Our previews of interesting/fun food happenings.
YumAnnual 2012
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12/06/12Video: 2012 Nickel City Firing Line ChampionshipA couple of weeks ago we shared the videos from the first two matches in the new Nickel City Firing Line comeptition. Both winners, Teddy Bryant of Lloyd Taco and DJ Cook of Sample, went on to the finale, held December 2 at the always impressive Artisan Kitchens & Baths. The finale was structured in a different manner than the preliminary matches, with both of the show's rounds featuring blind cooking challenges. Watch the finale video below to see what both sous chefs prepared and who won. Tickets for Firing Line's big sister, Nickel City Chef, go on sale January 4. Last year the entire season sold out in less than an hour, so be sure to mark your calendars! 2012 Nickel City Firing Line Championship |
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11/30/12Spree.com Video: The Violet FizzWatch bartender Tony Rials demonstrate the Violet Fizz |
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11/21/12Iron Chef gives local resto the official thumbs upFor WNY foodies who use Twitter and Facebook, it's no new news that Iron Chef Geoffrey Zakarian visits our region often. Over the years he has been spotted at Carmelo's in Lewiston dozens of times, and on more recent trips he's dined at Town Hall Bistro (also in Lewiston), and at Blue Monk. What is surprising is that his participation in Urbanspoon's VIP guide has landed Buffalo favorite Charlie the Butcher at the top of his favorite restaurants list, which also sports industry big fish such as Bartolotta in Las Vegas, Spark's in New York, and Le Descarga in Hollywood. Check it out here: http://www.urbanspoon.com/vip_guides/1488-favorites. |
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11/16/12VIDEO: Nickel City Firing Line Match One and TwoDon't miss the finale on December 2! |
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11/16/12The secret of Buffalo's foodie successAtlantic Cities interviews Spree food editor Christa Glennie Seychew. |
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11/09/12Fifty Shades of TabreeTabree, Buffalo's suburban outpost for all things French and yummy, is hosting a fun and slightly tawdry dinner party that promises to be delicious. When his wine rep told him that she had access to one of the only six bottles of 1999 Bollinger Rosé Cuvee in New York State, Tabree owner Bryan Bryndle wasn't interested. But when the salesperson informed him of the rosé's role in the hit novel, Fifity Shades of Grey, and then went on to explain the numerous references to food and drink found within the popular trilogoy, Bryndle was sold. The Bollinger Cuvee will be awarded as a door prize, along with a variety of other unique items at Fifty Shades of Tabree, a masquerade cocktail party taking place at the restaurant on November 15. Guests are advised to... |
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11/08/12Video: 2012 Nickel City Cupcake ChallengeBuffalo's first cupcake challenge! |
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11/02/12On the menu: 11/2/2012Fun stuff to share today. Lombardo's has scheduled a dinner that will highlight wines from the Alpine region of Italy, many of them from small vineyards—some harvesting from as few as five acres. Owner Tom Lombardo tells me that most of the winemakers are also organic, and many go to the length of implementing biodynamic practices. Chef Michael Obarka has assembled a well-thought menu, which I've posted below. The meal takes place on Thursday, November 8 from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Reservations are required, and the cost is $100 per person. Ristorante Lombardo; 1198 Hertel Ave., Buffalo; 716-873-4291. 1st Course Fonduta Valdostana with Morgex et de La Salle, Prié Blanc, 2011, Valée d’Aosta 2nd Course Pumpkin Ravioli Brown Butter, Mascarpone,... |
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11/01/12Monday: Bourdain Look-alikes, Zamir, and Double CrossOn Monday, November 5, yours truly, along with chef Mike Andrzejewski and host-with-the-most Nelson Starr will turn the Hotel Lafayette into a vodka drinking palace in honor of the finale of "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations." As many of you surely know, Starr summoned Bourdain and his crew here a couple of years ago by submitting a video to an online contest hosted by the Travel Channel. Though the well-made video did not land Starr in first place (he ranked among the top three finalists, ultimately trailing behind more exotic lands) the net result was a Rust Belt-themed episode of the hit show, which included a journey to Buffalo and our sister cities, Detroit and Baltimore. That episode wisely featured Zamir Gotta, Bourdain's most outlandish culinary sidekick,... |
