A look back on 2011: The Roadfood Year That Was (UPDATED 02/09/12)

WOW. 2011 was a great Roadfood year for you. can't wait to see more.

With my running coach and his wife, I headed up to Woodstock, Vermont at the beginning of June to run the Covered Bridges Half Marathon.  As fate would have it, we stopped for gas at a station right next door to the Roadfood reviewed Donut Dip.  Honestly, the three of us were in fried cakey ecstasy!  As many of you know, I have a great love for the Doughnut Plant here in NYC, but for the first time I finally understood why so many others (especially New Englanders) prefer old fashioned cake donuts and I think the ones from the Dip might just be my new favorites.  Plus, how can I NOT love a place that paraphrases the "Bard" on their boxes? 




 
After checking in at our motel, we walked into the town of Woodstock and found another RF spot, F.H. Gillingham & Sons, a 125-year old general store that was just a delight to walk through.  Lots of local foods and Vermont based products.  I wish I had brought a cooler with me to fill! 




 
Woodstock even has their own "town crier" in the middle of town listing all of the goings on.  And the Middle Bridge covered bridge was really neat and I was even able to run across it as part of the race the next morning.  I really felt as though I had stepped back in time for a few days and I look forward to going back there this coming June.



 
As a reward for finishing the race (in addition to the hand carved medallion), a local food truck, the Cupcake Queen, was giving out free cupcakes and this yellow cake with maple butter cream frosting topped with chocolate covered toffee was just what I needed!  After a short nap, dinner with family and friends was at the now shuttered (Hurricane Irene) White Cottage Snack Bar.  Lobster rolls, hot dogs, onion rings, fried clams and a scallop plate sided with many laughs made a for a terrific end to our stay in Vermont. 









 
We realized that Frank Pepe's was not meant to be on this trip as they would be closed before we reached New Haven, but after a few very helpful texts from Chris Ayers we found ourselves tucking into some delicious late night pie at Pizza at the Brick Oven in what seemed to be a slightly dicey neighborhood but well worth the trip.  Thanks Chris!  The cheese slices only whetted our appetites for the excellent Clams Casino (clams, bacon, garlic, and basil) pie we ordered.  Though we all agreed that next time we'd ask them to keep it in the oven a bit longer to get that blistered char we love so much.  Washed down with a Foxon Park Gassosa lemon soda (which I think is my new favorite) it was just what we needed to get us through the rest of the late night drive back to NYC. 




 
In the next chapter, back to the races for some regional specialties in Central NY, plus a trip to New Haven and Boston...

Wow!!!

Darn You Billy
 
I am starvin at here at the horspital and you are killing me!!
 

CK, I know what you mean. I was in the hospital about 3 weeks ago but fortunately it was only for less than 24 hours and 2 meals. I hope you are in for nothing serious. 
 
billyboy, I see why you run. I would have to in order to eat what you do!
 
 

As many Central NYers know, the second weekend in July is Boilermaker weekend, the annual running of the classic 15K Road Race since 1977.  I made my way up to the Rome/Utica area to run my second year in a row, spend some quality time with family and friends and sample some regional fare.  I started out at Nicky Doodles in Rome with my family for a Doodle Dog (grilled Hofmann German Frank, mustard, chopped onions and a spicy cinnamon-y chili sauce on a buttered and toasted split-top bun) and a bbq ham sandwich, a taste of my youth.  Both of these were excellent and I also had the good fortune to run into my former elementary school principal and his wife whom I had not seen in years.  The real surprise for me though, an incredible ice cream sundae with the longest name I have yet heard of:  V.V.S.F.F.A. (Vernon Verona Sherrill Future Farmers of America) Pure Maple Syrup Sundae.  Say THAT three times fast!  The shot of pure, locally tapped maple syrup and the crushed honey roasted peanuts on top made for one very happy Billyboy!




