Tag Archives: food

Good Chips at Arthur’s

Posted on June 30, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

When Steven and I were out adventuring in Newport yesterday, we knew we wanted to go out to lunch but we didn’t know where.  I said it was too bad we were not in the vicinity of Dolgeville, or we could go to Arthur’s.  Steven did not think it would be a too far drive, and he was right.  It was actually a fun drive over country roads.  Once we got to Dolgevile, we found our destination with no problem (I have only been to Dolgeville a very few times).

We had been to Arthur’s one time previously, when I was getting my head shaved for a St. Baldrick’s Day Fundraiser (perhaps you read one of my blog posts about it).  We had some drinks and food and a lot of laughs that day.  We’ve been meaning to get to Arthur’s again ever since, but, well, we just don’t eat out enough, that’s all.

We walked into the bar section and sat right down at the bar.  We like to sit at the bar.  We ordered drinks and spent a lot of time looking at the menu.  Everything looked so good!  I finally decided on one of the specials, an Alamo Chicken Wrap. Steven got The Bird: turkey, bacon and provalone.  Both sandwiches came with homemade chips. I LOVE homemade chips!

When our food  arrived, the chips were even better than I expected.  I order homemade chips almost every time they are available, and these were among the best I have ever tasted.  The sandwich was quite delicious as well. We were very happy with our visit, and hope to return to Arthur’s soon.

Arthur’s American Restaurant is located at 19 South Main St, Dolgeville, NY, phone number 315- 429-9646.

 

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We Bellied Up!

Posted on June 25, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last night when Tracy finally made it to Herkimer (see yesterday’s post about “Waitin’ on a Friend”), we were all famished.  I suggested Steven make us some scrambled eggs or something, but Tracy wanted more of an adventure.  Of course, she was the guest.  I suggested the Belly Up Pub.  It is close to our house and we have not been there since it re-opened under new management.

The Pub is now owned by the same fellow who owns Happen Inn in Little Falls, which had been one of the possibilities I considered earlier.  I figured we could count on a similar good meal at the new venue.  I was right.

We could have sat at the bar, at a tall table near the windows or at a regular size table.  I personally love to sit at a tall table, but Tracy said she was too short for a tall table.  We sat at a regular table and looked at the special board.  When the bartender was free, I went to the bar and asked was there table service or did we order from the bar.  She said we order from the bar and pointed out where menus are.  I got us menus and asked what Steven and Tracy wanted to drink.  Ice water with lemon for Tracy, Pinot Grigio for Steven and me.

It took longer to decide on food, but eventually I settled on a dozen steamed clams while Steven wanted a turkey club with fries, both of which were on the specials board.  Tracy ordered from the menu:  Wild Hog Wings and Portabello (my computer does not agree with ANY spelling I try of portobello and I cannot find it in my dictionary, how frustrating!) Mushroom Fries.  She insisted we help her finish the fries.  Yum!  The mushrooms had been sliced, breaded and deep-fried.  I love portobella mushrooms to begin with, and deep-fried is one of my favorite flavors.  I ate some of Steven’s french fries as well.  Yum!  Steven helped me with the clams, but Tracy did not.

We greatly enjoyed our dinner, and I plan to return to the Belly Up Pub soon.   I saw on their Facebook page they just expanded their hours, opening at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday and at noon on Sunday.  Since I love going to a bar in the afternoon, this is great news for me.  The Belly Up Pub is located at 122 W. Albany St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-219-5578.  You can Like them on Facebook.  I did.

 

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Comfort Food at Froggy’s

Posted on June 8, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

When Steven and I wanted to grab a quick bit in Ilion today, we thought of Froggy’s Take-Out.  I was glad we did, because we hadn’t been there yet this year.  It is a little, seasonal place located on a busy corner.  We pulled into the parking lot and walked up to the order window, following the sign that said “Enter.”

We actually have never taken out at Froggy’s.  We sit at the picnic tables under a tent in the parking lot.  They are large, highly polished, green tables.  I like looking around at other Ilion businesses and all the traffic.  Lots of people drive through Ilion at four in the afternoon!

