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In celebration of her birthday, Chef Samantha Izzo will open Simply Red Bistro at La Tourelle Resort and Spa, her second bistro in the Finger Lakes.  Located at La Tourelle Resort and Spa in Ithaca, New York, the bistro will serve breakfast and lunch daily, Sunday brunch, and monthly Winemaker Dinners. 
   
Samantha Izzo, Owner and Chef of Simply Red Bistro at Sheldrake Point Vineyard and recognized author of the cookbook, “Mama Red’s Comfort Kitchen,” was born in Pinetown, South Africa where she was surrounded by abundantly fresh spices and internationally-inspired cuisine.  She drew on this background to create the eclectic menus that she fearlessly conceived at her first Simply Red Bistro, formerly in Trumansburg and now at Sheldrake Point Vineyard, named one of the best restaurants in the Finger Lakes.

Also joining the La Tourelle Resort and Spa team for this exciting adventure is Executive Chef Mark Fitzgerald, who is passionate about eclectic food pairings, stunning food presentation, and creative menu concepts.  A native of Syracuse, New York, Chef Fitzgerald pursued his culinary education in the Adirondack Mountains where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Culinary Arts Service Management.  He also studied French cuisine and culture in Paris, France, earning certificates from Le Cordon Blue Culinary School.

Scott Wiggins, Managing Director of La Tourelle Resort and Spa, stated, “In our quest to deliver a memorable Finger Lakes experience for our guests, we are delighted with our new partnership with Chef Samantha Izzo and Simply Red Bistro. We share her passion for regional, seasonal, and organic food ingredients, and the pairing of Sam’s creative ideas with Executive Chef Mark Fitzgerald’s culinary talents is sure to please even the most discriminating taste buds.”

The cozy and communal interior of Simply Red Bistro at La Tourelle Resort and Spa will seat 26 guests beneath an intricate stained glass ceiling and amid breathtaking etchings created by Ithaca artist, Zevi Blum.  The ever-changing menu that Chef Izzo will create, true to her South African upbringing, will focus on ingredients that are organic, free-range, and sourced locally. 

Breakfast will be served daily from 7 to 10:30 a.m.  Menu items will.  Imagine a myriad of sumptuous flavors such as a Chamomile tea crepe laced with sweet mascarpone cream, apricot compote, guava jelly, fresh lemon, and honey, complemented by a mimosa featuring sparkling wine from the Finger Lakes.

Lunch will be served Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Picture artisanal cheese paired with poached figs laced with decadent spices, brown sugar, and wine, accompanied by spiced nuts and a baguette.   Monthly, they will feature a tasting menu to be called the Chefs Flight, a three-course menu, carefully prepared and paired with wine.  The first flight will begin with a Cuban black bean soup infused with star anise and topped with cilantro crème fraîche, followed by rice-paper-wrapped smoked salmon with julienne carrots, red pepper, cilantro, arugula, and ginger, drizzled with chipotle vinaigrette.  To complete the meal, guests will be served a lavish chili chocolate cake drizzled with dark chocolate ganache and finished with anise-laced whipped cream. 

Sundays mark the return of Brunch, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  And the first Friday and Saturday of every month, Chef Izzo and Executive Chef Fitzgerald will hold elaborate and extensive evenings of dining: Simply Red Bistro’s Winemaker Dinner, starting at 6:30 p.m. with sparkling wine and appetizers, followed by a four course-festivity beginning at 7:30 p.m.  Each course will be paired with a deliciously refreshing Finger Lakes wine.  The dinners are priced at $75 per person.  The first two take place to celebrate Valentine’s Day, February 13th and 14th.

For August Moon Spa guests, there will be a special menu which can be enjoyed in the spa, or Bistro, and Chef Izzo’s and Executive Chef’s Fitzgerald’s culinary expertise are also available for private parties and special events at Simply Red Bistro or La Tourelle’s Banquet Room. 

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