 
 

now you are just being plain old MEAN 

The day before the Boilermaker my friends and I headed to the Expo to pick up our race bibs and goody bags.  However, I made a beeline for Roma Sausage & Deli before going anywhere else so I could pick up one of their amazing tomato pies which, sad to say, between the three of us, had the life expectancy of an enemy combatant in a Chuck Norris film.  Such is life.  :)   




 
After getting my bib and goofing off a bit I stopped at Holland Farms Bakery & Deli for some half moon cookies (another local specialty) to bring to the pre-race pasta carb load dinner with my friends (below) and we met up after the race to share some beers at the brewery where the race ends and cheer to another successful run.  The post-race meal was a no-brainer, bbq sandwiches, Mexi-Dogs and fries at Voss BAR B Q!  








 
Since my family was having a cookout for us later that evening, Doug, Marisa and I stopped by Holland Farms again to pick up more half moons (classic chocolate and carrot cake versions) as well as a divine chocolate cream pie of which I indulged on many occasions. 



 
And I was able to score a sweet deal on this Roadfood-y/running t-shirt!

Right around mid-July I found myself in Hackensack, NJ within walking distance of White Manna.  Alright, who am I kidding?  Once I knew I was heading there, I mapped out how long it would take me to walk there and had written down directions a week before!  Three burgers and three with cheese and sauteed onions were just wonderful.  Beefy, hot, gooey...  The place is a little closet and watching the woman behind the counter go through her routine over and over was mesmerizing.  I don't know if I could have kept all of the orders straight.  What really surprised me though was the strawberry milkshake.  Great flavor and my straw was clogged with pieces of strawberry a few times.  I didn't expect that they would put such an emphasis on it and it was a pleasant surprise.  






 
I had been reading about The Frying Dutchman frites truck and as it happened they were parked a few blocks from my apartment so one warm July day I walked over to give them a try.  I had hoped to find a spot that had frites as good as Pommes Frites but had failed to find a place I liked until this day.  The frites were just a bit greasy (a good thing), crispy on the outside and creamy inside and they offered half & half (belgian frites & sweet potato).  What also sets them apart are the incredibly creative sauces they make.  The one I had with mine was the "Truffle Shuffle" (love the nod to "The Goonies"!), a white truffle and parmesan cream sauce which was rich beyond belief!  The owner asked why I was taking pictures and when I told him about Roadfood, he had the other guy let me try whatever sauces I wanted so I checked out the Yoshi Sauce (red chili, garlic, soy and agave aioli), Big Kahuna (caramelized pineapple & green peppercorn aioli), Guava Lava (Caribbean guava ketchup), Locked N' Loaded (sour cream, applewood smoked bacon and New York State sharp cheddar cheese) and The Big Apple Butter (cinnamon maple apple butter).  All of them were outstanding and there are many more I want to try.  Southern Supper (chicken sausage & mushroom gravy)?  Seriously?  Who has been reading my diary again?!  They seemed liked really nice people taking a classic and putting their own spin on it.  




 
In May 2011 I turned 40 years old and my friend and coach, Doug (a die hard Yankees fan, no less!) took me to see the Red Sox at Fenway park as a gift.  We had a few hours to spare so we took a detour to New haven for our first taste of the original Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana.  While there was a bit of a wait outside and after we ordered, none of that mattered after the first bite.  I LOVE NY pizza but this was on another level entirely.  The quality of the clams on the white clam pie and the bacon on our other pie were top notch.  And they really do take a "less is more" approach and don't try to overcrowd it with toppings.  What still haunts my dreams though is that crust.  Oh, that crust!!  Bready, yeasty, chewy in the middle and becoming more and more crispy towards the edge until it is almost like a cracker and those charred, bubbly edges?  Stick a fork in me, I'm done!



