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February 24, 2010 Maple Weekend - is approaching fast! This year it is Mar. 20-21 and Mar. 27-28. There are several producers right in Erie County and more just outside. 

January 31, 2010 First annual Buffalo Wine Festival  will be held on March 20, 2010 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. Come sample the region's wine from more than 35 fantastic wineries at the first-ever Buffalo Wine Festival! The festival will also feature local restaurants and craft businesses. Shop, dine and taste! It's the perfect way to shake off winter's chill. There are two sessions: Saturday day from 1 - 4 p.m. and Saturday night from 6 - 9 p.m. Advance tickets are available at their web site for $25 - day session or $30 night session. The cost at the door is $30 day and $35 night. Admission includes a Souvenir Tasting glass-No one Under 21 allowed.

January 29, 2010 Buffalo Zoo Polar Bites will be held Feb. 18. Nearly 40 restaurants, breweries, wineries and specialty stores will serve up food and drink samples at Polar Bites, the annual Buffalo Zoo winter fundraiser, from 6 to 9 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center.
     Highlights will include two auctions and appearances by the zoo's "animal ambassadors." Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door. A limited number of $50 VIP tickets are available by phone. Call 995-6131 or visit http://www.buffalozoo.org .

December 7, 2009 SAMPLE, located in the heart of Buffalo’s Historic Allentown District, is a modern restaurant with an innovative twist. The popular, ever-evolving cocktail list revisits old favorites and dabbles in modern flavor pairings. Offering decidedly thoughtful interpretations of culinary classics and fresh, unique cocktails, in just a few short years, SAMPLE has become a popular spot known for innovative cuisine and its great nightlife.

Chef and owner, Adam Goetz, prides himself on using the freshest ingredients, and has partnered with local farmers using sustainable growing methods to insure this. Being a family man, he also knows how busy everyone is around the holidays, and so he developed this unique idea—a Cocktail Party To Go—in order to make festive gatherings simple and affordable for busy people.

The concept is simple—with a mix and match menu, you and your party of 10 or more guests will enjoy a variety of offerings. There are three distinct components to the menu. First, the host/hostess selects from an array of signature platters, including the delicious and carefully prepared Mediterranean platter with specialties like fresh hummus, spicy eggplant, pickled red onion and housemade black olive tapenade, or a similarly delicious but more traditional platter of artisan cheeses or fruit. Each of these is offered with crackers and good, crusty bread. 

Next, party planners will be pleased to find that an assortment of handheld canapés and hors d’oeuvres (warm and cold) also accompany the package. Offerings vary based on which package you select, but they include playful and tasty treats like “Rice & Beans”, which is a mushroom risotto cake topped with a baby white bean salad, “Veal Oscar”, made of seared veal with a mini crab cake augmented with fried spinach and tomato confit, or the classic “Shrimp Cocktail”, modernized with a presentation which places tender baby shrimp in cucumber boats along with a mousse cocktail sauce.

Finally, a premium culinary cocktail mixer made from fresh and flavorful ingredients tops off the menu—the host simply adds the liquor. SAMPLE’s award-winning Honey Lavender Martini is available, as is the Autumn Martini (a fruity combination of apples and pears), the Pumpkin Martini (made with local pumpkins) or the refined and elegant fresh fruit puree, ideal for preparing bellinis with champagne or prosecco for your guests.

SAMPLE’s Cocktail Party To Go starts at only $160 for 10 people and requires only a 48 hour notice. All of your party snacks will be wrapped and packaged with care, and anything that needs to be warmed in the oven comes with implicit and simple instructions anyone can follow. Perfect for holiday office parties or full-scale formal cocktail parties, SAMPLE’s Cocktail Party To Go option is a winner.

Details and full Party To Go menu are available on SAMPLE’s website: www.sampleourrestaurant.com

December 4, 2009 BUFFALO, NEW YORK, December 4, 2009 - In a uniquely Western New York way of celebrating individual freedom, Forgotten Buffalo Tours will host a ceremonial toast to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the repeal of prohibition. The event will take place Saturday, December 5th at 8:00pm at Fachko’s Grill located at 1738 William Street, Buffalo.

The “toast to the repeal” at Fachko’s is one of four stops during Forgotten Buffalo’s tour of family owned taverns on “Repeal Day.” December 5th is significant as the date in 1933 that the United States repealed the Eighteenth Amendment and once again allowed Americans--and Buffalonians--the legal right to consume alcoholic beverages, ending almost 14 years of prohibition.