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10/19/12LRW Preview: Weekend MustsHere at Spree we hope you have taken full advantage of the many meals available at the special $20.12 price during Local Restaurant Week. The weekend is here, and many of the best and most popular restaurants are booked, but we wanted to share some of our favorite date-appropriate LRW selections for the weekend. My first choice is Sample. I've been eating at this restaurant for years, so I may be partial, but the Chef's Tasting, offered during LRW for only $20.12, has to be THE BEST value offered at any LRW location. Multiple courses featuring dozens of preparations mean you will not only leave full, but satisfied. This is an especially good LRW selection if you are on a date with someone you don't know well—enjoying so many different things together at exactly... |
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10/17/12LRW Preview: Italian favs, from casual to fineItalian restaurants reign supreme in WNY, where red sauce joints, take-out pizza parlors, and themed fine dining experiences grace nearly every major neighborhood. The Local Restaurant Week roster is packed full of them, so we've decided to highlight a few here, in alphabetical order. Located on the short, western end of Chippewa, we reviewed Bada Bing for our March issue. Food writer Nina Barone found that "Buffalonians may call Bada Bing a great sports bar, but I can see how its patrons feel it’s a well-kept secret for a meal too." This wise-guy themed joint may be seen as a bar by passers-by, but the truth is the food is of good value. During LRW, $20.12 fetches a meal for two, including a generous portion of pasta and meatballs, side salad, and... |
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10/16/12LRW Preview: Burgers, burgers, and more burgersIt's hard not to love a burger, and these days burgers are not only popular, they have developed into a food category worth noticing. Lamb and pork occasionally find their way into the patty, along with shortribs and all sorts of other tasty ingredients. But don't let the carnivores fool you—it's not just about the meat! Hardcore foodies have extremely intense opinions about buns, condiments, cooking surfaces—you name it; the burger has staked (no pun intended) its claim in the world of gastronomy. Due to the tremendous value a burger can bring, this fall there is no shortage of places serving burgers as part of their Local Restaurant Week deals. Let's take a look at a few. At Soho, a favorite burger spot of mine, you can enjoy two meals at the... |
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10/15/12LRW Preview: Fine meals not to be missedA handful of white tablecloth restaurants participate in Local Restaurant Week, providing those who typically stick to casual meals with the opportunity to experience fine dining on a budget. Restaurants that fall within this category are the sort of places I typically choose to visit during LRW because I love to see how fine chefs stretch a dollar while making fabulous food for the hundreds that stream through their doors during this promotion. Often their menus rely upon ingredients that gain flavor through slow cooking processes like braising or sous vide. My choices for today's LRW preview are no exception. Tabree was at the top of my to-do list during LRW Spring 2012, and it didn't disappoint. In its newer location on Main in Snyder, there is the ability to seat... |
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10/12/12LRW Preview: Make reservations at the new hot spots todayOctober 15 marks the beginning of Local Restaurant Week, an ideal opportunity that comes just twice a year to WNY. Area residents can enjoy delicious, affordable meals at local, independent restaurants as part of this one-week event, which happens in the fall and in the spring every year. The number of restaurants involved is impressive, even if you consider the very large number of independent restaurants operating in our region. Those included in this season's restaurant week stretch from the Wilson House, located at the most northern point of Niagara County and noted for its local-centric wine list, all the way to southern Erie County in Eden, where you'll find juicy burgers made from locally raised beef at O'Brien's. The experiences available vary... |
