Capitol to Capital

New Year's Eve @ New World Bistro Bar

2012-01-25T06:30:00.005-05:00

I should probably tell you officially how much I enjoyed spending NYE @ NWBB.

NWBB is always a blast and it's always interesting. When I heard they were doing a special NYE menu I knew it was way more up our alley than an open bar situation anywhere else. Two drinks is enough for me; the food should be the star. Luckily Steph and A shared our interest so we enjoyed good food and good company. Look how cute our rolly menus are.

I began with the BLT salad with Bibb lettuce, rabbit bacon, and sundried tomato confit. I really liked the gorgonzola ranch dressing and the polenta croutons, too. If I assembled it myself, of course I'd add more of the bunnybacon. Everyone enjoyed theirs, but I think A's dish wins for prettiest.

Snapper cruda with a crunchy three-seed crust, Meyer lemon, Greek olive oil, and honey

Fried black-eyed peas and rice made for delightful Hoppin' John fritters for course two.

But I had the grape risotto and loooved it. It, er, doesn't photograph well.

\ Oh hey, tamale and surf & turf.

Red and white tuna duo

For my entree I chose the Thai-style red snapper with spicy tamarind glaze. YUM! I thought about the seitan because green tea soba noodles sounded fun, and it would be served in a kombucha squash.

As ingredients dwindled throughout the night, the crispy rice paper lemon cloud napoleon went from lemony to Nutella-y. Yes, yes, yes. Also pictured above: ice cream sundaeeeeee.

Chevre cheesecake from Nettle Meadows Farm. The little baby jar is adorable, and the "cake" was not really sweet at all--it was creamy and deliciousm no need for crazy sugar.

The Italian Greyhound cocktail was a little too tart for me, even though I love grapefruit. 3/4 of us started with a special New Year's Eve cocktail that had cava and cognac. We had more dishes, some of which just didn't photograph well. Obviously we all had favorites, but no one was disappointed in any of the dishes. The menu is full of whimsy and creativity, which is so important when dinner is the show.

Eating at Bars

2012-01-22T18:30:00.001-05:00

For the past unlikely you'll find J and I at bars on Friday and Saturday nights, but I think we finally found our time/place/manner for watering hole attendance. The ideal situation is as follows:

- 8pm
- Bar that has real food, not just mozzarella sticks, loaded potato skins, and chicken fingers. (Delicious chicken wings are real food, FWIW.) Also: non-fratty beers.
- 2-4 additional friends

Recently we had some good times at three establishments that meet the criteria.

City Beer Hall has a really nice environment, particularly in the winter. It's lodgy and roomy, there's a fireplace. One of their gimmicks is that with every drink ordered you get a ticket for a free little pizza. The pizzas are, as I said, little (teeny) and thin, but they are food and they are free. The beers on tap are actually interesting and include a bunch from NY (as they should). Next time we go I want the Juicy Lucy, a New York grass-fed burger stuffed with gouda. YUM. J would probably choose the chicken & waffles. I'll let you know how it goes.

On a weekday it was easy for 8 or so of us to comfortably hang out and talk. Note: There is a mechanical bull, but I gathered that it's upstairs, which was closed off because of a private party. Next time.

The Merry Monk was also comfortably quiet on a recent weekday--3/4 of us were on winter break, and it was nice to catch up without loud craziness going on. A lot of good Belgian and Belgian-style beers were available, including all the Ommegangs. Mussels and other yums await. We liked the frites, but apparently they were frozen. Shows how refined our taste is--give us hot fries and some tasty dipping sauce and we're psyched. The only issues we had were that a few beers were out (which we weren't told until we ordered, after spending probably too much time figuring that part out) and our server didn't seem particularly knowledgeable about the beers. Which is a problem if you're working at a place that prides itself on having all Belgian or Belgian-style beers.

The Olde English delighted us with fried wonders. Battered sausage, fries, and fried cod were all delicious. Don't go for the battered sausage alone, though; it's a salty situation, so a few bites are all you need. The lamb sliders were pretty good, but there was too much bread for the meat, which was disappearing in the fluff. I stuck to oatmeal stouts and was pleased in the beverage department. Fun surprise: games, from Jenga to Scrabble and beyond. A little sad: so damned loud. So very, very loud. Obviously this varies from night to night (unless it's always loud, in which case, sorry I gave you hope of respite).

Where else should I go for these kinds of excursions?

Long Goodbye to Route 17 Trader Joe's

2012-01-08T17:33:00.001-05:00

Trader Joe's is opening in Albany. If it opens in April, I'll only have lived without one locally for 17 months, which isn't so bad.

My first TJ was in Bailey's Crossroads. Since then they've built one in Clarendon. Then we enjoyed having Bethesda nearby. Since we've moved to Albany we stop on Route 17 in NJ on our way home and shop in Paramus. We pack our frozen and fridge items together to keep cool for the next 2 hours home.

The news outlets were all atwitter, some folks are all about not caring, and a lot of people are promising not to go there because of the traffic. Some people (I'm included, but it's just a twinge of eh) wish it was in a different location. I'd like if it were built in an empty lot in my neighborhood, personally.

About the traffic: popular places are crowded. For proof, go to any Cheesecake Factory (mind = boggled, every time). I can't imagine parking and shopping at the Wolf Road Trader Joe's will be any less pleasant than the Pentagon City Costco. I can't imagine the line will be anything like the Union Square TJ before UWS opened (you'd walk in and start standing in line, picking up things from aisles as you waited and moved forward). But perspective is key in complain-y situations of all sorts, right? A long commute to work is better than not having a job? Ouch, how the diamond encrusted floors are ripping up my feet.

One thing I like about TJ is that it's small and it doesn't take me a long time to go from one side to the other when I've forgotten something--maybe I'm not the most organized shopper. I like that I know the products and know where to find them quickly; I can find my favorites and move on.

Nobody makes me go to Burger King or weird mall fake Chinese food places (or insert other stuff I wouldn't touch), so if you don't want to go to Trader Joe's, chances are you'll be safe from a kidnapping that locks you in there unwillingly. In fact, I hereby swear on my lemon pepper pappardelle (with olive oil, parmesan, and peas) that I will not personally force you to go to a store that "doesn't impress" you and that you think is "overhyped." I will definitely not pick you up on my way there.

Most of the items that I buy at Trader Joe's either only exist (to my knowledge) there or are less expensive there than other places. I'm also not much of a couponer. I don't like playing games, just give me the lowest price you can, consistently. I don't need Hannaford or Price Chopper almond butter for $10 when I can get it at TJ for $5. I don't need Amazon's glucosamine chondroitin (dog vitamin for joints) for $25 (or PetSmart's for $28) when it's $9.99 at TJ for 20 fewer tablets. Ten cents per tablet v. twenty cents per tablet. You don't have to be a hippie or obsessed with organic or have a food sensitivity to appreciate not being overcharged.

Today's haul included the following items:

Challah rolls, 4: $2.49
Reduced sugar organic strawberry preserves: $2.99
Brown rice pasta (they also had corn pasta, 3 shelves of gluten free in all):$1.99
Whole wheat organic pasta: $1.39
Israeli couscous: $1.99
Chocolate chips (pareve
Lemon pepper pappardelle: $1.99
Spinach and chive linguine: $1.99
Whole wheat Middle Eastern flatbread: $2.49
Dark chocolate covered cherries: $4.49
Garbanzo beans: $0.89
Tomato basil past sauce: $1.79
Glucosamine for pets (hips, joints--100 count, FYI on Amazon it's $25 for 120): $9.99
Steamed lentils (refrig section - love these in salads): $2.99
Beef cabernet pot roast: $12.58
Mild fresh salsa: $2.99
Roasted vegetable frozen pizza with no cheese: $4.29
Frozen brown rice packets (4 per box I think, 1 packet for dinner for 2 with leftovers): $2.99
Chicken drumettes: $3.79
Annie Chun's Udon Noodle Bowls (emergency lunch for work): $1.99
Clif Zbar: $0.69

Lastly, the people who work there are typically very friendly and helpful. They'll ring that bell and have someone get you a new marinating roast when the plastic was punctured on the one you chose. The bagging is exceptional--we used to bet in Virginia whether or not they'd be able to fit all our stuff in the bags we brought; otherwise we'd be going home with some future wrapping paper.

Obviously, I welcome Trader Joe's with open arms. I'd love to see Wegman's (a much different and much larger store) follow soon.

Cooking and Eating Over the Holidays

2012-01-03T08:00:00.007-05:00

Holidays = guests = cooking. Thanks, people, for showing up so I can make crazy quantities of stuff and not have to eat it for lunch and dinner myself every day!

Chocolate chip banana bread muffins are important for breakfast, snack, or dessert. The recipe is from my college roommate--she sent me a Word document of 5 recipes, some with applesauce replacing this or that, and I picked my favorite. I make it about once per month; if you've got some browning bananas and the regular baking necessities, you've got this treat.

Banana Chocolate Chip Bread (as given to me, my comments in italics)

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 mashed, ripe bananas, but if you have 2 or 4 you're all good.

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chocolate chips, but I add more because it's good luck

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, then bananas. Add flour, baking soda, salt, mixing well. Stir in vanilla and chocolate chips. Pour into a greased loaf pan or muffin tin (fill to the very top) and bake for 60 - 70 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Take down the baking time if you decide to do mini muffins or mini loaves.

Pumpkin pancakes are also an important part of hosting. I eyeball the spices, use some pumpkin pie spice in place of small amounts of all that compose it, add chocolate chips, and often sub for white whole wheat flour, if I have it. I add the choc chips once the batter is down in the pan, 3-5 per (small) pancake. If I mixed them into the batter beforehand I'm pretty sure they'd just sink.

We made pumpkin pancakes for our erev New Year's brunch guests, but our Chanukah guests still had some pumpkin in the form of the Whole Foods turkey pumpkin chili, this time whipped up by J. Their brunch was strata-riffic, with both sweet and savory. On erev Christmas we went to Ala Shanghai for a delicious meal. The only disappointment that night was that our soup dumplings were mostly deflated (and thus unsouped). Also, I think I'd like to ask to keep the rest of the Peking duck after it's sliced up tableside onto the individual bun sandwiches. There seemed to be at least a sandwich of meat still on the bones, and our particular table would have enjoyed getting it!

On Christmas Day I took some silver tip (last cut of roast available at the kosher Chop early in the afternoon before the holy sabbath, a little leaner than I wanted), two cans of tomatoes, a beer, garlic, onion, and potato and bid it farewell for 8 hours on low in the slow cooker. I baked challah with my aunt's recipe that I've been using forever, but in a Chanukah miracle, it came out lighter and fluffier than ever before. I never measure the flour, so maybe my eyeballs did better this time than before.

Our Sisterfriend cooked the most delicious latkes I've had in years--one russet potato, two sweet potatoes, a handful of small onions, some egg and flour (I wasn't watching that closely...), salt, and pepper. Parevized J&G soup (sans butter) with quinoa and salad started us off. Below is our festive Chanukah table. Thanks to our special non-relative guests for the red sparkly deliciousness.

Happy January, everyone. I hope you cooked and/or ate some delicious things over the past few weeks.

2011, The Year Of...

2011-12-31T08:00:00.044-05:00

Corning Preserve, March 2011

My friend Jenna asked me "So what was this the year of?" Unsurprisingly, I couldn't think of one particular thing to define the year.

But 2011 was big for us. It was our first full year as residents of the Capital Region, far from the big city that we called home for the start of our adult life, as well as its many amenities. The second half of the year also made it the year of The House, The Dog, and The Second Car--none of which would have been possible for us without that first part, the move. And, of course, the marathon invaded all other thoughts from April to November, and my body (in new ways) from August to Central Park.

In travel, it was a year of new North American cities. Portland, Oregon. Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri. Montreal, Quebec. Hudson (which we've come to know better and love). We hadn't even been to Saratoga Springs before (I'm discounting a meeting where I only saw the inside of a conference room).

For tea, J seeped most of the year with Prince of Wales (like 2010) and I had Honey Vanilla Chamomile. Brunch almost always means corned beef hash for one of us, and quick lunch or cheap early dinner often meant Andy's & Sons subs. In 2011, having company meant having brunch, dinner, or apps and drinks at New World Bistro Bar. But in our own kitchen, it was the year of grilled pizza, grated ginger, crispy no-knead bread, and the slow cooker.

In fresh and local, it was most definitely the year of the cherry. When we talk about picking cherries back in July, our eyes light up, our faces flush, and we ooze with joy. J had never even tasted a cherry before this past summer, and there we were, plucking them from trees on a clear sunny day and eating several pounds entirely too quickly.

I'm not sure what 2012 will bring. We have a list of new (to us) restaurants to try, so we can start there. More new places to check out, including Toronto, Nashville, and--fingers-crossed--some cities across the Atlantic. And maybe we'll get our act together and decorate our house.

If you're curious (I was), the last post of 2010 was The Roundup of Roundups. In 2009 it was Chanukah at Equinox. In 2008 I was buried in finals, and in 2007 I was giddy over Rasika, upscale modern Indian cuisine that is entertaining and delicious.

A very happy new year to you and yours.

How You Got Here, in 2011

2011-12-30T09:00:00.007-05:00

I write this blog completely for fun. When it's not fun (or life takes over), I stop posting. Every time I think I might never post again, I experience the need to overshare (where better than the internet?) about a certain recipe or meal or restaurant.

I'm not a huge stats-watcher, but the best part of visiting Google Analytics once every three or four months is that it will show me, among other things, the search terms people used to arrive at search results, and from those search results, pick a link to this blog. And there are some gems.

This year, three out of the top five search terms that lead people to this blog are Harry Potter-related. Thank you to EmM for that guest post on the Wizarding World. People continue to search for the Best Burger In Virginia. C'mon, you know where it is. And people are still wondering (with no answer from me) whether injera is kosher for Passover.

My usual Google strategy is pretty standard. Type in words related to what I'm looking for, often in no particular order (for example, "car harness labrador" or "kristen stewart bella wedding dress"). It's pretty cute how people type complete questions into search engines.* Such as:

how many calories are in a teaism soba noodle bento box

is injera kosher for passover (and variations)

ray's hellburger, metro accessible?: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Courthouse (walk downhill) or Rosslyn (walk uphill), and it's not far from either. Don't be a wimp.

where is hogwarts (and variations)

how to spend a good time with my boyfriend in dc (that's for another blog, ma' friend)

where can i buy sheepsmilk in chicago

who is ray of rays the steaks: Um, Michael Landrum?

why round challah at rosh hashanah: Symbolizes the year, which is cyclical and whole, starting anew at Rosh Hashanah

what bus takes you to comet ping pong: There's a site for that.

Search terms I can't explain include anything to do with Snooki and Brielle (I had breakfast in Brielle, but I wasn't giving out directions to Snooki's beach house, and furthermore, why do you want those!) and anything written in Russian (at least, I think it's Russian).

Thanks to Urbanspoon, All Over Albany, and Google for being my top three referring sites.

I'm looking forward to seeing you, however you got here, in 2012.

*Extra adorable to the people who include the question mark.

Acacia

2011-12-28T12:00:00.005-05:00

We have some fabulous newlyweds in our life, including F and M. Getting together with them often poses a difficult question--to go out, or to stay in? See, while F, J, and I can certainly make a meal, M is a superb cook. He's fearless when it comes to complicated flavors and time-consuming methods, and he is incredibly optimistic.

But with Thanksgiving weekend upon us, I suggested that we all needed a night out without shopping or clean-up. F said we had several options in the area, but her original thought was closed for the holiday weekend. I'm not sorry at all that we ended up at Acacia.

Butternut squash quesadillas with mushrooms, cheddar, and white truffle aioli- not greasy at all, crunchy on the outside but not brittle, a little fluffy underneath that crust.

Fresh mozzarella, and on the long sides is a caramelized onion chutney that F and I were a little obsessed with. I'll take a bowl of chutney on the side, thanks?

Goat cheese and duck meatballs. F said that she could just get a few more of these and that could be a delicious meal.

Delicious red snapper with sweet potato and sage croquette/fritter. The spinach was the low point on my plate. It didn't really taste like anything, and I don't get why it was there.

Blackened mahi, sprouts, and Dijon chived mashed potatoes. This dish was really good, adn I liked that it was completely different from mine. I hate when fish dish 1 and fish dish 2 taste exactly the same.

Steeeeeeeeeeak. Matt was manly with this choice, and I don't remember tasting it. I gather it was quite good.

