-
Plum Blossom in Troy: A Feast for the Eyes
You’ll Remember the Experience, But Probably Not the Meal We all have a lot of food memories from the pandemic – taking up baking after binging episodes of the Great British Baking Show, indulging in comfort foods to ease depression, and experimenting in the kitchen to fill those endless hours; my favorite food memory is a spicy mouth-numbing dish of string beans in a Szechuan sauce from Plum Blossom in Troy. It was the pandemic so of course it was take-out and it wasn’t until recently that I dined in-house at Plum Blossom. Located at 685 Hoosick Road, the green-neon-lit stand-alone building is easy to overlook on a busy road…
-
Chable Yucatan: The luxury resort that rehabilitated a historic hacienda—and rebuilt an ecosystem
Inside a chalk-white, seashell-shaped structure, I closed my eyes and listened to the sound of waves and the rise and fall of a man’s voice intoning a traditional Maya blessing. What he said was a mystery, but mine was not to question; mine was to relax, something the American obsession with productivity, and Northeastern sense of impatience, has made me exceedingly bad at. I’d come to Chablé Yucatán, about 30 minutes outside Mérida in northeastern Mexico, for the ultimate test of my ability to let go. “The new luxury is space, nature, sustainability, and wellness,” Sales Director Oscar Quijano told me of the immersive resort. Chablé Yucatán’s commitment to personal…
-
The best Mediterranean restaurant you’ve never heard of is in the basement of an Albany bank
Follow me into the gray corporate depths of the NBT bank in search of Bon Appetit Cafe in Albany. A few weeks ago, I was in the checkout line at Trader Joe’s on Wolf Road in Albany when my stomach growled loudly enough for the cashier to hear it—and chuckle. “Know any good places nearby to eat?” I asked. He pointed across the street to the homely six-story brown brick building that squats over a parking lot on the other side of the street. “Walk over there, into the basement, and go all the way to the back,” the cashier instructed me (ominously? Did I imagine ominously?).…
-
Got Pizza?
Kay’s in Averill Park is rightfully a beloved seasonal institution for pizza during the summer. Great ambiance, fast service, affordable pricing, a location that screams “hidden gem” that makes you feel like you’re a welcome local. I’m a big fan of the fried scallops and the thai chili chicken pizza – essentially a fusion of your favorite Asian takeout on top of your favorite pizza takeout. BUT, I have to tell you something and this may sound sacrilegious…the pizza at Towne Tavern just down the road and open year- round is the bee’s knees and my go to place when I’m looking for carb comfort. Perfect crust. Well-priced. Less doughy…
-
Forget pumpkin spice
Last year wasn’t kind to our apple farmers and picking enthusiasts due to the crop shortage and nonstop rain, so fingers, ears and eyes crossed that everyone wins this year–and packs on some winter insulation from cider donuts! Here’s a look at some of our favorite places. Please visit their websites or call ahead for hours and varieties of apples. Lakeview Orchard, Lanesborough, MA | Small but charming, in September, visitors can pick apples, peaches, plums, and pears. The store also sells baked goods and, most importantly, pierogies! Hilltop Orchards, Richmond, MA | This family-owned cidery and winery offers tastings of both beverages, plus pick-your-own apples, sweet cider, cider donuts, apple pie,…