Tag Archives: Troy

Dinner Menu for the Hidden Garden Tour

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11209706_883239148385524_5188855532739664095_nPrix Fixe Dinner Menu for the Troy Hidden Garden Tour

Refreshments from 4pm-7pm

Dinner from 5:30pm-9pm

Refreshments and Restrooms at Carmen’s!
As usual, we’ll be open with free refreshments, restrooms, and a good spot to rendezvous.
Open from 4pm on.  Welcome to the hood!

Prix Fixe Dinner ($35) to delight your palate and benefit Friends of Prospect Park.
Your choice of entrée.  Service starts at 5:30, reservations suggested:

  • Filet Mignon Au Jus— over garlic-scallion mashed potatoes. Tender and succulent, w/ roasted veggies
  • Tilapia over Brown Rice— w/ wine-lemon-cilantro sauce
  • Pollo al Jerez— Sweet and savory, the traditional way, w/ capers & olives & fresh figs,
    served over couscous.
  • Vegan Meatless Loaf—  made w/ lentils, brown rice, pecans and mushrooms– a delightful nutty texture, served w/mushroom gravy and salad.

Whichever you choose, it’s Chocolate Decadence Cake or Flan for dessert
plus Sangria, Jim-Gerale, Minty Iced Tea or Coffee

Cash bar for wine and beer

The 17th Annual Hidden Garden Tour in Troy, NY

When:
Thu, May 26, 2016
4:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Where:
Historic Sage College, Washington Park and adjoining neighborhoods of downtown Troy.
Cost:
$10

Get tickets Here!

Easter Menu

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—Amazing Food, Just Like You Expect

You know us, so you know to shop the specials as well as our regular menu.  Well, here we go!

It’s been a while since we’ve had Steak and Eggs, and for Easter we’re pulling out all the stops. We scored a great Filet Mignon and we’ll serve it this weekend.  Along with eggs your style, a potato pancake, and all the trimmings.

That’s not all—  Strawberries are here, and we’re passing them on. Pancakes with Strawberries in Orange Glace (thanks, Jackie, for the inspiration!), on plenty of fresh whipped cream.

Full Breakfast Menu

Full Lunch Menu

Elegant Cafe

Special New Year’s Day Hours—Join us as we try something new!

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This year, we’ll be open from 9—2 on Friday, Jan. 1st – New Year’s Day – and 10—4 on Saturday & Sunday. We will have some amazing specials, like Orange Pecan Pancakes, Carmen’s Hearty Chicken Soup.

From then it’s on to the new year, and, unlike other times, we are staying open all winter. That’s right, you heard it here first: Carmen’s all winter long, for your brunching pleasure: 9—4 Saturdays and Sundays, with tasty food cooked fresh, and some of the finest specials you’ve ever tucked in to.

Carmen’s Annual Holiday Potluck: Thu. Dec 24th from 5–10PM

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–Where the Sweet and Neat Meet and Greet since 2004

A Troy tradition, like Romeo and Juliet, Ham and Eggs, Oil and Water- Carmen’s and the Holiday Potluck.

We put out the basics— rice and beans, plantains and salad, picadillo and flan, sangria and Jim-Gerale. You bring a drink or dish to share (with label, sil vous plait!) and friends to share it with. We all have a grand time!

We start early: 5pm, so you can nip in for a quick hello if you are on to somewhere else. And we are here all night, so you can make this your destination. It’s always interesting, always new faces, always a great crew. Our way of saying thanks for the great times and we are glad to know you!

Special New Year’s Day Hours

—Join us as we try something new!

This year, we’ll be open from 9-2 on Friday, Jan. 1 – New Year’s Day- and 10-4 on Saturday & Sunday. We will have some amazing specials, like Orange Pecan Pancakes, Carmen’s Hearty Chicken Soup, and Paula’s Special Hangover Elixir! Recover from your holiday parties with some real food, from the only joint in town that’s open.

From then it’s on to the new year, and, unlike other times, we are staying open all winter. That’s right, you heard it here first: Carmen’s all winter long, for your brunching pleasure: 10-4 Saturdays and Sundays, with tasty food cooked fresh, and some of the finest specials you’ve ever tucked in to.

Carmen’s Weekend Specials

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Black-Bean-Omelet

Weekend Specials

Gluten Free Pancakes: an amazing recipe— Carmen has been tweaking it all week, and I get to sample! They keep getting better and better, and they started out pretty great. With our own Mango–Banana–Peach purée

Black Bean Omelet: Light but it’s got staying power! Black beans with garlic, tomato, onion and cilantro. Sounds Mexican but it’s Cuban now! (shown above with fruit, but we’ll serve it with salad, guacamole and English muffin).

 

CocoLoco

CocoLoco!

