The Continuing Adventures of Alex and Cati*

The wife brought me along for a ride to her home country- Spain. I am the passenger*.  We went to a friends’ wedding.  The reception was at the picturesque Son Marroig in Mallorca (remember?).  The sunset and mountain photos are from the terrace and patio where we dined.

The aperitivos are best described as nouvelle cuisine (perhaps as a nod to Ferran Adrià) and included: shot glasses of liquified foie gras, small seafood hamburger patties (like a ceviche), breaded sopresata meatballs, tuna tataki bites with peanut butter (?), and small Thai-chicken kebobs with peanut sauce.  The food was fun and stylish.  They also serverd the always popular jamon iberico.  The dinner was a four-course sit-down meal and the food was as lovely as the views (not to mention the bride). 

The next day we watched Spain beat Germany in the European Cup Championship (1-0).  Spain outplayed Germany moreso than the score indicates, but whatever, a win is a win.  Directly below is a video of Cati and her family watching a shot-on-goal by Fernando Torres early in the game (he missed).  Imagine how they reacted when Spain actually scored, eh?

We went out after the game to celebrate, and we weren’t alone.  Horns were blaring, fireworks exploding, and people were partying in the streets, literally.  We were having a drink on a not-too-crowded street in Palma, when the two or three cars waiting at the traffic light erupted into an impromptu celebration.  Then the light turned green, so they got in their cars and drove on to the next red-light party, I guess.  Have a look:

Here’s the goal that gave so much cause to celebrate.  Note the fair and impartial sports reporting [wink]:

I think Mallorca was particularly pleased to see Germany lose since the island is practically a German colony in the summers with all the tourists. 

We proceeded to relax (and eat) for the rest of the trip. 

I read David McCullough’s “John Adams”.  What an amazing book about an amazing man and his contemporaries.  Happy belated 4th of July, all. 

*If I am going to use a Trainspotting spoonerism as the title of my post, who better for the music than Iggy Pop?  Cool little video too.

June 14th weekend, Cati and I went on a mini-holiday.  It was due in part to a very well put-together fundraiser for/at The Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs, NY way back in March.  The fundraiser was an amusing gala, complete with silent auctions and classes for supporters to take, should they sign up.  Aside from Cati slyly beating some lady in a silent auction for a cute bracelet, we also signed up for sailing lessons on Lake George.  Well, June 14 had finally arrived and we headed up to the lake for our excursion.  And since we’d be spending the day up there, I thought I might surprise the wife with dinner and a one night stay at The Inn at Erlowest. 

One of the benefits of summer is that I get to take the summer car out of hybernation and get her on the road. 

On the drive up, I nearly wrecked my most-beloved vehicle due to laughter when we passed the exit for Lake George Village.  The highway sign at the exit was marked with an arrow and the words “Lake George Vil”.  Cati saw the sign and asked, in all seriousness, ”Who was George the seventh?”  [I am laughing as I type this.]  “George the seventh???”  She thought the abbreviation “Vil” was a Roman numeral seven.  I steadied the car and we both proceeded to laugh about her honest little error (I laughed harder and longer). 

We arrived at the Harris Bay Yacht Club and met our affable sailing instructors Cathy and Bob of R & R Sailboat Charters.  They took us out on their 28ft sailing boat called the “Querencia.”  We also met some friendly Saratogians who had signed up for the class as well.  We spent the day discussing sailing lingo, pirates, architecture, trading stories, eating snacks, and sipping beers.  I even managed to have a little nap on the bow during our peaceful five-hour tour.  The lake was beautiful and the winds were calm and steady.  Cathy and Bob also provided snacks and beer.  If you should ever want to spend the day sailing or treat someone to the same, give them a call (518 583-2762).  That’s the way to go, eh?

After our sailing lesson we headed up to The Inn at Erlowest to have dinner and spend the night.  It’s a few miles north of Lake George the seventh Village.  The building is a converted mansion that was built ~100 years ago and looks like an old castle.  We were impressed from the minute we walked in.  The place smacks of luxury and every corner appears fussed over to maximize guests’ comfort.  We knew we were in our kind of place when we saw that the dining room was immediately on display to guests from the small but posh lobby.  The decor is best described as old-world classic luxury, and the dining rooms share this theme with their gilded plates and lavender galore.  The restaurant and rooms at The Inn at Erlowest avoid being stuffy and outdated with the modern stylish kitchen and rooms equipped with all mod cons like jacuzzis and flatscreen TVs.  The Inn appears rustic but spares no amenities.  As we headed up to our rooms, Chef Miller’s spacious and open kitchen was visible from the hall.  It looked a bit like a laboratory to me, but in a good way.  It appeared clean and efficient, like the kind of place that would produce novel and ambitious cuisine rather than the standard overcooked fare that we have all encountered ad nauseum. 

