With so much foodie talent in NYC, it was only a matter of time before it spilled into the rest of the state.
Fresh oysters, exquisite produce, the best chicken wings, excellent craft beer and top-shelf sparkling wine – a journey through upstate New York is a foodie adventure without equal.
Here are five such adventures that are calling out to your taste buds…
Feast on oysters and hydrate on wine in Long Island
Go on a behind-the-scenes tour of a working oyster farm in Long Island and taste the freshest oysters (straight from the Atlantic) you’ve ever had in your life. Learn about all stages of oyster production and then top the tour off with an oyster tasting paired with local North Fork wine as you sit tableside along the waterfront on Southold Bay.
Talking of the local vino, if that’s your tipple, head to Sparkling Pointe Vineyards and Winery for the best sparkling wine in the region. If you’d rather work for your drop, saddle up for a guided farm and wine country bike tour in Mattituck. Stop at small wineries, farms and secluded beaches on this relaxing pedal as you unfurl the beauty of North Fork. How to get here? It’s simple: jump on the Jitney or take the train up from NYC. Sorted.
Satiate your sweet tooth on maple syrup in the Hudson Valley
You don’t need to cross over the border into Canada to taste the best maple syrup in the world, because the gorgeous Hudson Valley in upstate New York has you covered – no, wait: drizzled. Fun fact: New York produces some of the finest maple syrup in the country in impressive quantities. If you can, visit the region during the Maple Weekends, held on the 21st to 22nd and 28th to 29th of March this year. During these Saturday and Sunday affairs, local producers invite the public into their “sugar houses” to learn all about this sweet nectar.
To get to Hudson Valley from NYC, jump on a train from Grand Central or Penn St Station. Then, rent a car and go on a sweet drive tasting the best maple syrup on the planet. Oh, and don’t you dare leave Hudson Valley without devouring the region’s wider food scene. Either drive to Beacon and go on a delicious food walking tour around the city or stay in the car and visit the farm-to-table restaurants and superb wineries scattered throughout the valley. You’re welcome.
Fruity IPAs and flavourful ales: It’s craft beer heaven in Central New York
Plan Bee Farm Brewery
Did you know that it was here, in Central New York, that the first beer was popped open after prohibition ended? It’s true, and ever since, this region of the state has grown to become one of the biggest craft beer hubs in the USA.
There are literally dozens upon dozens of craft beer breweries throughout the region, as well as cider mills and wineries. Check it out for yourself by taking the train to Syracuse and renting a car from there. Drink responsibly.
Tuck into the best wings in the world in Buffalo
If New York is the Big Apple, then Buffalo is the big chicken wing – one that’s flavoured to perfection and drizzled in my-mouth-is-on-fire hot sauce. In other words, a Buffalo-style wing. Famous all over the world, you haven’t experienced a chicken wing unless it’s in Buffalo – period. Indeed, it was here that America’s favourite Buffalo wing was invented, so of course, this is the best place to try ‘em!
Hammer down a half-dozen hot sauce Buffalo wings at the world-famous Anchor bar, if you dare. You’ll find these wings on the menu pretty much wherever you go in the city. If you take your wings seriously, there’s even a Buffalo Wing Trail you can follow. To get here, take a train or catch a flight (multiple departures daily).
The long and wine-y road begins in Niagara Falls
Niagara Wine Trail, USA
Although there are tons of wine tours across the state (we mentioned some earlier on Long Island), the Niagara region between the border of the USA and Canada deserves a mention.
Our suggestion? Pair a visit to the mighty Niagara Falls with a wine tour of Niagara, visiting local wineries and tasting the finest drops before sitting down to an exquisite lunch at the renowned Spring Lake winery. It’s pure Heaven!
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