All Over Albany

The Menands Farmers' Market

The Capital District Farmers Market in Menands

Farmers' markets are definitely one of my favorite things about summer and we're pretty lucky here in the Capital Region to have so many to choose from.

And while I'm trying not to discriminate or be a hater, everybody has markets that they're more partial to. High on my list is The Capital District Farmers Market in Menands.

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Small plates at a chain restaurant?

From good to not-so-good: beets and arugula, wild mushroom pizza, corn fritters, onions rings

You couldn't drag us into a Chili's. We're continually baffled by the packed parking lot we see outside the Olive Garden. And we still have bad flashbacks from an Applebee's experience in 1998.

But we'll happily eat at The Cheesecake Factory. The food there is actually OK.

And the last few times there, we've ordered something we never expected to see at a chain restaurant: small plates.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week you can still get strawberries. There's also peaches, apricots, cherries and peas!

Here's more info on what to expect at local markets.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week-- get your strawberries!!! Also, garlic scapes are here --but not for long.

Here's more info on what to expect at local markets.

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The Deli Warehouse


Sure, it's cheap. But how does it taste?

Deli meats and cheeses aren't cheap. So when I saw a commercial for the Deli Warehouse that advertised $2.99 roast beef, I had to check it out.

I mean, roast beef? For $2.99?

Price Chopper and Hannaford charge between $7.99 and $10.99 a pound for that stuff.

So really, how good could $2.99 roast beef taste?

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Whole milk yogurt from the Argyle Cheese Farmer

So last weekend at the Central Avenue Farmers' Market I made a beeline for the Argyle Cheese Farmers' stand and the promise of, well, cheese.

And I went away with -- yogurt. Home-made whole-milk yogurt.

And?

Move over Dannon.

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The breakfast special at Tool's

Old-school.

One of our favorite places to get breakfast is Tool's in Delmar. Everything about the place seems a little anachronistic -- the food, the decor, the prices. It's like it exists in a bubble where 1989 never ended. And it's great.

Here's why.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week it's all about the strawberries! Also, there's still at least one place with LOTS of asparagus.

Here's more info on what to expect at markets in Troy, Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany.

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Our first meal at Dale Miller

The entrance is off Beaver Street.

We've been curious about the new Dale Miller restaurant in downtown Albany since it was announced. We'd heard great things about what the chef had been doing at the Inn at Erlowest on Lake George. And he's "one of 61 U.S. Certified Master Chefs" -- so you gotta figure the guy knows what he's doing.

Well, we finally had a chance to check it out recently.

Curious? We thought so. Here's what we ate...

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Beware of peanut

Legumes!

Ned snapped this pic outside Wolff's, which serves "tons" of peanuts.

We're guessing the sign is a response to these conversations.

Earlier on AOA:
+ Blue Pants goes to Wolff's
+ Wolff's Biergarten preview

photo: Ned Abbott

Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week you can get a few strawberries-- but only if you show up early. There's also a little bit of asparagus left thanks to cooler temperatures. But again, if you want it, get there early.

Here's more info on what to expect at markets in Troy, Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany.

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Your Veggie Mobile questions answered

Veging at St. Sophia.

A few weeks ago, AOA told you that the Veggie Mobile was a finalist in an international competition. And based on the comment thread that ensued, it seemed like a lot of you were pretty curious about the whole thing.

So I caught up with Veggie Mobile Coordinator EJ Krans to get the whole scoop...

(And by the way, when he's not selling veggies, you can catch EJ playing around town with Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned and We are Jeneric.)

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Flan at Mexican Radio

delicioso!

A couple of weeks ago, a "stuff to do this weekend" post prompted a discussion of the flan at Mexican Radio in Hudson.

Regular commenter B. -- and the restaurant itself -- claim it's the best flan around. And apparently a lot of people back that opinion up.

Being just a little crazy for custards, I figured I better look into that lofty claim myself. I admit I'm usually more of a creme brulee kind of girl, but flan's kind of like creme brulee's Latin American cousin, isn't?

Uh, sure. Anyways..... bet you want to know how it is.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

This week you'll find the first strawberries of the season, plus beats and sugar snap peas.

On the way out: asparagus.

Here's more info on what to expect at markets in Troy, Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany.

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Grab-and-go Asian food at EATS

Yes, these sashimi rolls came from a deli case.

For the most part, if you want a little grab-and-go sushi in the Capital Region -- something you can pick up from a deli case on the run -- you're stuck with supermarket fare. Sure, that will do in a pinch, but we have yet to find a local supermarket roll that can take us off to that wonderful land of buttery freshness, salty tang, and softly sweetened rice that is true sushi yum.

However...

the sushi and sashimi rolls at EATS Gourmet Marketplace in Stuyvesant Plaza are a step in the right direction.

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Spring Sandwich at Crisan

Because AOA can't survive on bagels alone.

Yeah, we know, nobody cares what we had for lunch. But this may be an exception to the rule.

Crisan (ahhh, yes, Crisan), home of the $1 gelato and some of our other favorite things, has started serving sandwiches, little mini quiches and other yummy stuff for lunch.

Last night we stopped by and heard about the newest sandwich, and today we were the first in line at lunchtime.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the Capital Region is shopping the farmers' markets.