The star of the meal, in my opinion. J's 24-hour braised Colorado lamb shank. Serve with risotto and--NOTHING ELSE MATTERS, let's be honest, this lamb was off the hook. It reminded me of the goat shoulder at Komi. Not only was it delicious, but it looked badass. Very Flintstones. It's the texture of meat that I love, when you can fork it apart because it's so tender. Sawing a cut of meat into gray/brown squares will never make my To Do or Best Of list. If you go, make sure someone gets the lamb. Thanks.

Also, we were in BYO territory. And we brought it, wine-wise, with two delicious bottles that we easily finished. The Yelp on Acacia is interesting. Overpriced? For the quality of our meal, I say no. "And they don't even serve wine?" To that I say, you are a fool. Bring your own and avoid a glass marked up to a price of 2/3 that bottle. "There was a loud business party there." That's timing, Bub.

8 Thumbs Up from our table of 4. Our service was great (a chiller/ice bucket for our wine, even though it was red, because hey some people might want that and be embarrassed to ask?), the breadbasket was super yummy, the ambiance was delightful (quiet but not silent, dim lighting but not pitch black), all around love.

Acacia Restaurant
2637 Main Street
Lawrenceville, NJ

2nd Avenue Deli

2011-12-19T09:00:00.005-05:00

My posts may be infrequent here, but that's because I'm obsessed with my dog. Moving on...

Once, I ran the marathon. And apparently I lost a ton of salt over that nearly four and a half hours, because afterward the thought of going to the 2nd Avenue Deli (located conveniently near Seester's apartment) made me freak out with excitement. The only things on my mind were PASTRAMI and MATZAH BALL SOUP. (In my mind they were definitely in all caps.) And when we got there that quickly changed to pickles pickles pickles pickles.

Awww, classic Hebrew-style font.

This soup was delicious. Little square noodles! The matzah ball's density was just right - no softballs in this biz.

Knish. Pronounced cuh-nish, for the uninitiated. It was a pretty decent knish, its size and outer crust were the bomb. I've been really over potatoes lately, so I wouldn't go out of the way to order it.

And delicious pastrami. It was everything I wanted and more. They had a meal option of half a sandwich and bowl of matzah ball soup for around $15 (remember, it's New York City and it's kosher). But I thought I got a good deal. Not only were the soup and sandwich delicious, the portion on this "half" sandwich was extremely generous.

We ended our meal with some weird but delicious chocolate soda in small glasses. I loved it. What was it? I'm not sure. But I loved it.

I'll definitely back to the Deli. It's delicious, it's reasonable (thanks to good portions), and it's convenient to my dear Seester. And you just can't get good deli everywhere.

2nd Avenue Deli

1442 1st Avenue (also 162 E. 33rd)

NY, NY

Graffiato

2011-12-05T08:03:00.001-05:00

While I was away we went to Graffiato. We arrived ready to eat some Italian-inspired cuisine with a fresh batch of reviews from K. I wasn't the biggest fan of Mike I in Top Chef DC, but I always had a soft spot for Zaytinya, particularly for a group brunch.

I wanted to order pretty much everything, and because some plates are probably small, you probably could if you brought a few more people.

Look how cute these bandit vegetables are! They're painted on the wall at the top of the stairs.

Let's kick it off with Saged & Confused. Handmade vodka, cucumber juice, sage, and lime. Cukes are my jam!

Chestnut agnolotti with butternut squash and browned butter. These little suckers can slide right down your throat without a thought, but you should take it slowly and savor it.

Cauliflower with pecorino and mint, flatbread with pepperoni sauce. Not easy to share such a small dish of delicious cauliflower among 4 people.

Striped bass with potato...good but not great.

The star! The best in taste and the best in value. The Countryman pizza with black truffle, fontina cheese, and a soft egg. The yolky truffleness was ridiiiiiculous. Crust was crispy and chewy at the same time, as a good crust must be. I could have eaten the whole thing, but that would have been unsportsmanlike!

Talk about comfort food...this pumpkin risotto with smoked provolone (topped with toasty pepitas) was definitely good, but couldn't top the pizza. An egg on my food will almost always win.

So go to Graffiato, get a bunch of pizzas, maybe some vegetables as sides (but prepare for the dishes to be quite tiny). We saved some calories and dollar bills by enjoying tea and Red Velvet cupcakes at home a while later.

Graffiato

707 6th Street NW

Metro: Red Line to Gallery Place/Chinatown

While I Was Away...

2011-11-18T11:00:00.001-05:00

We had a great time in DC. I saw more than 20 different friends, including 3 relatives. We ate lunches, dinners (out and homemade), snacks, drank coffee, and even went for a walk.

Here is Tiki Barber and my hand, in a picture that I've definitely taken about 4 years ago, watch on wrist and all.But this time he has a little gray under his chin.

Back to Pete's but this time in Clarendon. Edge of the Woods was a little different - instead of the big eggplant slices seen below back at Ten-Frien, there were smaller slivers. I prefer the larger slices because you feel like it's more eggplant, less fried batter. Take note! Below is an old EOTW photo. It doesn't look like "pizza with fried whatever on top," it looks like eggplant.

Next, Palena. They've changed with the expansion. The fry plate is no longer; now there's a "fritto misto" that has fried lots of things (including things I don't want, like shrimp and cauliflower). I wish it was still basically dauphine potato, french fries, and fried lemons were the bomb. The roasted chicken is still a delight, but the first time I had it was the best time ever. The server said they'd just give us a plate of fried lemons, which they did, and that was nice. Only $3.

Hey, who is reaching for that lemon!

At Bistro Bis I enjoyed French onion soup and mustard seed crusted bacon fat salmon with lentils. Because it's healthy to order the fish, you know. This was my favorite weekday meal at a restaurant.

Friday night potluck with the ladies included butternut squash vegetarian chili, lots of cheese, and CCs' rendition of the red wine chocolate cake (spoiler alert: it's delicious. More toward brownie than cake, which is why I requested it).

Saturday morning I had a kale and goat cheese frittatta made by my Sisterfriend (not to be confused with my Seester or Sister), with a side of mini apple cider doughnuts from the Fenton Street Market.

This is Ella, my first and eldest dog niece. She's the sweetest puppy.

SF also made delicious pumpkin waffles, but I didn't know how yummy they were until Sunday morning.

Saturday afternoon J and I shared some post-Fotoweek steak banh mi from ShopHouse. The steak was really good, the slaw was a little spicy, and man is that a lot of bread. If you're very hungry, this one is a good choice. I'm not obsessed though. Then I had a decadent concrete from Shake Shack with vanilla custard, peanut butter, marshmallow, chocolate, caramel, and pure joy.

Next we visited the new MLK Memorial - I really enjoyed it, particularly the awesome (great and literally large) quotes on the low surrounding walls. There was a big crowd, which was really heartwarming and inspiring. Thanks for finally shaking up all the crusty old white guy memorials.

Dinner gets a separate post of its own - Graffiato! I had a terrific time and a delicious meal.

Sunday I had that pumpkin waffle (and a half?) that we talked about earlier, then we headed out to wine country. In Baltimore County. Both Boordy and DeJon are in just north of the city of Baltimore, and we stopped by both. Boordy was CRAZY hopping, and the tasting was pretty informal. We didn't learn much about the wines, but they were mostly ok. My favorite was the Shiraz, followed by the Petit Cabernet. DeJon is fairly new, and the wines were better. The owner (Jon, not to be confused with Denise) poured us each one, chatted a little about his former life as a software company owner (the winery = "retirement"), but it was just us and one large group of rowdy, drunk 50 somethings, so we tasted and ran. It was just cool enough where you didn't really want to just sit and play Bananagrams.

That night we had a gathering of 13 people we love--some were experienced in the task at hand, while others were novices. Some asked for direction, instructions, and were timid. It does seem like everyone enjoyed themselves, though.

Ethiopic! One or two too many platters, but no one complained. We could have all been full with less, and our wallets slightly fuller.

We still love DC. We want to try all the new restaurants that we (still) read about on local blogs. We marvel that certain corners and blocks have completely changed in one year. We're interested in the new monuments and updated exhibits at the galleries. But mostly, we love our friends and family that make the District home. And that's why we'll be back.

Terroir

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

Seester and I recently visited the newly-opened Murray Hill location of Terroir, the "Elitist Wine Bar For Everyone." It was delightful, despite the Murray-Hill-esque group of girls literally screaming and yelling, which was audible despite the restaurant's attempts to drown it out with super loud music. It's OK, we just screamed at each other.

Our food was delicious, but our server may have been the best part--he was friendly, knowledgeable, easy on the eyes, and helped us choose our small plates for a delightful dinner. Plus, he joined us in shooting glares at the loud girls and looking forward to their departure.

It was VERY dark in there. As you can tell from these super dark pictures that I attempted to brighten.

Crispy duck confit salad with frisee, gorgonzola, shallots.

This was called "sage leaves with lamb sausage," but it should have been called crunchy-edged herby/crusty delicious lambyness.

Eggplant, pepper, basil, mozzarella panini. This bread was as good as it looks. There was a duck prosciutto sandwich (and I do have a soft spot for alternatives like that, ahem, lambcetta), but we wanted to incorporate some vegetables in our meal. With so many other plates we wanted to get, we'll just have to go back. No big deal!

Mmm squash frittata. Can you say brunch?!! Egg happiness at dinner works just as well.

Sees and I had a great time at Terroir, but the decibels were a little out of control and it was dark as night. Every dish we had was tasty and exceeded our expectations. Our server had his act together and recommended a delightful Finger Lakes Riesling for Sees and a Brooklyn Brewery offering I hadn't had before.

Their employment information is funny. Hehe.

Terroir
439 3rd Avenue (btwn 30 & 31st)
NY, NY

This time last year: Restaurant Eve
2009: Postcard from Denver
2008: Catching Up
2007: Super Pollo

Cooperstown: Fly Creek and Ommegang

2011-10-30T09:00:00.003-04:00

A while ago, Seester and I ran the Boilermaker. Yes, I've already booked our hotel for next year. The people of Utica are amazing, and you can read about that on running blogs.

Now, a member of my husband's family does not complete their first visit to Albany without a day trip to Cooperstown, and Utica is near enough that we combined these situations.

Our first stop was Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard. Other potential names include Snack Shack and Place Of Many Dips. We walked around and saw some chickens and ducks outside, and eventually we had some ice cream and cider. Mostly, we walked around the market and indulged in free samples.

Cheese. Lots of cheese.

Fudge.

Jams, spreads, dips, mustards. And look a those pretzel sticks, ready to be dipped.

Apple fritter, chip mint ice cream, cider slushie, regular cider, and general happiness all around.

Next it was back to Ommegang. Yes, we'd been before, and we liked what we drank. Yes, we can drink it at home, buy it at local stores and bars, but we could not resist a visit with Sees. This time, with snacks.

Delicious ~~fries~~ frites. Oh my goodness. Crispy, well-seasoned, clearly fresh-cut. There are 8 choices for sauces, and you pick two. I remember the chipotle aoili as being our favorite.

Crepes! Duck confit was off the hook and tomato/basil was tasty but paling in comparison. Can anything compare to the duck confit? I didn't think so.

Ommegang has beautiful grounds, outdoor tasting options in the fair weather, and very tasty beers. Beers so tasty, the only way they could be tastier is if they were embodied in an ice cream. Wait for it...

And here is perfection. PERFECTION. Granted, I'm somewhat easily impressed. Three Philosophers ice cream.

This time last year: CSA Weeks 5 & 6
2009: Fojol Brothers
2007: Restaurant 3

New Oreos: A Review

2011-10-27T21:02:00.000-04:00

I delayed on this because it was so disappointing I didn't really want to talk about it.

When J found out there was going to be such a thing called "Triple Double Oreos" he jumped at the opportunity to try them ASAP. He filled out an online request form for media (because, you know, he's such a regular contributor to the blog) and maybe 10 minutes later we had a FedEx with the aforementioned cookies.

We took them home to NJ for a taste test. We were immediately disappointed.

Were these cookies gross? No. But the fact is that they weren't what we were expecting.

The name Triple Double made it seem like they were made of Double Stuffed Oreos. So a triple-decker Double Stuffed is what we expected. If you're having trouble with triple decker being only two instances of filling and three wafers, you are not alone--we were arguing over whether that is double decker or triple decker, and we can't really come to a conclusion. A Google image search results in the three pieces of bread but two sets of fillings variation, and that's what we've got here.

But again, that filling? Not double-stuffed. Decidedly single-stuffed regular old Oreo filling. Which to J means it's too dry--too much cookie, not enough icing.

Was anyone else under the impression that these would be double-stuffed? I'm surprised I haven't read about misrepresentation or anything on the Wall Street Journal. This is a pressing social issue.

Henry

2011-10-16T17:29:00.000-04:00

Blogging is frequently interrupted by work travel, Jewish holidays, and other timesuckers (which, while often pleasant, are indeed taking up time). Now we have a new reason to stay off the computer.

Looking forward to sharing some good meals with you coming up: tacos in Hudson and New Paltz, dinner at a 1-week-old restaurant in Murray Hill, and a delightful evening at the Capital City Gastropub. Also, I'll be back in DC for work, and you know I'll be revisiting some of my favorite places as well as some new.

All Good Bakers

2011-10-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

I love following local personalities on Twitter. I scoped out the ALB Twitter scene before moving here and started following the appropriate blogs. It didn't take long to start hearing (and keep hearing, repeatedly) about All Good Bakers. The idea of a Community Supported Bakery sounded awesome to me (like the Whisked pie share?). I started following them on Twitter and even "Liked" them on Facebook, even though I'm generally opposed to Liking anything on Facebook. [Sidenote, I won't Like your blog on Facebook because I follow it on Google Reader and maybe follow you on Twitter, and I don't need to be told about your new post for a third time in a new way. Really, I like you, and I like your blog, but two places is enough right now for me to express that xoxo.]

And they were always commenting about the delicious lunches and brunches that were available! And talking about how they got some awesome cheese and Farmer Jon (our new neighbor is his farm stand) dropped off these awesome looking veggies. And we'd get a cool peace sign of whoever was in the van, which seemed to drive down our street a lot. Sooo we obviously had to go by.

J and I brought visitor B, a newbie to the Capital Region (but resident of our nation's capital), on a recent Friday afternoon. That scored us 10% off on the yum to come.

B and I both had the grilled cheese of the day. Black pepper goat cheese with garlic pepper IPA jam.

J had the tempeh veggie burger and a similar fresh crunchy side salad. He's Mr. Veggie Burger since he had one in the Columbia River Gorge that was truly delicious and unique. He liked the consistency of this guy. None of us got the crispy flatbread pizza, maybe because we've been making some flatzas at home :)

I appreciate mugs that depict a sweater putting its arm around another sweater.

We got a loaf to go--I think peasant sourdough--and it was so good for so long. It didn't last that long, but even a few days later it was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. So delicious, and bringing much joy to our household.

AGB says they are "baking with ethics," and they shop with them too. They get some produce from Farmer Jon, who has sold us some of the sweetest corn we've had all summer from his farm stand, as well as the best white peaches. +1 for Farmer Jon.

All Good Bakers
160 A. Quail Street (it's the first floor, you'll see it)
Albany, NY

Fewer Words Friday at Jack's

2011-09-30T19:49:00.000-04:00

Jack's Oyster House recently invited Daniel B. and company for a special lunch highlighting some new menu items. I agree with him wholeheartedly (including that I'd like to see the farm names highlighted on the menu), and here are the accompanying photos. One dish, my favorite (the scallop in the pink peppercorn and orange sauce), was consumed too quickly for my photo--sorry.

This was a delicious salad. I'd like it topped with blackened salmon for a nice lunch. The candied walnuts were really yummy.

I could do without this dish. Mostly, to me, fried is fried is fried. And it belongs in a bar.

I kind of liked the risotto but didn't love it. I'm not a huge shrimp person, and the scallop paled in comparison to its unpictured cousin.

Osso bucco topped the lamb, and I didn't understand anything else on the plate--not that I'm unfamiliar with asparagus, I just didn't want to eat it.

This cheesecake was divine, and despite having eaten a million other things beforehand, I nearly finished it. Light and fluffy and creamy, not too sweet.

Jack's Oyster House
42 State Street
Albany, NY

Buttermilk Channel

2011-09-27T22:36:00.000-04:00

Ohhh to spend my afternoons wandering around the Brooklyn Flea, lusting over giant mirrors that I'm not sure fit in my house, drinking overpriced but delicious milkshakes, sampling spicy pickles....but unfortunately I reserve this behavior for special occasions.

Also for special occasions? FRIED CHICKEN. I know. Again.

To be clear, only 3/5 of us had the fried chicken. But the serving was so gigantic that I got to have a fair amount of it. People weren't really eating mine that much, so I got to have 1.5 dinners. It was great.