We were escorted to our room by the hostess/manager and we played it cool until the moment she stepped out of the room and closed the door.  Y’know, we didn’t want to seem TOO impressed.  But once we were alone, we both ran around the room “oohing and aahing” at all the trappings.  I tried to get a shot of the bed but Cati couldn’t contain herself and jumped right on in.  I don’t know if the bed in the Schuyler Room ellicits this response from all ladies, but guys, take note [wink].  I proceeded to open the complimentary champagne and explore the massive bathroom.  We were in the lap of luxury.  Here’s the best part– the place felt a bit homey.  The rooms on each floor opened to a common lounge area with stately lounge chairs, fire places, and chess sets.  Our floor also connected to a balcony with a picturesque view of Lake George (see below).  We were free to mill about and enjoy this incredible place– views and all.

We had an 8PM dinner reservation, so we chose to kill some time at the bar.  The small bar was in a cozy corner on the first floor, just hidden from the lobby.  The comfortable lounge included couches and chairs arranged around a fire place and glass doors that opened onto a stone patio that overlooked the lake.  I had a drink while my poor, teetotaling, wife and her little passenger, had sparkling water and cranberry. 

We were escorted to our dining nook which was in a small three-table wood-trimmed dining room that was probably the mansion’s study back in the day.  We were seated at a lovely two-top table near the large windows against the wall. 

Cati and I perused the menu and saw that there was an option for a six-course taylor-made tasting menu for $115/person.  However, we opted to order from the listed menu items instead.  Interestingly, many of the entrees were offered in two different sizes: an American (larger) and a European (smaller) portion.  What a clever way to cater to commitment-averse diners (like us).  We want to try many things in small portions rather than commit to just one dish.  I started our dinner with a glass of Raventós i Blanc cava (brut) to help me make up my mind.  Hey, I like my bubbly like I like my ladies– Catalonian [wink].  Our server presented us with a light and smart Asian salad amuse-bouche from the kitchen.  It was easy on the eyes and palate. 

Also, our server brought us fresh baked rolls and three different spreads: butter, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and a roasted red-pepper cream cheese. 

Our aptly named “Velvety Lobster Bisque(s)” arrived; the bowl was presented on a stack of ornate plates and topped with a delicate and airy puffed pastry shell.  We quickly cracked through the peppery covering to reveal what Cati called the best lobster bisque she has ever had.  The consistency was perfect, it was magma-hot, and we are both convinced Chef Miller used the tomalley to achieve that piquant saline flavor characteristic of good seafood.  We were off to a great start.

For our next round we shared beef carpaccio and the Erlowest Salad.  The organic greens were crisp and obvioulsy fresh.  They were accompanied by some grilled asparagus, a sweet tomato confit, chunks of gorgonzola, and a tart vinaigrette.  I couldn’t get over how good the tomato confit was. 

Cati had the carpaccio placed in front of her.  The beef was sliced as thin as paper; it was so delicate that it was a challenge to get on the fork and immediately disappeared on the tongue.  We were impressed with the quality and presentation (have a look).  The horseradish aioli with which it was served was sweet (perhaps too sweet) but the arugula provided the offsetting bitterness.  There were also a few thin sheets of parmesano reggiano drizzled with olive oil on top.  The cool fresh flavors paired well the crisp and buttery glass of California chardonnay (Koehler, 2006) that I enjoyed. 

For our entrees Cati ordered the rack of lamb and I ordered the bone-in filet mignon; both were ordered medium rare.  A good bone-in filet is hard to come by (unless you want to sign up for a porter-house), so when I see one on the menu, I typically go for it.  Although I was presented with a handsome steak knife, I barely needed it.  The steak was literally fork tender (I tested it); and perfectly cooked.  I realize that ordering a steak at a restaurant like this might seem akin to having unrestricted access to the Vatican library (for one night, no less) and reading a Mad magazine.  But I assure you, there was nothing pedestrian about this steak.  The potato gratin on which it was served was creamy and firm.  The fresh potato and onion flavors persisted as well– rather than being an indistinguishable butter-mush; bravo Chef Miller.  There was a dallop of gorgonzola butter on the steak to up the decadence factor to 11.  The perigourdine sauce was new to me, and it was quite good.  It was a richly-flavored classic brown-sauce seasoned with truffles; it seemed like it took hours to make (and it was eaten so fast).  ;)   I had a glass of California red-zinfandel (Screw Kappa Napa, 2005) with the steak, and it paired nicely.  I was on cloud nine. 

Cati was smitten by her rack of lamb as well.  It was coated in peppery charmoula marinade and presented with a tomato based sauce (called a “tomato jam” on the menu).  The pepper, spice, and citrus jus lié stimulated the tongue not unlike a sip of a hearty Cabernet Sauvignon.  That, combined with the subtle yet discernable mutton flavor, made for a remarkable dish (and one pleased diner).  Cati even offered me a few choice bites from her lamb because I think she felt guilty about eating much of my potatoes while I was distracted by my steak. 

