Glens Falls Gourmet: A Cooking & Recipe Blog For Foodies!

Lumberjack Pass In Lake George: More Than Just Mini Golf!

2013-05-18T18:47:49Z

Perfect day in Lake George for an outing with the family! How lucky is it that it is the opening day for Lumberjack Pass Mini Golf in Lake George?

What does that have to do with food you ask? Well, not only does Lumberjack Pass have one of the best mini golf courses in Lake George, they have affordable family meals and fantastic ice cream treats as well!

Check out their video and learn more about what you can enjoy at Lumberjack Pass miniature golf course...

]]> Lumberjack Pass is located in the heart of Lake George, NY. It is walking distance from many Lake George hotels, motels and campgrounds.

Mary Giella, owner/operator of Lumberjack Pass takes great pride in making this a go to place in Lake George and it shows.

Enjoy a round of mini golf at one of the best courses in the area, featuring all the challenges of a regulation golf course including sand traps, water hazards and this year, brand new greens!

Don't have time for a game? That's o.k.. Stop by for lunch or dinner and some of their amazing ice cream treats!

Check them out the next time you are in Lake George. Great place to have on your Lake George itinerary! Check out Mary's video and take a tour before you go.

Uncle Pat's General Store - Maple Syrup, Honey and Cookies - Oh My!

2013-05-14T20:47:11Z

Have you heard of Uncle Pat's General Store? They sell all sorts of delicious Adirondack pure maple syrup and honey products, all made at The Imbimbo Family Farm in Granville, NY! My friend gave me a variety of Uncle Pat's goodies the other day. Here is my review of the items included the basket.

What was included? A smorgasbord of maple goodness including pure maple syrup, a jar of honey, maple sugar cakes and maple cream filled chocolate candies!

]]> My favorite part of the basket was the deliciously sweet maple cream filled chocolate candies. These were so good! They're similar to peanut butter cups, but they're filled with maple instead. All of Uncle Pat's products are handmade on their farm and the maple cream filled chocolate was Mmmm good. :)

The 100% pure maple syrup went perfectly with my delicious pancake and blueberry breakfast. You can really tell a difference between the fresh maple syrup and the kind you buy in the grocery store. Uncle Pat's was so fresh and tasty!

I also enjoyed the leaf-shaped sugar cakes made from pure maple syrup. Here's a tip! Try dissolving one in your next cup of tea. It adds the perfect touch and tastes delicious!

Overall, I give Uncle Pat's General Store two thumbs up. Thanks to Uncle Pat for giving me this basket of goodies to try!

Looking for a unique gift for someone?

Uncle Pat's General Store is the perfect place to shop for maple syrup gifts and food products. They offer a full line of pure Adirondack maple products - syrup, maple cream candies, maple chocolate chip cookies, maple butterscotch cranberry cookies and all kinds of perfect gifts for the times when you want to share a bit of Adirondack flavor with a friend or loved one.

Visit their store online to try some of Uncle Pat's delicious maple and honey treats! They are running a special for our Glens Falls Gourmet fans for 10% off your order (from now until June 15th). Simply, enter the coupon code GOURMET at checkout to receive this special offer and come back to let us know what you think! www.unclepatsgeneralstore.com

The Pub At Cooper's Cave Ale Company Gives Back To The Community!

2013-04-30T21:09:03Z

Hey foodie friends! Today I wanted to share a great fundraising event happening at Cooper's Cave in Downtown Glens Falls on May 1st.

Cooper's Cave Ale Company will be offering their support to CROP Walk by donating 15% of your check at the pub on May 1, 2013 to this great cause! CCAC is ALSO matching the donation!

All you have to do to help is go out and enjoy yourself! That won't be hard to do at Cooper's Cave!

]]> In case you have never heard of CROP Walk, I'll brief you.

CROP (Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty) in as annual event that raises funds to help the hungry in the tri-county area.

On May 5th at the Hudson Falls United Methodist Church in Hudson Falls, NY, members of the community will gather together to raise awareness and money to help assist the hungry in our area.

If you'd like to participate, be there at 12:30 for pre-registration and pre-walk fun. There will be food, fun activities and lots of great prizes!

Get all the details about CROP walk on Glens Falls Region's events calendar. If you can't be there on Sunday, head to Cooper's Cave between 5:00 PM and 9:00 PM on May 1st and be sure to mention to your server that you are there to support CROP Walk.

