Tour de Donut

Donuts! Time to get your donuts! On Saturday, a group of us braved the cold and rain to find out who made the best apple cider donuts.

Apple Cider Donuts

I don’t know about you, but one of these would be good this morning. Perhaps paired with some apple cider? Or at least some coffee. I picked these sugar coated darlings up from DePiero’s Farm, which along with purchasing pumpkins, is the thing to do in Montvale in the fall. The place was packed, as usual… making my shopping mission there as quick as possible.

But these, I waited for. Took a number and waited. But hey, it’s cool. They’re apple cider donuts! Yeah, so what if they use a pre-made mix… I’m sure they add in a ton of their cider into it.

Oh, by the way, Saturday is Tour de Donut. I’ll be there, and if you’re free I suggest you should too.

Prepared

Before Irene visited the rest of New York, M and I made sure to bring in most of the potted plants. We weren’t sure how bad the winds would get, but I didn’t want them flying about. So they hung out in the sun room and kitchen. They’re back outside now, but it has me seriously considering collecting some herbs to grow indoors.

Things To Do: Capital Region Jewish Food Festival

It’s looking like one of those spring days when you want to get out of the house and do something. And if you need some help with figuring out what to do, why not check out the Jewish food festival? There will be cooking demonstrations, plenty of food samples, and you’ll get to meet two local bloggers (Daniel B. - Fussy Little Blog; and Leah – Noshing Confessions)

Here’s the press release:

MEDIA ADVISORY

 
CELEBRATE JEWISH FOOD AND CULTURE
AT CAPITAL REGION JEWISH FOOD FESTIVAL

Schedule of events:   

12:30      Cooking Demonstration: Chef Gail Sokol will teach how to make Passover sponge cake
 
1:15        Cooking Demonstration: Identical twins Pam Wright and Sue Kimball (the cooking teacher at Congregation Gates of Heaven) will demonstrate how to make blintzes 
 
2:00        Meet the Editor and Sample Recipes: Joanne Caras, editor of the Holocaust Survivor Cookbook 
 
3:00        Cooking Demonstration: Chef Gail Sokol will share her healthy danish pastry recipe  
 
Additional festival highlights include: unlimited samples of traditional and modern gourmet foods (kosher style) prepared by area restaurants, caterers and synagogue members; live Klezmer music by the Kol Simcha Orchestra; meet and greet with local food bloggers, Daniel B. of the Fussy Little Blog and Leah of Noshing Confessions

Samples will include: hot pastrami sandwiches from Ben & Bill’s Deli, blintz soufflé from Gershon’s Deli, delectable dishes from the Glen Sanders Mansion, gourmet cheeses from the Honest Weight Food Co-op, Teriyaki Chicken Skewers from Old Daley Inn Catering, melt-in-your-mouth whitefish salad from Saati’s Catering, Falafel in pita from Phoenician’s, NYC-style bagel, bialys & lox, homemade chicken matzo ball soup, fresh-baked rugelach and knishes, kosher hot dogs, beef brisket, and so much more…
 
WHEN:              Sunday, April 3    Noon – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE:           Congregation Gates of Heaven   852 Ashmore Ave.
                         Schenectady, NY
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT MINDY HOLLAND OR SUE KIMBALL AT CONGREGATION GATES OF HEAVEN AT 518-374-8173

Holiday Cookie Bake-Off

This is a late post, as it started at 10 this morning.

If you don’t have any plans today, why don’t you stop by the Price Chopper Studio Kitchen in Schenectady? Here are the details:

For Immediate Release                                                
December 3, 2010                                             
 
MEDIA ADVISORY

 
HOLIDAY COOKIE FINALISTS COMPETE
AT CHOPPER SHOPPER BAKE-OFF 

WHAT:       
Six finalists (selected from 85 entries), representing each of Price Chopper’s six operating states will be preparing their original holiday cookie recipes at the Chopper Shopper Bake-Off for a panel of judges, including Ruth Fantasia, Times Union Food Editor.
 
The cookies will be judged on taste (50%), ease of preparation and practicality of preparation (25%) and creative appeal (25%),
 
One Grand Prize winner will receive prizes valued at $500, one 2nd prize winner will receive prizes valued at $300, one 3rd prize winner will receive prizes valued at $200, and three honorable mention winners will receive prizes valued at $100 each.  The winning recipes will be posted on www.pricechopper.com
 
WHEN:       
Saturday, December 4, 2010
                  10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. (judging will begin approximately at 2:15 p.m.)
 