Fuji apples and ramps are gone and the first crop of radishes are pretty much finished (though there are more radishes to come), but this week you can get beets, asparagus and all kinds of other good stuff. And there's a new market in Albany.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find this weekend at the farmers' markets around the Capital Region.

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Veggie Mobile in international competition

The Capital District Community Gardens' Veggie Mobile is one of the finalists in a "Designing for Better Health" competition being sponsored by a social entrepreneurship org and a major foundation. The winners of the contest get $5000.

CDCG launched the Veggie Mobile in 2007. From the org's contest entry:

Our mobile green grocer drives into targeted neighborhoods and sets up shop at pre-determined locations for weekly stops selling affordable, high quality produce at half the price of the grocery store. The Veggie Mobile concentrates its work in neighborhoods where the nearest grocery store is more than four miles away and where residents lack easy transportation and thus have severely limited access to affordable fresh produce.

There were 281 entries from 29 countries in the Veggie Mobile's categoy. Judges picked the 10 finalists, but the winners are picked by online voting.

[via @nick_crounse]

photo: Capital District Community Gardens

Sherry Lynn's Gluten Free Cafe

Gooey, gluten free goodness

Let's face it - food allergies and dietary restrictions kind of, well, suck. When you're eating out, you don't really want to make an issue of it -- but at the same time, being stuck with a plain iceberg salad again can get a little tedious.

So I was pretty excited about Sherry Lynn's Gluten Free , an entire cafe and store dedicated to serving food for those of us with celiac disease or wheat allergies.

I never made it out to Sherry Lynn's old place in Brunswick -- but I'd been waiting patiently for several months for this new, larger business in Latham.

The service is a little slow, but the selection is pretty impressive. And some of the gluten free treats I tasted were yummy enough to share with wheat-eating friends. If you're -- you know-- inclined to share.

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Chowing down on Dinosaur in Troy

Dinner in the park.

We headed over to Riverfront Park in Troy for last night's Dinosaur Bar-B-Que benefit for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It was a good time -- good food, good music and good weather.

After seeing the crowd and talking to a few people, we think the Dinosaur really is coming to the Capital Region. The reasons why -- and a bunch of pictures -- are after the jump.

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Irish Toast at The Miss Albany Diner

MAD Irish Toast at The Miss Albany

So by now it's no secret that I like my french toast. But here's the thing about french toast at the Miss Albany Diner -- I can get it with a little side of nostalgia.

This old pre-fab diner was built by Silk City in New Jersey and delivered to Broadway in Albany in 1941. The counter tops, the stools, the train car feel all take you back.

And with dishes like Spam and Eggs, so will the menu. But my personal fav at the Miss Albany is the MAD Irish Toast.

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Shopping the farmers' markets

One of the best things about weekends in the capital region is shopping the farmers' markets. All the local weekend markets have moved outdoors and they're stocked with lots of yummy, seasonal goodness.

This week's bounty includes rhubarb, greens, scallions, radishes, all kinds of seedlings and fiddleheads.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find this weekend at the farmers' markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga.

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Rolf's Pork Store

Yum. Weiners!

It's barbeque season -- but the Troy Pork Store is gone. No more locally made hot dogs and sausages -- what will you do?

Wait -- before you go into full out weiner withdrawal check out Rolf's in Albany.

This German shop has been selling over 50 kinds of handmade meats and sausages for decades.

Oh, and they've got a whole bunch of other stuff too -- from pork bellies to German romance novels.

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Better bottle bill bad for beer choice?

The "better bottle bill" that was part of the recent New York State budget includes a provision requiring all redeemable bottles sold in the state to carry a special New York barcode. As you might imagine, this hasn't gone over well with bottlers.

And now there's this from the Brewers Association:

The cost to produce a state-specific label with a unique UPC and the inventory and shipping challenges that presents, will mean many small breweries will be forced to pull their beers out of the New York market because the cost of doing business in the state will be simply too high.

...

Several brewing companies have already weighed in on this issue with the Governor, explaining they would have no choice but to discontinue distribution of their beers.

The complaints about the barcode rule already seem to be getting traction. State legislators have been talking about delaying the rule -- or even dumping it all together.

photo: Flickr user mfajardo

Dinosaur a preview of our barbecue future?

The Dino's Syracuse location.

Update: Steve has more details about the event. The short story: it's a benefit for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society-- and turnout may have some bearing on whether the Dinosaur sets up shop in the Capital Region.

__

The Dinosaur BBQ will be serving food in Troy next Tuesday (May 12) in Riverfront Park, according to Troy mayor Harry Tutunjian.

The Dinosaur has reportedly been scouting locations in the Capital Region for some time now. We got a tip from Nancy recently that while eating at the Syracuse location, she'd heard from the restaurant's manager that The Dinosaur was indeed planning to take over the old Fresno's location along the Hudson -- though the opening was still as much as a year out.

We've eaten at the Syracuse Dinosaur many times -- it's seriously good barbecue. We're looking forward to scoring some Dino next week.

[via Business Buzz]

Earlier on AOA: Trying the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que from the supermarket

(Thanks, Nancy! Thanks, Andrew!)

photo: Flickr user Joe Shlabotnik

Shopping the farmers' markets

Local farmers' markets are moving outdoors this weekend and there's lots of yummy, seasonal food to be had.

