New Restaurant Alert! Park Side Eatery to open in Saratoga Springs

Michael and Heidi Hoyt, the owners of Black Diamond Caterers, are extending their passion for food into a new food establishment. After thirteen years of successfully operating and growing their catering company they are moving into the restaurant stage of their development but they don't want to use the term "restaurant". They are calling it an eatery and are defying all things restaurant.

The new 5000 square foot Park Side Eatery will be located at 42-44 Phila Street which will be an extension of the current location of Black Diamond Caterers. The eatery will face both Phila Street and Congress Park allowing for opposite entrances. The building, historically known as the Old Palmetto's Building, and the surrounding neighborhood is steeped in rich food history. Currently, it is dubbed "restaurant row" by locals. Hattie's, Seven Horse Pub, Phila Fusion, Capriccios, Four Seasons and Ravenous are just some of the food findings in the neighborhood.

Park Side Eatery will have a comfortable, warehouse look and feel. "It will fit very well into the neighborhood. We want to be a welcoming stop in the course of someone's day. In addition to people enjoying their food in our seating area we fully expect people to run in and out as they head for home with dinner for the family," says Michael Hoyt, the general manager and official taste tester of all the foods.

"For years we have wanted to open a place where food is the focal point. We spent many years in the 'white table cloth' dining arena and we wanted something very different. Park Side Eatery will be about the food experience. It's casual, there will be no table service but there are tables to sit. There will be a number of food cases filled with fresh cold and hot foods ready to eat there, take home or take to the office," says Heidi Hoyt, the chef half of the owner team.

"This is a counter style eatery with as many or more offerings than any restaurant. Everything will be made on site. We are installing a large, open kitchen with a fifteen foot double sided hood system that everyone can easily see. People like to see where their food comes from," adds Michael.

"We've always studied trends in our industry. The casual, counter-style restaurant serving outstanding food is growing in popularity across the country, a trend possibly set off by the economy of recent years. Daily eating out and bringing ready-to-eat meals home is a solid part of this country's eating habits and this new style of restaurant serves those needs," Heidi states.

"No one wants to sacrifice the quality of their daily meals but if the extra cost of gratuities or the tacked on charge for overhead expenses supporting chic restaurants can be eliminated, suddenly the value of excellent food served over a counter seems more convenient to their families and friendlier to their pocket books," adds Michael.

"The cost of buying all the ingredients for a meal, spending valuable time creating that meal then adding the clean up factor, day in and day out is a lot to ask of two people working long days. We will offer so much to these families and individuals. We are basically extending our catering operation into Park Side Eatery and offering a multitude of daily selections," adds Heidi.

Eight years ago the Hoyts added a division to Black Diamond Caterers named Adirondack Barbecue. They realized at the time not everyone wanted high end foods for every catered event so being lovers of barbecue they developed barbecue sauces, rubs, recipes and smoking techniques. It has become a very popular division in their portfolio. Adirondack Barbecue will now exist inside Park Side Eatery. Customers will find pulled pork, St. Louis Ribs, Texas style beef brisket and more available every day in an area dedicated to Adirondack BBQ.

The Hoyts will also be developing two new lines. One line will feature Jewish style foods from the Lower East Side such as matzo ball soup, house-made corned beef and pastrami, knishes, white fish salad, chopped liver and pickled herring. "Just as French or Japanese cuisine is loved globally, Jewish cuisine has made its mark in the culinary world. We are especially excited about the corned beef and pastrami made in-house and then knife sliced to order. It's insanely good," says Heidi.

The second new line will be a bakery named Glazed Bäckerei. "We have always had a strong bakery aspect to our catering companies. Our vision for this bakery is to keep baked goods fun and have a flair of Germany, Austria and Scandinavia. I come from a German background and I grew up with absolutely amazing baked goods and desserts at every family gathering. I want to bring that flavor of baked goods into our bakery. One item we are really excited about it donuts! We will be making donuts every day.

I'm really looking forward to our filled donuts called Bismarcks," adds Heidi.

