Garbage Plate- the real deal

Welcome to western New York. Many people say "pop" instead of soda, we apparently have an accent (evidenced by, for example, Rochester being shortened to 2 syllables by natives), and there are hot dog places everywhere. Living outside of the Roc for as many years as I did, I developed hot dog related guilt. After all, the concept is kind of gross if you think about it. But being back in my city of origin, I am embracing what I'm sure will be a life long relationship with this salty meat.

For you non-natives, I have to explain that you can't just order a hot dog. You have to specify white or red. A red or Texas hot is what most people think of when hot dog is mentioned. We also have white hots, which I personally have never really liked. White meat (not like as in chicken or pork, more literally white) doesn't really look good to me and they are a little spicier and sausagier.

Another thing all Rochestarians know is Nick Tahou's. This place is a lovable downtown dive. Although the major part of the cleintele consists of college students, law enforcement officers, and various colorful blue collar characters, it is a Rochester institution and those Rochesterians who do not have an exaggerated idea of downtown crime will make the occasional trip. Opened in 1918, and not redecorated since probably 1968, they serve awesome hot dogs, hamburgers, breakfasts, and other foods you might find listed on an average kid's menu or served out of a cart. Their most famous creation is the garbage plate. The only ones allowed to use the name "garbage plate"; the many imitators must resort to "trash platter" or other variations. First you choose your meat: the original options were hot dog (red or white) or hamburger. They have since added lots of others- chicken fingers, fish, etc. Next, you choose your foundation from two of the following: french fries, home fries, macaroni salad, and some others. If you get it "with everything", you get onions, mustard, and hot sauce on top. The hot sauce most resembles chili- very finely ground beef and not really any other chunks of anything, but hot (it reminded me of indian food...hmmm...maybe I can figure out the secret!).

Also, you should know that it doesn't say "Garbage Plate" on the plastic backlit menu hanging on the wall. There are many stories of somebody ordering a "Hamburger Plate" and getting something quite different from what they expected. This is also not a dish intended for those who can't handle their foods touching on the plate. Me, having studied, ordered my first garbage plate just like a pro: "red hot plate, fries & mac salad with everything". I figure you have to go with everything as the chef intended when you sample a house special for the first time. Here's what I got: half a plate of wicked good mayo based macaroni salad, half a plate of crinkle cut fries (from frozen but totally good), two red hots split down the middle and grilled on the flat fry/grill thing, topped off with spicy mustard, onions, and hot sauce. My favorite thing was how the hot sauce leaked into the macaroni....it's like they wanted to be together. I think I would have liked less hot sauce, and only one hot dog. I couldn't finish my plate and was embarassed. Maybe next time I would get no onions and mustard- not really needed in my opinion as the sauce adds plenty of flavor and texture. I would not, however, change my main ingredient or bottom items.

I have many hot dog places, and perhaps counterfiet "trash plates" to try..it's almost overwhelming. But I'm glad I went to the mecca first, and look forward to perfecting my own garbage plate experience.

http://www.garbageplate.com

Saratoga, Part Deux

I am embarrassed that it has taken me this long to post Saratoga, Day II. However, stuff happens. As I lay as here unable to sleep (grrr) I decided it may be a good time to blog.

Day 2 in Saratoga was our Track Day. Most of us had been to the Saratoga Racetrack (horses for you that don't know) at some point during our Saratoga lives - except Rose. So this year we decided the track was a priority for our reunion wknd. But before you can bet, you need eats.

We started our morning at The Bread Basket. Rose had never been there either. I hadn't been there since I lived in Saratoga during the summer of 1998. Since this was the trip of "mixing it up" we canceled out Country Corner and went for the Basket. The Basket is a cute little bakery near Congress Park that provides various baked goods. It expanded since I was last there (11 years ago) but everything looked and smelled delicious. I got a sausage, egg and cheese. Very simple - but very good. I was extremely happy with my choice - as I love breakfast meats.

We then went to the track and were finally joined by DJB our Saturday-working friend. I will not discuss track food - except to say that I had a pretzel and a beer and they were both great considering it was 100 degrees. Oh and Meggers looked awesome in her hat.

That night we also met one of our long held goals - we ate dinner at Hattie's Chicken Shack. Now again, I loved Hattie's when I lived in Saratoga but it was not a place I frequented. It was a real restaurant. I didn't really eat at a lot of real restaurants when I was in Saratoga.

