Hump Day Happy Hour!

The food truck scene in the Capital Region has grown quite a bit within the past few years with a loyal fan base. I remember when Slidin' Dirty was just starting on the scene. Now their avocado fries have taken them all the way to Live with Kelly and Michael and lines have gotten longer, making the wait even sweeter. Not too long ago, we had missed the Food Truck Showcase at the Saratoga Eagle's Club and were pretty bummed out.  Lo and behold the kickoff of the Food Truck Showcase of Upstate New York's Hump Day Happy Hour at Shmaltz Brewing Company last Wednesday. It was the first warm and beautiful day of the summer, perfect for enjoying a few cold brews alongside our favorite food trucks.  

Naturally, our first stop was for beer. We were at Shmaltz Brewing Co. after all. $10 will get you a flight of 5 beers plus a souvernir tasting glass, even when the food trucks aren't around. Armed with a cold one, we were ready to hit the food trucks. J's been waiting to hit Slidin' Dirty since last summer. Sadly avocado fries weren't on the menu but we gladly substituted for jalapeno beef cheddar egg rolls. It's a fun twist on a favorite appetizer and tastes even better with chipotle cream dipping sauce. The beer, in this case a hoppy rye lager (David's Slingshot), paired great with the salty, crispy, and greasy eggrolls. We also shared a duo of sliders: The Dirty Soprano (beef slider with fresh mozzarella, pesto, balsamic glaze, and fried tomato) and The Avocado Bleu (opting for a fried tomato veggie substitute with blue cheese, arugula, crispy onions, and horseradish cream). As always, these are little bites packed with flavor. It might seem like a lot of ingredients for a little bun but it all comes together so well.

Gus's Hot Dogs

We're not always out to seek the latest and greatest that the 518 has to offer. Not every bite has to be the newest trendy bite out there, although The Crisp Cannoli's crodo sure is tasty. Growing up in Montreal/The North Country, poutine and michigan hot dogs were regulars on the menus. It was our go to comfort foods but I never realized how regional food can be til I moved away.  

I was introduced to Brooks' BBQ and chicken spiedies during my summers in Cooperstown, spoiled by bagels and pizza in NYC, and was no stranger to deep-fried pizza rolls from my college days in Potsdam. As I migrated to Albany, disco fries appeared on my radar and although melted shredded cheese/cheese whiz will never compare to the poutine curds of my childhood, the gravy fries and cheese concoction has grown on me. Even mozzarella sticks taste better with raspberry sauce. Albany has its share of unique regional favorites too and it was only up until recently that I went out of my way to try mini hot dogs. 

We've passed Gus's Hot Dogs on numerous occasions but finally made an effort to stop by this iconic Capital Region institution. A weathered sign points to a little unassuming red shack. There's a line but it's fast-moving; it must be good if it's been around since 1954 right? We weren't exactly greeted by the friendliest counter service, but it had a soup nazi chef kind of charm. Surprisingly, there's more than just mini hot dogs so J and I threw in an order for a Greek burger (patty with meat sauce) along with a six pack of wieners with the works: smear of yellow mustard, meat sauce, and diced onions. Food here is cheap! At $0.65 per dog and $1.50 for a Greek burger, it's certainly a steal. The burger patty is thin but had a nice char, was seasoned well, and for the price it's something we would choose over McDonald's. The mini dogs came locally from Helmbold's and for its size had really good flavor and snap. If only red hots came in a mini version. 

It's obviously all about the meat sauce here. It's comparable in texture to the North Country's michigan meat sauce, both a finely ground beef mix, but here the sauce is heavily spiced. I found the sauce to be a bit too bitter but J didn't mind. The experience of eating this regional food at a beloved landmark overshadowed some inconsistencies. It was just fun to take part in the Capital Region's food culture. Time to tackle the rest of the Tour de Mini Hot Dogs. Which is your favorite mini hot dog joint? 

Poutine La Banquise

Squeaky cheese curds. Thick, salty gravy. Fresh, crispy fries. It's so magical when all these elements come together in harmony. During a recent trip up north, we found the mecca of all poutines at La Banquise in Montreal. We've always stuck to basic poutine at La Belle Province, a run-of-the-mill chain by my folks' place, but J and I decided to venture out on our own this time. After repeatedly seeing La Banquise featured on Cooking Channel's Unique Eats, it was time to stop salivating and experience this much hyped-about poutinerie. 

