June 10, 2009 Announcing Buffalo’s Exciting New Summer Event-
Nickel City Chef
What: Head-to-head chef cooking battle
Where: Artisan Kitchens & Baths, 200 Amherst Street, Buffalo NY
When: Kick-off June 21st, 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (once a month throughout the summer)
How much: $20 per person includes a free drink from the bar and catered snacks
On Friday, June 12th, tickets go on sale for Nickel City Chef, and seating is limited!
You’ve seen them on TV, now you can experience the energy and excitement of a professional cooking competition in person! Nickel City Chef is Western New York’s premier live cooking competition and features top chefs from our region, local ingredients and feisty challengers.
During each of the four summertime competitions, one of our Nickel City Chefs will be challenged by a qualified contender in a culinary fete featuring ingredients grown and raised right here in Western New York. The two chefs and their assistants will strive to complete technically perfect, innovative dishes showcasing a secret ingredient. A panel of three foodie and celebrity judges rate each dish based on the skill, flavor and the creativity demonstrated in each dish.
All of the action happens in one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, a fully restored turn-of-the-century warehouse on Buffalo’s emerging West Side. This former stove factory is now home to Artisan Kitchens and Baths, Western New York’s leading high-end appliance retailer. This gorgeous and historic space is completely outfitted with two side-by-side competition-worthy kitchens.
At each event, a live audience will watch the contest unfold live while enjoying drinks and catered snacks. Their ability to enjoy the event will be enhanced by the flat screen televisions throughout the venue airing live up-close footage of the cooking action. Additionally, the audience members’ opinions count toward the final judging tally.
While the outside world may tend to think that Buffalo has little to offer culinarily outside of wings and beef on ‘weck, Buffalonians know they’re wrong. We have skilled chefs and kitchen daredevils waiting to show the world what they can do in just under an hour!
The first Nickel City Chef pits the venerable Chef Krista Van Wagner of
Curly’s against a qualified competitor (TBA on June 10th). The showdown begins at 3pm on Sunday, June 21st. Other Nickel City Chefs include
Chef JJ Richert of Torches, Chef Paul Jenkins of Tempo and
Chef Adam Goetz of Sample.
More information regarding the 2009 season of Nickel City Chef can be found online at
NickelCityChef.com. For specific inquiries, please contact founder and producer
Christa Glennie Seychew of Feed Your Soul at 716.812.1615 or via email at
NickelCityChef@gmail.com.
June 6, 2009 The desire to
pick your own fruit or vegetables often crosses our mind during the local
growing season, but usually that desire is met with the reality of what, where
and when. A recent article in the Buffalo News has answered some of those
questions. Here is a link to that article by By Andrew Z. Galarneau NEWS FOOD
WRITER, from 6/4/2009 http://www.buffalonews.com/185/story/691090.html
We wanted to pick some
strawberries this weekend but the places we called said to call back in
another week or two.
If you know of any other places
where you can pick-your-own please let me know and I will list them.
May 22, 2009 Kenmore, New York
-The Kenmore Farmers Market is getting ready to open once again! The '09 season is set to get under way on Saturday June 13th at 8a!
In the mean time, this Monday, during the Ken-Ton Memorial Day Parade you can get a "preview" of what the market will be offering this summer......
TWO local growers will have lots of beautiful annuals and perennials along with hanging baskets for all your Memorial Day gardening!
Market favorites, Sweet Beginnings, Pasta Temptations, Cookie Lee and Chateau Buffalo will be back Monday, as well as regularly throughout the season.
NEW additions to the market like Urban Roots Community Garden Center, Lewiston's Jams and Jellies will also be a part of Monday's line up!
Once the market gets going in June and July, you can expect these great vendors PLUS the addition of more local farmers who will bring more choices and selection of the flowers, fruits and vegetables you are looking for!
Add community tables, local artisans, music on occasion, all your neighbors, and the market is the ONLY place to be on Saturday mornings!
Get excited and visit the market this Monday on the lawn of the Municipal building between 10:30 - 1pm!
April 24,2009 Swormville, New York - The American Legion Alfred J. Jurek Post #1672 will host a
Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast on Sunday May 10th from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The American Legion Post is located at the intersection of Smith and New Roads in Swormville.
The hearty breakfast features pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. As an added feature, each mother will receive a red carnation in honor of her special day. Tickets are available at the door. The price of $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children makes this a very family-friendly and affordable way to pamper mom, while supporting the work of the A.J. Jurek Post.
Treat Mom to a day off from cooking and follow the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes for a delicious breakfast with family and friends.
April 3,2009
EASTER BASKET BLESSING AT CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH Buffalo, New York – On Holy Saturday, April 11, Corpus Christi Church will offer the traditional Blessing of the Easter Baskets from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Baskets will be blessed every 15 minutes. The historic church is located at 199 Clark Street, just one block from the Broadway Market.
Blessing of the Baskets is one of the most beloved and enduring Polish traditions in preparation for Easter. Families bring decorated baskets of specially chosen and prepared foods to church to be blessed. These foods will then be eaten on Easter morning.
Each food has a symbolic meaning. The ham, sausage or other meat is a sign of abundance and the end of the Lenten penance. The hardboiled eggs represent the tomb and new life. Butter lambs remind us that Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for mankind’s sins. Salt is included because it is necessary to sustain life. Horseradish signifies the bitter passion of Christ, while a special rye bread symbolizes Christ as the bread of life. Many families also include pastries, chocolates and other favorite foods in their baskets.
On Holy Saturday, Corpus Christi also provides an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of Easter preparations. The beautiful and serene sanctuary will be open for prayer and contemplation, or to simply light a candle for a special intention.
Corpus Christi is a New York State Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is also renowned for its magnificent display during the Easter Season. All are invited to attend.
