It's a Twinkie. That's been deep-fried.
Food is usually better on a stick.
We stopped into the new Wine 'n Diner on Delaware in Albany the other night for dinner. The food was OK -- we'll probably go back to try it again. The place looks it could end up as a good, kind-of-funky neighborhood spot.
But the thing that really caught our eye was the dessert menu, which includes... a deep-fried Twinkie.
Yep, a deep-fried Twinkie. So, did we try it?
What do you think?
The Twinkie comes on stick, lightly battered. A scoop of cinnamon ice cream and a dusting of powdered sugar accompany it.
The whole thing was not all that sweet, surprisingly.
The texture is... squishy. The frying process doesn't really create crunch so much as differently densities of squish. The coating is a little like a funnel cake (we might have liked it better after another 30 seconds in the fryer). The cake inside is very moist. And the fluffy cream center turns sort of oozy.
The cinnamon ice cream that accompanied it was good and played well against the flat squishiness of the Twinkie. (Word is that maple ice cream was also proposed as a pairing.)
We wouldn't say it's heavy, but a few bites were enough. And while the Twinkie wasn't bad, we're not sure we'd order it again.
The people at the Wine 'n Diner seem eager to experiment with the fryalator arts (something we encourage wholeheartedly). The dessert menu also includes a deep-fried Oreo. And we heard that they had also attempted a deep-fried Reese's Cup (alas, it wasn't meant to be).
Earlier on AOA: Braving the deep-fried candy bar at Capital Q
Find It
Wine 'n Diner
544 Delaware Ave
Albany, NY 12209
It's in the old Avenue A space.
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Comments
Something tasty and fried without having to brave the hoards at Tulip Fest?! I'm there!!!
... said Melissa on May 7, 2010 at 5:15 PM | link
Well, if they're going to be conducting fried dessert experiments, they should try offering a deep fried Snickers bar. I've actually tried one before . . . and it was gooood. While I was on the eating, and not the cooking, end of that deep-fried bit of heaven, I think the Snickers bar was frozen first, then dipped into funnel cake batter (or something like it), before being deep fried for 2-4 minutes. Apparently, freezing the Snickers bar first helps prevent a total melt down during the subsequent frying ordeal . . .
... said KJS on May 8, 2010 at 12:37 AM | link
The mere thought of eating something like that is making my teeth hurt and arteries harden. The place looks cute though, and I'm definitely going to check it out.
... said Summer on May 10, 2010 at 10:43 AM | link
My reservation about this place ever since I heard it was supposed to be "upscale diner fare" is that it's going to have cheap food with a cheap twist at very not cheap prices.
So yeah, I'm all for an adventurous menu, but if they're taking something you can get at the county fair for $2, slapping on some ice cream, and charging $7.95, I'm not so sure. Intrigued, but cautious.
... said B on May 10, 2010 at 12:16 PM | link
@B: The Twinkie was $5. I'm not sure if that's reasonable for a deep-fried Twinkie or not. With the ice cream, it doesn't seem unreasonable.
As for the other menu prices, they seemed pretty reasonable. I got meatloaf (with mashed potatoes), which was (from memory, not notes) about $7 or $8.
... said Greg on May 10, 2010 at 3:29 PM | link
Deep-fried desserts are amazing, but only if done right. For instance, the deep-fried Oreos I ate this weekend at Tulip Fest were insane, but those people knew what they were doing. The deep-fried candy bars at Capital Q are also incredible, but you have to eat them right away, otherwise they cool down and turn into greasy, gloppy messes.
Sounds like the folks at the Wine 'n Diner might just need a little more time to perfect the deep-fried Twinkies. And if they ever do master that Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, I'll be the first one in line to burn my mouth on one.
... said Siobhan on May 10, 2010 at 3:30 PM | link
Thanks Greg, that's definitely promising. It'll be good to have yet another place to eat that's walkable on Delaware.
... said B on May 10, 2010 at 4:40 PM | link
In Texas, we take our deep fried deserts seriously (OK, not really seriously). These are the winners of the Texas State Fair Big Tex Choice Awards:
2005 Most Creative Viva Las Vegas Fried Ice Cream
2005 Best Taste Fried PB, Jelly and Banana Sandwich
2006 Most Creative Fried Coke
2006 Best Taste Fried Praline Perfection
2007 Most Creative Deep Fried Latte
2007 Best Taste Texas Fried Cookie Dough
2008 Most Creative Fried Banana Split
2008 Best Taste Chicken Fried Bacon
2009 Most Creative Deep Fried Butter
2009 Best Taste Fernie's Deep Fried Peaches & Cream
... said Buckeye on May 12, 2010 at 2:41 PM | link
I've been to the place twice so far, I recommend it. It's inexpensive, and the menu has more than a few original entries. I tried the turducken trifecta burger and double-stacked smores the first time, and went a bit healthier last Saturday with an omelet with beets.. followed by the infamous fried Twinkie (oops). Yum.
... said -S on Jun 1, 2010 at 12:28 PM | link
I have also been there twice and am impressed with the place. I haven't tried a dessert yet, but I heartily recommend the mac & cheese.
... said Summer on Jun 1, 2010 at 3:43 PM | link