Where are you going for Easter? A local brunch Sounds Marvelous!

   If you are looking for a place to eat this Easter, Albany County definitely has you covered! With many options to choose from, there is something for everyone this Sunday. Check ‘em out below:

Easter Brunch at The Capital American Eatery

Sunday, Mar 27, 2016 from 10 AM 4 PM

Where: The Capital American Eatery Address

Cost: $29.95 per adult. $14.95 per child under 12

   Come to the Capital American Eatery on Sunday, March 27th for a spectacular Easter Sunday Buffet Brunch. Immerse yourself in a dining experience fit to satisfy your palate and expose you to fine cuisine.

   Never know what to decide? That is ok!  With multiple food stations to choose from, brunch includes an Omelet, Pasta, Seafood, & Carving station, along with a Waffle and Dessert bar!  This buffet also includes tea, coffee and soda. Reserve your spot online here.

        Easter Brunch at The Point Restaurant & Lounge

Sunday, Mar 27, 2016 10AM

Where: The Point Restaurant and Lounge, 1100 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY

Cost: $29.95 adults, $15 children 4-12, plus tax & gratuity

   Enjoy Easter Brunch at The Point Restaurant & Lounge! Celebrate and relax with family and friends on this fine Sunday morning!

   Easter Brunch and Dinner at Simpson’s

Sunday, Mar 27, 2016 7 AM to 9 PM

Where: Simpson’s at The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, 660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211

Cost: $41.95+

   Bring everyone together for either special Easter brunch, or have a nice holiday dinner. Eat, laugh, and celebrate time together, and take time to relax! Indulge in a special holiday menu, including traditional Easter favorites and more! Dinner is served from 1 pm – 9 pm.

   Easter Brunch At Glen Sanders Mansion

Sunday, 10 AM - 2 PM

Where: Glen Sanders Mansion, One Glen Avenue, Scotia

Cost: $40 Adults / $20 Kids

   Enjoy Easter Brunch from 10 AM to 2 PM at The Glen Sanders Mansion on Easter Day. View their menu here, and call ahead to reserve.

Brunch with the Easter Bunny at Reel Seafood Co.

Sunday 11:30 AM – 2 PM

Where: Reel Seafood Co., 195 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12205

Cost: $5 - $25

   On Easter Sunday the Reel Seafood Co. will be hosting Brunch with the Easter Bunny. This is an extraordinary brunch with many choices on the menu to decide from. Designed with families in mind for a day full of fun and a visit from the Easter Bunny!

   Enjoy live music featuring Frank Sinatra classics and receive a free photo with the Easter Bunny. Adults can enjoy options from the Bloody Mary or Mimosa bar, or some Adult Hot Cocoa.

    Sugaring Off Sundays

Sunday 8:30 AM – 1 PM

Where: The Farmer’s Museum

Cost: $9 for ages 13 & up, $5 for ages 7-12, Free for ages 6 and younger

            Enjoy a full pancake breakfast including scrambled eggs, sausage, and home fries. Stay for many activities later on, including contemporary and historic maple sugaring demonstrations, children’s activities, and more.

   Join in on an Easter egg hunt in the Historic Village at 1pm. Eggs will be filled with carousel tokens and candy. One special golden egg winner will win free rides on the Carousel all year long! Now that sounds like something worthwhile! 

Nine Pin Cider Opens; New Amber Rum at Albany Distilling

There’s been quite a buzz brewing in Albany with the recent opening of New York State’s first licensed farm cidery, Nine Pin Cider Works. On Friday, the owners hosted a ribbon cutting and open house to celebrate the launch of this new facility and four varieties, including one made with blueberries and another using apples exclusively from apples grown on the owner’s property.

The four varieties of apple cider served at the Nine Pin Open House
Photo from Nine Pin's Facebook page.

One of the questions I heard throughout the open house: where did the name Nine Pin come from? The answer, from their website (and also printed on their bottles): “1770. A revolutionary spirit echoes through the Hudson Valley. But Rip Van Winkle, beloved ne’er-do-well, meanders through the Catskill mountains. He follows the distant rolling thunder, finding not a storm, but the ghosts of Henry Hudson’s sailors playing ninepins, the Dutch form of bowling. After partaking in the game and in a keg of hard cider, Rip Van Winkle falls asleep, waking years later to find he’s skipped the entire Revolution.”

You can't see it, but a copy of Rip Wan Winkle is in the background. It all makes sense now.
Photo from Nine Pin's Facebook page.

With the mystery solved, guests were free to mingle about the facility enjoying each other’s company and snacks to complement the cider. It seemed less like a ribbon cutting event and more like a gathering of friendly folks who enjoy local, quality products.

Nine Pin is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 – 9 pm, Saturdays from 1 – 9 pm, and by appointment.

The new Quackenbush Still House Albany Amber Rum.
You can almost taste the smooth vanilla and caramel now, can't you?
Photo from Albany Distilling's Facebook page.

If you’re in the area and feel up for a second distillery tour, feel free to stop by the Albany Distilling Company to sample their new Quackenbush Still House Albany Amber Rum. The guys (and their friendly cat, Cooper) decided to take their original Quackenbush Still House Rum recipe and age it for nine months in the oak barrels they used to age their Ironweed Bourbon. The result is an incredibly different, yet equally delicious, product as their un-aged version. From their Facebook page: “…it picked up the delicate vanilla and caramel from the oak and added a touch of smokiness to the long, creamy, butterscotch finish.”

The Albany Distilling Company is open Tuesdays from 4-8pm, Saturdays from 12 – 8 pm, and by appointment. It is located at Quackenbush Square next to the C.H. Evans Brewing Company at the Albany Pump Station, a microbrewery and restaurant that serves as a great spot to enjoy a meal after all the tastings!

Chef Ric Orlando Competing Again

This time, it's in Vegas.

Chef Ric Orlando is packing up his Eggplant Balls recipe and fixings for the World Food Championships in Las Vegas. If you haven't tried the signature dish, adapted from his grandmother's recipe, head to the New World Bistro Bar on Delaware Avenue in Albany to taste it!

Orlando is no stranger to the celebrity scene. He's appeared on the Food Network's "Chopped" twice, winning in 2010, and appearing in a championship competition in 2011.

More information on this story can be found on the Business Review's website.