Inside Park Side Eatery, Black Diamond Caterers will have its own office area making it easy for a wedding client to discuss their event. Part of their catering is geared toward pick-up and delivery of prepared hors d'oeuvres and foods in disposable containers. The Hoyt's state that the last three years have each had record breaking growth in catering and they are optimistic that this expansion will only further grow their original business of full service, off premise catering.

The opening of Park Side Eatery will be in early June beginning with an invitation only party honoring their thirteen years of loyal clients, customers, friends and supporters. This will be followed by a grand opening weekend opened to the public.

Mamatoga Loves: The Saratoga Mom Prom at McGregor Links Country Club

mom-promGet ready Saratoga moms, the MOM PROM is coming to McGregor Links Country Club on Saturday, April 27th! What is a Mom Prom you ask? I chatted with Susan Ingmire, part of the Saratoga Mom Prom Planning Committee and asked her to fill me in on the Mom Prom details. "After attending a Mom Prom with two dear friends in Nashua, New Hampshire two years ago (organized by my daughter and her friends...one of whom is Betsy Crapps's sister, the founder of the Mom Prom from Michigan), my friend decided to put together a Mom Prom in Schenectady in April, 2012. Seven of us from Saratoga Springs attended this event and left deciding that we needed to have one here in Saratoga Springs. Interestingly, 5 of the 7 of us were graduates from Saratoga Springs High School. We named ourselves the "Saratoga Seven" and in May 2012 had our first planning meeting for the Saratoga Mom Prom 2013!

As with other Mom Proms across the country (there were 40 last year across the country...all raising funds for various causes/charities) you will see recent prom or bridesmaid gowns mixed with many vintage dresses. The Michigan Mom Prom founder wears her pink puffed sleeved taffeta dress from the late 1960s. Elegance is not required and tacky is welcomed! We just want everyone to have fun and dress to relive their prom days, or if you didn't attend your own high school prom...this is your chance!

We will be dancing the night away at McGregor Links Country Club to DJ Larryoke (editor's note, best DJ name ever) and music from the 60s up to the present, sipping signature drinks from our souvenir glow in the dark martini glasses, enjoying our cardboard dates (?!?!?!), savoring finger foods, choosing a prom queen and yes, there is even a winner for the tackiest dress! We will be featuring wonderful themed raffle baskets with names from our favorite old songs such as "Garden Party", "Take a Chance on Me", "Baubles, Bangles and Beads", "Rock a Bye Baby", "Love Me Tender" and many more!

Our purpose this year is to raise funds for the Saratoga Hospital Breast Health Center at Wilton Medical Arts to enable them to purchase a state of the art massage chair to relax patients undergoing procedures such as mammograms, biopsies, etc.  as well as an aroma therapy diffuser for the waiting room. Breast health is a concern to us all...whether you are going for your first mammogram as a young woman, having your yearly mammogram, or having a biopsy of something discovered on a mammogram. Whether you yourself are a survivor of breast cancer or have a family member of friend who has survived, it is a primary health issue and one that can be discovered and treated, hopefully returning us to a healthy status."

I for one can't wait for the Mom Prom, I absolutely love McGregor Links and I think it's the perfect spot for this fun event. You don't have to be a mom to come but the event IS ladies only! I'm going to get a jump at shopping for the tackiest prom dress I can find, I want to win that prize! Come join me and this great group of local women to help raise money for the Breast Health Center, I guarantee this is going to be such a fun night! See you there! xoxo

Tickets for the event are just $45 and can be purchased by clicking here.

Healthy Living Market Saratoga Sneak Peek

a fantastic quote at the entrance to the new market Tonight I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the coming soon (around two weeks!) Healthy Living Market at the Wilton Mall in Saratoga Springs. I have been excited about this amazing market coming to our area since I first heard about it, and I know you guys are too, so let's dive right in and build that excitement to a fever pitch.

There will be two entrances for the market, one from the parking lot area and one from inside the mall, across from Old Navy, and we started our tour from the mall entrance. At the mall entrance there will be a seating and lounge area, under their great big skylight, with full tables and chairs and tons of greenery. As you enter the market from that entrance there is the organic juice and smoothie bar as well as a coffee bar, and all of the espresso beans will be provided from Saratoga's own Uncommon Grounds (double espresso on day one for Mamatoga please).