I had the warm lamb salad. It was basically super tender small pieces of lamb, some sort of shredded, over two big pieces of lettuce. Not so much a salad as a giant plate of lamb. YES!

House made croutons, cauliflower, and fried capers (which explode into little crispy blossoms, btw--try itat home) rounded out this dish.

J had the duck meatloaf with sweet corn pudding. He shocked me with this, I thought for SURE he'd get the fried chicken. I think he knew some people wouldn't be able to finish theirs. AHEM, everyone.

Did I mention that we started with snacks? Homemade pickles that were to die for - there were slices and spears, with totally different flavors. We almost got a second order when a complimentary snack arrived.

Surprise! Popovers! Lightly salted on the outside, totally soft and luscious on all the other sides.

The hushpuppies, left, were good but somewhat forgettable. The sea salt-dusted maple bacon almonds were not nearly as forgettable. The poor hushpuppies, how could they even try to compare?

Seriously, if I could happy hour at BC with just the snacks, apps, and beer, I'd be psyched.

Dessert time!

The birthday girl was generous in sharing her chicken because she knew she wanted to save room for the bread pudding.

I was too full to think about ordering any dessert--none of it was like ME! ME! GET ME! But when dad's crazy pecan pie sundae thing came out, I dug in big time. He was so gracious to share. Everything you want in the sticky, sweet, pecan pie contrasting with the cool creamy vanilla ice cream, soooo heavenly.

^ I am still thinking about this sundae. Really.

Now brunch @ BC looks awesome, but don't even THINK about going for the chicken and waffles - it's not available at brunchtime! Apparently some reviewer said that it was, and people started demanding it and being super sad panda when they learned it isn't happening. Like when I go to Palena Cafe and they are out of chickens for THE roasted chicken, or when I want Andy's Subs so badly I might die, and it's Sunday.

Buttermilk Channel
524 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY

Iron Gate Cafe

2011-09-12T08:00:00.001-04:00

On a recent gorgeous Saturday ~~morning~~ early afternoon we enjoyed brunch at Iron Gate for the first time. What took us so long?! We'd heard that it was delicious, we knew we had to get there while it was warm, but we just forgot. Too busy with our pancakes and Super Breakfasts and cinnamon swirl toasts.

For the first time in a long time I was feeling like an omelet. No poached or over easy on this day. I had an egg white veggie omelet, a scoop of J's food, and toast. Inside were tomatoes, onions, fake meat sausage (I heart feat), peppers, and cheddar cheese. They also have Johnny cakes, cornbread-like pancakes that I usually reserve for a restaurant on the British Virgin Island of Tortola. I kind of wanted a side of JC's, but not a whole meal. Must. eat. eggs. It was everything I wanted. After running and showering, I just want someone else to make my food and bring it to me. No more standing for me, thanks.

J enjoyed a special involving a bowl of chili and poached eggs covered in cheese. It was crazypants, tasty, and an enormous portion. He did such a good job finishing it with minimal assistance. The specials all sounded good, it's nice to have some off-menu surprises. You wouldn't think August = chili, but it actually was a cool-ish day, it probably ended up raining that afternoon.

We'll definitely be back at Iron Gate. I don't see us going there unless the weather is nice and we can sit outside, though.

Iron Gate Cafe
182 Washington Ave
Albany, NY

Fewer Words Friday

2011-09-02T11:10:00.001-04:00

Recently, K sent me this picture:

What you are seeing is a frozen margarita with a shot of sangria and a Coronita stuck in it. Found and enjoyed at Blockheads Burritos, in this particular instance, on the patio at the Midtown West location. Filed under #thingsiwant.

Enjoy your three day weekend!!!!

Little Anthony's

2011-08-29T07:30:00.007-04:00

We were going to a not-too-late movie on a weeknight and needed a quick bite. Suggestions from the Twitterati included Ralph's and Chipotle. I couldn't stop myself from a little Yelping, and ended up curious about Little Anthony's. People had some nice things to say about their pizza and hot sandwiches, and I was intrigued about the vegan options. I didn't want to have anything vegan, necessarily, but I liked that the option was there. If one of my vegan or quasi-kosher friends comes to visit, they may enjoy a vegan option from LA. But it'll probably be takeout.

We walked in and saw one guy waiting for his takeout order. We stood at the counter for about 5 whole minutes until someone came to take our order. There were a couple guys back there, and two guys rushed hurriedly one way and then the other, passing us, DEFINITELY seeing us, but not acknowledging anything at all. It was awkward. I don't want to be like "hi, can we order?" because it is so clear that they see us and they know that we haven't ordered. They just don't seem to care. Maybe I'm in too much of a hurry.

It was a toasty day, and that translated inside Little Anthony's. I don't think they have A/C. It was dark, and it smelled a little bit like a locker room. Not strongly, but faintly.

My food was delicious. It took a while, but when I got it, I really liked it. I had eggplant parm, and it wasn't too soggy (which happens sometimes), the bread stood up to it. VERY filling. I recommend takeout not only because of the lack of ambiance at LA's, but then you can quickly put the remainder in the fridge (probably 1/4) for a post work out OMGIneedfoodnow snack.

J was a champ. He ate all of this gigantic calzone. I really liked the texture of the dough. This thing wasn't stuffed--it's not the ripieno basilico. But it was tasty and gigantic. I kind of want it right now.

Other funny note: we were undercharged, unbeknownst to us. During what seemed like our epic wait for food, the guy who took our order came by and told us he didn't charge us the right amount. Again, awkwardness. The difference was about $7, and it wasn't like we gave them the wrong amount--they asked us for the wrong amount to start with. A little weird, but it's not like it was an expensive meal. I didn't mind paying what it actually cost, it was just a funny situation. If I were him I probably wouldn't have said anything--after all, it would be my mistake.

I could see us getting takeout from here if it's on the way home. Reasonable prices for solid eats and great portion sizes.

PS This is probably my last post in August. How cray cray is that? That means I've lived in Albany for 9 whole months. An entire human being grew in someone's womb and could be born in the amount of time I've lived in Albany. Actually, one did! Mazel tov to my cousin and her brand new bundle of squish. ::retreats to finish knitting blanket::

Little Anthony's
1095 Central Ave
Albany, NY

Postcard from Cape Cod

2011-08-25T09:00:00.005-04:00

For a lot of people [from Massachusetts], summer = Cape. With great company, delicious eats, and unbelievable weather, I'm starting to agree with them about that equation.

The ladies and I began our weekend at Clancy's. Even though it's now called Chapin's Fish n' Chips, my friend M calls it Clancy's because she refuses to adopt new names, much like the people who attend events at the MCI Center or the Fat Bee Eye Tee Cee H. Regular Clancy's can be distinguished from Fancy Clancy's, which is now Chapin's Restaurant. "Beach Bar" is a bit of an overstatement. You can't see the beach or water from regular Clancy's, but you can eat on a big open deck--good enough for me.

Seen in this photo: M's extremely bright employees-only Sundae School t-shirt, onion rings, and copious amounts of wings, dressed, undressed, spicy, and not spicy. Wings are delicious, whether you eat them on the Cape or alllll the way in Buffalo.

Fish tacos ftw. I'm obsessed. If they aren't fried, I don't want to hear about it.

Big piece of crispy on the outside, melt in your mouth on the inside fish. COD on Cape Cod. Start your trip out right.

I went to Sundae School twice. Maybe three times? Razoreo is a favorite, that's raspberry + oreo, a creation of dear M. But they don't stop there. There are so many flavors, and they change all the time. If you like Oreos, you're in luck. They have Oreo EVERYTHING. Coffee oreo is important, and you should really get down to business and have some.

Steamers and name-labeled butter cups for dinner at home.

Lamar the lobster. Or maybe this was Barry? I'm not sure. He's scary!

If you haven't been to the Cape, find a friend with a parent/grandparent/cousin with a Cape House. Go, swim in the ocean, waterski in a lake, eat fried fish, and have Sundae School once a day at least. Have a great time :)

Credit to Seester for some of these lovely photos. Her real camera is the bomb.

Hattie's

2011-08-22T19:30:00.000-04:00

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SEEEEEEEEESTER! My partner in crime as a paparazzo of delicacies, my Will Travel For Half Marathon T-Shirts buddy, my dear friend who might read this in a few weeks because she's busy having fun, that city slicker.

If you have one night only in Saratoga, you should probably go to Hattie's. It's not fancy, it's delicious, and it's pretty classic Saratoga. When I tweeted out to the world for suggestions for me and my intern on two separate occasions, people were all about Hattie's.

I've never been one to shy away from fried food done right. While my family doesn't eat fast food on a regular basis, we obviously fry Chanukah latkes and indulge in the best of what's fried in the world, which includes, but is not limited to, many fries cooked in duck fat.

When E was in town for a week at the track, we met up at Hattie's to get to the bottom of all these recommendations.

Stop it with the outdoor charm.

Yummy biscuits and cornbread. Has anyone ever made cornbread French toast? They should...today.

Riiiiibs. A little fatty, but enjoyed by all. Not the star, though.

The star! ~~Pabst Blue Ribbon~~ Fried chicken! Hot, meaty, crispy, salty, crunchy fried chicken. In a bucket.

You might have dessert at Hattie's, but if the weather is fair, I encourage you to grab ice cream, gelato, or frozen yogurt somewhere along downtown Saratoga. Go for a stroll--after the fried chicken you will definitely need to stretch your legs and move around a little bit. And hydrate.

I'll definitely be back at Hattie's; not too often, because I want to enjoy what I think they do best. But it's a place to bring out-of-towners and a reliably happy, fun experience.

Hattie's
45 Phila Street
Saratoga Springs, NY

Flatzas and Vegetables

2011-08-11T10:30:00.003-04:00

I haven't been so much on the biweekly CSA updates, but that doesn't mean I haven't chronicled what we got.

I wasn't sure what to do with the cabbage. I couldn't massage it into a salad. But I probably could grill it, which is what I'd been doing with most of our vegetables in the summer heat.

Arthur Bryant-ified chicken, corn, mixed veggies, and the arrowhead cabbage, with a surprise inside. We emailed this photo to our parents with the caption "Nothing Is Safe (From Being Grilled)."

Turkey bacon! Since I love TB and Brussels sprouts, why can't cabbage go the same way? We toothpicked some TB onto the cabbage, grilled it TB side down, then cut it up into a warm salad of charred goodness. It reminded me of a few delicious "grilled Caesar salads" I've had in the past, including one at The Heights in Columbia Heights.

Beets! Onions! Chard! Also, delish lettuce, cherries, broccoli, squash, corn, cucumber, parsley, and cilantro.

Obviously I've been eating grilled veggies straight up. The beets, zucchini, and summer squash are my favorite. But sometimes I hold off and stick them on a pizza. I buy Hannaford's multigrain dough because it is delicious. I'm sure I'm capable of making my own pizza dough, but when it's so cheap and available, and I'm not exactly looking for things to do in my spare time, why not?

Mmmmm. Flatbread. Major freeform. Those yellow tomatoes were the bomb.

Stop, you're being ridiculous.

I know they aren't perfect circles (or squares). They are freeform pizza/flatbread/things that are so delicious yet easy, and they don't make my kitchen a hotbox.

Stretch or roll out the dough to your desired misshapen shape. Put it on the grill for 2-3 minutes. Take off the grill (carefully!), flip over so your grilled side is up. Put on your toppings, and return to the grill. I suggest any combination of thinly sliced and grilled beets, potatoes, zucchini, squash, tomato chunks, goat cheese, turkey bacon, fresh mozzarella, Tofurkey sausage---whatever! Get creative! Or get lazy, and throw a store bought dough on the grill and top it with miscellaneous edibles. However you slice it, it works.

This is from this past Tuesday. Potatoes, more summer squash, peaches, green beans, which btw were delicious a few weeks ago. I trimmed some and took them to the Cape, forgot about them, then was surprised (and delighted) to have them as a snack with onion dip that was definitely not organic/CSA material, but it was Heluva Good. I'm not totally sure what I want to do with the broccoli rabe. Also, I'm a little excessive on potatoes right now - I bought too many sweet potatoes recently (for company) then promptly forgot to cook and serve them. So now I have SPs and regular potatoes that need eatin'....it might be time to actually incorporate the vegetables into recipes, as opposed to eating them raw or lightly seasoned and grilled. Perhaps it's time for African Peanut Soup! I know this fall I'll be digging back into the archives for my fall CSA recipes.

For now I'll keep enjoying the simplicity of summer. Take a beefsteak tomato, slice it, and put some goat cheese on top. Who needs an oven? Who needs a stovetop? Not me.

Eat your veggies, and enjoy your week.

Pangaea Lounge

2011-08-03T09:00:00.001-04:00

After a long day of kayaking and sunbathing, these folks needed some dinner.

Pangaea Lounge in North Bennington had some sweet reviews, so we headed in sans reservation. Unforch we couldn't sit outside on this beautiful night, but we still got to sit within 10 minutes on a Saturday (early) evening.

Note that we are in the Lounge, not Pangaea Restaurant, which is shmancier. It's like Palena Cafe or Bourbon Steak--we do it up right in the Lounge. The menu had a lot of options, with sandwiches, burgers, salads, sides, and a bunch of appetizer or entrees, depending on the size. We decided to choose a la carte from the tasting menu, mostly.

Roasted beet, spinach, squash, and chevre salad. This salad was superb. Recently when J of J&J asked me what year it was, as in "the year of the trail mix" or "the year of the zucchini," I suggested that for us, it's the year of the beet. We've been roasting them up on the grill with their friends every week. SO delicious. Also pictured, less colorfully, is the chilled cucumber asparagus soup. We probably shouldn't have gotten a bowl because the flavor and texture eventually wore on us, but we mostly enjoyed this dish.

Mmmm meat. This burger was really well cooked (as in, medium rare) and the thin potato slice fries were a nice touch.

The star. The diva. The reason why we'll definitely return: gnocchi with peas and basil in a mustard cream sauce. The gnocchi's texture was perfect - it wasn't mushy, it wasn't hard. The flavor of the sauce was uhhhhhhhhhhhh ok, so I might have asked if they would sell it to me by the jar. (They wouldn't.) Go. Eat seasonally, and enjoy the gnocchi.

Pangaea Lounge
1&3 Prospect Street
North Bennington, VT

Fewer Words Friday

2011-07-30T10:00:00.003-04:00

I mentioned it on Twitter and posted a picture on Facebook. I really couldn't get over how fun it was to rent a big boat with 6 other people, eat sandwiches and chips, drink beer, jump off rocks (that's not us, but thank you YouTube for the reference), swim, and tube on Lake George. I thought you needed a special license to drive a motorboat, but it turns out you just need to be awesome like my friend N and zoooooooooooooooom after listening to a dude tell you about the boat for 5 minutes.

The weather was ridiculous. This activity should be scheduled into your near future.

No matter what you do, have a most excellent weekend. I hope in the next few weeks I'll be able to tell you about some delightful meals in Bennington, Cape Cod, and dear old Albany.

this looks remarkably like the fake stock photo when you're waiting for your photos to load in Windows Explorer

Picking at Samascott Orchards

2011-07-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Cherries. Cherries! CHERRIES!!!!! That's how we started loving Samascott.

We brought our own containers, which is earth friendly on both of our parts. You can weigh them on your way on to make sure you're only paying for your fruit. $2/lb. The bomb.

Being supertall is helpful; you can get the high up ones that other people can't reach (unless they have a ladder, which one woman did).

The signage was a little rough - we looked for blueberries on our first trip but couldn't find them. We were a little fried from the sun, so that may have been a factor. Instead we bought some at their market.

My friend the Dirty Radish posted some cherry recipes, but let's face it - I ate all 4 lbs raw...with J's help.

We may go back for blueberries, it depends what's up with the weather and our J+J itinerary :)

Fewer Words Friday

2011-07-15T21:10:00.000-04:00

If you want more words about my delicious seasonal dinner at Ala Shanghai, let me direct you toward the delightful FUSSYlittleORGANIZER and always-charming dining companion Albany Jane. Aaaand Table Hopping. (Our dinner was news.) I hadn't seen Steph since the Tour de Soft Serve, and we had a lot of running talking to do with poor J in between us.

Menu. Drool.

Some explanations.

Smoked fish and astor salad were my favorite from this plate!

Soup dumplings. XLB. Obviously.

beefy soup

Shrimp (not our favorite food) and luffa (very very fun and delicious)

Sliced chicken with snow fungus and celery

Crazy pork belly. I don't care for the glossy fat on top, but I'd make many guests happy if I fork-shredded what's underneath and slapped it on a roll. Sammich heaven. PS, bebeh bok choy.

