Page 21 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2019

Moosewood Restaurant, Ithaca
cuisine, each region has its own culture and charm that are highlighted during the unique tours.
Inquiring minds learn such things as:
• Which local chef won Guy’s Grocery Games Mother’s Day Challenge in 2014
• Which pew a New York Governor and then President sat in during worship
• Which Upstate food tour offers a taste of the No. 1 BBQ in America, according to “Good Morning America”
• Why Rochester is referred to as the Flour City (Or is it the Flower City?)
• Who created the first cocktail and where it was crafted • Which chef on one of the tours was the personal chef
to Jerry Seinfeld
Tours are offered in nine different locations across eight counties, covering approximately 481 miles from the easternmost tour in Troy to the westernmost in Lewiston. They typically last two to four hours and feature four to eight prepared tastings – altogether enough to replace a full meal – while allowing time in between tasting stops to showcase the history, culture and architecture of the neighborhood. Let’s take a closer look at some of the different destinations.
DESTINATION: THE CAPITAL DISTRICT
The Capital District is home to Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs. Albany and Troy sit on either side
of the Hudson River. One of the oldest cities in the nation, Albany was established as New York’s capital in 1797. Craft brewing has been a presence in Albany since the time of the Dutch settlers and continues to be a growth economy for this region. Troy celebrated its bicentennial in 2016 and, at one time, was the fourth-wealthiest city, per capita, in the nation. A current nickname for Troy is the Silicon Valley of the 19th Century.
Taste of Troy Food Tours LLC has two tours offered in these historic sister cities from May to October.
Taste of Troy Food Tours: Central Troy Historic District Food Tour – This flagship tour has been offered since May 2016. The weekly Saturday tour offers a progressive brunch spread over five independent restaurants, beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. It stops at Brown’s Brewing Company to get to taste two of their 12 beers on tap. When it opened in 1993, it was one of only 100 craft brewers in the country. Another stop is Illium Café, home to chef Marla Ortega, winner of Guy’s Grocery Games Mother’s Day Challenge in 2014. In addition to the delicious food, guests of this tour get to experience the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church with its stunning Tiffany interior. The tour ends in time for guests to have an hour to shop the fantastic Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market and experience this vibrant food scene.
Taste of Troy Food Tours: Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour – New in 2018 and offered weekly on Fridays, this 400-year-old city and state capitol adventure is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. The tour starts at 12:45 p.m. at C. H. Evans Brewing at the Albany Pump Station, which has family ties to a commercial brewery established in Hudson in 1787. Six tastes are offered in
five locations, ending in time for Happy Hour and a toast to the weekend at the Olde English Pub, housed in the second-oldest building (home of the Quackenbush family) in Albany. You’ll also visit the First Church of Albany where Theodore Roosevelt, 33rd governor of New York and 26th president of the United States, worshiped with his family.
Saratoga Springs Food Tours – Saratoga Springs, known as the Spa City, is 36 miles north of Albany and became a city in 1915. This city offers tours on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in May to October that highlight the award-winning Farmers’ Market. The tour includes between six and eight tastings at the Farmers’ Market and several stops on Broadway. The owner and chief guide has written two books about Saratoga Springs.
DESTINATION: CENTRAL NEW YORK
Traveling west from the Capital District, along Interstate 90 that parallels the Erie Canal, between Utica and Rochester, is an area notable for its contribution to the major reform movements of the 19th century. Syracuse is the region’s largest city.
Sampling Syracuse Food Tours – Delve into Syracuse’s history and culture while eating in the heart of downtown. On Saturday afternoons between May and October, enjoy six tastes from award-winning restaurants in three hours. Experience the first Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, an Upstate top foodie destination which was named the No. 1 BBQ in America by “Good Morning America.” Learn how the Syracuse salt industry changed the course of the Civil War
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