The Daily Star’s Guide to
Upstate
FARE Taste of Summer 2021
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK LOCALLY THIS SUMMER
COOPERSTOWN:
ä Mel's at 22 ä Origins Cafe at Carefree Gardens ä The Tap House at Brewery Ommegang
DINE LOCALLY
GILBERTSVILLE:
ä Empire House
GRAND GORGE:
ä Sundaes Restaurant & Tasty Freeze JEFFERSON:
ä Mill Pond Inn & Tavern MILFORD:
ä Cooperstown Brewing Co. MORRIS:
ä Scotty’s Pizzeria & Restaurant MT. UPTON:
ä The Old Mill NORWICH:
ä Funk-e-BBQ ONEONTA:
ä ä ä ä ä ä
Bella Michael’s Restaurant Brooks’ House of BBQ Feel Good Smoothie Bar and Café Sal’s Pizzeria & Restaurant Tiger Asian Cuisine Tokyo Tavern Japanese Cuisine
SHERBURNE:
ä Bullthistle Brewing Company, LLC ä Columbus Public House WEST ONEONTA:
ä Roadhouse 23 Restaurant and Bar RITAE | PIXABAY.COM
3 great reasons to dine locally Whether you opt for table service, takeout or delivery, ordering dishes from your neighborhood restaurant can be beneficial. Here are three reasons to enjoy your next meal from a local eatery. 1. TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Small family-run restaurants rely on people like you to prosper. When you choose to order from the pizzeria around the corner, take your partner to the bistro down the road or hire a local caterer for your next event, you help ensure the businesses in your neighborhood continue to thrive. 2. TO GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK Restaurants can offer you a well-deserved 2
The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
break when you don’t know what to cook or simply want a night off from washing the dishes. The opportunity to sample various types of cuisine and witness the passion of local chefs can also rekindle your love of cooking and inspire you to make meals using seasonal ingredients. 3. TO SATISFY EVERYONE AT THE TABLE Ordering from a restaurant is a simple way to guarantee the entire family gets to eat what they want. Even restaurants that specialize in a particular type of cuisine offer varied menus. There’s sure to be something for everyone. With so many advantages, there’s no need to wait for the next special occasion to treat your family to a lively night out or a relaxing night in.
Home of the largest indoor charcoal BBQ pit in the east! Available for Curbside, Carryout and Catering. Specializing in our famous BBQ chicken, pork ribs and pulled pork. Order online or through our IOS & Android App! BrooksBBQ.com for the Brooks family
BARBECUE IS NOT JUST A BUSINESS, IT’S A WAY OF
LIFE
SINCE 1951
Hours: Sun, Tues, Wed and Thurs-11am to 7pm, Friday and Saturday-11am to 8pm
SUNDAES Restaurant & Tasty Freeze Dine In or Take Out
Order Online! Scan this image with your smart phone
Homemade Desserts
36 soft Ice Cream flavors
Milkshakes
Wraps
29 Hard Ice Cream Flavors
Best Burgers in Catskills
36422 State Hwy 23 Grand Gorge, NY 12434 (607)588-8808
Ice Cream Sundaes & More!!
4
The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
THE TAP HOUSE AT BREWERY OMMEGANG
CAFÉ • MERCANTILE • PATIO • TASTINGS VISIT WEBSITE FOR HOURS & INFORMATION
6 5 6 C O U N T Y H I G H WAY 3 3 , C O O P E R S T O W N , N Y
6 07 - 5 4 4 - 18 0 0
W W W. O M M E G A N G . C O M
ORDER ONLINE
TokyoOneonta.com 607-431-9999 OPEN FOR INSIDE DINING!!! 211 Main Street, Oneonta, NY 13820
Store Hours:Mon - Sat: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Sunday: 12:00 PM - 09:00 PM The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
5
Specials Every Night. Fresh Seafood Tasty Cocktails Gourmet Burgers, Steaks and Sandwiches Vegan Options Available 22 Chestnut St. Cooperstown, NY 13326
607-322-4012 www.melsat22.com
Tuesday to Saturday Lunch 11AM - 3PM • Dinner 4PM - 9PM CLOSED SUNDAY/MONDAY
Outdoor dining for every taste Summer is an ideal time to dine outdoors. Here are two factors to consider when looking for a patio. LOCATION When it comes to al fresco dining, the location of the restaurant or bar is key. If you want to people-watch, choose a spot with a patio on a busy street or plaza. If you prefer a more tranquil setting, opt for a less central location with a view of the water or mountains. For privacy or a romantic dinner, book a table on a quiet rooftop patio. CUISINE Many restaurants and bars offer outdoor seating during the summer and your menu options are virtually limitless. To make the most of the nice weather, sit down for a full meal with your family and friends that includes
Must-try wine pairings
appetizers, mains and desserts. However, if you only have time for a short break, plenty of establishments will allow you to pop in for just a drink, a coffee or a quick bite. This summer, enjoy the fresh air and try new dishes on the patio of a restaurant, bar or coffee shop in your area.
