Blog Archives
“You’ve got bad eating habits if you use a grocery cart in 7-Eleven. “
Dennis Miller
Don’t get me wrong, I feel the need to start off this blog entry by saying that I’m 100% a Price Chopper girl, I grew up around the corner from one and it’s what I’ve gone to my whole life. 
On that note, I’m also interested in food, especially weird food so when my Mother said “Jess, you have to check out Price Rite, there’s weird food in there” I suddenly felt it calling my name!
I went to the Price Rite by Best Fitness in Crosstown Plaza, Schenectady and I was expecting weirder food but it’s definitely worth a trip. It’s set up like a BJs where the products are in boxes and not really set up in aisles but still very organized. What’s different is that not only are regular brand names cheaper but they have a good section of Spanish food and products that I don’t see in other stores much anymore. I picked up a box of Dunkaroos with the white frosting and rainbow sprinkles & got me thinking, I actually ate this as a kid? Cookies dipped in frosting? While I enjoyed every bite!
I also picked up a Lunchables-type product called Lunch Makers with Turkey and had a Butterfinger in it. It was cheaper than Lunchables but as I expected, the quality was still the same. I forgot that these kinds of products don’t give you enough crackers to make a whole sandwich but expect you to have an open-faced sandwich with cheese and the meat product. What’s the fun in that?
The last thing I bought was flan in a yogurt-type container. It was pretty good for what I expected. I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain for 3months and I’m open to trying to find flan in the 518 that is almost as good as fresh flan in Spain- this wasn’t it, but if I have a flan craving I’m not opposed to buying this again, sadly we threw out the wrapper and I forgot the brand name but how many companies sell flan, it should be easy to find.
Was this weird food? No, but it was a good blast from the past that I enjoyed and it’s always fun to see the kinds of knock-off products out there, maybe it’s better than the brand name – worth a try, right?
“A single tree in the tropical forest in the south of Mexico has more different species than some European countries. “
Carlos Salinas de Gortari
I’ve blogged about El Mexicano in Hudson Falls (Find the blog entry HERE) but about a year ago, they opened a location in Saratoga (280 South Broadway). 
We recently went to their one year anniversary and even though each trip there feels like a party, this actually was quite the fiesta!
As always, you get half of a quesadilla as an appetizer along with chips and salsa. Also, as I mentioned in the last blog entry, the best deal is their combos because you get to taste a little of each type of food they have. Overall, the menu is still the same, the food is still really tasty, the location is just different. If you can, the next time you go to one of the locations, ask when their next Mariachi party is and ADD IT to your calendar! Listening to genuine Mexican music, eating great food and being surrounded by the fantastic murals and painted tables done by the owner and sharing it with friends and family – nothing beats it. The restaurant has a great feel to it and the second location does not disappoint! Where else is it not only acceptable but the norm for you to end your meal with a shot of tequila!
*For more detail on my favorite combo meal, check out the last blog entry I wrote about the Hudson Falls location: http://518bitesandsights.com/2011/01/21/el-mexicano/
“Conversation is food for the soul”
Mexican Proverb
I don’t tend to eat in Saratoga often, mostly because I just recently got my license so only for the past week have I been able to go anywhere on my own. Luckily, two friends of mine took me to the restaurant Mexican Connection (41 Nelson Avenue, Saratoga Springs) two weekends in a row. 
From the outside, it looks like a little place out of the way from the more popular Downtown area. Don’t let it fool you, not only is the food fantastic but the service is some of the best I’ve ever had.
We made a reservation which was a good idea for 6:30PM on a Saturday because it was packed in there, people crowding around the bar waiting for a table. We sat right down to one of the nicest & pleasant waiters I’ve ever encountered. After taking our drink orders, he brought us tortilla chips along with hot and mild salsa. I think the only difference between the two are the jalapeños, it has quite the bite so be careful if spicy isn’t your thing.
