ITHACA - Ithaca Bakery

ITHACA - Ithaca Bakery

It’s a movie date day but we’re old homebodies so that means we start with breakfast and hit the early showing! We did a scouting mission and, upon seeing a couple full parking lots for local diners, we ended up with our pick for the day.

LOCATION: TRIPHAMMER MARKETPLACE, 2255 N. TRIPHAMMER ROAD, ITHACA, NY 14850

We’ve been to Ithaca Bakery before a couple of times and this location is the most convenient when we’re trying to hit a movie so here we are. It’s been awhile, but we don’t LOVE going here since it’s usually a pretty busy spot. I also don’t love the layout of this location - it’s pretty cramped by the doors and the menu is nowhere near the registers so don’t forget what you were planning to order. Caleb wanted a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich but everything has a name so he got a Brooklyn bagel (add cheese for $.90) and I decided to go with an Avocado Toast #2. I had a moment at the counter wondering if I really did want the #2 and not the #1 or #3 and since the menu is over by the door, I just hoped for the best. The upside was that I was correct and I did want the #2 which comes with avocado, feta crumbles, bacon, olive oil, salt and pepper on oatmeal wheat toast. I’m not the biggest fan of wheat toast at all but I figured it’d be fine with all the extra toppings included.

Not gonna lie, this was a disappointing toast. And for $10 I should’ve known better but I’ve been having a mental aversion to eggs lately and didn’t want a whole bagel sandwich because I knew I wouldn’t eat it all. Joke’s on me because I didn’t eat all of my avocado toast either! For an avocado TOAST you would thing that they would actually TOAST the bread but no luck. I could’ve used a little extra bit of support but the bottom was floppy. It did manage to stay together well enough so that’s what hearty bread will do for you but just a light toast on it would’ve made a world of improvement.

Honestly, this felt like an avocado toast you could get at a dunkin’ donuts. Pretty generic ‘avocado spread’ that didn’t really scream freshness, microwave bacon that smells smokey but only tastes like salt, and some pretty mid feta crumbles. Each component tasted the way I wanted it to, but all together it was so muddle and one note. My wallet is crying for a meal that was not worth the $10. We’ve got to find some alternative breakfast options for days like these.

ROC - Mochinut

ROC - Mochinut

I’ve been DYING to go here since I heard of their opening back in March and I’ve finally made it!

LOCATION: 544 JEFFERSON RD., ROCHESTER, NY 14623

I’ve been really wanting to try a Korean corndog and while I’ve been able to find frozen varieties, none of them come with outer toppings like potatoes which is key to this experience. I’ve also been so excited to try a mochi donut as I’ve seen them online and in youtube videos but haven’t seen a place that actually offers them in Rochester before this. Of course I’ve been to Rochester a few times since this place opened but I was initially waiting for the hype to die down a little because I’ve seen them all over social media and everyone has been saying the lines are super long and wrap around the building outside (granted it’s not a huge space indoors but still, that’s a lot of hype!) I’ve also been in Rochester with Caleb and he’s not a fan of hotdog/corndogs so I feel bad dragging him to a place where he can’t eat. However, this weekend is a solo trip and I’ve called in reinforcements to finally hit up Mochinut!

Julia has already scoped the place out with her husband Dan and told me she wanted to come back with me so we’ve started our adventure! We decided to get to Mochinut right at 11am to try to beat the rush. We ended up arriving a little early and there was already another car in the parking lot also waiting for them to open but aside from that, we were set to get in there as soon as the clock struck. We actually noticed a gentleman go in then the car next to us with two older women got out and entered right around 11 so we took that as our cue to go! I took a quick look at the case as they filled in the fresh donut flavors and Julia convinced me to get 1 donut, 1 ‘corn’ dog, AND a bubble tea. She is my true supporter to indulge and try it all. I love her. Thus, my plan was laid to get one of each item. I decided to go with the Milk (fruity) Pebble mochi donut, my classic Mango Fruit Tea with boba, and a Potato half & half hotdog. Go big or go home.

I was given my donut right away but there was a wait for my bubble tea and hotdog so after Julia finished her simpler order at the digital kiosk we went to sit down at one of the tables for the adjoining Seafood Harbor restaurant that’s currently under construction. It’s kind of a weird set up that there’s a full restaurant thats connected to Mochinut. I feel like it’ll be a little bit of an issue once the restaurant is open since Mochinut doesn’t really have seating for patrons. As soon as we ordered the line was already cramped up against the door too so it was a quick fill that I foresee being problematic.

Anyways, Julia convinced me that I should at least try my mochi donut while we were waiting. It might as well be a sweet starter to begin brunch. I took one bite and it was really sweet. It was a little oily which was disappointing and it honestly just tasted like a soggy funnel cake with frosting. The fruity pebbles helped give it more texture but I only managed a couple bites before needing a break from the sweetness. I understand why Julia didn’t order one and why her husband might not have wanted to come with us. She mentioned they had a couple when the went for the first time and made the same funnel cake comparison. It wasn’t really noticeably chewier than a funnel cake type of thing but it was more oily than I expected.

