Aurora
FINGER LAKES, NEW YORK | JULY, 2025
During peak summer season in the Finger Lakes, crystal blue waters stretch and wind between soft curves of lush green trees, rows of grapevines drawing straight lines in the distance. This oft-overlooked area of Upstate New York is a bit of a natural wonderland, boasting fertile soil and cascading waterfalls surrounding the 11 spider-webbing lakes that give the region its name.
There’s nothing more summery than a family roadtrip, so Jacob and Danielle packed up the family and the dog for a drive upstate to the hamlet of Aurora, New York, right on Cayuga Lake for a midsummer Supper. There, they found another layer of overlooked wonder in the life-sized dollhouses of the meticulously restored Federalist-era town of Aurora, most notably the beautiful grounds of the Aurora Inn, where we hosted Supper.
Chef Lou Ruscitto-Donato put together a beautiful meal to pair with Finger Lakes wines, served on the lakeshore on a shifting summer afternoon. The speckled radar gave us some pause; thunderstorms passed across the horizon, threatening to sneak over our festive table site. Luckily, we were able to snuggle under a gorgeous sailcloth tent just above the shoreline, ensuring we’d be safe from any passing storms without losing the view. By sunset, the sky cleared to give us a spectacular show, nature’s nod to the whimsical beauty of this almost-too-pretty-to-be-real place.
WELCOME
As thunderstorms passed in the distance, we gathered on the lakeside lawn of the Aurora Inn for welcome cocktails by the ruins of the old grist mill.
Everyone enjoyed a Lavender Gin Martini while soaking in the sporadic sunshine and the panoramic views of Cayuga Lake in full summer splendor.
A MENU BY LOU RUSCITTO-DONATO
Chef Lou Ruscitto-Donato from the Inns of Aurora’s on-site culinary program relished the chance to show off her farm-to-fork inspiration, sourcing summer produce from the Finger Lakes to feature alongside the region’s wines.
MENU
WELCOME
Mushroom Cups savory “marmalade”
Grilled Skewer carrot & radish
Lavender Gin Martini
TO START
Local Harvest Table stone fruit, vegetables, Jones Farms cheese
FIRST
Corn Shoot & Micro Greens chives, micro arugula, local smoked pork belly
Wine: Dr. Konstantin Frank, Célèbre, Keuka Lake, NY
SECOND
Corn Tamales green onion, radish, black butter chickpeas, cotija, red watercress, cantaloupe, smoked oil
Wine: Billsboro, Albariño, Seneca Lake, NY 2024
MAIN
Tomahawk & Picanha Beef coal-fired potatoes, onion hash, sea salt butter, grilled vegetables
Wine: Forge Cellars, Pinot Noir Classique, Seneca Lake, NY 2023
DESSERT
Lemon Olive Oil Cake vanilla whipped cream, strawberry nappage, strawberry & meringue crumble
NIGHTCAP
As Supper wound down, the threatening storms receded to make way for the setting sun to put on a spectacular show, lighting up the sky over the lake. Guests got up from the table and wandered to the shoreline in order to take it all in, creating a quiet moment of wonder amidst the celebratory energy of the evening.
SECRET LOCATION: INNS OF AURORA
The hamlet of Aurora, New York is filled with beautiful Federalist-style buildings that, by the 1990’s, had primarily fallen into disrepair. Then, American Girl Doll founder Pleasant T. Rowland decided to return to the home of her alma mater and restore the town with the same impeccable eye that built the American Girl empire. In the midst of the wide-scale renovations, she’s built a hospitality brand stretching across five properties in town, including the Inn on the shores of Cayuga Lake where we hosted our Supper.
