Buffalo Rising Online

Christa Glennie Seychew

We all love the traditional Superbowl chow. Chili, Bison dip, those little smoked sausage things, cheese, cheese, cheese and the standard subs, pizza and wings.

This Saturday, the Co-op is offering shoppers a taste of some alternative munchies. Samples of gourmet chips and beverages will be available to those that stop by between noon and 3 p.m. Another thing to keep in mind is the killer fresh sandwiches, salads and other goodies they make in-store. Many of them would be great additions to your Superbowl feast.

If the Co-op isn't a store that you frequent regularly, this event is a great opportunity to stop in and check it out. FYI- the Co-op is open to members and non-members alike.

Lexington Co-op 807 Elmwood 716.886.2667

Christa Glennie Seychew

I hate to say it, but my family and I order pizza two or three times a month. On nights when things are hectic, the cupboards are bare, or I'm just too stinkin' tired to cook dinner, we pick up the phone and order a hot, steaming, melty pie. Covered in cheese, brown and chewy in some places and soft and warm in others, often a pizza is not just a solution but a little boxed gift.

Having lived in the same neighborhood for close to a decade, I've pretty much scouted out my delivery options. There are two pizza joints that I regularly ring, one supplies it fast and cheap and while the other is more expensive and offers quality I believe to be unsurpassed in the city. They each fulfill a different need for me, and I'm very glad to have…

queenseyes

Martin Kemp's '68', a retail, decorative flower and gift shop at 68 Allen Street is now carrying beautiful cut flowers. I had initially thought that the shop would cater to more of the silk varieties, but after a quick run through the other day I was excited to see that there were wonderfully different selections of healthy looking bulbs and cut flowers.

On top of that, Martin has blown out the back wall of the space and installed a fireplace. This once tiny boutique has virtually doubled in size overnight, and has brought a whole other retail element to Allen Street. '68' also specializes in corporate flower arrangements as well as arrangements for the home. '68' is located at 68 Allen Street right next to Fiddleheads Restaurant.

queenseyes

I've only been to Joe's Deli a couple of times, though during both visits I really enjoyed the food. Yesterday was a rather chilly day so I figured I would try out one of their soups. I went for the potato leek soup that was served piping hot. The creamy soup was full of minced veggies and chunks of potatoes and had a spicy kick to it. The large side of exquisitely marbled rye bread was super fluffy and soaked up the soup perfectly.

For my meal I opted for the Rachael Ann, which consisted of sliced turkey breast, Swiss Loraine, coleslaw (or sauerkraut if you want), with Russian dressing on marble rye. I just could not get enough of that bread. The sandwich (served warm) melted in my mouth and was so big that I ended up taking home half of it. Se…

Emilie Riester

We've been playfully referred to as "a drinking city with a football problem". But in all seriousness, Buffalo is a city with a healthy, thriving bar culture that has become just as deep rooted in our tradition as our architecture, food and winter snowfalls have. Taking a look back at history, I was happily surprised to see that Buffalo's drinking status is not just local lore but has been well documented over the years by historians, visitors and hometown citizens alike.

Ever since the Erie Canal construction brought the first influx of hard working (and hard drinking) immigrants to the area, the bar scene has been an integral part of Buffalo. In 1850 there were 500 saloons and gaming establishments in the city or one for every 84 citizens. By 1893, when the city had grown in size and sophistication, there was a pub or saloon for every 100 people, literally translating to a…

Christa Glennie Seychew

Dolci's selection of treats and sweets is always impressive, and these little 4" cakes confirm that notion. Designed to serve between 2-4 lucky people (depending on portion size), they are a fine finish to a generous meal. Better yet, serve this delectable nosh aside a nice espresso.

Dolci serves a variety of amazing traditional and not-so-traditional cakes. These diminutive beauties are no exception, and are only $9.95 each. Every day customers have an array of eight or nine flavors to choose from. Dolci offers sixteen different specialty cakes, and every possible combination of filling, icing and chocolate or yellow cake that you can imagine. They will also customize both full-size and miniature cakes to your liking.

queenseyes

You might remember a while back when we covered the peanut butter burger at Empire Grille? Well, The Chocolate Bar has just introduced peanut butter and jelly soup. Yes, it may sound a bit odd, but we tried it last night and can honestly say that if you like peanut butter, then you'll love this soup. Executive Chef Willy Pembleton concocted the dish, and he told me that on their first day of serving it (yesterday), he served up ten orders. "People really liked it," he told me. "I added bruleed bananas and buttered wheat toast points for dipping... plus I threw a marshmallow in for good measure."

The peanut butter and jelly soup had a small hint of jelly, but the peanut butter stole the show. Served hot and creamy in a large bowl, this ha…

Christa Glennie Seychew

We all know (and love) that Delish! offers sweets to die for and cooking classes on most weeknights. Lucky for us, they also stock a good selection of gourmet grocery items. On my recent visit I was shown a sundry of treats, things that I hadn't really taken stock of on my previous bakery-oriented visits. A few of the items are even produced by Delish!. For example, there are cute little tins containing a noteworthy blend of herbs and spices. Called "Butt Rub", this mixture is ideal for slow roasting and grilling. High quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar are also bottled by Delish! and are very affordable.

A wonderful selection of jams and spreads line the shelves. Perhaps one of the most tempting items is Clearbrook Farms fruit tart fillings. …