This first installment of The Culinary Capital Blog is
designed to invite locals and visitors to experience the rich dining culture of
Albany through partner restaurants, as part of the Spirit of Albany
campaign. Over the coming weeks this blog
will highlight six inspired cocktails that were crafted by these participating
restaurants; Jack’s Oyster House, The Hollow, New World Bistro, 677 Prime, La
Serre and The Century House. Follow along as we chronicle how the city is
depicted through this diner’s journal of food and fare.
One of Albany’s staple establishments – 677 Prime – a
restaurant which has served the Capital Region in good stead, since Spring of
2005, is one that undoubtedly delivers the ultimate dining experience. The
unmistakable feel of an up-to-the-minute men’s club is exuded in the entry way,
where regulars have the option of stowing coveted dining essentials – like a
twenty-year-old single malt Scotch whisky – in individually lit lockers
appropriately constructed in rich mahogany and metal mesh doors.
Such a
display, affirms the restaurants’ position of marrying luxury with high-toned
whim. In the dining room, tradition
meets contemporary in a deceivingly large and lavish dining space. The wood tones are balanced by cool brushed
metal accents, which are highlighted by a smattering of beautiful crystal and
industrial light fixtures; it is indeed, the ultimate juxtaposition of
masculine and feminine touches. The tufted leather booths coupled with crisp
white linens adds to 677's understated sophistication. And a gallery wall
pageants the artistic work of talented local artists.
Elegantly constructed floral arrangements and topiaries
add brilliant hue to an otherwise quiet and neutral palette. And as the old
adage goes, “you eat with your eyes first” and this atmosphere certainly sets
the stage for something truly delectable.
The menu at 677 runs the gamut from
the expected to the exceptional. And although it is branded as the
quintessential steak-house, some of the offerings buck conventional steak house
fare and are truly thoughtful and purposefully inventive, such as the molten
“crab cake” dip. The prices do skirt industry standards, however, every guest
would attest that hand-cut steaks from top purveyors is definitely worth it.
There’s no dispute that 677 is a classic dinning
institution, however, of late, its well-stocked bar now brandishes a cocktail
that is anything but traditional. The
Dark and Spicy is an improbable combination of Ginger Beer, a smattering of
rums; ADC Quackenbush Still House Rum and Gosling Rum, as well as, Golden
Falernum and Simple Syrup, garnished with fresh lemon. It is well composed, in that, the initial
spice attack from the Ginger Beer and Golden Falernum was not overwhelming but
rather warming as it facilitated the distinct taste and heft of the Rum to
create a long and lingering, pleasant mid-palate.
Although this drink features enough lemon juice
to create somewhat of a palpable pucker, the characteristic acidity was muted
by other dominant spice flavors.
However, in the end, it was the subtle saccharine notes which
complemented the smooth finish to reveal a truly balanced cocktail; one which distinctly
plays on the contours of the city in which it was created to represent.
Editor's note: We asked some of Albany’s best mixologists to
create original cocktail recipes that embody the spirit of Albany, and we
compiled those recipes into our 2014 Spirit of Albany Recipe Guide. In this exciting blog series local foodie BrigidWashington, a Culinary Institute of America grad and local restaurant
consultant, explores each restaurant – it’s menu, it’s atmosphere, and of
course, it’s custom cocktail – and provides her perspective on how it all comes
together to create part of Albany’s creative culinary scene! (The ACCVB does
not, in any way, condone drinking and driving so please designate a driver as
we did for this series.)