Diced sea bass in a brown sauce. I loved this dish. It was light, tasty, and the dish never seemed to empty despite the heapings I kept adding to my plate. Very similar in nature to Mary Poppins' bag.

Soft shell crab - not mine or J's favorite, we're just not huge crab/clam/oyster/shrimp/lobster people. We prefer our crab to be in cake form, perhaps incorporated into a benedict.

Chrysanthemum jelly with lychee. Loved. Both the jelly AND the lychee. They look like pearl onions but they are sweet juicy crunchy 'splosions of happy.

Not as few words as I expected. So many memories of deliciousness and good conversation coming back at me...

El Mariachi

2011-07-12T22:05:00.000-04:00

Mmmm margaritas. El Mariachi has come up several times when I've asked about fun drinks and patios, so when my parents were in town on a stunning 80ish degree day that turned into a high 60s/low 70s evening, we knew we had to sit outside. I don't know about you, but I always find that with good service, adult beverages, and outdoor seating it's hard for me not to like something.

El Mariachi had pretty good guacamole, and the salsa that comes with the complimentary chips had a nice kick. I enjoyed the chicken mole (good, but needed to be hotter temperature wise), mom had fajitas, J had steak with onions and garlic, and dad got something with chicken that I don't remember. But he liked it, and that was all that mattered, because we were celebrating his BIRTHDAY!!! Yay! He really didn't want a big to do for his 60th, so he and mom decided to come up to our house for Friday-Sunday, then leave after breakfast to see my sister in Boston until Tuesday. Child touring, they call it.

When we walked in there was a line 3 parties deep to even check in with the hostess. She was running back and forth to seat people, and with existing reservations going on I figured we'd have a huge wait. Nope, we were seated on the patio right away (after waiting 10 minutes while she sat other people and ran around).

Service was great--our saintly waitress was patient with my chatty dad who doesn't like peppers or onions, unless they are well done, in which case onions are okay but not peppers. He doesn't really like picking off a menu, he'd prefer someone tell him what to get. And she did. Thanks! Also, she brought him a very heavy authentic-looking festive sombrero and flan with a candle in it.

You can get margaritas by the pitcher AND by the half pitcher, so if that second pitcher is just a little beyond reach? No worries, you're covered.

El Mariachi
289 Hamilton Street
Albany, NY

Postcard from Portland, Version Brunch

2011-07-05T08:30:00.006-04:00

I know my postcards are usually all in one, but we ate a particularly incredible amount of noteworthy food in the Rose City. This was our first visit to the Pacific Northwest, and we thank our cousins A&S for being awesome, having a delish baby and cuddly dog, and moving to Portland, OR.

Today I bring you Brunch.

First up: Simpatica. The wise cousins wanted to go to Tasty n Sons, but the wait was forever. Don't worry, we went later in the week. Simpatica may have been a backup, but it was just what the doctor ordered after a long (but direct) flight. Please see the exhibits:

The Logger: Chicken-fried bison with sausage gravy, eggs, and potatoes. J is so into the gravy lately. See, e.g. Jake Moon Cafe and Rooster Cafe.

Short rib hash with ramps, radishes, beet greens, fingerling potatoes, spring onions, and eggies. That's me, if you couldn't tell.

Smoked salmon strata with onions, kale, carrots, and the best Hollandaise any of us had ever tasted.

Frittatta with asparagus, speck (smoked prosciutto), chiles, and pecorino romano. We loved every bite of this brunch, and I would definitely recommend it. Would I go back next time I'm in Portland? That's hard to say, because there's still so much we wanted to try but didn't get the chance.

We saw a clip on Unique Eats about the Waffle Window and knew it was a for sure stop for us. They have endless combinations. Dessert, breakfast, snack, whatever it is, you can find it at the Window. We ordered, waited, and sat outside in a sort of parking lot picnic area. The day was impossibly sunny, and we were psyched.

J went sweet---bananas, whipped cream, chocolate sauce. I went savory--brie, bacon and basil. WW is a great place for a snack - you could have a bowl of cereal at 9, go to WW at 10:30, and have lunch at 12 without a problem. It's delicious, affordable, and the variety is super fun.

Pine State Biscuits was on DDD at some point, but we saw it on Unique Eats. Three southern dudes move to Portland and opened a place where you can get it all...on a biscuit.

Sweet tea in a mason jar. Squeeze that lemon, J-love.

Fried chicken, cheese, egg, on a biscuit.

The Reggie: Fried chicken, cheese, bacon, gravy. (That's J.)

There is nothing not to like about Pine State Biscuits. Go for a $4 egg and cheese up, or the $8 Wedgie: fried chicken, fried green tomato, iceberg lettuce, and blue cheese. Get a southern side blackeyed peas, hushpuppies, or collard greens. The service is friendly, the place is tiny (but adorable), and you should definitely stop there if you get the chance.

Remember Tasty n Sons from our first day in Portland? Really long wait (it was Sunday, after all), followed by Simpatica saving the day? Well we couldn't leave it at that. We had to go. The day was Thursday, the wait was none, but somehow there were still a lot of people in that restaurant for a weekday.

It's important to get to know your chocolate potato doughnut. Cut it open. Savor it. Share it with your best friend, because there's a lot more to come.

For example, see the below: Glazed yams, lil' chicken hash, biscuit and eggs...

We really liked everything we had at Tasty's. We had a really hard time narrowing down the menu, so I suggest you go with a group of 3+ to try more stuff. They have small plates and larger plates, and I pretty much wanted to try all of it. We sat at a bar-like area and could see the kitchen prepping. The ingredients were fresh and delicious, and that's what made the food so great. Please don't leave here without eating the glazed yams. They were the last thing we lobbed onto our order, and they were my faaaaavorite.

That's it for brunch in Portland. I hope my memory doesn't dissolve before I get to the other meals...

Have a great week!

Fewer Words Friday

2011-07-01T13:33:00.000-04:00

Some people have an extra day off this weekend. One of those people is J. He sent me this lovely photo this morning; we rode to work together, as per usual, but this time I dropped him off at the start of the bike trail along the Hudson and Mohawk rivers so he could enjoy the sunny morning (which has given way to a mostly cloudy afternoon).

Have a lovely long weekend, and happy birthday USA! Hopefully our electrical issues will eventually be solved, otherwise I'll be blogging on a desktop computer sitting on a coffee table.

CSA, Week 1

2011-06-27T08:00:00.000-04:00

The time has come for spring CSA. We had a one-week delay because of the crazy rain and the hail storm(s?), but now we're on track. On the suggestion of many trustworthy sources and consultation with our share-splitter (coworker LA) we chose Roxbury Farms. Back in the day we had a half share, but no such thing in the Cap Reg. I had a feeling we'd quickly fall behind on our own, so thank goodness for LA. The plan is that we'll pick up every other week, and she the same. If we have an insane amount of something that we think will just go bad, we'll share even when it's "our week," because we're nice like that.

Week 1:

- Lettuce lettuce lettuce! Salad mix and a beautiful head of red lettuce.
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Zucchini
- Summer squash
- Garlic scapes
- Kale
- Herbs! We grabbed basil and parsley, and we have more growing on the porch :)

I'm thinking kale chips, although at first attempt I found them tasty but too thin. They were like paper that crumbled in my hand or just disintegrated on my tongue. Another option is a kale and chickpea or white bean soup; I've seen a lot of similar recipes floating around, and it won't be too heavy for our current weather.

Last night I sauteed up some scapes, squash, zucchini (aren't they also squash?), and spinach and threw them into a giant pasta salad with torn basil. It's basically my favorite non-winter food. Can't wait until tomatoes are really happening. Add some grilled tofu or sliced up Tofurkey sausage and you have a protein, vegetable, grain, and lunch is READY. You can even make mini turkey meatballs and throw them in (we did). Eat it cold (we do), or eat it hot (also we do that). Put it on your salad. Make it with brown rice pasta for a gluten free version.

The bok choy may turn into a variation on my aunt's family's awesome salad, or maybe a big stir fry.

Supplementing our veggies were the spoils from our strawberry picking at Indian Ladder. For the first time in my picking history, we were asked to pay before we picked. OK! Whatever!

We even liked the deformed ones.

Mile End

2011-06-20T08:00:00.002-04:00

Mile End: A Montreal-Style Jewish Delicatessen in Brooklyn. Sounds like a book title. The inside jacket would read: mmm smoked meat nom nom nom nomz.

[washed out hipster pic. aka it was very sunny.]

I saw Mile End on Unique Eats not long after my trip to Montreal, and L obviously had already tried some of their food at a local festival.

This place was petite. Expected for New York, I know, but I didn't know the tables were perpendicular to the wall and were meant to sit 4, so we squeezed 6 there and put mom and dad in the two-seater right behind us. I had my back to them, not so nice, but they were busy chompin' up delightful smoked meat hash. I loved the feel of the inside--wooden tables, chalkboards, the subway tile, the hockey pictures in the bathroom--all of it!

I knew before our arrival, but others were surprised--you cannot get smoked meat before noon unless you get the smoked meat hash. No sandwiches, no pile of meat (ahem, remember Schwartz's?). Next time, FIL! I'm with them, I want to go back for a sandwich. Not a problem. When are you free?

The smoked meat hash looks good, doesn't it? It was. Well-done, and that's not only a compliment, I mean crispy and crunchy. The way I like it (and my mom, and my grandma, and everyone else in my family with the burned lovin'). My only criticism is that I wish there was more meat and fewer potatoes. It wasn't totally out of whack, and granted I was starving for more protein, but it would have made a noticeable difference in my book.

I also got a bagel (imported from Montreal's St. Viateur) to see what the fuss is about. I didn't notice a particular sweetness, but indeed it was smaller and denser than the typical NY bagel. It was too crazy--maybe because I lived in places with weird smaller bagels for a while and ate them anyway?

The strawberry jammy preserve was good, but the chunks of strawberry were big, and it was difficult to actually cut it to spread some on my bagel. Highbrow problems.

J's onion, greens, and salami scramble situation. Mile End serves Boylan's sodas AND iced coffee (yay), and they have an olive oil type dispenser for simple syrup. Love it.

AG had a special: egg in a hole (a hole in challah, by the by) topped with greens and crispy chicken skin pieces. I didn't get particular details on how she liked this, but the plate, like mine (and J's, etc) was clean. It looked delicious. If smoked meat hash wasn't an option, the special would be for me.

In all, 5 of us got smoked meat hash, and the only unpictured item is Grandma's delightful whitefish salad and bagel platter. The whitefish salad was fresh, full of herbs and a citrus squeeze. It was light and refreshing, everything I definitely did not want that morning--GIVE ME MORE MEEEEAAAAAT.

Fewer Words Friday

2011-06-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

Read words here, where my bloggy-friend Tori, aka The Shiksa in the Kitchen, has written about my grandmother's sour cream twists. They are, hands down, my favorite homemade family treat. I don't make them that often because they are somewhat time-consuming compared to her mandel, and, unlike with mandel, J doesn't think they can substitute every meal of the day. Which means I eat most of them myself. Muahahahahaaa.

Have a great weekend! I'm meeting my cousin's brand new baby tonight, just 5 days old. CAN'T WAIT!

Last Midwestern Postcard (For Now)

2011-06-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

I don't usually stretch our trips into a zillion posts, but we just ate too many damn photogenic dishes to squeeze them all in. And I have to tell you about one of the best breakfasts I have had in a very long time.

When I eat somewhere that is seemingly in the middle of nowhere (sorry, places I'm talking about) and it is amazing and I want to hitch it to my rental car and bring it wherever I go next, I'm always surprised. Whether it's a cafe outside Zion National Park, or, in this case, a place called Cafe Berlin in Columbia, Missouri. Columbia, home of Mizzou, is basically smack in between St. Louis and Kansas City. Also known as: the PERFECT place to have breakfast before getting back to STL for our flight.

It doesn't look like too much from the outside--little strip mall, parking lot, interesting color choice, and...er...the font.

Inside it's all earthy and crunchy, complete with all kinds of characters (including us). It has charm (local art, and it's a venue for local entertainment), wit (after the beer list is a listing for a "suicide," aka a lil' of each, which you can order), but most importantly, the food is delicious. DELICIOUS.

Once again, for the third time in the state of Missouri, I read the words "Breakfast All Day." Those sweet (yet savory) words.

I managed to claw myself away from over easy eggs on this day. I pretty much wanted everything on this menu, but I decided on the Carey Burrito--scrambled eggs, feta, roasted potatoes, cilantro, and apples served with tzatziki. Sweet, salty, crunchy, hot, cold, omg I can't deal.

Look at the browning on those potatoes!

J also went burrito--he had the straight up Breakfast Burrito with eggs, cheddar, sausage, potatoes, and guac for an extra buck because he's wild like that.

I'm not sure when you'll be in the middle of Missouri next. But if you're 17 and applying to schools, this may be a good enough reason to apply to Mizzou. (The admissions office hasn't paid me.)

Postcard from Kansas City

2011-06-06T08:00:00.002-04:00

We live by certain rules. One is this: if you are or will be in driving distance of a city with an MLB team, you should try to plan your trip such that the team will be playing at home during your visit. And that's how we ended up in Kansas City on a recent visit to St. Louis. After being sure to stand in both Missouri and Illinois over on the east side of the state, we headed to Kansas City and promptly planted our feet in Kansas.

Our first stop in KC was Arthur Bryant's.

Arthur Bryant served up the best barbecue I've ever had. The burnt ends brisket sandwich (open-faced) was more than enough for J and I to share on our particular outing. We'd stopped at Panera off the highway (boring! But fun fact, closer to St. Louis it's called the St. Louis Bread Company) for breakfast, and we were having an early, pre-Royals game dinner, so that's why we had to share. There is only room for so many many meals per day, unforch.

This place was hopping on a weekday lunch hour. You wait in line, order, pay, then sit. They've got sauces for sale, but don't worry, you can buy online if you're not checking your bag (or are afraid of sauced clothes). We had yummy (read: worth it) fries with our deeelectable slightly sweet, slightly spicy, tangy sauced brisket. Everything I love in life: barbecue sauce, brisket (and burnt ends at that), and my main squeeze (bottle of sauce).

Look at it up there, all understated on its white bread.

Dinner was a different adventure. I had thought about making a reservation at Bluestem, with its chef all fancy and nominated for a James Beard for Best Chef - Midwest. But then I looked at Yelp and the menu. We figured we'd do the $60 three course option, but then on Yelp the lounge happy hour offerings were all the rage. Sixty smackers for three courses just didn't seem like a good deal when we could pay less than that for a whole dinner for two. And I didn't want to be too late to the game, but I wouldn't want to rush a drawn out expensive meal.

So we lounged it (again), and I'm glad we did. First we enjoyed some honey roasted spiced nuts that J is still talking about. It can be seen below with my wheat beer/ginger beer/limoncello situation.

Hangar steak was on the lounge menu for $14. Cooked sous vide in an extremely generous portion and served with chimichurri sauce and amazing (once again: worth it) fries, this baby clocked in at $7 because it was half off for happy hour (which lasts until 7). OK, maybe the 3-course would have had an amouse bouche, and a little plate of treats at the end, and a sauteed this or pureed that alongside the steak instead of frites, but $7?!?!? I'll write it out. SEVEN DOLLARS?!?!? Incredible food for that price. At $14 it would have been a steal. Look at the portion.

Then there was the pulled pork barbecue sandwich. The same ridonculous fries on the side, a ginger slaw that was refreshing and bright (I'd add more ginger...obviously). The only disappointment on the plate was the pickle. It just wasn't my type.

I can, without reservations (literally), absolutely recommend the Bluestem lounge. You don't need to spend a lot of money to have delicious, carefully prepared food in generous portions. The service was really friendly, everyone around us seemed to be having a great time, and there's a hilarious truck/wagon that looks like a sandwich parked at the joint across the street.

I highly recommend KC if you are nearby. The lovely, shiny,spacious Nelson-Atkins museum is somehow free, and the nearby gardens are lovely.

Game time, and we out.

Birthday Weekday Evening @ NWBB

2011-05-31T08:15:00.007-04:00

I hope you had a lovely Memorial Day weekend! Even more so, I hope you extended it (like we did).

Speaking of celebrating, we at Cap2Cap celebrated BOTH of our birthdays this spring (early and late) at New World. We love N. Dubz.--it's not that there are never any misses, but I'd argue that the clear majority of dishes hit the mark and some are simply divine. Plus all the local, seasonal, organic, etc stuff that I like AND servers who are knowledgeable and seemingly excited about aforementioned zazz. I learned a bit about how they source their salmon! [Also: we can walk there. Let's be honest for a second about how big of a factor this is.]

