Tag Archives: Upstate

A tour of Saratoga mineral springs

My baker friend Tom turned me on to the Cooking Issues podcast of Dave Arnold, who is an artisanal cocktail maker in Brooklyn among many other skills. Arnold recently visited our fair city to sample and make cocktails from the ubiquitous … Continue reading

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Ribbon cutting day at Chester’s Smokehouse in Albany

Chester’s Smokehouse is a throwback to the days when refrigeration was spotty and every town had a smokehouse to preserve meat. It recently opened in an ungentrified district of Albany, taking over a building that allegedly housed a pretty rough … Continue reading

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The Italian Trade Commission comes to Price Chopper, and that’s a good thing

Why are Italian delis filled with shelves of enticing jarred and canned foods, but not American or Jewish delis? Why is your supermarket stocked with box after box of Italian pasta in shapes you could never imagine? Because the Italians, … Continue reading

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A visit to the Casola Dining Room at SCCC (Schenectady County Community College)

There are two things that the Casola Dining Room has in common with the legendary Chez Panisse in Berkeley. First, you have to call exactly two weeks in advance of your desired dining date and time to have any hope … Continue reading

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Where to eat lunch in Saratoga Springs, NY

Welcome to my fellow bloggers who are in town for Wordcamp on October 11, 2014. Here’s where to eat lunch in Saratoga. The following list is not exhaustive but covers the spots I recommend. These are quick, grab-a-bite places so … Continue reading

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Vinegar Peppers

We’ve talked about sport peppers and Pastene ground peppers and Crystal hot sauce, but vinegar peppers deserve their own post. They’re an Italian American specialty item in which greem bell peppers are pickled in a mild white vinegar bath. The … Continue reading

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Going local at All Good Bakers

I got into a conversation with Britin and Nick Foster at All Good Bakers, a bakery and daytime eats spot in South Albany, because I criticized their bread in a Yelp review. They responded online and asked me to come … Continue reading

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Gluten-free ale from Steadfast Beer Co

Had a conversation at Saratoga Beer Week with Alison and Jeremy Hosier, brewers at Steadfast Beer Co. in Albany. They brew with sorghum in place of barley and wheat, and their new product, Sorghum Pale Ale, is just about to … Continue reading

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House brand taste test… Ketchup!

I have a soft spot for store or “house” brands. I’m convinced that they are not made in actual houses, but in the same factories used to produce the national brands*. The difference comes when it’s time to slap on … Continue reading

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Saratoga Chowderfest 2012

Possibly because of the nice weather, Saratoga Chowderfest was slammed this year. (Event date was February 4, 2012.) There was a mile-long backup on the highway coming into town, no legal parking spaces anywhere near downtown (creating a ticket-writing field … Continue reading

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