Upstate NY Restaurant Examiner

New Hartford cafe rebounds from fire

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:43:04 -0700

Grand re-opening set for New Year's DayNEW HARTFORD, NY -- On June 11, a kitchen fire hit Casab's Deli Cafe and forced it to close.At 11 a.m. on New Year's Day, owners Cliff and Patricia Casab will re-open their 34 Genesee Street o...

Chinatown, sort of, comes to Albany

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:53:31 -0700

The NhansALBANY, NY -- The state's capital city now has its own Chinatown. Sort of.While it's only a store and not a neighborhood, Chinatown officially opened this morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony helped along by Mayor Jerry Jennin...

Albany icon's coming out party Jan. 11

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:44:18 -0700

The refreshed and refurbished interiors at Jack's Oyster House, 42 State Street, Albany ALBANY, NY -- The capital city's oldest restaurant, Jack's Oyster House, will be showing off the lates...

Food Network chef at home cooking

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 18:26:41 -0700

Anne Burrell on the Food Network kitchen setCAZENOVIA, NY -- The host of a Food Network show will be making an appearance on her home turf this Saturday (December 26).Anne Burrell, host of "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef&q...

Merry Christmas 2009!

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 13:56:22 -0700

A very merry Christmas to you and yours.

P.S. If you're stuck for a last-second gift for a person of refined taste, try my four-part "Holidays In a Bottle" gift guide. It covers rums, bourbons, Scotches and liqueurs.

Pittsford restaurant files for Chapter 11

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:31:56 -0700

PITTSFORD, NY -- Northfield Food & Drink has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.The 3001 Monroe Avenue restaurant, named for this Rochester suburb's original name, reportedly is more than $300,000 in arrears to creditors, among whom...

Lauded chef planning Glens Falls restaurant

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:20:14 -0700

Jason BakerGLENS FALLS, NY -- The popular Fiddleheads Gourmet Dining closed up shop earlier this year after a dozen years in operation.Now comes word that the same 21 Ridge Street space will become home to the latest venture by respected...

Albany airport's newest cafe opens

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:08:13 -0700

Photo courtesy of Albany International AirportCOLONIE, NY -- The latest new eating spot at Albany International Airport opened this morning.Brioche Doree, a French bakery-style deli, opened in Concourse C. It is serving croissants, sandw...

Five Guys tops customer satisfaction survey

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:44:52 -0700

Curioius which fast-food chain rates No.. 1 in customer satisfaction? Forget the usual suspects and think Five Guys Burgers and Fries.The rapidly-expanding mini...

Binghamton deli survives fire

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:33:34 -0700

BINGHAMTON, NY -- Business is going on as usual today despite a blaze that hit the Park Bench Deli early Sunday morning.Firefighters responded to an 1:40 a.m. alarm when the business was closed for the evening.The deli, located at 100 Park Avenue, a...

Slow Food and Scotch at Max London's

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:25:18 -0700

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY -- The Saratoga convivium of the Slow Food USA movement will be pairing Scotch whiskies with the menu of its first anniversary dinner, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 14.The site will be Max London's in Saratoga Springs...

Melting Pot readies 2nd Westchester site

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:55:07 -0700

A typical outing at The Melting PotPOUGHKEEPSIE, NY -- The fifth Melting Pot restaurant in New York State is planned for late January or early February.Operator Michael Stygles had said he will open the fondue chain's second Westchester ...

New Rochelle Indian spot closes

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:46:20 -0700

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- A local restaurant with one of the more intriguing names you'll ever see has closed.Samosa Cabana, an "Indian grill" with the slogan "Indian food. Redefined," now is defined as out of business. For the most par...

5th, 6th or 7th Cap Region location for Five Guys

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:31:36 -0700

GUILDERLAND, NY -- The Five Guys Burgers and Fries chain keeps growing with a minimalist approach to America's favorite sandwich.In the Capital Region, a new location is scheduled to open in mid-February in a former Denny's, opposite Stuyvesant Plaza...

Friday's whipping up a holiday mood

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:16:09 -0700

TGI Friday's restaurants in Upstate New York and elsewhere have added a litle something to their seasonal menu: the Mistletoe Martini.The recipe calls for mandarin orange vodka, black raspberry liqueur, cranberry juice and fresh mint.And, in a bid to...

Downstate note: Tavern On the Green auction set

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:06:59 -0700

Part of the Tavern's signature chandelier collectionNEW YORK -- An era of glitz and glamor in Central Park will be reduced to dollars next month when the contents of Tavern On the Green are auctioned off.Proceeds from the auction o...

Domino's reinventing its pizza recipe

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:25:13 -0700

It didn't work for Coca-Cola, but Domino's is betting its business on a complete remake of its basic product.The world's largest pizza delivery company, which has outlets all over Upstate New York, has announced it is changing its core pizza recipe. ...

Wegmans' new restaurant opens today

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:06:33 -0700

The new Next Door Bar and GrillPITTSFORD, NY -- The Wegmans market chain will open a new restaurant here tonight, across the street from one of its "super stores."Tastings, the company's original restaurant which had operated a...

Monroe Extension plans winter cooking classes

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:27:32 -0700

ROCHESTER, NY -- Local chefs will be putting on their teaching hats as part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County winter cooking class schedule.The series, part of the group's "Healthy Monroe" initiative:• "Health...

Schenectady diner family branching out

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:17:22 -0700

Blue Ribbon, the current Menagias businessSCHENECTADY, NY -- The name Menagias has for decades meant Greek food, in particular Greek diner food, in the Schenectady area.That legacy appears ready to be extended. As columnist Marv Cermak r...