This week's bounty includes ramps, asparagus, arugula, spinach and all sorts of seedlings.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll find at the weekend markets in Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga. Don't forget, the Troy market moves to its new location in Riverfront Park this week.

Next week we'll have more from these and other area markets.

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Trayless in Saratoga

Apparently the food's so good you won't mind juggling a few plates.

Could the nicest place to eat in Saratoga be... Skidmore's cafeteria? From a front-page piece today in the NYT:

For the most part, when students returned in the fall, they were so dazzled by the transformation of the cafeteria that they hardly noticed the missing trays. The renovated dining hall has three slate fireplaces and a half-dozen food stations, including a do-it-yourself griddle for eggs. Three of the chefs are graduates of the Culinary Institute of America, and all the pasta, granola and baked goods are made on site.

The focus of the piece is on Skidmore's status as, in NYT's words, "a pioneer in trayless dining." Apparently trayless cafeterias are popping up at colleges all around the country -- they reportedly reduce food waste and save water and energy.

Skidmore isn't the only school that's tried going trayless. Union has "Trayless Tuesdays" in its cafeteria (a quality dining establishment, as we recently learned firsthand). And according to RPInsider, RPI tried out the idea -- but it didn't go over well.

Earlier on AOA: Capital Region college tuition

photo: Flickr user craigemorsels

Frank and Giovanni's Market

La Marqueta

OK, so there's this market in Albany -- it has an Italian name and sells Caribbean goods to mostly Spanish speaking shoppers.

The place is called Frank and Giovanni's Market, but it may be better known as La Marqueta. And it's stocked with all kinds of exotic and interesting foods from tubers to plantains to pigs' feet.

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The Capital Region's first taste of Chipotle

Chipotle is open.

Lots of people in the Capital Region have been excited about the impending arrival of Chipotle. I'd never been to a Chipotle, so I didn't quite see what all the fuss was about. And since I live in Albany, Wilton is sort of a haul for a burrito .

Still, last week, the lure of free food proved too great for me to resist. So on Thursday I picked up a few friends, opened the sunroof, and headed North toward free burrito glory.

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Pop Rocks cocktail at dp

Mikey likes it!

If popular retro-themed activities like adult kickball or spelling bees in the bars just aren't doing it for you -- or if you just want a drink to compliment them -- try the pop rocks cocktail at dp.

This sweet drink is a slightly more sophisticated way to relive your childhood.

Slightly.

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A dollar well spent

A hard choice.

Crisan's $1 scoop of gelato is back.

We recommend the tiramisu flavor.

That is all.

The week of free food

For whatever reason, this is the Week of Free Food in the Capital Region:

Today (April 20): free burritos at Bombers (though you should make a donation to the Boys and Girls Club while you're there)

Tuesday (April 21): free cone day at Ben and Jerry's

Wednesday (April 22): free burritos at Moe's in Saratoga

Thursday (April 23): free burritos at the new Chipotle in Wilton.

Grab lunch with us on Monday

This could be Monday's lunch.

Nipper's Hot Dogs -- the cart that served Chicago-style hot dogs in Troy last year -- will be setting up in Albany this year on lunch truck row near the Capitol. Opening day is Monday.

As we found out last year, Nipper's makes some tasty dogs. So we're going to be rolling up to Nipper's on Monday for lunch around noon. If you're in the area, we'd love to say hi.

Bonus: if you buy two of Nipper's dogs on Monday (they're two for $5 $6 -- see Bob's comment), you can get a free soda by mentioning "All Over Albany."

Tiramisu at Ragonese Imports

Molto Bene

Oh tiramisu, how I love you when you're made just right.

Alas, tiramisu is one of those desserts that is hit or miss at restaurants and not something I make myself -- so it was always been a rare treat for me.

Until I went to Ragonese Imports.

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Moon and River Cafe in Schenectady

So earlier in the week I dropped into the Moon and River Cafe in Schenectady to checkout the Electric City Ukulele Club and I thought, "Wow, I should write about this place."

It was my first visit to this fun, quirky little cafe but it certainly won't be my last.

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Summer just drove by

Why does stuff taste better from a truck?

Quick! Look out the front door! The first sign of warm weather just drove by!

@Mrs_Misanthrope snapped this pic today in Albany. She was nice enough to not taunt us with details of the ice cream snack she enjoyed.

Chocolate potato chips?

Sweet, salty, crispy goodness. And yeah, you probably can't eat just one.

Chocolate-dipped potato chips -- I know, it sounds risky, doesn't it?

Would they be greasy? Soggy? Too sweet? Too salty?

Well, my kids and I took one for the AOA team and stopped in at Isn't it Sweet to give them a try.

Here's the low down.

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Food photographer Tomas Malave

Tomas Malave, doing his thing.

Local photographer Tomas Malave says that taking his amazing pictures of food comes easily.

"The food just speaks for itself," he told me.

Hmmm. I've taken food photos and I'm thinking that if the food speaks-- it's clearly choosey about who it talks to.

No, taking delicious pictures like Malave's requires talent. Tomas Malave's talent for photographing food was nurtured right here in Albany.

Where? Bombers Burrito Bar.