Located on William Street across the street from train tracks that once belonged to the Erie Railroad, Fachko’s Grill has been operated by the same family since the repeal of prohibition in 1933. This tidy little tavern that borders Buffalo’s Lovejoy Neighborhood features a wonderfully preserved 1950's back bar & interior. 80-year-old Ollie Fachko, the tavern’s current operator, is a colorful and beloved neighborhood figure.

“The classic Buffalo neighborhood tavern is quickly disappearing from our cultural landscape,” said Forgotten Buffalo co-Founder Marty Biniasz. “Changes in neighborhoods, social habits, smoking laws and our mobile society have contributed to the death of the tavern. On December 5th, we will honor a longtime, independent business owner and one of Buffalo’s oldest continuing operating as we toast to one’s ability to celebrate freedom with a drink in hand.” 

Founded in 2007, Forgotten Buffalo Tours provides an urban explorer's view of the Buffalo-Niagara region specializing in unique aspects of our region’s history. Tours are created and led by television personality Eddy “Maxwell Truth” Dobosiewicz host of the nationally syndicated show Off Beat Cinema and trained Buffalo architecture and history docent Marty Biniasz. Each tour is specifically researched and crafted to give patrons a sense why Buffalo-Niagara is one of the most unique urban communities in the world.

November 8 2009 

                                  
Buffalo Diner with Focus on Local Ingredients Featured on Food Network Nov. 16th

---Buffalo, NY 


Lake Effect Diner in Buffalo, New York will be featured November 16, 2009 @ 10 p.m. on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. The episode featuring the local diner was filmed over a two week period this past August when Guy Fieri and his crew came to town. Here to feature eight of Buffalo’s eating establishments for his popular show, Fieri also found time to film a pilot for a new television show featuring “ultimate” tailgating.

The crew from Page Productions, who produces “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”, began corresponding with Tucker and Erin Curtin, owners of Lake Effect Diner, in May. The producers were originally interested in Dug’s Dive, a sister restaurant owned by the couple, but decided on the Lake Effect Diner because of the volume and diversity of artisan local foods being processed and served there. The six to eight minute segment will feature preparations of House Cured and Smoked Ham with Red Eye Gravy, House Ground Italian Sausage, and the Italian Haddock Dinner with tomatoes and fresh basil.

“It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to hit the national spotlight,” exclaims Tucker Curtin, who believes that the experience has helped define the establishment and build greater camaraderie amongst his staff members. The staff has been preparing for weeks in anticipation of its television debut. “It is not uncommon to see business increase by 300 % the day after the show airs,” said Jeremy Greene, the on-location producer of the Lake Effect segment. The Curtins are ready though, “The trick here is being as efficient and consistent as ever so that the increase in business won’t just be a flash in the pan,” said Curtin.

A public screening of the “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” featuring Lake Effect Diner will be held at The Steer @ 3151 Main Street (next door to the diner). The Lake Effect segment is to be featured first at 10 p.m. sharp, so be sure to arrive in time to get a good seat! The Steer is a sibling restaurant of the Diner and will offer samples of the food items showcased on the program.


Pictured- Food Network’s Guy Fieri with Tucker & Erin Curtin, owners of Lake Effect Diner, The Steer & Dug’s Dive

September 29, 2009 Apple Fest returns with “Share what you CAN” Food Drive
So make plans to attend the Newest Edition of an Old Tradition! 

This year Niagara Apple Fest has decided to start something new for our community. It is the “Share what you CAN” Food Drive to help replenish our local food pantries. We are asking each person to bring non-perishable food items to the festival and we will donate everything to the Food Bank of WNY. The Food Bank of WNY will then distribute the donations to local food pantries and soup kitchens right here in our community. We have also decided that for every Bag Full of items donated, that person will receive an entry into a drawing for a $100.00 Visa Gift card. We would also like to issue a challenge to all local businesses and organizations to similar incentives and to challenge their employees and members to “Share what they CAN” and donate at Niagara Apple Fest. We will keep a running tally and will announce the top business/organizations following the drive. 

No child should grow up hungry. And together with your help we can make a difference!

Returning to its beautiful countryside roots at the Niagara County fairgrounds at 4487 Lake Road (Route 78) just north of Lockport, on Saturday and Sunday October 3 and 4, 2009. Festivities begin each day at 10:00 AM and will last until 5:00 PM. 