It was around this time that Chef Miller came out of the kitchen and introduced himself to us (and the other diners in our dining room).  He was friendly, pleasant, and more soft-spoken than I was expecting.  I guess I was expecting him to be loud and flamboyant– why?  no reason.  I had the cliche image of a smug prima dona chef in my mind– I was wrong.  We thanked him for a fantastic meal and briefly discussed the unique personality of his current restaurant compared to his previous endeavors (i.e. Stone’s End, Jack’s).  He’s doing incredible things at the Inn at Erlowest’s kitchen, and if it’s gone to his head, it didn’t show. 

We needed dessert like a lumberjack needs an accordion, but we ordered it anyway.  Cati swears she ordered dessert, not for herself, but for the baby [whatever].  Cati had the chocolate coconut gateau and I had the key-lime tart brulee (with a cup of decaf).  The chocolate gateau was served in a chilled orange mango soup; it was as tasty as it was attractive.

My key-lime brulee was a hybrid of two of my favorite desserts (who am I kidding– they’re all my favorite): creme brulee and key-lime pie.  The creamy and tangy brulee was topped with a hard caramel coating and rested on a graham cracker crust.  What an inventive blend of two classics, no?  The familiar flavors, mixed in this way, were intriguing; my tongue was experiencing a sort of deja vu. 

So that was dinner.  If you are looking for a good value for decent food, this is not the place for you.  If you’re looking for a stellar dining experience, and you’re willing to part with some cash to get it, The Inn at Erlowest should be at the top of your list.  Dinners like this won’t become our Saturday routine (we’ll need second jobs for that), but we’ll definitely be back when we feel compelled to spoil ourselves a bit. 

The next day we enjoyed breakfast (included in the room rate) in the main dining room.  Breakfast was certainly good enough to earn a play-by-play description, but I am feeling guilty about how much I ate, so just enjoy the morning sun in the dining room (photos below). 

Thanks for reading this blogpost; I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed recalling our terrific one-day holiday. 

This Dandy Warhols song was the inspiration for the title of this blogpost [crank speakers, louder, enjoy]:

I do want to mention something negative about our stay so I don’t sound like a total groupie, but I am struggling to think of anything.  Let’s see…  I’m thinking…  still thinking… 

I was in sunny San Diego, California to run in the 2008 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.  Big thanks to all of you who helped me raise the requisite funds and for the kind words of encouragement along the way.  You know who you are; you should feel proud, and I am very grateful.  The upstate NY/VT chapter of TnT raised over $50,000 for blood cancer research and improving the lives of blood cancer patients.  I finished the marathon in 3:38:51.  It was challenging.

While in San Diego, I took advantage of the beautiful weather and varied dining options.  I specifically asked my friends, who live there, to take me to places that had food I can’t get in Albany.  We went to dinner at a place in Ocean Beach called South Beach Bar & Grille for some delicious fish tacos.  They were great.

The next day we went sailing.  This probably wasn’t a good idea as all that sun gave me a little sunburn and probably contributed to my dehydration during the marathon.  But ah well, it was fun. 

For lunch, we went to Taste of Thai and I had the beef panang curry.  I have not been able to find a decent panang curry in the Capital District.  I’ve encountered some bad ones though.  I’ve read of a new Thai place in town on Celina Bean’s blog; I’ll have to check it out. 

After the marathon, LT and I went out for some seafood at The Fish Market.  I just wanted to sit down and medicate have a beer, anywhere.  We had a dozen oysters each and some tuna and yellow-tail sashimi.  The Fish Market is right on the water and we could see sailboats cruising by from our seats at the bar.  The oysters were fantastic.  We had Washington Hood Canal Oysters, Canadian Fanny Bay Oysters (note: includes no actual Canadian fanny), and the always delicious California Kumamoto Oysters.  They were so briny, plump, and flavorful we ordered another plate each. 

The sashimi was great too.  There is certainly something to be said for freshness. 

You may remember LT as my host on my trip to Norway in June 2007.   Remember?  We went to the “Farts Museum.”  What a gas.

Should you ever lack motivation, listen to this song:

Energizing, eh?  Be careful with this song though, you may find yourself compelled to run a marathon.

Remember making mix-tapes?  Well, here’s a dining-out-in-Albany-blog equivalent (which is nothing like a mix-tape really, but humor me): 

Track 1:  Angelo’s 677 Prime- “Steak Tartare (traditional preparation, created tableside)”

Track 2:  Angelo’s 677 Prime- “Seven Hour Cherry Pepper Pork (fresh fried chips, pepper jack cheese)”

Track 3:  Angelo’s 677 Prime- “French Toast & Ice Cream (sweet brioche French toast, caramelized apples, cinnamon maple sugar, brandy, butter pecan ice cream and soft whipped cream topped, rosemary infused maple syrup)”

Track 4:  My Linh- “Cary Gà (Chicken, potatoes, and onions simmered in a light coconut milk and spicy curry. Served with [a] baguette.)”

