Last year, I read an article about winter getaways in New York State on ILOVENY.COM. However, I wanted to skip the cold, freezing, and snowy season here in the Capital District, and flew to Rome, and then Palermo, Sicily to meet my retired buddies... Unless you love to ice fish, ice skate, snowboard, and ski, many people decide to vacation in warmer climates during the winter season. Some of my friends close their businesses and restaurants and leave for their second home in Florida... There they golf and enjoy cooking, dining out, and spending time on their boats, if they own one... Our travel photographer, Ed Woods, leaves for Key Largo every January 1st, and returns in April—spending time with his wife on their yacht, and in town. For the individual and/or couple that do not own a boat and winter vacation home in a warmer client, choosing a travel destination is an exciting endeavor that allows people who can afford it to embark on new adventures, experience different cultures, and create lasting memories. However, with countless options available, it can be challenging to determine the perfect destination. To ensure a fulfilling and memorable journey, several crucial factors should be considered. The key factors to consider when selecting a travel destination, include personal interests, budget, safety, accessibility, and weather
Understanding one's interests and aligning them with the activities and attractions a potential destination offers is vital.
Financial considerations play a significant role in choosing a travel destination. Expenses to consider include insurance, mode of transportation to your destination, bed & breakfast versus hotel accommodation costs, evening attire rental costs (cruises), alcohol, food, hands-on cooking classes, currency exchange rates, cost of museums, trains, tour buses, tour guides, and any additional activities or purchase of memorabilia clothing, souvenirs, and shipping. Can your health afford to travel and walk steps and long distances?
Before deciding on a location, it is essential to research the current political climate, social stability, and any potential health risks. Government travel advisories and online reliable sources can provide valuable insights into a destination's safety… Analyzing transportation options, including flight connections, visas, and entry requirements, is essential. Additionally, considering the distance and travel time.
Weather conditions can greatly influence the enjoyment of a trip. Research the climate patterns of a potential destination… If you can't take a getaway at this time, the gourmet shops, restaurants, and local resorts featured in this magazine can fulfill at least a cultural day trip!
Thanks for reading Taste of Schenectady® and Taste and Shop™… Please patronize the advertisers, and mom & pop businesses featured.
David Johnson Long, Jr., Editor-in-Chief and Publisher
CDuring Women’s History Month, we celebrate the bold and courageous women who have helped build a fairer, more diverse, equitable, and just society… Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) started with one chapter in New York City in 1976, founded by Dame Carol Brock. Today, LDEI is composed of 44 chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, totaling over 2,600 women leaders in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality. ■
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 • 10:00 AM
The DRIPBaR Clifton Park • Grand Opening 15 Clifton Country Road • Clifton Park, NY 12066
Born of a desire to develop cost-effective ways to provide holistic care to our community, after Marisa Latinville saw her mom deal with a difficult, life-ending disease, The DRIPBaR helps individuals
lead their healthiest lives. They offer a wide range of services, including IV infusion, lifestyle DRIPs, health support DRIPs, IM shots, IR saunas, halo salt therapy, red light therapy, compression therapy , etc. Sessions and are bringing this new, unique service to Saratoga County and the Capital Region. ■
Pairing Cheese, Chocolate and Bubbles! February 14, 2024 at 7 p.m. Reservations are $50 per person. Call the store, 518-443-0440. 4 flight of Nine Pin Cider Works & 4 Cheese Feb. 16.
Celebrate Black History Month with Cooking Videos at https://youtu.be/TGRG5wOTVx0 ■
TASTE OF SCHENECTADY® AND BEYOND™
Rush Street at Mohawk Harbor began the Lunar New Year with a SOLD-OUT Vietnamese Concert at the Rivers Event Center… It’s sure to be a night to remember when the Jersey Seasons hit the Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady Event Center stage on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The ultimate tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, the Jersey Seasons will perform all their classic hits with the original look, music, and vocal harmonies that audiences know and love. For more information, visit RiversCasino.com/Schenectady
SCHENECTADY RESTAURANT WEEK — Feb. 26 to March 3, enjoy a week of dining for the special fixed price of $20 for a minimum two-course lunch menu, and three-course dinner options for $30- $40 at participating restaurants ■
NOTE: Send your press releases regarding events, entertainment, gourmet food, news and restaurant openings to: editor@tasteofschenectady.com
The owner of Frank’s Caribbean Fire Grill was born in Jamaica. His dad was a cook on a cruise ship… Frank’s Caribbean Fire Grill celebrated its two (2) year Anniversary on July 6, 2022. The fresh-made Jamaican food restaurant offers dine-in and take-out.
905 Albany St Schenectady, NY (518) 901-0016
A petition signed by 300 area residents asked the Sch’dy City Council to keep the business open, in 2021… “Big portion sizes and tasty food. I got the oxtail with yellow rice and plantains ,” wrote a Yelp reviewer.
201 S Brandywine Ave Schenectady, NY (518) 372-2025
Mary Agnes Gibbs Estremera opened her first restaurant in NYC.
Agnes’ son, Jose, Kelly and Darnell Cunningham, opened the second location of Agnes Caribbean Restaurant in Rotterdam. We love their wing specials!
3098 Guilderland Ave Schenectady, NY (518) 212-7444
San Francisco serve soups and some of the best Caribbean-Spanish food. Dine-in and savor the flavor of Chicharrón (crispy pork belly) Stewed chicken, and sweet plantains are
popular dishes on their Caribbean-Spanish menu. 872 Albany Street Schenectady, NY (518) 346-3659
A Taste of Guyana Roti Shop & Bakery is famous for its curry dishes and duck. We eat here. 1414 State Street • Schenectady, NY .
Executive Lounge
Trinidadian cuisine has Asian, Caribbean, and Indian influences. 108 Jay St.
