Going Back Home
This vacation is over. It’s time to pack up the car and hit the road back to Albany. So I do not have a lot of time. There was a lot that I learned on this trip, but much of it doesn’t quite fit into the FUSSYlittleBLOG project. After all, this isn’t a travel blog.
Once I’m back home, perhaps I can think of some way of incorporating more of these recent experiences into my ongoing efforts of improving food in Albany.
Until then, there are three issues I have written about in the past that have come up over the course of this trip, and I thought that this would be the perfect kind of quick post for a travel day. Especially a day when I cannot call on the copy editing skills of Mrs. Fussy.
Texas Pete’s Hot Sauce
When we were in the back of car, eating fried seafood just procured from the barges on the river, I noticed little packets of Texas Pete’s in the bottom of our bag. My dear friends and dining companions had never heard of the stuff, and that is just a travesty. Everyone who breathes should know about the glory that is Texas Pete’s, and I’d like to do my part.
A Reliably Good Cappuccino
Perhaps I should have done some more research myself. But people seemed to rave about the espresso drinks at the Illy café in the District. And maybe they were having a bad few days. While it was not rave worthy, it was certainly reliably good. Still, now I’m worried that watching the World Barista Championships and my visits to Cartel Coffee Lab have given me unrealistic expectations for an already difficult to find beverage.
Finding the Great Local Hangouts
Mrs. Fussy is making great strides. She was the one who found this second wonderful Italian restaurant in small town Pennsylvania. Their homemade pasta was at least every bit as good as Café Capriccio and their meatballs were every bit as good as what I import from Providence. Oh, and a filling meal of soup, bread, pasta and meat cost about ten bucks. Plus they make their own gelato too. Proving once again that there is good food everywhere, and that those dingy restaurants that do a brisk business off the beaten path are worth a try.
In other news, Mrs. Fussy’s dad is still holding firm on withholding the family secret pancake recipe. Which is probably a good thing. By not publishing his recipe I can spare you all a similar fate. You see, I can’t eat pancakes out anymore. Nothing compare to his. Nothing.
FUSSYlittleBLOG 
Curious about pancakes. Our secret ingredient is sour cream or yogurt, either will do though I prefer the former (this also applies to the world in general–I will put sour cream on anything deemed edible, and even if it’s not, I might try to). I’ve never been a fan of pancakes out. Always too big, too wet, too flavorless and heavy, and almost always with icky fake syrup. Same for waffles. Whaaaat is the deal? My aunt had a secret waffle recipe that I attempted once and killed. Someday though, someday.
Texas Pete’s is fine, and I know Ms. Fussy loves the stuff, but if you are into takeout squeeze packets the hot sauce at Popeye’s or (if they still have it) KFC will work just as well. Hot pepper + a dash of vinegar = perfection in anybody’s book. Though who am I to talk about options since I am about 1% through the gallon of Tabasco you cajoled me into buying…..