Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (Scorereader)

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 10:36:35 GMT

I have always loved Jake Hafners. When I was student teaching at North Syracuse Jr. High, the music teachers and a few of the other student teachers in the CNS schools would meet there for happy hour. After I returned to L'pool after college, I continued to meet folks there. Back then, they even had a Kareoke night. Ha! what a blast. A bunch of music teachers out-dueling (or is that duet-ing!) each other. With a room full of talented musicians, it became quite the fun competative (but supportive) atmosphere! Peanut shells on the floor and all, the taven side was fun. but, regardless of whether you were on the dinind side or the tavern side of things, the food was always home-cooked style, comfort, deliciousness. I used to rave over their French onion soup, club sandwich, and burgers. I've never had a bad meal there. I have even gone as recent as last year, and for the most part, I do salads and other breadless/low carb choices, and I was just as happy and felt like I was back home.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (SeamusD)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:10:48 GMT

I've had the burger at Hafner's (used to live close by), everything I've had there is good. There's a restaurant just east in Auburn I get the beef on weck at (best I've had in the area), and unfortunately I can't eat lemon meringue pie anymore (egg allergy). :(
And I'll be having that london broil sandwich soon, looks great. Maybe one of these days I'll get off my duff and do a local mini-tour and post pictures, there are a lot of good restaurants around here.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (ann peeples)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:32:28 GMT

Roadfood porn at its best, Billyboy!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (ScreamingChicken)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:29:02 GMT

billyboy

Or pop down the road a ways to Jake Hafner's for a Blacksmith burger with melted cheddar, jack and bacon

Billy, did you cut the bacon strips in half and arrange them so they completely covered the top of the burger? Because while the long strips make for a great photo they also make for a very inconsistent bacon-to-beef ratio!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (billyboy)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:22:21 GMT

Joe, not sure if they'd have it down there but it's worth a look. Not all of the ones in Syracuse carry it. I went to a different Wegmans in Syracuse one time and asked for it and the girl behind the counter looked at me like I had two heads! Seems to be a sandwich that hasn't traveled too far from it's Buffalo roots.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (joerogo)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:20:15 GMT

billyboy, I'm going to have to check out our local Wegmans. Never had a proper beef on weck.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (CCinNJ)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:07:33 GMT

Now that's a beautiful London Broil sandwich. Not so common to find them on menus these days.

Columbus Bakery looks EXACTLY like an excellent bakery should look. Just as it did back when Columbus discovered Rome...NY!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (billyboy)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:02:04 GMT

Seamus, here's a shot of the London Broil sandwich at Second North Deli. I have a hard time finishing it though the aus jus does help.

Or maybe check out a beef-on-weck from the Taft Road Wegmans. This specimen may not have a rosy glow but it was plenty moist and delicious.

Or pop down the road a ways to Jake Hafner's for a Blacksmith burger with melted cheddar, jack and bacon

And finish it off with a slice of Lemon Meringue pie from Geddes Bakery (they had it at Hafe's!)

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (SeamusD)

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 10:32:38 GMT

ScreamingChicken, the oil is a little spicy, definitely not what I would call "hot", but has a little kick. You can eat it hot or cold, just as good either way. It's basically San Marzano tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and spices. I think there's some honey in there too. It was recently on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, and they show how it's made. You can buy it online now also.
The stretch bread they serve it with is great, good crust and slightly chewy like a good pizza crust. You can even have the oil on pasta... I usually get half house sauce, half hot tomato oil.

billyboy, it's definitely worth a stop. Their bakery is right across the street too, so you can pick up loaves of bread and the oil to go. I only work a few blocks away so I stop frequently. Might go for lunch today.
http://pastabilities.com/

They even have a website dedicated to just the hot tomato oil: http://hottom.com/

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (billyboy)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:03:02 GMT

Seamus, you're the 3rd person to mention Pastabilities, their stretch bread and their Spicy Hot Tomato Oil to me. I think it's going on the list for my next visit. I'm hoping to come up in May to run the Mountain Goat 10 miler though I think the Hot Tom will be my post-race reward!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (ScreamingChicken)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:45:55 GMT

Seamus, could you please describe the hot tomato oil? Is it "hot" as in spicy or does it refer to temperature?

