Buffalo Rising Online

Buffalo Rising and Slow Food Buffalo have partnered to bring you Sunday Suppers, a regular feature that provides readers with the opportunity to prepare a meal that is simple and delicious highlight­ing some regional ingredients and items that can be purchased from small, local businesses.

Slow Food Buffalo is the local chapter of the international Slow Food movement, an organization that espouses the belief that the benefits of preparing meals from fresh, local ingredients and sharing them with family and friends is a way to invigorate the local economy, retain cultural food traditions, and bring people “back to the table” in a way that is no longer part of our daily lives.

We know that many of you will be entertaining out of town guests during the holidays and have plenty of preparation …

I'm happy to announce that Shango is presenting a lovely wine dinner on November 11th. Their consistently good food and Wine Spectator awarded wine list make this event a sure bet. Chef Jim Guarino has finalized the menu, which is listed below. The price, with wine pairings is a mere $65 per person. I suggest that you call and make your reservation now, as this special dinner is likely to sell out quickly.

We are now on our 6th entry detailing the contestants and the dishes that they presented for BR's Buffalo Chef's Challenge: Chayote. I won't disclose all of the details again, so those of you that are not regular readers, and are unfamiliar with the challenge, it's rules, and it's participants, can access that information using the list of links below.

I am pleased to announce that our second place winner is Shango Bistro and Wine Bar. They've been featured on BR before, and I find that the food is consistently well-prepared. When I contacted Jim Guarino, chef and owner, and Marla Crouse, manager and wine director, they were both excited about the project. When I delivered the “mystery” ingredient, Jim was intrigued and enthusiastic. It seems that chayote is a common ingredient in Cajun and Creole cuisine. Though Chef Jim had never used mirliton (the French term for ch…

A few weeks ago, our family decided to go out for breakfast. I’d heard from many people about Shango’s spectacular brunch, and since it was a Sunday, it seemed like the obvious choice.

It was a good one.

Shango, for those of you that have not been there, is a bistro offering New Orleans cuisine, good service, and a great selection of wine and beer in a really lovely space on Main St. near UB south.

It was a sunny day, and we were happy to be seated near the front window. Our meal was superb, and I’m excited to tell you about it.

Our table enjoyed a bounty of food. The kids had huge Belgian waffles with fresh strawberries and whipped cream ($7). The vegetarian of the group was pleased with her frittata of wild mushrooms, roasted red peppers and goat cheese topped with a drizzle of truffle oil ($9).

I had the spectacular crab cakes (shown above, $11). Shango does cr…

Tuesday brings us Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, what many perceive as the only holiday besides St. Patrick's Day to celebrate -- well, celebrating. Masks, costumes, parades, and of course beads are traditions of the season, and Buffalo will be partying in style along with the rest of the nation, in time to the brassy heartbeat of New Orleans.

Mardi Gras is, despite appearances, a religious holiday. It's the culimation of the Carnival Season in New Orleans in effect since the Feast of Epiphany, or Twelfth Night -- January 6 -- and continues until the midnight of Fat Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday being the beginning of Lent, the season of fasting and repentence, an old joke used to be that Mardi Gras gave you something to repent for. Last notes: the traditional colors are purple (symbolic of justice), green (symbolic of faith) and gold (symbolic of…

As close to authentic as you’ll get, Shango’s killer Cajun cuisine is the way if you're looking for a Mardi Gras celebration. An entire week of specials, music and a festive atmosphere await those looking for a good time and good food.

For your convenience, the fun-filled schedule is as follows:

Sunday, February 18th 10:30 – 3:30 A New Orleans-style brunch is accompanied by Buffalo’s own Lee Ron Zydeco

Monday, February 19th – Thursday, February 22nd Enjoy a mouthwatering 3-course meal for only $25

Fat Tuesday, February 20th Drink specials, beads, and Cajun cuisine served up with music by Mumbo Gumbo from 7p.m. – 10p.m.

It sounds like a great time. Hope to see you there!

