Troy’s Hidden Treasures?

Wow, I’ve fallen behind. Yesterday I was compelled to write about the start of Passover, so I completely forgot to mention the big news from the weekend. The highlight was Steve Barnes including the FLB in his Sunday column suggesting that restaurants should reduce their portion sizes and increase the quality of their ingredients.

I am thrilled, positively thrilled, that he’s come forward as an advocate for a position I’ve held for a long time. The more people we have banging the drum, the more likely we’ll be to change people’s minds.

But this weekend there was also a significant dust-up of mom-bloggers about the new KFC kids meals. I’m sure you’ll be surprised to know I have some strong feelings both on the product and its promotion.

Saturday also marked the launch of Albany Distilling Company’s Quackenbush Still House Rum. I’m excited that I now have one of the few bottles in my possession, but the vessel remains sealed. It’s been too busy around here to even pop the cork and inhale its vapors.

And just yesterday there was an awesome announcement about the Charles F. Lucas Confectionery and Wine Bar expanding into an adjacent building. Granted, it’s one that needs a lot of work, but Vic (bless his heart) sees nothing but potential in the crumbling bricks of Troy.

However, before we can even start with any of the above, there is another piece of Troy news that needs to be addressed first.

Whatever happened to the Troy Record’s 2013 Reader’s Choice poll results?

If you recall, way back when, there was a ballot. I even took Jessica R’s picks and endorsed most of them for your consideration. And then nothing. I had expected the results awhile ago, but totally couldn’t find them by searching the website or Google. Maybe I’m an idiot. But if I am, I’m a crafty idiot, because I sent a tweet to the paper and they sent me a link to the results.

So? How did we do in Troy? Well, we called ten correctly. But there are clearly some anomalies in the results. Some of the readers picks aren’t terribly surprising. Regardless of how good the Placid Baker is in Troy, it would take a flood of biblical proportions to wash away the deeply held love for Bella Napoli in the community. Others aren’t egregious enough to cause me to throw myself on a sword. I like the butchers at Roma, and readers prefer Fred the Butcher. I can live with that.

Other acts of aggression will not stand. Here’s how the first category played out:

Food & Beverage Retail
Bakery – Placid Baker – DENIED (Bella Napoli)
Banquet Facility – Franklin Plaza – NAILED IT
Beverage Center – Hoosick St. Beverage – NAILED IT
Butcher Shop – Roma’s (Latham) – DENIED (Fred the Butcher)
Farmers Market – Troy Riverfront Farmer’s Market – NAILED IT
Farmstand – Golden Harvest – DENIED (Brunswick Farmstand)
Wine & Liquor Store – Village Discount Wines & Lqrs, Wynantskill – DENIED (Exit 9)

Let the record show that the Brunswick Farmstand does not have a distillery on premise. That makes it inferior by default. That, and the lack of the best cider donuts east of the Hudson. But it’s hard to get too worked up about this selection either.

Food & Drink (Part 1)
Asian – Red & Blue Asian Bistro – DENIED (Plum Blossom)
Barbeque – Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – NAILED IT
Beer Selection – The Ruck – NAILED IT
Breakfast/Brunch – Illium Cafe – DENIED – (B-Rads)
Burgers – The Brown Bag – DENIED (Forty One Sports Bar)
Caterers – Nighthawk’s Kitchen – DENIED (Old Daley Catering)
Coffee Shop – The Charles F. Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar – DENIED (Francesca’s)
Deli/Subs – Deli & Brew – DENIED (Mr. Subb)
Dessert – Sweet Sue’s – DENIED (Verdile’s)
Diner – Duncan’s Dairy Bar – DENIED (Alexis Diner)

Here is where things start breaking down. Plum Blossom, like Bella Napoli I understand. B-Rads has a loyal following, and I’m willing to entertain the notion that a negative experience on my first visit could have been a fluke. But Forty One Sports Bar? This place isn’t even on my radar, maybe it should be. Francesca’s for coffee should certainly be a priority on my Troy to do list. However, next year I fully expect The Confectionery will take the coffee category, but as of this poll, I’m guessing that people didn’t even know the amazing wine bar was also a killer coffee bar as well.

For the record though, Mr. Subb doesn’t make the best anything.

Food & Drink (Part 2)
Family & Kids Dining – Gus’s – DENIED (Papa’s Corner)
Fine Dining – Illium Cafe – DENIED (Papa’s Corner)
Fish Fry – Gene’s – DENIED (Ted’s)
Fried Chicken – The Flying Chicken – NAILED IT
Happy Hour – The Ruck – DENIED (Forty One Sports Bar)
Hot Dogs – Famous Lunch – NAILED IT
Ice Cream/Gelato – The Snowman (esp. Butter Pecan) – NAILED IT
Indian/Pakistani – Shalimar – NAILED IT
Italian – Minnesalle’s – DENIED (Papa’s Corner)

Wait a second. One restaurant takes top honors in Family & Kids, Fine Dining and Italian? The only explanation for this is that Troy Record readers have no idea what “Fine Dining” actually means. Because places that are good for kids are rarely the fine dining establishments. While it may be bogus, now I really want to go to Papa’s Corner and see this miraculous restaurant for myself.

Oh yeah, and there’s that mysterious Lansingburgh Forty One Sports Bar again. What gives? The ‘burgh is all of a sudden a hip, hot and happening sports bar town?

Food & Drink (Part 3)
Margaritas – Jose Malone’s – NAILED IT
Martinis – Daisy Bakers – NAILED IT
Mexican – La Mexicana Restaurant & Market (Schenectady) – DENIED (Jose Malone’s)
Neighborhood Bar – Charles F. Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar – DENIED (Forty One S.B.)
Patio Seating – Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – DENIED (Papa’s Corner)
Pizza – DeFazio’s – DENIED (LaBella)
Salad – Spillin’ the Beans – DENIED (Jimmy’s)
Sports Bar – The Ruck – DENIED (Forty One Sports Bar)
Steaks – Lo Porto’s – DENIED (Paolo Lombardi’s)
Wings – The Ruck – DENIED (Ale House)

I’m guessing that the professional patrons of the Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar have better things to do with their time than vote in some online poll. Plus it’s still relatively new. But without a doubt it is the best neighborhood bar I’ve seen in a long long time. One day it will get its due. And there’s Lansingburgh’s Forty One Sports Bar again, twice. Not to mention another winning spot for Papa’s Corner whose patio eclipses that of Dinosaur’s right on the Hudson River. I’m skeptical.

That skepticism grows as De Fazio’s is shortchanged in favor of LaBella’s for best pizza, and The Ruck falls to The Ale House for best wings. Up is down, black is white. Cats and dogs, living together. Mass hysteria.

Deep breath.

Here’s the thing. Despite a few key disagreements, this poll still has merit and value. Its purpose is to bring attention to the places that a lot of people in Troy really love. So I’m looking forward to trying Papa’s Corner and Forty One Sports Bar. I hope they are ready, because my expectations are now pretty high. The poll also put Francesca’s back on my radar, and it would be good to get in there too.

Still, Troy needs to be careful. Because while there may be some interesting places in their paper’s Reader’s Choice list, it’s a crime that the local population doesn’t fully appreciate the brilliance of De Fazio’s pizza or The Ruck’s wings.

I’m not pressing charges. This year, I’m letting you off with a warning. Next year, you might not get so lucky.