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09/24/12Local food blog gets the nod from Huff PostLocal food blogger, Julie Andrews of Tastefully Julie, has merited a mention on the Huffington Post with her recipe for Stuffed French Toast with Nutella and Bananas. The Huffington Post piece extolls the virtues of French toast, noting that French toast (which isn’t really French at all, but rather an Ancient Roman creation), “has a one-up on pancakes in our eyes because it takes a not-so-appetizing ingredient, stale bread, and turns it into something we never want to stop eating. That's pretty impressive.” Julie Andrews’ recipe for French toast is pretty impressive as well- the rich flavor combination of Nutella and bananas is drool-worthy. Her tip to use two very thin slices of bread to make a chocolate spread and banana sandwich, of... Posted at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments: 1 |
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09/06/12Today’s local food news (9/6/2012)Taste of East Aurora Increasingly delectable, thanks to Elm Street Bakery and a glut of new cupcake shops, East Aurora is owning its edible future by offering up the first annual Taste of East Aurora on September 15. According to their press release, “over 20 participating restaurants are on board for the Taste of East Aurora offering everything from pizza, cupcakes, BBQ ribs, iced mochas, mussels, stuffed peppers, shrimp, and lobster bisque, just to name a few of the great tastes.” Live music and Roswell’s Bosom Buddies walk are also part of the schedule; visit Facebook for details. Dinner and a movie Image courtesy of Bacchus om Twitter After a summer of construction, Bacchus has unveiled its new and improved... |
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08/28/12There Ain’t No Party Like a Taco Truck PartyThe boys of Lloyd just don’t stop. As the first food truck in the area, and the first to get a permit to sling their tacos in the City of Buffalo, Lloyd Taco Trucks is at the forefront of all that’s hip and tasty on the mobile food scene. And they want you to join them to celebrate their second birthday. On Friday, August 31 (that’s this Friday!) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., you can join Lloyd at Artisan Kitchens and Bath (200 Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14226) for an all-you-can-eat extravaganza. Get your pre-sale tickets at the truck this week, or take your chances that the event won’t sell out and get them at the door. Either way, they’re $15, and you’ll be among the first to try the new tacos on Lloyd’s menu: Aztec-rubbed... |
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08/22/12Spree Side Dish with WKBW: Smoke on the WaterThis week, Buffalo Spree's food editor, Christa Glennie Seychew, took WKBW to one of Tonawanda's newest eateries, Smoke on the Water. Owned and operated by the Richert brothers—well known for their popular Kenmore Avenue restaurant, Torches—Smoke features big, bold barbecue dishes with a twist, something these two chefs are known for. You can catch the piece here, on WKBW.com. Smoke on the Water is located at 79 Young St., Tonawanda; 716-692-4227. |
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08/09/12Today's local food news (8/9/2012) - UPDATEDTony Bourdain returns and more. |
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08/02/12PRAXIS: WNY's first pop-up restaurantWe've told you about chef Ross Warhol before. Many times, in fact. It's rather easy, actually, because Warhol is so accomplished for his age, terribly humble, and a real talent. But what makes Warhol one to watch is that he is always pushing himself, and looking to raise the bar, to shake people by the shoulders—culinarily—until their perceptions of what dining is and should be just fall away. After a few years of world travel and a couple of summers as the chef at Chautauqua Institution's gorgeous Athenaeum Hotel, he's settled down. Well, sort of. If you call 80-hour work weeks feeding hundreds of people three times a day slowing down. Add in his garden, which he confessed to me is sometimes tended at 2 a.m. during his busy weeks. Then there is his... |
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07/16/12Mike A's Lounge Offers New Everyday MenuLast night, as I sat in the quiet cool of the gorgeous lounge at Mike A's at Hotel Lafayette, I admired the Art Deco decor and sipped on a refreshing craft cocktail consisting of gin, housemade tonic, cucumber soda, and rhurbarb chili foam. Soon some friends joined me and we lazily swirled our drinks and cubes around in our glasses and soaked in the vibe of Mike A's. There are few more beautiful places in Western New York in which to have a drink, and the adjoining restaurant is offering some of the best food our region has ever seen. If you haevn't been, you should go. Don't save a treasure like this for a special occassion, though it is certainly a worthy choice for such. Allowing a restaurant with amazing food, drinks, and atmosphere to sit and wait for your... |