Hattie's Chicken Shack is a bit of an institution. Opened, I can't even say how long ago, by a woman from Louisiana it serves southern food. It's fried chicken is famous. We were able to secure a table after about 20 minutes - amazing during racing season. We started in the back garden with our drinks. The drinks, though a fun menu, were not that amazing. I don't blame Hattie's, I blame a probably new and overwhelmed bartender.

Since I have problems making choices, Rose and I got two different entrees and shared. Ribs and Fried Chicken. My sides were corn on the cob and mashed potatoes. This is where Hattie's was great. The ribs were good but the fried chicken was just what I wanted. Enough breading to get what you really want - the fried stuff - and moist (yes, I used THAT word) chicken.

I think we got dessert but I don't remember. Our night ended at 9 Maple...again with yummy drinks and the perfect atmosphere.

DJB somehow turned on her "dough boy" stomach and ate a dough boy on the way home to make sure she got one in before she left town. I've never been more proud of her.

The next day we did our usual departure meal. Bagels and coffee at Uncommon Grounds on Broadway. The bagel was yummy. I can see how Schmat may not LOVE the bagels - they are really big so can be overwhelming but there is still something perfect about them. I had an everything with plain cream cheese and a slice of tomato (stole that order from Meggers). I love everything bagels because of the little hint of salt.

So that was Saratoga! Wrapped up with a loop around the campus, a wave to town, and a final good bye to Schmat's apartment which has been our Saratoga Vacation Home for many years.

We'll have to see the next time we get back..Schmat moved further west to the Roch and now .there's rumor of us trying to mix things up even more -- choosing different destinations for our little reunion trips every year. Can you even imagine?! New cities = New food.

Rochester so far

Well, I've now been a Rochester resident (again) for about 20 days. Stricken with the worst sore throat ever that left me unable to drink, much less eat, anything for over a week, I feel behind on the culinary exploration of the new region. Nevertheless, I do have some random thoughts I'd like to share with the sporadic food bloggers dear to me.

1. Today I ate a great bagel. This may be blasphemy, but I have never been a fan of Uncommon bagels. There are about 15 bagel places in the neighborhood I grew up in, so I feel like I'm not totally uneducated. I returned to said 'hood, to the place I frequented most back in the day. Good size bagel- not too big. Shiny and firm outside; perfectly dense, moist, chewy center.
2. Wegmans. I will probably write a lot about Wegmans later because it is so amazing. I could probably exist soley on their prepared foods, and may indeed try to do so since one cabinet in my kitchen has a very weird smell and I don't like to open it to get out pots & pans (which I only got around to unpacking today anyways.) I will refrain at the moment from describing the wonderful stuff I've had already. Let me just tell you that every time I go in there I think of taking photos on my phone to text you, but I don't do so for fear that they'll think I'm some type of corporate spy. Let me paint a word picture: Seafood counter probably 20+ feet long. Among every other thing that swims in the ocean, 5 or so kinds of shrimp behind the glass- raw, different sizes, some cooked & flavored. Each variety in a single layer on a tray. Each shrimp facing the same way...I am both afraid and utterly respectful of the person who's job it is to do this daily.
3. Public Market. I went with my mother yesterday. I didn't buy anything (pots & pans still boxed up at that point). But she goes weekly (and has done so for as long as I can remember) and she's got a fish guy, a cheese guy, some surprisingly hot tomato guys, and really knows the whole dealio at this Rochester institution. I found it inspiring that so many people still take time to argue the price of tomatoes and get super fresh ingredients. As many hick farmers as there were in Toga, I'd never heard the word "localvore" used as much as it is here. There's also food stands where you can get a snack, and I got an amazing totally fresh bacon, egg, & cheese sandwich for $2.
4. Chains. I feel like a phony putting this right after my Public Market section, but Rochester pretty much has every chain ever. Both a blessing and a curse. But I have never been to Red Lobster and I'm sorry to say that currently, going there is more important to me than finding a job.

Beyond Red Lobster, other pressing food goals include eating a Garbage Plate at Nick Tahou's and finding decent pizza. Sad state of pizza affairs here in The Roc. And I've already given up hope on finding a sub that doesn't make me yearn for Roma's, but I went to an absolutely huge/amazing/Wegmans owned liquor store today, so at least I can drink away my sorrows on that front until my next trip east.....and I still have a photo of the Roma's guys on my fridge!