CAPITAL REGION LIVING
FOOD DRINK& Besties
HOW S.K. DEEB AND SON BILL OF TED'S FISH FRY HAVE KEPT REELING IN BESTIES, 16 STRAIGHT YEARS AND COUNTING.
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Skip the salad! It’s time to give your veggies a new chance to shine. Fire up the grill and try our new favorite summer side dish.
Want to add more variety? Add Cedar’s® Roasted Red Pepper Hommus as a second dip option for your grilled vegetables. simply healthy
from your Hannaford Dietitians
We’re committed to supporting your health and wellness goals. Our team of registered dietitians offer free nutritional services online and in-store. Visit hannaford.com/dietitians to learn more.
Grilled Veggies with Avocado Tzatziki Dip
SERVES 8
Ingredients:
1 Ripe Avocado from Mexico, peeled and pitted
1/2 cup Fresh Express® Spinach
1/2 cup
4 to 6
Cedar’s® Cucumber
Garlic Tzatziki
Vegetables of your choice for grilling. Recommended: 1 medium zucchini, 1 red onion, 1 yellow bell pepper, 1 pint grape tomatoes, and 1 bunch asparagus
1/4 cup Hannaford Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp. McCormick® Basil Leaves
1 tsp. McCormick® Oregano Leaves
1 tsp. McCormick® Thyme Leaves
Directions:
Ground pepper, to taste
1. Heat grill to medium-high heat.
2. Add avocado, spinach and tzatziki to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a serving dish and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Prepare vegetables of choice. If using zucchini, bell pepper or red onion, slice into half-inch slabs. If using asparagus, trim the woody ends (usually an inch) at the bottom. Place all sliced vegetables in a large bowl.
4. Combine olive oil, herbs and black pepper in a small bowl. Pour olive oil blend over veggies and toss gently to coat.
5. Grill vegetables for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Grill times may vary depending on vegetables used.
6. Remove veggies from grill and transfer to a serving board or platter. Serve with prepared avocado tzatziki dip.
Nutritional Information: (may vary based on vegetables used) Amount per serving: Calories 150; Total Fat 12 g; Saturated Fat 2 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 60 mg; Total Carbohydrate 11 g; Dietary Fiber 4 g; Protein 4 g; Sugar 5 g
THE BESTIES, FOODIE-STYLE
Since the term “foodie” was first coined by restaurant critic Gael Greene in New York magazine in 1980, it has transformed quite a bit. It was once used to describe only the highest-brow downstate diners at Manhattan’s trendiest Michelin-starred restaurants. Nowadays, it can refer to anyone—even you!—who considers eating, be it caviar or a greasy burger, a hobby. And it’s in this latest Besties issue of CAPITAL REGION LIVING that you’ll find all of your fellow foodies’ favorite restaurants, dishes and more. Now that you’re hungrier than you were five seconds ago, let’s dig into the meat and potatoes of the issue. It goes without saying that it’s been a tough year for the local food industry. And while some Capital Region eateries didn’t survive, the majority of the Bestie-winning
restaurants listed in the following pages did, thanks in large part to the overwhelming support of the local foodie community. Turn to page 10 to read our cover story on the iconic Ted’s Fish Fry, which has been serving sensational fried seafood in the region for more than 70 years and this year takes home the Bestie for Best Fish Fry for the record 16th consecutive year. Get the skinny on other perennial Bestie powerhouses Bella Napoli (page 14), Yanni’s Too (page 16) and Kay’s Pizza (page 20), plus find out what the Capital Region considers its fantasy threecourse meal (page 25).
With the State lifting most COVID restrictions and more customers getting vaccinated, local restaurants are finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. But pandemic or not, us locals will continue honoring the area’s best food by doing what we do best: eating it.
—The Editors
Ted’s Fish Fry president, S.K. Deeb (left), and his son and general manager, Bill
NEW NOW AND Dishing on the four hottest happenings in the 518 foodie world.
BY NATALIE MOORE
PUTTING THE ‘GARDEN’ IN BEER GARDEN
For real, who didn’t see the gorgeous photos of the reimagined Troy Beer Garden on social media? Not only has the former Wolff’s Biergarten location been transformed from a foosball and fútbol bar into a succulents-strewn oasis, but it’s also taken its food menu (which previously consisted of peanuts and, well, more peanuts) plantbased, serving up small plates like General Tso’s Cauliflower and Oyster Mushroom Calamari.
BYE-BYE, CUOMO CHIPS
Capital Region restaurants got some good news when New York State repealed the COVIDera mandates regarding curfews and capacity limits. Plus, the most infamous rule, requiring restaurants to serve food to any customer who purchased an alcoholic beverage. Last July, Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar in Saratoga put $1 “Cuomo Chips” on its menu to satisfy the state’s law, and a photo of a receipt from the eatery went internationally viral.) At press time, the mandate that allows to-go alcohol sales had been extended, but with an expiration date of June 5, if the state didn’t reup it again. In the spirit of all things celebratory, let’s hope it becomes permanent—and cheers to that
A LOBSTER TALE
Being blue isn’t always a bad thing. When Jack’s Oyster House found itself with a rare blue lobster—the crustacean had a one in a million chance of being, in the wise words of Lady Gaga, born this way—the Albany restaurant considered selling the delicacy for a whopping $200. But after contacting the Boston Aquarium, a customer came in with a better idea. Local business owner Jackie Keto brought Big Blue to Rotterdam’s Via Aquarium, where he will live out his retirement, locally
FARMHOUSE TO TABLE
It’s quite possible that the sound of Phish’s moststreamed song on Spotify, “Farmhouse,” could have been heard wafting from the homes of the happy people of Altamont this spring. That’s because modern American pub Farmhouse Tap + Tavern opened its doors for takeout on April 8 and in-person dining in early May. The bold-faced name behind the Farmhouse? Jackie Silvestri, founder of the wildly popular “518 Foodies” Facebook. And her faithful foodies have been flocking to the tavern for locally sourced eats and handcrafted cocktails all spring long.
Ted's Fish Fry President S.K. Deeb (right) with his son, Bill, the local chain's general manager, behind the counter at the company's flagship restaurant in Watervliet.
FISH BIG
THE CAN’T-MISS SEAFOOD AT TED’S FISH FRY HAS BEEN REELING IN CAPITAL REGION FANS FOR MORE THAN SEVEN DECADES.
BY WILL LEVITH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANCESCO D'AMICO
Attention would-be beach bums: You don’t have to drive all the way to Cape Cod or fly, face-shielded, down to Florida to enjoy the world’s greatest fried seafood, right? Maybe best of all, too, is that it doesn’t have to come with a schmear of sunscreen or side of sand. Your port of call? Ted’s Fish Fry. Ted’s was the brainchild of late and titular fry-preneur Ted Deeb, the son of Lebanese immigrants, who opened the restaurant’s first location in Watervliet in 1949. (His fried food empire has since expanded to include two locations in Troy, two in Albany, and one apiece in Latham and Clifton Park.) How did Ted land on his restaurant’s signature fare?
As current president S.K. Deeb tells the story, his dad was on his way down to the Sunshine State when he happened upon a roadside spot serving fried chicken somewhere in the Carolinas. “He met up with an older Black woman, who made him homemade fried chicken and fried onion rings, and my father took the recipe—she was cordial enough to give it to him,” he says. Upon returning home, he put the batter to the test, first using it on his fried onion rings and then fanning out from there. “My father,” S.K. says,
“loved fried foods.”
Onion rings remain a specialty to this day, but of course, Ted’s wouldn’t be named what it is if it weren’t for its bestselling fish fry, a long strip of cod that’s battered and fried to perfection and served in a hot dog bun that’s a size too small. The restaurant has also become known for its many other surf- and turfside delights such as fish and chips, fried clams, fried scallops and fried calamari, plus the diminutive regional heavyweight, the mini hot dog, which comes slathered in homemade meat sauce.
While the menu might seem to be bursting at the seams with options, it’s remained relatively unchanged for decades. That’s because Ted’s customers flock to its restaurants as much for its finger-licking foodstuffs as its predictability. In other words, you won’t find any secret, off-menu items at the Watervliet flagship or special quadrupledecker whatchamacallit promotion every other month. That said, the Wolf Road location in Albany is technically the only Ted’s where you can get an oyster roll, says Bill Deeb, S.K.’s son and the general manager for the whole Ted’s enterprise. And if a customer were to walk in and ask for a custom Dagwood-style sandwich—say, a dozen mini hotdogs with
two fish frys as buns—the restaurant's knowledgeable, patron-centric staff would do its best to accommodate.
What has kept the faithful coming back for all these years boils down to the original Ted Deeb (he passed away in '85). “His strong point, besides serving good food for a fair price, was his personality,” says S.K. “He made everybody feel welcome, and customers became like family.” Speaking of bloodlines, Ted’s is the dictionary definition of a family-run business: There’s S.K. at the top; son Bill, serving as general manager; daughter Deanna DeBonis, as its HR director; and S.K.'s cousin, Joe, who manages the restaurant’s North Troy location. There are also several other families within the restaurant’s employee pool that have been longtime Ted’s workers, too.
During the pandemic, Ted’s sailed away with Besties in the Fish and Chips, French Fries and Kid-friendly Dining categories; plus it took home its record 16th straight Bestie for–you guessed it–Best Fish Fry. What’s the trick to cleaning up all of those Besties? “When you treat your customers, employees and friends like family, you can’t go wrong,” says S.K. And, hey, if you feed them delicious fried food, that doesn’t hurt either.
A classic Ted's spread: fish frys two ways (topped with tartar sauce and their signature sweet chili sauce), onion rings, french fries, coleslaw and milkshakes.
