docsconz

The Sagamore has been outstanding in the past. In fact as Mark mentioned The Springwater Bistro is a direct descendent via David Britten and Richard Rodriguez, who I mentioned above also worked there. While I haven't eaten there recently myself , reports have been less than enthusiastic. I suspected that Suzi was referring to a specific place, although I am not familiar with it. Thanks for picking it up, Mark.

Looks like a fun time. Cool.

Suzi, I'm not quite sure what you are asking. Are you looking for a waterfront restaurant in the Saratoga area? Ifso, Richard Rodriguez, recently of Springwater Bistro will be opening a restaurant on Saratoga Lake in June. he tells me that it well be casual mediterranean/eclectic. The name will be "Chamelion on the Lake" since the menu will be evolving and changing with the seasons.. I am not personally aware of any other waterfront dining options in the Saratoga area, although there are a number on Lake George and Glen Lake. Unfortunately, there aren't any that make my head swim.

I like the term "slocal"

I too think Inniskillin is vastly overrated. Thirty Bench is my benchmark for Canadian ice wine. The reisling is great with nicely balanced sugar and acid.

This is really the quintessential argument about wine styling that goes on everyday in our very own boards - the argument of "International Style" wines vs. tradition and terroir. Here is a link to a summary of the war of words currently going on over these wines. Click on "The Fella in the Cella, then scroll down to the area titled "Way of the World" for the debate.,

I had the pleasure of meeting and having dinner with Myrtle Allen, the founder and proprietor of Ballymalloe last November at The Slow Food Congress in Naples, Italy. She is a very charming person and received a special award from Slow Food. Ballymalloe is high on my list of places to visit as well

Cool. I was just thinking last night of flying up to Burlington, renting and car, and driving to Montreal. Any restaurants to recommend? Al, Two restaurants in Montreal with eGullet connections (members are chefs) that I can personally attest as being fantastic are Les Chevres and Rosalie. Other favorites of mine include Toque (now in a new location) and Chez L'Epicier, although that was disappointing on my last visit. There are other restaurants with eGullet connections reported to be excellent such as Brunoise, but I haven't been yet. Check out the Montreal board for more suggestions. By the way the food markets aree great and a lot of fun, especially Atwater and Jean Talon.

The one problem with this plan is that some very good producers may be hurt if this becomes more widely adopted. As imperfect as the Greenmarket is (very), there are still some excellent producers selling their product there, many of whom are very upset with the current direction of the greenmarket. My suggestion would be to use the Market very selectively.

Here is a thread in which Ms. Planck gives eGullet a first-hand account of her Greenmarket experience.

My favorite Italian restaurant in the Saratoga area is Paradiso on Rte 9 south heading out of town towards Malta. It serves family style, is in an interesting space and has some pretty good food including amazing broiled shrimp and good pastas. Unfortunately, the wine list is mediocre. Chianti il ristorante is on Rte 9 closer to the center of town. The food is IMO vastly over-rate, but ok. The "scene" is "hip" and somewhat loud. They do not take reservations, which may mean a long wait "in season". while the wine list is extensive, the wines are actually stored in the dining room rather than in a cellar. My feeling about this restaurant is that it is style over substance. Saratoga is a good restaurant destination, though relatively week on Italian-American. IMO Paradiso is your best bet. If you are going to be around Saratoga this summer, consider joining us for A Day at The Races eGullet Potluck Picnic.

Fantastic choice, Lucy! The things one learns about people! I'm very excited to be conversing online with another Patrick O'Brien nut, especially a published expert in the culinaria of that epoch. Lisa, my sincerest and deepest condolences on your loss. I have lost both my parents and while life goes on, I will always miss them. Lisa, You have a lot to live up to after Lucy (Lord knows I couldn't), but somehow I suspect that you will do it with flying colors. All the best, John

Has it been that long already? Time flies when you are having fun!

Unfortunately that may very well be the case, although I certainly don't know that for sure. Do you have any data to support this?

C'est magnifique! That sauce loked incredibly silky. Comfort food. Yum.

It will take a very confident soul to follow Lucy. She has done an amazing job. Of course, she's in France. As she has reminded us over and over again. We all might need a little blogging hiatus after this week's blog just to catch our collective breath, unless someone like ChefG or Bourdain picks up the gauntlet. But then, who would follow them? In the meantime, I know I will continue to follow this blog very closely and enjoy it very much Thanks, Lucy.

The money was burning holes in their pockets.

Just to be clear, my comments above were based on the restaurants specifically mentioned in the opening post. Scene is ok, there is nothing wrong with it if good food goes along with it. If I still lived in the city, I would probably be more excited about visiting the other restaurants on that list. Since I do not and I don't get down there as often as I would like, I tend to be very picky and need a particular reason to visit a particular restaurant. Most of the restaurants I've been to within the past year have been because of eGullet for one reason or another, from Amma to Blue Hill to Hearth etc. There has always been something discussed on these boards that have piqued my interest. Needless to say there are still many more that I would like to try that I just haven't been able to yet. So for me, substance is weightier than scene, though I don't mind an interesting scene too.

Amazing! Is anyone buying it at that price?

Montreal is a great food town that has the advantage of being easy to get to, relatively exotic and inexpensive for someone from the US. Another alternative would be the Laurentians outside of Montreal. Quebec City is probably a little too far outside your specs, but a good long weekend visit as well. Of course there is always the Adirondacks and Vermont. I could go into more specifics if interested.

My recollection of that wine is that it was pretty tasty young. I do not recall overwhelming tannins, but it has been some time since I had it. Perhaps it has closed for awhile and is only now beginnining to reopen?

It's funny, but the only when I really have astrong interest in trying is BLT Steak and that primarily for the descriptions of the veal chop. Spotted Pig could be interesting, but I'd rather do MOno. As for the others...

That's good because docsconz told me that he would make the trip from Upstate NY if we went on that day. I am most definitely in On a side note, L&B Spumoni Gardens is where my family used to go before I was born and maybe when I was a little kid. They have been around for awhile.

I do like them, especially on my plate:biggrin: Those chickens look fantastic.