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Buttering up

Hooray for saturated fat!

We were recently having a discussion via Twitter with Ellen about heirloom beans, Thomas Keller and butter. (What, you don't ever talk about famous chefs and pretentious food stuffs?) Ellen asked us if we knew of any local producers of artisan butter.

Alas, we did not. But we thought that you might. If we can come up with a handful of local butter makers, we'll put together a butter tasting and report the results.

photo: Flickr user Charles Haynes

Confectionery House

The stuff cupcakes are made of.

It was 2007. The Great Mid-Decade Cupcake Craze took us all by storm. Bookshelves and feedreaders across the nation filled with cookbooks and blogs devoted to the humble cupcake. Cupcake-only bakeries opened (including one in Saratoga). The craze has died down a bit since then, but cupcakes remain popular. Popular and delicious.

I love baking cupcakes. Eating them, not as much, but I bake them often for friends, co-workers, and parties. And I used to read cupcake blogs frequently. It was through them that I learned of a well-stocked and impressive online supply store for serious bakers called Confectionery House.

While browsing the site, much to my surprise I noticed that the store is located right here in the Capital District, based out of a small building in Troy.

I had to pay a visit, and not just to indulge my need for polka-dotted cupcake liners and dinosaur-shaped sprinkles.

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New York is one of the best beer states

That's according to an analysis of awards from the Brewers Association by drinks writer Rick Lyke (check out the map, too).

New York ranked #8 with the most medals since 1987. And a beer out of Rochester, Genesee Cream Ale, was tied for the second-most medals (10).

NY is one of the biggest states, so you would kind of expect that. But as Strange Maps concluded, New York also ranked in the top 10 on a medals per capita basis.

Earlier on AOA:
+ Who has the best prices on beer?
+ Belgian beer from brewery Ommegang

map: Rick Lyke

Ric Orlando's New World Bistro Bar

It's open!!!

After waiting impatiently for what seems like forever, I finally got to try Ric Orlando's new restaurant in Albany, The New World Bistro Bar, next to the Spectrum Theatre.

And, well, if last night's soft opening is any indicator, it's been worth the wait.

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Does Tom Mailey get free ice cream?

Is this the face of a man who got a free ice cream cone?

So last week we told you that the overwhelming demand for free St. Patrick's Day ice cream cones in 2008 caused Stewart's to change their famous Paddy's Day promotion. This year, if you came to any Stewart's wearing green on St. Patrick's Day, you could get a cone for 50 cents.

Upon hearing the news Jeff told us he was pretty sure Tom Mailey would be getting a free cone. Mailey is the former WRGB personality and current Stewart's spokesman and marketing manager.

Was Jeff right?

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Kosher for Passover Coke

The price is the same as last year.

Soda snobs rejoice! Kosher for Passover Coke has started arriving in local supermarkets.

What's the big deal? Well, normal Coke is made with high fructose corn syrup, which makes it not kosher for Passover. It also, according to soda snobs, makes Coke taste not quite right. Kosher for Passover Coke, on the other hand, is made with cane sugar (like Mexican Coke) and is said to be smoother and have a cleaner finish. (Pepsi is reportedly trying to capitalize on the soda snob market by launching a product made with cane sugar.)

Here's where we've found Kosher for Passover Coke so far...

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Wolff's Biergarten preview

Wolff's wurst.

So last night I checked out a preview of Albany's new German-themed Wolff's Biergarten. The club formerly known as Noche and Jack Rabbit Slims has been given the full Bavarian makeover, turning the firehouse next to Miss Albany Diner into an authentic-seeming wursthaus.

Under the direction of Bombers impresario Matt Baumgartner, the one-time tapas lounge has given up the leather couches and ritz for antler light fixtures, rustic picnic tables and a large, paper mache tree "growing" out of the center of the room.

In fact, with the sawdust on the floor, the trays of peanuts and the wood-paneled walls, it sort of feels like being in a barn -- but in the best way possible. Imagine a place where it's Oktoberfest every day, somewhere outside of Epcott Center. Honestly, the only thing missing from the atmosphere was a few corseted tavern wenches and an oom-pah band.

How was it?

The wurst part wasn't even the best part!

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Spring means ice cream

The first twist of the season.

There are a lot of signs of Spring's arrival: birds chirping, buds on the trees, the warm sun on your face. But our favorite is the opening of all the ice cream stands.

The Tastee Freeze in Delmar opened last week. The Snow Man in Troy opened this past weekend. And the Kurver Kreme opened today.

Before we know it, it'll be time to hit the ice cream tour.

Almond Joy French Toast at Mike's Diner

Almond Joy french toast. Sure, it's photogenic-- but how does it taste.

You know how, when something sounds too good to be true, you almost don't even want to try it? You just know it probably is too good to be true. And really, why set yourself up for disappointment.

That's how I felt when I heard about the almond joy french toast at Mike's Diner on Carman Road in Schenectady.

I mean, French toast + candy couldn't possibly be as good as it sounds.

But I tried it anyway.

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Corned beef at Old World Provisions

Pass the cabbage, please.

As any good Irish-American or wannabe knows, St. Paddy's Day is quickly approaching and that means it's time for corned beef and cabbage. But where to get your corned beef--that's the question.