Pairing wine with food is an art form and choosing the right combination will enliven the inherent flavors of both the meal and the wine. Here are a few suggested pairings. ITALIAN CUISINE A dry Chianti is the perfect accompaniment for Italian dishes with tomato sauce like traditional pizzas and pasta bolognese. If you’re enjoying a dish with pesto or seafood, choose a light- or medium-bodied white like a Soave or pinot grigio. For something with cream sauce or a lot of cheese, try an oaked chardonnay. MEXICAN CUISINE The bright, spicy notes of Mexican food are well suited to fresh and crisp wines with lots of acidity. Sauvignon blanc goes nicely with tortilla and salsa-based dishes. Pair the smoky, rich flavors of Mexican barbacoa (meat slow-cooked over an open fire) and chipotle with a light and acidic red wine like a pinot noir or a gamay. SZECHUAN CUISINE Bolder and spicier than other types of Chinese cuisine, Szechuan food goes well with off-dry white wines like rieslings and gewürztraminers. Generally, spicy foods pair best with chilled white wines, so save your red for another meal. When it comes to pairing wine with food, it’s hard to generalize. Fortunately, many restaurants employ a sommelier to help you choose your wine. If you’re dining at home, enlist the help of a specialist from a liquor or wine store to help you find a good pairing.
5 common types of
dessert wine Dessert wines are a delicious way to conclude a meal, either on their own or paired with food. Here are five of the most common types. 1. ICE WINE Making ice wine, or eiswein as it’s called in Germany, involves allowing grapes to freeze on the vine. The fruit gets harvested and pressed while still frozen so that the juice released is concentrated and sweet. The best ice wines are crisp, intense and elegant. 2. NOBLE ROT This style of dessert wine is highly prized. To make it, dehydrated grapes covered in the fungus Botrytis cinereal are carefully harvested and pressed. The most famed noble rots are Sauternes from France. 3. LATE HARVEST Making this type of wine involves leaving grapes on the vine until they are extremely ripe and sweet. This wine has higher sugar and alcohol levels than other wines and a more complex aroma. 4. DRIED GRAPE WINE The traditional way to make this type of wine is to let the harvested grapes dry on straw mats. In some regions, however, they’re dried right on the vine. In either case, the resulting wine is imbued with flavors of cooked fruit, honey and spice. The most well-known type of wine in this category is Amorone della Valpolicella. 5. FORTIFIED WINE This variety of wine has a distilled sprit added to it — usually brandy — either during or after fermentation. These wines can be sweet or dry and contain more alcohol than other dessert wines. Common types include port, sherry, grappa and vermouth. If you’re pairing your dessert wine with food, aim for balance and flavors that complement rather than overpower each other. The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
7
6173 NY-12, Norwich, NY 13815
Tuesday - Thursday 11:00 - 18:00 Friday 11:00 - 19:00 Saturday 12:00 - 19:00 Sunday & Monday CLOSED
feel Good SMoothie Bar and Caft 4 Clinton Plaza Dr Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 386-4079
Smoothies A�af Bowls Juices Breakfast Buddha Bowls Wraps & Paninis Entrees 8
The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
Open
Monday: 10am-Spm Tuesday-Friday: 10am-7pm Saturday: 11am-7pm
The Old Mill is open for its 75th Season!