We started with an okay, probably-not-worth-$10 appetizer: the duck prosciutto bruschette. I easily peeled the fat off mine, since I didn't really understand why it was there. I'd prefer just the crispy duck part! The duck prosciutto itself was dark and salty and had a good bite, and the fig jam was fun, but I felt like it all could have been put together differently. The bruschette situation wasn't best. Let's be honest, I just want to crunch that duck all over a giant salad and dollop the fig jam on it. J wished we had gotten the blackened green beans instead; they are famed.

Now on to DELICIOUS, totally on the mark: Thai Italian Love - Panang curry bolognese. Look at that papardelle! A little spicy, but the heat kept me on my toes. It wasn't overwhelming, and it didn't last very long on my tongue. I could move on and enjoy myself. I want this again today right now.

J had a special, the South Indian Fish Fry, which was light (I know, for fried fish!) and tasty, with some friendly veggies and a bright sauce of mild yellow curry.

New World Bistro Bar
300 Delaware Avenue
Albany, NY

We skipped dessert because I hustled my booty over to Cheesecake Machismo after work before carpooling home with the birthday gentleman. I proceeded to take the menu I nabbed out of my pocket right in front of him once we got home...I'm smooth.

Cookies and Cream and Smoked 'Smore.I reallllly liked the 'smore situation, but J felt like one bite was enough. He didn't dig the char flavor, he said "I don't want to feel like I'm eating a fire." To me it was like eating a super toasted marshmallow, one that has been charred. AND I LIKED IT. Different strokes, etc.

They have no web site. I usually am against this, but meh Facebook, they are a dessert place, I'll let it slide this time. Also, their name is basically amazing.

Cheesecake Machismo
293 Hamilton St
Albany, NY

Fewer Words Friday

2011-05-27T17:00:00.004-04:00

I want to wish you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. In most parts of the east coast it looks like it'll be gooorgeous. Beach! Beach! Beach!

Today I bring you photos of a brunch from the past that escaped publication. In short: I liked it, I'd go back, I'd recommend it. Look at that popover (with strawberry butter).

Blurry CBH with scrambled eggs. L was obviously my dining companion. Not quite Good Enough to Eat, but a solid, adorable brunch.

Postcard from St. Louis

2011-05-23T07:59:00.001-04:00

I asked you all a while back about St. Louis, remember? We visited my dear baby cousin (who beeteedubs is almost 20), watched some baseball, checked out some Arch, and ate a ton of delicious food.

First up: Breakfast. Always. Boosters on the Delmar Loop (hehe, Delmar is near where we live now!) had the quick, inexpensive breakfast we needed before heading to campus.

Egg sandwich with big fat juicy grape trio? Pumpkin pancakes? Check and check. Delicious, simple, friendly, and inexpensive. Serve your own coffee and make your own milk and sweetening experience.

So there's actually a block or two (or three?) that has Thai this and Thai that, all owned by the same people. We stopped at Thai Pizza for a quick lunch, and I was pleasantly surprised. It was kind of cool and misty out, and pizza fell out of favor with me while giant plate of pad see ew was definitely in.

Yum. Easy, fast, convenient, and exactly what I needed on this day. If I were a student I'd go back often, and on days where I wasn't totally famished (as I was on this day) I'd eat 1/3 of it cold late at night.

You MUST use Facebook for all it is worth. And by that I mean staying in touch with old friends and knowing where they live. That way you can visit with them (and eat with them). We did just that at Pappy's Smokehouse. If it's a weekend (or any day, really), remember that they close at 8pm or when they run out of food--whichever happens first. Apparently on a Saturday this can be mid-afternoon. You're warned!

Delicious corn, sweet potato fries with cinnamon and sugar, ribs, sweet n' saucy pulled pork, and bare as a baby's bottom sliced brisket. They were out of chicken and turkey when we got there; you know we'd have preferred to try everything they have. Peppery green beans and refreshing crunchy slaw round out our haul. Pappy's is a blast. It's the kind of place you want to go to with good friends, and you want to laugh, eat, wipe your hands (a lot), and leave in a drunken state of food coma happiness. I'd say the ribs were the biggest hit at our table. The corn and sweet potato fries were also somewhat ridiculous.

We visited two frozen custard establishments, and one was the famous (maybe?) Ted Drewes, home of the concrete--it's like a Blizzard, a Blend-In, you know the drill. But here they turn your cup upside down with the spoon in it to prove how stuck in there your custard is. This made me nervous, obviously. It's delicious, it's frozen, it's happy, and I'd have it again 7x per week, whether once per day or twice some days and others off. J enjoyed the classic chocolate/vanilla twist, while I got crazy with the concrete with raspberries, hot fudge, and macadamia nuts. Next time I'd get a concrete without hot fudge (which obviously changes the consistency), and I'd remember that macs are perhaps my least favorite nut. Sidenote, a few of their locations are kosher.

Last breakfast time....

We rose early to get to the Arch, walk around a downtown garden, and take some pictures. What a gorgeous day.

Rooster was plum adorable, from the freshly cut flowers in the mason jar vases to the clear hot bevvie mugs.

My plate isn't colorful (and the globs are unfortunate), but the taste was delicious. Goat cheese, mushrooms, oven-dried tomatoes in a crepe. Word.

J had the Rooster Slinger--andouille sausage, potatoes, eggs, and sausage gravy over maybe the thickest toast I've seen ever. This thing is not joking. This is not a test.

Beyond the friendly and helpful service, delicious food, and sweet overall vibe, one of my favorite things about Rooster is that it is open 7 (seven) days a week and serves breakfast all day (all day. ALL DAY). Breakfast All Day. Also seen in other places as Breakfast: Served All Day. Music to my ears.

Fly, do not walk or drive (at least not from ALB or DC) to St. Louis. You can get there on Southwest and get sassed on your way. Catch a ballgame, take a tour of the Budweiser factory (it's a lot like Wonka), and walk around some of the beautiful tree-lined streets with unbelievable homes. And eat breakfast (all day).

Things That Make Ya Go Mmmm

2011-05-20T16:00:00.006-04:00

SIL (NYC) sent me a picture of her lunch today, from the Korilla truck - Korean BBQ burritos!! She said it was delicious, but the line was long. The burrito wasn't too big, so no food coma. $7.

me: what's in it?
her: braised short ribs, kimchi, rice, and some awesome sauce

me: haha awesome sauce

J & I met for outdoor lunch at Victory Cafe. I like Victory (particularly the rotating lunch specials), but our food took FOREVER. 25 minutes. Which is a long time for weekday lunch. I made a few jokes about the possible origin of the protein in my wrap causing the delay.

Addictive Enchiladas, Etc

2011-05-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

Don't let this week's weather get you down. If we have to stay inside, we might as well do something. Cook something. Watch bread rise.

I was reminded recently by this post about the stages of learning to cook. I'm in a place where for new things that I'm scared of (especially meat-related) I slavishly follow the recipe, at least with the cooking technique (time, temperature, vessel). But when it comes to just about everything else I tend to experiment. I'm not saying it always turns out well--we've had a few dinners where instead of dessert, we end up pouring massive bowls of cereal to make up for the rest of the food we don't want to eat. Still, the majority of our dinners include tossing in whatever is around to make a meaty, vegetable-y, saucy bowl of yum. J has been overheard to say "Why do you always want to put fruit in anything?" You could also replace the word "fruit" with "frozen spinach."

This week's example is enchiladas. I'd only made enchiladas twice before, and both times I followed this recipe from CSK--the second time I took some liberty and replaced the squash with sweet potatoes.

This week we used what we had - whole wheat tortillas, ground turkey, one jar of TJ salsa verde, one jar of TJ regular red salsa, lots of shredded cheese, black beans, and tomatoes (canned diced, drained). We laid down some salsa verde in a 9 x 13, made little burrito-like tortillas of the turkey (browned), cheese, beans, and tomatoes, got them all snug as a bug in a rug together, then covered in the rest of both salsas and cheese. It was gooey and delicious. I probably could have pulled a CSK and added some beer to the salsa to give it the liquid it needed without all the zazz of salsa, but I didn't have any beer I wanted to see in the oven.

Next up: pancakes. I probably haven't made pancakes in 5 years, at least. You know I prefer eggs any day, with the occasional pancake or French toast slice on the side. But this week was J's birthday, and I thought it would be nice if after he got back from his 34 mile bike ride the man could have some homemade pancakes.

[Yeah, that's real maple syrup. Local, too! Eat your heart out, people from places other than here. Other items pictured include Jake Moon apple butter, hummus (served with cucumber, not pancakes, gross!) and strawberry jam that got ignored in favor for the aforementioned apple butter.]

I used this recipe from Martha Stewart. I used skim milk, white whole wheat flour, and I sprayed Pam on the pan between pancake batches instead of butter (really, Martha!). Also, the batter wasn't wowing me, so I mixed in a spoonful of Nutella. I tend to do that. It always works. These pancakes were super easy and quick, and they made the house smell delicious for the whole day.

This weekend was our first one at home without visitors in quite a while. We've been and will continue to travel or host almost every weekend--no complaints here, though. I am so grateful for our friends and family descending upon Albany, and I loooove heading out of town to see them and eat eggs in other states. We'll tell you all about it soon. I hope you had a great weekend!

Jake Moon Cafe

2011-04-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

I've mentioned Jake Moon before--and Sean was all, What's Up With That? TJP suggested it back in my Miss Albany post, and J and I realized it's really not that far, and is on the way to Thacher Park.

On a beautiful morning we first gave out water halfway through the Delmar Dash, then we ran our own little Albany Dash before washing up for brunch with D. When people from DC or NJ ask me what living in Albany is like, after I tell them how my rent payments were slashed (HAPPY FACE) and how little traffic there is (GIGANTIC SMILE), I always tell them how it gets rural fast. I leave Albany on Delaware Ave, I'm in Delmar in bebeh suburbia, then bam. Hills, views of mountains, open fields, horses, a goat staring at me on the side of the road, you name it.

Jake Moon serves breakfast all day. You know how I feel about that. They also have lunch, dinner, catering, and by the by, if you yak on to the waitress about how much you love the apply butter, she'll happily jar some up for you for less than $5.

First up is local cider. I didn't ask whether it would be hot or cold, because I didn't care. I wanted it either way! It was hot, served with a cinnamon stick. Delicious.

I had the Red Flannel Hash - sirloin beef, roasted beets, corn, onions, potato, poached eggs, and sourdough toast. My dining companions commented that it almost looked like chunky-style chili! It was very good, but I think next time I'll try the corned beef hash. The sourdough bread rocks, but I sort of wanted half sourdough toast and half cinnamon raisin.

J had sausage gravy and biscuits with over easy eggs and potatoes--the SOS. He was feeling happy and somewhat southern.

D had the Bennet Hill scramble, with smoked Gouda, wild mushrooms, and herbs. She's such a sweet friend that she let me have a bite--let me tell you, this kitchen knows how to make an egg. How many meh omelets have I had recently? (Hint: too many.) The gouda was awesome; when a dish has real flavor, you know it's composed of quality ingredients.
The place is full of charm, friendly service, delicious food, and apple butter that you want to bathe in. Or maybe just I want to bathe in the apple butter; I really shouldn't put stuff like that on you.

This is the orange marmalade, which, while more pleasing to the eye, is outdone in nom-ability by the apple butter.

We didn't have any 'zerts, but maybe next time we will, just to round out the experience.

Jake Moon Cafe
2082 Delaware Turnpike
Clarksville, NY

Passover 2011 and the Weekend of Feasts

2011-04-25T08:45:00.003-04:00

How do you know it's Passover? Well, I've literally used about 40 eggs in the past week.

Sidenote, eleven of those eggs were from Stewart's, which has the cutest sign: "Want fresher eggs? Buy a chicken." Maybe people will!

So it's not really a secret that I love hosting Passover. In 2009 and 2010 you may or may not have been one of the 15-20 people crammed at my makeshift dining room table in the DC area. You may or may not have your own little green smiling rubber frog "plague" that my mom gave you.

Last year my family decided that with the "real" seder nights on weekdays, we'd convene as a fam, original 4 + grandma + 2 husbands, on a weekend that falls during the holiday. Last year in Boston, next year in ~~Jerusalem~~ Albany!

A lot of the usual suspects reappeared--I admit this is somewhat lazy, but I have it on good authority from WaffleW that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Duet of charoset, always--tradish with apples, wine, nuts (this year, pecans), some honey, and some ginger snow (I have Rachael Ray to thank for that tip, love 'er or not); second is Sephardic charoset like my grandma's, with wine, stewed dates, and orange zest.
Chicken soup with matzah balls--my dad makes the chicken soup with a whole chicken in the pressure cooker, then he picks off the meat for the soup and we add J's matzah balls. If you're not feeling well, one bowl of this is sure to cure you.
Salad (spinach, radishes, peppers, cucumber, nothing crazy)
Gefilte fish--not from a jar, but frozen then boiled or baked. With lots of red horseradish
Roasted eggplant spread--I roast it with garlic for 45 minutes at 400, either whole and punctured or cut in half and face down, scoop the insides into a bowl, mash/stir with fork or pulse with an immersion blender, squeeze a lemon in it, and add salt & pepper. Ta da! My sister didn't like the way it looked, but I don't care because I like the way it tastes!
Brisket
Tzimmes Souffle--J enjoyed Saturday's version more than Monday (we brought it as guests) because there was less pineapple. Other people only liked on Monday because it tasted like pineapple (and not carrot). My grandma does not like "cooked carrots" (whatever), but she liked this. It tastes more like carrot cake and cornbread had a baby, and I make it every year.
Roasted root vegetables--yum, great leftovers, and with the above made my table quite orange. Olive oil, thyme, salt and pepper did the trick.
Chocolate drop cookies--straight from the freezer, to die for as per yuzh.
Chocolate chip mandelbreit
Macaroons

Date charoset doesn't look like much (after all, it's basically brown), but it is amaaaaazing. See also, most of a seder plate's components. For a beautiful background on Passover, check out The Shiksa's explanations from last year. Or you can Google it. <--seriously, watch this video, it's uber cute and has some dayenu in the background.

Sister desperately clings to the hope that after this seemingly last bite, there will be another.

The next morning we somehow were hungry again. I made two frittata-type situations--one matzah brei (eggs, crumbled matzah, cinnamon & sugar), and one with leftover root vegetables, cheese, and spinach. Served with salad, whitefish salad, lox, charoset, matzah, and coffee, this was a brunch table to die for, and we put it together in no time at all.

Then, although it's not seasonally appropriate, we put a pumpkin baby hat on my dog niece.

Happy holidays, if you're celebrating, and if not, happy it-was-sunny-this-morning (always a reason to celebrate)!

Personal Responses To Your Keyword Searches

2011-04-22T08:00:00.000-04:00

But first, the making of a maple syrup ice treat:

Obviously imagine that little boy has eyes as wide as saucers. Also: me.

Anyway, I don't pay much attention to my Google Analytics because I don't have ads (and I don't make money off of this blog...just joy). But I do get a kick out of looking at GA every few months. I love that the majority of new visitors were searching around to see what the heck they are going to feed their hungry Gryffindorian children in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter--it is consistently a top-5 most viewed post, in basically every time period imaginable since I hit "publish." Mmmm, butterbeer.

Along with the map of visitors (WHAT IS UP, Norway?!) is fun to see the search terms that bring people right here. I search for the most random things all the time (or, mostly for [store] + "coupon" "code" "free shipping" or "promo"), and I hope some of my antics bring another analytics peruser some laughs.

"the one burger you must have before you die" I'm glad you searched that and found me. But let me assure you that although I favor the shake of the month sometimes, I prefer Ray's to BGR.

"chicken and waffle on a stick" I like you.

"is injera kosher for passover" and many iterations of the same question. I doubt it, but ask your rabbi!

"high cotton" "duck hash" Go. Now. I'm jealous of you for going now.

"be at a real sedar online" I love technology, but if you haven't been invited to a seder, host one! Your friends, Jewish and non, will love it! I do know a place for bar mitzvah lessons online though...

"can i walk to art and soul from union station" ABSOLUTELY. Also see Metro for directions via public transportation and walking! Or, in the alternative, Google maps! It helps me a lot, I'd be lost without it.

