This, That, All Of It

I’m fickle. That’s right, fickle. I even googled the definition just to make sure I wasn’t misusing the word - carelessly professing to be something I’m not. But alas, it’s true: "changing frequently, especially as regards one's loyalties, interests, or affection. ex. Web patrons are a notoriously fickle lot, bouncing from one site to another on a whim."

I feel better just getting that out of my system. I have now admitted to you all, what may well be one of my most defining qualities - well, that, and the fact that I’m also tenacious: "tending to keep a firm hold of something; clinging or adhering closely. ex. a tenacious grip, unyielding."

So, keeping in mind the fact that I am fickle and also tenacious, you might come to the conclusion that I am a bit of a contradiction. And, you would be right. Oh, and let’s not forget cheap - you may remember that from some of my older blogs. Let me explain…

What To Do, What To Do?

The weather outside is frightful… well, maybe not frightful, but it’s too damp and chilly to enjoy a long hike with the kids. A walk around Mirror Lake is a great option, but even if you walk really, reallllly slowly - it should only take an hour. And, if you walk with your long-legged or four-legged friends, it could be done in a quick 35-40 minutes. It’s not yet snowing - so strapping on the cross-country skis and taking a few turns through the woods isn’t on the docket. What to do, what to do? 

We know the awesome downtown of Lake Placid is a perfectly walkable destination; it is a shopper’s dream. Boutiques, antiques, crafts - for those that like to wile away the day happily browsing the local wares, you will find more than enough options to fill your time. This is not me. I like to shop, occasionally, but I would rather be doing something active or educational, or filling (yeah, eating is always a good idea).

So, I was wracking my brain - wondering what we could do on these late-fall/early-winter days, and the word Tastings came into view. I mean, it literally came into view - I was driving down Main Street and three times within less than three minutes, I passed signs for "Tastings." 

YES! This is something I have been meaning to do. It may be exactly what a fickle-tenacious person needs. You see, I can go to the same restaurant 4 times in a month and I will, undoubtedly order the same thing - because I know I like it, and it is habit - I am sure it is the best option (tenacious). Seriously, I’m the person that can walk into a place and the waiter just asks - "the usual?" However, I will, also undoubtedly, be jealous of whatever my dining partner(s) decide upon (fickle). Luckily, most of my friends are more than willing to share/trade.  

But what if, just what if, there was a place I could have the best of both worlds - without annoying my friends and loved ones by always second-guessing myself? (lightbulb explodes) Tastings - the answer I have been unknowingly looking for!

Breaking The Creature Of Habit

After a quick bit of research, I realized there were easily enough places in the Village where I could get a bit of education, have some fun, and fill my afternoon while opening my mind. 

I decided to experiment. And, I’m not going to lie - it was fun. I do want to point out from the start that I only visited a few of our fine establishments, I could easily repeat this experiment 2 or 3 times more without repeating the same places. Heck, maybe I will! But for now… meet this week’s No Snow, No Problem participants…

A Touch Of This, A Sprinkle Of That…

Saratoga Olive Oil Co.

Alright, I admit, I had no idea what I was getting myself into here. I mean, come on, how much time can you spend doing a tasting of olive oil? Oh. My… I have been duly schooled. Gourmet Oils, Fused Olive Oils, Infused Olive Oils, Dark Balsamics, White Balsamics... Literally, you could spend anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour in this store. The knowledgeable staff greet you upon entry, explain the basics of the tasting gallery you are entering, and point you toward the bread and the water with lemon - "for cleansing your palate" between flavors. From this point you can choose to explore on your own, or - as in the case of myself and my co-worker Kelly - we chose to have about 50 questions answered. And, to the credit of the staff, they knew the answers and their patience was abundant; they obviously love what they are doing. 

But wait, there’s more. They have a Salt Tasting Gallery as well. SALT! I love salt - don’t say it, I know it’s to be used in moderation, but that doesn’t change the fact - I love salt! Especially sea salt, and here I was presented with dozens of different salts. To say I was overwhelmed would be an underwhelming statement.