CAPITAL REGION LIVING
Besties
& DRINK
APPETIZERS
Innovo Kitchen
1214 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 608-1466 innovokitchen.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
BAGELS
Uncommon Grounds
Coffee & Bagels
Multiple Locations uncommongrounds.com
West End Bagels
5 Southside Drive, Clifton Park (518) 952-4762 westendbagels.com
Bagel Tyme
389 Fairview Avenue, Hudson (518) 822-1510
1004 Kinderhook Street, Valatie (518) 758-1313 bageltymeny.com
BAKERY
Bella Napoli Bakery & Cafe 672 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 783-0196
721 River Street, Troy (518) 274-8277 bellanapolibakery.com
Villa Italia Bakery
226 Broadway, Schenectady (518) 355-1144 villaitaliabakery.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery (tie) 1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
Zachary’s Pastry Shoppe (tie) 390 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer (518) 477-2140
54 State Street, Albany (518) 813-9557
BBQ
Brooks’ House of Bar-B-QBQ Catering available throught the Capital District (607) 432-1782 brooksbbq.com
PJ’s Bar-B-QSA 1 Kaydeross Avenue West, Saratoga Springs (518) 583-7427 pjsbarbqsa.com
Pig Pit BBQ
1 Niver Street, Cohoes (518) 235-2323 pigpitbbqny.com
BEST KEPT SECRET
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Tara Kitchen Multiple Locations tarakitchen.com
BEVERAGE CENTER
Oliver’s Beverage Center 105 Colvin Avenue, Albany (518) 459-2767 brew-crew.com
Delmar Beverage Center
242 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-7275 delmarbeveragecenter.com
Westmere Beverage 1756 Western Avenue, Guilderland (518) 456-1100 brew-crew.com
BISTRO
New World Bistro Bar
300 Delaware Avenue, Albany (518) 694-0520 newworldbistrobar.com
Delmar Bistro
180 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-1000 thedelmarbistro.weebly.com
Garden Bistro 24 (tie) 5 Vista Boulevard, Slingerlands (518) 439-3832 gardenbistro24.com
Sage Bistro (tie)
2050 Western Avenue, Guilderland (518) 608-5410 sagebistrony.com
BLOODY MARY
Innovo Kitchen
1214 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 608-1466 innovokitchen.com
Nighthawks Restaurant & Bar 461 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1000 nighthawkstroy.com
Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern Multiple Locations tipsymoosetavern.com
BREAD
Bountiful Bread
Stuyvesant Plaza
1475 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 438-3540 bountifulbread.com
Perreca’s 31-33 North Jay Street, Schenectady (518) 372-1875 perrecas.com
The Placid Baker 250 Broadway, Troy (518) 925-2232 theplacidbaker.com
BREAKFAST
Cafe Madison
1108 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 935-1094
359 Northern Boulevard, Albany (518) 898-9630 cafemadisonalbany.com
Blue Ribbon Family Restaurant 1801 State Street, Schenectady (518) 393-2600 blueribbonrestaurant.com
Duncan’s Dairy Bar (tie) 890 Hoosick Road, Troy (518) 279-9985 duncansdairybar.com
McCarroll’s The Village Butcher & and Deli (tie) 406 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3936 delmarmarketplace.com
BREWERY
Brown’s Brewing Company 417 River Street, Troy (518) 273-2337
50 Factory Hill Road, North Hoosick (518) 205-5049 brownsbrewing.com
Druther’s Brewing Company Multiple Locations druthersbrewing.com
Frog Alley Brewing
108 State Street, Schenectady (518) 631-4800 frogalleybrewing.com
Baked to Perfection
BRUNCH
Cafe Madison 1108 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 935-1094
359 Northern Boulevard, Albany (518) 898-9630 cafemadisonalbany.com
Innovo Kitchen 1214 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 608-1466 innovokitchen.com
The Cuckoo’s Nest
234 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 650-7215 cuckoosnestalbany.com
BURGER
Nighthawks Restaurant & Bar 461 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1000 nighthawkstroy.com
Crave (tie)
217 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 650-6463 cravealbany.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub (tie) 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
CAKES
Coccadotts Cake Shop 1179 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 438-4937 coccadotts.com
Villa Italia Bakery
226 Broadway, Schenectady (518) 355-1144 villaitaliabakery.com
Bella Napoli Bakery & Cafe (tie)
672 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 783-0196
721 River Street, Troy (518) 274-8277 bellanapolibakery.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery (tie) 1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
Bella Napoli, a fixture in Troy and Latham for decades, is family business at its finest.
BY WILL LEVITH
Imagine this: The delicious aroma of Italian baked goods—fresh oven-baked Italian bread, cookies and cannoli—wafting backward through time and doing a pirouette into some happy person’s nostrils, circa 1957. That’s when John V. Mainella, who grew up near Naples, Italy, first opened Bella Napoli on River Street in Troy. Early recipes also included pizza dough and submarine rolls, which Mainella’s wife, Phyllis, helped bake and sell out of the family shop. A year after opening, John’s brother, Michael, joined the ranks of the family business, too.
Bella Napoli’s legend—and influence—only grew from there. In ’82, John’s eldest son, Dominic, opened a second, 4,000-square-foot Bella Napoli location on New Loudon Road in Latham, which not only featured the original’s classic Italian baked goods, but also a café, soon to be known for its delicious sandwiches, sweets and coffee.
Speaking of the non-savory stuff, nowadays, customers come from far and wide to enjoy Bella Napoli’s specialties such as its Sfogliatelle, a flaky pastry filled with sweet ricotta cheese and diced orange peel; signature cannoli, available in flavors like raspberry and cappuccino; and Baba, an Italian sponge cake soaked in rum, which comes plain or filled with creamy Italian vanilla custard. (Customers also snap up the bakery’s take on stateside staples such as doughnuts, muffins and Danish, too.)
Whether you catch the Mainellas doing their thing at the OG Troy spot or the 39-years-young Latham outpost, you can be sure that you’ll leave a satisfied—and by that, we mean full—customer.
Bella Napoli
CALAMARI
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Verdile’s Restaurant 572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
CHEESECAKE
Blue Rose Cheesecake & Bake Shop
1815 State Street, Schenectady (518) 393-2765 blueribbonrestaurant.com
Nuns of New Skete
345 Ashgrove Road, Cambridge (518) 677-3810 newskete.org
Besties’ Boss
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery
1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
CHICKEN WINGS
Ralph’s Tavern 1328 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 489-8290 ralphstaverninc.com
Rusty Nail Grill & Tavern 1781 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 371-9875 mayfavoritetaverns.com
The Towne Tavern 2850 NY 43, Averill Park (518) 674-3040 thetownetavern.com
CHILI
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Otis & Oliver’s 30 Mill Road, Latham (518) 785-9291 otisandolivers.com
Stewart’s Shops Multiple Locations stewartsshops.com
CHOCOLATE SHOP/ CANDY STORE
Krause’s Homemade Candy 1609 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 869-3950 krausescandy.com
Uncle Sam’s All American Chocolate Factory Newtown Plaza 594 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 608-4949
2571 Albany Street, Schenectady (518) 372-2243 unclesamscandy.com
Candy Kraft Candies 2575 Western Avenue, Altamont (518) 355-1860 candykraftcandies.com
Yanni’s Too rules this year’s awards with 11 first-place wins.
BY NATALIE MOORE
ICHOWDER
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Ted’s Fish Fry Multiple Locations tedsfishfry.com
Otis & Oliver’s 30 Mill Road, Latham (518) 785-9291 otisandolivers.com
CIDER DOUGHNUTS
Indian Ladder Farms 342 Altamont Road, Altamont (518) 765-2956 indianladderfarms.com
Golden Harvest Farms 3074 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-7683 goldenharvestfarms.com
Cider Belly Doughnuts 25 North Pearl Street, Albany (518) 253-4640 ciderbelly.com
t’s a feat in and of itself to go home with one, or maybe even two Besties. Most local restaurants would be proud to nab a W in the Best-kept Secret, Reader’s Choice Appetizer or Best Chili category. But Yanni’s Too in Coeyman’s Landing isn’t your typical Capital Region restaurant: It won in all three categories, plus eight more.
Yanni’s Too gets its name from owner and chef Marc Yanni, who, naturally, scooped up the Bestie for Best Chef. The family-run Yanni’s—it came in second in the Family-owned Restaurant category—is its second Capital Region restaurant (hence the punny “Too”). Located at Coeyman’s Landing Marina, the restaurant offers unparalleled outdoor dining (it won in that category, too), with views of the mighty Hudson. You can also place your order to go, and the Yanni’s waitstaff will bring your food out to your car (needless to say, the restaurant also won in the Takeout and Waitstaff categories).
Speaking of food, Yanni’s grub is equally Bestie-winning. The calamari (first place) comes in five varieties—Buffalo Style, Mediterranean Style, Rhode Island, Chipotle Style and classic; the chowder (first place) won the People’s Choice Award at Troy Chowder Fest; and the seafood (first place) is so fresh, you’ll think you’re on the shores of the Atlantic, not the Hudson. That’s all not to mention Yanni’s “grown up” lobster mac and cheese (first place), beer-battered fish and chips (second place) and smoked ribs (second place). As if that weren’t enough, add in a second-place finish in the Albany County category and a third in the American Food category, for good measure. Who’s hungry?
Yanni's Too
COFFEE
Stewart’s Shops
Multiple Locations stewartsshops.com
Perfect Blend Cafe and Bakery
376 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-6537 perfectblendcafe.com
Uncommon Grounds
Multiple Locations uncommongrounds.com
COMFORT FOOD
The Cuckoo’s Nest
234 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 650-7215 cuckoosnestalbany.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub
95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
Olde Bryan Inn 123 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-2990 oldebryaninn.com
COOKIES
The Cookie Factory 1705 U.S. 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-7644
520 Congress Street, Troy (518) 268-1060 cookiefactoryllc.com
Bella Napoli Bakery & Cafe
672 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 783-0196
721 River Street, Troy (518) 274-8277 bellanapolibakery.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery 1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
CUPCAKES
Coccadotts Cake Shop 1179 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 438-4937 coccadotts.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery 1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
Perreca’s Bakery 33 North Jay Street, Schenectady (518) 372-1875 perracas.com
DELI
Pellegrino Importing 1197 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 459-4472 pellegrinoimporting.com
McCarroll’s The Village Butcher & and Deli
406 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3936 delmarmarketplace.com
Gershon’s Deli 1600 Union Street, Schenectady (518) 393-0617 gershonsdeli.com
DINER
Alexis Diner
294 North Greenbush Road, Troy (518) 286-2603 alexisdiner.us
Blue Ribbon Family Restaurant 1801 State Street, Schenectady (518) 393-2600 blueribbonrestaurant.com
Capital City Diner 1709 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 250-4261 pilarinoshospitalitygroup.com
DISTILLERY
Albany Distilling Company
75 Livingston Avenue, Albany (518) 949-2472 albanydistilling.com
Harvest Spirits
3074 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-1776 harvestspirits.com
Yankee Distillers
5 Fairchild Square, Clifton Park (518) 406-3245 yankeedistillers.com
FAMILY-OWNED RESTAURANT
Verdile’s Restaurant
572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Dino’s Restaurant
2113 Route 7, Troy (518) 663-0131 dinosrpb.com
FINE DINING
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Yono’s
25 Chapel Street, Albany (518) 436-7747 yonos.com
Black & Blue Steak and Crab
1470 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 313-7388 blackandbluesteakandcrab.com
FISH FRY
Ted’s Fish Fry Multiple Locations tedsfishfry.com
Off Shore Pier
637 Third Avenue Extension, Rensselaer (518) 283-9880 offshorepier.com
Gene’s Fish Fry (tie)
300 Troy Road, Rensselaer (518) 286-3767 genes-fish-fry.edan.io
Harbor House Fish Fry (tie) 1742 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 371-3813 facebook.com/harborhousefishfry