"directions to ray's hellburger from metro" We've been through this a few times, and I've given some smart-alecky talking-tos to people who claim it's not Metro-accessible. (Sorry if you live in the Capital Region and could not care less.) The deal is if you get out at Rosslyn you have to walk uphill on the way there (sad panda). I'd prefer to get out at Courthouse and walk downhill. It's less than half a mile, and if you live in the city and are urban and walk everywhere with your reusable shopping bag just in case you happen upon a farmer's market, you can do it! Driving there can be a hassle because that parking lot is minuscule and always full.

Have a lovely weekend everyone. Search hilariously.

Postcard from Montreal

2011-04-19T22:14:00.002-04:00

36 Hours in Montreal? I had more like 27 hours (not to be confused with 127 hours, also known as almost 32 days). When my sister said she'd be at a big conference just 4 hours up the road, I jumped at the chance to share the weekend with her. The ride up took just under 5 hours because I was quite delayed at the border. The lines didn't look long, but it took forever. I zoomed back (with no wait at the USA gate) in 4 hours with one short stop. (And no tolls. Can you believe that, everyone?)

I've heard tons about Montreal bagels (even in 1987, when I was really too young to be thinking about it). But I just didn't have time to eat one on this trip. I know we'll be back this summer, but if I can't wait until then, I may just need to go to Mile End in Brooklyn (a Montreal-style Jewish deli that imports the bagels and smokes the meat in-house).

Naturally, after parking the car, my first stop was Schwartz's. The long line outside scared me a little, but it turns out that's for the restaurant. Anyone can walk in and order at a counter, then either take out or head to the back where there are some tables and stools. I won't lie, it was hot in there. Besides the obvious reason (hi, they are smoking meat all up in there), I think it was hot inside a lot of places in Montreal because it was the first warmer day in quite a while after a long, cold winter. I had the smoked meat sandwich, $5.90. I didn't make any specifications (I think someone behind me ordered "lean"), and it arrived with a little mustard on rye. It was delicious, and it smelled like heaven.

By the time I arrived, Sister had already had French food several times, abysmal conference fare, and tapas. When we finally headed out to dinner we didn't feel like waiting too long for our dishes. Yelp led us to some options for pollo a la brasa, often referred to as "Peruvian chicken" (although in Montreal one place explicitly said "Portuguese"). I remembered the drill from the good old days in Arlington at El Pollo Rico or Super Pollo, and I figured for a low price Sis and I would be chowing down on 1/4 or 1/2 a chicken and some sides. That's exactly what happened. We had super juicy tender chicken, potatoes, and decent slaw at Coco Rico. We tried Romado's first, but they close at 8pm--we arrived a little later, and they were actually out of chicken. We grabbed some pastries from Presse Cafe on our way back to the hotel, which we served ourselves with tea from the lobby (because nearly every day of my life ends with a hot beverage). The ginormo biscotti was dipped in delish white chocolate on one end and regular ol' chocolate on the other. Sister happily guessed correctly that the danishy-twisty friend had apple in the middle.

Is there anything like Diet Coke in a can? So what if it'll kill me? Not if something else does first.

Sweet industrial decor.

Now on to the main event. You and I both know what I was really looking forward to--brunch. The fruit of the hen. My favorite.

I read around on Yelp and elsewhere and decided we should go to Le Cartet. We waited about 15 minutes, but we used that time wisely in their little shop. You could definitely do some damage getting takeout and boxed/preserve treats for a picnic. I stocked up on some made-in-Quebec treats for my best buddy back home, and obviously got a blueberry and chocolate spread that I finished alone in two short workweeks.

Lots of choices here for brunch--you could get anything from a pastry to an enormous plate with many things on it, and every option in between. We opted for enormous plates with everything on them. Sister had the Brunch de L'Atlantique: Eggs with smoked salmon (or lox, right Em?), half a bagel with all the typical accoutrements, greens, a little sweet potato and salmon cake, and fruit. They weren't kidding about the salmon, I know.

I went for the Brunch de Sante: yogurt with granola and blueberries, poached eggs on greens, and grilled bread, cheddar sticks, and a fig. And it came with coffee and juice, all for $15. I highly recommend you go there and try it. Illy coffee. Luv.

Sigh, home sweet home. For now.

Juicy Burger

2011-04-13T08:30:00.002-04:00

Juicy Burger had a decent burger. I liked their bun, the portion was reasonable, and the price is right. I'll take it over Five Guys any day. It was equivalent to (though less expensive than) the one we had at the bar at New World. They even have sweet potato fries!! I heard from a little bird that if I ask for it to be between red and pink it'll be that way--just "pink" by their standards is a bit too done for my liking.

I'm trying my best, you guys. But I've been spoiled--I found the ideal burger for me (admittedly, not for everyone), and now it's all I want. It's my gold standard, and pretty much nothing else can compare. Not Rare, not 5 Napkin, not Palena (though many people dig that). The bun at JB was tasty, and they have some salads if greenery is your kind of thing.

Juicy Burger
5 New Karner Road
Guilderland, NY
(Also in Ballston Spa)

Van's Vietnamese

2011-04-11T08:30:00.000-04:00

I'll break it down for ya: Enormous portions. Very friendly service. Jam-packed by 7pm on a Friday night. Room for a few more tables but does not put them there (not sure if it's for fire code/zoning reasons or for my comfort, but I'll pretend it's for my comfort and for that I say THANK YOU). Tasty food. That, in a nutshell, is Van's Vietnamese.

Granted, we have not tried their pho yet. We recently lived near one of the most hyped up pho places of my knowledge, Pho 75 in Arlington.

Crispy vegetarian spring rolls, crispy duck, and lemongrass chicken. I'm pretty sure they gave me an entire chicken, or more. This meal was dinner, dinner again (+ new rice made at home), and then part of my lunch. The quantity here is out of control.

I'm looking forward to trying the pho and other dishes recommended by happy diners. You just have to hope that you like what you get; you know, since it'll be enough for three to five meals.

Van's Vietnamese
307 Central Ave

Albany, NY

Karavalli

2011-04-04T08:30:00.004-04:00

One of my coworkers goes to Karavalli once a week. Some people might find this mundane and redundant, but let me be clear: he often switches it up by alternately visiting the Saratoga location and then back to Latham, closer to where we live.

I really can't blame him. It's just so good. The portions are enormous, you feed yourself and then some with leftovers to bring back the good memories at a later date, and the service is prompt and friendly. The place is always busy, humming with a good energy that just makes you feel glad. Maybe it's the blue "sky"?

If you've been around a while, you know we love Indian. Upscale modern Indian from Rasika, cheap takeout from Delhi Dhaba, sit-down traditional from Delhi Club, or crazy colors pizzazz at Tandoori Nights. We haven't met much Indian cuisine that we don't like, but we had high hopes at our new digs. And the menu had some items we'd never seen before--apps go well beyond the typical samosas and pakoras. Let's discuss below.

Mmm giant beer + buttery naan. J's pale hand cannot wait to spoon some palak.

Above you'll find Bhel Poori, a typical chaat or snack. Rice puffs, chopped onion, potato, coriander leaves, and tamarind. It's odd how they left out how it's made with crack, but clearly there's an addictive substance in it. I shovel it first to my plate, then quickly (really, before it really arrives) into my mouth as if a famine is going to set in at any moment. I'm like Katniss when she first leaves District 12--insatiable, despite the bounty before me.

Crispy tamarind eggplant with a similar flavor profile to the bhel poori, but with yogurt, too.

Lamb korma. Delightful, but not as favorite in my heart as the apps.

A rock solid palak paneer. The tandoori chicken was also a delight. Seriously, one appetizer + two entrees + naan and you'll still have leftovers. Which means if you're us and you get two apps + two entrees + naan you won't have to cook dinner the next day, which is nice.

Our current obsessions with Karavalli and Ala Shanghai (rainbow shredded chicken WHAT'S UP) make me super meh about going to a random Italian or new Americanish place on our hypothetical list. Why pay $20ish per entree for something that might be good when I can have 6 soup dumplings for $4, and delicious entrees with guaranteed fab flavors (and leftovers) for $10-12? Recently it's been Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Chinese, repeat. It kinda makes me want to move to Latham.

Karavalli
9B Johnson Road
Latham, NY (add'l locations in Saratoga)

Food Happenings Around Town

2011-03-28T08:30:00.001-04:00

[It looks like it's warm enough to eat lunch outside, but really it wasn't. Yet. Bonus: the top of the river defrosted.]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE! Take a sip of iced coffee and say hello to Monday morning. Whew....we're rolling into busy season, and I don't just mean for work. We've got travels, challenges, epic journeys, and food events coming.

Here's what's on my local events calendar for the next month-ish--I can't make them all, but you should try.*

4/2: Glens Falls Brewfest
4/3: Jewish Food Festival. See also, FLB, HVGS, TU**
4/9: Tour de Soft Serve
4/30-5/1: Tap NY Craft Beer & Fine Food Festival
5/7: Tulip Festival (OK, you can't eat them, but hopefully it'll be warm and toasty for tulips + brunch).

What else should be on the calendar? Whatcha got? Also, Montreal is quickly approaching--any last minute tips?

*No one gave me anything (free tickets, hugs, ice cream cones, dollar billz) to mention these events. One person did ask me nicely, though.
**I was told there would be challah. Hence the bold and asterisk.

Creo

2011-03-23T11:00:00.008-04:00

Brrrrrrrrunch! Yay! We recently had a shmancy brunch at Creo and it was divine. What makes Creo shmancy in my opinion is its cool copper-y tables, open kitchen, modern decor, large space, careful service/plating (including cleaning shmears off of the outside of the plate), aaaand the fact that we didn't wait in a crowded vestibule for 40 minutes. In fact, we made a reservation on this new-fangled city slicker contraption called OpenTable.

Look at the size of that coffee cup. And that cute little mini muffin - there were 3 in a basket that was meant to hold 10. I appreciate free food, regardless of its presentation.

I faced the pretty open kitchen and the hottt pizza oven while J faced the rest of the cavernous restaurant.

Look at that monster. It's freshly cut roast beef (think more like sliced prime rib than the deli stuff), tomatoes, over easy eggs, crispy prosciutto, and Swiss. It's insane. That bread is toasted ciabatta, by the by. It's innocuous name is "egg sandwich," but really it is so much more. It may be one of the most ridonculous brunch item I've ever enjoyed, along with the likes of the ropa bennie at New World or the brisket hash in Austin. But, it's a close call, and NWBB is way closer to our digs. Walking distance in a town where walking is practically verboten.

Another angle, half eaten. Seriously, with the sauce and the egg yolk making friends with the crispy bread...

J had a slice of charred bread with his duck confit hash and poached eggs. His hash a little more shine than Ii'd like, and I wasn't really getting much duck. There was a vaguely Asian flavor to it that I enjoyed in my few bites, but it seemed too potato-y to me. I'm such a hater these days (of potatoes). J agreed that I had clearly won in the Battle of the Order, even though his sounded superb on paper.

We'll be back to Creo. Even if it's for drinks and apps--the bar is nice, and it's away from the main dining room (which probably makes weekday dinners less noisy). I'd also like the breakfast pizza or the bananas Foster pancakes--the latter would be ideal for after a nice run. Delmar Dash perhaps? Or maybe we'll go somewhere closer to the neighborhood.

Creo Restaurant
1475 Western Avenue (Stuyvesant Plaza)
Albany, NY

Is It Strange To Finish A 4-Ounce Jar Of Yeast In 2 Months?

2011-03-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

First: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LOVELY MOM (who does not read this blog)!!!!!!!

So one of my loose definitely-not-a-resolution 2011 goals is to try at least one new recipe every week. If I do 2 on one week, it does indeed count toward the next. Just FYI.

This week was the beef tagine with butternut squash from 1/11 Cooking Light. Mine was a bit too liquidy, so maybe next time I'd drain the tomatoes a little bit or use less broth. It's still tasty though, and I'm looking forward to enjoying it for lunch this week. For those wondering (as I was), tagine is a Moroccan dish and a dish. As in, a meal named after the pot it's typically cooked in. Last week I made up a black bean/red pepper soup with Israeli couscous that made us super happy. I'm looking forward to some Greek chicken burgers and stuffed cabbage (Jewish St. Patty's day?) in the next few weeks.

Ah yes, the title of this post. Well, you all know I've been out of control with the crispy no-knead bread. I recently went so far as to make J's lunch rolls out of the dough. And every couple months I feel the need to knead with some homemade challah. But my latest teaspoons doled out of the stuff went into Eat, Run, Read's overnight cinnamon rolls (adapted from Alton Brown). Mollie makes a lot of cakes, and although I'm not really againstcakes, they aren't my favorite and also lack the practicality I crave. I prefer cookies and muffins that can be made in small batches or large, and that don't lose their appeal once half of them are eaten--aka I can arrange them on a plate with some fruit and say yes, I did just make these for you guys! I totally didn't take them out of my freezer, where they have been for several weeks! So the individual nature of the cinn rolls, the use of yeast, and my recent indulgence at MAD made these a no-brainer.

I had no time (ahem, patience) for the 30 minutes in the cold oven with the boiling water part. Spin class-->outlet shopping and just a quick hour and a half in between to shower and eat. I let the rolls sit out for an hour on the counter then stuck them in the cold oven before programming it to 350. I put a small loaf pan with water underneath to provide some steam, and figured they could rise a little more while the oven warmed up. About 38 minutes later I took them out, let them cool, and then smear/drizzled the frosting. Eventually I stuck three in the freezer to surprise us at a later date. Damn are these things good. We used pecans in the filling. I talked about adding small chopped apple and J asked me (in a very serious tone) why I always want to put fruit in everything. Um, because it's delicious.

And although they don't involve yeast, you should make some hammies for Purim sometime soon. It's this weekend. Remember my tips that resulted from last year's trial and error, and you'll be golden. Also, consider adding some grated fresh ginger to your dough. Because like fruit, I think ginger makes everything better.

[Eat the messed up ones ASAP to spare yourself the embarrassment should any guests see them.]

Wherein I Round Up St. Patty's Recipes For You

2011-03-15T12:00:00.004-04:00

When I read things like "Where to get Irish soda bread?" in newspapers and blogs, I can't help but think: MAKE IT YOURSELF. After all, I've seen many recipes popping up in my Google Reader over the past week or two, as well as dozens in the past. These are the ones I'm sharing with you; not the results from Googling "Irish soda bread recipe," although that would work too. Try one or two, and you'll not only have the freshest loaf possible, but a pleasant smelling home to boot.

American Style Irish Soda Bread from Sweet Pea's Kitchen.

Cast Iron ISB from Endless Simmer. Also, for dessert, Irish Brownie Bombs from Endless Simmer.

A feast from corned beef to cabbage to ISB from I Flip For Food.

ISB scones from Smitten Kitchen.

Guiness cupcakes from Modern Domestic.

Whole wheat brown soda bread from Kalyn's Kitchen.

Chocolate chip ISB from Inkpad Chocolate.

Pearl Street Diner

2011-03-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

Pearl Street Diner, or PSD, is my favorite greasy spoon lunch place near the office. There's really not much competition in the area--Greenhouse is a Chop't-type place with hard, cold seats and fake cubed turkey; Franklin's Tower is ok, but the menu is small, it's sometimes freezing in there, and I've never *loved* my order; Victory Cafe is good, but lunch will set you BACK! [Obviously because I want the gigantic salad with a protein on it, $14. The specials are good and more reasonable.] Granted, I have some more exploration to do. Particularly when it's above freezing, maybe sunny, and I can cross streets at intersections without hurdling over a pile of snow or more recently, an enormous slushy puddle.

So PSD it is. Close, cheap, and usually pretty tasty. For about $7 I can get a decent portion of chicken souvlaki in a pita with a Greek salad. One out of four times the salad might be over-oily, but the service is friendly, it's a lot of food for a little price, and we've never waited long for a table. Sub souvlaki for gyro and there are my orders.

Souvlaki!

The chicken salad club is double-decker and enormous.

Visitor S had chili and fries when he came with us to PSD.

Now, the name Diner is a misnomer. It's not open 24-hours. It does not serve breakfast all day. If it did, I'd be there more often. But it's inexpensive, the service is friendly, the wait is short (if it exists), the portions are great, and thus it has my weekday loyalty so far.

Pearl Street Diner (does not really have a web site...)
40 N. Pearl Street
Albany, NY

Miss Albany Diner

2011-03-07T08:00:00.004-05:00

This little diner is TFC. The food is good, the service is friendly, and there are interesting things on the walls.

Exhibit A:

Downstaters/DCers, please take the above as a lesson in NY geography. I live nowhere near Buffalo. It's 5 hours away according to this very official signage. Hawaii seems too close...

And the food. So here at the MAD they toast your cinnamon bun. Even though I usually wouldn't order one of these delectable definitely-not-breakfast (DESSERT) items, I was intrigued by the toasting.

