5th Annual Mac & Cheese Bowl on Sale Now!

Tickets are now on sale for the Timesunion.com/Tablehopping 5th Annual Mac & Cheese Bowl at area Price Choppers. Profits from the annual event benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. This years event will be held at the Albany Marriott on Saturday, February 15.

The event will include 30 tasting stations featuring local restaurants. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to taste all of the Mac -n- Cheese dishes and vote for their favorite.
 
Participating restaurants include Albany Pump Station, Mazzone Hospitality, The Standard Restaurant & Lounge, and Farmer Boy Diner & Restaurant. Tickets are $20 for adults and $5 for kids. There will be two tasting sessions at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., respectively.

Other participants include: Albany Marriott, The Century House, Capital District Catering, Chez Mike, Comfort Kitchen, Druthers Brewing Company, The Ginger Man Wine Bar & Restaurant, Hannaford Supermarkets & Elegant Touch Catering, Illium Café, Katie O'Byrnes, Lark Tavern, and The Mallozzi Family.

As well as Mio Vino Wine Bar & Bistro, Nighthawk's Kitchen, Price Chopper Supermarkets, The Red Lion Inn, Samantha's Café & Catering, Sea Fish Market and Grill, Slidin' Dirty Food Truck & Catering.

Uncle Marty's Adirondack Grill, Valente's Restaurant, Wolff's Biergarten, and Wheatfields Bistro & Wine Bar will also offer tastings.

Awards for the top dishes will be given out as part of the fundraising event. Here's how the judging will take place according to press notes: "Local food-savvy judges will rate mac-n-cheese from the 30 participating restaurants, and attendees also will have a chance to vote for a people’s-choice award. In addition, 10 reader-finalists will be invited to bring their version of mac-n-cheese to compete for awards from the judges."

The Albany Marriott is located at 189 Wolf Road in Colonie. Only 1,600 tickets will be sold at Price Chopper Stores. After that tickets will only be available at the food banks headquarters in Latham and at the door day of the event. Those tickets will be to the later tasting at 12:30 p.m. Click here for more information.

Wine & Food Fest Announces New Event!

The fifth annual Albany Chef's Food & Wine Festival: Wine & Dine for the Arts will be spicing up it's event lineup with a new competition. Six of Albany's finest bartenders will battle head to head during the Battle of the Bartenders: Bloody Mary Edition!

Click here to read all about the new Battle of the Bartenders: Bloody Mary Edition Contest. Tickets for this event are still available.

Wine and Dine for the Arts will kick off Thursday, January 16th at 5:30 p.m. with the Mayor's Opening Celebration at City Hall. The majority of the weekend events will be held at the Hilton Albany with the Slider Slam at 90 State Street on Friday night. 

Purchase your tickets at www.albanywinefest.com. Complimentary parking to all festival events at the Hilton Albany is included with ticket purchase.

A Taste of Restaurant Week all Winter Long!

Can't wait for Downtown Albany Spring Restaurant Week in April? You won't have to! The Hollow Bar + Kitchen will offer a three-course special for $20.14 each Tuesday through at least the end of March. Participants will have their choice from three appetizers, three entrées, and two desserts from the regular menu.

The Hollow will be joined by several other Downtown area restaurants who will also participate in the weekly program. Additional eateries include The Capital American Eatery & Lounge, Carmine’s, and The Merry Monk. Full menus will also be offered at their regular prices.

J&A Prep Kitchen to Close

J&A Prep Kitchen will close its doors at Crossgates Mall on Monday according to Steve Barnes. The Times Union Senior Writer reports that owner Joe Marello is searching for a new location for the J&A Prep.

You can read Barnes' blog on J&A Prep by clicking here.

Wine & Dine for the Arts Gala Reception has Sold Out!

The Albany Chef's Food and Wine Fest has a good problem on its hands: no tickets left for the Grand Gala Reception! The Saturday, January 18, Reception dinner officially sold out last weekend.

Tickets are still available for a variety of events throughout the three-day festival which kicks off with the Mayor's Opening Celebration at City Hall on Thursday January 16 at 5:30 p.m. Not only does this event kick off the weekend, it's also the first major event for Albany's new Mayor, Kathy Sheehan. 

More than 3,500 people are expected to attend this years event which benefits are variety of local arts organizations including: the Albany Barn, Albany Institute of History & Art, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Capital Repertory Theatre and Park Playhouse.

We'll have more information on the 2014 Wine and Dine for the arts in the days and weeks to come.