In the coming months, I plan to go to a different Capital Region restaurant every month. Hopefully with the cooperation of the owners or the chefs, I will be able to talk to them, getting either an interview or hopefully a demonstration or two of how some of their dishes are prepared.
Since this is the last day of January, I don’t think I’ll be able to accomplish either of those goals today. So here is the proposed list of restaurants for the year. Some of these restaurants I am already a fan of and some are just on my list because I’ve always wanted to check them out. ****
February – Have you ever had pizza from Pizza King in Schenectady? If not it is well worth the trip. There is a large variety of pizza and all are mouth watering.
March – Since it is the month of my grandmother’s birthday and hopefully I’ll have my tax return around that time, I think a nice dinner at Yono’s in Albany is just what we all need. If you love Indonesian food or even finely prepared food of the continental persuasion, this is the place to go.
**Have I mentioned that my grandmother is Indonesian? You’ll hear about her soon, look for little video cooking lessons from the both of us.
April – If you are planning on seeing Jesus Christ Superstar, the farewell tour, at Proctors and need a good place to eat beforehand, I suggest Cornell’s in Schenectady’s Little Italy on North Jay Street. The food is fabulous and the staff makes you feel right at home.
May – When I think of May, I think of Mother’s Day and then I think of an afternoon tea. So we’ll check out The Whistling Kettle in downtown Ballston Spa.
SUMMER IN SARATOGAOkay, so you can call me biased, but I love Saratoga, especially in the summer. I can just hear the Race Track’s jingle now: Saratoga, Saratoga…
· June – What’s lovelier than some traditional fried chicken to officially start summer? Personally, I cannot think of anything better and the place to dine on the finest fried chicken north of the southern states has to be Hattie’s. Bobby Flay, of Food Network fame, only solidified what Capital Region residents and quite honestly probably a lot of City and Long Island folk already knew, Hattie’s has the best.
· July – This is by far the most anticipated month for me of the year. With July comes the Ballet Season. In order to properly appreciate all the beautiful dancing and the men in tight tights, you need to have had satisfying meal. Much like the NYC Ballet Summer Season, the Spring Water Bistro is a Saratoga staple.
· August – What is finer than making a killing at the track? Okay, so that has never happened to me, but where can one go to heal ones wounded horse race gambling ego? Siro’s, which has been serving track patrons for years and it helps that it is only across the street.
September – I think by early fall I will start craving some comforting food, and to me Casey’s fills that need. It’s a charming little place located in Rensselaer.
October – I will be celebrating my quarter life birthday, so I think that calls for some Provençal French food at Provence in Guilderland. I haven’t been there yet, but all I hear is good things.
November – By this time of the year I will be craving the warmth of summer and the taste of the Caribbean, so I think we’ll check out First Choice Caribbean American Cuisine of Troy. I have to get across the river at some point.
December – In honor of St. Nicholas’ Greek heritage, we’ll dine at The Chariot in Guilderland.****
I don’t know about you, but writing this list has made me so hungry; and I can’t wait to meet the fabulous people that have brought these interesting and varied restaurants to the Capital Region. So look forward to this series that I will start in February.