FISH & CHIPS
Ted’s Fish Fry Multiple Locations tedsfishfry.com
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
O’Slattery’s Irish Restaurant & Pub (tie)
318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-5634 oslatterys.com
Off Shore Pier (tie) 637 Third Avenue Extension, Rensselaer (518) 283-9880 offshorepier.com
FRENCH FRIES
Ted’s Fish Fry Multiple Locations tedsfishfry.com
Annabel’s Pizza Company (tie) 108 State Street, Schenectady (518) 553-0400 annbelspizzaco.com
Nighthawks Restaurant & Bar (tie) 461 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1000 nighthawkstroy.com
FRIED CHICKEN
Hattie’s Restaurant 45 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4790 hattiesrestaurant.com
The Cuckoo’s Nest 234 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 650-7215 cuckoosnestalbany.com
Allie B’s Cozy Kitchen 353 Clinton Avenue, Albany (518) 729-3472 aliebscozykitchen.com
GLUTEN FREE DISH
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery 1758 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
Mex Cocina 77 Congress Street, Troy (518) 951-6114 facebook.com/mexcocinany
HAPPY HOUR
City Line Bar & Grill
1200 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 504-1200 citylinebar.com
Crossroads Brewing Company 21 Second Street, Athens (518) 945-2337
201 Water Street, Catskill (518) 444-8277 crossroadsbrewingco.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
HOMEMADE PASTA
Canali’s Italian & American Restaurant
126 Mariaville Road, Schenectady (518) 355-5323 canalisrestaurant.com
Verdile’s Restaurant 572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar 54 Crossing Boulevard, Clifton Park (518) 383-4444
440 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-0534 wheatfields.com
HOT DOG
Gus’s Hot Dogs
212 25th Street, Watervliet (518) 273-8743
Search: Gus's Hot Dogs Watervliet, NY on Facebook
Famous Lunch
111 Congress Street, Troy (518) 272-9481 famouslunch.org
Mike’s Hot Dogs
1135 Erie Boulevard, Schenectady (518) 382-9213
Search: Mike’s Hot Dogs on Facebook
ICE CREAM STAND
The Snowman Ice Cream 531 5th Avenue, Troy (518) 233-1714 thesnowmanicecream.com
Jim’s Tastee Freez 58 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3912 jimstasteefreez.com
Guptill’s Ice Cream 1085 New Loudon Road, Cohoes (518) 785-0660 facebook.com/Guptillsicecream
KID-FRIENDLY DINING
Ted’s Fish Fry Multiple Locations tedsfishfry.com
Kay’s Pizza (tie) 10 Walsh Lane, Averill Park (518) 674-5413 kayspizza.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub (tie) 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
LATE-NIGHT DINING
Bob’s Diner
929 19th Street, Watervliet (518) 274-2393 bobsdinerny.com
Latham '76 Diner
722 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 785-3793 latham76diner.com
LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Druther’s Brewing Company Multiple Locations druthersbrewing.com
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
LUNCH SPOT
Four Corners Luncheonette 2 Grove Street, Delmar (518) 439-0172 fourcornersluncheonette.com
Emma Cleary’s Cafe
1926 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands (518) 439-8700
emmaclearys.com
The Whistling Kettle Multiple Locations thewhistlingkettle.com
MAC & CHEESE
Druther’s Brewing Company Multiple Locations Druthersbrewing.com
Tipsy Moose Tap & Tavern Multiple Locations tipsymoosetavern.com
Crossroads Brewing Company
21 Second Street, Athens (518) 945-2337
201 Water Street, Catskill (518) 444-8277 crossroadsbrewingco.com
MARGARITA
TORO Cantina 111 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 949-2211 torocantina.com
La Fiesta
15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park (518) 280-2657 lafiestamexican.com
El Mariachi
289 Hamilton Street, Albany (518) 432-7580 elmariachirestaurant.com
MARTINI
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
The Century House (tie)
997 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 785-0834 thecenturyhouse.com
Daley’s on Yates (tie) 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
9 Maple Avenue (tie) 9 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 583-2582 9mapleave.com
MEATBALLS
Pellegrino Importing 1197 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 459-4472 pellegrinoimporting.com
Testo’s
853 4th Avenue, Troy (518) 235-0444
769 Pawling Avenue, Troy (518) 326-1177 testosrestaurant.com
Cardona’s Market 340 Delaware Avenue, Albany (518) 434-4838 cardonasmarket.com
MUFFINS
Smith’s Orchard Bake Shop 4561 Jockey Street, Ballston Spa (518) 882-6598 smithspieshop.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery 1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
Bountiful Bread
Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 438-3540 bountifulbread.com
NEW RESTAURANT
TORO Cantina
111 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 949-2211 torocantina.com
Annabel’s Pizza Company
108 State Street, Schenectady (518) 553-0400 annbelspizzaco.com
The Nest Restaurant & Bar (tie) 512 State Street, Schenectady (518) 672-3018 thenest518.com
Rosanna’s Italian Kitchen (tie) 23 Dove Street, Albany (518) 462-9176 rosannasondove.com
OMELETTES
Cafe Madison (tie)
1108 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 935-1094
359 Northern Boulevard, Albany (518) 898-9630 cafemadisonalbany.com
Peaches Cafè (tie) Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 482-3677 peachescafe.net
Iron Gate Cafe
182A Washington Avenue, Albany (518) 445-3555 irongatecafe.com
Alexis Diner (tie) 294 North Greenbush Road, Troy (518) 286-2603 alexisdiner.us
Blue Ribbon Family Restaurant (tie) 1801 State Street, Schenectady (518) 393-2600 blueribbonrestaurant.com
OUTDOOR DINING
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Lanie’s Cafe 471 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville (518) 438-5005 laniescafe.com
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Worth the Wait
PASTA SAUCE
Testo’s
853 4th Avenue, Troy (518) 235-0444
769 Pawling Avenue, Troy (518) 326-1177 testosrestaurant.com
Verdile’s Restaurant 572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
Dominick’s Gourmet Pasta Sauce (Pizza by Dominick)
1969 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands (518) 478-9223 facebook.com/DomincksGourmet
PIES
Smith’s Orchard Bake Shop 4561 Jockey Street, Ballston Spa (518) 882-6598 smithspieshop.com
Dolce & Biscotti Fine Italian Bakery 1758 US Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-6173 dolceandbiscotti.com
Averill Park’s seasonal Kay’s Pizza offers fans a slice of cheesy heaven.
BY NATALIE MOORE
IGolden Harvest Farms 3074 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-7683 goldenharvestfarms.com
PIZZA
20 p.
Kay’s Pizza 10 Walsh Lane, Averill Park (518) 674-5413 kayspizza.com
Romo’s Pizza
365 Feura Bush Road, Glenmont (518) 449-5871 romospizzany.com
DeFazio’s Pizzeria (tie) 266 4th Street, Troy (518) 271-1111 defaziospizza.com
Red Front Pizza (tie) 1747 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 280-7008 71 Division Street, Troy (518) 272-9241 redfrontrestaurant.com
f there’s one thing Capital Region residents look forward to each spring, it’s when their favorite ice cream shop opens for the season. Sure, the frozen stuff’s fantastic—a vanilla-chocolate twist with rainbow sprinkles? Yes, please!—but part of the allure of going out for a cone in the summer is that you can’t during the winter months. And as a certain slice of foodie fandom will tell you, that business model also happens to work for Averill Park pizza joint and perennial Bestie winner Kay’s Pizza.
Open from early April to mid-October, Kay’s—which this year nabbed a first-place Bestie for Pizza, plus seconds in Kid-friendly Dining, Rensselaer County Restaurant and West Sand Lake/Averill Park Restaurant—is a pizza-lover’s paradise located on the shore of Burden Lake. Formerly an inn, the property was purchased by Kay and Vic Campagna in 1958 and transformed into a pizza restaurant (the couple lived on the second floor). Since then, Kay’s has changed hands several times, with current owners Tom and James Lilly, a father-son duo, taking over in 2011.
Despite the ownership changes, the original Campagna family pizza recipe hasn’t been lost. Sixty-three years later, Tom and James are still slinging pies crafted with the same house-made dough and sauce used by the shop's founders, and Capital Region pizza-holics are still lining up in the parking lot by the dozens to get it.
But Kay's pizza, which comes in varieties such as Hawaiian, Thai Chili Chicken, Capt. Bill Clam Steam and Everything (12 toppings!), isn’t the only reason people make the trek out to Burden Lake. Kay’s also serves plenty of Italian-inspired appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrées. Seafood, too, is in high demand—try the spiral shrimp, fish fry or fried scallops, or go with the seafood platter for a sampling of all three—and is best enjoyed on the restaurant’s lakeside porch.
What are you waiting for? Pizza season at Kay’s will be over before you know it.
Kays Pizza
PUB
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
Brown’s Brewing Company
417 River Street, Troy (518) 273-2337
50 Factory Hill Road, North Hoosick (518) 205-5049 brownsbrewing.com
Across the Street Pub and Restaurant (tie)
1238 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 438-1718 acrossthestreetpub.com
McGeary’s Pub (tie)
4 Clinton Square, Albany (518) 463-14556 mcgearyspub.com
RIBS
Otis & Oliver’s 30 Mill Road, Latham (518) 785-9291 otisandolivers.com
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Brooks’ House of Bar-B-Q (tie) Catering available throughout the Capital District (607) 432-1782 brooksbbq.com
3 Ball BBQ (tie) Catering available throughout the Capital District (518) 369-5521 3ballbbq.com
ROMANTIC DINING
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Yono’s 25 Chapel Street, Albany (518) 436-7747 yonos.com
SANDWICH/SUB
McCarroll’s The Village Butcher and Deli 406 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3936 delmarmarketplace.com
Pellegrino Importing 1197 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 459-4472 pellegrinoimporting.com
Lanie’s Cafe 471 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville (518) 438-5005 laniescafe.com
SEAFOOD
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Fin - Your Fishmonger 2050 Western Avenue, Guilderland (518) 452-4565 finshops.com
SLIDERS
Slidin’ Dirty 9 First Street, Troy (518) 326-8492 slidindirty.com
Jack’s Drive-In
24 Main Avenue, Wynantskill (518) 283-5110
Search: Jack’s Drive In on Facebook
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub
95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
SOUP
Bountiful Bread
Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 438-3540 bountifulbread.com
Otis & Oliver’s
30 Mill Road, Latham (518) 785-9291 otisandolivers.com
Ted’s Fish Fry Multiple Locations tedsfishfry.com
SPORTS BAR
Recovery Room Sports Grill Multiple Locations recoverysportsgrill.com
Junior’s Bar & Grill
1094 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 935-2025
48 North Greenbush Road, Troy (518) 244-3535 juniorsbarandgrill.com
Forty One Sports Bar & Grille (tie)
41 112th Street, Troy (518) 235-4141 fortyonesportsbar.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub (tie)
95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
STEAKHOUSE
Barnsider
480 Sand Creek Road, Albany (518) 869-2448 barnsiderrestaurant.com
677 Prime 677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Black & Blue Steak and Crab 1470 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 313-7388 blackandbluesteakandcrab.com
SUSHI
Shogun
318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 729-5727 shogunofdelmar.com
Akanomi Japanese Restaurant 2568 Western Avenue, Altamont (518) 357-0888 akanomisushi.com
Sushi Thai at the Park 1707 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 348-0100 sushithaiatthepark.com
TAKEOUT
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Nighthawks Restaurant & Bar 461 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1000 nighthawkstroy.com
Plum Blossom Restaurant 685 Hoosick Road, Troy (518) 272-0036
Search: The Plum Blossom Restaurant on Facebook
TAPAS/SMALL PLATES
Twisted Vine Wine & Tap
384 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3241 twistedvinedelmar.com
Boca Bistro
384 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 682-2800 bocabistro.com
Mex Cocina 77 Congress Street, Troy (518) 951-6114 facebook.com/mexcocinany
Dining Across County Lines
CRL READERS VOTED FOR THEIR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN EIGHT CAPITAL REGION COUNTIES. AND THE WINNERS ARE...