We were starving from a not-so-great wedding buffet and really needed a late night snack to cure some hangry grumps. Lucky for us La Banquise is open 24hrs a day. Now that's dedication to poutine. You know the food will be good when you have to wait in a long line. We opted for the takeout line for a shorter wait. La Banquise takes its poutine very seriously. Here you'll find 30 different kinds of poutine. You read that right. The Canadian delicacy ranges from a classic version to a Montreal favorite with smoked meat and even takes on Mexican flavors with guacamole and tomatoes. For us gluttons, "La Trois Viandes" was calling our names. 

Meet a mess of deliciousness in all its meaty glory. It's not pretty but man did it hit the spot. The ground beef had some crispy bits mixed in with bacon and the hot dogs were brilliantly cut to match the size of the french fries so every forkful had a bit of everything. This poutine had everything we wanted and more. The cheese curds squeaked so much it almost brought us to tears. We're always so disappointed whenever we come across a 518 poutine swimming in a thin gravy or melted curds. We've never gotten the whole trifecta with the exception of The Montreal Poutine Truck and Creo. The Canadians really have mastered the art of assembly. The gravy was just hot enough to coat the fries but not turn them into complete mush or melt the cheese. Even the fries tasted amazing, retaining some crisp despite the mound of toppings and gravy. How did we know it was the best poutine we ever had? The next day, we had it cold for breakfast and the flavors still held up. Looks like we'll be taking more road trips up north this summer. 

Bread and Honey

I've had my share of NYC bagels when I spent a semester in New York, and even a few Montreal bagels from home. Each has its own unique style and now I get to add Albany bagels to that list. What's an Albany bagel? Just stop by Bread and Honey on Madison Avenue and taste for yourself. Bagels here are made fresh on premise but it's not just about the bagels. It's a mecca for all your carb-related needs--from loaves of fresh bread to pretzels, scones and sandwiches, and on occasion bread pudding made with Bake For You cookies! But the bagels here are the stars of the bakery.

Get to Bread and Honey early though, favorites run out fast. Lucky for us late sleepers, a couple of Everything bagels were still waiting for us. You're going to want a schmear of bacon scallion or smoked salmon cream cheese to accompany these jewels. No need for toasting, they shine own their own especially if you can get one still warm from the oven . It's not as thick and dense as the New York bagels I've come across but still sizable. There is a nice toothy bite to this Albany bagel with an unbelievable crunchy, crusty exterior and chewy soft innard that isn't too fluffy or doughy. It also has a great balance of toppings for an everything bagel, including chunks of salt which I haven't found as prominent on other everything bagels, if any really. The bagels from the chains just don't hold a candle to the ones at Bread and Honey. Even the cream cheese tastes better. You can actually taste the smokiness from the bacon one and the there's plenty of briny salmon bits in the lox one. One of each cream cheese is the way to go.

You can also add a cup of homemade soup for a light lunch. We happen to come on a day when turkey barley was on the menu. It was a cold, grey day and a cup of soup was just what we needed. I've never come across this combo before but this stew-like soup was so comforting with chunks of carrots, potatoes, and ground turkey. I never cook with tarragon and am not familiar with its flavor but a touch of this herb added a different and welcomed dimension of flavor. All it was missing was a touch of salt and pepper. 

We also got a sample of sourdough bread too and knew we had to take a loaf home. It had a beautiful crust and lovely chew. We knew it would be great bread to make grilled cheeses for dinner. It's refreshing to see so much thought go into a well-made, simple product and you can taste the love and care. We've stopped by at least three times now. Albany is so lucky to have a new bakery like Bread and Honey. Cheers to more Albany bagels!

Short and Sweet: Chocolate Chunk Cookies at Sweet Sue's

I have an insatiable sweet tooth so I want to write about, if not the best, then certainly the most awesome cookie I've ever eaten. 

It came from Sweet Sue's, a small and beautiful little cafe in downtown Troy.  I believe R has filled everyone in on the great food there, so I'm going to devote a paragraph to describing this fantastic little cookie.

These little guys are just fun to look at and imagine in your mouth.  They're a lovely golden brown and stacked with massive chunks of all different sorts of chocolate just piled up in the center.  Looking at it, you are struck by how many lovely shades of brown there can be in one bite.  That first bite doesn't disappoint; the cookie is soft,  buttery, chewy, and the pile of chocolate turns to to a delicious gob of slush in your mouth.  It is so beyond normal cookies, I would love to know what kind of chocolates she uses, but I'm afraid it would spoil the magic.

Anyway, thanks for the amazing cookie Sue. 

Council Rock Brewery

Everyone has a weakness.  A certain place that, no matter what, they can't think a bad thing about.  I'm afraid the Council Rock Brewery in Cooperstown is falling fast into that status to me.  No matter how long it's been, no matter what mood I'm in or even my opinions about how the food and beer could be improved, I have never left there unhappy.  I think it says something that we have made the 1.5 hour trip multiple times primarily to stop there.

