Caught Up in the Hype

I can’t remember the last time I watched TV and didn’t see an ad for the new Doritos taco at Taco Bell.  So being the curious food lover that I am, I had to make a 1am trip to the drive-through.  We all know that Taco Bell food tastes great when you eat it, but can backfire later on.  Well the Doritos taco didn’t even give me that satisfaction of eating it.  All the hype and it didn’t taste like a Dorito?  It was a taco shell with orange coloring.  That’s what I get for being inspired by a commercial.  What commercial should I follow next?

Some Great Free Starter Apps for Eaters

Feel hesitant about just walking in somewhere and trying out a new restaurant?  Or maybe you're looking for a place your friend recommended and aren't sure where to go, well I have the solution for you eaters out there.   I am seeing more and more people becoming new smart phone users and there are a lot of great apps out there that are free for restaurant goers. 

Yelp

Yelp is a great starter app for the restaurant goer.  When you're out looking for something to eat and you're either new to the area or you just can't decide where you want to go, Yelp will help you locate a restaurant and you can grab the latest reviews so you'll know what you're walking into.  When you're out on the hunt for some local food you can narrow your search down to the neighborhood you're in or the distance away it is, prices and what is currently open.

OpenTable

OpenTable is an app that is free for smart phone users.  One of its most interesting features is that it allows you to not only search for restaurants, but even lets you book a reservation right from your phone.  This can come in handy when you need to make a last minute reservation and aren't sure what places are full already.  However not all restaurants are OpenTable enabled.


TruxMap

This app caters to you food truck enthusiasts, it includes a real time gourmet food truck map.  The app is free and it allows you to select a city and will show you the location of currently open food trucks as well as soon to be open food trucks.  You can look at menus and directions and even submit your own truck reviews.  This app only has maps available for major cities, but is good to have handy when traveling if your home city doesn't have one.

These are just a few of the free applications out there for food enthusiasts.  If you're curious about  a restaurant's review or are trying to locate where you want to go these are great tools to help you out.

In the Aftermath of Irene

My sympathy goes out to all people affected by Hurricane Irene in the Capital Region and beyond, I hope everyone is doing okay getting their lives back in order.  I just got my power back on this morning and I am doing fine.

Waking up to no electricity Monday morning was unpleasant, the milk could not be trusted and I wasn't sure how long my fridge was out for so I didn't end up eating the Lucky Charms, they didn't sound so lucky.  I started looking for breakfast elsewhere and after finding my way through uncharted routes due to road closings I ended up at the Capital City Diner I guess I'm attracted to shiny buildings.

I enjoyed at least 3 cups of coffee and a hefty plate of french toast with sausage.  It seemed pretty crowded, I'm guessing most people were in a similar situation to mine.  The food was great however I used over a dozen syrup packets, I think next time I'll have to see if they can bring me a pitcher of it. 

The Diner is located on 1709 Western Ave, you can't miss it.

If you want a good sub, get in line with the college kids.

There are a few courses in the food world that it's always a good idea to follow the pack of college kids. One is pizza. The other is subs.

DiBella's recently opened two locations in the Capital Region that I know of. One is in Latham near Chipotle on Route 7, but the one that caught my eye was the location on Western Avenue next to Uncommon Grounds and near the SUNY Albany campus. The line when I first spotted it was literally out the door!  I figured I'd wait a few weeks until the hype died down to try it, but my return trip was the same long line. It was 3pm on a Saturday, so I guess it was the late late college lunch crowd? I thought it was still summer break?

I was successful at beating the crowd on my third try.  Had a great chicken cheese steak.  Today was my second trip and there was no way I was finishing this turkey and swiss on multigrain. Maybe I'll save the rest for when we lose power this weekend and I'm bored of Hurricane Irene.

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.