Ok, so… not only did I open my mind, I had to bring a bottle home with me. My choice for this week? Well, this was hard - there were so many tastes I liked - but I narrowed it down to a Coconut White Balsamic, a Butternut Squash Seed Gourmet Oil, and a Raspberry Dark Balsamic (and, again, I didn’t even come close to sampling them all). I finally made my selection after Pete, our patient host, mentioned an awesome salad recipe that would be great with the Raspberry. Oh, yeah, the recipe rack - a whole wall of ideas, waiting for you to peruse. And, there's also a whole section of regional goods to complement your selection.

So, to break down our first stop: 

• Easily 30 minutes to an hour could be spent in this store - with the right company (we spent a half-hour).
• I would not suggest bringing a 5 year-old (or at least not my 5 year-old).
• I spent a mere $12 and got to bring home a nice-sized bottle of Dark Balsamic.
• There's definitely something for all tastes - while I tended toward the sweet, Kelly enjoyed the spicier options like the Chipotle and Green Chili.
• Ask questions - the staff knows their stuff, and it’s really pretty interesting.
• And, did I mention - they have a Salt Tasting Gallery!?

1-2-3-4-5, 6-7…!

Great Adirondack Brewing Company

Ok, so Kelly and I figured as long as we were in this part of town, we might as well stop in one of our two local breweries. Because, what better way to continue our tasting experiment than to try out a Beer Sampler?

We grabbed a couple of stools, and just as we were getting ready to belly up to the bar (I’ve always wanted to say that), I got sidetracked and ending up talking with a couple of visitors from the Glens Falls area. They, too, were enjoying an afternoon tasting - again, why before now, have I never thought of doing this on a rainy day!?

Meanwhile, Robbie - one of the owners and brewers - had settled down to chat with Kelly. What a lucky break - not only were we able to have fun with the Tasting, we managed to interrogate the man behind the curtain. This isn’t unusual, as with many of our local establishments the owners are often on-hand, mingling with the locals and tourists, alike. And, in this case, all you need to do is ask, and a tour of the Brewery is offered.

Our Tasting Rack was presented - we decided we would share one as the six glasses amount to about two pints (and I am admittedly a lightweight). We got to work. Robbie walked us through the flavors, the history, and the brew process starting with the lightest and working to the heavier choices.

I can totally understand why this is an award-winning brewery. And, I have to say, it was yet another eye-opening experience. I often order my standard bottle of light beer (name withheld to avoid your judgment), simply because even though I’m tempted to try a new brew - the choices often overwhelm me. It was pretty funny to see the differences in our taste: my highest rated were on opposite ends of the spectrum - the Blond Ale and the Stout; Kelly went for the Saison, the Stout (as well), and the Porter. Oh, and we both enjoyed the special Red Nitro - you’ll have to ask about that process! They actually have two of their taps on nitro.

Breaking down our second stop… 

• Easily an hour. Especially if you like to chat - the bartenders are super friendly as are the locals. 
• I would not suggest bringing a 5 year-old (Again. Poor kid.).
• We spent less than $15 and left with a bit of an extra bounce in our step. 
• Ask questions - did you know they’ve been brewing beer for 20 years now? Or that the way they come up with some of their flavors are simply, "hmm, we have these oak pieces floating around - let’s try it."
• And, did I mention - the bartender heard me mention apples and passed us a couple of amazing caramel apple pieces - used for one of their specialty drinks?

Poppin’ Fresh

Adirondack Popcorn Company

Ok, let’s pop outside of the box for a minute (did you see what I did there? pop… get it!?). Again, who would ever think a whole store could be dedicated to something so simple. Popcorn? Well, again, I’m eating my words. 

I chose to take Oliver with me on this little venture (the aforementioned deprived 5 year-old). We followed the unmistakably delicious smell as it beckoned us into the store. The cases are set up with several different flavors of corn - and this is when my child taught me something. Without my prompting, he immediately asked for a scoop of cheese popcorn mixed with the all-American Red & Blue, What!? It never occurred to me to mix the choices. I usually order one small container - of one flavor. I assumed that today, we would order a few small boxes, and keep them segregated. But, no… thanks to the brain of my wily child, we ended up with 4 flavors that were scooped from the cases. And, I have to admit, I had to buy 2 of the pre-packaged bags (these are still made fresh at the store, but are not available by the scoop). And, then, I spotted the day’s fresh batch - Chocolate Mint Cookies & Cream. Wow. That’s all I can say. It was (and I say "was" because it hardly made it out the door) amazing.

