Op-Ed
Moose What?
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The start of second semester greets the Class of 2008 with a bittersweet realization: the end of our time at Cornell is imminent. Having been met with this reality, some seniors are scurrying to shake President Skorton’s hand, climb the 161 stairs to the top of McGraw Tower and figure out a way not to get caught making out in the stacks. Others are just trying to see how many nights they can spend at the bars and still graduate.
While I’ve tried to do a lot in my snowy home-away-from-home during the past three-and-a-half-years, there are still many things I’ve yet to do in the 10 square miles that is Ithaca. I’m not feeling too guilty about the fact that I’ve never been over to Ithaca College, but no Cornellian should escape Ithaca without eating at Moosewood restaurant. Earlier in the week, three fellow history-lovers and I moseyed down to see – and taste – why Bon Appetite named Moosewood one of the 13 most influential restaurants of the 20th century.
This year, the world-famous Moosewood celebrates its 35th anniversary. In 1973, Moosewood opened its doors in Dewitt Mall, a historic brick building that was home to Ithaca High School from 1915 to 1960. William Henry Miller, the architect for Uris Library and the A.D. White House, also designed Dewitt Mall. Today, Moosewood is still located in the renovated school building and the eatery continues to serve up delicious and unique vegetarian meals.
National Public Radio described Moosewood in its infancy as “a tiny hippie enclave in upstate New York.” I know what you’re thinking, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it; Moosewood has played a major role in transforming the way Americans view vegetarian cuisine. In the early 1970s, vegetarianism was just beginning to take hold with the general population and Moosewood successfully sought to provide an attractive and delectable alternative to eating meat.
Moosewood was founded by a collective of seven people seeking to prepare healthy, natural meals sans animal protein. These same seven people gave Moosewood its intriguing name. Contrary to popular belief, Moosewood did not get its name from the species of Maple tree local to the Ithaca area; instead, the name Moosewood was inspired by an herbivorous dog of the same name in the book Notes to Myself. One of the co-founders was reading this book, authored by Hugh Prather, and after a whimsical decision, the restaurant had its name.
Although none of the seven founders remain members of the collective today, Moosewood is still run as a collective, splitting its proceeds evenly among its 19 members, which even include a few Cornell grads! And, of course, the menu continues to offer exciting vegetarian dishes (though some fish is served).
Perhaps the most famous of Moosewood’s members is Mollie Katzen, a founding member of the collective who published The Moosewood Cookbook in 1977. The publication of this cookbook put Moosewood on the map and people began to travel to Ithaca just to eat at the restaurant. In total, the Moosewood Collective and individuals from the collective have authored 11 iconic cookbooks that have sold millions of copies worldwide; likely a few of these copies can be found in your parents’ kitchen. Want to impress your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day? Head to the Hotelie library to check out one of the cookbooks and try your luck at one of the recipes.
The menu at Moosewood is so unique that it changes from meal to meal and from day to day. Perhaps the Pasta e Fagioli you enjoyed last Tuesday for dinner won’t be on the menu again until next Friday for lunch. Moosewood, as it did from the start, remains committed to dishes made of fresh and, when possible, local ingredients. Indeed, a friend once told me she found a ladybug in her salad – now that’s fresh! The diners at my table enjoyed the Mexican Corn and Cheese Casserole, the Hungarian Filo Roll and microbrews from Ithaca Beer Co. We didn’t find any friendly creatures and the food was pleasant and filling – no one took any leftovers home and we certainly didn’t miss the meat.
While Moosewood is one-of-a-kind, the restaurant does operate a small lunch getaway conveniently located in Anabel Taylor Hall. If you’re tired of Ivy Room burgers or Statler salads, Moosewood provides delicious alternatives, though it is a little pricy for lunch on campus.
So seniors, as you rush to complete the 161 Things Every Cornellian Should Do, make it 162 and head downtown to Moosewood. After all, you can always save dessert for the stacks.