Of course guests will be treated to a bounty of magnificent apple inspired treats. In addition, the planned activities include:
Indoor/outdoor country crafts show
Farm fresh offerings from local area farms with our NYS Certified Farmers Market
Antique Tractor Games - Saturday
Highland Games – Sunday
Paws- over-Niagara Exhibitions – Saturday & Sunday
The best wines from Niagara Region Vineyards
Apple Jam Kidz area Featuring:
Interactive Inflatable Midway
Pony Rides
Petting Zoo
Peddle Tractor Pulls & More..
Live entertainment 
Apple Education, exhibitions’ and demonstrations
This year we will again feature FREE apples with admission (while supplies last) & for the Kiddies FREE pumpkins to paint (while supplies last) along with other surprises for the kids…..
Exhibitors, vendors and other interested parties are encouraged to contact the Apple Fest office immediately!

September 16, 2009 If you a looking for a great family drive in the country that will both entertain the kids and have some great food for everyone - think PUMKINVILLE! Pumkinville is located on 4830 Sugartown Rd. in Great Valley - not far from Ellicottville. They will be open every day from Sept. 19th to Oct. 31st. 

September 15, 2009  Local Restaurant Week September 21-28 Dine out with friends and family in support of your local, independent restaurants, wineries and breweries, and experience incredible savings with dining deals for only $20.09. 

 It only happens twice a year: Local Restaurant Week Fall 2009 spotlights our local harvest, allowing the incredibly talented and dedicated food service professionals of our community to bring you the very best ingredients, dishes, local wines and local beers.

Each night during Local Restaurant Week you have the opportunity to taste, share, save and connect with those who help make Western New York a great place to live.

September 1, 2009 Our backyard tomatoes looked great this year, but I have to say that the flavor was just not there. We grew Early Girl, Big Boy and Sweet 100's, and they tasted like the kind you get in January! No flavor! I don't know what happened. Maybe it was the lack of sunshine, too much water or just not warm enough. Whatever the reason, it was not the best season.

August 26, 2009 Blueberries are being picked now and have been for the past few weeks. We finally got a chance to pick-your-own for the first time last Thursday! We didn't have a whole lot of time so we looked for a place not too far from us. We found a wonderful spot in North Collins - Awald Farms - . It was a quick trip and the picking was great! We only spent about an hour picking and between the two us, we accumulated about 9 lbs. of berries. Most we froze and some have already made been made into delicious blueberry muffins.

On the way back we made a stop at Braymiller's Market located just before Hamburg if you a heading north. They always have fresh produce right from the local farms. In fact, we saw a Braymiller truck making a pick-up at Awald Farms when we were there.  

  In the news: To open in Oct. - Moe's Southwestern Grill in the Delaware Consumer Square on Delaware.

                       To open soon - Captain Jack's Fish & Chips - takeout seafood at 1066 Elmwood near Bird.

August 24, 2009 I usually like to keep the food news to Western NY, but we spent a few days last week in Watertown and Sackets Harbor and I have to mention a restaurant we went to - Tin Pan Galley at 110 W. Main St. It was really great. We ate outside on the patio, met with friends, had fantastic food and were entertained by Ferguson and Taylor. If you are up visiting in the 1000 Islands it is definitely a place to check out!.

Aug 6, 2009  After a long wait, Juniper--a new and highly anticipated restaurant located on Elmwood Avenue-- will open its doors this Friday, August 7th. Co-owned by Lindsay Malinowski and Kate Elliott, Juniper strives to serve a well-prepared and thoughtful menu that incorporates Chef Elliot's passion for fresh, local ingredients. 

This neighborhood-oriented restaurant seeks to serve families, couples and individuals with both its simple, contemporary menu and very unique space--a two floor, brightly colored building augmented by a full wall of windows and lovingly restored architectural elements.

Juniper will serve lunch, dinner and brunch on Sunday. A menu as well as photos can be found on the Juniper website at: juniperelmwood.com

Juniper
810 Elmwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14222
716.885.5239

July 24,2009               BRINGING HOME THE BACON 

Lake Effect Diner in Buffalo, New York (3165 Main St., 716-833-1952) has debuted a new menu.(pdf) Yes, there is bacon, but it isn’t the bacon you’re used to. The bacon here arrives as a meaty raw pork belly. It is cured with kosher salt and local maple sugar for 3-4 days. It is slow cold smoked for six hours over mesquite lump charcoal with apple and hickory wood smoke. The bacon is then cooled, sliced thick, fried and served. It is everything bacon should be, and nothing that it shouldn’t.

