Category Archives: Welcome to Carmen’s Bistro

Spring Is In The Air

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Wed. April 2 to Sun. April 6

Spring Is In The Air…
And It’s About Time!

We went out without coats Tuesday for the first time in months!

Our menu changes with the seasons—
check out the quinona salad for Friday Night Tapas

Our Hours: Wednesday, Thursday: 11-6 • Friday: 11-10 • Saturday & Sunday: 9-4
Free Local Delivery Weekdays w/ $15 Minimum

—Check out our specials!

Chicken B.L.A.TSandwiches

Pollo de Fuego pulled chicken w/ caramelized onion
on ciabatta

Grilled Cheese your choice of cheddar or vegan mozzarella-cheddar blend, spiced w/ roasted jalapeño sauce

Plus the regular suspects

SaladsSalads!

See our full menu

Cleanse your palate– build your body right with Carmen’s half and whole Garden Salads

ribsMeals

Why wait for the weekend? Get real food, real good, and get it now!

Pork Spare Ribs incredibly meaty! w/ pineapple guava sauce

Ropa Vieja traditional Spanish braised shredded beef w/ rice, beans & avocado

Mac-N-Cheese With Avocado & Roasted Red Pepper
Options: Bacon, Chorizo, or Plantains

Soups! Get a cup or a bowl

Hearty Veggie Stew– Vegan! w/ white beans & seasonal veggies.

Flamenco– yes, our favorite egg dish starts with a stew! And it’s great as a stew without the eggs. Available w/ chorizo or vegan

Cuban Favorites

Flamenco—yes, our favorite egg dish starts with a stew! And it’s great as a stew without the eggs. Available w/ chorizo or vegan

Cubano Sandwich—Ham, Pork, Swiss, Pickle and Mustard on Pan Cubano bread

Desserts

We’ve got you covered
Flan
Chocolate Sour Cream Cake
Lemon Ginger Cheesecake
Chocolate Brownie

Bob GullieFeatured Artist

Robert Gullie—He’s also showing at The Foundry in Cohoes thru April 13

Remember, when you buy art at Carmen’s, all the money goes to the artist.

Let Us Host A Private Party for You & Your Friends!

Have your favorite dishes, hire a band if you want, and have the place to yourselves!

Available any night but Friday (but we’ll seat a smaller party with our regular diners). Call Carmen for details!

 

Pineapple Mango Pancakes

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We just loves putting things in pancakes! And nothing beats Pineapple and Mango, especially when you top it with Coconut Caramel Sauce.

Otherwise, you’d be stuck with our 100% real true pure Maple Syrup, and what a tragedy that would be!

Watch This Space (Vegan)

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Roasted onions & jalapeños:

We have been working with the Daiya vegan cheeses, trying to find a place for them in our menu. Problem is, we find them bland– not up to our flavor standards.

We’ve cracked the nut: he’ll make a sauce from these and work his flavor magic. The bread? We already have a great vegan sourdough bread.

I can’t wait to try it!

Crabcakes Benedictus

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Succulent Crabcakes with Hollandaise and Eggs

Succulent Crabcakes with Hollandaise and Eggs

 

Start with silver-dollar-sized crabcakes on an English muffin.  Top with poached eggs, spoon on  fresh-made Hollandaise.  Serve with a generous wedge of avocado and home fries.

These were flying out of the kitchen yesterday. We ran out before 11 yesterday, so we made a double batch today. If you can’t get in soon, call to reserve yours now!

Pollo al Jerez

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We stew the chicken w/ prunes & raisins in sherry & spices Nd serves it over rice on a plantain leaf.

Sweet and savory, rich and hearty!

Walnut Cherry Brownies!

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Dessert at Carmen’s, it doesn’t get better than this.

Open till 6 for early dinner.

Kasha Sunrise Wins It!

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two eggs over kasha & caramelized onions, served w/ avocadoIt was as much fun judging as eating—  68 entries, some with as many as ten names!  But Carmen trudged through, in between laughter and amazement—  the sheer audacity of Uncle Bill’s “Carmen’s Sunny Runny Oniony Lil Rascals” left us wondering how long it would take Paula to write down the order, but earned him the runnerup’s prize—  the new Kasha breakfast or a hot Cubano Sandwich, your choice.

Some we loved, but just didn’t seem right for our menu, like “2 Bucked Up Eggs,” by Chuck.  It’s great to see Carmen laugh so hard.  Same story for “Buck ‘N’Cluck,” by Carol Werner.  Likewise the Kasha or the Cubano for both of you.

The Grand Winner is Kasha Sunrise, submitted by Ken and Mike.

It wasn’t what we were thinking of, but when the name hits you, it hits, and there is no denying.  Thanks, guys—  you get a complete breakfast for two, with all the trimmings, as promised.

Wait! The rest of you—  don’t go away! We wouldn’t leave you in the cold.  Everyone who entered, come in this Friday, March 14, and have a sip on us.  Sangria, Minty Iced Tea, or our new Jim-Gerale, a low sugar, strong ginger alt-soft drink.  Make it between 5:30 and 7 and we’ll have a plate of appetizers out and be on hand to share the good cheer.

Cubano Sandwich BitesFine details:  Prizes must be claimed in person in the next month—  thru April 13 (drinks are only this Friday, 3/14).  Print out your email notification as your ID.  For sangria, you must be over 21.  Call us at (518) 326-2064 with questions.

Thanks for entering!

Polenta Eggs

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Two Eggs Over Easy on Crispy Polenta, with Roasted Red Peppers & Arugula Pesto.

Breakfast served all day. And at Carmen’s, you don’t have to choose between hearty and tasty & fresh.

Surprise Special!

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When we say Hearty Vegetable Stew, we mean HEARTY.

And let’s be clear, this is a fresh batch, not a holdover from last week. We just loved it so much we made some more.

It’s every bit as hearty as a beef stew, but like our other special, Black Bean & Corn, it’s totally vegan.

Grab it while it lasts!

Name That Dish And Win Your Breakfast!

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Brand new special here, and they are selling like hotcakes. Problem is we need a name.

It starts with toasted buckwheat, fried in butter with caramelized onions, then topped with a pair of sunny side up eggs.

Buckwheat, aka Kasha, is actually a seed, not a grain. Naturally gluten free, it’s known for its nutty taste and the way it energizes you without filling you up. The flavor combines ob-so-well with the eggs and onions, like you wouldn’t believe. It gives you the go to last all day without slowing you down.

The contest? We need a name as great as the taste. Ideally it is short and snappy, maybe clever but not too clever if you know what we mean. You know Carmen’s, so of course you know what we mean.

The winner gets a full breakfast for two with all the trimmings. If the names are good enough, we may even give a second prize.

Carmen picks, and as usual her decision is final. I hope someone wins, because these breakfasts don’t just eat themselves!

But you know Carmen’s, so of course you know that too.