Email
Print
FeedTuesday Tidbits for 12/13/11
Good Morning WNY uber-foodies!
We are closing in on the holidays, and I am wondering what sort of sweet treats and divine dishes our readers will be serving up (feel free to comment below). I am surprised this year by how many people have reached out to ask me for information on where to buy game meats for their holiday feast. I've had emails from folks looking for rabbit, pheasant, and guinea hen, not to mention winter classics such as duck and goose. The answer is nearly always the same. If you are looking for unique items for your holiday (or any day) table the first stop should be Painted Meadow, a Franklinville farm that operates out of the Elmwood/Lafayette Winter Farmers Market. I know I've written about this farm here before, but I still receive several requests for this type of intel every week, so it can't hurt to tell you about them again. There are all sorts of local farms raising meat here in WNY, but Painted Meadow is very accessible, always has product on hand, and carries a huge selection of hertiage breed, free range items.
----
On to our Foodie Gifts for the Week. You can see last week's picks here.
FunkyChunky Where You Least Expect It
The death of the corner pharmacy has been hard to watch. Your favorite neighborhood pharmacy, packed with everyday needs, your family pharmasict, and assorted sundries has likely been replaced by a big box chain store with specials on beer, a lotto machine, and a cast of nameless pharmacy employees that work round the clock. In WNY there are only a few exceptions to this rule, and Parker Pharmacy on Hertel is one of them. At Parker the service and the setting make a visit to the pharmacy a pleasant experience, something more akin to the pharmacies of the past. Are you surprised that one of our foodie picks comes from a pharmacy? Well, I am too, but nevermind that, you'll like the place as much as we do as soon as you step in the door. Management has done a good job of sourcing sundries for the shop, and the candy section is no exception. Gorant chocolate bars are in supply, and so is the item pictured above, one of Food & Wine magazine's 2011 Hottest Food selections, FunkyChunky. At this time of year, chocolate covered popcorn is somewhat ubiquitous, but this product stands head and shoulders above most. It may seem like an everyday item, but it is free of hydrogenated oils, trans fats, artificial flavors, and colors. The company describes it as "a rich and ultra-decadent combination of caramel corn and tons of whole almonds, cashews and pecans glazed (with real butter and sugar)... generously drizzled with three kinds of chocolates—dark, milk and white." It is available at Parker in two sizes, 8 ounces ($11.99) and 15 ounces ($19.99). Other products from FunkyChunky company are also available, including chocolate covered graham crackers.
Zillycakes Rescue
If, like me, you are so busy that you have little time to bake cookeis this year, look no further. This year I will rely on Zilly Rosen for my annual holiday cookie ration, and as the holidays approach, you may find you need a little Zillycakes rescue yourself. Most of us know Rosen for her sculpted cakes and wildly flavored cupcakes, but she started out as the cookie lady, icing cookies throughout the holiday season. Her tasty, hand decorated, and beautifully packaged Christmas cookies are reasonably priced and worth every penny. Give yourself a box, take them to a holiday party, or give them as a gift; prices run from $30-$80. This year Zillycakes' cookie selection includes: sugar star cutouts, gingerbread star cutouts, chocolate sandwiches, chocolate pistachio fingers, chocolate coconut macaroons, penuche diamonds, lemon gallette hexagons, Mexican wedding cookies, and classic spritz. Other items that can be ordered for gifting include bars (like pumpkin chevre brownies and almond apricot bars), cupcakes, and Parisian macarons. Place your order soon by calling 716-883-0365 or emailing zilly@zillycakes.com.
A Season of Cooking
Nearly sold out, but with a few remaining, are the select number of Season Passes sold to Facebook fans of the WNY cooking competition Nickel City Chef. (Full disclosure: I am the owner of the production company that operates this event, and was long before my part time role as the food editor for Buffalo Spree). There are only 30 Season Passes available to the typically sold out series. They went on sale yesterday at 4 p.m and only a few remain. They are an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys cooking, eating out, or watching Food Network. WNY weekends from February to April can be drab, consider giving this fun local-centric item to your favorite foodie. Can't make it to all four shows? Tickets for the season's individual shows go on sale January 6th.
Lagerhaus Opens!
We expected Lagerhaus to open a month or two ago, but as we've come to expect, construction and permitting delays often push an opening off, and Lagerhaus was no exception. Read Newell Nussbaumer's brief look at the new Cobblestone District restaurant on BuffaloRising.com. Stay tuned to BuffaloSpree.com, we'll have exclusive interview with Chef Jamie Zynda and a First Look at the the menu before the holidays.
And so does Yolo!
According to the Buffalo News, "the grandsons of noted restaurateur Russell J. Salvatore plan to have a soft opening today (December 12th) of their new place, Yolo, short for You Only Live Once." Located at 5841 Transit Road, Yolo will officially open next Monday, offering "traditional American dishes" for lunch and dinner.
Chef Mike A. on BuffaloEats
If you don't read BuffaloEats.org you probably should. Founder Don Burtless began the blog several years ago as a way to expand his dining repretoire, claiming he was a diehard chicken finger fan prior to finding the impetus to push himself in new directions. Sprinkled in among the reviews and announcements are occassional interviews with people he has dubbed "Buffalo Foodies." This week his questions are answered by the chef most WNYers consider to be the area's best chef, Mike Andrzejewski. It's a great look inside the chef's own eating habits, and a fun read overall.
