is about to begin!  Nine Restaurants representing the Finger Lakes and Buffalo are about to face off in the 2009 Slice, Dice & Spice NY Pro-Am Cook Off.  The Finger Lakes restaurants include: The Brown Hound Bistro, The Vines at Naples Hotel, Warfield’s Restaurant, Doc’s Seafood and Steakhouse, Geneva on the Lake, and The Inn on the Lake.  New to this year’s competition are these Buffalo restaurants: Juniper, O’Connell’s American Bistro and Trattoria Aroma .  These participating restaurants focus on using local ingredients and serving New York State Wines! 

2008 SDS Team Cooks with Wines!

These New York State chefs are sharpening their knives and local foodies are honing their culinary skills in anticipation for this year’s Slice, Dice and Spice NY culinary competition!  Get your aprons on and your spatulas ready ~  9 Chefs and their teams are now ready to compete in the 2009 Slice, Dice & Spice NY Cook Off in Canandaigua, NY beginning on Monday, October 19th.   

   

Sample of the Market Basket and Pantry

Each team will create a meal using common “Market Basket” ingredients and one secret ingredient. All of these ingredients will come from New York and showcase the vast amount of products that can be found in the area. Along with creating a appetizer, main course and dessert – the teams will also have the task of pairing each of their dishes with a wine from one of the wineries along the Canandaigua Wine Trail.

 

 

New York Wine & Culinary Center hosts SDS

Three winning teams will be selected and then they will prepare for the Final Cook Off on Sunday, October 25th at the New York Wine and Culinary Center located in Canandaigua. It’s a fun afternoon of competition, live music and more than 30 tasting booths.  Mark your calendars for this unique event.  

 Be sure to check Great Finger Lakes Finds often~new information and the winning teams will be featured here!

 

The Ultimate Finger Lakes Burger

The Winner! Best Finger Lakes Burger Challenge

Now here’s a Great Finger Lakes Find!  The votes are in and the People’s Choice for the Best Finger Lakes Burger is a Peach Cucumber Salsa Veal Burger.  Victoria Johnson of Farmington, NY is the winner of the 2009 Slice, Dice and Spice NY Finger Lakes Burger Challenge.  Mmmm Good!

Slice, Dice & Spice NY ~ The Chefs

 

Slice, Dice and Spice NY

Slice, Dice & Spice New York is a Progressive Taste Off that is running from May 1 to October 25 highlighting the culinary and agricultural assets of the Finger Lakes.  It’s a showcase of people, foods, farms and restaurants. The final competitions are about to begin and you won’t want to miss it! 

On October 19th, nine top chefs from Finger Lakes and Buffalo restaurants will each team up with a group of amateur foodies and compete against each other in an Iron Chef-like event to be held at the New York Wine & Culinary Center located in Canandaigua. The ensuing competition will feature many Finger Lakes and New York State culinary assets. The teams will create a meal using common “Market Basket” ingredients and one secret ingredient. All of these ingredients will come from New York and showcase the vast amount of products that can be found in the area.  Along with creating a appetizer, main course and dessert – the chefs will have the task of pairing each of their dishes with a wine from the wineries along the  Canandaigua Wine Trail. 

2008 Competition Chef and Team

The competing chefs come from top restaurants located in Naples, Clifton Springs, Geneva, Canandaigua and Buffalo!  Meet the Chefs!   The meals they prepare will then be judged by a panel of food experts and the top three chefs of each heat and their teams will move on to the Slice, Dice and Spice finals on October. 25th.

Just a sample of the great food!

Food, Food, and More Food!

  At the final event, there will be more than 30 tasting booths from local and regional restaurants and food producers along with live music.

Stay tuned to Great Finger Lakes Finds and find out who will  be crowned the winner of 2009’s Slice, Dice and Spice NY competition.

Let’s Go Hiking & Biking in the Finger Lakes

Hiking and Biking in the Finger Lakes

Lace up your boots, clip in your shoes and get going!  Experience, explore and enjoy four seasons of adventure in New York’s Finger Lakes.  Eleven crystal clear lakes along with the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario are resources for family fun, water activities and spectacular views and vistas.  The new Finger Lakes Hiking and Biking Trail Kit includes great hiking and biking ideas, maps and directions and even suggestions for places to eat and visit nearby. You can call this numberl (toll-free) 877-386-4669 or email us here to get your Ontario County starter kit.  In the meantime, here are some of the most popular trails in Ontario County:

Hiking with Friends

Hiking – Harriet Hollister Spencer Memorial Recreation Area, Honeoye  High in the hills between Canadice and Honeoye Lakes, you will enjoy spectacular views of Honeoye and the Rochester skyline

Hiking – Ontario Pathways in Phelps and Canandaigua Once an abandoned railroad line, this volunteer maintained countryside trail now has a canopy of trees and is an ideal location for birdwatchers and snowshoeing. 

Biking – Stid Hill, Bristol   As the name implies, Stid Hill sits on the side of a hill. For those adventurous mountain bikers this is a must-do! printable biking cues for this trail  

Biking – The Bristol Hills, Canandaigua  These steep-sided valleys, wooded hilltops and sprawling vineyards provide a backdrop for some of the most stunning scenery in the Finger Lakes! printable biking cues for this trail 

Here’s another Great Finger Lakes Find for you–check out the Footprint Press for a series of trail books on hiking trails, water trails, biking trails, cross country ski trails and even waterfall trails that are located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Order a book here or read their outstanding blog here.

As always, for a complete listing for all the fun things there are to see and do in Ontario County, Finger Lakes go to VisitFingerLakes.com.