This generous offer applies to in house dining only. No reservations or take out orders. Call Cooper's Cave if you'd like more details (518) 792-0007

Glens Falls Brewfest Brewers!

2013-04-27T15:22:02Z

Hey foodie friends! Glens Falls Brewfest is just a week away! I have my tickets. Did you get yours?

I found a list of the brewers they have lined up so far and wanted to share it with you. Read on for the list of area brewers the Glens Falls Brewfest has lined up so far. It's looking good!

Tickets are still available for the Glens Falls Brewfest at the Queensbury Hotel. Hope to see you all there!

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Here is the most up to date list I have seen.

Participating Glens Falls Brewfest Brewers:

Adirondack Pub & Brewery
Anchor Brewing Company
Angry Orchard
Blue Moon Brewing Company
Blue Point Brewing
Brewery Ommegang
Bronx Brewery
Brooklyn Brewery
Brown's Brewing
Butternuts Beer & Ale
Captain Lawrence
City Steam Brewery
Cooper's Cave Ale Company
Davidson Brothers Brewing Company
Dogfish Head Brewing
Druthers Brewing
Dundee Ales & Lagers
Duvel Brewery
Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Founders Brewing
Goose Island
Green Flash
Greenpoint Harbor
Harpoon Brewery
Ithaca Beer Company
Kona Brewing Co.
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Lake Placid Pub and Brewery
Leinenkugels
Long Trail Brewing Co
Magic Hat Brewing Company
McKenzie's Hard Cider
Narragansett Beer
Olde Burnside Brewing Company
Olde Saratoga Brewing Co.
Oskar Blues Brewery
Otter Creek Brewery
Palm Breweries
Peak Organic
Pyramid Breweries
Quimera Beer
Red Hook Ale Brewery
Samuel Adams
Saranac Brewery
Schmaltz Brewing
Shock Top Beers
Sierra Nevada
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Southampton Publick House
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Steadfast Brewing Company
Stone Brewing Company
Switchback Brewing Company
Tenth and Blake
Unibroue Brewing
Widmer Brothers
Wolaver's Organic Ales
Woodchuck Cider

Do you see a favorite on the list? Stay tuned. I'll update the list as more are added. Hope to see you all there!

Foodies Review: Ambrosia Diner In Queensbury

2013-04-19T22:56:56Z

Hey foodie friends! I've been meaning to write this review for a while now. I have paid a few visits to Ambrosia Diner in Queensbury since they opened.

To anyone who works at Ambrosia Diner, I hope this explains the crazy lady you saw snapping photos of everyone's food.

Some friends an I have been on a bit of a breakfast for dinner kick lately. One Wednesday evening we decided to check out Ambrosia Diner. None of us had ever been there and we knew we could get anything on their menu 24 hours a day. So... off we went!

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For our first visit:

I had the eggs benedict. They were served with homefries. Everything was perfect! I won't lie. I am picky about how my poached eggs are cooked, so to get a perfect from me is pretty impressive.
Jon ordered sausage & eggs. They have the big juicy breakfast sausage links that I LOVE! It looked delicious.
Gus had a veggie omelette. Holy cow! No shortage of veggies in that omelette! Looked fantastic and Gus said it was great! A side of homemade orned beef has rounded out that meal. We shared the hash and both agreed it was great.
John with an "h" also had an omelette. They are big and loaded with your fillings of choice!

Top it all off with a milkshake? Why not? Good time was had by all. Great service, great food, great friends. We'll be heading back for sure! Wednesday guys?

Dining Out For Life Celebrates 10th Anniversary!

2013-04-10T22:48:58Z

Hey foodie friends! Today I wanted to share with you this great event!

On April 25th, 2013, 82 Capital Region restaurants will participate in the Aids Council Of Northeastern NY's 10th annual Dining Out For Life event!

Restaurants from Columbia County all the way to the Canadian border will be participating in the fundraiser this year!

]]> There are restaurants from Albany, Clifton Park, Saratoga, Glens Falls, Lake George and many other towns and cities in Northeastern New York participating this year!

What is Dining Out For LIfe? I'm glad you asked!

All participating restaurants will donate 20% of their sales from breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails to the AIDS Council's Client Services Emergency Fund.Some have agreed to donate even more!