Over the summer we offered an e…

Wine enthusiasts won't be disappointed with the choices they are offered when gazing over the wine list at Shango. This spot has managed to put together a selection of wines by the glass and bottle that will undoubtedly stimulate a long conversation at the table. Varietals and regions abound making it easy to try something that you may have never had before - sylvaner, muscadet, gruner veltliner, vermentino among the whites; chinon, minervois, vaqueryas among the reds along with all of the more common grapes and regions of the world. Upon a recent visit I discovered 9 whites and 10 reds by the glass as well as 14 half bottles to choose from. With all this in mind, have no fear of a ten-page bottle list and separate table of contents. The list…

Wednesday November 8th we will continue our monthly wine tasting event- every second Wed. of the month we run our "Ten wines for Ten Bucks" This month Colony Wine & Spirits Fine Wine manager, Mark Strassel and myself, Marla Baykan will host "Old World vs. New World wines- who will win?" It's from 7-9pm, No reservations necessary.

Then, Monday November 13th we will be hosting Shango's 2nd Annual Fall Dinner- A five course dinner featuring fine Italian wines from Vias Imports. The cost will be $55 per person and will start at 6:00pm. Reservations are necessary. Last year's dinner was a resounding success, and this year's menu and wine selections are even better!!! Call for detail 837.2326 -Marla

Tuesday, October 10th at Shango! The next Happy To Be (Back) Here Hour is at hand! These gatherings are a great way to meet others who share your passion for our fair city. And this time around, a mystery Guest Speaker will share 15 minutes of Good News and propose ways that you can be an ever more integral part of this cityis renaissance.

Join us at Shango (3260 Main Street, near Talking Leaves) on Tuesday, October 10th, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. to find out who the speaker is and what they have to say about the future of Buffalo. There will be plenty of (not Old Buffalo, not New Buffalo, but) Our Buffalo energy. Enjoy the high spirits and rich stories of …

Mussels are an offering from the sea that is often overlooked. They are vastly popular in Europe, but as Americans, we tend to prefer clams and oysters. They are rich in protein, and contain essential minerals, vitamins B12 and C, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Simple to prepare and quite inexpensive (less than $3.00 per lb.), they can be steamed, fried, ba…

Last week we headed over to Shango in the University District for a brunch that I had been hearing about for a long time. Unfortunately by the time we got there they were out of their specials (good for Shango), so we stuck with the regular brunch menu. That was OK with us because the menu had a bunch of choices that sounded delicious. I …

This Wednesday Shango is hosting one of its last wine tastings of the season and it promises to be a great one. Hosted by Shango's own Marla Baykan and Adam Brumberg from Michael Skurnick Wines, this offering is called "get in touch with your inner eonophile". It will feature ten wines from around the world and I can think of no place better to enjoy sampling and discussing them than Shango's warm and inviting lounge area. The tasting is from 7-9 and no reservations are necessary. Just show up with your palate ready for a globetrotting experience.

Shango 3260 Main Street 837-2326 www.shangobistro.com

When you think Mardi Gras, you think New Orleans, right? (insert "duh" here). But when you think New Orleans in Buffalo, what do you think of? I think of Shango, and if that doesn't evoke an equally obvious "duh" then you haven't been there. Not a better array of Creole-inspired concoctions in the city. And, of course, Mardi Gras gives them the opportunity to take it up a notch.

The party starts on Sunday, Feb. 26th when Shango adds live music to its already fabulous New Orleans Style Brunch. Then, on Monday night, drop by to help them celebrate their First Year Anniversary Party featuring the music of LeeRon Zydeco, drink specials, and complimentary hor-dourves. After sleeping off the effects (this is what personal days are for.…

Well of course there is a catch because you aren't going to be drinking La"blah"tt's here. Tomorrow night is Shango's monthly beer tasting. The last Wednesday of every month owner Jim Guarino invites you to belly up to the bar for a healthy sampling of ten specially chosen microbrews and imports. For ten wrinkled Washingtons? Sounds good to me.

If you haven't been to Shango before you are missing out on what I consider to be one of Buffalo's best dining experiences. But its late and I don't have time to gush. Check out our previous yum post for more info. Right now its about the beer. Enjoy.

Shango Beer tasting last Wed. of every month 3260 Main Street 837-2326