There's a refreshing honesty to the food and beer there.  In an age where the push is to culinary innovation and gastrology, it seems like simple done well doesn't get the attention it deserves.  Though the menu is pretty simple it is also executed very well with large portion sizes and surprisingly flavorful sides. You'll find standards like BBQ Pulled Pork simmered in their Brown Ale and Pastrami on marbled rye. But you'll also find some unique twists like Grilled Spicy Andouille Sausage with Gorgonzola Ranch Coleslaw. 

Our favorite are the garlic pesto fries.  Small shoestring fries cooked crispy but not overdone, tossed in an amazing pesto and sprinkled liberally with slices of garlic and served with chipotle aioli.  As much as we enjoy the rest, these fries are the reason we can't take a daytrip to Cooperstown without stopping at Council Rock.

So much for the food, but the reason you go to a brewery is for the beer, right?  Once more Council Rock's product stands proudly alongside any in the area.  I've found that a lot of larger microbreweries seem to stick to an identity to the exclusion of producing a great drink:  Shipyard uses a lot of English hops, Ommegang aggressively spices their drinks, etc.  Council Rock's identity, if it has one, tastes like balance.  The malt and hops are strong enough to be distinctive without drowning each other out, resulting in a surprising complexity for such relatively simple, honest brews.  The Friends and Neighbors Pale Ale is my favorite of the bunch, but even the ones I don't like are all an interesting take on their style.

In spite of its small size and unassuming look, Council Rock is one of my favorite upstate spots for food and beer.  With old-timers' day and the induction ceremony coming up, if you're on your way down to Cooperstown I would absolutely recommend a stop.  After all, baseball is much better with good food and beer.

Sweet Sue's

The brunch fairies have smiled down upon us again. A trip to Sweet Sue's was a bit of a redemption trip for J and I. We once stopped by for a cupcake and macarons but the texture of the treats were a bit off. Every place has an off day, we get it. But the more I looked on Facebook, the more I was tempted by the playful menu and brunch combos. I convinced J to check out brunch at Sweet Sue's in Troy and we couldn't have been more blown away. 

Sweet Sue's plays around with lots of global flavors, even Vietnamese pho and banh xeo from what I've seen. The day's soup of the day was a Thai Tom Kha and we had to start our meals with a taste. It was a light red curry broth that wasn't the usual blow your head off spicy . For once I didn't miss the heat and enjoyed the balance of sweet and sour flavors. It wasn't too heavy on the coconut milk either and fragrant aromas of lemongrass balanced the sweetness well. It was the perfect soup to start off a beautiful spring day meal.

Get there early because brunch specials run out fast. I had my eye on the arepas from an earlier Facebook post but since they ran out, I opted for a breakfast sandwich with homefries. It wasn't just an ordinary breakfast sandwich. This one was made with Heritage Farms hickory smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, brie, and a schmear of fig jam on an Our Daily Bread croissant.

I loved the salty and sweet combo; the fig jam paired very well with the creaminess of brie and of course everything is better with bacon, especially thick-cut quality bacon. I also love when places opt for the peppery bite of arugula instead of lettuce on their sandwiches. The side of homefries were perfectly crispy but needed a bit more seasoning; just ask for ketchup and sriracha and you'll be all set. Sandwich aside, I was actually just as impressed with the side salad of arugula and house-grown organic sprouts. The greens were brightly dressed with a light vinaigrette and something so simple tasted so fresh and delicious. Locally-sourced and quality, fresh ingredients really do make a difference.
J was just as impressed with his Sooie Sandwich: Heritage Farm pork confit with slaw, pickled onions, and horseradish cream on ciabatta. The pork confit was packed with flavor but not greasy at all. The meat was heavy on cumin which was unexpected but in a good way. The slaw added a good, fresh crunch and horseradish added a good kick. J wolfed down this sandwich in no time. 

Of course a trip to Sweet Sue's wouldn't be complete without a cupcake or two, plus one more for the road. We chose a duo of Lemon Chai and Triple Chocolate cupcakes. This tasted much better than our first time around. Although the frosting was still hard from the fridge case, we didn't mind it all since it was so flavorful. It's a very buttery frosting, richer than your typical cupcake. It's butter alright. The cake part was fluffy and J couldn't get enough of the pudding filling in the chai cupcake. Plus it was so refreshing to see and taste real lemon zest in the cake. As for the chocolate cupcake, definitely plenty of chocolate flavor. What a sweet ending to an awesome brunch. It pays to have a leap of faith and give a place another go.