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07/13/12Taste of Buffalo's 2012 Culinary StageThis year, the Taste of Buffalo’s Culinary Stage schedule was packed with tons of local culinary talent. Swaciak and Gehrke Saturday kicked off with the Nickel City Chef Sous Chef Battle. Chef James Gehrke returned as the reigning champ after winning last year in a similar battle featuring corn. This year, his challenger was chef Dustin Swaciak, sous chef for the very popular bistro, Shango. The two had 40 minutes to complete two courses featuring Furmano tomatoes. Both chefs did a great job, and the judges had to make quick working of picking the best pair of dishes using taste, creativity, technical execution, plating, and how well Furmano's tomatoes were showcased as their guidelines. The panel included chef and author Mary Ann Giordano, Mont Stern, the... |
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06/29/12Saranac steps it upCraft beer lovers may have noticed that Saranac Beer, produced by Matt Brewing Company in Utica, New York, has been turning out some excellent beers lately. This spring’s White IPA, a hoppy, crisp, and insanely drinkable ale made with the popular Citra hop and a hint of orange and coriander for a hefeweizen-like appearance and fruit character, got my attention as well as that of most of the beer lovers I know; when thrown into a blind tasting with Belgian and Belgian-styled ales by some of the world’s best producers, it stood out so impressively that my fellow tasters and I were sure it was a rare, expensive European selection. We weren’t the only ones. In response to overwhelming success of White IPA, Saranac has added it to the regular lineup... |
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06/15/12First Look: Larkin District's Filling StationWhile most of Buffalo wasn't paying attention, Howard Zemsky and his team have been transforming a long-forgotten neighborhood. The Larkin Building restoration made news several years ago, but I am guessing most Buffalonians largely dismissed it, only casually observing the beautiful building from a speeding car while cruising past on the thruway. Zemsky's project has many stages, the most recent being the completion of the most outwardly evident and playful component—the popsicle-colored outdoor community gathering place located at the trisection of Swan, Seneca, and Emslie streets. This area, dubbed Larkin Square, features a covered picnic area, an outdoor grill station, raised bandstand, a well designed cafe, and an immobile Airstream trailer outfitted to serve... |
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06/07/12Open: Mike A @Hotel LafayetteRe-imagined classics |
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05/31/12Nickel City Chef 2012 Video: XVIII: Mietus vs. Berdine in Battle: Hard CiderNickel City Chef recently wrapped its fourth season. The series always produces video segments so that those who don't get tickets to the sold out shows can still get in on some of the culinary action. Below you will find the two-part series recapping the second show of 2012, which featured Steampunk hard cider from the rolling, lush orchards of Leonard Oakes Esate Winery. The impeccable cider presented a serious challenge for our chefs, as you'll hear about it in the videos below. Nickel City Chef Brian Mietus of Bacchus took on Challenger Dunbar Berdine of Black Rock Kitchen & Bar in Battle: Hard Cider. Both chefs worked hard to express their own culinary point of view through the lens of this pristine and effervescent beverage. The judges of the day included... |
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05/25/12Bacchus serves outstanding Chaine dinnerRegular YUM readers and serious foodies will recognize the organization known as the Chaine des Rotisseurs. The Buffalo chapter of the world's oldest gastronomic society has appeared on our BuffaloSpree.com before, after hosting a remarkable vertical wine tasting at Sample. Those who take wine and the pleasures of fine dining seriously would be wise to consider membership in the local chapter, which offers members a chance to partake in many a delicious experience. This week the Chaine hosted a lovely, members-only event in the new private dining room at Bacchus. Chef Brian Mietus worked closely with Mont Stern and Sharon Osgood (Chaine officers) to develop a menu with appropriate wine pairings for the eclectic group. Below you'll find a full slideshow of the meal (photos... |