TEA
The Whistling Kettle Multiple Locations thewhistlingkettle.com
Short & Stout Tea Lounge 1736 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 456-8327 shortandstouttea.com
The Tailored Tea 1010 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 608-5137 thetailoredtea.com
VEGETARIAN SELECTION
Berben & Wolff’s (closed permanently)
Mex Cocina
77 Congress Street, Troy (518) 951-6114 facebook.com/mexcocinany
The Hollow Bar + Kitchen (tie)
79 North Pearl Street, Albany (518) 426-8550 thehollowalbany.com
Taco Libre (tie)
433 River Street, Troy (518) 951-6114 riverstreetmkt.com
VEGAN SELECTION
Berben & Wolff’s (closed permanently)
Mex Cocina
77 Congress Street, Troy (518) 951-6114 facebook.com/mexcocinany
Square One Cafe (location closed permanently; has since reopened as Take Two Café)
WAITSTAFF
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
Verdile’s Restaurant 572 2nd Street, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
677 Prime 677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
WINE LIST
677 Prime 677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Yono’s
25 Chapel Street, Albany (518) 436-7747 yonos.com
Twisted Vine Wine & Tap
384 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3241 twistedvinedelmar.com
WINE/ WINERY
Altamont Vineyard & Winery 3001 Furbeck Road, Altamont (518) 355-8100 altamontwinery.com
Galway Rock Vineyard and Winery 998 Saratoga Road, Ballston Lake (518) 280-6554 galwayrockwines.com
Hudson Chatham Winery 1900 State Route 66, Ghent (518) 392-9463 hudsonchathamwinery.com
CUISINE
AMERICAN
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub (tie) 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
Otis & Oliver’s (tie) 30 Mill Road, Latham (518) 785-9291 otisandolivers.com
Yanni’s Too (tie) 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
CAJUN
Hattie’s Restaurant 45 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4790 hattiesrestaurant.com
Parish Public House
388 Broadway, Albany (518) 465-0444 parishpublichouse.com
CARIBBEAN
Roy’s Caribbean Restaurant & Sports Bar
769 State Street, Schenectady (518) 433-1343 facebook.com/royscaribbeanrestaurant
The Dutch Pot Empire State Plaza
100 South Mall Arterial, Albany (518) 455-8500 facebook.com/TheDutchPotRestaurants
CHINESE
The Plum Blossom Restaurant 685 Hoosick Road, Troy (518) 272-0036
Search: The Plum Blossom Restaurant on Facebook
Ala Shanghai 468 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 783-8188 alashanghai.net
Gold Coin
1360 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands (518) 439-6428 goldcoinrestaurant.com
FRENCH
Provence (closed permanently)
GERMAN
The Flammerie (closed until further notice)
7 Hudson Street, Kinderhook (518) 758-1509
earch: The Flammerie on Facebook
Heidelberg Inn (tie) 352 Quaker Road, Queensbury (518) 792-5556 heidelbergny.com
Pumpernickel’s Restaurant (tie)
4571 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing (518) 644-2106 bluewatermanor.com
Wolff’s Biergarten (tie) Multiple Locations wolffsbiergarten.com
GREEK
Athos Restaurant
1814 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 608-6400 athosrestaurant.com
Greek House
27 3rd Street, Troy (518) 272-6058 thegreekhouse.net
Latham '76 Diner (tie) 722 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 785-3793 latham76diner.com
Four Brothers Pizza Inn (tie) 2960 US Highway 9, Valatie (518) 758-7151 fourbrothersrestaurants.com
INDIAN
Karavalli, Regional Cuisine of India
9 Johnson Road, Latham (518) 785-7600 karavalli.com
Taj Fine Indian Cuisine
365 Feura Bush Road, Glenmont (518) 977-3050 tajfineindian.com
Shalimar
Multiple Locations shalimarny.com
ITALIAN
Sam’s Italian American
125 Southern Boulevard, Albany (518) 463-3433 samsitalianamerican.com
D’Raymonds
269 Osborne Road, Loudonville (518) 459-6364 draymonds.com
Verdile’s Restaurant
572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
JAPANESE
Akanomi Japanese Restaurant
2568 Western Avenue, Suite 101, Altamont (518) 357-0888 akanomisushi.com
READERS CHOICE AWARDS
APPETIZER
Yanni's Too - Calamari 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 • yannisrestaurants.com
ENTRÉE
Verdile's - Chicken Parmigiana 572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 • verdile.com
DESSERT
TORO Cantina - Dessert Nachos 111 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 949-2211 • torocantina.com
DRINK
Chez Mike - Blood Orange Margarita 596 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush (518) 479-4730 • chezmikerestaurant.com
Photography by Audrey Knizek
Shogun
318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 729-5727
shogunofdelmar.com
Hana Japanese Steak House Restaurant
1620 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 452-4262 hanaalbany.com
LEBANESE
Mamoun’s Falafel Restaurant
206 Washington Avenue, Albany (518) 434-3901 mamounsalbany.com
MEDITERRANEAN
Tara Kitchen
Multiple Locations tarakitchen.com
Barcelona Restaurant (tie) 1192 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 438-1144 barcelona-albany.com
Kismet Mediterranean Grill (tie) 1116 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 599-0500 kismetgrill.com
MEXICAN
El Mariachi
289 Hamilton Street, Albany (518) 432-7580
elmariachirestaurant.com
El Loco Mexican Cafe
465 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 436-1855 ellocomexicancafe.com
Casa Real Mexican Restaurant 1400 Altamont Avenue, Schenectady (518) 356-0060
3770 Carman Road, Schenectady (518) 357-8475 casarealmexicanrestaurant.com
POLISH
Muza 1300 15th Street, Troy (518) 271-6892 muzaeuropeanfood.com
SPANISH
Barcelona Restaurant
1192 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 438-1144
barcelona-albany.com
Boca Bistro
384 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 682-2800
bocabistro.com
Mi Ecuador Juice Bar (tie)
175 Columbia Turnpike, Renssleaer (518) 275-0565
miecuadorjuicebar.com
Salsa Latina Restaurant (tie)
315 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 426-7050 misalsalatina.com
THAI
Sweet Basil Thai Restaurant
370 Delaware Avenue, Albany (518) 729-4111 sweetbasilthaialbany.com
Sushi Thai @ the Park 1707 Route 9, Suite 100, Clifton Park (518) 348-0100
sushithaiatthepark.com
Sri Siam Thai Restaurant
337 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush (518) 915-1654 srisiamthaifood.com
VIETNAMESE
Van’s Vietnamese Restaurant
307 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 436-1868 vansrestaurantny.com
Saigon Spring 1683 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 982-0425 saigonspring.com
COUNTY
ALBANY COUNTY
677 Prime 677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com
New World Bistro Bar (tie)
300 Delaware Avenue, Albany (518) 694-0520 newworldbistrobar.com
Barnsider (tie)
480 Sand Creek Road, Albany (518) 869-2448 barnsiderrestaurant.com
COLUMBIA COUNTY
La Bella’s Restaurant, Bar & Pizzeria
2967 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-6611 labellavalatie.com
Main Street Diner 3032 Main Street, Valatie (518) 758-1233 valatiediner.com
Chris’ Cafe 1048 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-7701 facebook.com/chriscafe518
FULTON/MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Raindancer Restaurant
4582 State Highway 30, Amsterdam (518) 842-2606 raindancerrestaurant.com
GREENE COUNTY
Reds Restaurant
12005 Route 9W, West Coxsackie (518) 731-8151 redsrestaurant.com
Crossroads Brewing Company 21 Second Street, Athens (518) 945-2337
201 Water Street, Catskill (518) 444-8277 crossroadsbrewingco.com
Mountain View Brasserie 10697 State Route 32, Greenville (518) 966-5522 themountainviewbrasserie.com
RENSSELAER COUNTY
Verdile’s Restaurant
572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
Kay’s Pizza 10 Walsh Lane, Averill Park (518) 674-5413 kayspizza.com
Nighthawks Restaurant & Bar (tie) 461 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1000 nighthawkstroy.com
Chez Mike (tie) 596 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush (518) 479-4730 chezmikerestaurant.com
SARATOGA COUNTY
Prime at Saratoga National 458 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 583-4653 primeatsaratoganational.com
15 Church (tie) 15 Church Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-1515 15churchrestaurant.com
Pasta Pane (tie)
18 Park Avenue, Clifton Park (518) 371-5762 pastapane.com
SCHENECTADY COUNTY
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Canali’s Italian & American Restaurant
126 Mariaville Road, Schenectady (518) 355-5323 canalisrestaurant.com
Johnny’s
433 State Street, Schenectady (518) 982-5657 johnnysdowntown.com
THANK YOU! VOTED BEST
TROY, FAMILY-OWNED AND RENESSELAER COUNTY RESTAURANT
READER’S CHOICE ENTRÉE: CHICKEN PARM
For over 75 years, Verdile’s classic Italian-American restaurant has offered an expansive menu ranging from casual, family friendly traditional favorites to finer dining dishes, using only quality ingredients. Our cozy, nostalgic family run eatery has a full-service cocktail lounge and servers in tuxedos reminiscent of a golden era gone by.
572 Second Avenue • Troy 518.235.8879 • www.verdile.com
VOTED BEST EAST/NORTH GREENBUSH RESTAURANT
At Chez Mike, our goal is to provide a superior dining experience through exceptional service and fresh, from-scratch food, in a relaxed neighborhood atmosphere. We are a casual restaurant serving Eclectic American Cuisine changing seasonally.
SCHOHARIE COUNTY
Apple Barrel Store + Cafe 115 NY 30A, Schoharie (518) 295-7179
shopapplebarrel.com
The Bear’s Steakhouse
8254 Duanesburg Road, Duanesburg (518) 895-2509
Search: The Bear’s Steakhouse on Facebook
Cobleskill Diner
117 Granite Drive, Cobleskill (518) 234-7111 thecobleskilldiner.com
CITY/TOWN
ALBANY
677 Prime 677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com
Yono’s
25 Chapel Street, Albany (518) 436-7747 yonos.com
Jack’s Oyster House (tie) 42 State Street, Albany (518) 465-8854 jacksoysterhouse.com
New World Bistro Bar (tie)
300 Delaware Avenue, Albany (518) 694-0520 newworldbistrobar.com
BALLSTON SPA
Augie’s Family Style Italian Restaurant
17 Low Street, Ballston Spa (518) 884-8600 augiesrestaurant.com
Next Door Kitchen & Bar
51 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 309-3249 nextdoorkitchenandbar.com
The Factory Eatery & Spirits 20 Prospect Street, Ballston Spa (518) 885-0500 thefactoryeatery.com
BETHLEHEM
Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub 95 Everett Road, Albany (518) 472-0522
367 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-1111 swiftyspub.com
Delmar Bistro
180 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-1000 thedelmarbistro.weebly.com
O’Slattery’s Irish Restaurant & Pub
318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-5634 oslatterys.com
CLIFTON PARK
Sushi Thai @ the Park 1707 Route 9, Suite 100, Clifton Park (518) 348-0100 sushithaiatthepark.com
Pasta Pane
18 Park Avenue, Clifton Park (518) 371-5762 pastapane.com
Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar
54 Crossing Boulevard, Clifton Park (518) 383-4444
440 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-0534 wheatfields.com
COLONIE
Barnsider (tie)
480 Sand Creek Road, Albany (518) 869-2448 barnsiderrestaurant.com
Lanie’s Cafe (tie) 471 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville (518) 438-5005 laniescafe.com
TORO Cantina 111 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 949-2211 torocantina.com
D’Raymonds 269 Osborne Road, Loudonville (518) 459-6364 draymonds.com
EAST/NORTH GREENBUSH
Chez Mike 596 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush (518) 479-4730 chezmikerestaurant.com
Alexis Diner
294 North Greenbush Road, Troy (518) 286-2603 alexisdiner.us
Moscatiello’s Family Restaurant 99 North Greenbush Road, Troy (518) 283-0809 moscatiellos.com
GUILDERLAND
Illium Bistro at Pinehaven Country Club 1151 Siver Road, Guilderland (518) 805-1122 illiumbistro.com
Mezza Notte Ristorante 2026 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 689-4433 mezzanottealbany.com
Athos Restaurant (tie) 1814 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 608-6400 athosrestaurant.com
Sage Bistro (tie) 2050 Western Avenue, Guilderland (518) 608-5410 sagebistrony.com
LAKE GEORGE
The Log Jam 1484 US 9, Lake George (518) 798-1155 logjamrestaurant.com
Adirondack Pub & Brewery 33 Canada Street, Lake George (518) 668-0002 adkbrewery.com
Frederick’s Restaurant & Lounge 4970 Lake Shore Drive, Bolton Landing (518) 644-3484 fredericksrestaurant.com
LATHAM
Milano Restaurant & Wine Bar 594 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 783-3334 milano-restaurant.com
Otis & Oliver’s 30 Mill Road, Latham (518) 785-9291 otisandolivers.com
Sake 611 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 785-7215 sakelatham.com
ROTTERDAM
Canali’s Italian & American Restaurant
126 Mariaville Road, Schenectady (518) 355-5323 canalisrestaurant.com
Armondo’s Villa Tuscan Grill (tie)
273 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady (518) 355-2090 armondosvtg.com
Johnny C’s Pizza & Family Restaurant (tie)
18821 Altamont Avenue, Rotterdam (518) 355-8900 johnnycspizza.com
Tops American Grill, Bakery & Bar (tie)
351 Duanesburg Road, Schenectady (518) 355-9864 topsrotterdam.com
SARATOGA SPRINGS
Panza’s
129 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-6882 panzasrestaurant.com
Olde Bryan Inn
123 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-2990 oldebryaninn.com
15 Church (tie)
15 Church Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-1515 15churchrestaurant.com
Hattie’s Restaurant (tie)
45 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4790 hattiesrestaurant.com
SCHENECTADY
Daley’s on Yates 10 Yates Street, Schenectady (518) 901-0174 daleysonyates.com
Blue Ribbon Family Restaurant
1801 State Street, Schenectady (518) 393-2600
blueribbonrestaurant.com
Johnny’s 433 State Street, Schenectady (518) 982-5657
johnnysdowntown.com
SCOTIA/GLENVILLE
Turf Tavern
40 Mohawk Avenue, Scotia (518) 393-3671 turftavern.com
The Glass Tavern (temporarily closed)
115 Saratoga Road, Glenville (518) 952-7443
theglasstavern.com
Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In 5 Schonowee Avenue, Scotia (518) 535-4747
jumpinjacksdriveininc.com
TROY/RENSSELAER
Verdile’s Restaurant 572 2nd Avenue, Troy (518) 235-8879 verdile.com
Lo Porto 85 Fourth Street, Troy (518) 273-8546 loportostroy.com
Nighthawks Restaurant & Bar (tie) 461 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1000 nighthawkstroy.com
Brown’s Brewing Company (tie) 417 River Street, Troy (518) 273-2337
50 Factory Hill Road, North Hoosick (518) 205-5049 brownsbrewing.com
WEST SAND LAKE/ AVERILL PARK
The Towne Tavern 2850 NY 43, Averill Park (518) 674-3040 thetownetavern.com
Kay’s Pizza 10 Walsh Lane, Averill Park (518) 674-5413 Kayspizza.com
Lakeview on Crystal Lake 4 Old Route 66, Averill Park (518) 674-3363 crystallakeview.com
Yanni’s by Car…Yanni’s by Bike… Yannis by Boat!
