One Week To Thanksgiving
Snow. The snow is coming in tonight. Here in the Capital Region, we talk about snow. A lot.
It’s hard for me to comment on the weather because I don’t have a ton of winters under my belt. I also have a tendency to forget them once they have passed. But it seems to me like the cold weather came later this year, and the snow is coming earlier.
One way I avoid commenting on winter is that for the past few years I’ve decided to adopt Kurt Vonnegut’s approach to looking at seasons in the region. Under his framework, nothing is surprising, and winter is broken up into three very manageable pieces.
November and December are called “The Locking”. These are the months where things die to prepare for the barren wasteland of winter. However, winter itself is only two months. Granted they are the coldest and most brutal two months of the year: January and February. In March and April, regardless of how cold it may be, we’ve approached “The Unlocking” where it may not yet be spring, but the worst is behind us.
So we have a November snow? It’s just part of the locking. No big deal. And a little snow shouldn’t stop you from getting out of doors. It’s amazing how people take shelter during the winter months.
In the spirit of thankfulness, I’m thankful that Kurt Vonnegut spent some time in the Capital Region, and that his wisdom lives on. I’m also thankful that Thanksgiving is just a week away!
Best Restaurants in Troy
Well this should be fun.
For years I was a vocal critic of the Capital Region’s “Best of” lists. A common refrain in response to my complaints was that I should write my own list. Eventually I did. I even update it sometimes. Although the last time I took a close look at the list was back in March.
But that list is just one person’s opinion. Despite my displeasure with the popularity contests from local newspapers and regional magazines, they at least reflected the opinions of a larger community. And those are always revealing. In fact, at one point, I came to realize that maybe we have the restaurant scene we deserve.
However, there is a local community of eaters who I trust, and I thought it would be interesting to assemble their collective wisdom in a new series of “Best of” lists. To start, I thought we would take a look at the Best Restaurants in Troy.
Old Salt
Today is Veterans Day. Again. As alway, today I offer up a big, heartfelt thank you to all of those who have volunteered for military service. Truly. I mean it. It’s because of the sacrifices veterans have made, that I’m able to do what I do in peace and security.
So what do I do? Well, today I’m writing about a veteran cookbook writer, again, who is no longer with us. Her name is Marcella Hazan. And if you haven’t read my previous posts about her, a good place to start is the post Italian Goddess of Fussy.
Why today? Well, just yesterday I made a fortuitous discovery. But before I can tell you about that, I need to make a quick confession.
Melt N’ Toast and Cheese
How is it Friday again? Where does the time go. There is more to share with you than I can possibly squeeze into one post. So some of the stories from this week are going to have to wait until next week.
What cannot wait is an update on the ticket giveaway for Troy’s annual grilled cheese festival. But since we’re on the subject of grilled cheese, it will also be a good opportunity to share a story from last week involving The Cheese Traveler.
But maybe we need to back up a bit and recall what happened in the judging of last year’s Melt N’ Toast.
New News on Old World Troy Meat
Sometime soon we need to talk more about meat production and sustainability. Because I believe it can play an integral and positive role in our food system and environment. But I know not everybody does.
However, I’m glad some people do, because they are pushing our food to be better. People like the Shukets. Months ago I met Jessica Shuket, and when she told me about what her family was doing, I got very excited.
The Shukets are the family behind Old World Provisions in Troy.
Let me put it another way. They are the family that makes the pastrami for Katz’s Deli. And it’s incredible. Sadly, they have closed their little sandwich shop at the production plant. But the good news is what they are doing to make their products even better.
Kimchi Fried Everything
Today is the day. If you haven’t voted yet, stop reading, put down the device, and get to your polling place. Now. Do it. The blog will be here when you return.
No matter what happens today, the next few days are going to require some self care and lots of comfort. For everybody. On both sides of the aisle. My plan tonight is to meet with a new Yelp friend over drinks and not speak one word about politics. Instead, we’ll talk about some of our favorite local businesses, and ways in which we can have more fun.
But there will be drinks. And that will be good.
We’ll be talking more about comfort food in the days and weeks ahead, because what is Thanksgiving if not a festival of comfort food. However, just yesterday we were talking about the amazing gifts immigrants have brought to the people of the United States. One of my current comfort foods is actually Korean, and that’s “Kimchi Fried Everything”.
Thankful for Immigrants
Thanksgiving is coming. Many of us have our long standing family traditions. The Fussys will be doing Thanksgiving with Raf and his family in Westchester, and then we’ll be off to Connecticut for a second family feast on Saturday.
That means no cooking for the profussor. I’ve even been banned from making whipped cream at Aunt N’s house, because apparently my gorgeous and silky chantilly cream isn’t sweet enough for the kids around the table who prefer a sweeter cream to crown sweet pies. Madness. It feels like I’ve failed to teach my children well.
It also means we are entering into the season of thanks.
In part because of the spirit of the season, in part because of my culinary experiences over the weekend, and in part because there’s a big election coming up tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment and talk about why I am thankful for immigrants.
Emily L Returns With a Vengeance
What a week it’s been. How is it already Friday? And how is it that on November 2 in Albany, NY that it’s going to get up to 70 degrees today? Don’t answer that last one. It’s a rhetorical question. Really, I just wanted to document the weather for posterity.
That and it is also a good segue into today’s guest post from Emily L who has been absent from the FLB lately. Her quest for the perfect eggs benny isn’t over, it’s just on pause. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have thoughts on food to share.
We sat down for lunch earlier this week, and somehow we got on the topic of smoothie bowls. I’m not sure if people will continue to eat these things as the temperature drops. But on a warmer day like this, after a good workout, maybe you would be tempted to enjoy one.
Although first, you might want to read Emily’s thoughts on the matter.
Read more…
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