PressRelease

Alex & Ika Restaurant recently announced plans to relocate their critically acclaimed dining establishment from Cherry Valley to Cooperstown. The new location, 149 Main Street, will be open this Spring according to owners Alex Webster and Ika Fognell.

This international couple—Alex is British, Ika Swedish—opened their restaurant a decade ago in the unassuming former bowling alley in Cherry Valley. Initially, few people outside the small village paid much attention as Alex & Ika quietly operated their establishment on weekends only.

It wasn’t long, however, before the outside world began to discover that something quite out of the ordinary was happening in Cherry Valley. Restaurant critics from New York’s major cities took notice: “Bravo…extraordinary international food and service” (Syracuse Post Standard), “Quite simply the finest food for man, many miles” (Albany Time Union), “innovative cooking” (New York Times).

Then in 2004, Alex & Ika received national attention when Frommer’s, publisher of highly respected international travel guides, ranked their restaurant “one of the ten best restaurants in New York state" (along side such world famous dining establishments as Peter Luger and Aquavit in New York City). The Frommer’s New York State guide, recently updated with a 2006 edition, describes Alex & Ika as a “laid-back cuisine magic show.” Frommer’s acknowledges its unexpected “find”: “it’s hard to believe they can hit a home run with every dish, but somehow they do---the food is packed with so many flavor combinations, you’ll be talking about the food long after you leave.”

One frequent customer, former Senator Patrick Moynihan began making the long drive from Pindars Corners to Cherry Valley long before the restaurant critics. Senator and Mrs. Moynihan even introduced then First Lady Hillary Clinton to Alex & Ika Restaurant when Mrs. Clinton kicked off her famous “listening tour” nearly seven years ago. With over a hundred members of the international press in hot pursuit, they escaped to a quiet dinner at Alex & Ika (along with the Secret Service detail whose high tech cell phones and Blackberries wouldn’t work in Cherry Valley!).

Even though Alex & Ika has been discovered by the outside world, many local people in the Cooperstown area are still not familiar with the restaurant. “That is why we decided to move to Cooperstown: for a more visible location that is closer to our customers,” said Alex. However, he admitted that “we loved being in Cherry Valley but it was hard for people to make the long drive particularly in the winter.”

While loyal patrons of Alex & Ika are reportedly disappointed that their “secret” restaurant will no longer be theirs alone, there is one big consolation: the restaurant plans to be open 5 days a week. And according to Alex, “Everything will be exactly the same – I promise!”