How can I participate in Dining Out For Life, you ask? Another great question! It's easy to participate and enjoy a great meal at an area restaurant.

Plan to have a meal out on April 25
Choose a participating restaurant
Call ahead to make a reservation (mention you are Dining Out For Life)
Grab your friends, families or coworkers and enjoy yourselves

Participating Restaurants Closest To Glens Falls:

R ecovery Sports Grill
751 Upper Glen Street | 518.745.0770 | (lunch, dinner & cocktails)
The Log Jam Restaurant
1484 US Route 9 | 518.798.1155 | (dinner & cocktails)
Rock Hill Bakehouse Café
19 Exchange Street | 518.615.0777 | (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
Olde Bryan Inn:
123 Maple Avenue | 518.587.2990 | (lunch, dinner & cocktails)
Longfellows Hotel, Restaurant and Conference Center
500 Union Avenue | 518.587.0108 | (dinner & cocktails)
Hattie's™ Restaurant
45 Phila Street | 518.584.4790 | (dinner)
The Wishing Well Restaurant
745 Saratoga Road | 518.584.7640 | (dinner)

For a full list of participating restaurants, please visit the Aids Council website.

Can't make it out to eat that day, but would like to help? Find out how to make a donation for the AIDS Council online!

Kudos to all the participating restaurants and the volunteers who will be on hand at the restaurants to answer questions.

Will you be Dining Out For Life on April 25th? I'd love to hear about your experience! Please leave a note here or post to our Facebook Page.

Corned Beef And Cabbage Recipes

2013-04-07T15:56:50Z

Hey foodie friends! Looking for recipes for corned beef? Here are 2 that worked well for us.

There are different cuts of corned beef. This year we tried an eye round and a brisket.

This is the eye round, which we did in the crock pot.

On low, it cooked for 6 hours and was amazingly tender corned beef!

]]> Easy Crock Pot Recipe For Eye Round Corned Beef Roast:

Chop onion & garlic and place in the crock pot.
Place corned beef in the crock pot.
Cover about half way with beef stock and some beer.
Cover crock pot and cook on low for about 6 hours
Gus did the cabbage steamed, but you can add it to the crock pot for the last couple of hours to cook through.

Corned Beef Brisket Recipe For The Oven:

Same as above, but brown the brisket fat side down in a pan first.
Place in a large roasting pan, fat side up
Cover half way with the beer and stock
Add the cabbage (cut into quarters)
Cook at 275 degrees for about 4 hours (until tender)

Note: Brisket is a fattier cut of meet. They can tend to be tough. Always slice against the grain to avoid having tough, chewy slices.

Glens Falls Brewfest!

2013-04-04T00:09:08Z

Hey foodie friends! Spring has sprung and that means it's about time for the Glens Falls Brewfest! Once again, it will be held at the Queensbury Hotel.

On Saturday, May 4th from 4:00 - 8:00, the Queensbury Hotel will host the 2013 Glens Falls Brewfest.

Last year there were over 50 area pubs and breweries involved and I have to say that some of the beers that I tasted really inspired me to use them in some of my dishes.

I love to use beer in stews, chili, soups, marinades and more! This is a fun event and I hope to see many of you there!

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Enter to win 4 tickets to this great event! here!

you can also buy tickets online!

Check out this video to see what you can expect if you attend the Glens Falls Brewfest.

I'm excited to get the list of pubs & breweries for this year! Stay tuned. The GlensFallsRegion.com events calendar will keep you posted.

Hope to see you at Brewfest 2013 at the Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls, NY!

Stuffed Artichokes Italian Style: Excellent Stuffing Recipe To Boot!

2013-03-30T22:08:55Z

Hey foodie friends! Today's recipe is one of my favorites. Stuffed artichokes Italian style.

The stuffing recipe for the artichokes is to die for! It would be great in any number of other dishes. It would be a great one to add your collection of recipes for chicken. I'm planning to use it again for my stuffed chicken breast recipe. Actually, I think it would be great in stuffed mushrooms too.

For now let me focus on this recipe. I'm excited to share it and I hope you try it and send me your thoughts.