In a year long effort, the staff of Lake Effect has researched all of the food served, and developed the techniques to consistently process almost everything in-house. The Lake Effect was not satisfied with the flavor profile, quality, price and overall wholesomeness of the products available to them. They applied a Six Sigma approach to controlling commodities from the time they entered the restaurant. New storage methods were implemented not only to improve freshness and efficiency, but also to improve overall yield of raw product from 75% to 90%. This opened the door to further research and development of new and improved processed in house products as well as the sourcing of local hormone free products whenever possible.

LED now uses Eggland’s Best eggs provided by Kreher Farms of Clarence. The Fried Chicken is gluten free, hormone free and delivered fresh from Wendel Poultry Farm of East Concord N.Y. Wendel also provides LED’s Maple syrups and sugars. The Lake Effect starts taking delivery of whole, local, hormone free, USDA-inspected beef and pork in early August and will continue to work with local bakeries, cheese producers and fine purveyors.

LED currently grinds its own Italian, pork and turkey breakfast sausage, and cures and roasts peameal bacon and corned beef, cures and smokes American bacon, hams and turkeys. The beef and the vegetable burgers are even ground fresh in house. These labor intensive processes have increased payroll, but the food costs have been reduced due to the bringing in of commodities in their purest unprocessed form. The processing jobs are now here in Buffalo rather than somewhere else. In Addition, Lake Effect over the last few months has provided a large proportion of processed food to both of her sister restaurants- The Steer and Dug’s Dive. Two years ago the Lake Effect closed for six weeks after a five year 24/7 run. Since that time, LED has gone from mediocrity to excellence, managed its assets not only for itself, but for other family restaurant operations and will continue to build its niche offering access to serving the best available. 

There is currently a strong local movement to bring farmers together with restaurant operators through bypassing the few major meat processors, and passing the savings and nourishment directly to the consumer. Without the efforts of Christa Glennie Seychew of FieldandForkNetwork.com, the internet and efforts by both private and public entities, LED would not have been able to implement such an aggressive program so easily.

The Curtin Family of Restaurants
The Steer ∙ Dug’s Dive ∙ The Lake Effect Diner
Buffalo, New York

Note:  The Lake Effect Diner, 3165 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14214-1310,  (716) 833-1952
          The Steer, 3151 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214, (716) 838-0478
          Dug's Dive, 1111 Fuhrmann Blvd, Buffalo, NY 14203-3133, (716) 821-9600

July 23,2009
                           Feed Your Soul's 2009 Farm Tours 
                      Foodie-to-Farm: Sunday, September 13th
                      Chef-to-Farm: Monday, September 14th
                                       9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
                    $55 for an all day excursion, includes lunch
                              www.FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com

Last year’s Chef-to-Farm event was a sold out success, receiving coverage in local papers and magazines, and introducing some of Buffalo’s best chefs to local farmers. This year, Feed Your Soul has developed two tours, one for everyday people (Foodie-to-Farm) and a second annual Chef-to-Farm tour. Tickets for this event can be purchased online. Visit www.FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com for details.

Foodie-to-Farm: Sunday, September 13th 9am – 5pm
Departing from North Buffalo, this tour showcases some of the best agricultural endeavors in Niagara County.

We’ll stop at T-Meadow Farm to meet Farmer Rich Tilyou, who is raising heritage breed hogs on pasture. From there we’ll go on to Arrowhead Spring Vineyards to meet Robin & Duncan, the palates behind some of the best wine in our region. They’ll walk us through their organic vineyards and treat us to barrel sampling. The next stop is Old Fort Niagara for a late lunch featuring local produce, prepared by the notable Chef Carmelo Raimondi of Carmelo’s in Lewiston. After a little rest and relaxation, it’s off to Tom Tower’s Farm for a field walk with Mr. Tower, a talented and charismatic farmer whose family has been farming in our area since the early 1800s. Mr. Tower’s produce is prized by many of our area’s top chefs. Guests will return home well-fed, having met some of our region’s greatest farmers and better understanding WNY’s agricultural bounty.


