August 14, 2025 Lunch - Picnic at Cornell Botanical Garden Dinner - Nirvana, Woodstock

August 14, 2025 Lunch - Picnic at Cornell Botanical Garden Dinner - Nirvana, Woodstock

I ate 1 1/2 muffins with a cup of tea at the Lodge at 9:00. Suzette ate the last slice of BBQ brisket for breakfast. 

Then we drove to Ithaca to the Cornell Botanical Gardens. We walked around the sculpture garden and then drove to the Welcome Center and walked around the herb garden that was extensive.

We decided to eat lunch at a table in a shaded corner outside the Welcome Center. We made tacos with leftover pork rib and a BBQ chicken thigh and leg plus cole slaw and baked beans.

We drank a MacGregor rose’ of Cabernet Franc with lunch.

Then we drove 4 hours to Luke’s house stopping on the way to go to the restroom and share a small chocolate soft ice cream.

When we arrived at Luke’s we talked and then at 6:00 drove to Nirvana Indian Restaurant in Woodstock where we met Mickey, Rebecca, Billy, and Elaine for dinner.

Rebecca was noticeably pregnant and feeling well. I ordered a mango lassi and Luke ordered a chai. I loved my lassi, but Luke did not like or drink his chai.

Appetizers - I ordered deep fried kale coated with chickpea flour served with a mint chutney that was delicious. Luke and Mickey split a fossa that is a thin pancake filled with potatoes and served with a spicy coconut chutney and a vegetable soup.

Entrees - I ordered tandoori duck breast that was cut into four sections and served with charred fingerling potatoes and a fruit sauce that was blisteringly spicy. Let me say here that the direction of seasoning at Nirvana seems to be unidirectional, hotter and hotter. It does not seem to develop any of the subtleties that I would expect in a fine Indian restaurant.

Mickey ordered chicken Madras curry that als seemed overly hot.

The only dishes that did not seem hot were Rebecca’s butter chicken, Suzette’s lamb brochettes, and Elaine’s Biryani rice cooked in croute in a bowl covered with a puff pastry, and the culcha seasoned with onions and truffles.

After dinner Luke led us on a 7 minute walk that lasted about 20 minutes because Billy’s hip was hurting him and I walked at my usual slow pace. We ended at an ice cream shop where all except Suzette and I ordered ice cream.

Mickey discussed the immersing financial instruments with me and I was amazed. Among the more interesting things he said was that many large financial players are creating their own form of stable coin tied to the US dollar.

After ice cream we walked back to the car and said goodnight. 

When we returned to Luke’s house the casita was cool and we went right to sleep a bit after 10:00. It was the first time on this trip we needed to use a blanket.  The fresh air was welcome after being cooped up in air conditioned rooms. I had walked 5100 steps today and I now among serious walkers.

We had a good night’s sleep.

Bon Appetit