After reading the Finding Boston's Roadfood Gems report from ayersian, I knew we'd need to make a stop at KickAss Cupcakes in Somerville and we thought they would make a nice treat for the ladies when we got back to NYC.  The selection was great and the Chocolate Fluffernutter and the Caramel Mochiatto were the two big winners of our 6 person tasting group.  I love the idea of the Kittycakes (the last picture) but unfortunately my cats thought of them more as toys which resulted in most of them ending up in the vacuum cleaner!  




Watching my favorite team defeat Seattle while taking in one of my favorite nighttime views in New England!




 
We made our way up to the North Shore to the RF reviewed Nick's Famous Roast Beef in Beverly, MA.  This place was full of young students getting their roast beef fix late at night.  While the fries, onion rings and chocolate shake were ok, the real reason to come here is the Super Beef sandwich.  Tender, pink roast beef, piled high on a toasted onion roll.  I had mine with thin sliced red onion, peppery bbq sauce and horseradish sauce.  What a beautiful, tasty mess!  A true taste of the North Shore.  And the collage below features many Nick's fans holding up Nick's bumper stickers all over the globe.



 
More to come...after the jump!
 
 

billyboy, Great food choices and pictures.  Looking at the picture from Voss', I could taste the tangy BBQ sauce
 
 

Billy, Great look back at a great year of good eating.........is the Tomato pie the same as the Sicilian style pizza ????????.........

Thanks, PNWCHEF!  Nope.  Tomato pie may look similar but it is definitely different than a Sicilian.  The crust is similar is taste and texture to focaccia bread.  And it is only topped by tomato sauce (can be cooked with herbs or uncooked crushed tomatoes) and a liberal coating of parmesan and/or romano cheese.  Usually found at Italian bakeries, pizzerias, children's birthday parties and office parties across Central NY.

Great job,Billyboy...and that's from a Yankee fan of 65 years!!

Having some free time one day in late July I walked down to the newest outpost of Luke's Lobster in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan.  I love their motto on the awning: "from ME to you" and the lobster claw salt and pepper shakers are but one of the many nods to Maine in this small shack.  They certainly did deliver the goods with a curious fusion of a Maine and a Connecticut style roll.  It's chilled lobster meat bound with a bit of mayo and a small ladle of melted herb butter is poured on top.  The buttered and toasted split-top bun was on point.  The Maine Root brand sodas (especially the awesome Blueberry flavor) are a nice touch as well.  A taste of New England for this former resident of Boston.  I know it can't replace eating on a deck overlooking the water, but it'll do.




 
In the first few days of August, Chris & Amy (ayersian) came down to the city once again and we plotted out some tasty eats all over Manhattan.  Nothing says breakfast in NYC like bagels from Ess-A-Bagel in Midtown East.  A longish line, a few bagels with cream cheese (I can never resist the everything with raisin-walnut cream cheese!) and a semi-hidden waterfall park in which to enjoy them (thanks for the tip, Brooke!) made for a great start to our day.



 
A couple of blocks away was Melt Shop, a fairly new grilled cheese place.  Situated in a sunken courtyard right near the subway station, one can admire the buildings above.  The Zapp's Voodoo chips were a tangy, slightly spicy joy and that Buttermilk Fried Chicken sandwich (with jalapeno jack, red cabbage slaw and Melt sauce) was just insanely good.  I thought about heading back later that day for another one!  



 
A subway ride up to Harlem and a bit of a walk found us in front of the RF reviewed Patsy's Pizzeria.  The slices at the walk-up window were incredible.  The crust, sauce and cheese all tasted top notch and at $1.75, a real deal.  As if that wasn't enough, we encountered a NYC police detective walking away as we approached.  He took one look at us and said, "Ahh, da best!" as he wiped the crumbs from his mouth.  And all during our walk between the subway there really seemed be a sense of community with the people I saw and it brought a smile to my face.  




 
Heading back downtown our next stop was at the Lexington Candy Shop.  A soda fountain/luncheonette that has been an Upper East Side fixture for decades, they still make their own malts, egg creams, chocolate sodas, etc right at the counter.  This place is full of sincere charm and really nice people working there.  The chocolate malt I had was no slouch either.  And I couldn't pass up a chance to take a picture of the Far Side comic strip they had posted in their restroom!





