Shine On! 'Shining Rainbow' Restaurant a mecca for unusual dishes

Beef with Balsam pear. Squid fried celery. Spinach with garlic sauce. Not your typical Chinese fare, right? But maybe that’s not so surprising when you discover the name of the restaurant is Shining Rainbow. Then, dishes like spare ribs with bitter melon don’t seem so out of place.

This new Chinese-Japanese restaurant on Central Avenue has a menu that seems to encompass every possibility—even though the kitchen is about the size of a lunch counter. The restaurant has Chinese dishes, sushi, and a fairly large dim sum selection, which makes for some difficult dining decisions.

The waiter recommends their mushroom with chicken hot pot, “a real Chinatown specialty,” he said. My companion has chicken lo mein, as per his usual (he is becoming a connoisseur of lo mein.) We also order some dim sum to begin our meal, green leek dumplings, stuffed bean curd, and steamed pork dumplings. These appetizers were prettily presented, flavorful, and large enough to be a meal in and of themselves. I would highly recommend this place for dim sum; they seem to have a lot of show in them. The main dishes were less artisitic, but still good. The lo mein was smoky, with tender pieces of chicken and slivers of scallion and carrot mixed in with the thick noodles. My hot pot was a new experience for me to handle, the chicken was still on the bone and clearly seemed to be more for flavoring than eating, however combined with the tasty mushrooms and the unique sauce, it mixed well with the sticky rice and made for good, cozy eating. Our bill, with two sodas, came to about $30.

Next time, I’m going to order from the sushi menu, which is the same sushi as that served in the very popular Shogun Sushi in Delmar (the restaurants share partners). While we waited for our food, several sushi rolls came out that looked wonderful, including one elaborate roll that was wrapped around an orange.

Shining Rainbow has great lunch specials, with plenty of seating for diners-on-the-go at their lunch counter. There are also a number of deep, gondola-like booths ranged around the restaurant for longer, more involved meals. This three-week old restaurant is just getting on its feet and eager to please, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Come looking for something out of the ordinary.

Shining Rainbow is located at 209 Central Avenue. They are open every day, and also offer delivery. 396-3881.

Everyone's invited: Blessed Sacrament School hosts open house for prospective parents

Next week, Blessed Sacrament School opens their doors, and invites the community in for a visit. Parents interested in exploring the school, and parents who already have children in the school are all welcome to attend.

“The open house is important, because we feel it is a way to let people know we are here!” said Administrative Assistant Nancy Kelly. “We often ask the parents visiting how they heard about us. Most people respond by saying by word of mouth, from a family member, friend or co-worker or by the advertising we do in newspapers, flyers and inserts. Many people didn't even know we where here.”

Parents take the tour with a current student and explore the school. The student will answer any questions the parent might have. After the tour, the parent will visit the classroom teacher that their child will possibly have next year for further academic information.

The open house also provides an important opportunity for students to show their parents around, and get them up to speed on what they’ve been working on and introduce them to their teachers and school staff.

“Every faculty member and staff knows each and every child's name and grade,” said Kelly. “We have an excellent faculty who is involved with both child and parent. Our principal's office door is always open to both student and parents with any concerns.”

The school is located next door to the Blessed Sacrament Church at 605 Central Avenue. The Open House will be held on Thursday April 2 from 6-7:30pm. For more information, please contact the school at 438-5854.

Bringing the market to your doorstep: Farmers Market Opens on Central

Farmers may be headed to the city this summer, bringing their homegrown fruits and vegetables to sell on Central Avenue. The Central Business Improvement District and WAMC-Northeast Public Radio are teaming up to create a new farmers’ market in the parking lot next to the Linda Norris Auditorium.

The parking lot is cold and empty now, but starting May 30, it will be home to crowd of vendors offering a range of farm fresh products to district residents. The market will be a convenient source of fresh fruits and vegetables, and will also be a boon to farmers, who are always looking for new places to sell their wares.

The market also promises to be a unique opportunity for neighbors to meet, bringing together people from Washington Park, West Hill, and Sheridan Square every week. Discussions are currently underway on other programs this new public square might host.

One goal of the planners is that the market will accept EBT and WIC benefit cards, so that everyone has access to the very freshest produce for healthy meals, and it could also become a place where people can make donations to the Capital District Food Pantries.

WAMC and the BID say the market is part of a long term vision for the neighborhood. The people who live and work on Central see it as a working, thriving area for development, and the market is a way to display the very best the region has to offer.

The market will take place in the parking lot beside the Linda Norris Auditorium—WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio at 339 Central Avenue on Saturdays from 8am to noon, lasting from May to September. Any farmers/vendors who are interested in selling goods at the market should contact the Central BID at (518) 462-4300.

Come Again--Ristorante Paradiso Reopens!

Matthew Daskalakis has tried many things over the years, but this former pro baseball ballplayer, turned New York State worker, turned restaurateur, has found a home at Ristorante Paradiso. The restaurant reopened in January after a seven month hiatus, and owner Daskalakis welcomed back his loyal customers. “That’s the very best part of the restaurant,” Daskalakis said. “We do have a very decent clientele.”

Daskalakis said the economy is tough for restaurants, but he can’t imagine doing anything else. “There’s parts that you don’t miss. You don’t miss the cost. This is a tough building when it comes to costs,” he allows. “But you get through it.”

During the break, Daskalakis remodeled and retooled the restaurant, expanding the dining room to allow for more even more guests. The restaurant is now open for dinner and banquets, and will continue serving Italian specialties like chicken marsala, eggplant parmigiano, Delmonico steak and prime rib that it's been so famous for.

Once a 24-hour cafeteria, the Ristorante Paradiso has been an Albany fixture since the 1920s. Daskalakis purchased the restaurant in 1977, the same year the location was being used for the filming of Ironweed, a movie based on William Kennedy's novel about Albany. Today, the restaurant has the same old world charm it has always had and the same great food, and author Kennedy is still a frequent patron.

As part of the remodeling, Daskalakis removed the platform and booths in the dining room to make way for more tables. Daskalakis has also begun to offer some new specials and discounts, including complimentary drinks on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Valentine’s Day, the restaurant offered a special menu, and the dining room, already quite romantic with its stain-glass windows, painted ceilings and table top lanterns, was festively decorated with bunches of red and white balloons. Daskalakis presided over all of it, welcoming customers in like old friends and showing them the restaurant’s latest updates—clearly glad to be back doing what he loves.

Ristorante Paradiso is located at 198 Central Avenue, serving dinners Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm to 10pm. Ristorante Paradiso makes a great setting for banquets.