For a full listing of Holy Week services and devotions, visit the website at www.CorpusChristiBuffalo.org or call 716-896-1050
March 26,2009Broadway Market gears up for this weekend’s Easter inspired events
The Easter Bunny will make its arrival along with a Peep-Eating Contest
BUFFALO, NY – The Broadway Market, a longstanding landmark of the City of Buffalo will hold Kid’s Day at the Market this coming Saturday, March 28th.
Saturday at noon, everyone’s favorite rabbit will make its debut at the Market. Children and families will have the opportunity to have their photo taken on the Easter Bunny Deck, donated by Superior Decks & Gazebos, located in Angola. The Market will raffle off the deck at the end of the Easter season to benefit future Market activities.
The afternoon will continue with entertainment provided by City Side Band, which will play on the main stage of the Market from 12:30-2:00 p.m. The City Side Band has been one of Buffalo's Most Popular Polka bands for almost 25 years. Polish American Folk Music and polkas are their specialty.
At 2:00 p.m., The Broadway Market will host its first annual “Peep-Off.” Marshmallow Peep enthusiasts will battle each other to see who can eat the most Marshmallow Peeps in sixty seconds. There are separate contests for big peeps and little peeps! Interested participants can register at the Easter Bunny Deck on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. or email Jeannie Wolf, Event Coordinator at
jwolf@eventelements.net.
Established in 1888, the Broadway Market originally served the thousands of Eastern European immigrants who populated the city’s Eastside. Although the Market site has undergone-numerous changes over time, three different physical structures in fact, the old-fashioned concept of selling farm fish, exotic and unusual products here has remained unchanged since the Market’s inception. Famed for its eclectic urban atmosphere, the Broadway Market’s fresh food merchant base is comprised of family-owned, family operated butcher shops, poultry stands, fruit/vegetable stands and bakeries. The Broadway Market offers free secure, sheltered parking.
WKBW & some of Buffalo's best restaurants have partnered together to
bring you a special restaurant week pricing for $20.09 in honor of WNY
Restaurant Week. This week only you are can purchase $50 worth of gift
certificates for $20.09! You are also encouraged to visit these restaurants
and others this week as they are offering special discount deals for only
$20.09! For a complete list click or log on to www.localrestaurantweek.com.
Starting Tuesday, March 24th at 10am we'll showcase many area restaurants
that are participating in WNY Restaurant Week, but you have to be fast- we are
only able to provide a limited number of gift certificates.
Have fun and Happy shopping! And keep checking back for more half-off
certificates on WKBW.com!
March 11, 2009 Press
Release:
Celebrate the Beginning of the Easter Shopping
Season
Enjoy an evening in the Old Town Square. Sample Polish vodka and beer, try
some authentic fare and dig the cool vibe of Eastern Europe. Friday, March
20, 2009 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM The Broadway Market, 999 Broadway,
Buffalo, New York 14212 716-893-0705 http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Invitation.aspx?i=1f1a9a7f-a037-4a6a-941a-bd3670423fb1
March 5, 2009 Press
Release: New Chef Breathes Life into the Menu at The Stillwater
Although The Stillwater is well-recognized for its cocktails, pints and hip bar crowd, there’s no doubt that it will soon be appreciated for its culinary chops.
Recently, Chef Devin Jones signed on as The Stillwater’s Executive Chef, offering up a new menu featuring delicious takes on classic dishes. Duck confit makes an appearance on the appetizer menu, served with caramelized onion strudel and an apple gastrique. A dijon encrusted rack of lamb finds its place amongst a variety of entrees, augmented by a serving of crisp hand-rolled gnocchi, wild mushrooms, baby arugula and white truffle cream.
Jones has worked in a variety of Buffalo kitchens since earning his degree from the culinary program at Mercyhurst College in Northern Pennsylvania. He most recently served as Chef de Cuisine at O’Connell’s American Bistro in Kenmore, NY, where Buffalo Spree magazine awarded him for his use of local produce.
Chef Jones is looking forward to providing The Stillwater’s clientele with an elegant dining experience. “I believe that the people in this city like to see a certain amount of creativity [on a menu]. I think that as long as a chef can put a perfectly cooked meal in front of his guests in a reasonable amount of time, that we can make our guests happy. That’s really what people care about in this city--quantity, quality, and time.”
Open seven nights a week for dinner, Monday through Friday for lunch, and Sundays for brunch service, The Stillwater provides guests a unique dining experience with its remarkable décor, tasty, modern menu and excellent service. A nice way to experience The Stillwater firsthand is to stop in and sample their new prix fixe (fixed price) lunch menu, which allows guests to order two courses for only $15.
January 22, 2009 I
have started to update the restaurant listings and have completed the
"A" section. If there are any that should be there. let me know and
I will add them. Also, if any have web addresses that I have not linked,
please let me know. Let your restaurant friends know that there is no charge
for listing and links. If they don't have a web page and would like one free
for a year tell them about me. There are no contracts to sign. Best wishes.
Ed [Contact me]
January 9, 2009
This announcement just came in from Christa Seychew
Field and Fork Network's first annual Farmer-Chef Conference will be held on Monday, February 23rd at Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center.
Our daylong conference will offer Western New York's chefs and other food industry professionals the opportunity to network with local farmers and artisan food producers. Our key note speaker will offer advice and inspiration to chefs and farmers alike, and a lunch featuring local products will typify the bounty that Western New York agriculture has to offer (even in mid-February). During the conference, chefs and farmers will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops together that will further their understanding of the local food movement, its promising future, and their place in it.