 
By this point we were all getting full and could only manage to take in some ice cream at il laboratorio del gelato (right across the street from the classic NY deli, Katz's).  I know, I know, "champagne problems", right?  Not the cheapest gelato I've ever had but the quality of the ingredients and the taste made it worth every penny.  Free samples help narrow down the choices.  The maple, chocolate hazelnut, and tarragon were all creamy and yet their base flavors really shone through.  The yellow watermelon sorbet tasted like an ice cold hunk of fresh watermelon.  Really a great day with Chris & Amy and I look forward to many more in 2012!



 
Just a few more months to go...
 
 

This just gets better and better...wow, Patsy's looks like the deal of NYC!!!!...The real thing at a real good price!!

Everything bagel w. raisin-walnut cream cheese...how did you come up with that combo?

cavandre, that has been my "go-to" bagel combo for years.  Ever since I was a kid I've had a thing for salty/sweet combinations.

My friend Brooke and I spent an afternoon exploring the relatively new High Line Park in the Chelsea area of Manhattan.  A really cool park developed on abandoned elevated subway tracks it offers some amazing view of the Hudson River, tall buildings and the city below without the traffic and pedestrian congestion of the streets below.  And there are plenty of relaxing places to sit, enjoy something to eat and just people watch.  Food vendors are starting to set up shop i the park and we found an outpost of People's Pops.  The rhubarb shave ice I bought was cool and very refreshing on a hot summer day. 






 
Towards the northern end of the park we found a food courts, an outdoor ballroom dance class in session as well as some food trucks such as a lobster roll truck, pizza truck and ice cream sandwiches truck.  The one that really caught our eyes was the La Bella Torte dessert truck.  The owner/operator was a man who had left his former profession as a union plumber to do something different.  His wife does the baking and he operates the truck.  We talked with him for a bit and he had some great stories from his life.  The cannoli was really good too as was the S'Mores cake pop.  



 
While I haver never visited Green Acres Orchards near Craryville, NY, I felt compelled to post the pie pictures because well, it's PIE and I have eaten pies from there on a few occasions and have been blown away every single time.  The Apple Raspberry pie was chock full a fresh fruit in a buttery crust but the Peach Pie was the pie of my dreams!



 
I spent another day exploring a some Roadfood eats near the Madison Square Park area of Manhattan.  The estimable RF-reviewed institution that is Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop was a narrow hallway of a place and like a throwback in time.  The egg/tuna salad combo sandwich caught me eye and turned out be be very fresh tasting and jut moist enough and the cherry-lime rickey with which I washed it down was freshly made.  I love that they make the kind of food that they make and you either get it or you don't.





 
Hill Country Barbeque * Market now has an offshoot called Hill Country Chicken just a few block away offering up fried chicken, fried pimento cheese sandwiches, and biscuits just to name a few things.  My reason for stopping here on this days was to sample some of their many pies.  I figured Buffetbuster would appreciate the seeing the "Pie Happy Hour" concept making it's way to the Big Apple!  I picked up a couple of 3" Pie Cups which were between $3 - $3.50 (depending on the kind of pie).  The Whiskey Buttermilk was a silky custard and very good but the Cowboy pie was so rich I almost wished I had ordered a glass of milk with it.  It was exactly like a Magic Bar or Seven-Layer Bar in a buttery graham cracker crust that my mom used to make when I was a kid.  Definitely heading back to try more pies on that menu.  








 
Up next on the year's end RF Channel...back to CNY in October for some races and a tomato pies and pusties smackdown!
 

oooohh, those pies!!!!!

My best Homer impression
 
"Mmmmmm Pies!!!!!!!!"

What a great way to start my day!

