Nicole’s Italia

On Thursday my daughter graduated from kindergarten. After graduation mom and dad took her to Nicole’s Italia. We held her Christening reception there not all that long ago (so it seems…).

I’ve always found the food there to be of high quality at a reasonable price. The owner is typically on-site and he’s really a wonderful and generous host.

My wife had Chicken Parmesan, and it was perfect. I had Veal Saltimbocca which consisted of a veal cutlet sautéed in a Marsala wine sauce on a bed of spinach and covered with a layer of prosciutto and provolone. Also excellent. Their children’s menu is extensive and includes every kid’s Italian favorites plus the typical kid’s standbys.

If you are in the Capital Region and in Guilderland, stop by at Nicole’s in the 20 Mall (2080 Western Ave., Guilderland).

Jesse’s

I love Texas Hots. For the uninitiated Texas Hots are hot dogs covered in Texas Hot Sauce, onions, and mustard.

I fell in love with Texas Hots back in Buffalo. You can’t drive 10 miles without running across a hots restaurant. I always thought Louie’s was the best (they even have a Wikipedia entry). In Buffalo, Hots restaurants were typically run by a Greek family, in Louie’s case, the Galanes family.

There’s also the world famous Ted’s Hot Dogs which was started by Theodore Spiro Liaros in a small shack under the Peace Bridge in Buffalo. I ate there after many a trip to Crystal Beach.

Anyway, there was nothing to compare to Louie’s or Ted’s here in the Capital Region, that is until Jesse’s opened.

Jesse’s is a Texas Hots lovers dream come true. Located at 1800 Western Avenue, on the side of Cosimo’s Plaza in Guilderland, Jesse’s fulfills my need for Texas Hots.

Jesse Caprotti Jr. opened the restaurant this year bringing his family’s Texas sauce recipe to the area.

During the 1960’s and 70’s, and up until their passing, Jesse Sr., and Betty Caprotti’s successful stand in Kingston, NY served the same Texas Hots, using the same family recipe, to locals.

You will always find Jesse Jr. in the kitchen and his family, including his daughter Colette at the counter. They are wonderful folks, and if you’re miles from Buffalo or Kingston, you couldn’t find better than Jesse’s.