Reunion Time Again - Already? Yea, it is!

Well it wasn't an official reunion and it wasn't even a "complete" reunion since we were missing some of our compatriots.  However, we got that question TWICE the other weekend when me, Rose and Schmat visited our homeland - Saratoga Springs, New York.  This is our town. This is where we formed our little family. 

It is also where all this madness about talking about our food began because we love the food of Saratoga so much.

I know we've blogged about our Saratoga eats before but I will blog again because I love this food and look forward to it every year.  And this trip we really got it down to a science. We had various obstacles to face - only one night, a smaller group, and we are a whole year older.  But may I just say - we rocked! We made our 34 year old selves proud - and even found a little bit of that 21 year old sparkle!

Since we only had one night we had to make some strategic choices about eating, drinking, timing etc. However, we are planners and this skill has served Birch D well when it comes to food. 


Lunch
Rose and I met Schmat in the parking lot at the Inn at Saratoga promptly at 12 noon. Our agreed upon meeting time to ensure that we could get in a Roma's sub for lunch.  This is where important planning comes in - Roma's is not open on Sundays - making Saturday our only option and you need to make sure they do not run out of bread.   Before we left for Roma's we quickly checked into the hotel and mentioned our lunch plan in front of the Front Desk Staff.  The young whippersnapper behind the desk actually said to us, "You know, it's moved right?"  I thought daggers were going to come out of Schmat's eyes. "Yes, we know. We've been back to Saratoga since it moved." Try every year, lady! We are no strangers to the goings-ons of Roma's. Do not doubt us.  Does she know who we are?!

We put this behind us and focused on the matter at hand - sandwiches. Yummy, yummy sandwiches.  We arrived at Roma's - the delicious aromas greeted us as we entered the store.  We got in line and our two favorite men were behind the counter, Mr. Roma and the other guy (I don't know his name but we love him).  He looked at us, smiled and said "Reunion Time?"  It was good to be home.

We all got turkey. I added fresh mozz, italian seasoning, mayo and mustard, pickles, lettuce and tomatoes. It was amazing - as always. Roma's does not disappoint. I believe we've said before - it's all about the bread but also how they combine everything together. (See some old posts for more details.) A perfect bite is created at all times.


Dinner and Drinks
Since we had one night in Saratoga we decided to forego actual restaurants and get down to business - drinks and dough boys.  We started our night early (we are 34!) with a proper drink at 9 Maple. 9 Maple is a great bar. If it was in Boston, I would be there every day. Sipping on yummy cocktails and eating peanuts.

We asked the new-to-us bartender for three cocktails - I ordered a Manhattan. As some of you may know, I love me a good Manhattan and 9 Maple did not disappoint.  Instead of telling him how I wanted it, I left it up to the bartender to make it how he saw fit. I wish I could tell you what Schmat and Rose ordered but frankly, I don't recall. I do recall we talked alot about Wegman's and how it's the greatest grocery store in the world with the new-to-us bartender.

Following our round of proper drinks it was time for phase 1 of dinner - or our first dough boy. Now, Esperanto's, home of the dough boys, moved into a bigger space but still on Caroline St. This occurred when we were in 'toga last year. (Take that, Front Desk Lady!) The dough boy was perfect blend of cream cheese, spice, chicken, scallions and dough. YUM. God bless the dough boy.


From there we went to DA's for our first round there. We sat at the bar, not in the booth and ordered our $3.75 (love!) drinks.  I played Ms. PacMan to keep up my energy post - dough boy. Then we called change of venue and it was off to the IceHouse. Now, I love the IceHouse or I should say I loved the IceHouse.  Back in the day...it was a great little dive bar with the best jukebox in town. It's a garage and you open the door,  sit at the bar  and stare out onto the summer madness that is Saratoga.  The IceHouse has been updated and renovated and after Rose and Schmat were nice enough to indulge me, I've decided I no longer need any part of the IceHouse. Things change, what can ya do?

From there it was phase 2 of dinner - D'Andrea's pizza.  Rose has never had sugar-in-crust-D'Andrea's pizza so it was a mandatory stop. It wasn't the best pizza I've had there but it was still good. Not too cheesy, sugary crust and a little sweet sauce.  Oh D'Andrea's...I do miss the days of ordering a stuffed bread and pint of Ben and Jerry's to my room (and the metabolism that went along with that).

We returned to DA's to finish up the night. We slid back up to the bar to find Rock behind the bar. Rock's been there since before I've been there.  We order our $3.75 (!!) drinks and continue our drinking when Rock looks at the three of us, tilts his head and says "What are you up here for a reunion or something?" I explain why we are there. And he responds, "Great. So what's it been 4-5 years?" [I love you, Rock!] "Uhm, we graduated in '98." "Holy shit, it's been 12 years!"  "Uh yeh, let's not talk about it." 

After many more cocktails, Rose schooling some old dude about the price of drinks outside upstate NY and telling him to cram it, we make our final on the way home drunk stop at Esperanto's. I go all out and get a dough boy and a twice baked potato.  Now I enjoy the twice baked, but don't love it but for some reason it sounded good to me that night. Well, it was a waste of calories. It was good but another dough boy or a slice would have been a better use of those calories.

And I just have to say here - even if this makes us old ladies - we went out 6pm and we strolled in around 1am. Not too bad for some old timers who on Fridays like a little buzz and to be in bed by 10pm. I want a standing ovation! 

Brunch
We wake up - not even hungover! And Rose and I head to Country Corner for homemade breakfast goodness.  Country Corner has expanded since we've been gone and I am all for it. It was a great little cafe that seated about 25 when we were in school and we always had to wait so I am happy about a little expansion.  We sat down and I ordered my favorite - chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.  It was just as good as I remembered.  The chocolate chips melting in the pancake (none of this drizzling on top, bs!) and the contrast with the salty bacon made it the perfect breakfast.

Bellies full of our favorite foods, we packed up the car and waved goodbye to our hometown and the perfect fall weekend it gave us.