Not long after I tried my donut we got our drinks which came in a cute plastic ‘can’ with their logo stickered on and even had that can tab opening. Very fun in design but the opening of a can is barely enough room to fit a bubble tea straw through. Julia also lucked out with the kiosk and substituted her boba for lychee jelly which is honestly what I really wanted. Tips for next time, the kiosk leads to greater customization. This was a standard bubble tea and it wasn’t terribly special but satisfies the bubble tea craving.

A little later we got called up to get our hot dogs, the who reason for the trip! I was super excited and it came in a cute little box with a slot for the corndog stick. Julia wanted to come back with me so she could try the flaming hot cheetos corn dog and I convinced her to also go with the half & half so we could really have the whole experience of variety. This was a mistake. Important Lesson: don’t take menu advice from someone who’s never eaten at the establishment. We were already disappointed that these Korean corndogs aren’t coated in sugar like the original versions are but I’m just happy this isn’t a cornbread batter because I’m not a fan of cornbread in general. Instead, they’re typically made with a rice flour batter giving it a different texture and of course a different flavor. Unfortunately, the corndog was also very oily and my potatoes, while crispy, were also oil logged and so sad. The top of the corndog, the cheese half, was SO HARD to get through because the heavy combination of oil and dairy. Julia and I both hit a wall before we even made it to the hotdog half of our corndogs and were considering giving up. Instead, we took a small break just to talk and digest a little while trying to wash the oil down with our bubble tea. Eventually, we got back to the second half of our corndogs and it was a much better balance. Still oily but the meatiness of the hot dog halves made them much more enjoyable to finish off which made us realize that it would’ve been a better decision to just get a full hotdog. So many lessons learned for the future.

All in all, I’m not even sure I would go back. While there’s a great variety of flavors on their menu, everything was so heavy and oily it wasn’t enjoyable. I felt sick from the amount of sugar when I ate less than half of my mochi donut, and it was a battle to finish the Korean corndog. It was disappointing and while I’m not sworn off either of these foods, I don’t think this place represented either menu item well at all. After the excitement I felt in getting to try both of these things for the first time, it was such a let down. The only good thing about going was getting to spend time with one of my best friends. Fingers crossed for future trials of these things, somewhere else.

ITHACA - Zocalo

Today was a little chaotic but we' eventually fed ourselves so it all worked out! Caleb and I wanted to have a little lunch date to go see the new Guardian’s of the Galaxy movie and decided we would get lunch first, so far so good. We discussed getting some DiBella’s since it’s one of our go to’s whenever we get close to Ithaca and it travels well. While Caleb did want Dibella’s he didn’t feel like sitting in there for lunch so we eventually decided we would go after the movie to grab some subs for dinner. This still left us open for lunch and I threw Ithaca Bakery in to the ring but was hesitant to go get sandwiches for lunch when we would be eating subs for lunch. I like a little more variety in my meals for a day. Instead Caleb suggested we just hop over to Friendly’s. We’ve never been there together and it’s one of those chains we joke about going to but have never actually committed to. Well, it turns out the joke was on us because the location we were planning on going to by The Shops at Ithaca Mall has turned into a bank! So we were driving around parking lots debating just going to Ithaca Bakery when Caleb decided to pull the tigger and head to the mall food court! (Basically).

LOCATION: 40 CATHERWOOD RD., ITHACA, NY 14850 (next to food court)

That’s how we ended up in Zocalo, a Mexican restaurant in the mall that we always pass by shrouded in mystery. Zocalo is dimly lit and can get very busy, from what we’ve noticed when we’ve walked by in the past. The wait staff felt very indifferent to us and just customers in general, a very hands off approach to the dining experience and not welcoming in the least bit. Still, this doesn’t affect the food so it’s minor in the scheme of things and while indifferent, they weren’t rude which is the real deal breaker. The waiter brought over warm tortilla chips and salsa immediately too which is ideal honestly. A great snack to get while we ponder the menu.

Caleb went back and forth a little but landed on ordering the Chimichanga, an item I’ve never gotten for the shear fact that I have no idea what it is. A sauce covered burrito? Close. Turns out it’s a burrito (chicken for Caleb) that’s covered in queso which also came with a small side of lettuce and tomato (I wouldn’t quite call it a salad) as well as rice and beans. Pretty standard sides. I, of course, went with tacos. Now, unlike Village Taqueria, this place doesn’t sell them individually so I had to go with one type, choosing between chicken, steak, or their Al pastor. I went with the Al Pastor Street tacos which comes with pork marinated in pineapple, achiote and annato then grilled and served in corn tortillas and topped with onion and cilantro. This also came with a side of rice and beans. Also, to my surprised I got 4 tacos. The tortillas are a little smaller than typical but four tacos felt like a little bit of a challenge that I was willing to take.

Overall, the tacos were pretty good. I made it through all four enjoyably and was pretty full in a good way. I did get a little bit of flavor fatigue and I would’ve had more fun trying one of each taco they had to offer instead of getting 4 of one type. I was also too full to have any of the rice and beans but Caleb let me know that they weren’t great and were overly salted so I didn’t miss out on that at all. Not a bad choice for lunch but also not great. During the meal we agreed that it’s not a place we would crave enough to go back but it is a convenient spot so we wouldn’t knock it either. I think just being able to pick various tacos means I would prefer Village Taqueria over Zocalo.

