I slowly savored Beth Saulnier’s mouthwatering repast, “Vegging In” (January/February 2011), about Kroch Library’s recent acquisition of the Moosewood Restaurant archives. My introduction to Moosewood’s culinary delights occurred during my first week at Cornell, in August 1975, when I was treated to dinner there by a graduate student. Moosewood—and Collegetown’s long-since-gone Cabbagetown Cafe, also the genius of a Cornellian, Julie Jordan ’71—were my favorite Ithaca restaurants, enjoyed with fellow students and family who visited during my undergraduate years. During subsequent Ithaca visits, I have made a point to dine at Moosewood; while its ambiance has changed, its quality endures. As Bob Hope said, “Thanks for the memories!”
Marcie Gitlin ’79
New York, New York
Beth Saulnier’s article was delightful and prompted many memories of my last year as a grad student in the theatre department. The restaurant quickly became popular with Cornell theater folk, many of whom knew people who worked there. The fans included faculty; Steve Cole, who taught acting, was a regular. I myself knew only Molly Katzen ’72, and her only slightly (though well enough that her stunning apple-cheeks remain bright in memory). Incidentally, the “local carpenter” credited with building the restaurant’s furniture was Jack Roscoe ’71, then a recent Cornell graduate, who set up a business devoted to fine woodworking. His former apartment-mate, the late Chris Romilly ’71, was in numerous Cornell productions and later acted in New York City.
Mark Budwig ’69
New York, New York
While reading “Vegging In,” the words “Zionist, conservative, right-wing guy” nearly stopped my heart. OMG! I thought. That was close! A Zionist at Brandeis? I broke out in a cold sweat. But then, just at the last moment . . . “He started the Moosewood Restaurant. He might be OK.” And I was so, like, totally relieved!
John Elfmont ’60, MD
Redondo Beach, California
Ed. Note: And we’re so, like, glad to hear it.
The Moosewood feature also inspired some colorful reminiscences at the CAM Online website. A sample:
I was there! Mollie Katzen gave me a ride home to New Hampshire for one school break, and I was so tickled when her famous cookbook came out. It’s still a favorite in our house. Thanks for the memories!
— Anne Wilterdink Morgan ’75
Being Western Canadians, we had no connection to Ithaca or to Moosewood, other than as vegetarians. We collected Anna Thomas’s book and then Mollie Katzen’s twenty-five years ago. Little did we know that one day one of our kids—Marisa Brook ’09—would attend Cornell, and that we would be able to enjoy Moose-wood in Ithaca. We kept the special commencement menu as a keepsake when we dined there two or three nights in a row. The weather was wonderful, and we were full of excitement, gratitude, and Moose-wood’s great food! I even tried out a moose call or two (we are Canadian) for the benefit of, and to the everlasting embarrassment of, the family.
— David Brook
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In My Day . . .
Franklin Crawford’s article “Through a Glass, Darkly” (January/February 2011) recalls “Rothschild’s department store on the corner of Aurora and State streets.” In my time on the Hill, the Ithaca Hotel was at that location. Rothschild’s was at the corner of State and Tioga. Of course, that was before the Commons took over the space. He also wrote: “Trolleys chock full of Cornell students jostle up and down the Buffalo Street hill.” Have you ever seen any pictures of trolleys on Buffalo Street? In my day, the trolleys came up the hill on State Street and turned off either at Stewart Avenue or Eddy Street.
The glass must have been pretty dark.
Donald Barnes ’43
Syracuse, New York
Counter-Protest
So black students are protesting the merger of the Africana Studies and Research Center with the College of Arts and Sciences (From the Hill, January/February 2011)? Congratulations on reviving that old doctrine of “separate but equal.”
Lorna Salzman ’56
Brooklyn, New York