Let's get close.

That's the stuff. This is basically criminal. For real. I'm pretty sure slathering it with butter will get you LWOP. A little crunch goes a long way, particular because it's caused by a crispy bread outer layer AND the crackling of the thin, sugary film.

Corned beef hash, over easy eggs. Classic us. Delicious.

Cool huevos with chutney, some mint and mango. I liked it more than J did, so we ended up switching about halfway. His plate was definitely cooler.

I need to remember to ask for my toast dry. I really don't need the butter--the rest of my choices do enough damage, and I prefer jam or preserves to butter anyway. SO FORGETFUL.

PS, this joint closes at like 2:15pm or some crazy time like that. You can get there for late breakfast, but not J&A-style 4pm winter weekend breakfast...we lazy.

Here's to continuing our tour of the Capital Region's best diner breakfasts. Happy Monday everyone!

Miss Albany Diner
893 Broadway
Albany, NY 12207

Spring On My Mind

2011-03-04T08:00:00.004-05:00

Fun fact via B--Tuesday was the first day of meteorological spring. We're 4 days in and boy is it heating up in Albany. Just kidding, it's really not. But maybe that explains why I've got spring fever.

Maybe it's because of the other season...tax season. The one where I spend Saturdays with everyone but J, and when his evening companion of a cup of tea is joined by a laptop and a buzzing phone. It's got me daydreaming about our post-April 15 plans, which include some spring/summer trips that require your advice.

First up is a quick Montreal weekend with my sister. J went there in HS, but unfortunately his travel notes and memories do not include a faboosh brunch locale.

Next is St. Louis/Kansas City. We'll be checking out some beisbol, some cousin, and hopefully some barbecue. What are your suggestions? Favorite place to eat, sites to see? We're up for almost anything, and we've done some minimal research so far. It'll be supplemented with some travel books from the library at some point, but we're not there yet.

Then we're off to Portland, OR. We'll be visiting our cousins with a brand new lil' bebeh, and definitely doing some hiking. I see at least one visit to the Waffle Window in our future, and maybe a couple to Pine State Biscuits. I saw a lot of Portland spots on the James Beard semifinalist list. What should we be eating in Portland? If we head to Seattle for a day or two, what's not to miss there? (I know Olga from Mango & Tomato has some Seattle info, I should dig into the archives!)

Bonus if you can recommend eats in Puerto Rico for my friend who is spending 6 weeks (!) there for work. Thanks to Stacey and Olga for their tips so far.

Thanks in advance for your advice. It's always appreciated. I'll be sure to consult Eater, Chowhound, 36 Hours/NYTimes, etc, but I like to know what you think.

Ala Shanghai

2011-03-02T08:00:00.003-05:00

Sometimes when a restaurant has great reviews, everyone blogs it, etc etc, I get overpumped. My expectations are entirely too high, even unreasonably high. But two recent visits to Ala Shanghai were really informative. I can--and will--bring most of my visitors here. Maybe not on their first visit, but eventually. According to T, Ala Shanghai has American-friendly Chinese dishes that taste better than they do most other places, but also some authentic traditional foods.

Even though I had my real camera at our second outing, I spared our guests my invasiveness. Also, we were really hungry. Enjoy my iPhone pics below.

Cold sesame noodles--for some reason I was feeling noodley, which is way more J-like than me-like. He happily agreed to ordering this app.

We also got the soup dumplings. I wish that Ala Shanghai made soup dumplings with chicken and also a veggie version for my pork-averse and vegetarian friends. I'd never eaten soup dumplings before (gasp!) and there's something really awesome about biting into a delicious dumpling and having yummy hot soup come out. We aren't that good at the keep-it-on-the-spoon-and-take-a-bite method (please see Joe Shanghai's web site for instructions and a cartoon), so we put the whole dumpling in our mouths and then sort of bite carefully. A quick bite will cause hot soup to shoot into your throat, which can cause choking and discomfort.

I don't even dip them in anything. I could eat an order of these as my entree. [Or two.]

The Peking duck at Ala is a lovely production. Instead of dinky flat pancakes you get these pillowy steamed pockets of joy. As is common, the duck is sliced before us, but here the sandwich is also assembled with sauce and crunchy veggies.

On our first visit we got soup dumplings, sesame noodles, Peking duck, and sesame beef for two people. We didn't touch the beef, and ended up enjoying it for lunch or dinner the next day.

The second time we brought two friends and got the dumplings, Singapore rice noodles, Peking duck, baby bok choy with mushrooms, and sesame chicken. Everything was delicious, we ate it all, and the bill worked out to about $15 per person including tax and tip. In-cray-ab-lay.

Ala Shanghai is also good for a bit of a larger group--they have some bigger round tables for a group of 6-8, and the taste, price, and free tea will please crowds of all ages.

Ala Shanghai
468 Troy Schenectady Road
Latham, NY
They take reservations! 518-783-8188

Freeee Chipotle

2011-02-24T14:43:00.003-05:00

Or rather, BOGO--buy one, get one. Get a friend and head over to Stuyvesant Plaza, Friendship Heights, or many other blocks in the US and use your deal.

Like something on Facebook, watch a short video (or let it run in the background while you do other work--but it features BFlay and he's so cute), and then print.

(If you haven't seen this on Facebook already, then...)

<3 You're welks.

Chipotle is one of our favorite go-to cheap, quick, satisfying meals. Love me a burrito bowl.

[P.S. I wasn't made for quick writing. I had to update this like 12 times because of typos. Eep.]

Cafe Madison

2011-02-21T08:30:00.009-05:00

We found a delicious and inexpensive brunch that we now crave all the time. Let me be clear that by "found" I mean everyone else who has lived here for the past 40 years (according to the bartender) already knew--we read a lot of advice telling us to go there, and today we finally did. And by "finally" I mean it took us 2 months. I'm too hard on us.

FIRST VISIT:

Anyway, we've been to a few diners, so there's no shortage of breakfast. Our Sunday Times in tow, we headed to Cafe Madison post-spin class but pre-Williamstown adventure. It was pretty packed; I spotted two seats at the bar, asked if we could eat there (sort of knowing the answer), and nabbed 'em. A girl had just come outside to the doorway to tell her boyfriend that the wait was a half hour, that doubt in her voice about whether he'd want to wait. Girl, whatcha waitin' for? We LOVE to eat at the bar. No wait (or short wait), it's just the two of us, and did I mention not having to wait??? Y'all know I love this tactic. There wasn't quite enough room to spread out with the paper while we waited for our food (which actually took a while--longer than for the people next to us who arrived later and ordered shortly after us), but we huddled over the crossword puzzle together and made some moderate progress.

[Strawberry Basil Mimosa? Can you say T?!?!]

The breakfast specials looked great, but I went for the two + two--two eggs and two pancakes, a variety of choices. I had apple walnut. Y'all know I'm not huge on pancakes (usually). If anything, after a long run I want something eggy + something bready, usually French toast. But these pancakes were thick and fluffy, and you could taste the buttermilk. My over easy eggs were a little less done than usual, but not in a bad way. In all, it was so much food and I could not believe it was only $6. I felt like a thief. And I don't want extra toast and potatoes to come with my food--this was more than enough! I couldn't even finish the last few bites of pancake. Again, very unlike me, but I was stuffed.

J had the corned beef hash (obviously, one of us had to have it). I had a few bites and what I noticed was that the hash itself was well done on the edges--it had a crisp. YUM. Just the way I like it. J had a bunch of options for bread, all made in house. He got cinnamon swirl, and it was so thick and delicious it almost tasted like French toast. It made other toasts feel embarrassed.

After this visit I was crushing on Cafe Madison. I had visions of going almost every weekend with the same situation repeating itself, delicious and easy.

SECOND VISIT:
This past weekend did not play out the same way, so I'm updating this post to share with you. J joked that Cafe Madison is great....if you have nothing else to do all day. I joked that I could have finished the socks I just started knitting on size 1.5 needles while we waited. [Haha knitting joke haha.] At least five people sitting at the bar hung out there for 20-30 minutes waiting for a table before deciding they'd eat there. They totally have the right to sit there without eating. I was just dreaming of our first visit, and wished I could sit at the bar and order food instead of watching them sitting and not ordering food.

Let me be clear: I'm ok with a wait when I know it's happening. Remaining at a crowded restaurant is consent to wait patiently with a smile. But the 15 minutes our hostess told us turned into 40, no space opened at the bar, and after we sat down we ordered within 2 minutes--no need to think. Our food took another thirty minutes to arrive. Pancakes, hash, toast, eggs. And this isn't a place where you get a roll or a muffin. We were late to pick up a friend at the airport, but beyond that, we were starving. Starvation and lateness guilt meant we scarfed down our food in about 6 minutes, not exactly savoring. We paid the bill while cleaning our plates and rushed out. It's not that I believed the hostess that it would be 15 minutes, it's that I was hopeful that even if the wait was an hour we'd be sitting at the bar in less than 10 minutes.

Our food was delicious, and for the quality it is dirt cheap. J's pancakes were well-done the second time, and I liked them better with some crisp. The cinnamon toast is really a cinnamon bun pretending it's toast, aka awesome. Service is friendly and coffee is quickly refilled. I just think that if there's a wait--any at all--and you are really hungry or have somewhere to be in less than two hours, then you need to sit at the bar within 10 minutes or go somewhere else. Otherwise you will have what I call Delicious Yet Least Relaxing Brunch Ever. DYLRBE. Which you may notice, starts with DY aka die aka I thought I was going to die because I was so freakin hungry.

P.S. Brunch is 7:30am til 3pm Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Cafe Madison
1108 Madison Ave
Albany, NY

Hey Good Lookin' Whatcha Got Cookin?

2011-02-16T09:30:00.002-05:00

Lots of good recipes happening lately, and I'm bookmarking some, trying others immediately,

Last week we enjoyed this Italian wedding soup interpretation by CSK with one of our best friends, Trader Joe's Israeli couscous. We made it the night she posted it, thanks to a vague idea of what we'd do with the two-pack totaling nearly 5 lbs of ground turkey from Sam's. We used 1/4 of it for this soup. Leftovers have made lunch quite enjoyable.

Later this week I'd like to make Cara's gingery edamame/eggplant stew and serve it over couscous or bulgur wheat. Not sure if I'll double or triple the ginger yet...you know how I do. I also want to make this flourless peanut butter cup cake--it's basically Reese's peanut butter cups, my favorite candy, turned into a cake. Yep. It's definitely dinner party material, because I can't be trusted alone with that thing and cold milk in my house. Unforch one of my few friends upstate is allergic to nuts, cutting down on the people besides me who could enjoy this treat. H/T Inkpad for sharing. I'm waiting to hear from LB, who made Nikki's Bourbon Chocolate Pound Cake. What in the what! [Update: LB said the cake was good, but she's not the hugest cake fan to begin with. I am with her on that. Our friends suggested topping it with ice cream or layering it into a trifle. I said freeze it so it's chewy and fudgy. MMMM.]

Sunday night we made several items a la Giada after flipping through one of my cookbooks: tomato soup (with a dollop of plain greek yogurt); roasted citrus-herb chicken (cooked like her game hens, of which there was only 1 at Hannaford--not so convenient for taking apart, anyway, but so cute); and these sugar cookie squares with red fruit preserve (raz and strawberry blend) and drizzled chocolate. The last ones are really for work tomorrow, happy Valentine's Day everyone! Whether it's actually cooking from a recipe or just assembling with instructions, I really like Giada. I feel like we have the same values. For example, we love olive oil, citrus juice, citrus zest (!!!!), fresh herbs, cannellini beans, and babies. Her daughter is adorbz.

Crispy No Knead, obv. It was 1/3 whole wheat because that's what we had left, and I actually finished the flour with it. I had zero flour for about 3 days before I replenished with 3 bags. This was the longest the dough ever fermented in the fridge, and I think it tasted even better for it. It was still fresh and spongy the next day, no toasting or zapping required. BTW this time I wasn't too lazy to fill that gravy boat with reduced pan juices.

Chicken/herb/citrus filled craisins...mmm.

Postcard from Chicago

2011-02-14T08:30:00.000-05:00

I hope you are having an excellent Valentine's Day. If you're like me, you are at work. Nice! High five.

Anyway, off to the Windy City. You know why it's so windy, right? Because when best friends get together, they basically do nothing but constantly gab. Gab while putting together furniture, gab waiting in line at a trendy torta spot, and gab while run/walking along Lake Michigan on a balmy winter's day (around 33 degrees).

After Home Depot, a snack, and a waddle, we enjoyed brunch at home. Made up squash hash topped with over easy eggs. T chopped all the veggies ahead of time, so this was quick, packed with nutrients, and obviously delicious. Pita bites, hummus, and sheep's milk feta on the side. Wait--you don't buy sheep's milk feta in a two-pack from Costco? Oh. T doesn't understand you, then.

I was so looking forward to XOCO for dinner--it's the casual Rick Bayless sandwich shop next to Frontera and Topolobampo.

I would love to try XOCO for breakfast. Keep in mind that it's closed Sunday and Monday - that would be disappointing to find out at the door. :(

Ever since I had goat at Komi I've been dying to have it again. It's such a tender, delicious meat (when cooked well). The goat barbacoa sandwich was the special torta for Saturday--a mild tomatillo salsa, avocado, onion, and cilantro rounded this sucker out. The bread's texture is awesome--it's crispy and chewy the way toasted bread should be, and everything about this sandwich makes you think about how you want to eat it every single day. Dang. So satisfying, so comforting, just so everything.

This sandwich--the ahogada (pork carnitas, pickled onions, spicy tomato broth, etc) is the first thing T ordered at XOCO, and the second time she naturally decided to have something different. Although it seemed like a good idea at the time, she had major ordering regrets once she realized Choice 2 wasn't as awesome as Choice 1. On her 3rd visit she went back to the favorite, and even got to taste my torta. The tomato broth here was way too spicy for me, I was on fiya.

Just so you know the drill, you wait on line to order, and you can get a beer or something while you wait. Even if you get to the front of the line, you can only order if you have a table number. We got to the front of the line before being given a table number, so we just sort of waited. A few minutes later we got a number, ordered, then were led to our table by one of the runner/hosts.

Dessert rounds out a meal. Also, sandwiches are on the smaller side and we didn't have any accompaniments. T had the churros on a previous visit, and while there was nothing wrong with them, they didn't send her senses flying. We opted for this ginger lime tres leches cake, and it was fantastic. The cake itself was cool, sweet, and wet, and the topping was marshmallow (!!) and some candied lime. T wishes she had a bag of that candied lime; she is so predictable.

Cocktail time--hello, we are ladies on the go. We headed over to Sable Bar & Kitchen for drinks after torta heaven. The huge drink list had something for everyone, and the lounge environment was comfy. They had tall bar tables and a long bar with stools, but also big, high-backed leather chairs. This would be a great spot to grab apps and drinks with a friend. It reminded me of our late dinner of appetizers in Pittsburgh.

Breakfast the next morning found us at The Bagel. T had heard from a coworker that they had great bagels, and she goes there all the time, etc etc. Now, this coworker is likely not from the east coast. I don't want to be a northeast liberal elitist snobaholic in your business, but T and I are Jersey Jews, and if anyone knows a bagel, it's us. I'll show you a bagel. Exhibit A: I present the cinnamon raisin bagel from Wonder Bagels in Jersey City, NJ.

I know. Try to get a hold of yourself.

So The Bagel turns out not to be a bagelry at all. And that's ok, it just wasn't what we were expecting. It also wasn't the tastiest place ever. I probably should have Yelped or something, but I didn't.

The bagel chips were sort of a redeeming factor; the baked goods just weren't very fresh.

I got whitefish salad; it would have been better if I didn't find a handful of little bones in it. Choking hazard says what??

T's Greek omelet was kind of sad, too. I know it's not really time for tomatoes, but these put the worst ones to shame. Omelets are tough sometimes, especially if you are a really good cook (like T), because if it's not good you are just thinking "I could have made something much better at home." Bummer.

Also, the service was odd. People kept coming by and filling our water and T's iced tea to the point where it overflowed, which was messy. But when we needed more napkins to clean that up, no one could be flagged down or found. I can't stand when you take one sip of water and someone refills it, it means people are allllways at the table. Stressful. But The Bagel will survive; there were lots of families and regular-looking people around.

So you all know how I feel about Top Chef. I'm a fan. I loved Stephanie Izard as a contestant, and I was super happy when she won. I follow her on Twitter. I knew that booking my Southwest flight to cChicago would be shortly followed by booking a rez over at Girl and the Goat.