To register for the conference, please visit our website at http://www.fieldandforknetwork.com
and click on the conference page for registration forms and more information. The fee for the conference and lunch is $50 per person. City chefs also have the option of utilizing the Chef Shuttle for transportation for an additional $20. You can download the appropriate form (there is one for chefs, farmers and also for "other" food industry professionals), fill it out and send it to the address noted along with the conference registration fee. Space is limited so we recommend you register as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us via email or phone with any questions.
Best Regards,
Christa Glennie Seychew
Co-Founder, Field & Fork Network
716.812.1615
January 8, 2009 I am
preparing the Food Events Calendar for the upcoming year. Please let me know
if your group is planning any, and I will be glad to include it. It doesn't
have to be just about food, just if food will be offered at the event. We have
such a diverse cultural heritage in WNY that sampling food at these events is
like traveling around the world. What's great too is that the food is locally
made and was someone's parent's or grandparent's recipe! Contact us
December 27, 2008
Janice Okun gave another 4 stars; this time to the Buffalo
Chophouse 282 Franklin St. 842-6900. She spoke very highly of the
steak and her favorite dish was the Lobster Bisque. When we went their
recently (we were not recognized - obviously) we found the food and service
every bit as good as Janice described. It is right in the theater district and
has valet parking.
December 17, 2008 Tempo
is getting rave reviews. Friends, who dine at the best restaurants in Western
NY, were there before going to a recent Shea's performance and thought it was
excellent! Other reviews
from Trip Advisor. Tempo
is at 581 Delaware Ave. just north of Allen 716-885-1594
December 14, 2008 Janice
Okun ( Buffalo News Food Editor) gave a rare 4 stars to Kuni's. As most
Buffalonians know, Kuni's has always been at the top of the list for Sushi. It
is now open for sit-down dining!
Kuni's is at 226 Lexington Ave. 716-881-3800
November 30, 2008 Many of
great recipes that you find in the magazines at the supermarket checkout but
you don't want to but it for just one recipe can be found on-line. Here are
some links to some of those. If you know of more let me know and I will share
with everyone. Better Homes and Gardens http://www.bhg.com
, Pillsbury http://www.pillsbury.com
, and Taste of Home http://www.tasteofhome.com .
November 27, 2008 Happy
Thanksgiving! May everyone enjoy a very wonderful holiday with family and
friends.
October 8, 2008
BUFFALO PICKED FINALIST FOR PIEROGI TITLE Public Voting Begins Today To Determine Pierogy Capital of America
$10,000 Prize at stake for local charity
Buffalo, New York – The City of Buffalo has been selected as one of five finalists vying for the title of "Capital of the Pierogy Pocket of America" in a nationally publicized contest sponsored by Mrs. T's Pierogies. This year Buffalo is facing stiff competition from past rivals Whiting, IN and Binghamton, NY, along with newcomer challengers Forest City, PA and Elmira Heights, NY. Now, it’s all up to a public vote to determine which city will win the prize money and community bragging rights of the Mrs. T’s contest. Every vote counts! Online voting begins October 6 and will end on October 24th. The public can vote once-a-day at www.pierogypocket.com
Once again, Buffalo’s entry in the Mrs. T’s Pierogy Contest was submitted by Corpus Christi Church. The Mrs. T’s contest stresses creativity and strong civic participation to demonstrate a community’s “pierogy pride/passion.” With this in mind, the church hosted a “Best Homemade Pierogi Contest” as part of the parish’s Polish Harvest Festival on August 23. 17 contestants competed in the categories of traditional, non-traditional and dessert pierogi. The number of contenders and their mouth-watering entries underscored Buffalo’s love for pierogi as a culinary tradition that is passed from generation to generation.
Should Buffalo win the Capital of the Pierogy Pocket title, the prize money will be used to help fund a pilot “Learning for Life” program housed at Corpus Christi and operated by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph. The program is geared to help neighborhood children in grades K-3 with English and Language Arts.
All Western New Yorkers are encouraged to enlist their family and friends across the world to vote for Buffalo every day for the next 17 days at www.pierogypocket.com. For more information about Corpus Christi Church and a schedule of its upcoming events, visit www.corpuschristibuffalo.org
September 27, 2008 Happening
tonight! Picnic on the Plaza VI: Oktoberfest - September
27, 6pm-11pm - Celebrate Autumn in traditional Munich style! Enjoy an evening
of music in the concourse “beer garden” with “Buffalos Most In Demand
BIG German Band!!”, the German American Musicians Blaskapelle. Choices of
beer, food, soft drinks and merchandise will be available. Tickets are $10 and
include one drink. Guests in costume get in for free! Buy tickets online at Brown
Paper Tickets or at the door.
Returning to its beautiful countryside roots at the Niagara County fairgrounds at 4487 Lake Road (Route 78) just north of Lockport, on Saturday and Sunday October 4 and 5, 2008. Festivities begin each day at 10:00 AM and will last into the evening hours.
September 18, 2008 A new
cookbook featuring a popular segment of Buffalo cuisine has just been
released. It's called "It's a Wing Thing II...Buffalo Style" by
Diane Notto-Hamric. This is the second of her cookbooks that has been release
featuring "chicken wing" inspired recipes. The first was "It's
a Wing Thing...Buffalo Style" that was release in May of 2007. Both books
are designed to promote the Buffalo area and are available at Borders. A full
list of available sites where her books can be obtained is available at her
web site. http://www.buffalowingthing.com
According to her web site there will be a book signing on Saturday Oct. 4th at
Borders in Orchard Park from 2 - 4PM.
September 7, 2008 Yesterday
we had a chance to visit a great neighborhood chocolate shop located right on
Hertel Ave. in North Buffalo. Bella
Mia Chocolate Shop It's very conveniently located at 1096 Hertel near
Delaware and has parking right next to the shop! They sell a wide assortment
of jar (penny) candy and a lot of the harder to find "old time"
candy bars. They also serve ice cream, sundaes and cones and gift boxes of
chocolate and one of my favorites - sponge candy. Here is what the owner Tom
Magarucci has to say.