WHERE:    
Price Chopper Headquarters Studio Kitchen
461 Nott St.
Schenectady
 
DETAILS:  
Representing Connecticut:
Joanna Anderson from Grosvenordale, CT will be baking Twisted Snickerdoodles
 
Representing Massachusetts:
Lois Woods from Millbury, MA will be baking Cherry Chip Meringues
 
Representing New Hampshire:
Denise LaRoche from Hudson, NH will be baking Pumpkin Rum Pecan Caramel Cookies
 
Representing New York:
Jan Woodcock from Johnstown, NY will be baking Elegant Pumpkin Bars
 
Representing Pennsylvania:
Jennifer Gill from Wilkes Barre, PA will be baking Jen’s Holiday Delight Cookies
 
Representing Vermont:
Lynn White from Swanton, VT will be baking Chocolate Hazelnut Toffee Cookies

FYI, I think it’s pretty cool that I got a media advisory. Makes me feel… press-like.

More Apple Picking

I guess it’s official – apple picking season is over. I was in the car this afternoon and the reporter had mentioned that most orchards are just about picked out. The warm spring led to earlier harvests, and the storms that passed through this area didn’t help with the whole pick-your-own situation. But it does help with cider making… and I do love cider.

2010 Vendy Awards

This originally was going to be quite a lengthy post.

But I kept putting it off, and here were are, more than a week later and the post is still in my drafts pile. That changes today.

Instead of the lengthy typed post, detailing the sights, sounds, smells, etc… you get videos:

Vendy Awards 2010 from Under the Copper Tree on Vimeo.

Vendy Awards from Under the Copper Tree on Vimeo.

There are better pictures out there of the event, and no doubt some excellent write ups on it. It was fun, I enjoyed myself… but I was more excited just being back on Governors Island. I lived there for a time growing up, so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s sad to see it’s not the same as I remember it, but glad that it’s being used.

Saturday Morning

I don’t have to come up with an exotic dinner to meet a submission deadline anymore, so I’m taking it easy this morning. To start things off, I am cutting coupons. I’m not really even looking at the coupons themselves, but the act of cutting along the dotted line… it’s soothing.

My breakfast. Sure… I could have whipped up something from scratch, something you would expect on a food blog. But this was in the freezer. I was hungry. Prep work includes taking it out of the box, removing the wrapper, and tossing it in the oven. Taking it easy.

Chatham Brewing (Chatham, NY)

They brew their beer all week and sell on Saturday (11am-2pm). So if you're looking for some quality local brew, you might want to head to Chatham before the weekend farmer's market. Also, their website claims that if you’re the first person at the brewery on a given Saturday, you get a sampling of the week’s offerings. Unfortunately we weren't able to make it in time for the freebies, but it seems if you ask nicely enough (er, maybe if you're pushy enough), they'll let you try out any of the varieties.

Southern Vermont Garlic & Herb Festival

I was there… sorta.

I drove by and kept going. The field of parked cars totally killed whatever interest I had in checking this out. Lots of cars, lots of people, and maybe it’s just me, but not enough things to do there.

My view from the car could have been misleading, but to drop five bucks to walk around and say “is that all?” didn’t sound like a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Ended up checking out garage sales and thrift stores. M and I are now up a bunch of spiffy threads, and two snowboards (with bindings). Good times.

Tuxedo Farmers Market Purchases

Finally putting these pictures up. Word is that the apples are ready… and being September, it’s apple picking time. So if you’re in the area, check out the Tuxedo Farmers Market (Saturdays, 9-2). It’s on the way to Masker Orchards, as well as the Renaissance Faire and Warwick Valley Winery.

Expect heavy traffic on Route 17, so leave early or find an alternate route (I think on the Masker website they give directions to avoid the Ren Faire crowds).

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery (Warwick, NY)

 

M surprised me with and visit, and we decided to take a drive up to Warwick. I kept talking about checking out the Renaissance Fair, but changed my mind after I saw the crowd of people going in.

Not sure where to go next, I just kept driving up 17A. I followed the signs toward Warwick and hoped something good would pop up. Sure enough, I spotted a grape sign for the Warwick Valley Winery. I continued to follow the grapes until we came across an even larger sign with an even larger arrow directing us to our destination.




Not exactly sure where to start, we went inside and checked out their selection. Turns out we went straight into the tasting room. Here you can buy their wine, ciders, and other food products. If you’re interested, they also have a wine  tasting which will only set you back five bucks and you get to keep the glass.


