Many Schenectady County restaurants are marking the county’s bicentennial year with a special $20.09 dinner menu now through Saturday.
Early reservations are recommended.
You can find menus for all the participating restaurants at the Chamber of Schenectady County’s sayschenectady.org Web site, but here are some examples:
For $20.09 at 20 North Broadway Tavern, you can order your favorite beverage (like Guinness or Blue Moon), one appetizer (like poblano peppers stuffed with crabmeat and prosciutto), one entree (like a Black & Blue Burger) and pecan pie.
At Kabul Night, the new Afghan restaurant at 402 Union St., your $20.09 will get you one appetizer (like pakawra — fried crispy potatoes that have been dipped in seasoned butter and are served with cilantro) — a side order of Afghan bread or yogurt, an entree of salmon, chicken or vegetarian kabob and dessert of baklava or ferenee (Afghan pudding).
Aperitivo Bistro at 426 State St. is featuring a choice of soup of the day or vegetable spring rolls, choice of either penne vodka grilled chicken , wild mushroom pizza or chicken Scarpiello with saffron risotto, and dessert of strawberry shortcake or warm banana cheesecake.
Other participating restaurants are: Ambition Coffee House & Eatery, Backstage Pub & Grill, Bangkok Bistro, Brandon’s Ritz Terrace, Castelo’s Restaurant, Clinton’s Ditch, Cornell’s Restaurant, Glen Sanders Mansion & Inn, Manhattan Exchange, the Parker Inn, Petta’s Restaurant, Pinhead Susan’s, John Riccitello’s Restaurant, San Souci Restaurant, Stockade Inn, Taj Mahal, Tops American Grill, the Turf Tavern, the Union Inn and the Wine Down Lounge.
Restaurant Week offers a great opportunity for sampling different places without doing much damage to your wallet.
Chowderfest 2009
The annual Chowderfest in Saratoga Springs is getting bigger every year, and about 40 restaurants will participate in the 2009 edition on Saturday.
The event is part of the Saratoga Convention and Visitors Bureau’s Winterfest which is set for Friday through Sunday.
You can pick up a ballot at any participating restaurant — and that would seem to be most restaurants around town — and then sample chowders at the different venues for $1 a cup. Jot your favorites on the ballot and drop it off at the Saratoga County Arts Council or Saratoga Springs Visitor Center where for $7 you can pick up a Chowderfest shirt.
New participants this year are: Beekman Street Bistro, Caffe Lena, Crafters Gallery, Feast Gallery and Meeting Space, Jay’s Bar and Grill Inc., Liberty Bell Cheese Steaks, Sushi Thai Garden, The Local Pub and Teahouse and West Side Stadium Cafe. Ben and Jerry’s will be offering a dessert chowder.
Chowder and other soups will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at participating restaurants. The Saratoga Horse and Carriage Trolley (bus) will be running around town and making stops at restaurants throughout the fest and you can flag it down and board it for free at any of its stops or wait for it in front of Lillian’s.
The event is highly competitive as restaurants vie for a year’s worth of bragging rights. Last year’s winners were Gaffney’s, People’s Choice Award; Cantina, Best on Broadway and Best Newcomer; the Parting Glass, Best Off-Broadway; Longfellows Restaurant, Best Non-Downtown; and Brindisi’s, recognized for most chowder served.
At 1 p.m. at the Saratoga Downtowner motel, a “Dog Chow Down” will take place with competitors vying for the Best Dog Chowder Award.
Chowderfest 2009 has all the makings for a fun family outing on a winter day.
