Wrap It Up

Sometimes ideas hit you on the head like a tire iron.  I wonder if that’s what happened to the guys who dreamed up DP Dough. 

What if you took every foodie’s first love (pizza) and wrapped other favorite foods in it?

Philly Cheese Steak? Check.

Bacon & Eggs.  Yep.

Sausage & Peppers.  Fuggedaboutit.

They call them Calzones, but that’s to make the meal acceptable to those not from the old neighborhood, if you catch my drift.

You can find DP Dough in Albany and Troy.

So, who knows?  Next time you get a couple of knocks, it could be:  whammo!  A vision of culinary paradise.

Honey, I am in the mood for some chimichanga!

Saturday was a long day. By the time we got home it was late, we were tired, and neither of us wanted to cook.  

Friend: "What do you want for dinner?"

Me: "Chipotle?'

Friend: "Nah, I don’t want a buritto lets comprimise and go to Pancho's."

Me: "To quote the great Bernie Focker, 'Honey I am in the mood for some chimichanga!'"

And just like that folks dinner was decided. So we went to Pancho’s in Clifton Park, right off of Exit 8 on the Northway. It is a nice quiet place, great prices, fast and friendly service, and all the chips and salsa you can eat!

As you probably guessed, judging by the conversation referenced above, I had the chimichanga. Chicken rolled in a flour tortilla, fried and then baked. Topped with nacho cheese, ranchero sauce and served with Mexican rice, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole! Why would you want anything else? For me, no one and I mean no one does it better than Pancho's. It is always delicious!

Pancho's chimichanga. 

Deep-Fried What Now????

Who isn’t intrigued by fair food? The season is coming and we must prepare. New York Magazine’s “Grub Street” blog has released The 14 Terrifyingly Awesome New State-Fair Foods for 2013. I’ve had the deep-fried butter, Oreos, Twinkies and even the glazed donut bacon-burger, but deep-fried meatloaf? Here’s my will dos and won't dos list:

Top will dos:

Deep-Fried Monte Cristo

Double Bacon Corndog

Grilled Steak Sandwich

Bacon Cannoli

Top won’t dos:

Wine-Glazed Deep-Fried Meatloaf

Comet Corn

Fried Pickles ‘n’ Chocolate

The Great New York State Fair this year is running Aug 22- Sep 2 in Syracuse and The Big E will be in West Springfield, MA on Sep 13- Sep 29. I’m not sure what they will be presenting for food, but new eats are guaranteed.

Glazed and Confused

I wasn't sure at the time exactly what was going to happen to me or what this meant fur my future, if anything, but I knew that I was missing out on a phenomena if I didn't give it a try. The glazed donut breakfast sandwich at Dunkin' Donuts.

The guy behind the counter said he had tried it, but this was the first time he had ever had to make it for a customer. I wonder why? Ham, sausage, egg and cheese between a glazed donut cut down the center. One step beyond bread for the greater good.

What you see in the photo is what you get and what you think is there. I've put the real ingredients below for thought. Regardless of any probable consequences from eating it, it tasted great and if you're feeling up to it, I say go for it.

INGREDIENTS: Glazed Donut: Donut [Enriched Unbleached Wheat Flour (Wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Iron as Ferrous Sulfate, Thiamin Mononitrate, Enzyme, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Palm Oil, Water, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Whey (a milk derivative), Skim Milk, Yeast, Contains less than 2% of the following: Salt, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda), Defatted Soy Flour, Wheat Starch, Mono and Diglycerides, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Cellulose Gum, Soy Lecithin, Guar Gum, Xanthan Gum, Artificial Flavor, Sodium Caseinate (a milk derivative), Enzyme, Colored with (Turmeric and Annatto Extracts and Beta Carotene), Eggs], Glaze [Sugar, Water, Maltodextrin, Contains 2% or less of: Mono and Diglycerides, Agar, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Artificial Flavor]; Fried Egg: Egg Whites, Water, Egg Yolks, Modified Corn Starch, Natural Sauteed Flavor (Soybean Oil, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Natural Flavor), Salt, Artificial Butter Flavor (Propylene Glycol, Artificial Flavor), Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Coarse Ground Black Pepper; Bacon: Pork, cured with: Water, Sugar, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Smoke Flavoring, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

One of my favorite things about summer is eating outside. Living in the Northeast, we know this isn’t possible for more than half the year (unless eating in a snowsuit is your thing). So every year around April/May, I start itching to grab a beer and burger while enjoying the beautiful weather. Lately, the weather has been throwing me some curveballs for outdoor dining with the extreme heat and endless run of thunderstorm. But this past weekend I was finally able to make my first trip of the season to one of my favorite local summer spots…RiverFront Bar & Grill in Albany.

Beer, wings, burgers….what more does an Average Joe need? Located at the north end of the Corning Preserve, RiverFront Bar & Grill offers a peaceful and enjoyable view of the Hudson (which luckily did not smell). On this night they did not have live music, but viewing their calendar at the door, they have quite a lineup for this summer with popular local bands like Audiostars and The Refrigerators, as well as weekly trivia on Wednesday nights.

Great atmosphere, great food and you’re not going to break the bank. What are some of your favorite outdoor dining spots in the Capital Region?

The Other La Bella's

When you’ve wandered into Northern Columbia County and taken your fill of the Capital Region’s best cider donuts at Golden Harvest Orchard, you’ll probably need something more substantial to eradicate the sugar rush.

You may be familiar with the LaBella's of Wynantskill, which I have reviewed before, but La Bella’s, of Valatie is an Italian pizza and pasta place located in the Hannaford Plaza at the US Rt. 9 traffic circle, will fit the bill.

Not too expensive…good portions…and more than passable red-sauce (or gravy, to those of certain heritage).  Pizza is thin crust and NYC style. 

Worth a separate trip?  Maybe not, but definitely a stop if you are in the ‘hood and hankering for some old-world, stick-to-your-ribs cooking.

Nosh

Average Joe was out looking for a place to eat without Average Jane, and I remembered a good buddy of mine said he had been to Nosh, a NY Style delicatessen on Western Avenue in Guilderland.  Perfect solo date – me, a HUGE sandwich and a pickle bowl.

While I would love to sit here and rant and rave about Nosh, it was OK.  I’ve been to Katz’ and Carnegie, and I’d lose all credibility if I told you it was the same. It’s not.

But, I will say, it is worth your time and dime. You get a heaping pile of fresh meat, and some savory pickles. The macaroni salad lacked flavor but the tableside mustard cured that. The menu is huge!

Here's more about the place and the menu: http://www.ourtowneguilderland.com/nosh/