Moosewood Restaurant (January 3, 1973–present) is an American natural foods restaurant in Ithaca, New York. While both the restaurant (and many of the cookbooks) included pescetarian dishes among its otherwise vegetarian and vegan offerings in the past, it does not currently serve seafood. In 1978, the original founders sold the restaurant to the staff, who became "The Moosewood Collective." In addition to producing a number of cookbooks, The Moosewood Restaurant won the America's Classics award from the James Beard Foundation in 2000, which recognized it as "one of the most popular regional destinations." Overview Moosewood Restaurant opened on January 3, 1973 during the natural foods and Farm-to-table movements within the American counterculture. According to the self-published 1974 Moosewood Cookbook (created by staff members), the name was inspired by Patrick, one of the original founders, "who once read a book and in it was a character-a dog in fact' named Moosewood; it is also the name of a lovely striped maple tree." Its original goal was to provide dishes made of "local, sustainable" food. Although meat was served when the restaurant first opened, it was dropped from the menu. The focus turned to natural foods that primarily featured vegetarian (and later vegan) dishes, but has also included pescetarian options on its menu and in its cookbooks. Moosewood has "maintained a structure where those who worked there also collectively owned and managed the place." In addition, over the decades the members have continued a founding ideology of social justice: "Moosewood also holds benefit brunches, donating their labor, dining rooms, and good cooking, while the beneficiaries work to sell the tickets. The beneficiary agency folks help serve food and clear tables. Ithaca Bakery and GreenStar frequently donate bagels and cupcakes. Over 150 organizations such as the Ithaca Health Alliance, Multicultural Resource Center, Ithaca Shakespeare Society, Akila Leadership Institute of Rwanda, Council on U.S.-Latin American Relations, Planned Parenthood, and the former Ithaca Breast Cancer Alliance have been beneficiaries. Moosewood folks also contribute food, time, and expertise to community events and organizations such as Ithaca's Cool School Food Program and Taste of the Nation/Share our Strength." It was popular with countercultural icons: "Crosby and Nash once shared drinks at the bar, and Allen Ginsberg ended his dinner with a Moosewood brownie and black coffee. Even the Grateful Dead stopped by during their trip for Cornell's Barton Hall show, only to go unrecognized by the members