—Vegan “ice cream” made fresh!
We’ll have it at the Café and Farmer’s Market this week.  Double Chocolate, Vanilla, and Butter Pecan.  All coconut-based, smooth, creamy and delicious!

Weekend Specials

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Gluten Free Pancakes: an amazing recipe— Carmen has been tweaking it all week, and I get to sample! They keep getting better and better, and they started out pretty great. With our own Mango–Banana–Peach purée

Apple Omelet: My new favorite in a light summer breakfast! Butter-sautéed apples and ham, set off with award-winning Maytag Blue Cheese (shown above with fruit)

Gazpacho: Getting raves all over. Fresh vine ripe tomatoes, cucumber, and garlic… and it’s absolutely vegan!

 

Carmen’s Weekly Newsletter

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newsletterJust about every week Jim Lewis puts his heart and soul into this weekly newsletter. He includes updates about happenings at Carmen’s Cafe. He’ll keep you informed about the weekend specials or what Carmen is serving at the Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market.

Additionally Jim posts about the world around him. The local flavor of the Troy community, and its potential to be discovered as the gem it is, by others.  Jim puts his special brand of wit and whimsey into the newsletter.

So come on aboard for the ride, its free!

Jim

Sign Me Up Jim!

Weekend Specials/Farmer’s Market Menu

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Weekend Specials

Gluten Free Pancakes: an amazing recipe—  Carmen has been tweaking it all week, and I get to sample! They keep getting better and better, and they started out pretty great. With our own Mango–Banana–Peach purée

Vegan Eggs: Mock eggs jimmied up (love that word!) from groats and polenta. Served with roasted veggies and plantains (shown above)

Chilled Cucumber-Dill Soup: you tried her gazpacho, now taste the way she’s elevated a traditional recipe.  Perfect to beat the heat!

 

Farmer’s Market Menu

–we’re now cooking eggs!

Specials:

  • Gluten Free Pancakes w/ mango-banana-peach purée
  • Chilled Cucumber-Dill Soup

Plus some favorites:

  • Flamenco
  • Cuban Eggs
  • Picadillo
  • Empanadas
  • Cubano Sandwiches

Topped off with Vanilla and Chocolate Egg Cremes, Minty Iced Tea and Jim-Gerale

And CocoLoco for dessert!

 

Sunday Specials / Farmer’s Market Menu

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Sunday Specials

Eggs Benedict: Poached Eggs over English muffin and Canadian bacon, served w/ home fries and grilled veggies

Tostada: Eggs layered with a crispy fried tortilla, home fries, veggie or chorizo hash, manchego cheese, and lime crema, plus ranchero sauce made from vine-ripe fresh tomatoes.

Farmer’s Market Menu

We will offer a few of our favorites:

  • Flamenco
  • Flan French Toast
  • Picadillo
  • Empanadas
  • Cubano Sandwiches

Topped off with Vanilla and Chocolate Egg Cremes, Minty Iced Tea and Jim-Gerale

And CocoLoco for dessert!

Good Morning from the Heart of the South Troy Arts District!

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New Artist!

Abby Lublin by SusanBAnthonyDoes the name Susan B. Anthony ring a bell? And she came by it honestly!

Susan is from Brooklyn, and just loves Troy. So much that she’s writing a book about us— if by writing you mean taking pictures of everyday Trojans. And we’ve got a preview hanging on our walls. This is her photograph of our hero Abby Lublin, urban grower extraordinaire.

Meet her Saturday Feb. 21, from 5-8, when we throw our usual Grand Artist’s Reception. Dinner will be available, plus complimentary Cuban hors d’oeuvres.

Fire Drum by Jim Lewis of Springwood Studios

By Jim Lewis of Springwood Studios

What did YOU do for Christmas? Jim made drums for a numbew of people. Here’s the Fire Drum, made of cherry, blooddwood, and butcherblock oak.

See him for those extra special things, from furniture to sculpture to— yes, even counters and floors like Carmen’s.

Cookin’ With Chef Carmen!

Cookin' With Chef CarmenWho makes all that delicious food? Chef Carmen, mostly.

That’s not to say she doesn’t have help, but mostly it’s her back there, bringing us authentic Cuban recipes she was taught by her Aunt Matilda. And a few things she’s picked up since then.

Here’s a picture I took of her the other day. You can tell she was dreaming about springtime.

Pretty strong dream. I hope it comes true soon!

January Hours:

Just open Weekends till we catch our breath:
Saturday & Sunday 9-4

Of course, we’ll still do a party if you call ahead!

Regular Hours start Feb 1:

Back to the full schedule:
Thursday 11-6
Friday 11-10
Saturday & Sunday 9-4

Free local delivery for orders over $15 on weekdays.