Bella Mia Chocolate Shop first opened in 2003 at 1096 Hertel Avenue in Buffalo, NY. Bella Mia Chocolates & Candy is family owned and has been doing business in the North Buffalo neighborhood of Hertel known as “Little Italy”. The name Bella Mia ( My Beautiful Chocolate Shop ) was chosen to express what our business means to our family. I have always been interested in making, selling and enjoying chocolates and retro candy products while bringing the friendly service back to the customers that shop or just stop by to say "Hello". I really enjoy working in my store and meeting new customers and seeing old friends and neighbors in North Buffalo. So, if you are in the Western New York area, please stop in.
We carry a large number of ice cream flavors and on a really hot summer day - there is nothing like sitting down with an ice cream sundae, smell the fresh chocolate and watch the world go by. Our website was started in 2007 and I try hard to offer a unique Product Catalog based on customer requests plus many of my own personal favorites. Each week I try to add more old time favorites and new treasures to keep you smiling and remembering the "old days”. Our slogan says it all: “Bring some memories home”
Our web store is located at: www.BellaMiaCandy.com
August 22, 2008 (Buffalo New York) – The 27th Annual Buffalo Irish Festival will begin with an explosion of color this year as over 300 proud Irish-Americans are scheduled to parade into the Hamburg festival grounds. The Festival, one of the longest running and largest celebrations of Irish heritage in America, will officially begin with the presentation of flags and banners representing Ireland’s 32 counties. The “Olympic style” show of Irish pride will take place Friday, August 22th at 6pm inside the Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York.
Participants will gather at the Festival’s entrance and proceed around the Festival grounds. The parade will conclude with a musical presentation and official opening Irish toast on the Festival’s main entertainment stage. Free admission to the Festival will be offered between 5-6pm on Friday for those wishing to see and/or participate in the parade.
Not only will attendees be able to sample the finest in Irish cuisine and beverages, but the Festival features three-days of continuous live music on 4 stages along with numerous vendors and craftsmen displaying and selling the finest handmade Irish goods. This year’s Festival will feature the world premier performance to the theatrical production, “The Beachers.” The play, written and directed by the artistic team of Mary Kate O’Connell (O’Connell & Company) and Josephine Hogan (Irish Classical Theater), focuses on little known, but colorful aspect of the history of the Irish in Buffalo.
The Buffalo Irish Festival, founded in 1981, is regarded as one of the largest Irish-Celtic celebrations in the United States. The event is produced by BuffaloIrish.com, a not-for-profit organization founded to foster and nurture the interest in and awareness of Irish and Celtic cultural heritage in Western New York. The 2008 Festival will be held Augu st 22-24 and will feature world-class artisans and crafters, internationally recognized performers and plenty of Irish delicacies and beer.
August 5, 2008 CORPUS CHRISTI COMPETES TO RECLAIM "PIEROGY POCKET" TITLE
FOR BUFFALO. Church Invites Western New Yorkers to Join the Effort by Submitting Entries of
Homemade Pierogi
Buffalo, New York - Corpus Christi Church is determined to reclaim Buffalo's rightful title as "Capital of the Pierogy Pocket of America" in a highly publicized contest sponsored by Mrs. T's
Pierogies.
The Mrs. T's competition stresses creativity and strong civic participation to demonstrate a community's "pierogy pride/passion." As part of what Corpus Christi expects to be a compelling contest application, the church invites the public to join in the challenge by submitting their best homemade pierogi for a taste test to be held on Saturday, August 23 at 5:30p.m. during the parish's Polish Harvest Festival. Applicants will be judged in one of three categories: traditional (potato, cheese or sauerkraut), dessert and non-traditional recipes. The taste test is open to all amateur cooks. (No restaurants or commercial vendors please.) The winners in each category will receive the title of Buffalo's Best Homemade Pierogi Maker 2008 and a $50 gift certificate to the Broadway Market. Winners will be determined by a panel of local celebrity judges. Interested individuals must register in advance by calling the parish at 716/896-1050 or visiting the website at
www.corpuschristibuffalo.org. All Western New Yorkers are also invited to sign a petition at the Polish Harvest Festival in support of Corpus Christi's bid on behalf of Buffalo for the honor of Capital of the Pierogy Pocket.
In addition to the pierogi taste test and contest petition, this year's Polish Harvest Festival, known as Dozynki, will offer a chance to enjoy delicious Polish food and drink, polka, classical and pop music, an opportunity to purchase handmade religious and folk items, participate in historic church tours and take part in many other activities. The full schedule of events is listed on the parish website
www.corpuschristibuffalo.org.
August 3, 2008 The local
harvest is really flowing in and it's always great fun to pick your own. The
food is the freshest, it's fun, and it's inexpensive! How can you go wrong.
Where to pick is always the question and in past years we relied on
word-of-mouth or reading an ad in the paper. I just found this web site that
may make that search a bit easier. It's called PickYourOwn.org
The link is to the Western NY area, but the whole state is represented on the
web site. This is really a great site with lots of information about picking
and canning. So stop reading and go get some of the bountiful harvest from our
local growers!
July 22,2008 Buffalo,
NY—New Farmers Market Adds Value to Bustling Hertel Avenue Area
Beginning Wednesday, July 23rd, residents
of North Buffalo and those that commute through the area will be able to shop
for farm-fresh locally grown and produced goods at the new Hertel Avenue
Farmers Market.