Pepperpot is Guyana’s national dish, however, Guyanese restaurants do not serve beef and pork. Doubles are made with Chana curry chickpeas and two spicy flatbreads. Five A’s Caribbean Cuisine includes African, Indian, and European culinary influences. 294 Altamont Ave • Schenectady, NY • (518) 347-0000.
769 State St • Schenectady (518) 982-0070
The ingredients for Jambalaya, a French-Creole and African-inspired dish…
Cdubbed "Little Palermo”. The 1891 New Orleans Lynchings were the murders of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans by a mob for their alleged role in the murder of police chief David Hennessy (who along with his cousin Michael Hennessy and private detectives James Mooney and John Boland of New York City) had arrested and deported the Italian mobster Giuseppe Esposito… It was the largest single mass lynching in American history. Most of the lynching victims accused of the murder had been rounded up and charged due to their Italian ethnicity. To protect themselves from further harassment and killing they banded together.
Forty-five thousand Italian immigrants poured into Louisiana circa 1910 — and the French Quarter of New Orleans emerged as one of America's largest locations of Italian delicatessens and sit-down pasta restaurants.
So many Italian immigrants settled in New Orleans that some people suggested the area should be renamed "The Sicilian Quarter" in the early 20th century. As Italians opened their delicatessens and sit-down eateries, and enjoyed the prosperity of America, they eventually were able to buy homes in the suburbs. They intermarried with the Creole people of the territory.
food as
“Creole-Italian”…
reole-Italian is how Italian restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana classify their diverse cuisine. The cooking style derives from the Creole (African, Caribbean, French, German, Irish, Italian, Native American, and Spanish) influenced dishes that one finds on the menus in Nawlins aka NOLA… Enjoy deep red rich Crawfish Étouffée, Fricassee, Jambalaya, Shrimp Gumbo, Creole BBQ, Crawfish Boil, Boudin sausage, Oyster Po’boy sandwiches, Cornmeal-crusted and Fried Catfish, just to name a few! Creole-Italian cuisine is prepared with the "holy trinity" mirepoix of 50% part diced sweet onions, 25% diced fresh celery, and 25% diced green and/or red sweet bell peppers—and often a dark roux.
The plethora of pasta dishes served by Italian immigrants in New Orleans during the early 20th century resulted in the lower French Quarter being
Famous dishes that were invented in New Orleans include bananas foster, jambalaya, po’boy and muffuletta sandwiches, oysters Rockefeller (see our Oysters Rockefeller recipe photo, right), among others.
My travels to the French-Creole Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana — and then 2.5 hours south to the Gulf Coast, and Bayou Cajun region of Lafayette County — taught me a lot about my English and French-Creole ancestry
Cafes, delicatessens, markets, and restaurants throughout New Orleans offer the best Creole-Italian cuisine, culture, and gourmet food imports. Central Grocery in NOLA is the place where the Muffuletta sandwich was created.
We shop at Capri Imports Italian Deli, and Gabriel’s Supermarkets for Italian cold cuts to make our Muffuletta… See our pictorial recipe on Page 23.
In New Orleans, I was invited to attend a private special Creole dinner with actor John Goodman, one of the owners of The Foundation Room, and actor John Cusack, during the taping of the hit movie "Runaway Jury".
The bed and breakfast inns in the French Quarter of New Orleans are perfect places to stay during Mardi Gras. Yet, we prefer to travel off-season to New Orleans to avoid tourists.
Still today, Italian restaurants in New Orleans tout their food as “ Creole-Italian ”… The cooking style combines centuries of classic French cuisine with Caribbean, Italian, English, German, French, Native American, Spanish, and West African eclectic ingredients — most importantly it is tasty — especially the meals prepared outdoors... We love to cook outdoors all year long — and prefer not to but will cook in the drizzling rain and snow, if a certain food requires a smoked-infused flavor and wood-burning char.
Making fresh pasta at home may be time-consuming, and we do not do it often. However, there is nothing like playing in the kitchen with 00 specialty flour and Semolina milled in Naples, Italy, and imported here to the United States.
When we travel to New Orleans, Louisiana, we stay at the bed and breakfast inns run by private owners… Here, we pick the brains of our hosts to learn more NOLA-style cooking secrets, and traditional techniques for making Creole food.
Both Creole food in New Orleans and Cajun food (found more commonly in the southern swamplands of Louisiana) have the same names for dishes with slightly different ingredients. The Cajun people are descendants of the Acadians who were displaced from Nova Scotia, Canada. These people settled in the Bayou parishes and still love to
“The bed and breakfast inns in the French Quarter of New Orleans are perfect places to stay during Mardi Gras. Yet, we prefer to travel…”
cook lots of game dishes outdoors such as alligator, rabbit, squirrel, etc. The latter two types of game meat are used to make Jambalaya, a French-Creole and African-inspired dish of Jamòn (pork products) and YaYa aka Ya (rice). The word Jambalaya is derived from the Provençal word jambalaia, meaning a medley or mixture of rice, meat, spices, and “holy trinity” vegetables.
Watch our video for making Chicken, Sausage, and Shrimp Jambalaya at https://www.youtube.com/@tasteofschenectadyandbeyond
There is nothing like dining in the Garden District and French Quarter of NOLA—taking a cooking class and/or river cruise, relaxing at a spa, eating raw oysters at Acme Oyster House and po’boy sandwiches. Don’t skip the nightlife, live jazz, playhouses, and street performers… You’ll come home with a love for Creole-Italian cuisine and NOLA… And, if you can’t make the trip to Louisiana, cook these Creole and Cajun-inspired dishes at home! ■
the well-used carving board that serves one family's culinary needs year after year or the cutting board used to prep a great dinner for friends. It is these stories from our customers that keep us going.
J.K. Adams was founded on December 31, 1944
Times have changed but we are proud to say that our values have not. We remain committed to producing high-quality kitchen and housewares products by hand from North American hardwoods in Dorset, Vermont.