I was immediately interested in two large pieces of chocolate cake under a glass. However, we were there for dinner not dessert. The lady working made a spirited attempt to get us to buy one or both of them to take with us, but I remembered my weight-loss goals.  We both ordered cheeseburgers deluxe, which means mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato and onion.  Perhaps this was not the most diet-friendly fare, but at least it was not deep fried (one of my favorite flavors).  What really made my meal bad for my waistline was the chocolate shake.  Don’t judge.

As usual when I have a cheeseburger and chocolate shake, I reminded Steven that this was Shelley Winters’ favorite comfort food.  It was a good meal.  Steven, who had ordered coffee, helped me finish the chocolate shake.  As we sat and ate, we looked at some pictures depicting other menu selections.  Hoffman hot dog, grilled chicken sandwich, deep-fried oreo cookies, root-beer float… we may need to make several more trips to Froggy’s.

Froggy’s Take-Out is located at 4 West Clark St., Ilion, NY, next to Heads R Turning Spa and Salon.  Phone number is 315-894-1400.  You can Like them on Facebook and sign up for coupons as www.FroggysTakeOut.com.

 

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Or Was It Cancer Fighting Benefits?

Posted on June 6, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Cooking In Progress post in lieu of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday?  I am in the midst of what I hope will be a delicious dinner.  While it cooks I am sipping a beverage, looking at Snapped and, well, typing this.  And I thought I couldn’t multi-task.

I multi-tasked while I was cooking too, and not just sipping and chopping.  I chopped with a dual purpose.  I made a salad for my lunch in the coming week and chopped vegetables to nibble on as well.  The vegetables I chopped included some rainbow peppers destined for dinner as well.   Ooh, that made it a triple purpose.

Of course my recipes often lack variety, but perhaps some readers have missed previous cooking posts or forgot about them or are new readers or will just forgive me.  Or they have already stopped reading, thinking, “I can’t read again how she crushed garlic and set the timer for 15 minutes so it would reach its full anti-oxident benefits, or was it cancer fighting?”

For anyone still reading, I peeled and crushed some garlic.  It is the last bulb from the braid I purchased at the Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival in Little Falls, NY last September.  Either that was a bigger braid than I have previously purchased or I have not been cooking nearly enough, because that braid has lasted me  long time!  Next I chopped a yellow onion and put it in olive oil in the cast iron frying pan.  Then I chopped the rainbow peppers into smaller pieces and added them to the pan.

The fifteen minutes have passed and the garlic is cooking now.  I have the heat on low and the pan covered with the lid cracked.  When things seem cooked enough I will put on water for angel hair pasta I happen to have from The Pasta Shoppe in Utica, NY (just for another bit of local).  I have some mushrooms to add to the frying pan as well, but those don’t take as long to cook.

Hmmm… I hope this post has been as amusing as my usual Wrist to Forehead schtick.  I always feel I should write a post about something other than Why I Can’t Write a Post Today, but then I worry that the posts about not writing are the more amusing.  Or do I flatter myself?

No matter.  I am over 350 words and I am going back to other Sunday activities.  Hope to see you all tomorrow for Monday Mental Meanderings.

 

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Love Those Poodle Skirts

Posted on May 26, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Instead of Wuss-out Wednesday, how about I give a shout-out to an area restaurant of note.  It’s just a little outside my usual stomping ground:  The Soda Fountain in Remsen, NY.

Our stop was part of Cheryl’s, Penny’s and my day of adventuring last Saturday.  I was, as usual, hungry.  Also, since we planned to go to Prospect Falls Winery, I wanted to eat.  Even little tastes of wine on an empty stomach might do me dirt.

I had wanted to seek out The Soda Fountain for a while now; their commercials are so much fun.  I love ’50s diners.  This is a good one.  The decor is fun, and the waitresses wear poodle skirts with crinolines (at least, I think they wore crinolines; I naturally did not look under any skirts).   We were seated in a booth and looked over the menu.

