Page 41 - The Valley Table - Fall 2021

WINE ISN’T THE ONLY THING WE ENJOYED.
We were unable to get a coveted reservation at F.L.X. Table (flxtable.com), an appealing space on Linden Street in Geneva where local food entrepreneurs Christopher Bates and Isabel Bogadtke own and run several acclaimed restaurants. As we arrived on the block, the waitstaff was setting up for dinner where 16 lucky guests are served
a tasting menu. Although we lusted after the appetizers artfully arranged on the wooden tables, we went next door to F.L.X. Provisions (flxprovisions.com), an equally appealing tasting room with the best of the area’s wine, along with whiskies, tequilas and brandies, plus superb small plates, paninis and charcuterie boards. (FLX, by the way, is a local abbreviation for Finger Lakes.)
Further down Linden Street is F.L.X. Fry Bird (flx-fry-bird.com). This “modern chicken emporium,” as they call it, offers eight preparations of smothered chicken, from Plain Jane to Buffa-Love (with blue cheese, corn relish, smoked buffalo mozzarella and scallions), bone-in chicken and more, plus variety of sauces, sides and shakes.
And their creative little empire doesn’t end there. In nearby Dundee, the couple took over a hot dog stand on State Route 14. F.L.X. Wienery (flxwienery.com) serves up locally-sourced brats, chorizo, Italian sausages, hand- ground burgers and a range of toppings.
Kindred Fare (kindredfare.com) is a busy farm-to-table restaurant on the outskirts of Geneva. It’s a pretty spot
New York Kitchen
with woods and a bustling bar, and fresh food that’s
well prepared. Used to paying $18 for a glass of wine in Manhattan, we were often happily surprised that the wines were so reasonably priced. Here, we enjoyed glasses of Red Tail Ridge (another acclaimed local winery) Rosé for just $11. The friendly service and lively atmosphere made for a really nice evening.
Thanks to Geneva’s Water Street Café (find them on Facebook), breakfast was a treat every morning. This is one of those local breakfast spots with atmosphere to burn. Our coffee cups were always full, and everything we ordred was delish. Thick slices of house-made sourdough and raisin breads accompanied our egg entrees. After 10 a.m., the café was full both inside and out, and deservedly so.
A FINAL TASTE
New York Kitchen (nykitchen.com) is a unique organization in Canandaigua offering wine education, cooking classes, a café, and a welcoming tasting room run by the knowledgeable Ashleigh DeCicco. It’s a good idea to begin your visit here (we wish we did). With DeCicco’s guidance, you can find exactly which wines suit your tastes and plan your trip around the ones you like the best. We stopped in at the end of our trip, discovering new wines
to try and reflecting on the ones we especially enjoyed throughout our visit.
Afterward, we took a walk down to Canandaigua Lake where there are several small piers lined with colorful little houses decorated with flowers, signs, artwork and lots of different colors. I was delighted to discover they’re actually garages for boats. The neighborhood is a charming place for a stroll and yet another surprise in this very special
part of New York State, where water and wine create something beautiful.
New York Kitchen
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photos by grant taylor photography
sept – nov 2021 valleytable.com 39