Upon the death of George Pullman in 1897, Robert Lincoln, son of Abraham and Mary Lincoln , became president of the Pullman Company Until the 1960s, Pullman porters were exclusively Black, and have been widely credited with contributing to the development of the Black middle class in America… We belong to the American Legion Post #13 in Vermont and are members of Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home in Manchester. Nearby is J.K. Adams Kitchen Store (where we shop while traveling). We’ll let J.K. Adams tell their story…
“Our mission is to put a J.K. Adams product in the hands of every person who is passionate about their kitchen…”
OUR STORY: At J.K. Adams , we believe that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is this belief that drives us to create the highest quality, handcrafted products for cooking and entertaining. It is our job to give you the tools to make cooking and entertaining easy and fun. We love to hear about
We are a second-generation family-owned business with employees who have been with us for years and who are proud of the products we produce together.
Our mission is to put a J.K. Adams product in the hands of every person who is passionate about their kitchen, about the food they make, and about the connections made while entertaining with good food and good friends. We will design and produce products that are exceptional from a functional, aesthetic, and quality standpoint. We will stand by our products with a full 100% replacement guarantee…
We will continually work to prove that well-run companies with committed and customer-focused employees can grow and prosper by producing highquality products in an environmentally and socially responsible manner in the United States.
Our customers' passion for food and entertaining guests at home is what drives us to develop new and innovative products. While we love a great-looking product as much as the next person, we believe, first, in the functionality of every
board, bowl, and server that bears the J.K. Adams name. Our products should withstand the test of time and become kitchen heirlooms that can be handed down from generation to generation. Disposable is not in our vocabulary. This level of commitment to design and craftsmanship is what allows us to stand behind all of our products with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
Personalized products unique. Our selection of over 35 monograms will elevate your
One of the cool things about observation deck of the different J.K. Adams products… We spent at least an hour in the store shopping for items to give as gifts, and for our home.
A kitchen designer is trained and experienced in the art of setting up a kitchen. They will help you realize your kitchen the way you want effectively and with style.”
Whether you’re trying to design, remodel, or build perspective, kitchens are typically the most complicated places to work with. Not only do you need to take the plumbing, electricity, gas lines, and general interior into account, but you also have to ensure everything is placed to offer complete functionality.
The cabinets, counters, and décor need to be in the perfect spot. Considering that the process of setting up the kitchen interior can be so complex, do you really want to go at it by yourself?
A lot of people feel paranoid about hiring a kitchen designer because they feel it would result in them having to give up control of their dream kitchen. That’s not the case. A good kitchen designer would work with you to bring your vision to reality while also ensuring that everything goes in the right place.
A kitchen designer is trained and experienced in the art of setting up a kitchen. They will help you realize your kitchen the way you want effectively and with style.
You may overlook the importance of a simple cabinet swap or appliance change, but a kitchen designer would help you open up your mind to new perspectives and create the best possible layout for your kitchen. They will also know how to use best the available space in the interior of your home, irrespective of the size of your kitchen.
As a result, you’ll have a place that you truly enjoy cooking in and spending time with your family.
Leaving your kitchen in the hands of a kitchen designer is arguably the best decision you can make. You may wonder why you should spend money on something when you can do it yourself, but in the long run, you’d be glad to you let a professional do the job. ■
rranging an impressive cheese board begins with shopping for artisanal cheese, but deciding what cheese to buy can be challenging. The ideal cheese board will consist of cheese varying from soft to semi-hard, and finally hard cheeses. However, a creative cheese board will include berries, bite-sized bread, crostinis, crackers, Crudités, dried and fresh fruits, grapes, herbs, nuts, olives, preserves, and other spreads, sun-dried tomatoes, and table décor… We shop at Capri Imports, Cardona’s, Gabriel’s, and The Cheese Traveler for gourmet cheeses… However, we fell in love
“…it is essential to have the right slicing cheese knives, serving utensils, and cocktail forks or picks for tasting.”
served traditionally after the main course and before the dessert. Coincidently, you may have noticed that fine dining restaurants will often offer on the menu a plate of cheese just before the dessert. In Italy, cheese may be served as a pre-dessert plate with fruit and honey Antipasto cheeses tend to be fresher, and after-dinner ones more aged… Make your cheese board(s) the star of the show. BTW: You can attend cheese classes at The Cheese Traveler • 540 Delaware Ave • Albany, NY
One of the best cheeses a bon vivant can serve is burrata, a fresh cheese often found in the Apulia region of southern Italy. When making burrata, the artisan cheesemaker uses the still-hot cheese and forms it into a pouch, which is then filled with Stracciatella (shreds of fresh mozzarella), and
topped off with fresh cream before closing. Capri Imports Italian Deli sells Burrata — they also sell a Stuffed Burrata with pesto and seasonings — placed on top of a fresh tomato slice — and topped with fresh basil, drizzled with Balsamic glaze and EVOO. The name burrata, is derived from the Italian word burro, which means butter. When the burrata is sliced open, the thickened Stracciatella and sweet cream flow out. The cheese has a richer, more buttery flavor than Mozzarella di Bufala , and should be served at room temperature… Even Colombia makes a buffalo milk and cow’s milk burrata. Make sure that guests grab a fresh plate after eating creamy and juicy burrata.
An ensemble of mild soft cheeses should be the opening act to your cheese board — before tasting semi-hard, hard, aged, and more pungent blueveined and funky cheeses last.
Make sure to offer your guests several beverage options to enjoy with at least six selections of cheese. In this article, we have chosen at least a dozen artisanal cheeses from local fromageries for our cheese board(s).
