BITE-SIZED
Beignet Bellies opening in Albany later this month
A cafe called Beignet Bellies is being developed for a projected opening by mid-august at 247 New Scotland Ave. in Albany, taking over a space that previously was New Scotland Fried Chicken & Deli, inside a Mobil station convenience store.
Owner Josita Walker hopes to have official hours starting soon, depending on final permits, she told News10 ABC. According to the report, Walker became hooked on beignets — New Orleans-style fried dough — during a visit to the city and decided to open a shop dedicated to them in her hometown. The logo for Beignet Bellies includes a photo of Walker’s father, Isadore Burns Sr., who for more than 40 years was pastor of The Church of God Deliverance Through Christ in Albany. He died in 2021.
Often served with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, beignets can also be stuffed, sometimes with savory ingredients; a few of Walker’s beignets will be filled with fruit, others with meat, in addition to a traditional version, according to photos. The cafe will also offer ice cream and bubble tea. Once formally open, Beignet Bellies will serve from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Bubble-tea chain expands
A bubble-tea chain called Gong cha, founded in Taiwan in 2006 and now with more than 1,800 locations in 20 countries, is expanding in the Capital Region. Both of its quick-serve spots offer the Gong cha menu — seven kinds of tea, coffee and bubble waffles — and share space with another food concept.
The Gong cha at 1232 Western Ave. in Albany, which opened last year across from the University at Albany uptown campus, is in tandem with Oishi Sushi; the newer Gong cha is in Troy — at 1521 Sixth Ave., in the City Station East development — and its food option is Asian-style fried chicken, under the name Basak Wing. An employee said
Gong cha’s teas are available now, and Basak Wing will open in a few weeks. The Business Review reported that the food component was added to the local Gong chas by franchisee Ginnie Gong, whose surname is coincidental. Oishi Sushi appears to be a chain; Basak Wing does not seem to be a previously existing brand.
Gong cha-albany and Oishi Sushi are open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily; the Troy hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Ordering for both is available via Grubhub.
New Caribbean spot in Troy
A Caribbean restaurant named Pataconia held its grand opening at the beginning of this month in River Street Market, 433 River St., Troy. The name comes from patacon, another word for tostones or fried green plantains; Pataconia’s signature offerings are sandwiches with fried plantains serving as the bread to encase beef, chicken and vegetables. The restaurant also serves pastalitos, similar to empanadas, as well as sides and soft drinks.
Hours are 11 a.m. to to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, closed weekends. The owners are the husband-and-wife team of Riany and Alexa Mena; Riany Mena, who is from the Dominican Republic, is also the chef.
Another global chain arrives
The first Capital Region location of Ji Bei Chuan Rice Noodles & Ramen, a chain based in China with restaurants around the world, opened Aug. 3. It is at 1704 Western Ave., a space in a Price Chopper plaza that was home to an ill-fated southern satellite of Saratoga Springs-based Gennaro’s Pizza Parlor for part of 2021. The restaurant seats about 70.
The owner is Larry Weng, who also owns the local, threelocation Union Seafood restaurants and is the Capital Region franchisee for Ji Bei Chuan.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The chain’s menu features a variety of soups including ramen and pho, noodle dishes, fried rice, a dozen appetizers and five desserts.