Hey there, readers. I hope you don’t mind if I diverge from the normal littany of nerd-friendly news for something that (I hope) will appeal to the foodies out there — especially the foodies located in and around the Capital Region.

My cousin just happens to be a ridiculously talented, award-winning chef who knows his way around a kitchen better than I know my way around a comic convention. He’s received more than a few accolades for his culinary achievements, and there’s a good chance that one of the great meals you’ve had around the Albany area was probably made by him. Basically, he’s kind of a big deal. (Here’s a pic of him winning an award. He’ll probably be annoyed I posted that, but whatever… we’re family.)

What all this is praise is leading up to is this: He’s currently the head chef at a restaurant in North Greenbush that’s having a grand “re-opening” (after making some big changes) on Thursday, February 9. (That’s tomorrow!) He’s personally overhauling the menu and adding a bunch of his signature dishes — including some stuff that involves his homemade mozzarella, which I love almost as much as the first issue of ROM Spaceknight.

He’ll have some great Mediterranean food on the menu (the place has the best falafel you’re going to find north of NYC), as well as beer, wine, and a sweet espresso machine, I’m told.

The restaurant is called Garlic Lover’s Corner, and it’s located at 235 North Greenbush Road in Troy, NY. (Here it is on Google Maps, and here it is on the ol’ Facebook.) I’ll be heading up there as soon as I can get out of NYC for a few days, but if anyone up in the friendly confines of the Capital Region gets a chance to drop by Thursday (or any other day in the near future), that would absolutely rock. Jessica and I will be having more than a few dinners there in the future (and inviting anyone who wants to join us), so now’s your chance to get familiar with the menu before we do.

To that end, you should totally take a photo of yourselves having dinner there, and make sure to get a message to Chef Eric Freitag (that’s my cousin) letting him know I sent you. And for the record, I want to personally thank everyone who takes my advice and makes the trip there. You won’t be disappointed, I assure you.