To keep things simple, we chose libations of San Pellegrino sparkling water, Saratoga® still water — and made our own artisanalflavored seltzer water infused with sliced fresh fruits, and crushed ice. Alcoholic beverages that pair well with a barrage of artisanal cheeses are citrusy or hoppy beers , champagne, sparkling wines — and big, bold red wines with stronger aged and blue cheeses… Nonetheless, in order for your guests to taste the assortment of artisanal cheeses, it is essential to have the right slicing cheese knives, serving utensils, and cocktail forks or picks for tasting. J.K. Adams sells a 5-Piece Cheese Knife Set for approximately $34.
Altagracia (Mami) and Benedicto Fabian opened Mami's Spanish Restaurant in Albany, NY, in 2003. In 2008, the family relocated to Schenectady, on Crane Street… The Capital Region Land Bank Board approved a $70,000 grant in December 2023, for the Fabian family to purchase 902 Crane Street. The Fabians will invest $140,000 plus the purchase price of the vacant building to renovate its outside and interior to move Mami’s Restaurant there.
Mami and Benedicto Fabian's youngest son, Fermin Fabian, his wife, Maggie, their kids, and friends, are now the face of the family’s restaurant businesses… One year ago, they opened Caribé Spanish Restaurant & Sports Bar, at 2234 Broadway, in Bellevue (Schenectady), NY… The restaurant has become one of the best restaurants in the Capital Region for authentic Caribbean and Latin American cuisine and has received over 200 Five-Star reviews from customers from all walks of life.
When you walk inside Caribé Spanish Restaurant & Sports Bar, you immediately feel as if you've been transported to a tropical island restaurant. From the international flags from all over the Caribbean and Latin America to the 27th of February Independence Day of the Dominican Republic nook—to the Esquina Nostalgia (nostalgic corner)—to the Old San Juan-themed dining area section—all with huge murals—you will experience the sights and sounds of Caribbean-style and Spanish-inspired dining… The ambiance, decór, delectable dishes, friendly service, and eclectic menu combinations of Caribé Spanish Restaurant & Sports Bar will blow your mind!
The bar menu features the following COCKTAILS; Bahama Mama, El Caribé, Margarita, Pina Colada, Sex on the Beach, and Ocean Blue Colada (a refreshing tropical blend of coconut cream, pineapple juice, and blue curaçao)… All the tropical cocktails are just $9 + tax. Imported beers and wines have been expertly
sourced to pair with the menu… Caribé Spanish Restaurant and Sports Bar is celebrating the 518 to 718 area codes Tuesday through Sunday with HAPPY 2-HOUR SPECIALS—from 518 p.m. to 718 p.m.
Caribé Spanish Restaurant and Sports Bar has a two-part menu, one featuring Dominican staples, and the other Puerto Rican classics… One of the NEW MENU appetizers is Dominican Shish Kabob which consists of two (pinchos) skewers filled with pieces of fried boneless chicken strips, fried cheese, chicharrón, salami, sweet plantains, and tostones ($14.95). Mangú is a savory dish of boiled and mashed green plantains topped with pickled red onions— whereas Mofongo is a PR dish of fried green plantains, garlic, and butter—both are topped with your choice of meat. Los Tres Golpes is an iconic Dominican breakfast with creamy mangú, crispy salami, queso frito, tangy pickled red onions, and a sunny side egg ($19.95). BTW: There are also dishes for kids and vegetarians.
Mouth-watering chicken entrées include Baked or Jerk Chicken ($19.95), a juicy marinated Chicken Breast cooked to perfection ($19.95), and Pollo Guisado — Spanish-style stewed chicken in a rich and flavorful sauce ($19.95)… The BBQ Ribs are marinated in a spice rub with fresh pineapple pulp and covered in house sauce ($19.95)… My fiancé orders the Fried or Stewed Pork Chops ($19.95), and I always order the slow-roasted and luscious Perníl (roast pork shoulder)… The menu also features several grilled Caribbean and Spanish-style beef selections, such as; Bistec Empanizado (Breaded Steak), Bistec Salteado (sautéed), and Bistec a la Parilla (Grilled Steak) Order the fall-offthe-bone tender Oxtails cooked in spices ($25.95). The Camarones al Ajillo consists of buttery and garlic-infused panfried shrimp ($23.95)… There's also Jerk Shrimp, Seafood Rice (medley), Filete de Salmon (golden-brown Salmon fillet, $23.95), Stewed Fish, and Pargo Rojo Frito—a whole crispy fried Red Snapper that is moist on the inside ($26.95).
“…one
TAKEOUT MENU MAIN DISHES on the hot food bar (picture right) are just $11.95 and come with a choice of meat and rice & beans
Round out your meal with any of the side dishes of avocado, beans, cabbage, cassava & green bananas, fried or sweet plantains, potato salad, house salad, Mac Salad, and Mac ‘n Cheese—and don’t forget to order a few of their homemade sweet dessert selections ■ ADV.
TAKEOUT CATERING AND GIFT CARDS AVAILABLE
ONLINE ORDERING AND DELIVERY
of the best restaurants in the Capital Region for authentic Caribbean and Latin American cuisine.”
It is essential to include a mix of healthy foods in your diet to ensure you are getting al the nutrients you need. Having a balanced diet is the key to maintaining your health. In this article, we wil cover the top 10 foods for healthier eating that you must incorporate into your meal plan and discuss their benefits. So let’s get started!
