Taste of Troy Food Tours: The Albany Experience [PHOTOS]

I know what you’re thinking: “Wait, Taste of Troy Food Tours, in Albany?” It’s actually not all that confusing so let me explain. Also, take a look at my review of Taste of Troy Food Tours around Troy if you’re interested in seeing more of that city as well.

/edit Taste of Troy Food Tours has stopped running permanently.

Around this time last year, I had the opportunity to try out the Taste of Troy Food Tours. I took a walking tour around Troy learning about the history as well as sampling some of the great foods available. Well, Taste of Troy Food Tours has expanded and now you can get the same experience but in Albany.

We started at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center in Downtown Albany and paid parking is available in the Albany Pump Station Lot. Tickets for the food tour are $59 for adults and $39 for children and takes anywhere between 3-3.25 hours. I had the opportunity to try out the tour before it was available to the public but you can now buy tickets through their website. Tours are on Fridays at 12:45pm through the end of October.

After we introduced ourselves, our first stop was the Albany Pump Station. There, we got to taste some of their delicious beer pretzels and mustards with two of their C.H. Evans Brewing Company brews. If you think each of the courses is going to be this small, be careful and pace yourself.

The second stop was the First Church of Albany and it was fascinating. I had no idea so much history could be found inside a church in the middle of Albany. The First Church of Albany isn’t only the oldest church in Albany but the pulpit which was brought over from the Netherlands is the oldest pulpit in the United States! Inside the church, there was once a memorial service held for Alexander Hamilton and a plaque that designated President Theodore Roosevelt’s favorite seat. The most beautiful part of the church is the gorgeous Tiffany window you can find inside. It’s much more beautiful in person with the intricate detail work than these pictures are showing you – trust me.

After that was time for more food at Ama Cocina where you can find Mexican food truck-like food inside a beautiful restaurant. There, we had shrimp tacos with chips and guacamole. Their guacamole is some of my favorite in the entire Capital Region so I was pumped to see it on the menu. See what I mean about all of the food? Make sure you come to this tour hungry!

Our next stop was The Hollow Bar & Kitchen. There, we had some of their delicious eggplant stacks. It was lightly fried eggplant with three kinds of cheeses, seasonal vegetables, with sauce and pesto. Wow, that was fantastic! The only challenge was fitting in the whole meal on top of what we had already eaten but I did it! Then, we stopped at Stacks Espresso Bar for tea/coffee and some Cider Belly Donuts, finally ending at Olde English Pub for a specialty cocktail.

It sounds like a lot of walking and eating, which it is, but what I like about this tour is that it’s not all of it. Between the different restaurants, you get to learn about the amazing history of the capital or New York. Buildings you’ve probably passed by and had no clue held such memories, it’s a great activity to bring someone from the area or someone who’s never been here before. Be a tourist in your own city, you may try something you’ve never had before and I guarantee you’ll learn something you didn’t know!

NOTE: I did not get paid for my review but I was given a free tour so that I could write about the experience.