empire brewing company

Empire Brewing Company is a long-time favorite spot of mine back home. It's a local brewery with great food, fun times, and a good attitude. I grew up going there with the family, and have since made sure to visit almost every time I'm home.

Sustainability

Empire is the first business in central NY to use 100% NY State produced renewable energy, and the good efforts don't stop there. The restaurant uses locally sourced food as much as possible, and really promotes the concept. You'll see "eat local" signs all throughout the place, right down to the coasters. The owners also have a garden that provides produce for the restaurant as well as a farm stand nearby. All of their spent grains and fry oil get put to use for local livestock, and paper products are biodegradable. With so many measures taken, one can sure feel good about going there to grab some beer and food.How's that for sustainability? 

Beer

My favorite thing to do when I go to Empire is to order a beer flight. I can never finish the whole thing, but for only $10 you get to sample a whole line up. Certain brews are always included, and then there are two seasonal picks as well. My personal favorite beer at Empire Brewing Company is the Black Magic Stout. 

The Food

There are a lot of great menu items at Empire, but my no-fail is the lobster bisque. I've been eating it since I was a wee one and each time it goes down so easy. The soup comes with blue corn croutons in it that are particularly tasty. Blue corn sprinkles the menu throughout and is a signature of the restaurant. Also good, are their flat breads and fajitas. Pictured above is the Mediterranean plate which is a great accompaniment for the bisque. 

in this instant

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munich: part one

Back from my vacation! 

First stop: Munich, Germany

In Munich we did all of the typical things. The misty grey skies force you into the German way of life, and there isn't much avoiding it. We sat for hours in the beer garden at the Hoffbrauhaus, drank steins full of Hefewiezen, and ate our stomachs full. Unfortunately, we didn't find Oktoberfest to be as much fun as we had hoped. Luckily the nightlife, restaurants, and cafes of Munich made up for it. 

I fell in love with the city itself. I could have sat for hours sipping on coffee, munching on a plate full of cheese, while reading my book and staring out at the calm scenery. Everyone was warm, and the streets felt clean and modern (as modern as a European city gets). It is a place in which nobody locks up their bikes or has to go through a turn style to get on the subway. What a blast of refreshment it was that there exists such a large population of simply honest and good people.  

I can't wait to go back someday.