1. Nuts are crunchy, loaded snacks that can help you feel full when you are hungry. They are rich in magnesium and vitamin E. Eating nuts regularly can lower down your cholesterol levels and help you lose weight. Popular nuts to include in your diet are almonds, Brazil nuts, Macadamia nuts, and walnuts. 2. Lentils and pulses are highly popular in South Asian countries, including India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. They include high amounts of fiber, potassium, and magnesium. They can be eaten as a main dish or toasted and spiced to be eaten as a delightful snack. 3. Two of the most common foods for healthier eating are fruits and vegetables. They are rich in Vitamins C and K. Some fruits and vegetables you must eat regularly are carrots, broccoli, cucumber, asparagus, avocados, apples, bananas, strawberries, melons, and olives. 4. Fish is rich in the two nutrients that many people are deficient in: Omega-3 fatty acids and iodine. Studies have proven that people who eat fish live longer and reduce the risk of getting illnesses like dementia and heart diseases. 5. Rich in protein, eggs are highly nutritious and can provide a healthy breakfast. They are usually mistaken for being high in cholesterol. Eating eggs in a moderate amount, usually boiled, can significantly benefit your health. 6. Dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and contains a
large amount of magnesium, which is good for your health. Dark chocolate is also a great sweet/dessert substitute for people who are trying to lose weight.
7. Grains like rice, quinoa, and oats are high in carbohydrates but rich in powerful fibers, magnesium, and Vitamin B. An excellent source of plantbased protein, grains, brown rice, and quinoa have become highly popular amongst health-conscious individuals. 8. Healthy bread options, although limited, are an excellent substitute for regular white bread. Adding bran bread or other low-carb bread to your diet in the form of sandwiches and subs can provide a nutritious meal. 9. A great source of plant-based proteins, beans, and legumes are full of minerals, vitamins, and fiber. The most commonly eaten beans are kidney beans and green beans. 10. Apple cider vinegar is a popular commodity among people trying to lose weight. It can help lower blood sugar levels, causing significant weight loss. It is used to give flavor to dishes and is often used as a salad dressing as well.
Adding foods for healthier eating to your diet is vital to ensure your body is getting all the nutrition it needs from different sources. ■
Asian cuisine is renowned for its bold flavors, vibrant colors, and exotic ingredients. It is a diverse and fascinating culinary world that spans a vast continent, encompassing numerous cultures, traditions, and styles. From spicy Thai curries to delicate Japanese sushi, from aromatic Indian spices to refreshing Chinese teas, there is an abundance of tastes and textures to explore in Asian food and drinks. In this article, and on our YouTube Channel, we take a closer look at some of the most popular and beloved dishes and beverages from different parts of Asia.
Chinese dishes include dim sum, Peking duck , Kung Pao chicken , and hot pot
Japanese Cuisine:
Japanese cuisine is known for its emphasis on freshness, seasonality, and presentation. It is famous for its delicate flavors, clean lines, and exquisite attention to detail. Some of the most iconic Japanese dishes include sushi, tempura, ramen, and udon. Japanese sake, a rice-based alcoholic beverage, is also popular both in Japan and abroad…
Katsu & Sushi Recipe: https://youtu.be/EONrdrHnDLE
Phở Xao Recipe: https://youtu.be/KXGHPyfbMZE
Thai Cuisine:
Thai cuisine is a flavorful and aromatic cuisine that harmoniously blends sweet, sour, spicy, and salty flavors. It is characterized by the use of herbs and spices such as lemongrass, galangal, chili, and cilantro. Some of the most popular Thai dishes include Tom Yum soup, Pad Thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice. Thai iced tea, a sweet and creamy beverage made with black tea and condensed milk, is also a beloved drink.
The world of Asian food and drinks is fascinating and endlessly diverse, offering something for every taste and preference.
Indian Cuisine:
Chinese Cuisine:
Chinese cuisine is one of the world’s most diverse and widely enjoyed cuisines. It is characterized by a variety of cooking techniques, including stirfrying, steaming, braising, and deep-frying. Some of the most popular
Indian cuisine is famous for its bold spices, aromatic herbs, and rich sauces. Some of the most popular Indian dishes include butter chicken , biryani , dosa , and samosas . The world of Asian food and drinks is fascinating and endlessly diverse, offering something for every taste and preference. Whether you are in the mood for a hearty bowl of r amen or a refreshing cup of Thai iced tea, there is no shortage of delicious options to choose from. So, next time you are feeling adventurous, why not explore Asia's flavors and discover its cuisine's delightful diversity? ■
To volunteer or just find out more go to schenectadygreenmarket.com/volunteer
Lakeside Farm is well known for its great breakfasts and superb lunches as well as for being the home of the Original Apple Cider Donut . Lakeside Farm is still a family-owned operation. 336 Schauber Road • Ballston Lake, NY
Brown’s Family Farm is open Friday to Sunday (July through October 31)… We buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and our firewood here. 1174 Fort Hunter Rd, Rotterdam, NY
Carman Farms is open Monday to Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, in season.
3120 Carman Road • Rotterdam, NY • “Go See The Cowboy!”
The family and staff at Buhrmaster Farms work hard in order to provide the community with food straight from their farm to your plate… Keith Buhrmaster acquired the family farm from his father Donald Buhrmaster, in 1979. Being the third Buhrmaster to own the family farm stand, he obtained more farm fields capable of fostering the area's best fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers… The farm offers CSA shares for sale.
Buhrmaster Farms • 189 Saratoga Road (Route 50) • Scotia, NY
BARN WEDDINGS are very popular these days… Wm. H. Buckley Farm renovated its grounds to include multiple barns and stables, covered outdoor areas, a pond, and views of Ballston Lake to host weddings. The farm was originally an old dairy farm and has been recently updated by its owners. The farm now raises allnatural grass-fed beef, pork, chicken, and eggs. Wm. H. Buckley Farm’s butcher shop and store is open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
946 Saratoga Road • Ballston Lake, NY .
In Italy, there are at least a dozen different types of Italian eateries --- the Pizzeria and Salumeria (deli) are the most common, yet, other eateries vary from the type of atmosphere, beverages, cuisine, and service offered... In this article, I will list only a few types of Italian eateries as a food and travel tip for tourists, such as the Trattoria… In America and Europe, trattorias are more casual, in both cuisine and décor. Here, you’ll find rustic dishes.