What if I told you you could get corned beef in Albany from the place that supplies some of N.Y.C.'s most famous delis? Yes, that's what I'm telling you.

Where? Old World Provisions Pastrami and Corned Beef Outlet on S. Pearl Street. Yep, a corned beef and pastrami outlet.

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It's CSA sign-up time

You can get these -- and a lot of other great stuff -- from a local CSA

OK, yes, it's only March but it's not too early to start thinking about signing up for a CSA (community supported agriculture) farm share. In fact, now's the time the slots are filling up fast.

If you're not familiar with the CSA model, here's how it works: individuals or families sign up for a farm share through one of the many participating farms in the area. Then each week during the growing season, you'll be able to pick up a "share" of fresh produce, depending on what's in season.

Some farms focus solely on vegetables, while others include fruit, baked goods, eggs and even meat, depending on what type of program you're looking for. It's a great way to get lots of wonderful healthy food and support an area farm at the same time.

But how do you know which CSAs have what, how much they cost, and where to find them? The Web site localharvest.org has a thorough listing of CSA farms searchable by zip code and provides some of the basic details of what each farm provides.

Lucky for us, there are many CSA farms in the area, so AOA's put together a mini guide to several of the local CSAs to help you decide which share program would work best for you.

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S'more's at Bailey's Cafe

Yummmmmm

S'mores are one of the simple things that make us happy. Sure, they're just toasted marshmallow, graham crackers and a Hershey bar--but c'mon, they're toasted marshmallow, graham crackers and a Hershey bar! And there's something about assembling one yourself that makes you feel like a kid again.

Alas, the s'more has always been a treat relegated to summer camp outs, and fall bonfires.

But this weekend we found a place where they bring the bonfire right to your table. OK -- not the whole bonfire, but enough to melt your marshmallow.

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Saratoga Peanut Butter

It's tough to be a peanut butter lover these days. If you like that creamy, peanuty goodness but hate-- you know-- salmonella, then a pb&j can feel a bit like a game of Russian roulette. A very tasty game of Russian roulette.

Wait-- don't do it!

The Saratoga Peanut Butter Company is a much safer and yummier alternative.

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Chipotle coming to the Capital Region

Coming soon.

There was a story floating around last year that a Chipotle was opening in Latham. But months passed and nothing happened. It seemed like the Capital Region would continue to be burrito bol-less.

Then we saw Ellie's comment today about a Chipotle in Wilton. So we called up Chipotle and talked with Chris Arnold, a spokesman for the company. He confirmed that the fast-casual Mexican chain is planning to open three restaurants in the Capital Region this year.

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Supermarket Showdown II

Walmart was the champ last time.

A year ago we price-checked a "basket" of 40 items in an attempt to figure out which local supermarket chain has the lowest prices. Walmart came out on top -- it wasn't even close -- followed by Hannaford and then Price Chopper.

But, things change: prices go up, prices go down, economies go into recession.

So, this past weekend we checked the same basket again. Here's what we found...

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Lucky Tortilla's

Gen and Qing Chen, the owners of Lucky Tortilla's

When we heard about Lucky Tortilla's, a new taco joint on Washington in Albany, we had to know more because:

1. We're always up for a good taco.

2. The name and menu had the feel of a Chinese restaurant. And word was that the place was run by Asian people. Hmm... what sort of fusion could this be?

So, we checked it out. And as it happens, the story of Lucky Tortilla's is as American as quesadillas.

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Edible Albany!

Look-- a tiny little edible Lark St.

We wandered over to Crisan this afternoon to talk with baker/artist Claudia Crisan-Calabria about her upcoming edible art lecture at "New York in Bloom" -- and look what we found. A tiny little edible Lark Street.

What's it all about?

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Ian Egas knows his wine

Ian trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa.

So we've been known to drink a little wine here at AOA. We admit it. We also, sadly, admit that we have a bit of trouble differentiating our sauvignon blancs from our gewurztraminers. OK, actually, we have trouble once we get past "red or white."

Fortunately, that's not a problem for Ian Egas. He's the sommelier at Albany's swanky 677 Prime. Ian took time out from aerating and decanting to share some secrets about buying wine in the Capital Region, what your neighbors are drinking -- and Prime's $3000+ bottle.

Yep, one bottle. Yeah.

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Cooking the Tree of Life

The New York State Museum's culinary celebration of Darwin's birthday continues tomorrow night with a focus on plants. Here's the blurb from the museum's release:

You don't have to be a vegetarian or a botanist to appreciate the diversity of life forms in the Kingdom Plantae. Chef Timothy Warnock, corporate chef for U.S. Foodservice, uses ingredients from across the botanical Tree of Life to create the most biodiverse meal you have ever seen. Dr. George Robinson, professor at the University of Albany, guides you through the 500 million-year-old plant Tree of Life.

Here's some video of last week's session about vertebrates.

We heard from a few people who went last week that these Tree of Life events are fun. But if you want to score samples (and who doesn't?), it pays to sit up towards the front. And eating a snack beforehand is probably a good idea, too.

Tomorrow's session start at 7 pm in the NYS Museum's Clark Auditorium. It's free. There are two more sessions this month: Invertebrates (Feb 18) and Yeast & Fungi (Feb 25).

