Apples, Chowder, and Chili

What do these three foods have in common? They can all be found on the Ithaca Commons at various times of the year – there's Applefest in the fall, the Chowder Cook-off before winter break, and the Chili Cook-off in February. And yes, I went to all three this year, because senior year.

I went to Applefest with my roommate and an honorary apartment member. We got there a couple hours after it opened for the day so it was already crazy crowded. The line for apple cider donuts was slightly insane, so we skipped it. Besides, I’ve had fresh apple cider donuts made at a cider mill, and while I wouldn’t turn down a donut if offered, I wasn’t about to stand in line for an hour for one. Besides, there was so much other food.

Applefest on the Commons (and adjoining roads)

I got some peanut butter fudge and an apple bread but also got to taste some apple dumpling and apple crisp that my friends bought. And now I want more apple baked goods.

A couple months later, I returned to the Commons for the Ithaca Ice Festival and Chowder Cook-off. This was mere days before my grad school applications were due but I thought I would be okay timewise since I had already written my personal statement and started filling out the other sections with my name, current address, home address, cell phone number, home phone number, recent lucky numbers from fortune cookies, and other things like that. I was partly wrong*, but I’m more glad to have gone to the Ice Festival than I would have been to finish my applications a couple hours earlier.

I went with a former roommate to see the ice sculptures and eat chowder. Of course, on the one winter day it needed to be cold, it was in the forties and sunny. It made all the ice sculptures look very shiny though. At least before they melted. We ended up trying clam chowder, vegetarian chowder, seafood chowder, jambalaya, corn chowder, and haddock and bacon chowder. The only chowder that I was unsatisfied with was the “New England” clam chowder. I’m from New England; don’t mess with my clam chowder. Though it could have been worse. It could have been Manhattan clam chowder.

Sea horse ice sculpture on the Commons

After winter break, I made my most recent trip to the Commons for the Chili Cook-off, this time accompanied by my current roommate, a former roommate, and a former suitemate, among others. Again, we tried a variety of the foods being offered. There was sweet chili, spicy chili, tomato-y chili, chili with lots of vegetables, and meat chili. And then there were chili calzones and chocolate chili. And hard cider.

I guess that brings it full circle – back to apples. I’m definitely glad I went to all the food events on the Commons this past school year. That’s one piece of advice I would give people – check out local events whenever you can. Sometimes you don’t have to go far or spend much money to have a whole lot of fun. And eat some good food.

*I finished all my applications on time, and didn’t feel seriously rushed for any of them, but I ended up submitting my last application at 9 pm on the day it was due.