Like trattorias, the Osteria is a tavern that specializes in local, homestyle Italian cooking. Historically, osterias were lodging places where guests would gather in the tavern for meals… Here, in the USA, Osteria Danny is a family-owned Italian restaurant located in the heart of Saratoga Springs, NY — created by Danny and Patti Petrosino. In February 2018, Chef Danny was invited to be an honored guest chef at the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG), in Pollenzo, Italy.
An Enoteca is an eatery that focuses on the wine rather than the cuisine. While an enoteca is a wine bar, the word "Bar" in Italy is a café where Italians gather to drink their morning espresso and eat pastry. Most sitdown eateries have communal tables for large groups to dine… The Rosticceria offers fast-food roast meats, while the Ristorante offers fine dining… Here, diners usually enjoy a 4-course menu featuring antipasto (appetizer), primo (pasta or risotto), secondo (meat or fish), and dolce. It is customary to order contorni (side dishes)… Still, my favorite types of Italian eateries are the Osteria, Mercato (street vendors), and Pescheria (fishmonger). Here, you will find the freshest fish, seafood, and contorni.
CHEF AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GASTRONOMIC SCIENCES (UNISG),“
Here's our Creole-Italian recipe for Zuppa di Clams with Pappardelle Pasta , assorted olives, grated Pecorino Cheese, EVOO, fresh Italian parsley, butter and fresh lemon, peperoncino, panroasted garlic, shallot, whole kernel corn, red wine vinegar and brown sugar agrodolce balance, sautéed red onions, imported porcini mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
The Maine mahogany clam fishery is open year-round, and availability has historically been incredibly consistent. These Mahogany Maine Clams are great whether shucked on-the-half-shell, and/or steamed. We buy these clams from Market 32 by Price Chopper, in Rotterdam, NY. The Salt Water Rain Shower there cleans the clams… If you buy fresh clams that are not cleaned use the following method.
Some people just call these small clams in their brownishred-colored shells Maine clams because they are harvested in the cold waters off the coast of Maine. Others just call them Mahogany clams, a nod to the hue of their shells.
1. Never use a clam that is already open or chipped, broken, or damaged in any way. 2. We prefer to soak clams for 30 minutes in sea salt salted water just before opening with a clam knife or steaming. 3. We feed the live clams a little corn meal and leave them in the salted water, and turn off the lights in the kitchen for 30 minutes. The live clams will open and eat the cornmeal and spit out any dirt into the salted water. 4. Once the clams have soaked for 30 minutes, use a firm brush and scrub off any additional sand, barnacles, or other oceanic attachments. 5. Rinse the clams off with cold running water and drain.
OH, MY MOBY DICK, YOU BIT OFF CAPT. AHAB'S LEG AND ATE ALL THE CLAMS! WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH EMPTY MAHOGANY CLAMS SHELLS?
Thank God for a 51 ounce can of sea clams we had in our pantry — it came in handy to make Baked Mahogany Stuffed Clam Shells with chopped sea clams, panko bread crumbs, dried chives, dried parsley, hickory smoked bacon, blue cheese crumbles, butter, Asiago, Romano and Parmesan Mama Francesca® premium grated cheeses, cooking sherry, smoked paprika, oregano, roasted garlic powder, sea salt, Old Bay, GOYA® Adobo Seasoning, cracked black peppercorns, EVOO, Tabasco sauce, lemon zest, and fresh parsley in our Taste of Schenectady® and Beyond™ magazine Food Lab and kitchen. We make these clam recipes, and Oysters Rockefeller all year long. However, the upcoming Season of Lent is a good time to try these recipes. ■
ROSS LACKEY, OWNER OF BROADWAY JOE’S
Ross Lackey is the eligible bachelor and owner of the famous Broadway Joe’s Pizza & Subs on Broadway in Schenectady, NY.
Broadway Joe’s Pizza & Subs is The Home of The Big Slice! addition to their huge and tasty pizza, they offer calzones, chicken wings, cold and hot subs, dinners, salads, specialty pizza, and wraps.
Nick Meola comes from a foodie family. His great-grandfather owned and ran a restaurant in Amsterdam, NY. Meola began his first job in the industry at age fourteen. He joined White Management Corporation as a dishwasher in 2006. He left but rejoined the company in 2019 to help create the Annabel’s Pizza Co. brand that opened in Schenectady in March of 2020, but closed almost immediately due to the pandemic. He reopened Annabel’s in June of 2020, and assisted with the opening of Bountiful Bread in Schenectady in 2021, while also rebuilding the company’s catering business, Artisan District Events (MADE). In June of 2022, Meola was named Executive Chef for Bountiful Bread and Bountiful @ Frog Alley Catering (previously MADE), in addition to his Annabel’s responsibilities. ■
NICK MEOLA, EX. CHEF OF ANNABEL’S PIZZA CO., ETC.
hat started as an outdoor mobile wood-fired pizza oven company catering to the public in Cairo, New York is now more than that — it’s a family-owned pizzeria focused on high-quality pizza and specialty pizzas. Pizzeria Michelina and its partners Robert Meringolo, Michael Johnson, and Steven De Lorenzo are passionate about creating artisanal wood-fired pizzas from scratch — utilizing all-natural ingredients, fresh-grown herbs on the premises, and the best pizza ingredients available in the market!
Robert Meringolo has gone as far as to grow his own Bronze Torch Tomatoes to add to his pizza sauce recipe — an heirloom variety awarded Best Tomato 2022
Meringolo, a former history teacher, is the founder of The Appraisers Road Show and lives in Palermo, Sicily during the wintertime. His late father was born in Calabria, Italy, and his late mother was born on the island of Sicily. The pizzeria is named after Meringolo's maternal grandmother, and its interior design reflects the art and style of Palermo — with its cultural diversity, equity, inclusion, and liberal approach to life — perfect for the restaurant's 376 Delaware Avenue, Albany, NY location. Johnson is an antique appraiser/preacher’s kid who lives in the community with his family.