Conveniently located in the Holy Spirit Church
parking lot at the corner of Hertel and Delaware Avenues, this community
market will cater to those looking for access to quality, local goods on their
way home from work. Other area farmers markets are popular weekend
destinations, but in today’s society where convenience is key, giving
consumers the opportunity to shop for these goods in the afternoon on their
way home from work is important.
Farmers markets are becoming increasingly popular as
people seek out affordable, healthy and safe alternatives to the offerings
available at traditional grocery stores. A visit to the Hertel Avenue
Farmers Market will reveal delicious options from the likes of: Hens Honey Bee
Farm, Rizzo Farm, Sweet Temptations du Jour, Yancey's Fancy Cheese, Pasta
Temptations, Chateau Buffalo/Dancing Buffalo Cidre, Deb's Delights and
Summertime Blooms. Vendors from Buffalo’s Indie Market will also be
there.
“We really want to provide people with increased
access to local foods,” said Carl Schmitter of Chateau Buffalo and
HertelHasIt.com, a website that features all that Hertel has to offer.
“We sell our products on the weekends at other markets in the area, but
people need to be able to buy quality food during the week as well.”
The Hertel Avenue Farmers Market is being sponsored by Holy
Spirit Church, Chateau Buffalo, Pride of New York & Buffalo Indie
Market.
Vendors at the Hertel Avenue Farmers Market
will sell their wares from 3 pm – 6:30 pm every Wednesday July 23rd
through October.
July 18, 2008 Blues Brews and BBQ
on August 9th from 4pm-10pm. Stop by the first ever Blues Brews and BBQ event to listen to 4 great bands
at the Buffalo Central Terminal, 495 Paderewski Dr. - Jony James Band, Mick Hayes Band, Speedy Parker, and Tommy Z Band - and indulge in great
BBQ from Suzy Q's BBQ Shack, Ike & BG's and more, and beer from Buffalo's own Flying Bison Brewery. The event will also include a silent
auction and art gallery for everyone to enjoy. This is a 21+ year old event only. Tickets are $10 pre-sale online at
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/37252 and Flying Bison Brewery,
or $12 at the door. Attention bikers: we love to have you but no colors or vests allowed! All proceeds to benefit Buffalo Central Terminal.
July 15,2008
Chef-to-Farm Experience, Monday, August 18th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Feed Your Soul Buffalo is a culinary tourism initiative showcasing exciting Western New York gastronomic adventures that feature the bounty that is our region’s legacy.
Feed Your Soul has just added a tour of area farms to its roster—designed for Buffalo-area chefs with inquisitive minds and a passion for fresh, sustainably farmed produce, dairy products and heritage breed meat.
Feed Your Soul’s owners, Sandy Starks and Christa Glennie Seychew, have seen the demand for locally grown products increase ten-fold over the last year. Their regular conversations with local chefs have led them to believe that a meeting of the minds between our area’s top chefs and most progressive farmers was needed. Together they have developed Feed Your Soul’s Chef-to-Farm Experience.
Feed Your Soul has worked hard to make this event affordable ($45) for chefs and eager restaurant staff stationed at every level of the cooking industry, from sous to saucier, from bus boy to commis. Starks and Seychew will receive no profit from this event. Rather they see it as something that must happen to help re-build Western New York’s broken food chain. Starks and Seychew are both very involved in the International Slow Food Movement and sit on the board of Slow Food Buffalo.
Personal invitations are being sent out to some of the area’s best chefs for this event, but Starks and Seychew hope to see students, diligent home cooks and restaurant owners on board for this affordable and enlightening all-day adventure.
Chef-to-Farm Experience, Monday, August 18th Join fellow chefs for a personal tour of some of Erie County's best farms. Participants will meet in the morning, board a bus perfectly sized for our small group and travel to Alden to visit Oles' Farm, a family-run CSA. From there we’ll venture on to Dayton, NY to Blossom Hill, a family farm that raises heritage breed cows and hogs. After a tour, a delicious picnic lunch with a focus on local foods will be served to us by Blossom Hill’s own Jo’el Drajem. Next we’ll stop in East Otto to visit Patrick Lango of White Cow Dairy whose award-winning yogurt and cheese products have graced the pages of major food magazines and newspapers. Finally, we’ll wind up our adventure at Native Offerings, one of the area's most progressive farms and a popular CSA with weekly drops in the city.
Chef-to-Farm is designed to allow passionate Buffalo-area chefs the opportunity to learn about current farming practices, experience WNY's unique agricultural landscape and to engage in one-on-one dialogue with the producers of some of WNY’s finest products. Plus, chefs will return to their kitchens with samples of the fantastic products and produce from some of our region's best farmers.
Feed Your Soul has many other exciting culinary adventures on the roster and in the works. All of our events are truly unique and have limited seating, so making reservations quickly is important! To learn more about Feed Your Soul Buffalo log onto
www.FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com or call Christa Seychew at
716-812-1615 cseychew@yahoo.com
.
About Sandy Starks: Sandy is Taste of Home Magazine's Western New York Field Editor and a founding member of Slow Food Buffalo. For years, Sandy has conducted cooking classes that feature food products produced in the area and educating individuals on the dining in the Arts & Crafts style. She has also earned high marks for her “specialized tours for educated travelers.” More recently, she is fielding a mounting number of requests for customized itineraries from people who want to tour Buffalo.
About Christa Glennie Seychew: Christa is a freelance journalist passionate about food and Buffalo. After two years as Food and Dining Editor for Buffalo Rising Magazine, she has her finger on the pulse of what makes many local foodies, restaurateurs, chefs and farmers tick. Christa is motivated by our region’s budding appreciation for local foods and is working closely with area organizations on various projects focused on nurturing, rebuilding and celebrating Western New York’s agricultural bounty and unique, ethnically-influenced culinary traditions and foodways. In addition to Feed Your Soul, Christa is currently working as a consultant for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and has a regular column in the area’s hottest new publication,
Edible Buffalo.