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (SeamusD)

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 09:40:44 GMT

billyboy

Seamus, this was my first visit to Columbus Bakery and definitely not my last. Have you ever tried the Fresh London Broil sandwich at the Second North Deli? Really good stuff. Ditto for their homemade potato chips!

I haven't, but it's not too awfully far from my office, and I am a big London Broil fan, so I'm going to have to stop.
Columbus is my #1 stop for Italian bread, next in line is Pastabilities' stretch bread, which you shouldn't get without a container of their hot tomato oil.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (billyboy)

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:44:12 GMT

Thanks, CC. Strongy, they might be similar. I'd be curious to find out if the white hots in AZ are something that have been in the area for some time or if Ted's introduced them to the area.
BB, I'll do my best but it'll be one heck of a mess to eat! If you do make it up to Syracuse let me know as I have a few more places for you to check out!
Thanks Ann!
Scorereader, you were there around the same time that I was there! I'll always call it Carousel Mall as Destiny USA sounds like the name of a strip club to me!
Seamus, this was my first visit to Columbus Bakery and definitely not my last. Have you ever tried the Fresh London Broil sandwich at the Second North Deli? Really good stuff. Ditto for their homemade potato chips!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (SeamusD)

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:52:02 GMT

I like reading reviews of the city I live in, it reminds me about the places I haven't been to in a while, or at all but want to try! Well, with the exception of Columbus Bakery, I go there regularly for bread. Best loaf of Italian in town, if you get one hot right out of the oven it's unbeatable.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (Scorereader)

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:53:29 GMT

Great report on Syracuse.
I was up there (in Liverpool and Manlius) between Christmas through New Year's Day. We didn't go out to eat. Not even a Heid's trip, which is the first miss for me in a LONG time.

I went, briefly, to Destiny to exchange an item at Lord and Taylors, and walked through the new section. Interesting, but still pretty bare. The rest of the mall, aside from the color, looks pretty much as it did in 1989 when that place opened.

I did score a huge deal. the sports store there was unloading thier merchandise at 75% off. I got some awesome deals. And unexpected expense, but worth it. If I only had some real cash to spend, I would've bought them out of signed stuff. At 75% off, it would be an easy profit to turn on eBay. But, alas, I stuck to some stuff for my new house.

Really nice report, you took me back there...and I was just there...so it was weird!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (ann peeples)

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:11:49 GMT

As always, love your reports! Looking forward to more in 2013.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (buffetbuster)

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 13:02:12 GMT

Great stuff as always billyboy! You will be forgiven for not trying that pie as long as you put one of those mixed doubles from Heid's in the mail A.S.A.P. Oh baby, does that thing look good! I have never been to Heid's, but when I do, THAT will be what gets ordered.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (CCinNJ)

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:40:46 GMT

I think Strongy is talking about the white hots at Ted's in AZ.

White hots are not on the menu @ Ted's in NY.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (billyboy)

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:26:11 GMT

Thanks, strongy78! I'm not sure if it's similar to the "white hot" at Ted's. I'm guessing based on location that Ted's uses Zweigle's white hots. HEID'S uses Hofmann "Coneys" (formerly called "Snappys"). They are a pork and veal mix. I like the taste but I prefer the more pronounced snap of a German frank. I had never tried the mixed double before last week and I just had to know...

ynotryme, I was in the shopping plaza on Rte. 31 where Liehs & Steigerwald is located but didn't have a chance to stop in. I think on my next visit I'll pick up some pepperttes and landjaeger!

wookman, thanks for the description of those Chicken Bones. I've heard people talk of seeing Turkey Joints made elsewhere but have never seen any pictures of them. I went to the Ganong website and they look like a cousin of the Turkey Joints!

Foodbme, I was thinking about helping out by shoveling, then my brother-in-law broke out the snowblower. Whew! I really don't miss shoveling either!