The owners of Pizzeria Michelina took over the building of LouBea's Pizza which was moved to Delaware Avenue by its original
owners, Lou and Beatrice Goldman, who founded their pizzeria on Central Avenue in 1969… Lou-Bea's operated at the Delaware Avenue location from 1980 to 2015… The building was vacant until Meringolo and partners took it over last year.
“Robert will be making fresh wood-fired pizzas in his own Valoriani oven”, said Rick Bedrosian, a friend of Meringolo, and a local food blogger. Pizzeria Michelina plans to be open 7 days a week, Monday through Saturday — and plans to host a Sunday Supper Club by invitation — featuring local celebrity chefs such as Ric Orlando , Rick Quattrini , and others. The owners of Pizzeria Michelina hired NYC sushi extraordinaire Adam Doi as executive chef of the restaurant. Doi will be a transplant to the area.
Look forward to purchasing an artisanal wood-fired clam pizza, Italian tuna in oil with fresh herb pizza, a classic Margherita Neapolitan-style pizza, and Meringolo’s Sfincioné Palermitano, a true Sicilian-style Tomato Pie… Pizzeria Michelina will also sell lunch & dinner entrées, and slices of pizza… The 20-seat bistro and pizzeria is adorned with art that Meringolo bought in Sicily, Italy.■ ADV.
Anker’s Fish House
420 Altamont Ave • Schenectady, NY (518) 382-8842
Fin Your Fishmonger
2050 Western Ave • Guilderland, NY (518) 452-4565
Hooked Market & Kitchen 1177 Troy Schenectady Rd • Latham, NY (518) 389-6217
Market 32 by Price Chopper 1879 Altamont Ave • Rotterdam, NY (518) 357-4050
MULTI-ETHNIC MARKETS • FISH & MEAT
Alladin Halal Market
309 Central Ave • Albany, NY (518) 443-1001
One Stop West Indian Grocery & Fish Market
772 State Street • Schenectady, NY (518) 280-9934
Farmer’s India Market
1814 Central Ave, Albany, NY (518) 869-2200
Timothy’s World-Ramesh West Indian Mkt 1028 State St. • Schenectady, NY (518) 346-8802
BUTCHERS & FAMILY MARKETS
Avon Market •1631 VanVranken Ave Schenectady, NY (518) 374-3197
Buckley Farm • 946 Saratoga Road • Rt. 50 Ballston Lake (518) 280-3562
Cardona’s Market
9 Cobbee Rd • Latham, NY (518) 785-7480
340 Delaware Ave • Albany, NY (518) 434-4838
Fred The Butcher • 1473 U.S. 9 • Clifton Park (518) 371-5333
Gabriel’s Supermarkets
255 Mohawk Ave Scotia, NY (518) 370-0140 1924 Curry Rd • Rotterdam, NY (518) 355-2230
Niskayuna Food Co-Op 2227 Nott St Schenectady, NY (518) 374-1362
Predel’s Ranch
59 Garnsey Rd • Rexford, NY (518) 399-0265
PRIMAL: Your Local Butcher
Stuyvesant Plaza • 1475 Western Ave Albany, NY (518) 512-4455
Rolf’s Pork Store
70 Lexington Ave • Albany, NY (518) 463-0185
Sahr’s Retail & Wholesale • 2068 Curry Rd Schenectady, NY • (518) 344-6027
Sal’s Quality Market
2713 Guilderland Ave • Sch’dy (518) 346-0408
BREAKFAST & DINERS
Ambition Bistro
154 Jay St • (518) 382-9277
Bellevue Café 2630 Broadway Rotterdam, NY (518) 393-7720
Broadway Lunch
2101 Broadway • Schenectady, NY (518) 372-3222
Blue Ribbon Diner 1801 State St • Schenectady (518) 393-2600
Bud’s on Jay Street
185 Jay St • Schenectady, NY (518) 952-4466
Duanesburg Diner & Restaurant 5156 Western Turnpike Duanesburg, NY (518) 895-8843
Lily’s Café
181 Freemans Bridge Rd• Glenville (518) 393-3060
Mike’s Hot Dogs
1135 Erie Blvd • Schenectady (518) 382-9213
Newest Lunch
715 Albany St • Sch’dy, NY (518) 377-6580
Peter Pause Italian Restaurant 535 Nott St • Schenectady, NY (518) 382-9278
Point Café 964 Helderberg Ave • Sch’dy (518) 395-9717
Redwood Diner 2688 Hamburg St • Sch’dy (518) 355-9522
Scotia Diner 114 Mohawk Ave (518) 372-9776
Skyport Diner • 35 Freemans Bridge Rd (518) 382-9773
Tops American Grill, Bakery & Bar 351 Duanesburg Rd • Rotterdam, NY (518) 355-9864
Union Café • 1725 Union St • Sch’dy, NY (518) 280-1600
DELI • BAKERY AND MORE
Bagels and Bakes 1927 Curry Rd • Rotterdam, NY (518) 355-6801
Blue Rose Cheesecake & Bake Shop 1815 State St • Schenectady, NY (518) 393-2765
Bountiful Bread • Schenectady 108 State St • Schenectady, NY (518) 387-9997
Bountiful Bread • Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Ave • Albany, NY (518) 438-3540
Capri Imports Italian Deli 2617 Broadway • Schenectady, NY (518) 346-6511
Civitello’s Italian Pastry Shoppe 42 N Jay Street • Schenectady, NY (518) 381-6165
Dnipro Euro Foods 898 Loudon Road • Latham, NY (518) 213-7007
Gershon’s Deli & Bakery 1600 Union St. • Niskayuna, NY (518) 393-0617
