Casks I’d Like to Tap
Let’s talk about the weather for just a moment. Because this year we had a crazy early snowfall, and it caught me off guard. Most of my neighbors and pretty much everyone I’ve talked to has been in a similar predicament.
The snow fell on top of a lawn covered by unraked leaves.
Apparently there were some people who bagged their leaves early. But the snow covered the leaf bags, and when the city tried to collect them, the bottoms fell out leaving leaves all over the snowy yards.
Well, for the past few days we’ve been experience melting conditions. So yesterday afternoon, I took the some time off from working, and decided to do some heavy duty raking, spending over three hours using muscles I only use maybe once or twice a year.
When it was all done, I soaked my aching muscles in a hot bath, and treated myself to the last cold SingleCut beer in the fridge.
Tomorrow is December 1. We’re still several weeks away from the heart of winter. And once again it’s supposed to stay above freezing all day, without any precipitation. But one of the reasons I worked so hard yesterday is so I can play tomorrow at the Cask & Crossgrates – Winter Beer Fest.
There are a few things I’m really looking forward to trying.
Hoping for a Chanukah Miracle
Did you know that the first night of Chanukah is this Sunday? Fortunately, the holiday isn’t quite the gift extravaganza that is Christmas. So I’m not panicked that there are precious few shopping days until the holiday starts. Plus, I’m going to be at Crossgates anyway on December 1 for the Cask & Crossgates – Winter Beer Fest. Maybe after the after after party at Lucky Strike Social I’ll pick up a few small things for the kids.
That also means by Monday, December 10, Chanukah will be completed. The eight festive nights will be behind us. So, while the rest of the country furiously shops for presents, I can busy myself with making batch after batch of chicken stock. Amazingly, I’m all out. But as it turns out, I’ve got a freezer full of chicken carcasses just waiting to be simmered.
For me, this holiday is all about the food. I’m sure nobody is surprised by this revelation. Especially since the foods of this holiday are all fried. It’s a long story, but one of the themes for next week is “the miracle of the oil”.
However, I’m hoping for another kind of miracle.
An Insider’s Guide to Troy Restaurants
Best of the Capital Region lists really have a way of getting under my skin. But at the same time, they are oddly compelling.
Part of the issue of looking at the Capital Region as a whole is that the area is made up of distinct cities, each with its own specialties and character. And I think that needs to be respected. Because if you live in Troy, are you really going to drive to Schenectady for the best wings in the Capital Region when The Ruck is a stone’s throw away? Of course not.
The other part is in focusing on the notion of what’s best. Because a place may have the highest quality food, and the most creative chef, but it may be loud, hard to get a table, and cost more money than you would want to pay for the experience.
Just a couple weeks ago, I started on a project with Yelp. Maybe you remember when I kicked it off. My plan was to ask the local members of the Yelp Elite Squad to name their single favorite place in Troy, and what it was that made it so special.
Well, the list is finally complete. And I thought you might find it interesting.
The Winter Markets
Tuesdays have been the days when I would pick up vegetables from Roxbury Farm, at one of their CSA drop off points in Albany. But now the season is finally over.
The only remnants of our share from the farm in my fridge are a bag of oddly long turnips, one winter squash on the counter, and some sliced, pickled watermelon radishes. But we’re running on empty. We’ve been supplementing the CSA vegetables with frozen veggies for awhile, although that is a story for another time.
While I do truly love CSA season, I also appreciate when CSA season comes to a close. This year was another challenging one for the farmers, but the smaller yields made my life a little bit easier.
Now that I’ve been cut off from Roxbury Farm until late spring, I need to get my winter veggie fix. And that means one thing.
The Last Thing You Need After Thanksgiving
Traditions. Traditions are important. Maybe it’s just my inner Tevia coming out.
So what did we do on Thanksgiving? The same thing we always do on Thanksgiving. And that’s just how I like it. We drove down to Raf’s for a Thursday feast. Then it was off to Connecticut for a belated Saturday feast with some extended family. Aunt N made my favorite stuffing, her creamed pearl onions, and quite possibly the best turkey she’s ever roasted.
My cousin SC brought cheeses from Di Bruno Brothers in Philadelphia. I brought a selection of interesting beers and a couple ciders. And we happened to create one of those jaw dropping pairings I’m always hoping to discover. The washed rind of a well cared for Taleggio with a glass of Oude Gueuze Tilquin à L’Ancienne.
