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.