Billy, nothing spells out the food culture and simple flavors of New York more than two simple words, "A slice". The walk up window at Patsy's is priceless and a slice at $1.75 has to be the best bargain in America. A NY Slice, only served at one place in my town is $2.50. I don't even want to talk about the Lobster roll, I've been missing these for over 30 years................pnwc

In mid-October I went back up to my hometown of Rome, NY to run the Delta Lake Half Marathon.  My first meal was at my nostalgic favorite, Teddy's Restaurant.  The teddy bears and Teddy Roosevelt theme has always interested me and the food, especially the chicken parmesan, is quite good.  On this visit, the Utica Style Greens appetizer was a taste of home and the homemade warm Toll House Pie won me over wholeheartedly. 






 
I was going to include all of the tomato pies and pusties I had eaten on this trip but decided to just focus on the best ones I had tried.  However, I did have to include the doughnuts I also bought at Ferlo's Bakery.  Some of the best I have ever tried and I even came back for more at Christmas but forgot to get pics of the Boston Cream, Headlight, and chocolate cake versions I also tried but they were crispy, creamy and quite addictive!



 
A return trip to Roma Sausage & Deli was in order to pick up a half tomato pie and also to try one of their pre-wrapped slices to compare to the others I tried that day.  The crispy, chewy, yeasty crust combined with the fresh tasting tomato sauce and salty, nutty romano cheese put it head and shoulders above the rest.


 
Just a short drive down the same street was Florentine Pastry Shop where I had chocolate and coconut custard filled pusties (pasticciotti) that haunt my dreams to this day.  




 
 

WOW!  I have so much to say about everything so I won't!
 
You did an outstanding job with your pictures and I love your choice of friends and foods!
 
I like that you chose to eat or report on different types of food in your travels around town.
 
I'm also stealing some ideas on serving from your pictures.
 
Thank you for all that went in to your report.

Excellent report Billy!!

Congratulations on the running!! It is not easy but fun when you love to run!!

Great stuff!
I was wondering about the Utica greens. Are they similar at all to southern style greens? they kind of look the same except for what appears to be cheese on the top.

I can see why they say "I HEART NY"  Im drooling

ces1948


Great stuff!
I was wondering about the Utica greens. Are they similar at all to southern style greens? they kind of look the same except for what appears to be cheese on the top.

 
 
I make this quite often.  My recipe consists of  escarole,  chopped onions, chopped  cherry peppers, and a little chopped salami or pepperoni or procuitto.     We love it and  usually have it  with  chicken parmesan.
OOps...............forgot that there are some bread crumbs and  shredded parmesan cheeese in it.

HEY BILLY, I,m salivating enough to drown here.
but don't stop. 
great job.

After reading cecif's report from a few years ago, I put the Patio DRIVE-IN on my short list.  Definitely a "locals" kind of place and with throwback charm I really loved the Ham Bar-B-Que sandwich.  Hopefully I'll be back this summer to try their famous chili dogs.




 
A friend of mine had told me about the homemade pies at Pumpernickel's Original New York Delicatessen in New Hartford, NY so we met up to split a couple of slices.  Despite a big list I immediately honed in on the butterscotch pie and the coconut cream pie.  Both were definitely homemade and I can't wait to go back and work my way through their menu.




 
A couple more trips to Voss BAR B Q (because I can never get enough of that homemade bbq sauce and chili!!)  After I chowed down on a turkey bbq sandwich, Mexi-Burger, and a sausage sandwich with chili I was very content and happy I was able to squeeze in three trips here this summer.  



 
Somehow in between all of this Roadfooding, I managed to squeeze in a half marathon!  Running around the lake where I spent my youth fishing, camping, skiing with my family and friends sure brought back a lot of wonderful memories for me.  And a new memory was created when my 6-year old niece (and the rest of my family) was waiting for me on the sidelines to hand me some much needed Gatorade!  My fan club is loyal!


 
And I had to make one of the last foods of this a trip a homemade cherry pie from North Star Orchards.