Lamb “breakfast sandwich” from Treviso at last year’s event: maple braised lamb leg, asiago, smoked bacon and shaved frozen egg yolk on french toast
The 2015 Albany Food & Wine Festival is coming up this weekend, but don’t wait any longer to buy tickets. As of this moment EVERYTHING is SOLD OUT with the exception of the Friday Afternoon Grand Tasting.
However, that’s my favorite event of the weekend and well worth leaving work early for. I attended last year on Friday and was impressed by the complexity and presentation of many of the samples. At Albany Wine Fest it seems like many of the chefs are trying to one-up one another in how imaginative and generous they can be with the foods they put forth… as opposed to some other festivals in which the participants are simply providing samples (not that there’s anything wrong with that) of what you can find at their restaurants.
Pork Belly from Creo with pickled red onions, cotija cheese and micro cilantro
There is also a huge amount of alcohol on offer… both as cocktails and straight samples of obscure brands and products. (It was at last year’s event I discovered the White Pike Whiskey and McClure’s Bloody Mary.) Which is why I recommend you take advantage of the discount rates being offered on the festival’s website for overnight lodging at the Albany Hilton (host venue) or the Hampton Inn around the corner. Discount codes are at the bottom of the ticket purchase page linked above.
The event also features new venues, like Tara Kitchen’s Moroccan fare last year
This is the sixth year of the event, which was started by Yono Purmono and friends as a way to give back to the community, and proceeds go to support a number of local arts organizations. I’m missing it this year because I’m on the West Coast at the Fancy Food Show… was going to post about that but it will have to wait till after you buy your tickets for the Friday Afternoon Grand Tasting. Do it right now!
