The War of the Wings

The fourth annual Watervliet Wing Wars is about to go down on March 3 to decide the restaurant with the best chicken wings.  Wing fanatics will decide the victor of the Wing Wars by voting.  Over a dozen restaurants from Watervliet, Troy and Cohoes will be serving up their best wings.  

The war will go down on Saturday, March 3, from 3-7 p.m, at the Watervliet AOH, 1021 9th Ave.  Admission is $15 at the door, the proceeds help fund the Watervliet Civic Center.  You can also expect a cash bar, live DJ and a raffle, hope to see you there.

Where to Find Burgers and Ice Cream In the Same Place

Saturday, a few friends and I headed over to Watervliet, which is home to one of my favorite hangouts, Mac’s Drive-In.  Mac’s is a great place for all your fast food cravings during the summer.  It was just one of those days when sitting outside was a must, perfect weather.  I grabbed a grilled chicken sandwich with their awesome homemade french fries; they go great with anything there.  For dessert I checked out their soft coffee ice cream and added some sprinkles on top, I’m a fan of the rainbow.

I enjoy going to Mac’s during the summer for some fast food when I don’t feel like cooking, which is most of the time.  It’s nice to have burgers, chicken and ice cream in the same place.  They have over a dozen different ice cream flavors; if you’re a fan of coffee ice cream theirs was delicious.

Mac’s Drive-In is located on 648 Third Avenue in Watervliet.  Their open Monday-Saturday 11 am - 9 pm and Sunday from 4 pm - 9 pm.

Watervliet Armenian Festival

St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet is hosting their Armenian Festival on Saturday, June 11 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, June 12 from noon - 4:00 p.m. St. Peter Armenian Church is located at 100 Troy Schenectady Road. Both parking and admission are free.

You can expect rides for kids and raffles as well as Armenian and Middle-Eastern music and food. Those of you who are there on Saturday night will be able to join a tavloo (backgammon) tournament at 4:30 p.m. The entry fee is $15. A dance instruction will be held Sunday afternoon.

For more information, click here.

Looking for a Great Local Bakery?

I’ve been to a lot of restaurants, so trust me looks aren’t everything. As I’ve said before, when you go out to eat you have to manage your expectations. You don’t expect a five star décor from Gus’ Hot Dogs, you expect delicious hot dogs and that’s what you get. Schuyler Bakery falls under the same category, the building may not wow you – it’s basically just four walls, a big glass window and a door - but the cakes and treats they sell sure will.

Take a stroll through the bakery with me. When you walk inside there are rows of fresh donuts, cookies, and cakes behind every counter. Through the glass counter you can see the fudge fancies, Easter cookies, bread, and a bunch of other types of sweets. Everything is priced right and the bakery is family owned and operated so you know they aim to please. It’s not just a hometown Watervliet bakery either, people all over the Capital Region come here for their amazing treats. On Easter, it is unbelievably packed, and opens at around 5 am. Just be careful, if you don’t get there until 7 am, be ready to line up by Cummings Funeral Home. If you’re ever looking for a sugary cinnamon bun, or a fudge fancy that is completely covered in chocolate, stop by Schuyler Bakery for some of the best home-made goodies in the Capital District.

Wing War is back!

It’s that time again, Watervliet’s Wing War is back for its third year. Wing lovers should flock down to the AOH Hall on 1021 Ninth Avenue in Watervliet this Saturday. The event kicks off at 3 pm and lasts until 7 pm. Tickets are available at the door for $15 and proceeds will benefit the Watervliet Civic Center. There will be more than a dozen restaurants on hand so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. For more information call 273-5922.


Both of last year’s top awards went to Watervliet restaurants. Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Deli took home the award for best wings and The Black Bear Inn won for best sauce. Can they hold onto their crowns this year or will one of the new challengers take them down? Let me know and be sure to tell me where you get your favorite wings.

Average Joe's picks for the Mac n Cheese Bowl

Best Display:

Every restaurant tried to catch your eye on Saturday. Many of them used large banners supported by wooden poles while others covered almost every square inch of their tables in business cards and menus. At the end of the day, only one display really broke free from that mold. Jack’s Oyster House used an ice sculpture which was both classy and memorable. And yes, it was real, it was dripping.

Verdict: As much as I liked Valente’s “Three little pigs” sign, this one wasn’t even close, the ice sculpture was great. An easy win for Jack’s.

Mac n Cheese Gold Medal:

Valente's of Watervliet came out on top last year and after sampling its entry this year I understand why. In fact, I think they should hold onto their crown and walk away from this as repeat champions. They put an Italian American spin on the dish, complementing three types of meat with three types of cheese. Their mac had pancetta, prosciutto, soppressata, mascarpone, pecorino and aged provolone.

Verdict: Two thumbs way up, make them repeat champs. I had it early in the day and nothing topped it.

Silver Medal:

Saratoga’s Wishing Well restaurant was the first of Saturday’s many mac n cheese recipes I had that used bacon. It was also the most memorable of that group. They combined the American classic with bacon, horseradish and topped it all off with some tomatoes. The sweet from the tomatoes contrasted nicely with the horseradish’s bite.

Verdict: I thought this was the best mac n cheese in the house until I made it to Valente’s.

Bronze Medal:

Creo’s recipe seemed like a no-brainer to me. I was waiting for somebody to combine Buffalo wing sauce with mac n cheese from the moment I walked through the door. Buffalo sauce isn’t just for wings any more, it’s also the base for countless dips and a topping splashed over pizzas everywhere. Creo’s offering added Buffalo wing sauce to red hot panko bread crumbs, blue cheese and smoked turkey. I’m a big fan of Buffalo wing sauce so I might be a little bias here, but it wasn’t too hot so the flavor of the sauce came through without overpowering the cheese and other ingredients. The bread crumbs add some nice texture and the turkey is a welcome reprieve from the many, many restaurants that used bacon.

Verdict: This one was definitely a keeper. They had a hot and a mild variety available and I preferred the hotter variety.

Final thoughts:

Picking a winner was definitely no small feat. I didn’t dislike any of the recipes I tried and quite a few stuck out in my mind. The Marriott was a little crowded but it was still easy to move around and there were no long lines to speak of. With such a large draw it must have been a success for the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and I hope it comes back again next year. If you missed out this year, bring a friend and check it out next year. It was $15 well spent.