Closing Out 2015

Tonight we say goodbye to 2015 and hello to a brand new year. There are so many new year festivities that it’s hard for me to get excited about this one as a time of rebirth and renewal. It’s been a few months since the Jewish new year, and the Chinese new year is just around the corner. But I’ve always been partial to the Vernal Equinox as the better time for a new year celebration.

Seriously, I don’t know who can motivate to start a new exercise regimen when it’s so cold out there. I’d highly recommend skipping the whole thing and hanging out with me to eat irresponsible quantities of food in January.

Anyway, the calendar year is coming to a close, and there was one thing I really wanted to do before that happened.

Did anyone realize that the last time I had updated the #518 Recos page was all the way back in the spring of 2014?

It’s amazing how much the Capital Region culinary landscape has changed since then. And now I’ve finally made some changes. It’s quite possible that I’ve forgotten something, so if I have, please let me know.

The page starts off with our Regional Specialties. One major change I made was taking out the reference to Old Forge Style as a modifier for The Orchard’s unique style of pizza. Instead, I made up a new name for it, Albany Railyard Style. After visiting Old Forge, PA I have realized the error of my analysis. And after further research, it’s quite possible that I’ll be changing the modifier yet again.

The Comfort Food section has been greatly expanded as I’ve explored more and more of the area’s taverns and other beloved eating places off the beaten path.

Really, every section has been expanded. Those include Drinking, Bakeries, Ethnic Restaurants, and Shops. I’ve also updated the list of FUSSYlittleTOUR results and the top 13 posts of all time on the FLB.

Sadly, my contributions to The Chefs’ Consortium have gone away. I need to get in touch with chef Noah, but I’m assuming the team is focusing more on events and less on social media marketing. I can’t blame them. They are great chefs, and chefs love to cook. On the plus side, I added a link to the archive of Local Yelp newsletters. The next one comes out on Wednesday, January 6 (after a planned two-week holiday hiatus).

I can’t tell you how glad I am to have everything updated, and all in one place.

Hope you all have a great night tonight. Take it easy. Treat yourself well. And I’ll see you in 2016 with a new FUSSYlittleTOUR and some other new and exciting stuff. Well, maybe not so exciting, but definitely new.

Cheers.