Fun in Saratoga

Saratoga thoughts May 21, 2012

OK I've been a bit remiss in keeping these up.  Here we go.

• Geez that was an exciting Preakness.  What makes it even better is that there's a horse eligible to win this year's Triple Crown.   If NYRA needed something from the Doctor right about now, I'll Have Another going for a Triple Crown is it.  
• I've come to respect Barbara Lombardo and the Saratogian's staff over the past few years, so I say this as a supporter:  I felt a bit disappointed reading AP articles in the Saratogian about the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.  I wanted to read the local angle, like Tim Wilkin did over at the Times Union. On the plus side, The Pink Sheet was a treat and I really enjoyed reading that Saturday morning.
• If you haven't been to Elizabeth's Table yet, you should go.  It's really filling an unmet niche here - a downtown quick and casual restaurant with high quality meals, baked goods, desserts and coffee.  I have become friends with the owners, so I guess I'm biased, but I am a fan.
• Another new restaurant owner that I am friendly with is my fellow Buffalonian PJ Davis owner of the newly remodeled PJ's BAR-B-QSA formerly known of course as PJ's Barbecue.  Margarita and I went there Saturday night and we got there after 8pm, which in past years would have been a dead time, but the line was still out the door (!).  The cashier told us they were straight out since 11:30am.  The inside is totally different, but the outside is unchanged, and "PJ the DJ" is still spinning 50's tunes - thank God!  That would have been so disappointing to me had they changed that.  Yes I will miss the Fats Domino and Little Richard Windows, and a few other things, but PJ and Carolyn Davis kept much of what made it special and added some new touches. The menu had some changes but most of the old favorites are there (except they no longer serve wings) so check it out if you haven't been yet.
• Speaking of South Broadway Restaurants, I do miss the Diner, as well as Alexandra's Ice Cream.  Sometimes the Diner just filled the bill perfectly.

 

• Any word on the Grey Gelding being filled?
• Ditto Borders.  I've been hearing rumors but nothing definite.
• Back to Ice Cream, the East Side could use a neighborhood ice cream stand.  I don't think Spring Street Deli or 5 Points sells it for on site consumption - in other words ice cream cones. 
• Speaking of East Side delis, I stopped into the somewhat new East Side Deli and Pizzeria  (formerly Giancones) on Lake Avenue and although the pizza slices for sale looked dryer than bricks, it seemed like they are trying to fill a niche as a local neighborhood store.  They seemed friendly and their menu has dinner choices all under $12, with at least one under $9.  They had a few grocery items in addition to the pizza and other menu items.  Kudos to them for having a good web site.
• I'm happy to see the 57 Chevy is back out front of Union Gables B & B.  Yet another sign of summer.

• The Bon Ton Fish Market out at the Wilton Plaza (where 5 Guys and Chipotle is) was originally scheduled to open in May, but won't open until June.  I saw plenty of construction ongoing there, and the sign is already up, so it is moving along.  I previously wrote how I wish to keep most of my money at Price Chopper - but that doesn't mean I won't check out Bon Ton now and again.  The Boca Vida Fish Market at the Saratoga Farmers Market also seems to have quality fish that is very fresh.

OK folks, that's about it for now.  Take care.

Saratoga Thoughts May 14, 2012

 I don't have a lot of thoughts this week, but I do have a few links to share:

• Want 20% off your order at Saratoga Coffee Traders?  Click here

20% OFF your entire order. This coupon may not be used with any other coupons or promotions. Print out and present to cashier or show on your smartphone. Feel free to share this coupon with friends and family Exspires: June 15th 2012

 

• Check out Savoring Saratoga's blog post about the Saratoga Food Tours.
• Saratoga Arts has announced their 2012 workshop series.  They are all free and open to the public, and include topics like making slide presentations, copywrite and intellectual property, grantwriting workshop, and gallery submission process.  Click here to learn more.
• The Saratoga Farmers Market has a new Saturday vendor - Slyboro Cider House.  This isn't Hannaford mass produced cider, these people take it to a new old level:  Still ciders, sparkling ciders, ice ciders...Slyboro Cider House reintroduces the lost craft of American Ciders."  Cool!  I hope they have samples - I would like to try the ice ciders.  They sound sweet.