Thank you for voting Chef/Owner Marc Yanni best in the Capital Region! Thank you to all of our loyal patrons and our amazing Staff as we rolled with all the punches of this past year. Things may be different but we still maintain the same food quality and customer service. Come join us in our spacious dining room and on our 2 Large outdoor patios overlooking the majestic Hudson River. Wednesday through Sunday Lunch & Dinner. Dine-in, Take out & Curbside Like us on Facebook and look for daily specials!
CULTURE
ART GALLERY
The Clark
225 South Street, Williamstown, MA
The Hyde Collection
161 Warren Street, Glens Falls
Art Omi
1505 County Route 22, Ghent
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
miSci
15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady
The Children’s Museum at Saratoga
69 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs
CMOST
250 Jordan Road, Troy
CONCERT HALL
SPAC
108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
30 Second Street, Troy
Palace Theatre
19 Clinton Avenue, Albany
MOVIE THEATER
Scotia Cinema
117 Mohawk Avenue, Scotia
Crandell Theatre
48 Main Street, Chatham
The Madison Theatre
1036 Madison Avenue, Albany
MUSEUM
New York State Museum
222 Madison Avenue, Albany
Albany Institute of History & Art
125 Washington Avenue, Albany
Saratoga Automobile Museum
110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs
OUTDOOR SUMMER VENUE
SPAC
108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs
Park Playhouse at Washington Park
Madison Avenue & New Scotland Avenue, Albany
Saratoga Race Course
267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs
SEASONAL EVENT
Howe Caverns Haunted Cave Tour
255 Discovery Drive, Howes Cave
Saratoga Racing Season
267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs
Troy Victorian Stroll
Downtown Troy
SERVICES
ANIMAL HOSPITAL
The Animal Hospital
2 Rocking Horse Lane, Slingerlands
The Village Animal Clinic
70 School Road, Voorheesville
Delmar Animal Hospital 910 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
APPLIANCE STORE
Marcella’s Appliance Center
15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park
560 Broadway, Schenectady
Green’s
1207 Central Avenue, Albany
Cocca’s Appliances (tie)
158 Railroad Avenue, Albany
Earl B. Feiden Appliance (tie)
Multiple Locations
AUTO SERVICE
S Foley Garage
5859 Depot Road, Altamont
Bethlehem Auto Service
62 Hannay Lane, Glenmont
Precision Volvo Sale & Service
99 Cordell Road, Colonie
BANK
Trustco Bank
Multiple Locations
Pioneer Bank
Multiple Locations
Bank of Greene County
Multiple Locations
CATERER
Old Daley Custom Catering
2 Northern Drive, Troy
Mazzone Hospitality
743 Pierce Road, Clifton Park
Saati Deli and Catering
586 New Loudon Road, Latham
CHEF
Marc Yanni
Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans
Jaime Ortiz
677 Prime
677 Broadway, Albany
TORO Cantina
111 Wolf Road, Albany
Nicholas Meola
Annabel’s Pizza Company
108 State Street, Schenectady
CHIROPRACTOR
Delmar Chiropractic
204 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Van Der Veer Chiropractic Care
1134 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
Enlighten Chiropractic
2 Tower Place, Albany
CREDIT UNION
SEFCU
Multiple Locations
CAP COM
Multiple Locations
Sunmark
Multiple Locations
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Worksite Benefits
3991 NY-2, Cropseyville
SEFCU
Multiple Locations
Family Danz Heating & Cooling
404 North Pearl Street, Albany
DAY SPA
Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness
221 Wolf Road, Albany
268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Kimberley’s A Day Spa
982 New Loudon Road, Latham
Breathe Massage Therapy
48 Hudson Avenue, Delmar
DRY CLEANERS
Stena Dry Cleaning
451 Albany Shaker Road, Albany
Best Cleaners
Multiple Locations
7 Cleaners
952 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
FACIAL
Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness
221 Wolf Road, Albany
268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Breathe Massage Therapy
48 Hudson Avenue, Delmar
Kimberley’s A Day Spa
982 New Loudon Road, Latham
FITNESS CENTER
Vent Fitness
Multiple Locations
YMCA
Multiple Locations
The Hot Yoga Spot
Multiple Locations
FLORIST
Samantha Nass Floral & Event Design
75 Woodlawn Avenue, Saratoga Springs
Emil J. Nagengast Florist
169 Ontario Street, Albany Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
Flowers by Pesha
501 Broadway, Troy
FURNITURE STORE
Mooradian’s Furniture
800 Central Avenue, Albany 1758A Route 9 Parkwood Plaza, Clifton Park
Old Brick Furniture
33-37 Warehouse Row, Albany 2910 Campbell Road, Schenectady
Taft Furniture
1960 Central Avenue, Albany
121 Ballston Avenue, Saratoga Springs
HAIR SALON
Choices Hair Studio
180 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness
221 Wolf Road, Albany
268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Ambiance Salon
579 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
HEALTH CARE/HMO
CDPHP
500 Patroon Creek Boulevard, Albany
MVP Health Care
625 State Street, Schenectady
The Empire Plan empireblue.com
HEATING & COOLING
Family Danz Heating & Cooling
404 North Pearl Street, Albany
Crisafulli Bros.
25 Industrial Park Road, Albany
Adams Heating & Cooling Co.
2088 Curry Road, Schenectady
HOSPITAL
St. Peter’s Hospital
315 South Manning Boulevard, Albany
Albany Medical Center
43 New Scotland Avenue, Albany
Saratoga Hospital
211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs
INSURANCE AGENCY
Worksite Benefits
3991 NY-2, Cropseyville
SEFCU Insurance Agency
469 State Street, Schenectady
Murray Group 1807 Western Avenue, Albany
LANDSCAPER
George’s Market & Nursery
240 Wade Road Extension, Latham
Traditional Landscaping & Design
16 Van Rensselaer Road, Albany
Faddegon’s Nursery
1140 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
LAW FIRM
Girvin & Ferlazzo
20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany
Martin, Harding & Mazzotti
111 Washington Avenue, Albany
E. Stewart Jones, Hacker, Murphy
29 2nd Street, Troy
MANI/PEDI
Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness
221 Wolf Road, Albany
268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
L Perfect Nail & Spa (tie)
400 Feura Bush Road, Glenmont
Kimberley’s A Day Spa (tie)
982 New Loudon Road, Latham
City Nail & Spa (tie)
98 Wolf Road #2, Albany
MARINA
Coeymans Landing Marina
20 Marina Drive, Coeymans
Chic’s Marina
4782 Lakeshore Drive, Bolton Landing
MASSAGE
Laberge Massage Therapy
204 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness
221 Wolf Road, Albany
268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
Breathe Massage Therapy
48 Hudson Avenue, Delmar
MEDICAL ESTHETICS
Rockmore Plastic Surgery
15 Old Loudon Road, Latham
Lucie Capek, MD Plastic Surgery & Medspa
713 Troy Schenectady Road # 308, Latham
The Rejuva Center at Williams 1072 Troy Schenectady Road # 102, Latham
PAVING/SEALCOATING
Salisbury Pro Sealers
195B Kenwood Avenue, Delmar
Luizzi Asphalt Services
70 Tivoli Street, Albany
L. Browe Asphalt Services East Greenbush
PET SPA
Village Animal Clinic
70 School Road, Voorheesville
Pet Styles
1886 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands
Pet Spas & Suites
1 Cerone Commercial Drive, Colonie
PHOTOGRAPHER
T.R. Laz
125 Wolf Road, Albany
Hitlin Photography 48 Columbia Street, Albany
Elario Photography 1084 Madison Avenue, Albany
PILATES STUDIO
Free Movement Pilates
500 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar
Pilates Principle
578 Loudon Road, Latham
REAL ESTATE
PROFESSIONAL
Anthony M. Gucciardo, Gucciardo
Real Estate Group
1074 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
Christopher Marney, Julie & Co. Realty
18 Division Street #314, Saratoga Springs
Kyle Durni, Howard Hanna (tie)
231 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Marcia Murray, Marcia Murray & Associates Realty (tie)
63 Putnam Street #202, Saratoga Springs
24 Mallard Cove, Ballston Lake
TREE SERVICE
KT Tree Services, Inc. Altamont
Advantage Tree Service
772 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Mark’s Tree Service
Albany
Voorheesville
YOGA STUDIO
The Hot Yoga Spot
Multiple locations
Good Karma Studio 12 Walker Way, Albany
Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts
747 Madison Avenue, Albany
10 2nd Street, Troy
SHOPPING
APPLE ORCHARD
Indian Ladder Farms
342 Altamont Road, Altamont
Golden Harvest Farms
3074 Route 9, Valatie
Samascott Orchards 5 Sunset Avenue, Kinderhook
BIKE SHOP
Mad Dog Bicycles
561 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Steiner’s Sports
Multiple locations
Downtube Bicycle Works
466 Madison Avenue, Albany
BOOKSTORE
Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Avenue, Albany
I Love Books
380 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Market Block Books
290 River Street, Troy
BRIDAL SHOP
Angela’s Bridal
501 Broadway #107, Troy
Azalea (tie)
3770 Carman Road #6C, Schenectady
Lily Saratoga (tie)
6 Franklin Square, Saratoga Springs
CSA/COMMUNITY CO-OP
Honest Weight Food Co-op
100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany
Niskayuna Co-op
2227 Nott Street, Niskayuna
Roxbury Farm CSA
Kinderhook
CAR DEALER
Keeler Motor Car Company
1111 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
DePaula Auto Group (tie)
785/799 Central Avenue, Albany
Lia Auto Group (tie)
Multiple Locations
CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
Truly Rhe
1 Broadway, Troy
Circle’s
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
Lea’s (tie)
33 Hudson Avenue, Chatham
Evoke Style (tie)
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
CONSIGNMENT SHOP
Something Olde, Something New
1969 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands
The Attic
3027 Main Street, Valatie
Fifi’s Frocks & Frills
1811 Western Avenue, Albany
FARMERS’ MARKET
Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market
Delmar Farmers’ Market
Schenectady Greenmarket
GARDEN NURSERY
Faddegon’s Nursery
1140 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
Hewitt’s Garden Center
Multiple locations
Gade Farm
2479 Western Avenue, Altamont
GIFT SHOP
Cross Eyed Owl
3143 US Highway 9 #8, Valatie
Pearl Grant Richmans
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
Wit’s End
1762 Route 9, Clifton Park
HARDWARE STORE
Robinson’s Ace Hardware
1874 Western Avenue, Guilderland
1900 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands
Hatchet Hardware
Multiple Locations
True Value Phillip’s Hardware
6495 Route 158, Altamont
235 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
HEALTH FOOD STORE
Honest Weight Food Co-op
100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany
Uncle Sam’s Health Foods
77 4th Street, Troy
646 New Loudon Road, Latham
Four Seasons Natural Food Store
120 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs
JEWELER
Joyelles Jewelers
318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar
Hannoush Jewelers
112 Wolf Road, Albany
1750 Route 9, Clifton Park
Northeastern Fine Jewelry
Multiple locations
LIQUOR/WINE
Empire Wine
1440 Central Avenue, Albany
Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse
9 Halfmoon Crossing, Clifton Park
All Star Wine & Spirits
579 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
MENSWEAR
Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel
5 Metro Park Road, Albany
Britches of Troy
216 River Street, Troy
Union Hall Supply Co.