La Gioia Deli 2003 Van Vranken Ave • Schenectady (518) 280-2235
Nino’s Bakery • Nino’s Deli & Subs 718 Central Ave • Albany, NY (518) 489-6640 — (518) 489-1140
Pede Brother’s Pasta 582 Duanesburg Rd • Schenectady, NY (518) 356-3042
Perreca’s Bakery & More Perreca’s 33 W. Jay St • Sch’dy • (518) 372-1875
Pinzo’s Bakery 344 Delaware Avenue Albany, NY (518) 463-4904
The Cheese Traveler 540 Delaware Avenue • Albany, NY (518) 443-0440
Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels 1235 Western Ave • Albany, NY (518) 453-5649
Villa Italia Bakery 226 Broadway • Schenectady, NY Schenectady (518) 355-1144
MEXICAN MARKET
La Mexicana Grocery 1759 State Street Schenectady, NY • (518) 346-1700
FLORISTS
Blooms By Marie 811 Madison Ave • Albany, NY (518) 275-0374
Frank Gallo & Son Florist 1601 State St • Schenectady, NY (518) 399-2424
Brown’s Family Farm Stand
1174 Fort Hunter Rd
Schenectady, NY 12303 (518) 836-4806 • Firewood in Season
Buhrmaster Farms
189 Saratoga Rd • Scotia, NY 12302 (518) 399-5931
Carman Farms
3120 Carman Rd • Rotterdam, NY (518) 378-2778
Fo'Castle Farm Country Store
166 Kingsley Rd
Burnt Hills, NY 12027 (518) 399-8322
Hungry Chicken Country Store
Rotterdam Junction
661 River Rd #6505
Schenectady, NY 12306 (518) 879-9442
Lakeside Farms
336 Schauber Rd • Ballston Lake, NY (518) 399-8359
For The Love of Bacon • Mariaville Farm 834 Duanesburg Road • Schenectady (518) 280-4760
CANDY • CHOCOLATE • NUTS • MORE
Bittersweet Candy
173 Jay Street • Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 280-6161
Krause's Homemade Candy
1609 Central Ave • Albany, NY 12205 (518) 869-3950
Uncle Sam's All-American Chocolate Factory 2571 Albany Street • Schenectady, NY (518) 372-2243
What's Poppin Albany
Kohl’s Plaza 1814 Central Ave • Albany, NY 12205 (518) 704-3936
SPICES • OILS • VINEGARS
Afghan Halal Meat & Bakery (Afghan Saffron)
1225 State Street
Schenectady, NY (518) 982-0499
Oliva! Gourmet Olive Oils & Vinegars
Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Ave Albany, NY 12203 (518) 482-3866
Penzeys Spices
Stuyvesant Plaza
1475 Western Ave • Albany, NY 12203 (518) 650-8364
HOME • KITCHEN • COOKBOOKS
Bellevue Builders Supply 500 Duanesburg Rd, Schenectady, NY (518) 355-7190
Best Fire Hearth & Patio 1760 Central Ave • Albany, NY 12205 (518) 869-9600
Best Tile Schenectady
2241 Central Ave • Schenectady, NY (518) 344-7000
Different Drummer Kitchen Supply Crossgates Mall • Ste 215D, Albany, NY (518) 459-7990
Earl B. Feiden Appliance • 1771 U.S. 9 • Clifton Park, NY • 785 Route 9 • Latham, NY • (518) 383-2215 • (518) 785-8555
Green’s Appliance
1207 Central Ave • Albany, NY 12205 (518) 458-7994
Homecrest Kitchens, Inc
110 Freemans Bridge Rd • Scotia, NY (518) 370-3110
Marcella's Appliance Center 560 Broadway • Schenectady, NY (518) 381-1957
Open Door Bookstore
128 Jay Street • Schenectady, NY (518) 346-2719
Pottery Barn 1475 Western Ave • Albany, NY Stuyvesant Plaza • (518) 453-0050
Spoon & Whisk • 1675 U.S. 9 Clifton Park, NY (518) 371-4450
The Schenectady Trading Company 10 Center St • Schenectady, NY (518) 307-1332
Towne Decorators 2891 Guilderland Ave • Schenectady, NY (518) 355-2142
Annand Wine & Liquor 1437 Broadway • Schenectady, NY (518) 374-8329
Boscia’s Liquor Discount 2710 Broadway • Bellevue Schenectady, NY (518) 346-5706
Black Mountain Wine & Liquor
680 Mariaville Rd • Schenectady, NY (518) 356-2828
Capital Wine
348 State & Lark Streets Albany, NY (518) 689-0160
Carman Wine & Liquor 3643 Carman Rd Rotterdam, NY (518) 356-5988
Colonie Star Beverage 1823 Central Ave • Albany, NY (518) 869-5579
Englebardt’s Wine & Liquor 511 Union St • Schenectady, NY (518) 372-4788
Goosehill Wine & Liquor 1529 Van Vranken Avenue Schenectady, NY (518) 357-3545
King Cork Wine & Liquor 2430 Watt St • Schenectady, NY (518) 393-3955
Madison Wine & Spirits 795 Madison Ave • Albany, NY (518) 455-9463
New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room • Lark St • Albany, NY NEWSCOTLANDSPIRITS.COM
Scotia Wine & Liquors
25 Mohawk Ave • Scotia, NY (518) 630-5107
Sheila’s Wine & Liquors
322 Delaware Avenue • Albany, NY (518) 434-4258
Top Shelf Wine & Spirits 1475 Western Ave • Albany, NY Stuyvesant Plaza • (518) 275-0644
United Wine Liquor 1650 Eastern Pkwy Schenectady, NY (518) 346-8085
Uptown Beverage 1866 Altamont Ave (518) 355-2305
Ferreira-Carpenter Estates
Try our variety of family-made wines For wholesale inquiries call: (518) 598-4854