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05/25/12Chill out with East Park PopsStarting today (yes, today), Delish will be the first retail setting in the city where East Park Pops can be purchased ($2.75 ea). Yep, after years of topping "Hot Food Trends" lists, artisan popsicles have finally made their way onto the WNY food scene. With good, clean branding, and fresh, tasty flavors, East Park Pops are sure to be a hit—especially on squelchers like today. Spree food writers sampled several flavors (while hunched over a bar last night, mind you). Raspberry hibiscus, fresh grape, toasted coconut with lime, strawberry rhubarb, and mango pineapple were gobbled down before they melted. We liked them all and concurred that they were refreshing and fun. The toasted coconut rocked our world collectively, and the raspberry hibiscus might have been a... |
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05/04/12Nickel City Chef 2012 Video: XVII: Van Wagner vs. Mercado in Battle: GreensFeaturing fresh greens from the greenhouse at Buffalo's own Massachusetts Avenue Project |
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03/26/12Our picks for Local Restaurant Week - Spring 2012Local Restaurant Week, as one of my dinner companions put it the other night, really does just two things, but does them reliably. It lowers people’s guard about eating out, and it raises the bar in regards to what type of meal you can get for an Andrew Jackson or two. As members of the press we were invited to a preview dinner. Last year they were kind enough to tote us all around, nibbling at a variety of participating restaurants. This year, organizers allowed us to luxuriate in the private room at Sea Bar while seven of the area's chefs fed us options from their upcoming Local Restaurant Week menus. Tough job, right? Some were preview portions, others were larger, but all in all it was a very satisfying meal. They all represented parts of the multi-course meals... |
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03/22/12Reds at Reif: A Winemaker's LuncheonNiagara-on-the-Lake’s Reif winery will host “An Open Barrel,” a luncheon event with winemaker Roberto DiDomenico, in the winery’s barrel room on Saturday, April 21. The meal will feature beef carpaccio with caper mustard dressing followed by lamb papardelle with wild mushroom sauce paired with new reds from the magnificent 2010 vintage: Cabernet Franc and Meritage, respectively. “Our April luncheon will mark the release and showcase of our 2010 reserve reds,” says winemaker Roberto DiDomenico. “This vintage was an ideal season for full-bodied reds and the richness and complexity of the wines will be highlighted by a menu that we have developed with Chef Robin Howe.” Howe’s catering company has served events at some of the... |
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03/21/12Side Dish 3/21/2012I've been a fan of Spar's European Sausage & Meats for several years now, and have had the privilege of documenting their growth in many arenas. As a foodie I rely on this shop for terrific staples like bacon, merguez (which I wrote about in the March 2011 issue of Spree), and calabrese. But what I love most about Spar's is that on nearly every visit I discover something new. When I took WKBW's cameras with me earlier this week I learned that chef and owner Joe Kennedy is now making his own head cheese, a real delicacy when made with care, from local pork supplied by the impeccable T-Meadow Farm. After years of being off the radar, Amherst Street is now becoming a food Mecca, of sorts, and Spar's can be credited for leading the pack on that trend, setting... |
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03/15/122012 WNY Pro Start CompetitionEach year the local chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association hosts Taste of Education, a fundraiser that provides financial assistance with travel and uniforms to young culinary students slated to compete in the state-level ProStart cooking competition. Year round, ProStart strives to develop talented young culinary students by blending classroom learning with hands-on experience and the opportunity to work with local industry leaders. It provides high school students with a solid footing from which to pursue further culinary education. Taste of Education, an annual event, consists of area cooking schools tabling a series of cold and warm hors' d'oeuvres that fall under a specific type of cuisine. This year thirteen tables of students prepared Irish food for a... |
