I found myself in Ballston Spa this weekend with my dinner schedule wide open, and decided it was finally time to check out Next Door Kitchen & Bar. The menu has always looked intriguing to me – mostly creative “American” style cuisine with a few southern items like shrimp and grits or fried chicken, and a… Continue reading Next Door Kitchen & Bar
Some of you might have known that January 28th was the Chinese New Year, officially kicking off the Year of the Rooster. What you might not have realized was that many Chinese restaurants in the area offer some superb New Year’s specials that are available for a couple of weeks afterwards, including Ala Shanghai in Latham. I… Continue reading Chinese New Year at Ala Shanghai
This weekend was the soft opening of the new Plumb Oyster Bar in Troy. I’ve been eagerly watching its development in the news, but menu details have been sparse. Mainly I have been wondering if there would be full entrees in addition to the oysters, and what the pricing would be like. So this weekend’s opening was… Continue reading Plumb Oyster Bar
The fall season brings with it lots of wonderful seasonal specialties, especially in the Capital Region. Even though the weather has turned decidedly winter-like in the past few days, I wanted to highlight a few food items that make me excited about fall when I start seeing the leaves turn. Cider Donuts I have long… Continue reading Fall Favorites
I’ve heard from a few acquaintances whose food opinions I trust that Peck’s Arcade in Troy is the best food in the Capital District. And that’s not a statement to be made lightly to someone like me. I was even more interested in trying it out when I realized how affordable the menu is. Peck’s Arcade isn’t… Continue reading Peck’s Arcade
I was fortunate enough this year to be able to take a trip to Italy, primarily in the Tuscany and Liguria regions. And as a food enthusiast and zealous planner, you better believe that I had our food itinerary planned out every step of the way. Here’s a sampling of some of the best dishes… Continue reading Italy – Tuscany and Liguria
Those of you who’ve chatted with me in the past about my hopes for the blog may know that I have been longing to be invited to judge a food event. I can think of few better ways to spend an afternoon. And I finally got such an opportunity this weekend through my involvement in… Continue reading Trial by Combat at The Enchanted City
Another regional food that I have been working to appreciate is the Capital District’s unique form of fish fry. A long piece of fish (usually haddock) is breaded and fried, and then served on a simple roll (usually just something like a hot dog bun). The sandwich doesn’t have any other frills, although you can… Continue reading Fish Fry vs. Fish Fry
The latest newcomer in the effort to turn Crossgates Mall into a nightlife destination is Rascals Steakhouse, located on the second floor across from the Funny Bone comedy club. Rascals is unique because it presents itself as a moderately upscale steakhouse, but with an attached entertainment venue. The side room off of the dining area… Continue reading Rascals
Another culinary gem in Guilderland, a little further up Route 20 beyond Athos, is the Italian restaurant MezzaNotte. I first discovered this place a few years ago after reading Steve Barnes’ piece in the Times Union about local restaurants that serve rabbit. The article noted that rabbit is not only healthier than most other meats, with less calories… Continue reading MezzaNotte
