September 6 - 8th: The SPAC Wine & Food Festival
This is the big one folks, there are so many great wines and lots of Saratoga chefs. There's the "Live n Stage" Gala, Adirondack Appliance Grill Games with the Times Union and they have Zac Pellachio this year. The best part is the Grand Tasting which is always a great time....well if the weather holds out, last year it looked like the apocalypse was coming which actually lead to lots of laughs and speculation. I've gone to this event for years and years, and it's always a great time. (oh helpful hint for ladies, do not wear stilettos to the grand tasting because you sink into the ground.)
Sept 7 & 8th: The Cheese Tour
Explore the world of farmstead and artisinal cheeses of Washington County Cheesemakers. This is a drive yourself tour of the local farms. BUT you can do what I plan on doing, because on this weekend of madness I can't drive to all the farms, and that's to visit the Lucas Confectionery for Cheese Week where they are featuring these cheeses throughout this week.
Cheese Tour Info: http://www.washingtoncountycheese.com/tour
Sept 7th: Altamont Craft Beer Fest
To be honest, I don't know if I'm going to get to this one because I'm going to be at SPAC and they are at opposite ends of the world. I've checked out the brewery list and they have lots of good people coming, and there's music and food there. It sounds like fun though right?
Sept 13th: Hallowine at Altamont Vineyards
I went to this event last year and had a blast! The focus on this one is really the chef stations and competition. Yono Purnomo, Elliot Cunniff, Marla Ortega, Ryan Huneau, Giovanni Morina all do the chef competition. Last year Tony Iadiciccio displayed his artwork (I don't know who's on for this year) and there music & dancing It's just good people having a good time.
Sept 14th: Patriots Day Pig Roast at The Ruck to benefit the Troy Boys & Girls Clubs
So this has to be the best deal in town. $10 for an all you can eat pig roast with sides and such. They are going to have the Church St Alleyway closed off for everyone to enjoy the nice weather. Admission and outside beer sales benefit the Troy Boys & Girls Clubs. Basically, the folks over at the Ruck are pretty awesome people, so go chill out at the Ruck and Enjoy Troy!
https://www.facebook.com/events/160338847500314/
Sept 17th: Yono's at the James Beard House in NYC
So in case you didn't know, this is a really big deal. Really big. The JBF is where some of the best chefs in the country go to present their work. It is a huge honor for any chef to be selected to do a dinner, and if I'm not mistaken this is the 4th or 5th time that Yono's has been asked. So it's going to be an extraordinary multicourse dinner with wine where Chef Yono will present "Flavors of Indonesia".
Sept 19th: Chefs & Vintners Harvest Dinner for the Regional Food Bank of NENY and Feast of the Fields to benefit Saratoga PLAN
(yes this is where I need to clone myself)
Let's start with Chefs & Vintners: This is a great event at the Glen Sanders Mansion that has a cocktail reception and six course wine dinner prepared by a bunch of the areas finest chefs. I've had lots of fun at this one before and highly recommend it, and it benefits the Regional Food Bank so that's just awesome!
Feast of the Fields: This event pairs local restaurants and farmers to promote sustainable agriculture, promote the local economy, increasing awareness for conserving local farms and buying local. There are about 10 chefs/restaurants from the Saratoga area offering tasting stations along with the beer, wine and moonshine! This is outside at Saratoga National Golf Club and benefits Saratoga PLAN.
Sept 21st: Hudson River Craft Beer Festival
This is a new one for me, but hey it's craft beer and I love craft beer! Aside from that everyone that I know that's super into craft beer is going and since they are literally the biggest beer geeks (lovers) around I'm thinking this is a sure bet for a good time with great beer. I also heard that some of my chefly friends are going. By the way, totally taking the train to this one!
Sept 26th: Autumn Evening in the Garden to benefit Capital District Community Gardens
This is a good event up at Franklin Plaza if you want the opportunity to taste from lots of chef stations. What's better is that the farmers contribute their produce, meats and cheeses for the chefs to use so you're getting some really great quality product. CDCG does so many fantastic programs for the youth in our community, they really need our support!
There are a few other events that look great but I just don't think that I will have time to get to. But here they are in case you would like to:
Lake George Distilling Co. Grand Opening - Sept 7th
Hudson Valley Wine & Food Fest - Sept 7 & 8
Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition - Sept 7th
Capital Region Apple & Wine Festival - Sept 14 & 15th at the Altamont Fair Grounds
There you have it my friends, it's going to be a busy September! So please go on out there and
Eat, Drink, Be Merry and Do Good!
Oh and please, please, please Drink Responsibly! Get a Designated Driver or better yet, get a car service from my friend Dani Brown at Premier Limo!
At The Cheese Traveler, located at 540 Delaware Ave. in Albany, all Washington County cheeses are 10% off this week in celebration of the Washington County Cheese Tour.
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