CONTACT:
Michelle Santos, Marketing Coordinator & Social Media Strategist
Discover Albany
Phone: 518-434-1217 x 110
Email: msantos@albany.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31, 2018
Discover Albany Celebrates Culinary History & Successes
Discover Albany and Partners Launch 2018 “Tastes and Traditions”
Albany, NY – Discover Albany is pleased to announce the launch of “Tastes and Traditions,” a year of programming focusing on everyone’s favorite topic – food!
“We wanted to find a way to celebrate Albany’s rich culinary history and accomplishments, and highlight our heritage partners at the same time,” says Michele Vennard, President and CEO of Discover Albany. “Working with partners, we have been able to create a really exciting calendar of events and activities, that includes tastings, tours, panel discussions, lectures, and classes throughout the year.”
The programming dovetails nicely with a new food tour company coming to Albany in 2018. Beginning May 4, visitors can experience Albany’s exciting culinary scene firsthand through the new Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour by Taste of Troy Food Tours. The guided walking tour through downtown Albany will feature historic facts and city landmarks, punctuated by five tastes from Albany restaurants.
Amy Koren-Roth founded Taste of Troy Food Tours in Troy in 2016 and decided to expand the company to Albany in 2017. ““I enjoy taking food tours and exploring local markets whenever I travel, but I realized that we can be food travelers in our own regions, cities and neighborhoods,” says Koren-Roth.
Currently, food tours are available in a number of upstate cities, including Ithaca, Buffalo, and the Finger Lakes. The appeal is clear. “Culinary tourism combines sightseeing and enjoyment of unique and memorable food and drink experiences into one appetizing adventure,” says Koren-Roth. “My Historic Downtown Albany Food Tour helps tell Albany’s story in a delicious way.”
“Tastes and Traditions” will also highlight heritage partners in a new way, providing a new lens through which to see Albany’s historic sites. This year, Ten Broeck Mansion is hosting a variety of culinary events including the "Proost! A Brewed and Boozy sampling of 1790's Albany," and “The Ten Broeck Table - 18th Century Dining.” Crailo State Historic Site is hosting a “Colonial Chocolate Workshop” and a second installation of “Proost.” Shaker Heritage Society will offer guided tours of the property’s herb gardens, while the USS Slater will host tours of the ship’s galley kitchen. And that’s just a sampling! To learn more about “Tastes and Traditions” programming, please visit: https://www.albany.org/tastes-and-traditions/.
ABOUT Discover Albany
The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. Today, the organization is known as Discover Albany. Discover Albany currently represents more than 300 member businesses and assists each year in hundreds of regional meetings. Discover Albany also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. The Albany County Convention and Visitors Bureau Foundation was established in 1993 to provide educational opportunities and work with other organizations to secure grants and funding to advance regional travel and tourism projects. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.
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