The Learning Center is right there at that entrance too, and big windows look right into Center, which will be equipped with BlueStar ranges provided by Mamatoga favorite Adirondack Appliance. Classes at the Learning Center will be for all ages, starting with kids as young as preschoolers.

At the start of the tour, Healthy Living Market founder Katy Lesser talked about how she got started working with farmers and helping to bring their products to the consumer in the best possible way. "Early on, I started working with farmers in Vermont and made it my business to help them learn how to bring product to market, because they knew how to grow things but they didn't necessarily understand how to sell their product. I really haven't had a formula, it's really more that every farmer has been different, and every situation has been different and over the years it turned into a really great thing. It's all about building relationships with the farmers."

"It's our duty to bring you your farmers and your small producers from your area, and not to replicate our Vermont store 100%, mostly it is about forging the new relationships here," said Katy's daughter, Nina Lesser Goldsmith. For the dairy section, two of their confirmed producers are Battenkill Valley Creamery and Meadowbrook, and all eggs will be from New York farmers, with one kind of eggs from Vermont. And they won't just have chicken eggs! They're going to also have quail and duck eggs as well in their meat department.

hlmIn Burlington they actually started a Farmers' Market on their property where they invited all farmers whose product they sold to their property so they could sell their product directly to customers. They took no profit from the market, and gifted the Farmers' Market to the city of South Burlington and it is in it's fifth year.

Their relationship with the Farmers' Market will be a very supportive one. "We totally support Farmers' Markets, we want our customers to meet the farmers directly, and to support them directly and to establish their own relationships, and to know that the rest of the week they can come here and get the same product" explained Katy Lesser. They will also have a CSA pickup at the store for Denison Market as well.

As far as price comparisons to the Farmers' Market, they don't see their business as competition for the Farmers' Market and support their business 100%. Healthy Living Market provides an outlet for these farmers to vend seven days a week.

The tour moved on then to the Meat Department, which is going to be complete nose to tail butchery. They will buy a tremendous amount of local meat and vow to their farmers to buy whole animals, they bring the meat in and butcher it themselves. It's a full service butcher shop and they will prepare the meat exactly the way you want it. It's a no waste butcher shop as well, they are fully taking the animal sacrifice to heart and are able to use the entire animal. When they meet with the farms they go over everything from feed to shelter to how they bring them to the slaughterhouse. All of the staff members go to the farm to see the process at the farms as well. They will have local chicken, beef, lamb and pork. Two of the farms that they are going to use are Buckley Farms for beef and chicken as well as West Wind Acres. There will be a full service seafood department where they can do whole fish, can cut certain pieces, they will have full ice table as well.

From there we moved on to the Demo Center, such a cool part of the store, which also has a BlueStar range from Adirondack Appliance at the ready. Christina Davis from From Scratch Club will be in charge of all product sampling and demos in the store, live cooking demos and bringing in local vendors. "We try to extend the Farmers' Market here, sort of a meet your vendor, meet your farmer thing" said Christina, and all of the demos and events will be on a schedule online so you can be sure to check them out.

When you walk in from the parking lot entrance you walk right into the produce section, which will have an incredible selection from local farms. They are working with Denison, Kilpatrick Family Farm and will be working with others for the summer as well. They try to work with Certified Organic product and Certified Naturally Grown, and will do a color system with tags: green will be organic, red is conventional and orange is Certified Naturally or Ecologically Grown. This is a great way to help educate the customer and Healthy Living strives to be completely transparent as well. Each farm receives their own tags and each product that is local has a locally produced sticker on it to identify it. Healthy Living Market also adheres to National Organic Standards, the products that are organic come in on separate pallets, they are stored in separate parts of the walk in cooler and are prepped in different sections of their kitchen and are merchandised separately. If you choose to buy all organic it won't ever come in contact with conventional produced.