July 12, 2008 The following
is an important news release regardingThe
Taste of Niagara
The Taste of Niagara will Fill Your Appetite for Food and Fun
A popular event grows into becoming a premier regional event
After a 4 year run in Lockport, the Taste of Niagara has moved to the newly renovated Old Falls Street in Niagara Falls. The dates are Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27th, with extended hours from 11am to 8pm. In addition to sumptuous food from all over the region, the event will have an amusement area, numerous crafters, exhibitors, live music entertainment and street performers to add to the festive atmosphere.
According to Mayor Paul Dyster, ”The Taste of Niagara is a celebration of the cuisine, cultures and characters that make this region so wonderful, and it’s a perfect fit for us and our commitment to revitalize our city.” Newly-seated city Administrator, Donna Owens is equally pleased: “ I’m excited about this event, and we’re committed to working with this and other events like it to become rewarding and successful for everyone concerned.”
Admission to the event is free, and tickets to enjoy the specialties from all the various food booths and numerous other amusements will be available individually or in blocks of $5, $10 or $25. Each ticket has a value of 50¢ and each booth will average between 1-8 tickets.
The question might be asked, “Why such a short lead time for a major event like this?” The recent and sudden change in the legal administrative rights of Old Falls Street and surrounding area caused an unavoidable delay in the final planning of the event, resulting in the relatively short time span between today and the last weekend in July. However, still not too late for restaurants and vendors to get involved with this years event.
But this event is too popular and important to be sidelined. According to the Taste of Niagara promoter, Rich Hoose, events like this take a tremendous amount of work and cooperation. “ and we especially want to recognize the insight and determination of Candra Thomason and the role she’d had in finalizing our plans”.
In the final analysis, what goes on behind the scenes really doesn’t matter to the thousands who will Flock to the Feast at the Falls because it’s all about the Food and the Fun.
July 10, 2008 Love
to eat? This is the weekend! July 12 & 13, Taste
of Buffalo Downtown Buffalo. Niagara Square area. The Taste of Buffalo
is one of the nation's largest food festivals and attracts more than
450,000 people annually to the event--and is fun by the forkful.
The Taste features some of the region's best restaurants serving some of the
most enjoyable foods the area has to offer. Looking forward to seeing you at
our 25th Birthday Celebration on July 12th and 13th in downtown Buffalo.Sixty local
restaurants, plus a handful of wineries, sell samples. Includes cooking
demonstrations, music, dance and magic. Their web site has the complete list of
restaurants and a map of where to find them. Taste
of Buffalo
June 30, 2008 Love
to eat? Love to cook? Love WNY culture? Then check out www.Feed
Your Soul Buffalo.com. This new culinary tourism
initiative showcases exciting Western New York gastronomic adventures that
feature the bounty that is our region’s legacy.
Feed Your Soul Buffalo’s objective is to package
and promote the region’s culinary and agricultural treasures as marketable
and sellable attractions. Christa Glennie Seychew, freelance journalist
and former Food and Dining Editor of Buffalo Rising Magazine and Sandy
Starks, Founding Member of Slow Food Buffalo, have joined forces to create
exclusive, culinary adventures. ... full
article.
June 22, 2008 Second
Annual Wine Fest at the Buffalo Central Terminal to be held on Saturday,
June 28, 2008 from 12 noon to 5pm. Event will feature wineries from throughout
New York State, live music, and a farmers market featuring food grown/made in
New York. In conjunction with the wine tasting, the event will feature a
farmers market, live music, and food vendors.
Participating wineries will offer a
sampling of their wines, and event attendees will be able to buy bottles of
the featured wines straight from the Vineyards. With the rising cost of
gas, event attendees are able to sample and taste many New York State wines in
one place, without having to travel from vineyard to vineyard.
The farmers market supports local growers
and vendors and offers event attendees to purchase items such as local blended
teas, jams, and honey.
A raffle will be held, with a grand prize of two
round trip tickets on Southwest Airlines.
Admissions tickets are $20 presale, and include
unlimited wine tasting and a souvenir glass. Presale tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com
or at Chateau Buffalo. Tickets are available for $25 at the door on the
day of the event.
All activity will be held inside the historic Central Terminal, and therefore
the event will be held rain or shine. All proceeds from the event will
benefit the preservation and restoration of the Buffalo Central Terminal.
June 7, 2008 Janice Okun
(The Buffalo News Food Editor) visited a new restaurant in East Aurora. Infusion
Pub & Bistro. 726 Main St. 716-655-2155. She gave it 3 Stars!. [Link
to full article] She congratulated them for taking chances on menu items
that "represent quite a departure form the Western New York norm".
The pub section serves informal bar food and the restaurant is much more
upscale. Friends of mine have visited it recently also and really liked
it.
June 6, 2008 A word
of caution to all you home gardeners. There is a new ant in the neighborhood.
I was transplanting some tomato plants from my "cold frame" and
noticed I disturbed a colony of ants that had taken up residence. Unlike ever
before however, these tiny critters swarmed over my hand and started to bite!
What the heck! I Googled them and found that they were originally found in the
Houston area about six years ago. How they got this far North so fast, I don't
know. They are referred to as Crazy Rasberry Ants. ( Named after the
exterminator Tom Rasberry of Houston.). The bite does not hurt very long and
there was no redness or swelling like from fire ants. I sprayed them with some
malathion and when I checked the next day there were none left. I can't say
for sure, but the milder, warmer, more humid atmosphere in the cold frame may
have been a contributing factor. How did they get there? The only thing new
this year that I could think of, were the seeds I used and I did add some
additional peat moss. I hope they don't come back.
