The best way to bring visitors back to upstate New York is through their stomachs.
That is the thinking behind a new initiative to bolster tourism, ravaged by the coronavirus pandemic, in western and central New York, the Finger Lakes region and the Southern Tier.
The Upstate Eats Food Trail, a 225-mile “gastronomical road trip,” stretches from Buffalo to Rochester to Syracuse and Binghamton, exposing travelers to unique local cuisine and attractions.
The concept grew from talks that began 11 months ago among officials from four tourism organizations — Visit Buffalo Niagara, Visit Rochester, Visit Syracuse and Visit Binghamton.
Even back then, “well before any vaccines were on the horizon,” it was clear that some sort of campaign would be needed to help address the devastating effects of the pandemic on the hospitality industry, Ed Healy, vice president of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said at a Wednesday morning press conference held via Zoom.
And the belief was that a collective effort involving the four groups would pack more of a punch than individual attempts.
Two ideas emerged from research and discussions, Healy said: When people resumed traveling, they likely would be more comfortable doing so in their cars, and specific, unique foods native to upstate cities — like the Garbage Plate, invented by Rochester’s Nick Tahou Hots, or Buffalo wings, originated by that city’s Anchor Bar — could be a draw.
Healy noted that author Michael Stern, considered the “dean of road food,” has written that “some of the most unique food experiences in the entire United States” can be found off the New York state Thruway and Route I-81, which runs through the heart of central New York.
“We really dialed into the food experiences that we had to offer very early on in our thinking,” Healy said.
The food trail’s newly launched website — upstateeatstrail.com — recommends five stops in each city and places to visit for “side dishes.”
The main destinations in Rochester are Nick Tahou’s, Abbott’s Frozen Custard in Charlotte, the Genesee Brew House, the Rochester Public Market and “Hot Dog Row” — Schaller’s, Don’s Original and Bill Gray’s near Lake Ontario in Irondequoit.
In Rochester’s “side dishes” category are Papa Joe’s Italian Eatery in Gates and Mr. Dominic’s at the Lake in Charlotte for chicken French and Morgan’s Cereal Bar in downtown’s East End for breakfast.
The site also recommends exploring such Rochester cultural institutions as The Strong National Museum of Play, George Eastman Museum, the Susan B. Anthony House and Museum and Mount Hope Cemetery. Additional suggested stops are the Park Avenue Neighborhood, and its Half Pint Pub and Magnolia’s Deli and Café, and Cobbs Hill Reservoir.
The wider food trail — which also recommends Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse and Binghamton spiedies spot Lupo’s S&S Char Pit — is not an organized tour. People don’t sign up for anything. The site merely offers a route and lists places to stop.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who appeared at the start of the press conference, said she believes the trail will help restaurants hit hard by the pandemic and that she plans to complete it in a single day, but she didn’t say when.
New York City-based magazine entertainment magazine Time Out New York is promoting the trail to downstaters eager for a diversion “after a year spent cooped up at home,” but Healy said the plan is to promote it nationwide.
On Monday, after New York’s COVID-19 positivity rate fell below 2{c33c21346ff5e26ab8e0ae3d29ae4367143f0d27c235e34c392ea37decdb8bed}, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a sweeping plan to lift capacity limits on many businesses, including restaurants and arts venues, starting May 19. However, guests will still need to maintain 6 feet of social distancing, which will impact capacity levels.
Last week, he said he would repeal the COVID-era curfew for bars and restaurants, allowing them to remain open beyond midnight beginning May 17 for outdoor service and May 31 for indoor.
Reporter Marcia Greenwood covers general assignments. Send story tips to [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @MarciaGreenwood.