 

• Click here for the May newsletter for Longfellow's and the Olde Bryan Inn.
• Maestro's is celebrating a year at the new place.  Check out their party on Monday May 21.
• Here's the latest news from Saratoga Arts Fest
• I'm a little late, but check out local blogger Tom Noonan's comments on the Kentucky Derby, and be sure to look for his analysis on the site before the Preakness.
• It would appear that Chianti is going after the Vegetarian/Vegan dollar - at least on Tuesdays:

 

• Chianti's sister restaurant, Forno Bistro, is continuing it's Tuesday night takeout special:

Every Tuesday get two wood-fired pizzas or stuffed focaccie breads to-go for just $12. Add a 1/2 Tray of Forno’s Classic Mista Insalata for just $6 more. Join our email list or Facebook page to find out the featured pizza or focaccie ahead of time.

• Sticking with DZ Restaurants, if you like on Facebook their newest and yet-to-be-opened Restaurant, Boca Bistro, you can win a $500 gift certificate.

Not to show favortism to just one ethnic restaurant group, so Capriccio Saratoga has Skip Parsons performing every Thursday in May and is offering any pizza on the menu for $13.

 

 

• Don't forget The Wine Bar has some nice Monday night specials.
• Well that's it for now. Have a great week. Don't forget PJ's Bar-B-QSA is opening tomorrow (Tuesday)

 

 

 

PJ's Bar-B-QSA is opening Tuesday!!!!

I'm very happy for John and Carolyn Davis, and their kids Johnnie and Jady, for this Tuesday's (May 15, 2012) grand opening of the new, year round, PJ's Bar-B-QSA Restaurant.  I definitely want to be there on its first day, and I imagine hundreds of others will be as well.  See you there!

Click here for PJ's Bar-B-QSA web site 

Click here for PJ's Bar-B-QSA Facebook Page 

Click here for PJ's Bar-B-QSA Twitter feed

 

 

 

PJ's Bar-B-QSA almost finished - possibly opening this week!

I stopped into PJ's Barbecue   PJ's Bar-B-QSA on Friday and caught up with John "PJ" Davis and got an impromptu tour of the new place, which he tells me could open as soon as this week.  The new place looks awesome and I am happy to report that much of the outside, including the covered areas with the picnic tables and the "PJ the DJ" booth, are exactly the same.   Stay tuned to find out the exact opening date, but don't be surprised if it's this weekend.

 

Saratoga Olive Oil celebrating its one year anniversary this weekend!

Congratulations to the owners of Saratoga Olive Oil for not only getting through their first year, but for doing so well that they are expanding in Vermont!  This weekend the owners will be celebrating their one year anniversary and that means lots of treats, deals, and other promotions.   Stop by this Saturday May 5 (10am-7pm) or Sunday May 6 (10am-6pm) for FREE truffle popcorn made with their original Truffle Butter olive oil and Truffle Sea Salt. Yum!  As good as that sounds, that is certainly an adult indulgence that the kiddies may not appreciate, so they will also have free balloons to keep the little ones happy.   Plus there will be a prize wheel, a $100 gift basket giveaway and 10% off everything in the store.  See you there!

 

 

 

Siro's unveils its new (NYC centered) web site

Siro's Restaurant has unveiled a new web site, however it barely makes mention of the original Siro's Saratoga location or Siro's Trattoria at the Lodge.  Other than a passing reference in the "About" part, the web site only acknowledges the New York City site.  And in fact, the word "Location" (singular, as opposed to "Locations") and the "Contact Us" link only list the Manhattan Restaurant.  Kind of odd, don't you think?  Well maybe it's a work in progress, but it just seemed odd. 

Wall Street Journal reports on Siro's expansion in NYC; Forbes reports on party

Well it's not often that Saratoga Springs related restaurant happenings are reported on in the Wall Street Journal, but I noticed this article in the Wall Street Journal from a few days ago reporting on what we all know - namely that Siro's will be opening a location in NYC with new partner Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.   You can read the article here.  Also,  Forbes Magazine web site mentioned  about a party there with a picture from the inside of the place.  It's big and looks very New York City-like.  Go figure.

Article on Market Center at Railroad Place (AKA Bonacio Price Chopper project) article with slideshow

The Business Review has the article and slideshow here.

Turf Club grand reopening this Sunday April 29th

 

Elizabeth's Table is OPEN!!!!

How cool!  Congratulations to Mike and Liz Phillips for getting their new version of the Cupcake Lab, known as Elizabeth's Table, open after many months of hard work!  Elizabeth's Table made-from-scratch food (with many healthy options ie. gluten free etc.) is so good and uses many local ingredients.  Elizabeth's Table is located at 510 Broadway (Algonquin Building - near the City Center) and I'm not sure of their hours yet, but you can call at 518.490.6610.  To read much more about some great plans Mike and Liz have for Elizabeth's Table, click here.