Katy Lesser explained their standards further,  "It all comes down to having good relationships with your vendors, establishing good relationships that are trusting, going to your vendors, and really seeing how they work. And if something arrives that isn't up to standards then we aren't going to carry it anymore."  Their buyers study and research every product that comes into the store and they aim to offer a variety in order to have an option for everybody.

hlm2The bulk section was especially cool, and is way bigger than any bulk section I've seen before. They will offer local honey and maple syrup as well as olive oil in a liquid bulk section. They will have grains, pastas, granolas, dried fruits, trail mix and more as well as hard to find spices where you can get as much or as little as you need.

I asked Kate and Nina what they would say to a consumer who thought Healthy Living Market might be more expensive than the other grocery stores in our area. "We really believe that anyone can shop here, we work incredibly hard on our prices, we absolutely offer the lowest price that we can," said Nina. "I think our prices are really competitive, especially on all of the national brands that you'll see sold at all of the supermarkets. We have so many different people that shop at our Burlington store, we have people on budgets, people on food stamps, everybody."

"We really like to educate people," explained Katy, "because we have a bulk department and we have a strong way to education people you can really be very economical shopping in a bulk department. We are excited to introduce the concept in our area, it's hugely successful where we are in Burlington. It's always fresh, has incredible variety without the packaging, so you don't need to pay extra for the packaging."

The store manager told the group how they had a local newspaper do a price comparison between the Healthy Living Market in Burlington and two other supermarkets and shopped the same items at all three stores for a few months, and she said that each store came within pennies of the others, so neither was more expensive than the other. They also have amazing sales every month, and they make sure the sale items are items people need, one of those staples people need all the time, as well as seasonal items.

We popped into the new wine store, Divine Wines, which will have access from the market and from the parking lot as well, and was already looking great with exposed wooden beams and plans for a chandelier. There will be a tasting table and a great place to have events and tastings.

I loved all of the quotes up on the walls, adding a thoughtful visual touch to what is a wholly thoughtful space from floor to ceiling. We walked past the Health and Wellness section where Mamatoga favorite Olive Naturally will be sold, along with a bunch of other great local products.

Their cafe will be completely from scratch, including a bake shop with everything from fine pastries to breakfast pastries, artisan breads all made in house. The bagels are brought in from Uncommon Grounds too, with 70 bagels fresh every morning. The cafe will have a hot food and salad bar, and everything is made on site including the salad dressings. They will also have prepared foods and meals to go as well. They will specialize in vegan and gluten free options as well with those options clearly labeled.

And CHEESE! Imported, domestic, artisan, and amazing local cheeses cut to order and pre-cut and a full antipasti bar, olives and marinated mozzarella and more. Sounds incredible, right?

You may have already seen Healthy Living Market as a sponsor at many events around town- Winterfest, the Festival of Trees and more, and they are eager to continue that kind of community outreach. They have made so many connections in our community already, from the Franklin Community Center to Shelters of Saratoga, and the Saratoga Springs store manager Lyndsay Meilleur told us they have plans to develop farm to school programs as well.

Like I said, I really cannot wait for this new market, and I couldn't think of a better fit for Saratoga. Nina and Katy (and her son Eli, not there tonight) are such warm, welcoming people and I just know you guys are going to love them, and their market, as much as I do. I will let you guys know as soon as I find out what the opening date is, and we can all meet over coffee at the cafe! The photo below was one of my favorites of the quotes on the wall, and I think it perfectly illustrates the feelings here about Healthy Living Market, they are off to great places, and we get to join them. SO happy they chose our lovely city. Let the Healthy Living Market countdown begin Saratoga!

hlm3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEKEND! March 1st-3rd

weekend Have you entered the fabulous Mamatoga Magazine Giveaways yet? Click right here to enter all three!