Track 5:  My Linh- “Phở Bò (for two) (Sliced sirloin beef and rice noodles in a beef broth. Served with fresh bean sprouts, basil, lime, and jalapeno peppers.)”

Track 6: Captial Q Smokehouse- BBQ Mix (1/2 chicken [ahem Jack's, please note photo], full slab ribs, 1/4 lb S. Carolina style pulled pork, and collard greens). 

Holy mamma, this place is all about the food.  The food is ridiculously good.  I mean, when you try it, you will actually chuckle and think, “This is so good, it’s absurd.”  You will look for someone nearby, and you will point to your food and say, “Can you believe how good this is?  It’s ridiculous!”  There is no sense in trying to explain the virtues of good BBQ; one shouldn’t have to.  That’s like explaining the majesty of the Grand Canyon or why the Beatles were so great.  We all know already.  Anyway, just go to the Capital Q Smokehouse on Ontario St. and try it. 

Track 7:  McGuire’s- Fried Oysters (served with Asian dipping sauce).  They practically started a riot on Steve Barnes’s Table Hopping Blog.  Cati really liked ‘em. 

Track 8:  McGuire’s- Lobster and Crab Fried Dumplings.

Track 9:  McGuire’s- “Grilled Ostrich (marinated grilled ostrich sliced thin, served with a Southwestern black bean ragout)”

Track 10:  Saso’s- Nigiri sushi, rolls, and miso soup all around (with the sushi, never before).  We also started with the striped bass tataki.  What a talented guy that Saso-san is, eh?

We go to Saso’s so often that I think I’m turning Japanese.  I really think so:

We recently went to The Greek Festival at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church.  We went on a pleasant Saturday afternoon for some fun on a nice day and, of course, Greek treats.  I decided against wearing my Macedonia T-shirt, y’know, for the sake of international harmony.  [wink] 

I’m not sure Cati and I would go to The Greek Festival (or The Grecian Festival, as it’s called this year [shrug]) if we didn’t live within walking distance of St. Sophia.  The food is just okay, the music is played very loudly, and the event seems to be increasingly geared toward kids (e.g. carnival rides, “Spartan warriors,”).  But it does make for a festive afternoon, and judging from the crowds, it’s a formula that works. 

I think we regard the food at the Albany Greek Festival as only “okay” because we have a benchmark by which to judge it-  the Troy Greek Festival at St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church  (June 6-8, this year).  At the Albany Greek Festival, much of the food is catered by Greek-food vendors and at St. Basil, it’s all homemade- and the difference shows.  The Troy Greek Festival isn’t nearly the size of the Albany festival, but this adds to its quaint charm.  Go to both; see for yourself.  Plus, you can get a bottle of Mythos at the Troy Greek Festival where you can only get Budweiser or Michelob Ultra [blecch] at the Albany Festival.  See?  It’s the little things. 

On this year’s visit Cati and I split a large Greek salad, a piece of spanakopita, a greek appetizer plate, and a mutton gyro.  The salad and gyro were great; everything else, meh.  We also bought a full box of Greek pastries to bring to a party we were going to that evening, y’know, to ensure we get invited back.  ;)  See some pics below:

On the subject of Greece, here are a few pictures from the full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Nashville, TN.  I went to Nashville to run in The Country Music Half-Marathon (04/26/2008) with some friends but I was keen on checking out this interesting anachronism.  I finished the 0.5-marathon in 1:35:36 (hr:min:sec). 

Cati and I threw a wine party a few weeks back to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t ideal for a backyard party as it was a bit cold.  But we fired up the chimenea and made the best of it.  About 35 people showed up and they each contributed (at least) $10 to the LLS.  Here’s the invitation we made for the party:

The wine and much of the food was donated by local businesses.  We asked several local wine shops to donate a case of wine.  We asked them to supply us with four different wines (2 whites and 2 reds), and 3 bottles of each (for a total of 12 bottles).  Of course, we provided requisite credentials and explained what we were trying to do.  Some wine shops were unable/unwilling to help, others were willing and eager.  Three wine shops that deserve a big “thank you” are:

• Niskayuna Wines and Liquors
• Delware Plaza Liquor Store
• Empire Wine

These are great wine shops that I would highly recommend you check out (even if they hadn’t helped).   So, next time you are at any of these three places, chatting with their friendly and knowledgeable staff, mention that you read about their kindness here, and say “thanks.”  I know it sounds hokey, but they really are giving back to their communities by helping to improve (and in some cases, extend) the lives of cancer sufferers (and helping their families).  If you don’t buy your wine from these shops, please consider it.  I would also like to thank:

• The Honest Weight Food Co-op 
• Cardona’s Market
• All my friends who brought a dish to share (e.g. Jen&Gabe, renée, Gina, Derek, Esti, Anne, Nick, to name a few). 