May 26, 2008 The time
to plant your own home grown vegetables has arrived and as always there is the
problem deciding what to grow. If you are new to gardening or new to this
area, it's always a safe bet to grow tomatoes. Safe choices are the Big Boy,
Early Girl, Sweet 100s and Grape Tomatoes. Sure, they can be gotten at the
local markets later this year, but somehow they taste better from your own
garden. We tried lettuce for a few years, but they always matured earlier than
the tomatoes and we could never put them together in the salad bowl. Peas grow
great for us and also acorn squash. Let the squash on the vine until well
after the plant has died.. If you try to eat it to soon, it will not have any
flavor! Another local favorite to grow is zucchini. It's a large plant,
but will produce enough for your family and all your neighbors.
Other things to plant - herbs. Many are perennials
and will keep coming back every year. Chives, oregano, mint and tarragon will
just keep growing. (get French tarragon not Russian) Thyme and sage will last
for a few years if not more. Basil is an annual and will have to be replaced
each year. Get planting!
April 16, 2008 The
Summit Hosts the Smokin’ Eagles BBQ
Championship!
The Fraternal Order of Eagles will sponsor the area’s first National
BBQ Championship at The Summit on August 15-16, 2008. Contestants will be
competing with rules from the National BBQ Festival (www.nationalbbqfestival.com)
and the Best-of-the-Best Invitational. Categories include barbequed
chicken, brisket, pork and ribs.
The Grand Champion Team/Cook will win a spot to compete in the National Best
of the Best Invitational being held in Douglas, Georgia on October 31-November
1, 2008. Enrollment is open to the public and potential contestants can
learn more by calling (716) 695-3755. Applications may be obtained at the
Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club at 7269 Ward Road, North Tonawanda, 14120,
the Summit Mall Customer Service Desk, Town of Wheatfield Town Hall, or on
line by emailing to dkwiatkowski3@roadrunner.com. The
public is invited to share in the fun by sampling entries (Saturday, 8/16),
observing the judging, listening to live bands, enjoying a beverage at the
beer tent and visiting the concession booths.
April 9, 2008 Time to
circle June 28th on your calendar.Wines,
Cidres & Chocolates of NY Fest. June 28th 12:30-5pm.
Farmers Market and Restaurants opens at 12:30; Wine/Cidre Tasting and
purchases from 2:00-5:00
Taste and buy the
great Wines, Cidres and Chocolates of New York state in a historical art deco
train station. Over 25 New York state wineries and cideries bring over a 100
different wines/ciders for your tasting and purchase.
Along with the tasting and a souvenir wine
glass we will have entertainment, a farmers market, 5+ local chocolate
producers and the following exceptional local restaurants:Ulrich's, Ike &
BGs, Bistro Europa and more for a special dining experience.Join us for a fun
event that will support the further restoration of this exceptional building.
Presale tickets $20.00 on line at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/27905
or from Ulrich's, Flying Bison, Chateau Buffalo, Bistro Europa, and more to be
listed.Tickets at the door $25.00 Another
great FUN raiser brought to you by the Central Terminal Restoration
Corporation.
April 6, 2008 With
Springtime finally arriving in the Western NY area and the price of gas
staying high I have started to collect a list of web pages for dining in areas
that are an easy drive from the Buffalo area. They are also listed on the
Restaurants page under the general area they are found. Allegany
County, Wyoming
County, Cattaraugus
County (Enchanted Mountains).
April 5, 2008 Taste
of Home Cooking School is coming to the Agri-Center on the Fairgrounds
in Hamburg. It will be on Wednesday, April 30th - Trade Show 3-7 pm Cooking
Show 7-9 pm. Ticket are on sale now.
March 25, 2008 Maple
Weekend began more than a decade ago when Wyoming County maple
producers opened their doors to the public to showcase the production of maple
products from tree to table. The first event, known then as Maple Sunday,
demonstrated how maple syrup was made by tapping trees, collecting sap and
boiling it into syrup. Producers also provided samples and sold maple products
to the public.
This year, Maple Weekend will be March 29-30 from 10am – 4pm each day.
The word is spreading about award-winning New York Sate maple syrup, recently
named best-tasting in the United States. And while Vermont syrup packers
probably won’t admit it, New York State Maple Producers often sell bulk
syrup to Vermont.
New York State – Third Leading Producer of Maple Syrup Worldwide.
March 22, 2008 Dyngus Day
(Monday after Easter) is only a few days away and if you have never celebrated
this really fun Polish tradition you have been missing out. One way of
celebrating is to view the Second Annual Dyngus Day Parade at 5 pm and then
attend a party like the one that is being thrown at the Central
Terminal.
Admission is $10 which includes a wristband allowing you to ride the Sobieski
Shuttle to visit other East Side venues. Parking is free and safe. At the
terminal they will be having authentic polish food from Ulrich's Tavern,
Bistro Europa, The K Sisters and Melanie's Sweets. Enjoy a Polonia Pilsner or
Gdansk Dark from Flying Bison or maybe a Tyskie Polish beer. Chateau Buffalo
will also be serving cidre and hot, mulled wine. It's all heated inside and
this year they are featuring a carved Ice Bar! Of course, no Polish
celebration is complete without polka music. For all the details click on the
picture below.
March 18, 2008 It's almost
Easter and if you like tradition, great food and a glimpse of the glory days
of the Broadway Market, this is
the time to make the pilgrimage. They have extended hours this week! If you're
from out-of-town or maybe just heard about the Market from your parents, it's
really worth the time to go. It's also a great place to take the kids. It's
lots of fun, fantastic food and gifts and you don't have to spend a lot of
money. Once you've been there you will return. What's great about it also is
that it is open year round, not just for the holidays. See you there!