437 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
MUSIC STORE
Drome Sound Music Store (tie)
1875 State Street, Schenectady
Parkway Music (tie)
1777 Route 9, Clifton Park
The River Street Beat Shop
197 River Street, Troy
John Keal Music
819 Livingston Avenue, Albany 1758 Parkwood Plaza, Clifton Park
OPTICAL CENTER
Brass Eye Center
1783 Route 9 #106, Clifton Park 713 Troy Schenectady Road #135, Latham
Hughes Opticians
411 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar
DiNapoli Opticians
Multiple Locations
SHOPPING MALL/CENTER
Colonie Center
131 Colonie Center, Albany
Stuyvesant Plaza
1475 Western Avenue, Albany
Crossgates Mall
1 Crossgates Mall Road, Albany
SPORTING GOODS STORE
Steiner’s Sports
Multiple Locations
Play It Again Sports
952 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham
SUPERMARKET
Price Chopper/Market 32
Multiple Locations
Hannaford
Multiple Locations
ShopRite
Multiple Locations
TIRE STORE
Adirondack Tire
Multiple locations
Grand Premier Tires & Custom Wheels
591 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush
3361 South Thompson, Schenectady
LaBarge’s Tire & Auto Service
52 Route 9W, Glenmont
TRAVEL AGENCY
AAA Travel
Multiple locations
Blue Skies Travel
2 Pittsfield Avenue, East Greenbush
LOCAL PEOPLE & MEDIA
AFTERNOON ANCHOR
Christina Arangio, WTEN/NEWS 10 ABC
EVENING ANCHOR
John Gray, WTEN/NEWS10 ABC
MORNING ANCHOR
Christina Arangio, WTEN/NEWS 10 ABC
MORNING TEAM
WNYT/NewsChannel 13 Team
METEOROLOGIST
Steve Caporizzo, WTEN/NEWS10 ABC
MUSIC RADIO
107.7 WGNA
NEWS RADIO
90.3 WAMC
LOCAL RADIO
PERSONALITY
Brian Cody and Chrissy Cavotta of WGNA’s Brian & Chrissy in the Morning
LOCAL PRINT JOURNALIST
John Gray
SPORTSCASTER
Rodger Wyland, WNYT/ NewsChannel 13; 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio
PLACES
ADIRONDACK INN
Mirror Lake Inn
77 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid
The Sagamore Resort
110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing
ADK Trail Inn
11757 State Route 9N, Upper Jay
ASSISTED LIVING/ NURSING HOME
The Sentinel of Amsterdam
10 Market Street, Amsterdam
Eddy Village Green
421 W. Columbia Street, Cohoes
Pine Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
201 Main Street, Philmont
B&B (WITHIN 3 HOURS)
Reluctant Panther
39 West Road, Manchester Village, VT
Gardner Farm Inn
59 Brunswick Road, Troy
CAMPGROUND
Alpine Lake RV Resort (tie)
78 Heath Road, Corinth
Lake George RV Park (tie)
74 State Route 149, Lake George
Blackthorne Resort (tie)
348 Sunside Road, East Durham
DAY TRIP (WITHIN 3 HOURS)
Lake Placid
Lake George
Manchester, VT
GOLF COURSE (PRIVATE)
Wolferts Roost Country Club
120 Van Rensselaer Boulevard, Albany
The Country Club of Troy
100 Troy Country Club Road, Troy
Albany Country Club
300 Wormer Road, Voorheesville
GOLF COURSE (PUBLIC)
Town of Colonie Golf Course
418 Consaul Road, Schenectady
Orchard Creek Golf Club
6700 Dunnsville Road, Altamont
Normanside Country Club
150 Salisbury Road, Delmar
HIKING TRAIL
John Boyd Thacher State Park
830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville
Albany Pine Bush Preserve (tie)
195 New Karner Road, Albany
Peebles Island State Park (tie)
1 Delaware Avenue North, Cohoes
PEOPLE & PLACES RECAP
HOTEL
Crowne Plaza Albany - The Desmond Hotel
660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany
The Renaissance Albany Hotel
144 State Street, Albany
The Adelphi Hotel
365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
KIDS BIRTHDAY VENUE
Good Karma Studio
12 Walker Way 1A, Albany
KJ’s Gymnastics
3143 Route 9, Valatie
Indian Ladder Farms
342 Altamont Road, Altamont
KIDS CAMP
YMCA Adventure Camp
1 Camp Nassau Lane, Guilderland
Camp Chingachgook
1872 Pilot Knob Road, Kattskill Bay
Camp Fowler
152 Pelcher Road, Lake Pleasant
PARK
John Boyd Thacher State Park
830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville
The Crossings of Colonie
580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville
Saratoga Spa State Park
19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs
PICNIC SPOT
John Boyd Thacher State Park
830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville
Saratoga Spa State Park
19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs
Grafton Lakes State Park
254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton
55+ RETIREMENT
COMMUNITY
Glen Eddy
1 Glen Eddy Drive, Niskayuna
The Spinney
6 Parker Mathusa Place, Delmar
2490 Pond View, Castleton-On-Hudson
Shaker Pointe at Carondelet
One Bell Tower Drive, Watervliet
ROMANTIC GETAWAY INN
Mirror Lake Inn (tie)
77 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid
The Sagamore Resort (tie)
110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing
Belhurst Castle & Winery
4069 West Lake Road, Geneva
SARATOGA INN/HOTEL
Longfellows Hotel & Restaurant
500 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs
The Adelphi Hotel
365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
The Gideon Putnam
24 Gideon Putnam Road, Saratoga Springs
SKI AREA
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA
Stowe Mountain Resort
5781 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT
Gore Mountain
793 Peaceful Valley Road, North Creek
VERMONT INN
The Equinox
3567 Main Street, Manchester Village
The Dorset Inn (tie)
8 Church Street, Dorset
Grey Fox Inn & Resort (tie)
990 Mountain Road, Stowe
WEDDING VENUE
Old Daley on Crooked Lake
2339 NY-43, Averill Park
The Appel Inn (tie)
590 State Route 146, Altamont
Franklin Plaza (tie)
4 4th Street, Troy
VOTED BEST
WEST SAND LAKE/AVERILL PARK RESTAURANT
The Towne Tavern invites guests to enjoy its award-winning food in the warm, cozy, and comfortable renovated creek-side blacksmith shop from the 1800s. Whether you are looking for a relaxed drink with friends or a dinner with the whole family, there is something for everyone on the tavern menu, from barbeque specialties to home-style entrées.
Good Food ~ Good Times ~ Good Friends
Your window replacement project is an opportunity to reimagine your space.
Your window replacement project is an opportunity to reimagine your space.
SAVINGS TO YOUR HOME
Your window replacement project is an opportunity to reimagine your space.
Marvin offers thoughtfully designed styles and options, as well as the highest standards in energy efficiency.
Marvin offers thoughtfully designed styles and options, as well as the highest standards in energy efficiency.
Marvin offers thoughtfully designed styles and options, as well as the highest standards in energy efficiency.
Discover a smarter way to replace with our experts at the GNH Design Center in Latham.
Discover a smarter way to replace with our experts at the GNH Design Center in Latham.
Discover a smarter way to replace with our experts at the GNH Design Center in Latham. Visit us today for a free consultation. ADD UPDATED CHARACTER AND ENERGY SAVINGS TO YOUR HOME
Visit us today for a free consultation. 898
Visit us today for a free consultation. ADD UPDATED CHARACTER AND ENERGY SAVINGS TO YOUR HOME
It’s Time to Make Your House a Home
These local companies are making home improvement easier than ever.
Salisbury Pro Sealers
195 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-9772; salisburyprosealersny.com
Perhaps your lawnmower’s engine failed? Or you’re ready to toss out a broken generator? Salisbury Pro Sealers provides all types of small engine repairs in Albany and the surrounding areas, so rely on its team of specialists to diagnose your engine’s problem and fix it fast. Save money by having a professional get it to run like new again! Salisbury also specializes in sealcoating for all sized jobs. Sealcoating is applied to asphalt to protect it against quick deterioration and cracks from environmental elements such as sunlight, gasoline and moisture. Call now to book your appointment to have your driveway done before summer.
GNH Lumber
898 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 313-1229; gnhlumber.com
GNH Lumber’s expert kitchen and bath
team, led by the esteemed Jacqueline Newell, is ready to make your dream home vision a reality. Take advantage of Newell’s 20 years of rich experience helping clients visualize each layer of their kitchen and bath design, from floor plan to finish. A true visionary with an acute sense of space, she brings in the perfect surfaces, textures, color and lighting to deliver a beautiful and functional kitchen or bath design, helping homeowners reach their home’s optimum value. For ideas and inspiration, you are invited to come by the GNH Lumber showroom, or call today to schedule a free virtual consultation.
CR Gas Logs & Fireplaces, Inc.
15 Drywall Lane, Voorheesville (518) 765-4279; crgaslogs.com
CR Gas Logs & Fireplaces has been a leader in the hearth and patio industry in the greater Capital Region for more than 30 years. Employees pride themselves on providing each customer with high-quality service and advice,
whether he or she is looking for a cozy interior fireplace or an elaborate, custom outdoor kitchen. Whatever you’re thinking, CR Gas Logs’ staff will help educate you on the right choice for your home. CR Gas Logs’ goal is for all its customers to leave, whether or not they made a purchase, feeling like they had a positive shopping experience.
J. Hunziker Paving, LLC
25 Corellis Drive, Rensselaer (518) 858-7917; jhunzikerpavingllc.com
When it comes to driveway paving, work only with seasoned driveway contractors who can ensure that your driveway is smooth and functional. Avoid the frustration and disappointment of dealing with unprofessional driveway paving contractors by doing business with J. Hunziker Paving, LLC, instead. Owner Jason Hunziker has 20 years of experience serving the residential and commercial paving needs of customers throughout
Troy and the surrounding areas, and he is committed to providing his customers with the best possible workmanship and service. When you need top-quality driveway paving for your home or place of business, Jason will be there to help. Turn to him for all your asphalt driveway paving needs.
