This week the 14850 Dining Report is planning our route on the Mac ‘n Cheese Crawl. This year the annual mac ‘n cheese fundraiser for Foodnet Meals on Wheels isn’t at the Ithaca High School cafeteria. It’s spread out at a dozen eateries around town. Read more: Crawling around town for this year’s Foodnet Mac ‘n Cheese fundraiser Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

Do you tip on takeout meals? This week we’re looking at how important tipping is to the local eateries we’re trying to support and to the staff they’re trying to keep employed. Read more: Tipping is vital to the local eateries and workers we’re trying to support Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

This week the 14850 Dining Report is checking out some of the entries in the 23rd annual Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off. With over two dozen participating restaurants and other businesses we can try through the end of February, it’s a great chance for everyone to have some warming chili. Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

We’re gearing up this week for the 23rd annual Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off. With no safe way to gather thousands of chili fans on the Commons, this year’s Chili Cook-Off takes place at over two dozen eateries, with over two weeks to try as many entries as we’d like. Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

Don’t be afraid of the friendly ghost! This week the 14850 Dining Report is looking at the ghost kitchen phenomenon and how it’s expanded in Ithaca recently. Simply put, a ghost kitchen offers a restaurant takeout or delivery meal without a matching restaurant you can walk into. That could be a kitchen that happens to be part of an active restaurant but is also doing other things — or a kitchen that’s never been intended to handle dine-in guests. Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

During a chilly stretch of January, we’re checking out some Collegetown eateries that are short on student business this winter. Paying a visit to Collegetown eateries during a quiet winter Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

This quintet is music to our mouths! 2020 was a challenging year for many businesses, perhaps eateries most of all, but it also saw the arrival of five new eateries in Downtown Ithaca, all within a couple of blocks. La Bodega is in Dewitt Mall, Ooy’s Café & Deli and Hound & Mare are on North Aurora Street, Kimchi Korean Restaurant is on the Ithaca Commons, and the Greenhouse Café and Cocktail Lounge is on East State Street. A quintet of new eateries is now open around Downtown Ithaca Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

Only the most optimistic are thinking about outdoor dining in Ithaca and Tompkins County this week, and as positive cases climb in Central New York, we know many people are staying home, or if they’re “dining out,” it’s via takeout and delivery. This week, we’re taking a look at some of the most basic of comfort foods and focusing on breakfast. Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

New Year’s Eve in New York State evokes images of a celebration in Times Square, experienced in person or enjoyed on TV, perhaps at a festive event with a champagne toast at midnight and lots of live music. This year, any midnight toasts will have to be in your own home — or in a different time zone. Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.

The holiday season is upon us, and unfortunately, with positive cases surging in and around Tompkins County, many who’d enjoy a festive meal out are starting to think about holiday celebrations at home. There will be a few Ithaca area eateries open for Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but even more are planning takeout options. Check the details carefully, as some restaurants require ordering holiday takeout meals well in advance. Holiday meal offerings include takeout, dine-in, and some holiday hours Subscribe to the 14850 Dining Podcast in iTunes or Google Play, RadioPublic, or RSS Feed, or follow 14850 Dining on Facebook and Twitter or sign up for our newsletter.