To drink, both occasions, I ordered the sangria for only $5 a glass. It didn’t have too much fruit in it so you’re not jipped with less liquid. There is a hint of wine flavor so be forewarned if you’re expecting a sugary juice drink.
The first time I went, though my friend told me to get the chicken chimichanga, I ordered the Super Taco with chicken, “Warm, overstuffed flour tortilla with your choice of meat, our famous spiced sour cream, cheese, lettuce, tomato, olives, and onions” for only $9! I really enjoyed it. It came with a special sour cream but I didn’t eat it since I’m lactose intolerant (I did give it a taste & I recommend it if you like sour cream!). It was pretty much just like any other taco I’ve had based on the shell & fillings but the chicken was fantastic. I ended up eating half of it and saving the rest for the next day after eating all those chips. I’d tell you how it was the next day when I had it but my friend’s dog ate it before I had the chance!
The second time I went, I caved and ordered the chicken chimichanga, “Your choice of meat with refried beans and cheese inside a deep-fried flour tortilla smothered with our famous spiced sour cream and homemade guacamole” for $14. 
This is pretty much the same filling as the Super Taco but fried and the cheese is more melted. Though I hate to say that my friend was right, this proclaimed “favorite dish” was really good. I don’t usually like fried food but with everything kind of mushed up together and homemade guacamole spread all over, the flavors just went together so well. They serve the lettuce & tomato on the side so they don’t get soggy and you can add it at your leisure. I did get to eat this the next day and it was just as tasty as the day before.
As for the service, it was fantastic. The waiter not only remembered us one weekend to the next but what we ordered to eat and drink! From what I noticed, there seemed to be only one or two servers & for there only being 2 of them not only were they attentive to refilling our chips and salsa but the food came out very quickly. I hope you give this place a try. It may be a tad out of the way for most but the track is opening up soon and if you’re looking for somewhere to eat around there, keep Mexican Connection in mind!! I know I’ll be back soon!!
“They say California’s the big burrito; Texas is a big taco right now. We want to follow that through. Florida is a big tamale.”
Dan Rather
I’ve been to El Mexicano (3011 State Route 4 Hudson Falls, NY 12839) quite a few times recently and since it’s all the way in the Lake George/Glens Falls area, you know it has to be good. I’m not a huge fan of Mexican food mostly because of how my stomach tends to feel after the fact but I can’t help but eat from this restaurant. Not only is the food fantastic but the atmosphere is as well. With the beautiful wall decorations as well as the music and general happy atmosphere it’s almost as if you take a step out of your world and enter a giant party!
Everyone gets chips and salsa to share, of course, while you’re deciding on drinks. I ordered a Sangria which was a tad strong but still really tasty. Before dinner I ordered a meatball soup which sounded good and I’d never had it before and I really liked it. I like meatballs and I really like avocado so I decided to order it and I was happy with my choice. It had a bite but not so much of a spice so if you’re not into spicy food, you’re safe with soup.
I ordered the chorizo and cheese but what I didn’t realize was that it was actually cheese with small bits of chorizo for dunking chips. So if that’s what you’re looking for, order that because it tasted great but I was hoping for more for dinner. 
My family members ordered the combination specials which is probably the best deal. Everything looks really messy but it all taste great. The messier it is, the better it tastes, right?
No matter what type of Mexican food you like, they have it. Out of all the Mexican restaurants I’ve tried in the area, this is definitely the most authentic tasting (and the best tasting). If you want to try a bit of everything, try one of their combos!
After the meal, each person at the table is given an apple crepe like dessert and don’t leave before you have a shot of the tequila! *TIP: Ask about the vanilla version if tequila isn’t your thing!
The last time we went, it was their anniversary so we got to experience a mariachi band as well as people (after drinking a bit too much, I assume) dancing around the restaurant and getting free t-shirts! You never know what to expect when you visit but what you do know is that you’re going to go home with your stomach full with a good meal!
