A Sell Out Funday Giveaway

I’m the world’s worst packer. If there’s something else to do besides packing, the packing just won’t get done.

In fact, I’m dragging my feet so badly that yesterday instead of packing, I drove the kids to the Philadelphia Zoo. Afterwards we hit up Elevation Burger. That’s the chain that specializes in grassfed organic burgers and potatoes fried in olive oil. Then it was off to the Yardley Ice House for a last taste of their water ices.

Leaving Princeton is inevitable. I should just accept it. And there are good things happening in Albany. Today I’ll share some of them with you. And just to help sweeten the deal, I’ve got three $10 gift cards to give away that relate to the last press release. In the comments below, just tell me which of the four new ice cream treats you are most interested in trying. Winners will be selected at random.

But before you skip to the bottom to try and score a Hamilton’s worth of frozen delights, you should chew on these tasty morsels of food news.

THE AWESOME ALBANY COMMUNITY DINNER: INAUGURAL EDITION

Soul Café Albany: Cuban Night with Chris Faraci (of Carmen’s Café, Troy)
When: Monday, June 30, 6-8 PM
Where: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Albany, NY
Cost: $3 suggested donation

The first Soul Café Albany community meal will take place on Monday, June 30 from 6-8 PM at the Westminster Presbyterian Church on 262 State Street (parking lot entrance at 85 Chestnut Street) in Albany. There is a suggested base donation of $3 for this volunteer-run dinner (no one will be turned away). Denison Farm, the Honest Weight Food Co-op, Placid Baker, and other businesses donate culled produce for the cooks to prepare.

This month’s theme is Cuban Night, with a menu created by Chris Faraci of Carmen’s Café in Troy.

We are looking forward to working together to break bread in the community.

For more information, contact soulcafealbany@gmail.com
More information can also be found on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/soulcafealbanyny

Carmen’s Café: http://carmenscafetroy.com/
Denison Farm: http://www.denisonfarm.com/
Honest Weight Food Co-op: http://www.hwfc.com
The Placid Baker: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Placid-Baker/245772244598

THE COOKOUT

The Cheese Traveler Grills Great Grub
When: Friday, June 27th, 5-8pm
Where: 540 Delaware Avenue, Albany, NY

We’re cooking out every Friday all summer long. Last week’s salmon from Fin was so successful we sold out, so call ahead or arrive early! Enjoy on our patio or call for take out. 518-443-0440. Here’s the menu for this week.

Grilled Lamb Baguette – $12
House-ground Lamb spiced with Ras el Hanout, grilled and served on a baguette with harissa.

Tilldale Burger – $9
1/3lb of juicy Tilldale beef, grilled to order. Served on a Bonfigilio roll with lettuce, tomato, onion. Choose from our gourmet selection of condiments, including whole grain mustard, tomato & pepper ketchup, and homemade mayo.

Additional toppings:
Shelburne Cheddar – $1
Emmental (Swiss) – $1
Fourme d’ambert (blue) – $1
Smoking Goose Bacon – $2
Mingle Kimchi – $2

Sides:
Greek Chickpea Salad – $5
Tomato and Cucumber Salad – $5
Salt Potatoes – $3

THE NEW MYSTERY PLACE OPENING IN TROY

Word on the street is that the business moving into the restaurant at 9 First Street is a locally based food “vendor” who has received national acclaim. What isn’t mentioned in the release below is that they will be serving food for purchase outside the restaurant space starting at 4 p.m. before continuing for the duration of Troy Night Out. Who is going to go and do some recon for me?

Big Unveil for Historic 9 First Street, Troy, Friday, 4 P.M.
Sequence Development to Announce Restaurant Tenant, Holds Open House

TROY, N.Y. (6/26/14) — Sequence Development is holding an open house this Friday at 4 p.m. at 9 First Street as the project is nearing completion. As part of the celebration it will announce its first floor tenant — a nationally acclaimed outfit opening its first restaurant in an historic rehabbed building in downtown Troy.

Sequence will host a brief ceremony to announce the first floor restaurant tenant for its historic renovation. It will also provide tours of the reconstruction efforts on the upper floors that began last fall. The future restaurant tenant will be present for the ceremony and will serve food during Troy Night Out.

“This redevelopment has been a labor of love for all of us involved,” said Jeffrey Buell, 34, founder of Sequence Development. “There is no finality associated with a building like this, our completion is just the next chapter. It has stood proud for 150 years, and we are thrilled to be opening the doors Friday night to an important piece of Troy’s history.”

THE GIVEAWAY

Carvel Partners with Nutella® for Limited Time Summer Ice Cream Treats
Carvel Debuts Soft Serve, handmade scooped Ice Cream and Sundae Dasher Line Featuring Popular Hazelnut Spread

ATLANTA – Just in time for summer ice cream breaks, Carvel…America’s Freshest Ice Cream®, is launching a new line of treats with Ferrero’s Nutella® hazelnut spread.
Nutella®, a tasty, unique spread made from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa will be incorporated into four ice cream desserts served all summer at participating Carvel® shoppes.

Carvel will introduce its line of treats with Nutella® hazelnut spread June 30 and it will be available until Sept. 30. Guests can choose from the new flavors in soft-serve, hand-scooped ice cream, as well as Sundae Dashers®, including:

• Hand-Scooped Chocolate Ice Cream layered with Nutella® hazelnut spread and Carvel Crunchies, then topped with Nutella®
• Soft-Serve Ice Cream made with Nutella® hazelnut spread
• Sundae Dasher with Banana – Layers of soft-serve made with Nutella® hazelnut spread and Carvel Crunchies topped with whipped cream and Nutella®
• Sundae Dasher with Chocolate Crunchies – Layers of soft-serve made with Nutella® hazelnut spread and bananas topped with whipped cream and Nutella®

“We could not be more excited to offer our handcrafted Carvel ice cream with Nutella® hazelnut spread as an exciting treat this summer,” said Carvel President Scott Colwell. “Nutella® has such a loyal following and we know our guests will be thrilled that it’s being paired with our fresh ice cream.”

Carvel, the first retail ice cream franchise in the country, celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1934, the Carvel brand has expanded its menu to include an extensive line of fresh scooped and soft serve ice cream, take-home novelty treats and premium ice cream cakes. All Carvel treats are handcrafted at local Carvel Shoppes daily and are made with only authentic soft serve ice cream.

For more information, visit http://www.carvel.com.

###

Full disclosure: In addition to the three $10 gift cards, Carvel gave me a fourth $10 card which I’m keeping. They also sent a tote bag, a pad, and a mug. The press release was sent on an 8GB jump drive which hopefully didn’t install malware on my computer, and I plan to keep just in case the cloud ever decides to shut down.

P.S. Carvel would also like me to remind you that Sunday July 20 is National Ice Cream Day. Guest can receive a junior soft serve cup or cone for 80₵ with coupon. The coupon will be sent to all Fudgie Fanatic members. If not already a member, readers can sign up to be a Fudgie Fanatic by July 14 to receive the coupon. (oh and extra bonus, if joined by July 20^th guests are entered to win a year of free ice cream!)