Luizzi Asphalt Services
70 Tivoli Street, Albany (518) 459-7325; luizziasphalt.com
Luizzi Asphalt Services’ mission is to be the most trusted name in quality products and dependable service for homes and businesses across the Capital Region. Luizzi is a thirdgeneration company that has provided services to thousands of satisfied customers over the years. The Luizzi name has been in the Capital Region for more than 50 years, and the family has built a reputation it is proud of! Call Luizzi Asphalt Services for skilled solutions to all of your asphalt maintenance and repair needs.
Redbud Development
2 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton (518) 691-0428; redbuddevelopment.com
Redbud Development, Inc. is a landscape construction company specializing in the custom design and quality installation of residential improvement and development projects. With a creative and collaborative approach, Redbud helps clients imagine and build exterior environments that connect seamlessly with their interiors to reflect their personality and lifestyle. Some examples of additions include custom-designed pools, outdoor kitchens, stone patios and wooden structures for entertaining friends or simply enjoying nature. Call today to schedule your no-cost initial consultation.
Mohawk Valley Pest Control
3645 Guilderland Avenue, Schenectady (518) 580-1164 / (518) 356-4226; mohawkvalleypest.net
A family’s most valuable investment, their home, deserves the best care if a pest issue should arise. Mohawk Valley Pest Control has been serving the Capital District for more than 30 years. They have provided residential and commercial properties with high-quality pest control. All pest services are guaranteed. Call for a free estimate today.
ED Ellen DeGeneres Collection Ralph Lauren Collection
Towner Collection
ED Ellen DeGeneres Collection Ralph Lauren Collection
GLENVILLE WONDERFUL WEEKEND IN
The Schenectady suburb’s restaurants, shops and, yes, high ropes course await.
BY NATALIE MOORE
Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In
The world may have gotten a look—albeit a rather dreary one—at Schenectady, when the noir-y film, The Place Beyond the Pines, was set there in 2012. What viewers outside of the Capital Region missed out on, though, was the place beyond the place beyond the pines: Glenville, where a lot of the movie was actually filmed. The Schenectady suburb might not have gotten name-checked in the blockbuster crime drama, but it’s certainly a hidden gem of a place to spend a wonderful weekend. (Head there soon, lest Hollywood comes knocking.)
FRIDAY
While the town of Glenville encompasses 50 square miles and nearly 30,000 residents,
its unofficial “business district” is undoubtedly the Village of Scotia, so that’s where we’ll kick off our weekend festivities. Grab an early dinner at the Bestie-winning Turf Tavern (turftavern.com), located right on the corner of Route 50 and Mohawk Avenue in Downtown Scotia. The 80-yearold restaurant was actually named for its location: Before the Northway was built, travelers who were on their way to Saratoga Race Course to watch “turf” racing, as horse racing was widely known back then, would drive right by the restaurant, stopping in for a meal before finishing the last leg of their journey on Route 50 to the Spa City. Today, the tavern is known for its classy comfort food—think American classics like
steaks, seafood, salad and pasta—and cozy atmosphere that’s at once casual and elegant. After your early bird dinner, make the short walk down Mohawk Ave to another Bestie winner, Scotia Cinema (scotiacinema.net), a historic, locally owned and operated theater, which shows one film per evening at 7pm. Tickets are just $9 for adults (be sure to grab a large popcorn with real butter).
Turf Tavern
Scotia Cinema
SATURDAY
Start your Saturday off with a wholesome breakfast at Be Nourished (benourishedcafe.com), a café from the owners of Scotia’s Bova Health and Wellness. Everything on the menu—from Peppe’s PB+J Toast to The Whole-DangAvo Sandwich—is Dr. Joe Bova–approved, so you can count on being properly fueled for an active day. And you’ll most certainly need a shot of life for where we’re headed. Mountain Ridge Adventure (mountainridgeadventure.com), a 15-minute drive away, features a high ropes course and a 10-zipline canopy tour over a 500-foot-deep gorge—right in Glenville! The Treetop Pass will get you three hours of monkeying around above the ground, or you can go the less strenuous route with the Zipline Pass, for two hours of good, oldfashioned coasting.
Hungry? We thought so. All manner of fried food awaits at Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In (jumpinjacksdriveininc.com), a sprawling riverside delight that dates back to 1952. Order yourself a signature Jackburger (two patties topped with cheese and coleslaw) and basket of Twister Fries (Jumpin’ Jacks’ take on curly fries) at the open-air counter, and then top your tummy off with some soft serve in a cone.
After a morning and lunch hour like that, some relaxation is in order. Spend your afternoon strolling around Collins Park (villageofscotia.org), located just across the street from Jumpin’ Jacks, and perusing Thistle Be Perfect Artisan Boutique (thistlebeperfectshop.com) and The Speckled Hen (facebook.com/ thespeckledhenscotia) gift shop, both of which are treasure troves of unique home décor and more.
Your last stop of the day should be Scotia’s Jade Bistro (jadebistroscotia.com), an upscale Asian fusion restaurant serving dishes such as Peking Duck, Citrus Pad Thai and sushi, plus an assortment of sakes, cocktails, wine and beer. Cheers to a day well spent!
A T U R D A Y
(clockwise from top): Be Nourished; Collins Park; Jade Bistro; Jumpin’ Jacks Drive-In; Mountain Ridge Adventure
SUNDAY
Everyone knows New York City bagels reign supreme in the world of the carbo-licious breakfast delicacies, so while you’re in Glenville, opt for the shop with “NYC” in its name. Located in Socha—not to be confused with “Scotia”— Plaza, Manhattan Bistro & Bagel (manhattanbistroandbagel.com) serves up more than a dozen types of bagels, plus sandwiches, salads and pastries. Just down the road is the Empire State Aeroscience Museum (esam.org), an aviation lover’s dream located at the site of the old General Electric Flight Test Center. The museum includes more than 20 planes and a simulated reality vehicle ride, plus numerous exhibits and interactive displays.
Make sure you get in some pick-your-own berry fun at Swaggertown Road’s Buhrmaster Farms (buhrmasterfarms.com), which opens for strawberry picking in mid-June and blueberry season in July, followed by a beer and a bite at West Glenville’s Wolf Hollow Brewing Company (wolfhollowbrewing.com). Food offerings at the brewery are constantly rotating, so check its website ahead of time to learn what you’re in for.
With that, Capital Region staycationers, your wonderful weekend in Glenville is now complete. Come back soon!
Wolf Hollow Brewing Company
Buhrmaster Farms
for voting us
Planning the Perfect Upstate New York Wedding
Six local wedding vendors to help make your big day extra special.
Old Daley on Crooked Lake
2339 NY-43, Averill Park (518) 674-3131
Old Daley Custom Catering (518) 235-2656 olddaley.com
Congratulations on your engagement! Old Daley’s goal is to exceed your expectations while creating an unforgettable experience that you, your family and your friends will always remember. Celebrating your wedding at Old Daley on Crooked Lake will lead you to the magical, memorable and well managed day that you’ve always envisioned. Going with Old Daley Custom Catering, as well, will ensure a seamless and memorable event at a location of your choosing. Both sister companies have won “Best Of” accolades for more than 10 years and
boast warm and accommodating staffs, delicious comfort-inspired food and an attention to detail that’s second to none.
Mohonk Mountain House
1000 Mountain Rest Road, New Paltz (845) 256-2053; mohonk.com
Exchange vows in Mohonk Mountain House’s lush gardens or in the Victorian Parlor with unparalleled views of Lake Mohonk. The Mohonk staff will help you plan everything down to the last detail. From music and flower arrangements to cocktails and more, Mohonk will ensure that your every need is taken care of. Your guests will thank you for choosing a venue that has so much to offer—many wedding parties choose to extend their stay and enjoy the many activities at Mohonk Mountain House.
Lucie Capek, MD Plastic Surgery
713 Troy Schenectady Road #308, Latham (518) 768-1700; capekplasticsurgery.com
Always be ready for life’s biggest moments. Dr. Capek and her team of licensed beauty professionals will have you looking and feeling your best with a full range of cosmetic surgery and MedSpa services. Plan ahead and get that natural-looking surgical transformation or rejuvenating skincare treatment. Together with Dr. Capek, you’ll create an individualized plan to achieve your aesthetic goals, which will have you glowing with confidence. From Signature HydraFacial and LASER packages to injectable treatments and CoolSculpting, the Capek team has you covered from head to toe. Treat yourself or someone special. Gift cards are also available.
Turf Tavern
40 Mohawk Avenue, Scotia (518) 393-3344; turftavern.com
When you expect the best for your wedding reception, corporate function or other special event, look no further than Turf Tavern, where spectacular cuisine and gracious service combine to meet and exceed your expectations. Choose the restaurant’s banquet room, which holds up to 100 people and features a dance floor and bar; opt for an intimate, private room that’ll seat 50 people; or host your event on your own “turf,” and let the restaurant take care of the food with its off-premises catering. All three options are more affordable than you may think.
Copake Country Club
44 Golf Course Road, Craryville (518) 325-0019; thegreensatcopake.com
The Greens Restaurant at Copake Country Club and The Barn at Copake Lake are must-see venues for those seeking a laid-back wedding weekend surrounded by nature. With rustic chic indoor décor and amazing views, the feel of both properties will instantly set the tone for a unique, memorable experience. Personalized service with an on-site coordinator, catering by a CIA-trained chef, beautiful spaces and options to customize your entire event make Copake Country Club a popular choice for couples wishing to create a one-of-a-kind celebration.
Wolferts Roost Country Club
120 Van Rensselaer Boulevard, Albany (518) 449-3223; wolfertsroost.com
Create memories that will last a lifetime! Located just minutes from historic Downtown Albany, Wolferts Roost Country Club has more than 100 years of wedding experience and boasts breathtaking views of the Berkshire Mountains, a combination sure to make your special day one to remember. The ballroom, which features a 15-foot vaulted ceiling, accommodates up to 350 guests and includes a private bar, dance floor, bridal suite and an outdoor covered terrace for a cocktail hour overlooking Wolferts’ award-winning golf course—the picture-perfect backdrop to your wedding day.
WOLFERTS ROOST
COUNTRY CLUB
Experts
A Tipple Grows in Brooklyn
CRL ’s travel writer takes you on an alco-crawl to Kings County’s best wineries, distilleries and meaderies. Buckle up.
BY ALEXANDRA BAACKES
Say “I’m from New York” to someone in the Capital Region, and he or she will likely wonder which part of the Empire State you hail from. But say the same to anyone else in the world, and he or she will immediately assume you grew up in one of the five boroughs of New York City. OK, so at least we know the difference
between upstate and downstate—i.e. upstaters do a little less creative cursing at our fellow motorists and pedestrians— but when has that ever stopped us from Amtrak-ing it down to the Big Apple to reap its many rewards? There’s nothing like hitting a Broadway show in Manhattan (many of which will be reopening this September); grabbing a super doughy, justright bagel in Brooklyn; or checking in with
the monkeys and snakes at The Bronx Zoo.
Recently, though, I was surprised to learn that New York City, which encompasses five of the 62 counties I set out to explore this year—New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Queens County (Queens), Bronx County (The Bronx) and Richmond County (Staten Island)—has a lot more to offer than just the usual suspects. While us Upstate New Yorkers love to boast about our blackbelt in craft beverages, the Big Apple is teeming with them, too, and they’re well worth planning a tasting trip around.