SAL’S PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT
ONEONTA VOTED BEST OF THE BEST PIZZA 11 YEARS IN A ROW! Oneonta’s Oldest Family Owned Pizzeria Pizza • Dinners • Hot & Cold Subs • Salads Burgers & Wings • Appetizers & Soup Come In & Check Out Our Vegetarian and Gluten Free Menu!
Now Serving Alcohol! Catering Available! 285 Main Street, Oneonta, NY
Free local delivery! • 607-432-6766 The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
9
16 BEERS ON TAP! 4 miles from Cooperstown 20 minutes from Oneonta! -
607-286-9330 110 River Street Milford www.cooperstownbrewing.com
Tiger Asian Cuisine Sushi
CLASSIC SUSHI ROLL SPECIALS All the time!
195 Main St. Oneonta, NY 13820 Order Online at TEL. 607.441.3396 ◊ 607.441.3397 tigerasiancuisineoneonta.com Takeout and Delivery* available! Open 7 Days a Week *Within 2 miles*
10
The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
How to pair beer with food The craft beer boom has inspired millions of people to look at beer through a new lens. Once relegated to backyard barbecues and ballgames, beer is now served alongside gourmet meals. Much like the right wine can make a meal taste even better, beer can bring out the flavors of food, making it an ideal complement to anything from steak to seafood to salad. The Brewers Association is an American trade group whose membership consists of more than 5,400 brewers, suppliers and retailers. The group recommends beer lovers follow a threepronged approach to matching beer and food. It’s worth noting the BA does not view this approach as a 1-2-3 process, meaning beer lovers need not follow the steps in order to perfect their pairing skills. 1. Match strength with strength. The BA recommends pairing strongly flavored foods with assertive beers and delicate foods with delicate beers. For example, a relatively low alcohol witbier should pair well with light seafood like steamed mussels. Beer lovers who enjoy strong barley wines, which are typically 10 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) or higher, should find that a strong cheese or dessert matches up well with this overpowering style. 2. Find harmonies. The BA notes that beer-food combinations typically resonate most effectively when they share some common flavor or aroma element. The BA points to how the deep, roasted flavors of an imperial stout often pair nicely with chocolate truffles. 3. Consider sweetness, bitterness, carbonation, heat (spice), and richness. The BA recommends that beer lovers look to take advantage of the specific and predictable ways that certain qualities of food and beer interact with each other. For example, malty sweetness can cool the heat, making a hoppy beer with plenty of malt a good choice to pair with spicy food. Pairing the right beer with food can make any night out on the town that much better.
Pair like a pro Want to pair your favorite craft beers like an old pro at home or at your local pub with an extensive tap list? Consider these pairing recommendations, courtesy of the Brewers Association. • Witbier: Lighter seafood dishes like steamed mussels • Blonde ale: Light food, including chicken, salads and salmon • India Pale Ale: Strong spicy food and bold, sweet desserts like carrot cake • Double/Imperial IPA: Smoked beef brisket, grilled lamb and southern chicken-fried steak • Amber/red ale: Chicken, seafood, burgers, and spicy cuisine • Porter: Barbecue, sausages, roasted meat, and blackened fish • Sweet or Oatmeal stout: Rich, spicy food, including barbecued beef and Szechuan cuisine • Classic pilsner: Light food such as chicken, salads and salmon • American wheat ale: Very light food, including salads, sushi and vegetable dishes • Abbey dubbel: Barbecue, meat stews, and a thick, hearty steak Content for Upstate Fare provided in part by Newspaper Toolbox and Metro Creative Services.