I love the goat image that's all over the place. Cute and delicious at the same time. Real napkins were a nice touch.

T and I like almost all the same foods, so we picked 4 "small plates" to share. The dishes weren't all that small, and 4 was perfect for us. We didn't have room (or time) for dessert on this particular late afternoon.

We started with the shaved squash and kohlrabi salad with fennel, almonds, and ginger dressing. Crunchy, flavorful, and cold, this could decorate our plates any night of the week. Have I mentioned that we love ginger?

We had a list of daily specials, including breads. This was super toasty crusty bread invaded by peanuts with a miso butter and a lemony dip (sort of). It was the bomb. Get a bread for sure.

Below is the sunchoke soup with olives and red grapefruit. I'm not as olive-friendly as T, but the different flavors and textures here were delicious. Salty? Check. Sweet? Check. Creamy? Check yet again. Also you can add this to the long list of Things T and I Would Share That J Wouldn't Touch With a Ten Foot Pole.

Lamb sausage stuffed calamari with sweetbread crisps (those little guys on the bottom right). The calamari here is a casing for really flavorful, well-seasoned (but not salty) lamb meat, and there's a currant situation that sweetly contrasts.

Everything so far was so good. But lastly came this goat masala pizza with farm fresh cheeses and the house yogurt. (We made sure to ask whether goat meant goat like bleat bleat or like goat cheese--it meant bleat bleat.) It was so good. I could eat this "pizza" on a regular basis. Somehow we stopped ourselves from eating the last few pieces. I had a plane to catch, and I knew I'd be uncomfortably full if we went on. Also, I knew this meal was so good that T would enjoy eating leftovers for breakfast (and she did).

I imagine The Goat would be a great place to grab a few plates to share and some beers after work. I know I'd go back soon if I could, but maybe you Chicago people can go in my place.

I think J and I will go back to Chicago this summer to enjoy what the area has to offer in the nice weather and visit our dear T. By then she'll be well-versed in brunch options, late night drinks, and everything else going on, but we'll still explore and try new things because that's what friends are for.

Debbie's Kitchen

2011-02-10T08:45:00.002-05:00

We needed a quick but cute lunch when my outlaws were recently in town. We needed to sit down, eat a quick, reasonably priced sandwich, and then head out to the New York State Museum. (It's free. It's freezing. There's a carousel. Why not?) We considered Scratch Bakery Cafe, but it was a little too small for this time around. A few doors down is Debbie's Kitchen.

[How do you like those icicles?]

Little did I know at the time that Debbie actually sold her Kitchen in 2010, and now it's Tom's kitchen, really.

Whoever's kitchen it is, it's a nice one. You can get half a sandwich with a small soup as a combo (you know how I love combos, or really, the opportunity to eat more than one dish).

We had tasty sweet potato coconut something soup, the roasted red pepper soup, and a lentil vegetable, too. We were all souped up, you could say.

I almost followed FIL with a Thanksgiving-ish turkey/cranberry sandwich, but then I picked turkey, garlic mayo, tomato, spinach, and dill Havarti. On PUMPERNICKEL. No one EVER has pumpernickel!!! I was so happy that I took a bite before taking a picture.

J had corned beef, pastrami, Swiss, and slaw (his third Reubenesque sandwich of the week, and I'm not talking ladies with curves), and MIL had the tuna salad with apples, nuts, and cheddar. She was very pleased by the texture and flavors, and it led to a discussion about how the heck the people on Chopped (not to mention Iron Chef, Top Chef, and just chefs generally all over the place) know what acid to add or spices to mix in order to get that wow factor.

We'll definitely be back to Debbie's kitchen for a yummy, fresh, quick lunch. And next time we'll get one of the delicious looking treats from the display.

Debbie's Kitchen
456 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY

El Rancho - Saugerties, NY

2011-02-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

The trip to NJ to DC leaves much to be desired as far as scenery, speed (aka sloooow thanks to traffic), and food. Yes, the new Delaware House is pretty snazzy (it looks like an airport terminal), but I wouldn't call it a destination. On the other hand, going from NJ to upstate NY leaves lots of options if we can't make it all the way home. North Jersey? Hudson? Rhinebeck? Poughkeepsie?

J hates making decisions about restaurants on the spot. After lots of prodding, we narrowed down our wishlist. Pretty fast, Asian or Mexican. We'd overloaded on Italian and pizza generally lately, and plain old American pub fare seemed too boring. Yelping + Googling led me to positive reviews for El Rancho in Saugerties. It's not in the "town center" (if there is indeed a town center), but was conveniently right off the highway.

Wed is Marg Night, clearly. Dang was it dark outside.

J had the Dos Chimichangas--one chicken, one beef. Shreddy and delish.

I had steak fajitas. I felt like I wanted something sizzling. It was freezing outside, and I'd eaten vegetarian for two days in a row. I needed some iron, stat. Notice it looks a little shiny--it could have used a little toweling off, it was a bit oily for my liking. Overall it was quite tasty, though.

The salsa was very fresh-tasting and zesty. Service was friendly, but a little slow. My only other complaint about El Rancho is that no one bothered to de-ice the parking lot. At all. It was basically a skating rink. Step carefully, folks.

El Rancho*
2904 Route 32
Saugerties, NY

Apparently eating at El Rancho was good luck for the J-E-T-S JETS, because soon after we got in the car post-meal, we heard on the radio that they were nearly finished beating the Patriots. Well done, New [Jersey] York.

Kinnaree

2011-02-03T09:30:00.001-05:00

Before we even moved I started subscribing to some area blogs, including Albany Eats! (exclamation point not added as emphasis. It's original.) When she said that she (and guests) went to Kinnaree, the new Thai/Korean/Japanese/Fusion/Whatever place on Lark Street and had savory hot noodley warmth, I wanted it too.

We were out pre-celebrating J of J&J's swearing in at the NY bar. Ohhh memories of swearings in past, how you haunt me. But anyway:

Veggie dumpling potsticker friends, aka gyoza.

Bowl of curry liquid with a wee bit of chicken, too. If it was spicy, poor J with his icky cold couldn't tell. We were hoping it was zap/clear him back to life.

My J had chicken with udon noodles. Very tasty. I might get it in the future.

I took Albany Jane's suggestion with the rad nah with tofu. I ate "Buddhist's Delight" every Thursday for nearly a year in NJ at Tung Hsing House, so I'm not stranger to bean curd, I mean, erm, tofu. It was delicious. I hate to say it, but I Can't Believe I Ate The Whole Thing.

Overall, I'm really not sure whether the portions weren't that large or we were just starving, because we all pretty much cleared our plates (besides some curry liquid on J.Esq's part). Service was prompt and friendly, food was tasty, the prices are reasonable: in a nutshell, we'll definitely go back to Kinnaree.

Kinnaree
193 Lark Street
Albany, NY

Everyone is Blogging Brownies

2011-02-02T13:18:00.001-05:00

And since it's a snow day for many, I wanted to share all these links with you lest you decide to get into the brownie baking mood today.

Not sure what the deal is, but everyone is blogging brownies the past week or two. It's like that time that a bunch of bloggers did shakshuka in a short span of time, except most people actually know what brownies are. The Internet is a funny place.

Black and white brownies from Cuisine Queen

Squeaky clean fudge brownies from Cara's Cravings (GF, sugar-free, vegan).

Browned butter brownies on Doughmesstic

Red velvet cheesecake brownies from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

Brownie giveaway from Beantown Baker

Fudgy Brownies from Nikki

THE baked brownie from Sweet Pea's Kitchen

Go. Bake. Eat. Share.

74 State/Marché

2011-01-31T09:00:00.001-05:00

Recently, J.Esq (of J&J) graced us with his presence, and his lovely parental units let me and my J join them for a celebratory lunch.

Can we start with the bad and end up happy with the good?

1. Where the heck did I eat? Marché? Bistro/Bar? Is one the upstairs and one the downstairs? Why do both menus say Marché? What kind of a name is Bistro/Bar? Why is the name of your hotel the address? It's almost as confusing at Capitol to Capital/iEatDC.

2. Why is the service so slow even when there aren't so many people there? It took 45 minutes to order and get our lunch food, and that was sad for the one of us that had to leave early for a work call.

3. Do you really mean to tell me that restaurants near Empire State Plaza don't know when 800+ people are going out to lunch with their families after the swearing in ceremony?

4. We got a coupon for staying at the hotel that we were told over the phone we could use for our lunch reservation (made at the same time as the room), but it was really for dinner only, and we didn't receive the promised coupon until we asked for it several hours before check-out and at the lunch where we weren't supposed to be able to use it (more on this under GOOD).

Moving on to the things I liked about eating lunch upstairs at 74 State. I loved that for lunch you can "pick 2" for $10, like you're at Panera or something (but much tastier selections in my opinion...sorry lovers of Panera [LS!!!]). Half a sandwich/soup/salad, any combo of those. This method is totally up my alley because I can have more than one thing without being a piglet.

I had half of a chicken sandwich with mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula and the Market salad with pickled beets and pecans. I'd do it again, quickly. This meal costs less than a salad with chicken at Victory Cafe, but the feel of the place is more upscale, if that's what you're looking for. Also, Victory's salads are enormous, but that's a different story.

J.Esq's salmon on salad was good, but the salmon was overcooked. He had specified medium rare, but it was definitely cooked through and beyond. The grapefruit in his salad was exciting.

The parental units had salads and the soup du jour, a vegetarian mushroom soup that was less vegetable-laden than we expected. So many veggies were listed in the description, but the cup was mostly broth. And the bleu cheese was extremely funky--I didn't want to taste it just from the look of it; unfortunately getting new dressing took so long that the naked salad was mostly eaten by the time we received it.

Desserts were fun--we had a chocolate torte thing that was just okay, but the cheesecake situation you see up there was a good time. Cinnamon quince, pumpkin, berry, chocolate mint. It was fun to have a variety to taste.

In the end, we explained to someone who looked authoritative about how we were convinced over the phone to book a hotel reservation at 74 State along with the lunch reservation (originally the parents planned on staying elsewhere), and we'd get a coupon for lunch, etc, and he let us use the coupon anyway. But we embarrassed the guys at the table who wanted to leave it all alone. I'm with J.Esq's mom here, though--if you're promised something, and it's used as a selling device, you should get it. That's good customer service. Our server was super nice and seemed puzzled by the influx of people at 2pm.

So some good, some missteps, but overall a pretty reasonably-priced, tasty lunch at 74 State.

Marché
74 State Street (obviously)
Albany, NY

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2011-01-28T09:26:00.002-05:00

So you may have noticed that we moved. And yet my name and URL stayed the same, while the headline and logo have been updated. So although the blog is officially now titled Capitol to Capital, that was too long of a Twitter name, and in any case, it was taken. Also taken: Cap2Cap, C2C, etc. So I did like my pal hawaii2DCdee and chose DC2ALB. We'll see how that goes. FYI, ALB is an international airport. Fancy.

I think Capitol to Capital is a cute way to say that we moved from The Capital (with The Capitol) to another capital--a much smaller capital, a place that's less international, has fewer restaurants (but a chockload more mountains), but a capital nonetheless.

So if you use Twitter on the web, please remember my new name and tweet at me there! I know it's #ff so many not the best day to switch it, but you have to nab a name when you can on the Twitters.

Let me know what you think of the new Twitter handle! Sorry in advance for any confusion. We'll keep eating, so I hope you'll keep reading. The URL is staying the same (at least for now).

Jersey Shore, Not The Snooki Kind

2011-01-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

Let's escape the negative degrees here and jump over to summer. Jersey shore, waves crashing, sun beating down on your reddish, freckled shoulders...

Now that I've got your attention, can we discuss those signs, above? Over 200 Omelettes is definitely something I can support!

I have a lot of love to give. Obviously to my mom, husband, siblings original & in-law...but also to the Jersey diner, and the egg products that inhabit them. Poach 'em, scramble 'em, whatever. Just bring them my way with another cup of coffee k thanks.

Check out the corned beef omelet I got from Breakfast at Mariner's Cove in Brielle, NJ:

And LC got a big veggie egg white shenanigans. There were so many omelets to choose from, what could a girl do? We had a lovely time at this joint, and despite crowds, we weren't rushed at all.

Jersey shore staple part II: pizza. We heard from reputable sources that Pete & Elda's has some of the best pies in NJ. We had to check it out.

First of all, we waited a while for a seat. It had been a long day--I drove straight from DC to Brielle for superomelette up top, then hung at the beach all day reading The Help. Eventually we were seated. Our pies took fooooorever, but eventually we got them--mushroom/broccoli, sausage, and pepperoni.

These pies were tasty, but very different from NY style. The crust wasn't thick and chewy--it was thin and crispy, almost like a cracker. Look--it doesn't really have an end crust, or as my mom calls it, "the bones." But it was piping hot, super fresh, and much needed on a breezy summer evening.

Summer, are you here yet?

That One Time I Cooked

2011-01-24T08:00:00.016-05:00

I'm kidding. We cook all the time, but quickly. Simply. This was simple too, but it was a lot more food than we normally make. We had guests, so we had to step up the volume. When we go, we go big.

Scenes from dinner, aka between prep and serve when I remembered to take pictures, with links to recipes included:

Whole chicken in the slow cooker. So easy. Fell of the bone. I put leftover juices in a gravy boat, but in another life I'd have reduced it to a thicker sauce. Doesn't he look funny all naked in the crock pot?! It was hard to get the skin off completely, so it looks like he's wearing socks.

Roasted eggplants that I decimated for a spread made with lemon juice, garlic, and za'atar.

Crusty no-knead on the table, along with salad, the eggplant dip, and Barbera wine from Barboursville.

We also had roasted Brussels sprouts with turkey bacon and Israeli couscous with herbs and parm.

Grandma's cookies: chocolate chip mandel bread and sour cream twists. I made the last of the twists today and cooked them longer, until more golden. Either way they are just as I remembered, except they aren't coming to me in a tin while I'm at sleepaway camp this time around.

and one more

They are made with a very buttery pastry dough--zero sugar on the outside, but rolled in vanilla sugar before baking. The recipe was recently rediscovered--I hadn't made it since college--and maybe it'll end up on The Shiksa soon, if I get my mom's permission.

There you have it. Dinner at my house on a Saturday night, brought to you by Google searching "whole chicken crock pot," my Google Reader, and my Grandma Renee.

Baba Louie's - Hudson, NY

2011-01-21T21:52:00.001-05:00

Now for us Hudson isn't as much a weekend escape as an afternoon/evening escape, but I'll tag it that way nonetheless. Our NYC/Jersey friends will appreciate the clarity.

J and I had no idea how much time to budget for Hudson. Is it like Middleburg--adorable, but one little street until nothin'? Or more like Frederick? Hampden? The answer is basically none of the above.

First, head over the Rip Van Winkle bridge. Cue the adorable toll plaza.

Although everything is along the main drag, that main drag is long. We arrived at 3:45 hoping to fill the space before an appropriate dinner time, and we only made it down one side of the street. Granted, things started to close at 5-6 and when the sun was completely down it got cold, so we were happy to retire for dinner at 6. There's lots of browsing to do---galleries, antique shops, furniture, books, crafts and jewelry, some clothing (including amazing toasty/fashionable brown boots in my size on sale for $130 that I didn't try on in an unlikely display of self-restraint). Fear not, though, because I got two great necklaces. While some of the shops had items great to look at but impossible (for me) to buy ($800 vase anyone? $7000 chair?), there were a few with reasonable pieces that I could see us buying, particularly if we were outfitting a home.

We've heard a bit of buzz around some Hudson restaurants, including Swoon Kitchenbar, DA/BA, and more. Swoon was closed for renovations, DA/BA was feeling too fancy and pricy for our tastes on that particular day, and we needed some cozy comfort food.

A chatty gallery owner suggested Baba Louie's, his local favorite. Thin crust pizza with anything and everything on it, straight from the brick oven, and HUGE salads, he promised.

The salads come in unmentioned, so "regular," and "family size." The regular could easily be for 2-4 people; we finished ours together, but had 3 small slices of the large pizza leftover as a result. We had toasted pepitas on our salad. YAY.

The pizza was great. All the options sounded delicious, but we opted for spinach, figs, prosciutto. The sweetness of the figs played well with the rest of the ingredients, and you could tell by the taste that the spinach was fresh.

Mmmm lentil soup. That's what you need on a flippin' freezing night.

Leftovers for lunch.

They have a spelt crust available for my less wheat-tolerant friends, and plenty of vegan options.

Baba Louie's
517 Warren Street
Hudson, NY
(Also locations in Barrington and Pittsfield, MA)