Things are heating up at the Chili Challenge!

The full restaurant line up has been announced for the 6th Annual Chili Challenge at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Latham. 20 area restaurants will take part in the November 7 contest including: Bellevue Cafe,  Farmer Boy Diner,  Gazebo Catering, and Hollow Bar and Kitchen.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample each chili and vote for your favorite. A panel of celebrity judges will also take part in the event including YNN's Heather Karen Morrison, News 10's Tim Drawbringe, Newschannel 13's Dan Bazile, Fox 23's Steve Teeling, and Greg Aidala.

The entire list of competing restaurants includes: On Tap Sports Bar,  Pine Haven Country Club,  The Eatery at Carol's Place,  Salty's Pub,  Orchard Tavern,  The Barrel Saloon,  Otis & Oliver's,  Holiday Retirement/Diamond Ridge Retirement Center,  Pie in the Sky Restaurant,  Lark Street Tavern,  Capital District Catering,  Sperry's,  The Ripe Tomato,  Wandering Dago,  Tugboat Tavern,  El Loco Mecican Cafe.

On top of tastings a variety of vendors will be on hand to kick off your holiday shopping. Vendors ar the event will include: Silver Leaf Resorts, Scentsy, It Works Global Body Wrap, Livilu & Temesa's Boutique, The Traveling Vineyard, Fifth Avenue Collection Jewelry Shush Shoes, Madison Handbags, Arbonne International, Tastefully Simple, Craftin Cuzzins, Better Way Imports, Mary Kay Cosmetics, and Mialisia.

Tickets for this event can be purchased at all area Price Choppers for $15, tickets can also be purchased at the door for $20. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Proceeds from the night will got to help the Northeast Kidney Foundation. Holiday Inn Express & Suites is located 400 New Loudon Road in Latham. For more information check out the Northeast Kidney Foundation website or call (518) 533-7880.

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.

Celebrate Halloween at Angelo's 677 Prime!

         Angelo's 677 Prime will offer special drinks for tonight's bewitching holiday! Two 677 Prime Halloween Cocktails will be available.
   
         Adults are invited to try the Black Cosmo featuring Sobieski vodka, cointreau, fresh lime juice, candy skull. For Walking Dead fans there's also the Zombietini with Sobieski Citron, grenadine, cointreau, raspberry, dekyper, raspberry drizzle, and a floating eye ball. Enjoy a drink and a bag of Truffle caramel popcorn, you're never too old to have fun!

          Angelo's 677 Prime is located at 677 Broadway in Downtown Albany. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling (518) 427-7463.

Bite & Sip: A Culinary Cocktail Adventure

A Culinary and Cocktail Adventure

Bite & Sip

Friday, November 1st • 6 - 9 pm

Get a scrumptious BITE and a signature cocktail SIP at a variety of your favorite downtown Albany restaurants that surround Capital Repertory Theatre.

Bite & Sip is a pub crawl-style event. You may buy tickets online or that night at the Capital Repertory Theatre box office. If you buy tickets online, please visit Capital Repertory Theatre first to pick up your map.

Once you pick up your map, you can visit the locations in the order you choose.

Participating Restaurants include: Blue 82, Capital American Eatery & Lounge, McGeary's, LeSerre, The Hollow, Victory Cafe, dp An American Brasserie, Albany Pump Station and more!

For more information: Leesa Perazzo 382-3884 x187 or Lperazzo@proctors.org.

TICKET PRICES: $25

Buy your tickets online here!

International Center to offer Global Cuisine

        The International Center of the Capital Region will offer a variety of cooking classes over the next several months. Popular area Chef Yono Purnomo head chef and co-owner of Yono's and DP in Downtown Albany will lead the courses.  Top chef's from around the Capital Region will assist Chef Yono as the International Center strives to "provide students with a world class educational experience in a fun, hands-on, participatory environment."

          The first course, Indoneasan Cooking, will take place on November 16 from 11 am-2 pm. Following that the center will offer an International Cookie Baking Class just in time for the holidays on December 7 at $25 a person. A Japanese cooking course will be offered from 6pm-8 pm on December 18.
         
         Classes will be continue in the 2014 with Indian Cooking on January 9 and Louisiana Creole Cooking on February 6.

          A VIP Tasting & Tour at the Albany Distillery will take place on March 13 from 6 pm-7 pm for only $10 a person.
     
         As the snow melts away two great classes will be offered just in time for picnics and warm weather! Teaching Great BBQ Techniques on April 10 from 6 pm to 8 pm and Middle Eastern Cooking will be offered on May 8 from 6 pm to 8 pm.

        All noted classes are priced at $50 a person unless noted  otherwise. For more information contact the International Center of the Capital Region by calling (518) 708-7608, online at www.iccralbany.org, or via e-mail info@iccralbany.org.