Spar's Celebrates Season With Gourmet Goodies
Tuesday I stopped into Spar’s on Amherst to chat with owner Joe Kennedy about an article that I’m working on for January’s Buffalo Rising Magazine. I was pleased to find the shelves laden with special Christmas treats imported from Eastern Europe.
An assortment of stollen line the base of an entire display. Stollen is the German take on fruitcake; it has a bread-like consistency and is speckled with almonds and dried fruit. Beth, Joe’s wife, was quick to point out that the Marzipanstollen are especially delicious; they’re shot through with a thick line of marzipan. There are also cute little marzipan pigs, given with the wish of good luck at Christmas or the New Year as a part of a tradition that dates back to the Teutons.
German lebkuchen ginger cookies and wafer cookies are represented in great variety. Foil wrapped chocolate figures bring extra cheer in the shape of Kris Kringle, as well as angels and ornaments that are meant to be hung from the tree before the lucky receiver peels back the to wrapper reveal the creamy milk chocolate. Beth pointed out another German favorite, the hard to find “Brandy Bean”, a smooth kidney-shaped chocolate filled with brandy. Belgian chocolates are here, too- and at remarkable prices.
The imported grocery section at Spar’s seems to grow with every visit I make, and the selection of Christmas goodies is especially nice. I would love to pack up a little basket from the contents of these shelves- a great gift for a hostess or any foodie. While you’re at it, Spar’s has a seasonal sausage that will only be available for a few more weeks, made with turkey, sage and cranberries; it captures all of the flavors of the season in a new and different way.
405 Amherst Street, Buffalo, 14207
716.876.6607
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Morrison
My favorite meat shop!
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xmissanthropic
My oma and opa used to bring me there every Friday when I was little. They have the best sausages and a really cool gumball machine.
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