This tour is sponsored by Edible Buffalo. Tickets are $55 per person for a day-long excursion which includes: transportation, a delicious lunch, informational packet and tours guided by the farmers themselves. Order them by following this link or by visiting FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com.

Foodie-to-Farm is a rain or shine event, so please dress appropriately. Guests are required to sign a waiver before boarding the bus, a copy of which can be found at FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com

Chef-to-Farm   Monday, September 14th 9am – 5pm

Featured in Artvoice and The Buffalo News, last year’s Chef-to-Farm tour sold out quickly. This year’s tour for chefs, culinary students, and other food industry professionals is sure to be just as popular. Focusing on Niagara County, chefs will be picked up in North Buffalo and will head directly to T-Meadow Farm where heritage breed hogs are raised. Here we’ll discuss the value of such breeds, the benefits of raising ‘on pasture’, and the ‘finishing’ process. Our next stop is a vineyard walk at Arrowhead Spring Vineyards, one of the only WNY vintners producing restaurant-quality wine. Their bio-dynamic methodology is sure to impress, as is the barrel tasting. Lunch with Chef Carmelo Raimondi (owner of Carmelo’s, one of Niagara County’s finest restaurants) will take place at historical Fort Niagara and will feature local produce. Finally, on to Tom Tower’s Farm for a field walk. Tom is a graduate of Cornell, and understands the unique history and composition of the Niagara region’s soil. His family has been farming in our area since the early 1800s, and his produce is sought after by chefs like Mark Hutchinson, Carmelo Raimondi and Paul Jenkins.

This tour is sponsored by Field & Fork Network, the organization that brings you the Annual Farmer-Chef Conference. Tickets are $55 per person for this day-long excursion, and include the opportunity to meet other chefs, an educational tour of local farms and an informational packet. Order them by following this link or by visiting FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com.

Chef-to-Farm is a rain or shine event, so please dress appropriately. Guests are required to sign a waiver before boarding the bus, a copy of which can be found on FeedYourSoulBuffalo.com

July 14, 2009 Lawn Fetes are a very big part of life in Western NY. Many of them have chicken BBQ and often the deserts are homemade. Some of them still make their own chowder. Usually you need to get there early for the chowder because it is often sold by bulk for people to take home and enjoy or to freeze for another day. [ Food Events ] If you know of any other food events, please let me know,  Contact us

June 10, 2009 Announcing Buffalo’s Exciting New Summer Event- Nickel City Chef

What: Head-to-head chef cooking battle
Where: Artisan Kitchens & Baths, 200 Amherst Street, Buffalo NY
When: Kick-off June 21st, 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (once a month throughout the summer)
How much: $20 per person includes a free drink from the bar and catered snacks

On Friday, June 12th, tickets go on sale for Nickel City Chef, and seating is limited!

You’ve seen them on TV, now you can experience the energy and excitement of a professional cooking competition in person! Nickel City Chef is Western New York’s premier live cooking competition and features top chefs from our region, local ingredients and feisty challengers.

During each of the four summertime competitions, one of our Nickel City Chefs will be challenged by a qualified contender in a culinary fete featuring ingredients grown and raised right here in Western New York. The two chefs and their assistants will strive to complete technically perfect, innovative dishes showcasing a secret ingredient. A panel of three foodie and celebrity judges rate each dish based on the skill, flavor and the creativity demonstrated in each dish.

All of the action happens in one of Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, a fully restored turn-of-the-century warehouse on Buffalo’s emerging West Side. This former stove factory is now home to Artisan Kitchens and Baths, Western New York’s leading high-end appliance retailer. This gorgeous and historic space is completely outfitted with two side-by-side competition-worthy kitchens.

At each event, a live audience will watch the contest unfold live while enjoying drinks and catered snacks. Their ability to enjoy the event will be enhanced by the flat screen televisions throughout the venue airing live up-close footage of the cooking action. Additionally, the audience members’ opinions count toward the final judging tally.

While the outside world may tend to think that Buffalo has little to offer culinarily outside of wings and beef on ‘weck, Buffalonians know they’re wrong. We have skilled chefs and kitchen daredevils waiting to show the world what they can do in just under an hour!

The first Nickel City Chef pits the venerable Chef Krista Van Wagner of Curly’s against a qualified competitor (TBA on June 10th). The showdown begins at 3pm on Sunday, June 21st. Other Nickel City Chefs include Chef JJ Richert of Torches, Chef Paul Jenkins of Tempo and Chef Adam Goetz of Sample.