I ordered for a grilled chicken sandwich and I am damned if I can remember what Cheryl and Penny got.  How embarrassing is that?  I guess this is Wuss-out  Wednesday after all.  Sorry folks.  However, I will say we all enjoyed our meal very much.  The service was prompt and friendly, and the price was reasonable.

While we were waiting at the counter to pay, we looked at a display case of some ’50s memorabilia for sale.  I did like the cat-eye sunglasses.  There was also a metal box with match box cars and some die-cast models of classic cars.  I do enjoy classic cars.

I’m afraid this blog post is way less fun than the restaurant it’s about.  Sorry about that, but as usual I will try again tomorrow.

The Soda Fountain Restaurant is located at 9698 Main St., Remsen, NY, phone number (315) 831-8400.  Their website is http://www.thesoda-fountain.com/.  You can also Like them on Facebook.

 

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Filling Our Bellies

Posted on May 1, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last Sunday, when Steven and I decided to have breakfast out before tackling our other chores (which included painting the stage floor for Leading Ladies; you didn’t think I wasn’t going to mention the play, did you?), I suggested Belly Busters in Herkimer.  I had purchased donuts there on Saturday (the traditional bribe for people working on your set on a Saturday morning) and wanted to check out the rest of the menu.

It’s a bright, airy place with lots of room.  The big windows let in plenty of sunshine, so things were very cheerful on Sunday, which was, local readers may recall, a beautiful day (or they may not recall; I realize it was six days ago) (I’ve been busy with a play, you may have heard).

I was happy to order my favorite, a breakfast sandwich (or “sammich,” as I like to say) on a hard roll with bacon, egg and cheese.  Steven decided to try the breakfast pizza with sausage, pepper, egg and cheese.  Both were delicious.

As we were waiting for our food, I said I was happy to find this place, because of how much I miss Chet’s Diner.  A fellow at another table told us the chef at Belly Busters used to cook for Chet’s.

“For a while he was at Donna’s Diner, now he’s here.”

That led to a discussion about how Donna’s Diner is now Mandy’s and the Family Funhouse in Mohawk now houses Mona’s.  So that makes two other places I’d like to write about.  Goody!  More breakfasts out!

Belly Busters is located at 225 West State St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 866-6700.  You can also Like their Facebook page.

 

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Yum, Not Lame

Posted on March 12, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

In lieu of my usual Friday Lame Post, I shall give a brief shout-out to a local business: Salvatore’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Herkimer, NY.

Our original plan had been to go out for a fish fry, but I am, what a surprise, not feeling well.  Yes, I’m as sick of feeling this way as you are of hearing about it. Let’s not dwell on it, shall we?

It is Friday during Lent and I am kind of, sort of Catholic, so I didn’t want meat.  I suggested a large garlic pizza with peppers and mushrooms, and an order of calimari.  We don’t technically need a large pizza for just the two of us, but I like how thin the crust gets.  Then I get leftover pizza for breakfast.  Yum.

Delivery was astonishingly prompt.  It usually is from Salvatore’s.  That is one reason we often let them come to our rescue when we don’t feel like cooking or going out.  The other reason is, of course, yum.

Wow, I guess there’s not a whole lot else to say.  How embarrassing.  Then again, perhaps my readers would prefer to stop reading a silly blog and get back to enjoying their Friday.  I know I do (yes, yes, I’m writing not reading right now; don’t be didactic).  Happy Friday, everyone.

Salvatore’s is located at 650 1/2 German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-2600.  Their website is http://www.salvatores-herkimer.com/index.html.

 

 

 

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Friday with Fish

Posted on March 5, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

As Steven’s birthday weekend continues, I am no more inclined to cook or wash dishes than I have been during the week.  Luckily Steven was pleased to have dinner out again.  He wanted fish fry.  I remembered that Salvatore’s in Herkimer usually offers a fish fry special on Fridays.  We often call Salvatore’s for delivery, but it is also a good place to eat in.