DRYDEN - Village Taqueria and Grill

DRYDEN - VILLAGE TAQUERIA AND GRILL

We’re back for round 2 here at Village Taqueria! We were passing by on our way home from our friend’s birthday nearby and decided it was the right place for dinner. We hesitated because we weren’t sure if they were open or if it was too close to closing, we don’t like being those people that push it down to the wire at all but a couple of people/groups came after we ordered which made us feel better for sure.

LOCATION: 2 E. MAIN ST. DRYDEN, NY

No tamale sightings this time so tonight was a taco only night. I couldn’t quite remember how I felt about the tacos the last time we went so it was a fresh slate for me this time around when I ordered. I decided to go with my standard order and went with a Carnitas Street Taco. an Al Pastor Street Taco, and a Baja California Fish Taco. Caleb found my order to be annoying since I got three different types of tacos but I’m convinced it’s totally normal. I always get three different tacos whenever I go to a taco place like this. There’s a reason that they sell them individually! He’s more of a burrito person though so I guess if he got tacos he would just order one type. Where’s the fun in that!?

Since I’ve already written about the Baja California Fish Taco last time I’ll glaze over it and just say it was a perfectly good battered fish taco. On to the meat! The Street tacos are listed as coming on a grilled corn tortilla with onions, cilantro, radish, and lime. The al pastor however, came with pineapple instead of radish which is a pretty typical substitute. This was a pretty good sweet addition but as you can see in the photo, the pineapple was a huge chunk and would’ve been a little more enjoyable if it was cut more uniformly for the taco. The Carnitas Street Taco was flavored well and had a good balance overall. It doesn’t stand out at all but it was a good taco.

I think my take away from the Village Taqueria after two visits is that it’s a pretty good place for tacos and Mexican food but it doesn’t quite live up to all our friends hyping it up. I haven’t been blown away by anything and while the ingredients are good, they don’t feel impressive or exceptional in any sort of way to me. They have a standard menu and if I’m passing by I’ll stop but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it.

ITHACA - Maru Ramen

ITHACA - MARU RAMEN

We’re going on an adventure!! Caleb and I don’t have an official date for our anniversary so a couple of years ago I picked April 15th as an arbitrary anniversary date and every year I remind him that while it’s the date that I made up, it kind of marks another year together! Success! We typically don’t really do much for it but seeing as this year we hit 5 years together Caleb decided we should have a more adventurous date day and try a new restaurant for a meal. We decided to finally go to this ramen place that we pass often in Ithaca that we’ve continued to claim we would try one day. Well, today is that day.

LOCATION: 512 W STATE ST., ITHACA, NY 14850

Maru Ramen has a cute pink storefront with big front windows that’s hard to miss and while I love ramen and was excited to try this place, Caleb tends to be more weary to try something new. Their menu has a few different types of cuisine included baos and pho along with ramen and dishes with kimchi so they’re really running the gamut of asian cuisines. Whenever I see a menu like this I tend to get a little weary about the quality or the authenticity of ingredients but I was hopeful that the namesake ramen would be enjoyable.

I tend to try tonkotsu ramen when I go to new places because it can really tell how good the restaurant is and I love a good pork belly but this time I decided to mix it up and go with the Tantan-men Ramen which, here, is made with a chicken broth, spicy tantan dashi, and includes their pork belly chashu, soy-cured soft-boiled egg, toasted sesame seeds, seaweed. ginger, and scallions. Originally, Caleb was going to get a chicken bibimbop which a classic safe choice for him. Chicken and rice usually can’t go wrong and doesn’t stretch too far beyond his comfort zone but before our waitress came back he changed his mind and decided to venture out and try some Tori Ramen which is Maru’s spicy shredded chicken ramen option. This also comes with the soy-cured soft-boiled egg, sesame seeds and all the veggies included in my ramen as well.

When it came out the bowls looked very promising. Caleb felt the bowls were quite big and deep though his had a more conical shape which give the illusion of being fuller from above than it actually is volumetrically. That doesn’t discount that this is a very generous serving of ramen which excited me. The top of the broth had a spicy oily top layer and a creamier fuller broth underneath which is always a good sign. I could tell right away that I wouldn’t like the chashu as much as I was hoping based on the cut and the lack of pork belly fat swirled throughout the pieces. They looked much leaner and therefore more dry than I was hoping for. After mixing in the toppings and the broth I also quickly noticed the straighter noodles as opposed to the wiggly chewy ones that I also prefer. Straighter noodles typically indicate a softer noodle with less chew that tend to get soggy after sitting in the broth for too long. There are, of course, straight noodles that are thinner and tend to hold up better but these were not those noodles. A good broth with average ingredients mean this place likely won’t be top of my list to revisit. While it was still a tasty dish with a great amount of kick and eggs done well, the noodles make or break this dish for me. I’m glad we ventured out and finally tried Maru Ramen but I can’t say I’d petition to go back again soon (though I’m also not opposed).