More information regarding the 2009 season of Nickel City Chef can be found online at NickelCityChef.com. For specific inquiries, please contact founder and producer Christa Glennie Seychew of Feed Your Soul at 716.812.1615 or via email at NickelCityChef@gmail.com.

June 6, 2009 The desire to pick your own fruit or vegetables often crosses our mind during the local growing season, but usually that desire is met with the reality of what, where and when. A recent article in the Buffalo News has answered some of those questions. Here is a link to that article by By Andrew Z. Galarneau NEWS FOOD WRITER, from 6/4/2009
    http://www.buffalonews.com/185/story/691090.html

We wanted to pick some strawberries this weekend but the places we called said to call back in another week or two. 

If you know of any other places where you can pick-your-own please let me know and I will list them.

May 22, 2009  Kenmore, New York  -The Kenmore Farmers Market is getting ready to open once again! The '09 season is set to get under way on Saturday June 13th at 8a! 
     In the mean time, this Monday, during the Ken-Ton Memorial Day Parade you can get a "preview" of what the market will be offering this summer......
     TWO local growers will have lots of beautiful annuals and perennials along with hanging baskets for all your Memorial Day gardening!
     Market favorites, Sweet Beginnings, Pasta Temptations, Cookie Lee and Chateau Buffalo will be back Monday, as well as regularly throughout the season.
     NEW additions to the market like Urban Roots Community Garden Center, Lewiston's Jams and Jellies will also be a part of Monday's line up!
     Once the market gets going in June and July, you can expect these great vendors PLUS the addition of more local farmers who will bring more choices and selection of the flowers, fruits and vegetables you are looking for!
     Add community tables, local artisans, music on occasion, all your neighbors, and the market is the ONLY place to be on Saturday mornings! 
     Get excited and visit the market this Monday on the lawn of the Municipal building between 10:30 - 1pm!

April 24,2009  Swormville, New York - The American Legion Alfred J. Jurek Post #1672 will host a Mother's Day Pancake Breakfast on Sunday May 10th from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The American Legion Post is located at the intersection of Smith and New Roads in Swormville. 

The hearty breakfast features pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. As an added feature, each mother will receive a red carnation in honor of her special day. Tickets are available at the door. The price of $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children makes this a very family-friendly and affordable way to pamper mom, while supporting the work of the A.J. Jurek Post.

Treat Mom to a day off from cooking and follow the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes for a delicious breakfast with family and friends.

April 3,2009        EASTER BASKET BLESSING AT CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH 
     Buffalo, New York – On Holy Saturday, April 11, Corpus Christi Church will offer the traditional Blessing of the Easter Baskets from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Baskets will be blessed every 15 minutes. The historic church is located at 199 Clark Street, just one block from the Broadway Market. 
     Blessing of the Baskets is one of the most beloved and enduring Polish traditions in preparation for Easter. Families bring decorated baskets of specially chosen and prepared foods to church to be blessed. These foods will then be eaten on Easter morning.
     Each food has a symbolic meaning. The ham, sausage or other meat is a sign of abundance and the end of the Lenten penance. The hardboiled eggs represent the tomb and new life. Butter lambs remind us that Christ is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for mankind’s sins. Salt is included because it is necessary to sustain life. Horseradish signifies the bitter passion of Christ, while a special rye bread symbolizes Christ as the bread of life. Many families also include pastries, chocolates and other favorite foods in their baskets. 
     On Holy Saturday, Corpus Christi also provides an oasis of calm amid the hustle and bustle of Easter preparations. The beautiful and serene sanctuary will be open for prayer and contemplation, or to simply light a candle for a special intention. 
     Corpus Christi is a New York State Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church is also renowned for its magnificent display during the Easter Season. All are invited to attend. 
For a full listing of Holy Week services and devotions, visit the website at www.CorpusChristiBuffalo.org or call 716-896-1050

March 26,2009  Broadway Market gears up for this weekend’s Easter inspired events 
The Easter Bunny will make its arrival along with a Peep-Eating Contest 

BUFFALO, NY – The Broadway Market, a longstanding landmark of the City of Buffalo will hold Kid’s Day at the Market this coming Saturday, March 28th. 

