The 2010 Best of Menu

Food Essay | Written by Nathan Mattise

It’s usually fun to do year-end lists, but here’s the one exception to the rule. All the Diners Without Frosted Tips Best-Of Menu does is make you hungry and upset that you can’t get this flavor daily. Alas, the world (or at least CNY) needs to know about these dishes for their own good.

Diner Week Critique: Rideau Inn B&B (…and Ottawa, ON)

Review | Written and photographed by Nathan Mattise

Directions | Web site

I had never been to a Bed & Breakfast before but I certainly felt equally comfortable with both parts. Beds have been a staple of my (and every other mid-20s human being’s) life for years with increased importance during college. Breakfast has become an increasing passion through the Diners Without Frosted Tips project.  Together, this concept couldn’t lose.

What made the Rideau Inn B&B even better was it’s location – Ottawa, ON. It’s cool in its own right to spend a weekend in Canada (yet another new experience) but I stumbled on something better. Ottawa may not have been featured in any Man V. Food,  [Food] Paradise or the like yet, but it’s definitely a food town. One hell of food town at that.

Old Forge Pizza means home for the holidays

Food Essay and Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

The holidays season is quickly approaching which means travel plans are quickly arriving. “Home for the Holidays” is a concept that seems to resonate no matter who you are or where you’re from. The concept incorporates friends, families,  unique traditions… and food.

My December always means a visit to the greater Scranton, Pa. area.  Northeastern Pennsylvania subtly offers strong cuisine like wings, Sheetz, coneys,  etc.  The undisputed king of my hometown food scene is Old Forge-style pizza however.

Every time I’m there I need a “tray” (that’s right, not “pie”) of either Lou’s or Andy’s. I can settle for Duke’s, Barrett’s or even a grab-and-go from the “Archbald Express Mart” (a.k.a. Propst’s)  as well.  It’s a distinct approach only available in NEPA – typically square cuts, sweet sauce, multiple cheese blend, softer crust and as good cold as it is hot. A slice of it feels like home as much as (or probably more so at this point) sleeping on mt parents’ couch.

With Holidays 2010 already underway or just days away, what food makes you feel at home in your area?

How Denny’s can transform your Thanksgiving

Food Essay and Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

What constitutes a great Thanksgiving – Unbelievable food? Extreme relaxation? Family bonding unlike anything you’ve seen before?

The holiday looks different for everyone but after 25 of them (maybe 18 that I can recall), it seems the oddest of celebrations end up as the most memorable. This year’s holiday was personally a pretty routine affair that just furthered my feelings… especially since it came directly after Thanksgiving 2009. Looking back, that’s the edition likely to go down as my all-time peak.

Is this the biggest food week in CNY history?

Food Essay and Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

In my other blogging escapades, I like taking a hard stand by creating comparative greatness arguments. I’m not as well-versed over time with Diner Without Frosted Tips’ subject (food happenings in CNY) as I am with others, but this week has me thinking:

Is this the biggest food week in CNY history?

Allow these links to speak for themselves:

• To start,  Man V. Food will air its Syracuse episode this week (well timed with host Adam Richman’s State Fair appearance I might add).  I understand that some of the locales involved have had major media coverage before, but for places like Heid’s and Mother’s Cupboard you can bet a major influx of new diners is on the horizon.  I’m not sure I can say the Salt Museum will get the same traffic, but moving on…

• Next, one of the best TV Chefs currently owning a restaurant, Mario Batali, made an appearance at the State Fair today. I like Bobby Flay as a TV personality, but from a cooking perspective… upgrade, right?  (Not to mention, Batali and Iron Chef inspired a cool competition in the Finger Lakes coming up soon).

• Speaking of the State Fair, this could be a banner year for fair food due to the heightened amount of food press and various social medias that allow instant Fair content. Some of my favorites have been @mmccormickcny’s quest for healthy Fair fare and local rap sensation ToTs‘ guide to fair food.  With his royal highness Bieber scheduled to perform, all the extra attention will be accompanied by loads of extra people (visit the butter scuplture Biebettes!).

• Finally, less about national attention but more local-business oriented, SU students in the class of 2014 returned to campus this week. The class is bigger than ever (more opening weekend dinners with mom and dad before they leave) and also they are now directly exposed to Armory dining within their orientation.

I’m having a hard time thinking of a more active CNY food week during my six years in town. Anyone have other candidates?