FRIDAY, MARCH 1st

  • The South High Dance Marathon is taking place this Friday and Saturday in Glens Falls, click here for more details. Kids coming together to raise money for local families and causes, it is truly awesome!
  • The Saratoga Regional YMCA Presents: 2013 Scholarship Campaign Kickoff Party from 6:30-9:30pm at the Wilton Branch, 20 Old Gick Road. Cost: $50 per person or $90 per couple. Together, we can make a difference in our community! Proceeds from this event will benefit the Y scholarship fund, We Build People. For more information, please contact Susan Rhoades, Saratoga Springs Branch/Annual Giving Director at 583-9622, ext.104 or susan@saratogaregionalymca.org. Committee Co-Chairs are Alysa Arnold and Jennifer Perry.
  • In collaboration with Wilton Wildlife Preserve the Saratoga Springs Public Library will be going on an Owl Hunt from 5:30-7pm. Meet at 80 Scout road to listen to a presentation on owls by one of Wilton’s Environmental Interns. Then Rich Speidel will lead the group in an “Owl Prowl” to listen and look for owls. For participants ages 5 & up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Snowshoes, if needed, will be available, please let them know if you need to reserve a pair. Register in the Children’s Room or by calling 584-7860, opt 3. Registration is limited, and please remember to dress for the weather!
  • It’s the 40th Annual Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show this weekend at the Saratoga Springs City Center! Cost is $6. The Saratoga Springs Rotary Club presents the Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Show! A variety of home and lifestyle businesses will exhibit on the main floor, including categories such as home improvement, landscaping, décor and fine finishes, heating and plumbing, pools, and many more. The Rotary Club expects to raise close to $100,000 from the event, with proceeds being distributed to community organizations, youth scholarships, and international humanitarian projects. I will be there with my friends from Adirondack Trust handing out copies of the Mamatoga Spring Issue, be sure to come by to say hi!

Show Hours:

Friday, March 1 from 5 PM to 9 PM Saturday, March 2 from  9 AM to 7 PM Sunday, March 3 from 10 AM to 4 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 2nd

  • Check out the Health and Wellness Expo from 10am to 3pm in the Ballston Spa High School cafeteria and gymnasium. There will be exhibits from each schools’ Building Leadership Teams and a variety of organizations and businesses who will provide information about fitness, healthy eating, bike helmet safety and related health and wellness topics. I’ll be there talking about my kids yoga class at One Yoga Saratoga and about the benefits of yoga for children. I’ll even be doing a free demo class for kids aged 5-9 at 12:30pm, click here for more info.
  • Adirondack Trust Company will be having their Exit 11 Branch Grand Opening Celebration from 10am-12pm. Register for the chance to win one of three great prizes & the bank's mascot, Banker Buck will be there handing out recycled piggy banks to the kids! Plus, 101.3 The Jockey and DJ John Meany will be hosting a live radio remote with prize drawings for local merchants gift certificates! Click here for more info. Pick up your copy of Mamatoga while you're there!
  • Check out the 2013 Hannaford Kidz Expo from 10am-5pm at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, admission is free. The expo will fill the Convention Center with thousands of children and their families for a jam-packed day of entertainment, information, activities and fun. From toddler to teen, and everyone in between, there will be something for all at the popular 8th annual event. Highlights include Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey CircusFit, Radio Disney, free giveaways, prizes and Bogey Ballton! Check out the info below for more info on when to catch Bogey! bogey9279_1277274815_n
  • The Children’s Museum at Saratoga will have Story Art from 10:30-11am.
  • Library Babies is at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 10-11am, an informal playgroup for babies under the age of 24 months with their parent or caregiver. Registration is not required. Call 584-7860, press 3 for more information.
  • Saturday Family Storytime is at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 11:30am-12pm for children ages 2-5, with their parent or caregiver. Siblings welcome too! Registration is not necessary for this program.
  • The Tail Waggin’ Tutor is going to be at the Saratoga Springs Public Library from 2-3pm. Read to Buck, their Schnoodle reading therapy dog. Buck is certified through Share-a-Pet’s Pawsitive Reading Program and is happy to sit quietly and listen appreciatively to any story you may wish to read. Please call the day of the program to schedule a 10-minute appointment at 584-7860, opt. 3. Please note that Buck has a busy social schedule and some of these dates may change. Go to their website for the latest information. For more information call 584-7860, opt 3.
  • The Knights of Generous Hearts GALA takes place from 6:30-11pm at The Villeroy, 21 South Greenfield Rd. in Greenfield. Cost is $50 donation per person. This fundraising event will benefit the new playground at Greenfield Elementary School. Come support the children! Live entertainment by Jeff & Becky Walton. Featuring wine and hors d’oeuvre tastings from Saratoga’s finest wineries and restaurants.  Silent Auction. Dressy Casual Attire. Purchase Tickets online here. For more information call 518-321-8170.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3rd