Macaroni and cheese at Hattie's

Mmmmmmm. Macaroni and cheeeeeese.

There is virtually nothing good for you on the menu at Hattie's.

Alright, we'll give you the rice and beans -- but other than that there is pretty much nothing good for you on the menu. Even the vegetables are fried.

But Hattie's isn't a place you go if you want a salad. For some folks it's the place to go when they want southern fried chicken, home made hush puppies, dumplings or fried okra. For us, it's the place to go for rich, creamy, artery-clogging-good macaroni and cheese.

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Who has the best prices on beer?

It doesn't grow on trees you know.

Maybe you're rooting for the Steelers. Maybe you're rooting for the Cardinals. Maybe you don't so much -- you know -- care. But you will care if there's beer at the Super Bowl party.

According to the folks at the Beer Institute (yeah, there is such a thing) 3.5 percent of beer sales come from Super Bowl weekend. So how will you get the best bang for your beer buck this weekend? AOA went beer shopping to help you out. (Yay, beer shopping.)

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Teavana

Pots at Teavana

My doc says I should relax and cut down on the caffeine, so I was especially looking forward to visiting Teavana, which just opened this weekend at Crossgates Mall.

So what exactly is "a heaven of tea"?

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Apple raspberry pie from Yonder Farms

We love how the glaze is ever-so-slightly crunchy.

You can buy a pie at pretty much any supermarket these days -- either the bake-from-frozen variety or the strangely identical ones that hang out around the market's bakery section.

Some of these pies are OK, but in our experience they always kind of taste a little fake. And that probably shouldn't be surprising -- these pies aren't so much baked goods as they are the product of an industrial process.

Thankfully, it is possible to still buy a real pie. And Yonder Farms in Colonie is one of our favorite places to get one.

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Ginger Man Cheese

Behold the power of cheese -- and horseradish.

We're big fans of the cheese here at AOA. Cheddar, stilton, brie, a good chevre-- we really can't get enough of the stuff. Ask the staff cardiologist.

But if we had to choose our cheese of choice -- the one cheese we could have if (heaven forfend) we could only have one -- it would be the spreadable horseradish cheese at The Ginger Man.

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Asparagus soup at Lark St. Wine Bar and Bistro

Kevin Everleth's post-holiday deep freeze funk buster.

It's cold. The holidays are over. There's ice and slush everywhere you look. And did we mention it's cold?

So last night we went in search of the antidote to our post-holiday deep freeze funk. And we found it--asparagus soup at the Lark Street Wine Bar and Bistro. Actually, any soup from the Lark Street Wine Bar and Bistro will work, but asparagus with white truffle oil is our favorite.

And here's why.

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Interesting in 2008: Crisan's Claudia Calabria

One of the best things about working on AOA this past year is that we've had the chance to meet a lot of interesting people. We'll be highlighting a handful of them between now and the start of 2009.

If AOA waistlines have been expanding this year, it may have something to do with the distance between our downtown office and Crisan. Some of our yummiest moments of 2008 were works of edible art by Ana Claudia Crisan Calabria.

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There's always room for pie

A plethora of pie!!!

So I stopped into Grandma's pie shop this week, and let's just say you'd never know there was a recession by the look of the dining room. They whole thing has been converted into a sort of "pie holding area," overflowing with boxes marked "from Grandma, with love."

Darcie Cegener, the manager, says by tonight they'll have sold about 5,000 pies for Christmas. The most popular ? Apple, pumpkin, and chocolate.

Five thousand pies is a drop in the bucket. Thanksgiving week they sold 12,000,

So is there one left for you? Yep, but don't dawdle. The pies are going quick, and Grandma closes her doors at 3PM today.

So long Shake Shake

Anybody want to buy a vegetarian cafe and smoothie shop? 

Shake Shake Mamas in downtown Troy is closing its doors.  The home of the Hans Solo smoothie and other healthful delights officially shuts down on Friday -- but Monday they're throwing a party for their customers. When we got the tip that they were shutting down, we called owner Royah Ansari to find out why.

Turns out it's not why you might think.  It also turns out she'd like to help you start a business in the Collar City.

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The Frankencake at Cheesecake Machismo

Mmmmm. Frankencake.

Why settle for one flavor of cheesecake when you could have six? Or more!

If you're headed to a holiday party this season and don't know what to bring, here's the perfect idea: A Frankencake from Cheesecake Machismo.

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Who has the best egg nog?

The nog lineup.

We got an email from Meagan last week:

Every holiday season, I find myself in an egg nog debate with a friend/coworker/stranger about who makes the best egg nog. My family and I are loyal fans of Stewart's egg nog (the premium one, not that "light" crap). I've always immediately dismissed anyone else's rebuttal. I have given a couple other egg nogs a try, and in my opinion, they were nowheres near as delish as Stewart's.

So you know what this means? Yeah, that's right: egg nog taste test!

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Wine coming to a supermarket near you?

Land of the Two Buck Chuck.

Updated Tuesday at 2:45

Jess gave us the heads-up this afternoon that David Paterson's proposed budget would also open the way for supermarkets in New York State to sell wine. From a story in the Poughkeepsie Journal:

"We will create a spike in the sale of wine," especially New York wine, Patrick Hooker, the state's agriculture commissioner, said in an interview with Gannett News Service.