]]> Let's Get Cooking:

In a large pot coated with olive oil, saute

Finely diced onion
3 cloves minced garlic
Dried oregano
Fresh parsley
1 small tin of quality anchovies (don't be afraid. They will dissolve and they add great flavor!)
Salt & pepper to taste (easy on the salt. It's easier to add at the end than take away)

Once the anchovies dissolve, add some chicken stock. Start with about a cup and reserve the rest. Add in bread stuffing mix (I like a seasoned stuffing blend). Grate in about 1/4 cup of Romano cheese and a little more fresh parsley. If stuffing seems too dry, add a little more stock.

Tip: Take a little of the stuffing mixture and saute it in a small pan so you can taste it before stuffing the artichokes. It's a great way to see if you need to adjust your seasonings. This is a great tip for making meatballs or meatloaf too.

Prepare your artichokes while your stuffing is cooling down and absorbing all the flavors.

Cut the stems off the artichokes. With kitchen shears or scissors, snip the pointy ends off the leaves. Open up the middle to make room for the stuffing.

Cook:

Generously stuff the artichokes. Add a good quality olive oil to the pot with the rest of your chicken stock, fresh parsley, garlic clove and a little salt & pepper.

Place the stuffed artichokes in the pot, cover and simmer on low for about 5 hours or until you can easily pluck off one of the leaves.

Serve in a pasta bowl with some of the broth in the bottom for dipping the artichoke leaves.

This is a fun dish to eat! It's like a yummy treasure hunt to get to the artichoke heart!

Try it, enjoy it and send me your feedback! Any questions, please feel free to leave a comment here, shoot me an email or comment on our Facebook page!

Chicken Coriander Tostadas

2013-03-29T17:21:20Z

Here is a great meal, which does not take a lot of time. If you are in a Mexican mood , this is a good go to dish. There are fresh veggies and the spices are always interesting!

]]> Makes 6 servings:

2 cans re fried beans
½ c Chopped onion
2 T. Oregano
2 Garlic cloves, chopped
2 t. Minced canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
1 t. Ground cumin
1 T. Olive oil
Pinch of salt
1 Fresh fennel bulb sliced thinly
6 T. Olive oil
4 Skinless boneless chicken breasts, pounded thin to ½ "
1/3 C Coriander seeds (toasted and chopped)
Sliced lettuce and avocado
Cilantro, chopped

Heat oil and saute onion, garlic, add beans and simmer for 10 min. on LOW. Season with S/P, if dry add 1 to 2 T. water.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Sear the fennel. Add S/P , til crisp and tender. Place in a bowl and keep hot.

Sprinkle corriander on chicken with S/P, work in batches and brown chicken til cooked through on both sides. Place on cutting board and slice against the grain.

Assembly:

Top each warm tostada with beans, fennel, chicken and cilantro. Add lettuce chopped on the side with a slice of avocado. Serve with lime wedges and enjoy!

Saint Patrick's Day Corned Beef And Cabbage Dinner!

2013-03-14T00:40:38Z

Sláinte foodie friends! My mother taught me that Gaelach Irish Toast when I was just a kid. It means "To Your Health!" Now, you may not know that corned beef and cabbage is good for you, but it is!

Like with any other meat that is high in fat, you should watch your portions, but a typical 3 ounce serving is only about 210 calories. Cabbage has lots of vitamin C and is high in folic acid. It has lots of fiber, so it helps to fill you! If you have potatoes with your dinner, leave the skins on for even more nutrients.

]]>

There are different ways to cook a corned beef. My preferred method is braising. I sear the roast in my cast iron pan to brown on all sides.

Place the meat fat side up in a roasting pan. Add the seasoning pack that comes with the roast or blend your own. Cover about half way with stock and some beer.

Cut the cabbage into wedges. Make sure you cut out the core. Place around the corned beef and cook.

Cook low and slow in the oven covered. Cook time will depend on the size of the roast. Read the package for approximate cooking time. Meat is finished when it is fork tender.

I use the leftover meat to make corned beef hash. Leave a comment below if you would like the recipe.

Erin go bragh! Have a great Saint Patrick's Day! Please enjoy responsibly.

21st Annual Bands 'N Beans In Lake George, NY!

2013-02-24T14:43:59Z

Hey foodie friends! As we celebrate the final weekend of the Lake George Winter Carnival, it's time to start thinking spring for me! One annual event that really gets me feeling spring fever is Bands 'N Beans at Roaring Brook Ranch in Lake George!

