Eat First

The new and improved Sauders, Seneca Falls

Many people come to Seneca Falls to visit the National Women's Hall of Fame, the Women's Rights National Historic Park and the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Many more pass through on their way to the wineries that make up the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail -- and to their camps, cottages and homes in the Finger Lakes.

 

Sauders is a destination for food adventurists, "a unique country store'' that has grown from 10,000 square feet to 40,000-plus square feet -- the size of an Aldi or small Tops store. It's not a restaurant, but it ranks No. 1 on a Trip Advisor list of top restaurants in the Seneca Falls area, perhaps for its over-stuffed subs and deli sandwiches.

 

We've been hearing and reading about Sauders' expansion for a year now and stopped to check it out on our way to Seneca Lake. There's more parking, a covered drop-off and entry area and wide spacious aisles. If you're using a shopping cart, you'll no longer clog the aisles and bump into your fellow shoppers.

 

You might find yourself thinking the new Sauders reminds you of Wegmans. The store is big and more glossy, for sure, but still quaint and charming.

 

Sauders, open since 1978, was founded by Mennonites who moved here from Lancaster County, Pa. John Sauder, one of the owners, told the Finger Lakes Times last year the family has been wanting to expand the store for about five years and decided the time was right.

 

Basically, you'll find all the things you loved about the original Sauders -- on a larger scale.

 

You're greeted by a display of seasonal, local produce when you walk in the door. Next stop is a greatly expanded produce department.

  

There's an in-store bakery and an eat-in cafe called the Country Cookin' Cafe. The cafe also offers ice cream.

 

Grandma Sauders Candy Shack department has dozens of choices of bulk and packaged chocolate and candies, including every kind of "gummy" treat imaginable.

 

In the market for grains, pasta, rice, cereals and spices? You've come to the right place.

 

There's an expanded meat/deli department and cheeses galore, including local favorites like Muranda Cheese Co. and Yancey's Fancy cheeses. We spotted cheese curds and yogurts from Stoltzfus Family Farm, in Vernon Center.

 

Like to bake? There's an entire aisle of flour, sugars, sanding sugars, cookie and cake decorations in a kaleidoscope of colors, as well as candy-making supplies.

 

Are you "putting up summer"? There's canning and preserving gear and supplies galore.

 

No Mennonite store would be complete without jams, jellies, pickles, mustards, sauces, condiments and more -- Sauders has them all, including specialty items like pickled eggs.

 

Maple syrup, honey, nuts, dried fruit, trail mixes… the odds are good you'll go home with a thing or two NOT on your shopping list.

 

The "Book Nook" has Mennonite, Amish and community cookbooks.

 

The check-out area runs smoothly and is staffed by friendly young Mennonite women in their traditional white caps and calico print dresses. The store accepts debit and credit cards.

 

If you're in the Seneca Falls area and need some food/grocery items -- or even if you don't -- Sauders is worth a detour.

 

Sauders is at 2146 River Road, Seneca Falls. The store is open Monday to Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m. Information: 315-568-2673

 

Note: East of Syracuse and also worth checking out is the Troyers Country Store, 5518 Nelson Road, Cazenovia. The store offers meats, cheeses, baking supplies, bulk foods, nuts and a popular DIY nut butter grinding machine. The store is open Monday to Saturday. Information: 315-655-0346

 

Where's the New York wine??!!

How many times have you been to a restaurant, scanned the wine list for local and regional wines and found one lone selection of Finger Lakes Riesling -- or, worse, no New York wine at all?

Say something!  

The New York Wine and Grape Foundation, based in Canandaigua, has updated its "restaurant card'' -- a "leave-behind" that diners can use at restaurants that don't feature New York wines.  On the inside is space for the customer name and phone number and the date of the meal. On the back is contact information for the NYWGF for restaurant owners who want to get more information.

 

Jim Trezise, president of the NYWGF, says the organization receives phone calls from "lots of irate consumers'' asking what they can do to encourage restaurants to carry New York wines.

 

One thing we can do: ASK for New York wine. Then, put your request in writing. Carry a few of these in your purse or briefcase.

 

Want to receive some restaurant cards? Contact Bonnie Hampton at 585-394-3620, ext. 201 or email [email protected].

 

Wine regions map courtesy of New York Wine and Grape Foundation