The Honest Weight Food Co-op helped by giving us store credit to buy food.  Cati bought delicious mushroom ravioli along with fixin’s to make pasta a la suegra.  Cardona’s donated a beautiful and (allegedly) delicious fig and apple salad that went so fast, I didn’t even get to try it.  Ah well, I’ll count that among my sacrifices for the cause. 

People milled about the backyard sampling the wines and having a good ol’ time.  Our eloquent and charming friend Gina (of Wine Words) wrote brief descriptions about the wines after having tried them all, at our pre-party, the night before.  We displayed the descriptions of the wines, just to provide a little info about each bottle.    

We collected all the score sheets and headed inside for dinner because it was too cold in the backyard.  All the food was great except for our pasta which was a bit chewey because we left it to ‘warm’ in the oven for too long [oops].

While everyone was eating, the multi-talented Anne (who makes a mean chocolate cake) and I crunched the numbers from the submitted score sheets.  We identified the most-negative palate (the person who gave the lowest average score for all wines), the most “promiscuous palate” (the person who gave the highest average score, and apparently will drink anything), and we also identified “wine-palate twins” (largest positive correlation between any two tasters), and “wine-palate evil twins” (largest negative correlation).

Here’s what the score sheets and certificates looked like:

So who won what?  My very own sweet wife won the most negative palate award with her average score for all wines being a mere 4.2.  Interestingly, as some of our guests pointed out, Cati was the only taster who spit every taste.  Being pregnant excluded her from actually drinking the wine, which likely prevented her from “loosening up” her judgement, shall we say.  Hey, let’s face it, after three or four glasses of wine, it all starts to taste better, eh?  The most promiscuous palate award went to our wine-conneseur friend (and certfied specialist of wine) Kathleen Lisson.  Her average score for all wines was a whopping 8.8.  The next highest score was Linda’s- a 7.5 .  Tough crowd, eh?  The favorite wine of the night was a Spanish rioja called Zuazo Gaston donated by Delaware Plaze Liquor Store.  The least favorite was a pinot grigio called Bivio, donated by Empire Wine.  That’s not to say it wasn’t good; it just means our friends weren’t too keen on it (I kinda liked it).  Here’s what the scoring results and correlation results looked like, have a look:

I highlighted the overall faves and least-faves, along with the Guys’ and Gals’ picks too. 

The “wine-palate twins” were our friends Nick and Vaneeta whose scores correlated with an R = 0.83.  I think they had never met prior to that evening, and were surprised to know they had similar tastes.  We awarded them each with an interesting bottle of blush which was generously donated by Niskayuna Wines & Liquors.  Well, however they feel about their prize, I’m sure they’ll agree. 

The “wine-palate evil twins” were our lovely friends Kathleen Lisson and Shavasia.   They had a negative correlation of R = -0.79 between their scores.  Yikes, let’s hope they never have to share a bottle of wine at dinner.  Someone will not be pleased.  So, the correlations aren’t super strong (I don’t know that I’d place too many bets on R2 values of ~0.6), but they are close enough for some wine party revelry.  Have a look:

I am pleased to say we raised enough money to reach my $4000 goal.  I am done fundraising and now can focus on training for my marathon on June 1st.  Thank you to all of you who have donated to the LLS on my behalf and/or encouraged me with a kind word during my training (so far).  I was repeatedly and pleasantly surprised by the generosity of so many of you.  Here are some photos from the night:

We finally got some nice weather a week later.  Cati and I spent a portion of our morning at Tulip Fest in Washington Park.

Ain’t life grand?

Y’know, The Ginger Man is alright.  It’s not particularly expensive or high-end, but it has a chic and comfortable style.  It’s like Ikea, but with food and a bar.  On my last visit, I had my spy camera on me, so I went to it.  Mouse over photos for descriptions.

Chill ambience:

Nice bar:

Good eats:

It’s a great place to stop for dinner, or after dinner for a coffee (and dessert), or before dinner for a drink.  Go give it a try. 

The last time I went there, I went to what was supposed to be a “just the guys” happy-hour.  My first choice was Mahar’s, but one of my buddies is boycotting that place because he was treated badly by the bartenders.  So instead, we went to The Ginger Man.  Cati went to see a movie with a girlfriend, and I went to have a beer with the guys.  Well, two of the guys brought their ladies.  I asked them, “What happened to ‘just the guys?’”  To which one of the ladies answered, “If you didn’t want us to come, you shouldn’t have picked a place we like so much.”  Can’t argue with that reasoning.  You’d think the framed sketch of Oscar Wilde on the wall would’ve tipped me off that the place isn’t exactly macho.  I guess next time we’ll have to go to a sports bar, or maybe a strip club funeral home [edited by Cati ]. 