Bands 'N Beans is a great local event that combines 2 of my favorite things; great live music from numerous local bands and a chili cooking contest!

]]> live music from numerous local bands and sample chili from over 40 local restaurants and individuals. You'll be able to vote for your favorites from both individuals and restaurants.

Our neighbor Samantha's Cafe will be among the local restaurants competing in the chili competition! The competition is solid this year with The Log Jam, Olde Post Grille, Ranchero's Steakhouse And Cantina and many more Glens Falls Area restaurants on the roster!

The 2013 music lineup includes Stony Creek Band, Rattail Jimmy, Rich Ortiz & Friends and more!

Never been to Bands 'N Beans? Check out this video to see what you can expect. Bands 'N Beans is a benefit for the Lake George Arts Project, so it is really a win win!

Gone Fishin': A New Favorite To Add To Our Mahi Mahi Recipes!

2013-02-19T21:44:25Z

Hey foodie friends! Can you believe that Gus whipped this dish up in our suite during our Fort Lauderdale vacation after his day of deep see fishing?

He landed a huge wahoo and a beautiful mahi mahi! Seafood fresh from the sea does not smell "fishy", so he was able to prepare it in our suite without offending anyone. It was a great night on the balcony enjoying a drink (or 2) and some great seafood straight from the sea!

]]> Gus got back with his catch cleaned and filleted by the charter crew. The wahoo was great sushi style as well as simply poached with a little beer. For the mahi mahi, he gathered some lemon & lime slices as well as fresh chopped parsley from the hotel's chef Chris. Borrowed a little Chipotle Cholula hot sauce, salt & pepper from our favorite ocean-front bar next door and bought a small can of diced tomatoes with chilies from the convenient store down the block.

Mahi was seasoned with salt & pepper. He did a quick saute and deglazed with a bit of beer, lemon and lime. Removed the fish, added the tomato with a dash hot sauce. Chipotle Cholula hot sauce is our favorite. It has a great flavor with just the right amount of heat. He cooked it down to blend the flavors and thicken the sauce and poured it over the mahi. A little fresh lemon, lime and fresh parsley for garnish and it was perfect!

Thank you to my awesome hubby for a great Florida vacation and as always an amazing meal!

Foodies Review: Downtown City Tavern

2013-02-14T01:06:33Z

Thank you Jon Volks! What a great birthday lunch at the Downtown City Tavern! I'm pretty sure I ate most of this pizza. I saw the egg on top and was a bit unsure at first. One bite and I was hooked! I DO like egg on my pizza!

If you're looking for a new place to eat in Downtown Glens Falls, Downtown City Tavern is worth a try for sure!

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Have you tried the new Downtown City Tavern? What did you think? Delicious, right?

Favorite Finds: La Choy Orange Ginger Sauce

2013-02-08T23:04:46Z

We're thrilled to be introducing a new series called "Favorite Finds!" Here we'll be showcasing products that we just love and can't live without. (And we encourage you to join in as well!) Without any further ado... let's get started.

Today, we'll be talking about La Choy Orange Ginger Sauce. It's a fairly new product on the market, and I. Just. Love. It.

The refreshing flavors of zesty orange, fresh ginger, and tangy soy make this sauce so delicious. The best part of all, it's a super quick, easy complement to almost any dish! Add it to your chicken, mix it in with shrimp stir fry or even drizzle it on your side of veggies to take them up a notch. I personally like to glaze my salmon with it - try it, it's amazing!

You can find it in the Asian section of your supermarket. Cost is around $2.99 which goes a long way!

Here are some ideas:

]]> Orange Ginger Chicken Stir Fry

(Tip: Add a little soy sauce to thin it out if you'd like.)

Source: www.readyseteat.com

Orange Ginger Shrimp Stir Fry

Source: pandainn.com

Duck with Orange Ginger Sauce

Source: http://dimsumq.blogspot.com

Salmon Glazed With Orange Ginger Sauce Over Brown Rice

Source: www.cambeberu.com

Have you used La Choy Orange Ginger Sauce before? What do you put it on? We'd love to hear from you in the comment section below! Until next time, happy eating! And as they say in Korea (it's only fitting here since we're talking about Asian sauce), "Masha-Kay-Tu-Sayo!"

-Amberly