Bert Gambini and I first met a few years ago when he agreed to be the celebrity host for a charity dinner I chaired. At the event we spoke briefly, but were too busy to spend much time getting to know one another. Fast forward a year and I was looking for someone with solid food knowledge and serious hosting skills for the first season of Nickel City Chef. Gambini–my first pic– obliged, and the Nickel City staff and our many guests over the last thirteen events have experienced his ability to turn a phrase, his consummate professionalism and, well,…
Author: CSeychew
We remember a few years back, when Nelson Starr took his first turn as a food tv host in an online contest, beckoning celebchef Anthony Bourdain to capture Buffalo’s food scene on camera for an episode of his popular Travel Channel program, No Reservations. Starr’s bid not only led him to make a series of webisodes about our region’s ethnic food ways and favorite eateries, but it also curried enough favor with Bourdain, that even without winning the contest’s ultimate prize, the chef and his film crew chose to come here anyway, making Buffalo part of an episode featuring a…
His enthusiasm is not only contagious, it’s compelling. Compelling me to drink vinegar and olive oil from tiny disposable shot glasses on an empty stomach. While at the counter sampling his wares, sun streams in through the windows of this small but tidy Elmwood storefront. A wall of balsamic vinegar bottles shimmer and the shop’s recessed ceiling is reflected twenty or more times in the shiny metal “fustis” that line the opposite wall, labeled with tags that list descriptors like “Harissa”, and “Roasted French Walnut”.Today at 11:00 a.m., D’Avolio, which is nestled into a tiny storefront on Elmwood Avenue near…
In the morning sunshine, Main Street’s Cathedral Park feels magical. The shadow of the buildings cast a cool respite from the midday sun, but in the morning, the beams of light that fall through the boughs of the park’s trees dapple the ground with patterns that sway in the breeze. People line the benches and planters in this little urban sanctuary, having a cup of coffee, reading the paper, waiting for their workday to begin.This morning, many of the park’s visitors have come here in search of Buffalo’s newest morning hot spot, Liquid Energy. Opening by 8 a.m. (but often…
Featuring work from artists such as Chuck Tingley, Tara Sasiadek, Betty Leader, Glenn Kroetsch, Scott Carr, Caroline Bronckers, Chastity Roberts, Juliet Kraemer and David Tarsa, among others, Gallery 464 on Amherst will host its members exhibition tomorrow night.Visitors can stop by for complimentary food and drink (as long as supplies last) as well as the opportunity to peruse the work of some local talent. Gallery 464 is part of the ongoing Amherst Street revitalization efforts, which include the soon-to-open Black Rock Kitchen & Bar, a handful of boutiques and other galleries, the anchor of Spar’s European Sausage and plans to…
We had other plans for a Food post today, but as I was editing photos, an email popped into my inbox. It reflects sentiments that I have heard from many friends and industry folks over the last few days, and echoes the kind of support we saw follow the unfortunate incident at Merge last winter. It comes from Lukia Costello, a Buffalonian seeking to support the downtown community and the owners and staff of City Grill restaurant following last weekend’s tragic shooting.”As of August 16th, I launched a FB causes page: “Support City Grill’. My idea in doing so was…
Thanks to the dozens and dozens of people that lined up for tacos last night at the Save Lloyd taco party, I am happy to announce that Lloyd is in the shop and should be back in its spot on Mohawk and Main at some point this week. This morning, Facebook fans and Lloyd’s followers on Twitter received the good news that our city’s single bastion of authentic and tasty Mexican tacos would be saved.The event pulled in guests eager to munch on the truck’s tasty pork, braised beef and stewed black bean tacos, as well as churros (a Mexican…
While it may have changed hands a few times, Dolci bakery, located on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Breckenridge, has always been known for its quaint interior and tasty desserts. In recent years, its gelato and sorbet offerings were of particular note, thanks to David Simpson, gelato master. After years in the restaurant business he saw the need for high-quality gelato and sorbet and worked diligently to develop techniques and recipes that resulted in a premium product. Over time, the business evolved in a variety of ways, and just a few months ago, Dolci’s second location was born.On the…
It was just three short weeks ago that we trumpeted the arrival of real Mexican food in Buffalo, provided to lucky downtown workers every day at the corner of Mohawk and Main by Lloyd. Lloyd is Buffalo’s first and only taco truck, and for the first few weeks, the Boys of Lloyd worked through the glitches and hitches of equipment issues, unexpected snaking lines of eager customers and the heat of this crazy summer. Passionate testimonials from rabid taco fans popped up all over their Facebook page and elsewhere. The television stations taped us as we happily lined up, waiting…
Did you know there is a revolution happening in our own backyard? It’s a food revolution.A century ago, people ate what grew in their gardens and shopped at neighborhood produce stores, bakeries, and butcheries. The food that was sold at these stores came from the thousands of acres of farmland surrounding Buffalo, farms that brought their fruits and vegetables to market at places like the Clinton-Bailey Market on Buffalo’s East Side. Everything was fresh, everything was local, everything was healthy.With the invention of refrigerated trucks, large one-stop supermarkets and the streamlining of transportation, it somehow became ‘normal’ to ship all…