"Obvious efforts to circumvent the law for example an unreasonably small portion of soup, a serving of canned beans, a handful of lettuce... will be treated as a violation of the law."

Said the New York State Liquor Authority, quoted in "No ‘Cuomo chips’ allowed: ‘Substantial food’ needed for to-go booze" (NY Post). 

"Cuomo chips" refers to the way bars and restaurants responded to a Cuomo-era requirement that bars and restaurants serve food along with liquor.

In response, the owner of Saratoga Springs’ Harvey’s Irish Pub automatically put $1 “Cuomo Chips” on customers’ tabs so they weren’t required to fork over the money for a full meal when patrons just wanted to sip on a beer or cocktail....

At first, the chips were deemed good enough, then Cuomo said they weren't: 

A front-page story in The Post last July labeled the former gov “Drinktator” for his edict, and he only confused New Yorkers further when he bizarrely claimed, “There is no bar that only serves alcohol.” “To be a bar, you had to have food available — soups, sandwiches, etc. More than just hors d’oeuvres, chicken wings,” he explained during a press conference. “You had to have some substantive food — the lowest level of substantive food were sandwiches.” 

Many bars got creative with their meals, offering Lunchables, a single sliver of cheese quesadilla or H Mart dumplings cooked in a hot dog steamer, bar staff and customers previously told The Post. 

Patrons of a Ridgewood joint said at the time that one spot is offering “soup” consisting of hot water and a bouillon cube. Another bar served a $1 gluten-free vegan taco consisting of a single corn tortilla, while in Bushwick establishments served gazpacho and a dry cup of ramen...

The "substantial food" issue is an excellent lightweight distraction to leaven the NY Governor's race. It's an interesting opportunity for Cuomo, who's hinted he might run against the incumbent Kathy Hochul, who just became much more vulnerable (as discussed in the previous post).