Cati and I went to Jack’s Oyster House for dinner a few weeks back.  I had wanted to go back, since it had been almost a year since we had gone.  We had unpleasant experiences (due to our server) on our last two visits (the same server).  That, combined with all the new fine-dining options available to us, Jack’s just fell off our radar screens- so to speak.  Plus I wanted to see what the new head chef, Luc Pasquier, brought to the table (or at least what he had sent to the table). On our most recent visit, we had a nice time and enjoyed our meals.  I slipped the spy camera out of my sleeve and went to work.  The service at Jack’s, on the Friday night we went, was superb.  Every one of our perfunctory “thanks you’s” was followed by a “my pleasure” from our unobtrusive and effective servers.  The elder Mr. Rosenstein was hosting that evening and was displaying all the charm that has made his restaurant famous.  For example, I dropped Cati off at the curb in front of Jack’s while I parked the car; when Cati walked through the door, Mr. Rosenstein jovially exclaimed, “We’ve been expecting you!”  This caught Cati off-guard and they both giggled as she looked around and tried to figure out what he was talking about.  He was just being cordial. 

We started with a half-dozen oysters on the half shell (3 each).  They were blue points and some Louisiana variety.  Both varieties were disappointingly flavorless.  The Louisiana oysters were plump, but if they don’t have any flavor, who cares?  We, in no way, hold this against Jack’s.  We are still learning what we like when it comes to oysters and the oysters that night strengthened our standing as fans of oysters from the Pacific coast (e.g. kumamoto, hama hama, etc.).  They just taste so refreshing and briny compared to the bay-mud tasting Louisiana and Atlantic varieties.  We didn’t actively dislike our oysters that evening (not like we do raw clams [shudder]), but we certainly could have gone without.

We then had the Terrine and Pate de Campagne, Cornichons, and Walnut Tossed Frissee.  It was presented elegantly with crustless toasted bread triangles.  It was good and we quickly forgot our completely forgettable oysters.  As we split this appetizer, we remarked on how much we like the open, communal, single-room that is Jack’s dining room.  Sure, there are private dining rooms upstairs for the Capital’s big-wigs and private parties (I wandered up there once), and the bar is a nice place to chat and have a drink, but the large black-and-white checkered-floor dining-room makes one feel like his evening-out is a part of something more, well,  grand.  Jack’s was running like a clock that evening, with bustling servers and chatting diners.  It felt a little like we had bit parts in a play- a hugely popular play that’s been showing (and will continue) for years.  It was kind of harmonious really.

Interestingly, I recently heard a story on NPR’s “All things Considered” on the very topic of loud restaurants.  Listen to it HERE.  Different people have different preferences as to how loud a restaurant should be, I tend to agree with Sietsema (quoting a restaurateur), “No one likes to walk into a mausoleum.”

As for the entrees, I ordered the Canard a l’orange.  I was expecting a half-duck as the menu stated, but instead, two legs were presented; one of the legs allegedly had a small piece of breast attached (say what?).  I asked our server why I wasn’t given any breast meat and she checked with the chef.  She returned from the kitchen and told me that he told her that there is breast meat attached to the two legs I received.  I’m no expert of water-fowl anatomy, but that sounds like bunk to me.  Here is an example of what I was served, and there is no breast about it (compare to photo below and judge for yourself).  I didn’t demand further explanation, but I was annoyed that they were pulling a fast one, and dishonestly dismissing me. 

Maybe it was a half duck by weight.  If so, why not present me with two duck breasts; or perhaps, eight wings and a thigh?  I’m not quibbling about quantity (there was plenty there), but I envisioned something different when I read “a half-duck.”  I expected a left or right half, not the bottom half.  Looks like I am not alone in my dissapointment over this.  See Ruth Fantasia’s review here in the Times Union.  She went unrecognized as a restaurant reviewer and was served the bottom half of the duck as well [bad form, Jack's].  Looks like there are at least two versions of Pasquier’s duck a l’orange- the “VIP” and the “Average Joe” version (note: both versions cost the same).  Anyway, I thought the orange sauce was excellent, but the wild rice it was served with was wholly uninteresting.

The presentation was very classic.  Asparagus brought some color and levity, and the paper-thin crystallized orange slices that garnished the duck showed a little of Pasquier’s caché.  Overall the dish was good (not great), but it was a bit formulaic; nothing really to get excited about.  Cati and I are notorious for locking on to one dish at a restaurant and ordering it every time we go.  Jack’s/Pasquier’s duck a l’orange is not going to be that dish for either of us.  Perhaps I’d feel differently if I had the “VIP” version.  [shrug] 

Cati ordered one of the specials that evening and she was the hands-down winner of our impromptu “battle of the entrees.”  She had the soft-poached halibut topped with asparagus and seaweed tempura served on a potato hash alongside an organic-carrot and miso coulis.  We were both very impressed with the flavors and textures.  It was beautifully presented, confidently conceived, and skillfully executed.  I know that sounds like gushing, but it was good.  The Japanese flavors were well paired with their more standard Western counterparts (e.g. potatoes, carrots, etc.).  Cati may have even had to smack my hand on one of its many visits to her plate.  It made my duck a l’orange look austere in comparison- like I was eating Amish food.  Everything on her plate worked really well together; with that, Pasqiuer earned two admirers. 