Wegmans, a leading upstate supermarket chain, applauded Paterson's plan Monday, saying the law is long overdue.

"We love the idea of supermarkets being allowed to sell wine," said spokeswoman Jeanne Colleluori. "We have supported this idea for decades because we believe it's a great service to the customers."

But liquor stores were quick to criticize the proposal, saying it would lead stores to close and therefore damage the local economy.

And as Jess points out, this could also open the way for more Trader Joe's in New York because the chain does a lot of business selling its discount wines.

But there's a bit of a catch, too: the budget would also more than double the tax on wine.

(details throughout this document)

One more thing: in a little bit of an odd twist, the Paterson admin is sort of now telling people to stop drinking soda and start drinking wine. Sort of.

(Thanks, Jess!)

photo: Flickr user woolennium

Tea from The Good Leaf

Day 2 of the AOA's holiday gift guide...

What?

The Smart Tea Maker Starter Set at The Good Leaf Gourmet Tea Company on Lark Street. It includes three sample tins of tea and brewing instructions. Choose from Earl Grey de la Crème, Moroccan Mint, and Bollywood Brew Chai; or Rise, Tropical Fantasy, and Chamomile Sonata; or Vanilla-infused Rooibos, Very Strawberry, and Lemon Drop.

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Our first meal at The Standard

The 50's style worked for us.

The Standard, the new restaurant at Crossgates, opened this week. And after hearing about the company behind it, we were kind of curious. We figured you would be, too.

So we had dinner there last night.

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The Peppermint Pig

The three little peppermint pigs.

Done with your holiday shopping yet? Yeah, didn't think so. In our ongoing effort to be helpful (live elves), we've been keeping an eye out for gifts that are fun, interesting and local. We'll bring you one a day. And as always, if you've got any thoughts or suggestions, tell everyone about it.

On the first day of the AOA holiday gift guide we give you peppermint porcine goodness.

What?

The Peppermint Pig.

It's not bacon candy -- but it's almost as much fun. Candy pigs may seem kind of random, but they were a traditional holiday gift in Saratoga Springs generations ago. About 20 years ago Mike Fitzgerald at Saratoga Sweets brought them back. Now they're in catalogs and on the internet. They've even marched in the Macy's parade. But they're made right here in the Capital Region. Here's how the tradition works:

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Drinking chocolate at Crisan

Warm, spiced chocolate for a cold day.

Yes, we admit it, we've got a little love affair going on with Crisan. ( And yes, we have the love handles to prove it.) It started with a little $1 gelato, then moved on to the Kiss Me phase. Now, we're ready to spend the winter sipping tiny cups of spiced drinking chocolate.

No, not hot cocoa.

Drinking chocolate.

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Uncle Sam's: a sweet secret?

Candy. And lots of it.

When I saw the television commercial for Uncle Sam's Candy in Schenectady I thought they must be new. Then I saw their print ad in Capital Region Living, where it was noted that they were voted "Best Chocolate Shop in the Capital Region."

By who, I wondered. And, more importantly, as a hardcore chocolate lover -- why hadn't I heard of this place before?

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How produce gets here from the West Coast

Oranges being packed at the Railex warehouse in Rotterdam.

The Railex route that starts in Washington State and ends in Rotterdam will be featured tonight on the History Channel in an episode of Extreme Trains called "Ice Cold Express."

What's Railex? The company describes itself as "a distribution platform designed to enhance logistics, distribution, consumer demands and inventory control" that "features three refrigerated, mega-transload distribution centers; one in Delano, California, one in Wallula, Washington, and one in Rotterdam, New York."

In other words, it's a train that ships stuff, mostly produce, relatively quickly from the West Coast (it's a five day trip). The company just started up a run from California to Rotterdam. Its Washington to Rotterdam route started in 2006.

You've probably bought produce that's been shipped on this train. The shipments include apples, onions, lettuce, oranges, broccoli, grapes, wine and a whole bunch of other stuff.

photo: Railex

What can we expect The Standard to be?

The Eveready Diner in Hyde Park, which is owned by the same restaurant group.

When we first saw the signs for The Standard, the new restaurant going in at Crossgates, we thought, "Oh, look, there's a mid-century ring-a-ding-ding chain now. Whatever."

But then we heard a little more about it. The Standard is being opened by a company that runs a group of restaurants in the Hudson Valley. So we did a little research to get a sense of what we might expect.

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A Dinosaur for the Capital Region?

The Dinosaur in Syracuse. It's a real joint -- in the best way.

The Daily Gazette reported today the owner of the Dinosaur Barbeque is scouting locations in the Capital Region.

OK, consider us already hungry.

The Dinosaur makes awesome barbecue -- like, I'm-kind-of-stuffed-and-shouldn't-really-but-can't-stop-myself barbecue. From a few reviews:

+ "The food here is not good but amazing." [RoadFood]

+ "Okay, so I've been to the New York Dinosaur BBQ twice in the last month. Okay, twice in the last two weeks really. Why? Cause it's damn good." [Hot Sauce Blog]

+ "Dinosaur BBQ is about the only redeeming quality of Rochester." [Chowhound poster]

The Dinosaur already has locations in Syracuse (the original), Rochester and, more recently, Harlem. We're glad to see the injustice of skipping over the Capital Region is finally being addressed.