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03/08/12Side Dish 3/8/2012This week, Chef Mary Ann Giordano, the longtime executive chef of Williamsville's Creekview restaurant, released a cookbook chronicling her passion for the feast employed to celebrate St. Joseph's Day. The book, published by Buffalo Heritage, documents her family's longstanding traditions surrounding the Catholic celebration, the history and lore of the feast among Sicilians and Sicilian Americans, and many, many recipes. I took a moment to speak with Giordano for WKBW's Eyewitness News. You can see the video here, on the WKBW website. The book is for purchase at the Buffalo Heritage website, and also at bookstores in the Western New York area. |
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02/29/12Ontario's Cuvée weekend provides unique wine tasting opportunitiesMarch in Western New York couldn’t feel any further from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood or the luxurious decadence of Napa Valley tasting rooms, yet this weekend the Niagara Community Foundation and Wine Country Ontario are bringing a little slice of both to the region with Cuvée 2012. The event is centered on the Cuvée Awards Gala held at the Fallsview Casino Resort Friday March 2nd and extends throughout the weekend with the Cuvée En Route passport program (PDF). The Gala—dubbed “The Oscars of Canadian Wine”—a black-tie optional fundraising event, will be the place to be this Friday as the Ontario wine industry’s owners, winemakers, and supporters gather to celebrate the best Ontario wines of the year while... |
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02/24/12WNY and Buffalo's best fish fryCheck out our food editor's favorite and tell us about yours. Posted at 06:47 AM | Permalink | Comments: 4 |
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02/16/12Buddy "The Cake Boss" ValastroThe “Cake Boss” will return to Western New York this weekend as the “Kitchen Boss.” Buddy Valastro, star of Cake Boss and Kitchen Boss on TLC, will provide an up-close, interactive, Italian cooking demonstration at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 8:00 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and are on sale at all Seneca Casino box offices, through Ticketmaster, and by phone at 800-745-3000. Valastro, a 34-year-old fourth-generation baker and owner of Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, N.J., gained fame with the reality show Cake Boss in 2009 and has since starred in Next Great Baker and his latest, Kitchen Boss, which debuted last year. Frank Amato Jr.—known by fans as “Cousin Frankie”—will join Valastro for the... |
![Side Dish with Christa Glennie Seychew [01.25.12]](/images/cache/9851a0d2cad2f61ab5d1cc026f007c08.jpeg) |
01/25/12Side Dish with Christa Glennie Seychew [01.25.12]Today we begin a new food column. Called Side Dish, this segment will look at food, drink, and restaurant topics as they pertain to WNY. We've partnered up with WKBW for this; you can catch me on every other Wedensday's Eyewitness News talking about topics we'll expand upon here. This morning we looked at food trends, both those that have a good foothold and those that are just arriving. 2011 food trends we are Beginning to sEE in Buffalo Flexitarianism goes mainstream (meatless Mondays) A tough economy and health concerns mean that people are eating less meat. Designating a night or two each week to enjoy a vegetarian meal can be an affordable and healthy choice. But that doesn't mean it has to be unsatisfying—you aren't required to smile... |
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01/04/12Toronto EatsI’ve convinced myself that Wegmans and our proximity to Toronto are two of the biggest quality-of-life benefits of living in Western New York. My family and I make a habit of going up to Canada’s megalopolis as often as possible to experience the world-class, big-city vibe. It’s only recently that we’ve started exploring some of the truly amazing culinary destinations that Toronto has to offer. Following Toronto foodies like Mary Luz Mejia and Ivy Knight through social media, as well as keeping up-to-date on goings-on through BlogTO and the Torontoist certainly help us get ideas for the next trip up. Over one autumn weekend, we were able to experience four truly exceptional food experiences an hour and a half up the QEW from home. 1. The Cheese... |