1. Asparagus and seaweed tempura
2. Organic carrot and miso coulis/puree
3. Potato and leek hash
4. Soft-poached halibut

For dessert we split a piece of lemon pie  [Hey, I know what you're thinking: "Two appetizers, two entrees, and dessert?  Who are these people?"  The only excuses I can offer are that I'm training for a marathon (remember?) and Cati is growing a baby (yep, she's pregnant); we practically had to order dessert- y'know, for the baby.].  It was good too.

For some reason, when Cati and I select places to go out for dinner, we seldom pick Jack’s.   To me, Jack’s is like the girl/guy your parents wanted you to date.  I want to like Jack’s, I really do, but there is just no spark.  Maybe I feel this way because Jack’s is my parents’ kind of restaurant.  It’s the Lincoln Town Car of Albany restaurants, when I’d rather take a new BMW 1 series (300hp, btw) for a spin- y’know, something newer, more stylish, and exciting.  Anyone else feel this way about Jack’s?  Does it seem kind of stuffy?  Maybe with the upcoming expansion, the Rosensteins will update the ‘Old Albany’ theme a bit.  But then again, with a large portion of their demographic being Lincoln Town Car drivers, maybe they won’t.  Maybe they want to focus on their cash-cow VIP clientele like the lobbyists, lawyers, and government officials and keep the blogging riff-raff out.  [wink]

In short, next time you’re in the mood for the Capital District’s restaurant-version of a luxury-sedan, head on over to Jack’s Oyster House.  Expect the luxury accoutrements from the minute you step inside, but you’ll have to look a little harder (and order from the specials menu) to find the more modern and stylish amenities.  

“They talk of my drinking but never my thirst. ”
 
- Scottish proverb.

Do you really like beer?  If yes, go to Mahar’s in Albany.

It feels like a British pub, and there’s no place like it in town (I hear Man of Kent in Hoosick Falls, NY, rivals Mahar’s with it’s selection and ambiance, but I’ve never been there).  Mahar’s even smells like a beer joint (in a good way).  The interior is finished in wood, it’s a touch underlit, and it’s often teeming with people; just chatting away and enjoying a pint.  There are no TVs in the place, if there is music on, it’s quiet, and there often seems to be a shortage of seats (it’s really quite small).  No one there is doing shots, topping off plastic cups from Bud Light pitchers, or playing darts/trivia (not that those are bad things).  It’s a place to enjoy a beer and a conversation.  In fact, they only serve beer.  But don’t let that fool you into thinking the selection is limited.  They have ~35 beers on tap and about 100 or so beers in bottles.  The vast beer selection includes cask beers, wheat beers, ales, lagers, bocks, double bocks, stouts, cream ales, fruit beers, and on and on and on.   They peddle beers from all over the world; and just like pubs in England, they close relatively early (midnight). 

If you’re the type that is interested in keeping track of your beer-drinking (I am not), Mahar’s offers a beer club where you can record all the different beers you’ve tried.  They encourage patrons to join the beer club by offering incentives like a free case of any beer you choose, a t-shirt, your own (engraved) mug, and ultimately a name plate bearing your name on the wall (only after drinking the requisite number of pints/bottles).  I am not sure what the requirements are to earn these rewards; go there and ask.  Also, I am not very adventurous when it comes to beer; hey, I know what I like (namely Spaten Oktoberfest, as of late). 

Check out some photos below:

There is a computer and printer in the back of the place for patrons to print their list of beers; or if you’re a curious first-timer, you can print a complete list of beers to see what they offer.  They also have food for sale (pre-made sandwiches, crackers, blocks of cheese, etc) from a small refrigerator, should you get the munchies while there.  

Before I went there, I was warned that the bartenders aren’t the most congenial lot, and I have seen them behave tersely to other patrons.  But hey, they’ve been good to me so far.  Plus, I like the place so much, I’d probably be willing to overlook a few minor service-indiscretions.  Some people have referred to the bartenders as “beer snobs,” and that could be.  I certainly wouldn’t recommend ordering a Coors light.  I think the sign over the bar says it all:

The last time I was there, my friend brought some great German cheese and crackers.  The cheese was really good (who knew, right?).  We also played chess; I lost.  I guess he’s some sort of chess super-genius or something [wink].  Maybe I’ll nickname him “Deep Blue.”  Anyway, Mahar’s is a great pub.  

Ok, if beer is not your thing, the Wine Bar on Lark St. is also a great place to have a glass of wine and bite to eat (although I think they might have a beer or two on tap, too).  It’s got it all, atmosphere, food, and knowledgeable servers.  The wine selection isn’t as extensive as you might think, but we always manage to find something we like.  And by the third glass, we like everything [hiccup].

