Buffalo Rising Online

Sep 14th 2007, 10:13am By Christa Glennie Seychew

I generally receive restaurant news or food news through chefs and business owners, email, phone calls and the Nearly Omniscient Newell (aka queenseyes). This news can range from exciting “don't tell” rumors of new restaurants to passing mentions of changes that are taking place in existing establishments. Most often, the breaking news has been mentioned in our city channel, or the stories are in the early stages of development, not yet warranting a post all to themselves. That, however, does not make them any less interesting, so here I offer you an assortment of YUM! related news.

--O'Connell's Hourglass has been re-invented with a new name (O'Connell's American Bistro), a new menu, a new interior and newly added lunch hours. The menu promises good food with a French flair. The grand opening takes place today--check out their new website for more information.

--As winter approaches, we can look forward to the opening of Club 31, located across the street from Johnson Park. Owner Tony Caggiono has repaired, reinforced and remodeled virtually every square inch of the former Buddies building. BR has checked in with him numerous times over the last few months, and it looks like he's on target for opening during the holiday season. We can't wait to get a look at the interior and the menu.

--WJ Morrissey's has begun using the full menu we had a chance to peek at before they opened. For a number of reasons, they opened with a small bar menu that listed less than a dozen items. The new version is extensive and features an abundance of items, many with an Irish feel, including fish and chips, shepherd's pie and bangers (sausage) and mash. Those more comfortable with American dishes will find plenty of burgers, sandwiches, and salads on the menu.

--Urban Roots, the successful co-operative garden center, is seeing so much business that it has attracted local gelato maker David Simpson to the neighborhood. This coffee bar/gelateria will soon occupy the adjoining building. Similar in set up to the business plan that combines Talking Leaves and Cafe Aroma, the addition to the building will help to unify the storefront. We'll keep you posted on that one.

__Steel Crazy Cafe will begin opening early for breakfast beginning this Monday. Warm breakfast crepes are on the menu, and will be available any day of the week with the exception of Tuesday's, when they are closed.

--In the last year we've updated you on Leslie Zoerb, the Buffalo resident that made it to the finals of Haagen Dazs Ice Cream's 2007 search for a new flavor. The Haagen Dazs site has three new webisodes up, each depicting a step in the process of the finals. Viewers watch as the finalists fly to Haagen Dazs' headquarters, where their flavor is further developed and then tasted with the assistance of judges like Jacques Torres. The winner is scheduled to be announced live on Good Morning America on September 21. We'll let you know how Zoerb's Caramelized Pear and Toasted Almond does.

--Corpus Christi's Pierogi Party was a huge hit. The event was held in order to help Buffalo retain its title of Mrs. T's “Capital of the Pierogy (sic) Pocket of America.” Parishioners gathered the week before the event, hand making over 1,200 pierogi. On the day of the party, within a mere 45 minutes they were entirely sold out, with a line of hopeful pierogi customers snaking down Sears Street. The Slavic Bazzar (sic) swept in and saved the day by providing the church with an additional 2,500 pierogi. The event was a resounding success replete with a large crowd of visitors singing a song about pierogi and dancing well into the afternoon. Online voting for the title will begin shortly, we'll let you know when it does. Since the $10,000 prize will be going to install a heater in the Parish Nurse Ministries, it seems a cause worthy of our time, requiring only a minute to vote for Buffalo. Stay tuned.

For YUM readers that don't spend a lot of time in the City section, here are a few stories that might interest you.

--No surprise that Elmwood is abuzz with restaurant happenings. Mark Supples' version of Jimmy Mac's has closed its doors, but it does look like we'll be getting a specialty food and gourmet beer shop in the former Chef's Deli space. The owners of Mode, along with Chef Louis Zanghi are opening an Italian restaurant in the long empty space once occupied by The Soda Bar. The Italian restaurant will offer gourmet cuisine in a casual environment.

--Downtown will see some new business as well with the addition of what promises to be a great take-out shop near Papaya and Salsarita's on the ground floor of the Hampton Inn. It also looks like a lot of the strip's bars have changed hands or are reworking their business models.

There are other exciting things coming up to report in YUM, but we've promised not to spill the beans (pardon the pun). We'll let you know as soon as we can; just know that there will be a whole new host of restaurants to enjoy by the new year.