  • The Children’s Room at the Saratoga Springs Public Library is having their Grand Opening from 1-2pm! Join them as they celebrate their new Children’s Room! Snacks and refreshments will be served. Then from 2-3pm check out Cabin Fever Family Dances with Peter, Paul and George! Come in from the cold, beat that cabin fever, and enjoy some traditional folk music from America and the world with Peter, Paul and George!
  • There will be a Seussian Celebration at the Children’s Museum from 12-3pm today. Cost is free with museum admission. In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, they will be holding their annual Seussian Celbration: “Hop on Pop”. Come and participate in a themed scavenger hunt, “Hop on Pop” in their bounce house, create Dr. Seuss crafts, and participate in their free basket raffles. Like Dr. Seuss says, “If you never did you should. These things are fun, and fun is good”!
  • Books and Brunch for Saratoga Reads! is happening at Sperry's in Saratoga Springs from 11am-2pm. 15% of proceeds from Books and Brunch will be donated to Saratoga Reads! and used to provide free programming for readers of all ages in the community. Call 518-584-9618 to make a reservation today!
  • Blue Iris Photography is having their great Easter Mini Sessions! Click here to read an interview with Linda Peluso from Blue Iris and for more info.

Mamatoga Loves the South High Marathon Dance, March 1st & 2nd

dancemarathon850_1433835_nThere is a ton of buzz about a great event happening in Glens Falls this weekend and I want to tell you all about it. The students at South Glens Falls High School, grades 9-12, will gather this weekend to raise money and will dance for an amazing 28 hours straight, all for local people and charities who need help. The dance began in 1978, with about 50 dancers raising $1,500 to donate to the local Emergency Squad, and has grown to include more than 650 dancers and in 2012 raised more than $395,000. In the 35 years the dance has been held, the students, and community, have raised over $3 Million Dollars!

Organized primarily by the students of South Glens Falls High School, there is a committee formed every year to decide who the recipients will be that year. The student committee also helps decide what costume parties will take place at the dance, a fun, time-honored tradition where the dancers form groups and prepare costumes that match a certain theme.

The dance has donated money to individuals who need handicapped-accessible vans, organ transplants, and motorized wheelchairs. They have helped send terminally ill community members on vacations with their families, helped pay medical expenses, bought gifts for needy children at Christmas and helped purchase major medical equipment for a local hospital. Along with these individuals in need, the dancers have also donated money to organizations like Caritas, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, numerous scholarship funds, and local groups like the community center and fire departments.

Some current recipients for this year are:

  • Anne F. Dennett, a mother who was diagnosed with late stage 4 Breast Cancer that spread to her lungs, brain, bones, liver, and abdomen.
  • Bailey Wind, a student at Shaker High school who was in a severe car accident.  She sustained numerous injuries in the accident.
  • Hannah’s Hope Fund For GAN (the Mamatoga Holiday Issue cover family!)
  • Jake’s Help From Heaven (the Mamatoga Spring Issue cover family!)
  • Project Cameron's Story
  • Lukas Lemery, a 4 year old boy with a brain tumor, the size of a golfball, which is currently shifting around causing more medical problems. The tumor has already caused him to go blind in his right eye. Lukas also has central diabetes insipidus.
  • The Brave Will Foundation

and many, many more, to read the complete list of recipients for this year click right here.

The event is open to the public and I urge all of you to attend at some point over the weekend if you can. For a complete schedule click right here. Can't make it but would love to donate something to help these great causes? Click right here. These students coming together to support others is truly incredible and inspiring, and the help they are providing to our community will be felt for years to come. Bravo to them, can't wait to see them all dance! xoxo