If wine and beer on their own still aren’t your thing and you need live music, let me recommend Red Square.  They have wine, beer, mixed drinks, and often, live music too.   I’ve had the good fortune of being pleasantly surprised a few times by the quality of the bands; most recently by a reggae band from New Paltz, NY (again, who knew?).  They’re called the Big Takeover and they’re chocked full o’ talent and good tunes.  Have a look and listen at their MySpace page, here (we really like the song “Red Rum,” go on, give it a listen).

If I still haven’t mentioned a “bar” to suit you, try Saso’s sushi bar:

If you don’t like that, I give up! 

SEE UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF POST**

Cati and I went on vacation to Puerto Rico in February.  We noted that it was the best place we had ever been together* without having to brandish our passports and deal with customs.  We are fortunate to have a good friend who grew up in San Juan, so we met with her (and her family) down there for some fun ‘n’ sun in paradise.  

Some of the more noteworthy highlights are (mouse over photos for brief descriptions):

The coquis:  Holy smokes they’re loud.  We wondered if there were some loud night birds in the garden our first night there; by our third night they were serenading us to sleep. 

The iguanas: They’re like squirrels down there.  You can spot them running around in the sun, hanging out in trees, or eating leaves from bushes. 

The beaches:  Sandy beaches, blue skies, big waves, and stunning sunsets.  They are perfect for snorkeling, surfing, kite-surfing, and just chillin’.  This was the ideal break from the Albany winter. 

Old San Juan was fun too. 

El Yunque National Forest:  Nice little rain forest.  It’s actually part of the United States National Forest System.  It had some picturesque waterfalls and beautiful views.  Disappointingly, there wasn’t much wildlife of which to speak (other than large snails), but it was full of thick and luxuriant greenery.  I even climbed into one of the waterfalls for a photo; it was cold. 

El Morro:  I was impressed with the all the interesting history of the place.  It was the site of some pretty serious fighting between the U.S. and Spain, so really, it was like I never left the house [rimshot].  I kid, it was really interesting, and a beautiful place to enjoy the weather, eat sno-cones, fly kites, and take in the views.  The pics say it all. 

The food:  We ate a lot of different and delicious things.  If I had to generalize about the food in PR, I’d have to say they know their starch and meat.  We had yuca, tostones, mofongo (shouldn’t that be a swear word?), rice, and beans.  We also had an excellent dish made with green bananas.  It wasn’t sweet at all.  They were more like potatoes boiled in salt and garlic, it was very foreign to me, but excellent.  As for the meat, we had beef, chicken, fish, pork, pork, and pork. 
We even went to a fun little fiesta in the mountains called a lechona.  It’s basically a townie pig-roast with music and good times for all.  From the looks of it, the three “PR gringos” in our group were the only ones there.  That’s one of the benefits of knowing a local (thanks, D).  It was great, food-centric, fun. 

During the entire trip, we had a great time.  The fact that everyone there speaks English as readily as they do Spanish might make it easy for any monolingual Americans who might struggle with another language.  We split our time between our friends’ place in San Juan and a cottage on the beach.  There was a lot of lounging around in San Juan. 

Some more misc. highlights (mouse over for descriptions):

The weather and relaxation went hand in hand.

I did also run a few times while there, and the heat was overwhelming (it was ~77F).  That’s good for sitting around and drinking a Medalla Light; but running– not so much.  I guess it a sure sign I am acclimating to the Northeast when I think 35F is ideal running weather, eh?

I failed to raise the ransom money for Nacho by ~$300, and regretably, we had to flush him.  Happy now?  Hm?  (see bottom of this post)  If you should feel guilty about it, I encourage you to expunge your contrition by donating anything you can to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on my behalf by clicking HERE.  I know you’re a good person (you must be if you come to this website, right?), so don’t be shy.  Donate online, it’s safe, it’s easy, and it’s sublimely philanthropic.  Many have already done it; more have not.  Doing good feels good; give it a try. 

What can/should I do to compel all the good people that visit this website to donate (even a little)?  Suggestions are welcome. 

*Cati went to Hawaii before we were a couple.  I suppose her convent went on a missionary trip to feed coconuts to orphans, er sumthin’.  Yeah, that must be it.  [shrug]

**We recieved an email from a friend after she read about our trip to PR.  She asked if we saw many of the neglected street-dogs while we were down there.  Unfortunatley, we did.  They were living on the beach, and you could tell by the various domestic breeds that they were not “wild,” just abandoned, and left to fend for themselves.  All they wanted was a little food and attention.  Here’s an excerpt from her note with information on adoption or contributing: 

“…there is a spectacular animal shelter down there that saves hundreds of dogs every year but they are in desperate need of funding as well as adoptive homes.  I was wondering if you might consider posting a link to their website online for your friends and family to view. 

Pokey, is a puppy my mom rescued - he’s a real cutie and very sweet - and he’s featured online.  I met Suzie as well and seriously considered taking her home myself. 

Every dog we’ve ever rescued has been super sweet, gentle, well behaved and virtually housebroken despite having lived on the street for most, if not all, of their lives.”

http://www.boxer.dreamhost.com/