March 10, 2008 Many area
restaurants are getting their own web sites with their own dot com. Many
people can't find them, even using Google. Let's not let that happen to the
eating establishments in our area. Blendings is trying to provide an easier
way for people to find this information. Whether you're an owner or a
customer, let me know if a food related business has their own web site and I
will make a link to it. If they don't have a web page, I will make it for them
free.
Hopefully Buffalo is coming into a renaissance (long overdue!) and I want to
do everything I can to promote the great food that is available in our area.
If you would like a free web page - Contact us
Best wishes to all! Ed
Wolf
February 28, 2008, FYI
I found that the 2008
Buffalo Niagara's Best Restaurants (sells for $6.95) is available free
on-line at Buffalo.com. It has the menus and recipes from the area's better
known restaurants.
February 28, 2008, The
Central Terminal Restoration Corporation, working for a greater East Side
of Buffalo, is proud to announce their Second
Annual Dyngus Day Celebration on Monday,
March 24, 2008.The events
begin with the official, very unique Dyngus
DayParade starting at 5pm at
the Broadway Market, winding through the East Side and concluding at The
Buffalo Central Terminal.There
the party begins!Doors open at
5pm, with a performance by the Harmony
Polish Folk Ensemble at 6pm.The
entertainment continues with the distinctive sounds of “Those
Idiots” – polkas with an attitude – from 7 to 9, and the “Buffalo Bells”, featuring Gene Kurdzial, from 9 to 11pm.
While getting you
polka groove going, you can enjoy the specially brewed Dyngus Day beers by Flying
Bison along with hot mulled wine and cidre by Chateau
Buffalo.There will also be
fabulous Polish foods available from Ulrich’s
Tavern, Bistro Europa, The K Sisters and treats from Melanie’s
Sweets.
New this year – Fire
and Ice!We will be featuring
an all new heating system and an awesome Ice
Bar!
A $10 admission
will get you a wristband which not only gets you into the Terminal, but allows
you free passage onto the Dyngus Day bus where you can visit all of the East
Side venues (a $2 charge at each).
Additional
information can be found our website at http://www.buffalocentralterminal.org
February 26, 2008, If
you are planning to eat out on Easter Sunday, it's not to soon to make
reservations. Some places have just started to advertise and already certain
time slots are already filled up.
February 21, 2008, It
may be winter, but you can still get locally produce foods thanks to the
recent opening of Wintermarket on Elmwood. Located inside the Lafayette
Avenue Presbyterian Church at the corner of Lafayette and Elmwood, open on
Sundays from Noon - 4 PM until the Elmwood-Bidwell Market re-opens in May.
Current vendors are: (They hope to
continue to add vendors to continue to add more variety to the market.)
Artful Table - Artisan breads
Avenue Boys Smokehouse - Sausages and specialty charcouterie
Blackman Homestead Farm - Fruit butters, apples, cider
Blossom Hill Farm - Naturally raised heritage pork
Carla's Crumby Creations - Organic dairy-free cookies
Chateau Buffalo - Artisan ciders from local apples
Go Veggies - Veggie burgers and rolls
Hens Honey Bee Farm - Raw organic NYS native varietal honeys
Massachusetts Avenue Project - Chili Starter
Saltamonte's Salsa - Fresh salsas, jalapeno pickles, and southwestern
specialties
|Tea Amo - Fresh, high quality loose teas
White Cow Dairy - Farmstead yogurt, custard and other dairy foods.
February 13, 2008, AMIGO'S
restaurant on 1609 Kenmore Ave. near Elmwood (716) 874-1072 is opened for
business! They have a
very extensive menu, but for starters we wanted to check out their beer
battered fish fry. (Wed. and Fri. during Lent). Actually, you can get your
Friday fish done any of 10 ways! The beer battered just happens to be our favorite.
It was excellent! They are offering their Friday Fish also on Wednesday during
the Lenten season. Another of their special offerings is Fresh Carved Beef
that is served Tuesday & Sat. 11:00 - Until Finished. They had it right on
the grill by the bar - it doesn't get any fresher than that. They are open
Monday thru Saturday 11:00 am to close and Sunday 12:00 pm to close. Lunch is
from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm and Dinner is from 4:30 to close. For the full menu
and photos click [here].
January 30, 2008, The
Buffalo News ran a story recently about the Restaurant
Institute at Buffalo State College. I sounds like a really great idea for
people who are thinking of opening a business in this area. They have a great
collection of advisors and people who have established themselves in the local
restaurant business.
January 15, 2008, Work has
begun on the 2008 Food Events Calendar. If
you're like me, I'm always disappointed when I read about a food event after
it already happened or it's too late to attend because I've made other plans.
I get most of my info from other media sources, newspaper ads, TV, radio,
Church bulletins, etc. Other sources are you!. If you know of any event
that has food, either as a featured component or not, please let me know and I
will put it on the calendar. [Tell
Ed]
January 1, 2008 Happy New Year!
Vince's Village Grille
(3189 Delaware Ave., Kenmore, NY) is celebrating their 2nd Anniversary
at their Delaware Ave. location. Come into a very simple atmosphere.
Watch some TV, listen to the radio, surf the internet on their FREE wireless
network. Gaze into the depths of their aquarium or just read the paper or
magazine, while eating your Favorite Meal Made Fresh to order anytime!
December 23, 2007 A new
cookbook is available from Roswell Park Cancer Institute. It is the RPCI
Nursing Cookbook with over 430 recipes from the staff. ($20.00) It is available at
at Roswell. Call Penny Tirpak at 845-8530 for times of availability. Proceeds
for the sale of this recipe book will be used to assist RPCI's nursing staff
in joining the national Oncology Nursing Society.
