Earlier this month Christa Glennie Seychew and I attended Buffalo First’s Local Food Sourcing event. Over 70 attendees from local farms, retail shops, restaurants, and a handful of concerned citizens gathered to discuss the hurdles of the farm-to-table process in Western New York. The disconnect between producers (farms, growers, etc.) and distributors (grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) surfaced as a pressing concern. Various ideas were tossed around with a majority of folks agreeing that an online resource was a good solution. The concept of an online food directory is not new, but it seems that most people involved in the “WNY…
Author: Todd Schoepflin
This is not a reference to the physical resemblance of a bull and a buffalo. April 20th marks the 176th anniversary of the City of Buffalo. The prosperous village of Buffalo, with over 10,000 people, was officially incorporated as a city April 20th, 1832 by Governor Enos T. Throop. This would make Buffalo a Taurus according to astrological signs. Pshaw, you say? Well chew on these typical Taurus traits. Typically charming and hard working but not aggressive. We are a hard working people and according to many, the City does not accomplish things in a timely manner though plenty of…
You wouldn’t know it by my last name, but I am mostly Italian. I grew up on Italian food–pasta and meatballs every Sunday. So I take my Italian food very seriously. Over the years I’ve driven by Santasiero’s countless times. But it was only a few weeks ago that I tried Santasiero’s for the first time. I went for takeout and ordered eggplant parmigiana, one of my favorite Italian dishes. I also wanted to try their meatballs and sausage, so I asked for two of each in a container of sauce–a request that a friendly employee was happy to accommodate.…
It had been a long time since I’d taken the Grant Street exit off the 198. But when I did so the other day and came to the intersection of Grant and Amherst, I noticed a new business tucked in the corner of the strip plaza, in the spot once occupied by Mighty Taco. When I saw the name–Joe’s New York Style Pizzeria & Restaurant–my first reaction was skepticism. “New York Style” is such a bold declaration, promising to distinguish the product from other local pizzerias in some special way. But being a pizza junkie, I had to give their…
It is no secret that authentic Asian cuisine is hard to come by in Buffalo. We have Ming Café (during the fall and winter), Woo Chon Korea House, Gin Gin and, of course, 99 Fast Food. Many of you were lucky enough to have visited 99 when they were at 99 Niagara Square. I envy you. 99 is now located on Bailey Avenue, and while it isn’t a far drive, it certainly isn’t accessible to this downtown employee on her lunch break. 99 serves authentic Vietnamese, Japanese, and Chinese fare. On my most recent visit I couldn’t resist the Cốm…
I’ve only been to Sterling Place Tavern three times. After each visit I’ve told anyone who would listen how much fun I had. So I have to wonder why I don’t go more often. What I enjoy most about Sterling Place is the atmosphere, and I’m not referring to the decor. You won’t find bright colors or cozy chairs there. Rather, it’s the very friendly people and the relaxed vibe that make it such a great place to hang out. In terms of food, the menu is not extensive. If you ask for a menu, you’ll be directed to a…