courtesy of patina 250

St. Paddy’s Day in Buffalo!

Historically, St. Paddy’s Day in Buffalo has been celebrated with enthusiasm, energy, and just a touch of the green. No matter your background, everyone here is Irish for a day. And for the first time in years, the weekend of celebration kicks off with festivities on the actual day! Having just been to Ireland this […]

Food Festivals this Weekend!

It may be January, but that doesn’t mean Buffalonians hibernate. Here are some fun food and drink festivals taking place this weekend: Buffalo Soup Fest: January 28th at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Join 5,000 friends and 30 restaurants while sampling over 75 different soups all in one place. Buffalo Wine and Chocolate Festival:January 28th […]

A “Proper” Food Destination–Buffalo Proper

It was the roaring 20’s, a time when the American automobile industry was booming, the grain industry flourished, and the steel and lumber factories employed more people and put out more finished products than ever before. Electrical power makes its way to Niagara Falls, thanks to developer Jacob Schoellkopf, a German immigrant who made his […]

Bica e Vinho-Not the Typical Buffalo Restaurant

As Buffalo, NY continues to make a name in the culinary world, it will continue to see chefs and restaurant owners expand consumers palates by pushing the boundaries of what is possible, what is unfamiliar, and what is creative. Bica e Vinho in East Aurora, NY is one such restaurant that pushes these boundaries, introducing […]

English Pork Pie Company–Owners of The British Chippy, Becomes Parker’s

So this may be confusing but what was the British Chippy, owned by the English Pork Pie Company, has become Parker’s British Institution! I’ve reviewed the British Chippy (click here for that review). But seeing as they have evolved quite a bit, they deserve a refresh. I’ve recently spent time in England–a good two weeks, […]

Locally owned grocery store, eatery, community store–East Aurora Co-op Market

What is a co-op market? A co-op is a business that is owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit. People organize cooperatives to achieve together what they can’t do alone, and food co-ops are a great place to shop for fresh, delicious, locally sourced food. But they’re much more than that–co-ops are […]

The James Beard Foundation

The first sentence says it all, “Food matters.” It truly does. While I’ve been on a slight hiatus as I was out of the country, doing food reviews and learning a little something along the way, I’ve kept my eye on the pulse of what’s going on back home. The James Beard Foundation (JBF) truly […]

Black Iron Bystro–Steampunk, Old West, or Just Plain Cool

I kid you not when I say there is a struggle going on with the decor at Black Iron Bystro in Blasdell NY. Part steampunk, part old West, the atmosphere inside is a mixture of cast iron innovation meets John Wayne at the saloon.  With meticulous attention to detail, the decor tells a story–Brian Mecozzi’s story. […]

Satiate Your Palate with these Exciting New Restaurants this Memorial Day!

To say that the past month has been challenging is a bit of an understatement. My husband has been overseas for work and in 15 years this is the longest we’ve gone without seeing each other. But with any challenge there is always a silver lining–in my case two! The first was in knowing that […]

Oh So Good–My Top 5 Restaurants for the Best Fish Frys!

Who would have thought that the theory of eating fish on Fridays is due to their cold blooded nature. Re-reading that sentence? It’s true! According to Michael Foley, Associate Professor at Baylor University, Christian teaching believed that because Jesus died on a Friday, and his death redeemed a sinful world, people fasted on Fridays to commemorate […]