Mayor Al, "ON" Oneida Lake in a station wagon? I'm all nervous just hearing about that. I've always had a fear of open water and my uncle used to take his snowmobile out on Delta Lake in Rome in the dead of winter. He constantly tried to get me to ride with him but NOOOOO way, Jose!!

Thanks so much everyone for all of the kind comments! Hoping to do a diner round-up in Syracuse later this year as that area seems to have just about as many per square mile as the state of New Jersey!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (mayor al)

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 04:03:43 GMT

Thanks from me also, for bringing back memories of the Winters in the late 60's when we lived in Oneida County. One of our fun activities was to drive out 9 passenger Plymouth Station Wagon out onto the ice on Oneida Lake and spin do-Nuts on the race track set up by my H S students. I can never explain the impact of those winters on this California-transplant !!! That was my first teaching job after college...and a real introducion to rural American life, it was !
Thanks again for the flashbacks.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (Foodbme)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:43:25 GMT

BillyBoy,
THANX for taking me back to the good old days.
Living out here, everything is relatively new.
It's great to see old buildings like the Colombus Bakery, Heids and Mothers Cupboard, not to mention dishes that I ate as a younger person like the open face meatloaf sandwich. All the food pictures took me back 50 years!
The snow looked pretty but I don't miss shoveling!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (jaylhorner)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:37:52 GMT

Love your reports!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (mikeam)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:02:16 GMT

Great report as always. Thanks for sharing.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (wookman8)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:48:22 GMT

Happy holidays billyboy. The Turkey Joints gave me a flashback to growing up in eastern Canada. We always had Chicken Bones (made by Ganongs) in the house at Christmas ... a cinnamon candy shell with creamy chocolate inside. Great report as always and best wishes to all my fellow Roadfooders for the new year.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (carolina bob)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:59:43 GMT

Great report and pictures, Billyboy. Lots of great looking food, and I really like the art deco-ish look of the building that Heid's is in.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (ynotryme)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 16:17:33 GMT

Billyboy, you are making me miss home tho I'll be back in warmer weather. I had pepperettes sent here for Christmas. When I was up last summer I bought milk at Byrnes in the glass bottles.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (agnesrob)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 14:24:22 GMT

Awesome report as always!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (strongy78)

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:30:56 GMT

Great pictures! Hey..is that sausage in your picture a "white hot" similar to what Teds serves? It looks similar is why Im asking. That frittata looks hefty! I bet it was good!

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (billyboy)

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:42:08 GMT

TJ, thanks! I just made the edit. What cup of pork fat? Buurrpp!!! (wipes mouth)
Thanks, tcrouzer! I love sharing the foods of my youth and getting others excited about trying them.
ScreamingChicken, I think home fries might be more popular round these parts. They certainly are with me!
Wally, Mother's Cupboard is located on James Street near the intersection of Thompson Road. Very close to Exit 35 (Carrier Circle) on the NYS Thruway.
CC, I can't imagine a Christmas without Turkey Joints!
pnwchef, thanks for the good wishes! Hope you and the family had a wonderful Christmas too and may you all have a truly fantastic and Happy New Year. The grill at Mother's really does produce some great home fries and part of the secret is that Peter does very little to them when he puts them on. He dumps a big plastic bin of chunky potatoes on the flat-top, seasons them with salt and paprika and LEAVES THEM ALONE for about 4-5 minutes, really allowing a beautiful crust to build on the underside, before flipping them.
Thanks JoeRogo! I feel as though I am just scratching the surface as I have a master list of places that I have yet to try!
hatteras04, love Byrne Dairy whenever I go back home. Not sure if they have it at the stores. Their website says that they still offer 1/2 gallons of various milks so I imagine they would still do the exchange.

Re:Dreaming of a White Christmas in Syracuse and Rome, NY (hatteras04)

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:08:30 GMT

Great report.

The Byrne Dairy milk makes me nostalgic. Do they still have the glass bottle exchange program at the stores? I frequented the one in Hamilton 20 years ago when I was there.