The parking lot seemed full when we got there, but we easily got a table and were soon perusing menus.  Steven got the fish sandwich, which came with fries.  He said yes to tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and tartar sauce.  I chose the baked haddock with ranch dressing on the salad.  It came with pasta.  I asked for butter and garlic instead of tomato sauce.  We each got  glass of Pinot Grigio as well as water with lemon.

The chef put a little parsley on my spaghetti along with the butter and garlic.  I asked for grated cheese, and a spoon.  I am quite adept at twirling my spaghetti, as a result of growing up in an Italian family.  Spaghetti and meatballs was a high treat for Sunday dinner.  I have since read that it is most proper to twirl your spaghetti on the plate; using a spoon is second best, and cutting the noodles up is downright vulgar.  Of course I’m going to eat my pasta the way I like to and not worry about somebody else’s arbitrary rules, but I can’t help making note of these things.

Speaking of downright vulgar, I know one is supposed to cut the lettuce in the salad.  I’ve seen people do it quite classily; it spreads the dressing around nicely.  I got lettuce on the table.  You can neither dress me up nor take me out, it seems.

The people at Salvatore’s wished Steven a happy birthday a day late.  Their Facebook page had wished him well on the day.  We like Salvatore’s.

Salvatore’s is located at 650 1/2 German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number  (315) 866-2600.  You can also find them on Facebook.

 

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Steve’s Birthday Dinner

Posted on March 4, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today is my wonderful husband’s birthday.  He wanted to go out to dinner, and I suggested PK’s Pub. For one reason, I neither baked nor bought him a cake, and PK’s has the BEST desserts.

We went early and were happy to get the tall table.  I love sitting at a tall table. When the waitress asked for our drink orders, I opted for a cup of coffee and a glass of water.  I felt I had had enough wine yesterday at Applebee’s.  It turned out the coffee was freshly brewed.  It was very good coffee.

I ordered hats with marinara sauce and two meatballs while Steven got the grilled chicken platter.  We both had ranch dressing on our salads.  PK’s does a great salad as well.  I especially like the garbanzo beans. The ranch dressing was creamy and delicious.  I also enjoy the herbed butter that comes with the bread.

I declined dessert (still hoping to lose that last 10 pounds) (oh, OK, it’s 15 pounds now, don’t judge), but Steven got Chocolate Lava Cake.  I could not resist trying one little bite.  Yum!  A lady who worked there walked by and said she got a great whiff of chocolate aroma.

We were delighted with our dinner, and I had enough hats left over to make part of another meal.  We had not been to PK’s in a while, a scandalous omission.  We won’t wait that long next time.

PK’s Pub is located at 221 King St. in Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-3494.  You can also Like them on Facebook.

 

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But It Was a Truly Excellent Sandwich

Posted on February 17, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is Tired Tuesday, folks.  I went to work with the firm intention of writing my blog post on break, in order to avoid such a thing, and instead, well, I read a play.  In my defense, it was Leading Ladies by Ken Ludwig, the play I am soon to direct for Ilion Little Theatre.  I MUST be prepared!

After work I thought to put together a creative dinner utilizing leftovers.  Then I could do a cooking post.  Oh, that seemed like so much trouble.  Instead I asked Steven if there was enough cheese for grilled cheese sandwiches.  I knew he had purchased tomato soup the last time he shopped.  Not only was there enough cheese, my wonderful husband agreed to cook.

Oh, that was the best grilled cheese sandwich I ever ate in my life.  The cheddar was extra sharp, the bread was perfectly toasted.  I dipped it into the soup.  I don’t think anything ever made me quite as happy as eating that sandwich.  Yes, I am indulging in hyperbole.

It would have been nice if the soup and sandwich had revivified me (I know, “revived” is probably the more proper word to use, but I wanted to use the other) so that I could have written a more better blog post (YES, “more better” is bad grammar; it amuses me).  As I often observe, one can’t have everything.  Hope to see you all on Wuss-out Wednesday.

 

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