Business & Tech
Albany Cuisine: Grazing the Night Out
This is the story of an intrepid reporter who ate his way across Albany one summer night.
Block party potluck cuisine regularly goes unheralded and is often maligned. This is one reporter’s attempt to set the record straight. Unfortunately, this reporter’s ambitions were greater than his appetite, and only a fraction of last night's Albany potlucks, in celebration of National Night Out, could be sampled. There were probably many unseen gems that escaped our keen palate. It is my recommendation that next year’s Night Out be spread over two or three nights, so each block party can receive my full and undivided attention. And in the future it should be retitled Albany Nights Out.
Joe Rusconi’s homemade smoked turkey sandwiches were the standout on the block of 900 Ramona Ave. Joe, a 24-year Albany resident, must have been developing these nicely balanced favorites throughout all his years in the neighborhood. Served on a light and delightful Italian Pan bread with bell peppers and pimentos, and a zing of Dijon mustard, they stole the show from the watermelon, ubiquitous Domino’s pizza and the ample supplies of Samuel Adams beers alongside them.
On the 900 block of Pomona Avenue, it was Jean's sausage salad and Kyle’s fruit salad that stole the show. Kyle’s salad, homemade with locally grown fruits from Monterey Market (nectarines, strawberries, bananas, mangoes, kiwi, pineapple) ripened to perfection and doused with fresh orange juice positively glowed in its bowl. A close second was Jean’s unassuming but savory sausage and cabbage side dish. Also at this site I crossed paths with esteemed Albany Patch editor Emilie Raguso and Councilwoman Peggy Thomsen along with their police escort, Chief Mike McQuiston. None of them could be induced to partake because they had 19 other sites to cover, which explains their svelte appearance and better judgment than this reporter.
On to 800 Key Route Boulevard. The visual stunner was Francesco Papalia’s Grand Zuke of Albany accompanied by its much diminished cousin Gad Zuke who altruistically sacrificed himself for the survival of the human race. The Grand Zuke was personally raised from a seed by Mr. Papalia and his reluctance to grill the Grand Zuke was totally understandable. On the protein front, Linda’s grilled beef marinated in her mother’s teriyaki recipe was certainly tasty. Sharon Colbert’s still uncooked marinated chicken sadly missed this reviewer's keen analysis but the proudly recited ingredient list (meyer lemon juice, olive oil,basil, kosher salt, peppers, and garlic) is firmly etched into our memory.
On the 1000 block of Key Route, it was Phyllis Mizuhara’s home made somen noodles in an agai tofu crust seasoned with green ginger and Marianne Henri’s Ziti pasta made with organic tomato, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil, parmisan cheese, sun dried tomatoes and chicken sausage.
By the 1100 block of Key Route, it was time for dessert. An as yet unopened box of Trader Joe’s carrot cake was uncerimoniously ripped open by this reporter and enjoyed before rushing home to make his deadline.
Albany's edition of National Night Out is a wonderful tradition. Perhaps we should encourage mingling across block parties as a worthwhile addition to community cohesion.
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