According the to the Gazette, one of the locations being considered is the old Fresno's on the river in Troy.

Earlier on AOA: Trying the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que from the supermarket

photo: Flickr user Joe Shlabotnik

Bombers sells salsa in a jar?

As hot as the chick on the label?

Albany's iconic burrito bar is now selling its salsa retail-style.

A recent trip to the Honest Weight Food Co-op turned up a jar of Bombers' salsa. (Yep, we had no idea either.) They sell the hot sauce, too -- but we were all about the salsa.

So, how is it?

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The early bird gets the turkey

Gobble!

Vegetarians, avert your eyes... we're coming up on Thanksgiving and if AOA's previous post on buying your still-mooing beef has inspired you, you might be thinking about heading out to pick out a turkey to grace your table on November 27.

Er, not so fast...

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The Tournament of Pizza finals

Pizza King vs. Pasquale's

The final round of the Tournament of Pizza has arrived. After starting with 16 pizza places, we're down to just two: Schenectady's Pizza King and Albany's Pasquale's.

Which pizza will take the title?

Let's eat.

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Round 3: The Semi-Finals

Top: D'Andrea's vs. Pizza King; Bottom: I Love NY vs. Pasquale's

It's crunch time as the four remaining pizzerias in the Tournament of Pizza head into the semi-finals. Anyone left in the field could take the title -- it's all a matter of execution. And this round's challenge is a bit different than the first two: we ordered broccoli ricotta white pizzas. Yep, the red sauce stayed on the sidelines for this one.

Could the pizzas hold up to going sans tomato? Would anyone making a costly mistake? Who will face off for the title?

There's only one way to find out. Pizzas, please.

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Checking out the Schenectady Greenmarket

Downstairs at the new Schenectady Greenmarket.

A trip to the first Sunday of this season's Winter Market at the new Schenectady Greenmarket with the kids turned out to be way more fun than I expected it to be.

We turned the clocks back and were off our normal schedules, the kids were still wired from Halloween -- would there be enough there to hold everyone's interest until I could be rescued by naptime?

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The Tournament of Pizza semi-finals

We've come to the last week of the Tournament of Pizza. Here are how things have shaped up so far:

Round 3 is tomorrow. It will be a matchup of broccoli ricotta white pizzas.

Round 2: Albany

Pasquale's vs. Inferno

The pepperoni round makes its last stop in Albany for a matchup between Pasquale's and Inferno. Pasquale's topped one of the favorites in this competition, Paesan's, 2-1 in Round 1. Inferno breezed past an underwhelming effort by Sovrana 3-nil.

Who will be the final member of the semi-finals?

Let's eat!

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Round 2: Troy

Red Front vs. I Love NY

The pepperoni round rolls into Troy for a big, big showdown between Red Front and I Love NY. Both places are coming off convincing 3-0 wins in Round 1: Red Front over the famed DeFazio's and I Love NY over Knotty Pine.

It's a matchup not for the faint of heart -- or the small of stomach. These are pizzas that demand to be eaten. Who will prevail!

Let's eat!

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Round 2: Schenectady

Home Style vs. Pizza King

The pepperoni round stops in Schenectady today for a matchup between Home Style and Pizza King. A quick recap of Round 1 in this bracket: Home Style made it to the second round by beating its neighbor down the block, Scotti's, 2-1. Pizza King advanced with a convincing 3-nil win over Fireside.

That leaves us with a Downtown vs. Upper Union matchup. Whose pepperoni will come out on top?

Let's go the pizza!

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Round 2: Saratoga

D'Andrea's vs. Caputo's

The Tournament of Pizza returns to Saratoga for the opening of the second round. This time around, we ordered pepperoni pizzas. The scoring works the same way. After a blind side-by-side tasting, the judges vote on their favorite -- most votes wins.

Here's how we got here. In Round 1, D'Andrea's edged out Marino's 2-1 on the strength of its "very thin, crisp crust." And Caputo's beat out Broadway Pizza 2-1, though the judges didn't seem too impressed with either competitor.

OK, let's taste some pizza!

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The pepperoni round

Here are how things stand as we head into Round 2 of the Tournament of Pizza:

Round 2 is the pepperoni round. It kicks off tomorrow with D'Andrea's vs. Caputo's in the Saratoga Bracket.

Round 1: Albany

The Albany bracket.

The opening round of the Tournament of Pizza makes its last stop in Albany. The matchups: Paesan's vs. Pasquale's and Sovrana vs. Inferno.

Let's taste some pizza!

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A pumpkin pie martini? Oh, yes.

Halloween does need a cocktail.

Sure, cider donuts are great and all, but for some of us, fall-themed cocktails are a little more our taste. So when I spotted the pumpkin pietini advertised at Bombers the other night, well, I couldn't resist.

After all, I love pumpkin pie and I love cocktails, so why not combine them?

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Round 1: Troy

The Troy bracket.

The opening round of the Tournament of Pizza heads to Troy. Lots of favorites in this bracket. The matchups: DeFazio's vs. Red Front and Knotty Pine vs. I Love NY.

Let's go to the results.

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Round 1: Schenectady

The Schenectady bracket.