How do they come up with the flavors? They experiment. It’s all from their imagination - try it, and see. I give them two thumbs up for creativity. Oliver would also give two thumbs up, except his hands are full of corn-y goodness.

Breaking down our third stop… 

• A fun 10-30 minutes. Besides taking the time to peruse and choose the perfect flavors, there are a lot of fun signs and knickknacks to look through.
• I would not suggest bringing a 5 year-old (Just kidding - this is the perfect place for a fun outing with the kids).
• I spent less than $15 and we left with 5 flavors of corn - and it lasts for a few days if kept closed.
• The store is fun! The girls that work there are fun - and accommodating, they were very patient with my back-and-forth in flavor choice.
• For goodness sake - if it’s the batch of the day and it’s chocolate, buy it.

Hot! Hot! Hot!

Desperados Restaurant

Dinner at Despos - it’s a bit of a tradition for Oliver, myself, and "Aunt" Bonnie. We usually choose to go early - it’s perfectly family friendly and we love the laid-back atmosphere. Oh, and they know my "usual." This time, I decided to shock them all and taste the difference. This hadn't been on my original Tastings list - but I was on a roll.

We ordered a margarita sampler (did you know they offer these?). With over 100 tequilas to choose from, this is an awesome option - especially for me - I’ve been choosing the same brand for longer than I will admit. Bonnie has recently started looking for a new flavor and orders a different kind with each visit. Tonight we tried 4 that came in the sampler, and then ordered an additional two - for the sake of adding a little color (really).

And, just to really step out of my comfort zone, instead of ordering my usual tame (aka not spicy in the least) dinner, I ordered one of the specials of the night. Every day, Despos offers a sampler of sorts on their menu. I have never ordered one, as it would mean trying 3-4 items not in my repertoire. This evening it included a Maple Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla, Cheese Enchilada with two (yikes) sauces, and a side of black beans. And, while I was at it, I decided to try a couple of the milder table sauces. This was actually a pretty fun experiment - Despos makes and bottles their own brand of hot sauces, and there is always a tray of them waiting on the table. I've never touched them as the printed 4-Jalapeño rating has scared me away. Oliver enjoyed the task of figuring out which bottle was the mildest, and I took the plunge. Awesome!

Of course, no dinner with Aunt Bonnie is complete without a sweet treat, and although we normally choose the Chocolate Hot Lava Cake. This time we continued our theme and ended up with a delicious Strawberry Cheese Cake. 

Breaking down our final Tasting… 

• An hour+ depending on the crowd, how many courses you order, and if you decide to talk to all your neighbors. This is a locals favorite, and I have never been here without running into at least a table or two of folks I know.
• Kid-friendly. We often go for an early dinner mid-week and there are other schoolmates for Oliver to say hi to.
• Oliver likes to make his own "roll-ups" so, we order a few appetizers and sides for him (BBQ Wings, cheese, tortillas, beans, etc) and let him start making them while we wait for our meals. He’s a slow eater, so this works out great timing-wise, and he doesn’t have to wait as long for his meal.
• Margo Sampler: Yes. Yes. Yes. I would never have tried a Mango Margo - and I loved it. Bonnie liked the Milagro the best. And, for what it’s worth - Oliver liked the color of the Blue.
• We spent less than $20 on the Margo Sampler and our bartender Mike gave us some great background on the ones we chose.
• Hot Sauce: they are on the table for you to try - do it. 
• Dessert: I’m still a Chocolate fan. Bonnie liked the Cheesecake. Oliver will eat anything - especially the whipped cream. Actually, a plate of whipped cream would probably be his choice.

Open Your Mind & Your Mouth

All in all, this may very well be the most eye-opening subject I’ve written about. I learned not only about what a few of our local stores offer, but I learned to step out of my comfort zone. I will reiterate - you can easily fill an afternoon on an adventure like this. I didn’t even get to visit Nicola’s for a Sushi Sampler, or one of our many available restaurants/stores that offer wine & liquor tastings, or the LP Pub & Brewery, or the Candyman Homemade Chocolates, or… well, you get the idea! 

Coming to town and planning your own foray down Main Street? Looking for a place to stay? Have an idea of where I should stop on my next Tasting Experiment? Let me know, I’ll happily try something new and report back to you!