At least to craft beer drinkers, it will come as no surprise that you can visit a brewery in each of NYC’s five counties—in fact, there are more than 30 breweries inside the city limits. But there are also a number of other less-expected sips to be had. It turns out that the City is home to a winery, two meaderies and three distilleries. And I was determined to try them all.
I emerged onto the sunny rooftop of the aptly named Rooftop Reds vineyard slightly out of breath. I had wandered around the
Brooklyn Navy Yard looking for its entrance, then summited several flights of stairs before finally reaching its peak. But that was all part of the fun. Despite now finding myself overlooking a stunning skyline surrounded by grapevines, I felt as though I’d just stumbled upon a secret speakeasy. My thirst was quickly quenched by a flight of orange wines entitled, “Orange You Glad It’s Not 2020.”
Founded in the spring of 2016, Rooftop Reds was the world’s first commercially viable urban rooftop vineyard, aiming to break barriers in big city agriculture and make locally grown wine more accessible to the masses. It’s a beautiful concept to toast to over a Rooftop red (the wine, that is) and a slice of Il Porto pizza delivered directly to your table. Tip the delivery guy extra—he took the stairs, too.
After my top-of-the-town wine flight, I decided that the best way to come back down to earth was with a terrestrial tipple. Conveniently located at the opposite end of the Navy Yard in the 120-year-old, castlelike Paymaster Building is Kings County Distillery. First opened in 2010, it was once the smallest commercial distillery in the country, churning out moonshine, bourbon and other whiskeys from five stills, 16 hours a day, seven days a week. When it made the move from Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood to the Navy Yard in 2012, in a sense, it was traveling back in time. Nearby its new home had been the site of
the famous Whiskey Wars of the 1860s, during which the US government sent its own military there to lay waste to illegal distilleries. Though experts estimate there were tens of thousands of illicit stills in NYC during the Prohibition Era, just three (legal) ones remain between the five boroughs today. While the closeness of the Brooklyn distillery to the rooftop winery made it a convenient jaunt, admittedly, I’m more of a clear spirits girl. So I made a beeline—i.e. took a 14-minute cab ride—to Williamsburg to taste some of NY Distilling’s gins, including a rose-petal infused variety. (And hey, if you like what brown spirits do for you, it makes its own whiskey, too.) While the distillery’s fab tasting room, The Shanty, hasn’t fully reopened yet post-COVID, it is taking to-go orders and hosting sit-down cocktail service on a first come, first serve basis.
If “clear” to you means vodka, I’d suggest taking a 30-minute side-trip via subway or livery cab to micro-distillery Our/ New York, whose West 26th Street bar was scheduled to reopen by the time you read this (motto: “Big Apple. Small batches. Exceptional Smoothness.”).
Try its smallbatch vodka neat or in a cocktail and do so knowing that you’re imbibing in the first distillery to be opened in Manhattan since Prohibition. I think that’s worth a cheers! If you decided to stay in Brooklyn—or even if you didn’t—I would add two final stops to your Kings County distillery crawl: All-Wise Meadery and Enlightenment Wines. Both All-Wise, which was founded by former child celebrity Dylan Sprouse, whose twin brother Cole stars as Jughead Jones on Riverdale, and Enlightenment offer different delicious takes on the fermented-honey-made alcoholic beverage that’s at the center of a monstrous new movement. While there’s no tasting room at All-Wise itself, you can pick up bottles at The Natural Wine Company, just a 10-minute walk from the distillery, or order them online. Enlightenment, on the other hand, is offering pours at its meadery; or you can buy glasses and bottles of its barrel-aged dry, sparkling and botanical meads at Honey’s, its bar and tasting room in East Williamsburg.
You could wait until September to plan your next Broadway-busting trip to NYC—or you could just dive right into a boozy flight of fancy this summer! (No one says you can’t return in the fall.) And the best part?
The city’s safe, sanitary subway will serve as the world’s most reliable designated driver. You’ve already taken a bite out of the Big Apple. Now’s the time to take a sip
Rooftop Reds
Experts
Winner, Winner (Fried) Chicken Dinner
Summer’s all about guilty pleasures, so kick yours off with this delicious dinner-slash-breakfast dish from one of our Bestie-winning restaurants.
If reading this issue is making you hungry, why not retire to your kitchen and make yourself a snack? Or you could just wait until dinnertime and fry up this delicious Chicken & Waffles recipe from Bestiewinning Diner, Alexis Diner in Troy. We like Plan B.
Alexis Diner’s Chicken & Waffles
8 boneless chicken thighs
2 cups buttermilk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions:
Soak chicken in buttermilk and refrigerate for 24 hours. Before frying, let the chicken sit out for an hour to get it up to room temperature.
Meanwhile, combine flour, salt and spices in a large mixing bowl and stir together. Put thighs in bowl and thoroughly coat each with breading, pressing once or twice to make sure they’re evenly coated. Preheat oil in frying pan at medium to medium-high heat, then fry chicken for 6–8 minutes total. Turn chicken while frying and make sure it doesn’t get too brown.
While frying the chicken, get your waffle iron ready and make your favorite type of waffle. Top chicken and waffles with maple syrup and hot sauce, if desired.
Lose the Dreaded ‘COVID 19’ (and Keep It Off)
Latham-based dietitian/nutritionist Nan Windmueller gets you eating right again.
BY NAN WINDMUELLER, CDN
The pandemic has wreaked havoc on countless aspects of our lives—including our waistlines. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 61 percent of US adults admitted to gaining undesired weight— some as much as 29 pounds!—during COVID. And it makes total sense: We were all under a lot of stress, often drinking excessively and definitely making fewer veggie runs to the supermarket. Plus, with many of us working from home and the fridge just steps away from our desks…well, you get the picture.
So let’s say you’ve put on the “COVID 19.” How do you lose it and keep it off? We asked Latham-based certified dietitian and nutritionist Nan Windmueller to help you get back on the track to a healthy diet.
Coping Shouldn’t Equal Bingeing
Eating styles are coping mechanisms. People tend to binge not on celery, broccoli and lean meats but starches or sweets for very natural reasons. There’s a link between starches and sweets and the ability for the brain to have more serotonin available, which is our natural tranquilizer, sleepinducer and mood-elevator. While eating certain foods to cope works on some level, it can also lead to health problems, beginning with weight gain, which can lead to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even cancer.
Eat Like You Live in a Blue Zone
Countries such as Japan and Italy have blue zones, where people are more likely to live
into their 100s. They’re living with a relatively good quality of life, and they eat the way many cultures do that have reduced levels of obesity and heart disease. A key to blue zone longevity is not that these people have eliminated animal protein altogether.. It’s that they eat beans and legumes frequently: kidney beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, lentils and split peas. It’s a regular part of their diet, and it substitutes for meat.
Know the Great-Grandmother Rule I often say to people, if your greatgrandmother wouldn’t recognize what you’re eating, it’s probably not a good idea to eat it.
Eat Mindfully
People should know that a half cup of a starch, like rice or mashed potatoes or oatmeal or pasta, is about 80–100 calories. They should also know that a half-cup serving of fruit is about 50 calories. That might be a small apple or a peach or pear. They can eat an unlimited amount of vegetables as long as there’s no fat on them—no butter
or oil. And people should know that a lean ounce of meat or low-fat cheese or poultry without skin has 55 calories in it. So it’s an awareness; it’s mindful eating.
Deprivation Dieting Is Not the
Answer
I don’t like people to think about going on a deprivation diet, because they can’t wait to get off it once they’ve reached their goal. Then they go back to what they really want to be eating. Your weight-loss strategy has to reflect what you want to be eating for the rest of your life, which is why I individualize plans. I’m like a seamstress; I tailor them to each individual.
Consult a Doctor Before You Diet
When people call me, the first thing I do is screen them to make sure they’re under the care of a physician. Get your doctor involved; get a physical and all your blood tests done. Even if you still have lifestyle issues that need to be altered, once you’re pronounced healthy, I’d be happy to work with you.
Lbefore you go...
THE OLD SWING
BY JOHN GRAY
ike many people on the other side of a difficult and expensive divorce, the man I’m going to tell you about was struggling. About 15 years ago, in trying to right the ship of his life, he went through the couch cushions and fished out all the change that dropped out of his guests deep pockets over the years. Coupled with the savings he kept thanks to a frugal lifestyle, it was just enough money to purchase a small home in the countryside.
To the untrained eye, the dwelling may have appeared somewhat beneath him with its cracked driveway, untamed weeds and rock wall on the verge of collapse. But our man was happy to have it and knew with the slightest care, the house could become a home.
One of the things that drew him to the property the first time he drove by it was a thick pine tree with a single branch extending out at a 90-degree angle, like a one-armed scarecrow standing proud in a field. He knew that branch would be perfect to hang a small swing from. He didn’t want just any old swing, though; our friend wanted the kind of swing a child might have used 200 years ago, with brown rope and a simple wooden seat.
For 15 years that swing hung in the yard and reminded every car that drove by that simple is often best. Finally, during the year of COVID, the ropes gave way to years of harsh weather, and the swing fell to the ground.
It was a perfect metaphor for what this last year and change have taught us about technology and progress and the reality that the old ways are often the best ways. For decades, we’ve raced to techie stores and websites to see what excitement new
forbid one of them should ask another how his or her day was—or enjoy a mozzarella stick with raspberry sauce on the table— instead of risking missing an update on Instagram or TikTok.
We have taken for granted the simple joy of being together and being able to go and do things. For a year, it has been a “Groundhog Day” ritual of masks, wipes, work, home, repeat. Who knew a trip to Walmart could be so exciting?
I’m not knocking technology. Thank God we had it these many months, so we could at least FaceTime or Zoom with the people we love and care about and see their smiling faces. But when that’s the only means of communication, suddenly you miss the good old days of crowded bars and parks and sitting at a table of 10 competing for conversation.
With the vaccines out and COVID positives steadily dropping, we, as a society, are finding our footing again after this divorce from reality. I sincerely hope we have all used this quiet time of forced isolation and reflection to remember what really matters.
I grew up hearing about the Spanish flu and the effects it had on society. I have to believe that after that monster ran its course, the hugs were a little longer and the conversations between friends who were parted, a bit more meaningful.
He checked the internet and stores but found all the swings sold today were pretty, more efficient and most often made of plastic. Exactly the kind he didn’t want. On a trip to the nearby hardware store, one of the old timers working there informed our frequent shopper that the best solution to such a dilemma was to make the swing himself. Not being that handy, he kept it simple and cut a small piece of wood, drilled holes and laced in the old rope.
devices can bring to us. We’ve graduated from a clunky computer that sat motionless on a desk in a corner of the house, to smartphones and tablets and watches that interrupt us with every other beat of our heart. “Progress” is what we’ve called it—a way to be better connected to the vast world around us.
Yet, as time is often the greatest teacher, we soon learned that the very technology that boasted of bringing us closer, more often than not left us feeling isolated. Think of the family of four sitting together at your local Applebee’s, heads down, faces illuminated by their four smartphones. God
If, when this virus is behind us, we go back to the way we were, with so many of us lying in bed with a smartphone in our hands until the very last second of consciousness, well, I believe in my heart, we will have missed a most important lesson that came at too high a price.
The wooden swing, by the way, still sits on the lawn, the two ropes hanging from the feeble branch they were tied to so many years ago. (That’s my swing, by the way.)
Will I fashion a new swing or leave it be? I haven’t decided yet. I do know that I won’t be replacing it with a shiny piece of plastic. Simple is often better. Put down the phone and hug someone you miss, and you’ll see that what I’m saying is true.
lō-kəl / adjective : grown or created closer to where we live
Better
for the Environment
Less transport emissions, preserves open space, increased air quality, less waste
Better for the Community
Improves local economy, supports local farms and makers, reflects the unique characteristics of the community
Better for the People
Homegrown mission-based community, endless educational opportunities, fresher food
