According to the local Chamber of Commerce, Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than New York City. Enter the Eating Ithaca podcast, a biweekly show that debuted in January 2008 and capped off its first year with a live recording at Felicia’s Atomic Lounge in December.
The podcast chronicles the exploits of Dave Cameron (a former events coordinator and multimedia producer at Cornell) and his wife, Andrea (publications editor at the Johnson Museum), as they eat at every restaurant in Ithaca—in alphabetical order. So far, they’ve made it through the F’s on their 173-location master list, which is posted on their website.
Over its first twenty-five episodes, the podcast has covered everything from pig farming to fine chocolates, and the hosts have eaten everywhere from upscale bistros to fast food joints to all three Ithaca Friendly’s (they determined the Elmira Road location to be the best). In addition to reviewing each restaurant, they interview figures in the local dining community. And as Eating Ithaca enters 2009, there are still twenty letters to go.