 

I’m not sure if they rotate the wines on the tasting list, but these are the ones we tried:

Pinot Gris
Gewurztraminer
Cabernet Franc
Black Dirt Red
Doc’s Draft Hard Pear Cider
Doc’s Draft Framboise Hard Cider
Bartlett Pear Liqueur/Sour Cherry Cordial

 

Most of these were dry, and I guess I could taste the fruit notes that the server kept mentioning… but not the kind of wines I’m into. M and I were more interested in their ciders. The pear was a bit too light, and you could just slightly make it out. The Framboise was my favorite- sweet, but not too overpowering, and you can definitely taste the raspberry in it.

We could only pick one of the liqueurs, and I picked the Pear while M went with the Sour Cherry. He had it on ice, and thought it was pretty good. As for my pear… I had a sip. Strong pear flavor, dry. I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn’t driving, so I gave the rest to M.

M ended up buying two bottles of the Framboise. Twenty-two ounces for $5.99, that doesn’t seem too bad. Definitely something we could give to his homebrewing sister and BIL.

Even though it is a winery, there are other things to do there that do not involve alcohol. There is a bakery and cafe on premises, which is only open on the weekends. According to their website, they strongly support sustainable agriculture and use products that were locally grown as much as possible. The menu is light, and mostly things you pair with a wine or cider.

They also have pick your own apple and pear trees, which is always a fun kid activity. On the weekends there is live music, and monthly evening performances. We didn’t walk around much, but according to their website there is a stage out in their orchard and they hold weekend long music festivals. In fact, this coming weekend (August 14-15) they will be holding a Grateful Dead Tribute Concert.


 

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery
114 Little York Road
Warwick, NY 10990
(845) 258-4858
wvwinery@warwick.net

Shalimar (Latham, NY)

Have you heard the story about the Shalimar's of the Capital Region? About how it's a chain, and not a chain? But it's still a family thing, although not immediate family. Both Steve Barnes and Bill Dowd have done the Shalimar breakdown, so there's really not much for me to comment on it... except there is no mention of the Shalimar in Troy and where it factors into all of this.

The Latham Shalimar is in the space that was once occupied by Afghan Grill, which from what I hear was sold. Shame, since I really wanted to try it out. I know there's at least two other Indian restaurants in Latham, but none that I can think of on that stretch of Rt. 7.

The interior seems a little cramped with all the tables, but somewhat sparse with the decorations. There are pictures that line one of the walls, and some decorative wall hangings, and all those lights! But still... it felt sparse.

I started with the Mulligatawny soup - made with lentils, tomato, lemon and spices. It was served with a lemon slice and cilantro, which is the first time that has ever happened. I crushed the lemon and it... I guess lightened the flavor? Lemoned the flavor? I'm not finding the right way to describe it, but it was good.

Lamb Palak - lamb meat cooked with spinach. I normally order Chicken Palak, but M pushed the lamb, claiming it would be more authentic that way. The meat was tender and the spinach was creamy. It's good with the rice that accompanies it, but even better with naan. Imagine they made burrito-like things with naan and any type of palak? Or even better... what if there were samosas filled with lamb palak? That would be an amazing appetizer!

Oh those tangents! I liked it. A little of it totally filled me up, but can you really complain about leftovers?

M went with the Mattar Paneer - green peas cooked with homemade cheese. In typical fashion, he inhaled his meal... I didn't get a chance to sneak a bite! It seems that this dish is commonly found on the lunch buffet menu, which is why he went with it. M also said something about it being the only non-meat item so... something something something.

If you are interested, they have a daily lunch buffet from 11:30 - 3:00. The sign along the road had it priced at $6.99, but I don't know if it's more on the weekends.

Our meal, which consisted of soup, two entrées, one order of naan, and one soda (with free refills) came out to 33 dollars, tax and tip included.

Shalimar
952 Troy Schenectady Road
Latham, NY 12110
(518) 389-2500

M-Th: 11:30 - 10:00
F: 11:30 - 11:00
S: 12:00 - 11:00
Su: 12:00 - 10:00

An Ordinary Sunday Dinner (Munggo Guisado)

I had a welcome surprise today. An old university friend was driving through the area and wanted to meet up for some coffee. This visit was quite short, a mere fifteen minutes.

Now, since I was already out of the apartment, I figured I'd head into Albany and hit up the Asian market on Colvin. I never remember the actual name of this place, but I don't think anyone else who shops there knows its name either!