Now, there’s one thing you definitely don’t need after two Thanksgiving feasts in three days.
On Restaurants and Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving!
If this feels redundant it is. Every year since the FLB started, we have featured a version of this post. And I like it. Deep down, I’m a hippy at heart, and the sentiment of those posts rings true.
Last year we found a newer video of this classic Thanksgiving song. Now some may say it’s not a Thanksgiving song. Those are probably the same people who will tell you that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie.
What am I talking about? Well, I’ll show you.
Thankful for Beer Festivals
Not all beer festivals are created equal. Hold onto that thought for just a moment, because it’s Wednesday, and we’re talking about beer. This could probably use a little context, as we’re coming to the end of the season of thanks.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
Friday, America goes shopping.
Saturday is for small business.
Sunday is for the airport or the highway.
Monday is for the internet.
Tuesday is for charity.
And then there are only three more days until December.
What I’m trying to say here is that Saturday, December 1 will be here before you know it. And over the next few days, a shocking number of people will spend money they don’t have as they confuse consumption with affection.
In the coming days, it may be easy to miss the news of a rather amazing beer festival that’s coming to Albany on Saturday, December 1. And not only am I thankful for the passionate local beer loving fellow who willed this unique event into existence, I’m also thankful that through my day job I get to be a promotional partner. That’s a fancy way of saying that Yelp has a pair of free tickets to give away.
But why should you care? Especially if beer festivals aren’t really your thing. Let me tell you.
I Don’t Eat Kiwi
Last night was another delightful beer dinner at the City Beer Hall with the crew from SingleCut Beersmiths. Part of the fun is trying beers that wouldn’t otherwise make it up to the Capital Region. But the big draw is the creativity Dimitrios and his team bring to the table, and often I’ll get to experience some ingredient I’ve never tried before.
This most recent dinner was my first time having ripe jackfruit. That was worked into the last dish of the meal, which was kind of like dessert, but more like a cheese course. The only real sweetness came from the double IPA paired with the food.
Dinners like this are no place for picky eaters. And I’m lucky, because I totally eat everything. Except recently I remembered that’s not entirely true.
Between Grilled Cheese and Panini
Take it slow. That’s my advice.
This week can be madness. Thanksgiving is on Thursday. People will be traveling all over the country to be with family and loved ones. Cooking projects are underway. And even while we are still preparing for this festive holiday meal, there is a deafening cacophony of advertisements for Black Friday.
It was shocking when some retailers made their staff come in for pre-black Friday sales events on Thanksgiving day, just a few years ago. But now, it sounds like Black Friday sales have already begun. I honestly can’t wrap my head around it. Spending money to buy stuff for people isn’t an expression of love. It’s an expression of commerce.
Let’s try to remember how to love one another. And part of that involves taking it slow. Being present. Enjoying the stillness together.
Actually, that’s also great advice for making a brilliant grilled cheese sandwich. Although for grilled cheese you also need to add plenty of butter into the mix. Speaking of which, this past weekend was the second annual Melt N’ Toast grilled cheese festival. This year, the competing restaurants stepped up there game. Here’s how it all went down.
Beer, Golf, and Winter
There’s something interesting happening in Halfmoon.
Actually, until I was invited to the Hank Hudson Brewing Company to meet the owners and talk to them about their new project, I probably couldn’t point to Halfmoon on a map. But now that I’m familiar with the political boundaries of this Saratoga County town, I’ve come to realize it contains some of my favorite “Clifton Park” businesses.
Turns out Halfmoon is mostly east of 87 and Clifton Park is mostly west of the highway. Where I have never been is the northern end of Halfmoon, which is where the Fairways of Halfmoon Golf Course is located. Although, to make things a little more confusing, the golf course has a Mechanicville address.
Google told me to get off the Northway at exit nine, head east and then go north. Which is what I did. And it was a beautiful drive through some farm country that I never knew existed. And it just so happens that the ten barrel brewery was constructed from old barns that used to sit on some of that land.
But you’re probably less interested in the architecture and design, and more curious to learn what’s happening inside their fermenters. So let’s dive in.
FUSSYlittleBLOG 