The ABCs of IPAs Of the myriad varieties of craft beer, none are more popular than IPAs. Here’s what’s so special about this trendy brew. WHAT IS AN IPA? To put it simply, an India pale ale is a beer made with a ton of hops. The abundance of this flavoring agent provides a distinct bitterness, which is usually complemented by citrusy, fruity, floral, earthy or piney notes — or some combination of these flavors. There are a number of IPA types, but the two most popular in North America are East Coast IPAs and West Coast IPAs. WEST COAST IPAS These beers are known for being intensely, unapologetically bitter. Washington is hops central, and West Coast brewers love to load up their brews with this state’s diverse and flavorful hop varieties. In the Northwest, the beers have earthy and piney notes. But as you move further south, fruity, citrusy flavorings rule the day. EAST COAST IPAS These brews are more well-rounded than their West Coast cousins. They have a stronger malt component, which balances out the hops, and the bitter notes aren’t as dominant. The quintessential East Coast IPA is the New England style IPA, which is cloudy and has a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Typically, this beer’s flavor profile is enhanced with citrusy notes. If you’re a newcomer to IPAs, it’s best to order an East Coast IPA for your first pint. This way you won’t be too overwhelmed by the hops. Cheers! The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
11
Live Music Fridays & Saturdays, Piano, Jazz, Cello, Classic Rock & more Contact us to book a table, rent a room, or host a party for any occasion! Reservations Highly Recommended
BRING THIS AD AND RECEIVE EMPIRE DOLLARS
Hours: Wednesday - sunday 5pm to late 136 (old 32) marion ave. (HWy 51) • Gilbertsville, ny 13776 WWW.empireHousefinedininG.com
for restaurant and Hotel reservations please contact us The Empire House @ 607-783 2859 or text: 310-292-4660
Tuesday - Friday 3pm - 9pm Saturday 1pm - 9pm Closed Sunday/Monday
Horse Riders Welcome Takeout Available
607-847-8422 • columbuspublichouse.com 4301 State Route 80, Sherburne The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
13
6 ways to be kind to food servers Throughout the pandemic, many hardworking individuals have helped to keep the world moving forward in an uncertain time. Though many food servers have temporarily or permanently lost their jobs during the pandemic, many more have continued to work. Restaurants are vital components of local communities, serving as more than just somewhere to enjoy a great meal. Restaurants are gathering places and have helped people get out of the house during the age of social distancing. Servers are at the heart of the restaurant industry, and there are various ways to show them how much their efforts are appreciated. 1. LEAVE A SIZABLE TIP. Etiquette suggests customers tips servers anywhere between 15 and 20 percent. Because servers today are increasingly putting their health on the line, why not increase that tip to 25 or 30 percent? Such tips can provide some financial relief to servers whose earnings have been adversely affected by the pandemic and a bigger tip lets servers know their efforts are appreciated. 2. WRITE A THANK-YOU NOTE. Jot a few words of encouragement on the back of the bill or receipt. If time allows, thank the server in person for a job well done. 3. DON’T FORGET SCHOOL STAFF. While certain schools are still serving breakfast and lunch to students, others have had to forego in-person dining at school due to local regulations and capacity restrictions. However, food servers and other staff may still be distributing food to those who qualify for financial assistance. Food services is often an overlooked job in the school system and parents can offer small tokens of appreciation to these workers.
4. BE COURTEOUS AND KIND. Food servers experience all sorts of personalities during a typical workday. Being kind and respectful brighten up a server’s day. 5. BE A TIDY CUSTOMER. Do your best to leave a tidy table behind when you finish your meal. Collect trash and dispose of it properly. Try to be as neat as possible, stacking dishes and preventing items from falling on the floor so servers and bussers have an easier go of it. 6. FOLLOW RESTAURANT RULES. Policies regarding in-person dining and mask usage vary depending on local laws. Follow the rules so you don’t put servers’ health at risk. Food servers have faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic. Customers can do many things to show their servers how much their efforts are appreciated.
From your house, to our house… Live mus ic, karaoke, open mic nigh t, line dancing and paint & s scheduled ips weekly!
Come out y and enjo d, great foo nd drinks, a ment! n i a t r e t n e Sunday 12pm-4pm
HOURS: Monday-Friday 4pm-close
Saturday 12pm- close
Open To Baseball Families call us today for reservations! Follow us on:
Phone: 607-353-7056 Check out our event calendar on our website!
WWW.ROADHOUSE23.COM 14
The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
We provide catering and host private parties too!
O R I G I N S CAFEATCAR E FR E E GAR D E N S | C O O PE R STO W N , NY O R I G I NFSACRAMF -ETA E CGH A ,RDDI ENNNSE R +| S P ECCOIO OT- TCAABRLEEFLRUE N A PL E ER V SETNOTW S N, NY F A R M - T O - T A BW L EWLW U.NOCRHI G , D NAEFRE +. OSRPG ECIAL EVENTS I NI N SC WWW.ORIGINSCAFE.ORG
The Daily Star’s Guide to Upstate Fare ~ Taste of Summer 2021
15