In early-June, Adam Richman, the host of the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food,” visited three Central New York gastronomical landmarks with his video crew.
On June 8, Richman pulled some pork at down city’s Dinosaur Bar-B-Que before swinging north to Liverpool the next day to eat dogs at Heid’s and salt potatoes at the Salt Museum.
On June 10, “Man v. Food” wrapped up its Upstate stay with a stop at Mother’s Cupboard Fish Fry at 3709 James St. Customers there are dared to consume five pounds of pancakes, but Richman opted for the Frittata Challenge – a massive breakfast scramble of eggs, potatoes, onions, peppers and meats weighing in at more than six pounds.
Cupboard staffers have been sworn to secrecy, but I’ll bet Richman had no problem pounding down that mess o’ eggs.
Find out for yourself how the Brooklyn-bred Richman fared against that formidable frittata and watch him hype Hinerwadel’s salt potatoes and Hofmann’s hot dogs when the Syracuse episode of “Man v. Food” airs at 8:30 p.m. Friday Sept. 3 on Time Warner Cable Channel 41. It’ll be repeated at 12:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday Sept. 4, according to travelchannel.com.
Baja Alaskan cod
Speaking of tasty regional meals, The Retreat has debuted a deliciously low-priced appetizer special called Baja Alaskan cod. The crispy tortilla-style breaded filets from the Last Frontier State are deep fried and served with a Creole caper tartar sauce and a chipotle chili dipping sauce.
Two can share the six finger-sized filets or one can make a whole dinner out of ’em. The cod is fresh, sweet and tender, and the zesty sauces perk up the palate.
Best yet, The Retreat’s Baja Alaska appetizer costs just $6.95.
Ninety-nine cent sandwiches!
And speaking of great deals on prepared food, here’s a recession special: 99-cent sandwiches at Fastrac!
You know Fastrac, the big gas station on Route 57 just north of the Thruway. The place has always sold fresh donuts and pizza but now they’re offering small tuna or turkey sandwiches for less than a dollar. Marketed by Next Generation out of Canastota, the sandwiches are super-fresh and mighty nutritious and cheap.
Next Generation’s slogan is “Innovation never tasted so good.” And, might I add, never cost so low.
Deep-fried mania
Has anyone tried the deep-fried butter at the State Fair this year?
Just kidding … although I did hear an Aug. 20 report on NPR’s “All Things Considered” about deep-fried butter being served at the Indiana State Fair in India-no-place where another popular item is “pigs in the mud,” chocolate-covered bacon. Yum!
Here about the worst it gets is deep-fried peanut butter and jelly.
Belladonna Sept. 9 at Sharkey’s
The parking lots were jammed as more than 2,000 rock fans turned out Aug. 19, for the first-ever Sharkapalooza concert featuring Soul Risin’ and the Original Todd Hobin Band to open Sharkey’s Eclectic Sports Lounge at the former Hooligans’ location on Route 57.
Plenty of those dancin’ cats and kittens slurped suds while nibbling on Sharkey Fries, served in a paper cone and dusted with sea salt, for $4.50. Future Sharkapaloozas are slated with bands to be announced Thursday Sept. 2, and Joey Belladonna and Chief Big Way on Sept. 9.
But what happened to the barroom’s much-ballyhooed shark tank? The oversize aquarium was dark and empty all weekend. That’s a major d cor malfunction!
