Big mix this week!

Old postcards, bakery reviews, word puzzles, and enough events to fill your calendar up this weekend. One of those issues where I had a hard time picking what to lead with, so let’s just get into it.

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While getting a tour of the Southworks facility in Ithaca last week, we swung by Found and I “found” some incredible postcards.

One of them was an aerial shot of the Gold Seal Vineyard on the shores of Keuka Lake. I didn’t recognize the name right away, so I did some digging.

The main building is built from stone and was completed in 1865, the same year the winery was established.

In the early days, the owner traveled to France and recruited Charles Fournier as production manager. Fournier had been working for none other than Veuve Clicquot. He stayed at Gold Seal his whole life, eventually becoming president of the company in 1951.

Now, the next part I'm guessing a lot of people already know. Charles introduced someone very well known in the Finger Lakes wine region: Dr. Konstantin Frank, who he brought in to help grow traditional European grape varietals.

What happened to the winery?

It was sold in 1979, changed hands a few times, and eventually closed in 1984.

The winery properties are now privately owned and under restoration, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Now, remember how I said I got some postcards?

If you’d like to get one in the mail with a handwritten note, be one of the first 3 to reply to this email with your name and mailing address. Feel free to write a note or say hi 😀

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Got a community event or shout-out? I want to hear about that too.

Protagonist Books & Coffee - swing by in Dryden and enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, a bite to eat, and grab a book (or a few) in this snug bookshop. Independently owned, inclusive, and full of good stuff!

Caruso’s Cafe - speaking of coffee, head to Caruso’s in Naples for a hot (or iced) drink and a bagel sandwich! Lots of other tasty treats in this cool looking cafe.

Property: Near the water in Hammondsport with an updated kitchen?

Pets: Duh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh nuh…BATMAN!

Education

Lexie Loveless from Groton just won the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence from SUNY, a recognition that honors TC3 students in the Educational Opportunity Program for their academic chops and perseverance. Read more about her achievement.

Community Milestones

Hayleigh Clark, chef at Field & Vine in Romulus, earned a spot in the United States Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition coming up in April, a national qualifying event for chefs under 27 that spotlights emerging culinary talent. Check out the details.

Blue Heron was actually a recommendation from the lovely folks at Resilience Bakery in Canandaigua. If you're taking bakery tips from other bakers, you know you're in good hands.

The owners at Blue Heron were warm and chatty, the kind of people who make you feel like a regular on your very first visit. We left with soft pretzels (perfectly chewy, and I do adore a good soft pretzel), a small boule of Irish soda bread, and a cinnamon bun shaped like a muffin that had no business being as good as it was.

That cinnamon bun deserves its own moment: beautifully yeasty with a subtle hint of cardamom that I couldn't quite place. When I asked, the baker gave a little chuckle and explained he'd folded in some leftover brioche dough, which happens to have cardamom in it. A happy accident, and honestly, one of my favorite bites in recent memory.

We'll be back. Earlier this time.

Thanks for being part of the Finger Lakes Effect!

Adam Moody