Saturday at noon, everyone’s favorite rabbit will make its debut at the Market. Children and families will have the opportunity to have their photo taken on the Easter Bunny Deck, donated by Superior Decks & Gazebos, located in Angola. The Market will raffle off the deck at the end of the Easter season to benefit future Market activities. 

The afternoon will continue with entertainment provided by City Side Band, which will play on the main stage of the Market from 12:30-2:00 p.m. The City Side Band has been one of Buffalo's Most Popular Polka bands for almost 25 years. Polish American Folk Music and polkas are their specialty. 
At 2:00 p.m., The Broadway Market will host its first annual “Peep-Off.” Marshmallow Peep enthusiasts will battle each other to see who can eat the most Marshmallow Peeps in sixty seconds. There are separate contests for big peeps and little peeps! Interested participants can register at the Easter Bunny Deck on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. or email Jeannie Wolf, Event Coordinator at jwolf@eventelements.net. 

Established in 1888, the Broadway Market originally served the thousands of Eastern European immigrants who populated the city’s Eastside. Although the Market site has undergone-numerous changes over time, three different physical structures in fact, the old-fashioned concept of selling farm fish, exotic and unusual products here has remained unchanged since the Market’s inception. Famed for its eclectic urban atmosphere, the Broadway Market’s fresh food merchant base is comprised of family-owned, family operated butcher shops, poultry stands, fruit/vegetable stands and bakeries. The Broadway Market offers free secure, sheltered parking.

For more information about the Broadway Market, please visit http://broadwaymarket.org/.

March 20,2009 GUSTO - Buffalo News has a special article all about WNY Restaurant week. Here is a link to the entire article! http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/dining/story/613635.html

March 18,2009 Special offer through WKBW.com. "WNY Restaurant Week at Super Saving on 7!"

WKBW & some of Buffalo's best restaurants have partnered together to bring you a special restaurant week pricing for $20.09 in honor of WNY Restaurant Week.  This week only you are can purchase $50 worth of gift certificates for $20.09! You are also encouraged to visit these restaurants and others this week as they are offering special discount deals for only $20.09! For a complete list click or log on to www.localrestaurantweek.com.

Starting Tuesday, March 24th at 10am we'll showcase many area restaurants that are participating in WNY Restaurant Week, but you have to be fast- we are only able to provide a limited number of gift certificates.

Have fun and Happy shopping! And keep checking back for more half-off certificates on WKBW.com!

March 11, 2009 Press Release: Celebrate the Beginning of the Easter Shopping Season
Enjoy an evening in the Old Town Square. Sample Polish vodka and beer, try some authentic fare and dig the cool vibe of Eastern Europe. Friday, March 20, 2009 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
The Broadway Market, 999 Broadway, Buffalo, New York 14212 716-893-0705
http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Invitation.aspx?i=1f1a9a7f-a037-4a6a-941a-bd3670423fb1

March 5, 2009 Press Release: New Chef Breathes Life into the Menu at The Stillwater

     Although The Stillwater is well-recognized for its cocktails, pints and hip bar crowd, there’s no doubt that it will soon be appreciated for its culinary chops.
     Recently, Chef Devin Jones signed on as The Stillwater’s Executive Chef, offering up a new menu featuring delicious takes on classic dishes. Duck confit makes an appearance on the appetizer menu, served with caramelized onion strudel and an apple gastrique. A dijon encrusted rack of lamb finds its place amongst a variety of entrees, augmented by a serving of crisp hand-rolled gnocchi, wild mushrooms, baby arugula and white truffle cream.
     Jones has worked in a variety of Buffalo kitchens since earning his degree from the culinary program at Mercyhurst College in Northern Pennsylvania. He most recently served as Chef de Cuisine at O’Connell’s American Bistro in Kenmore, NY, where Buffalo Spree magazine awarded him for his use of local produce. 
     Chef Jones is looking forward to providing The Stillwater’s clientele with an elegant dining experience. “I believe that the people in this city like to see a certain amount of creativity [on a menu]. I think that as long as a chef can put a perfectly cooked meal in front of his guests in a reasonable amount of time, that we can make our guests happy. That’s really what people care about in this city--quantity, quality, and time.”
     Open seven nights a week for dinner, Monday through Friday for lunch, and Sundays for brunch service, The Stillwater provides guests a unique dining experience with its remarkable décor, tasty, modern menu and excellent service. A nice way to experience The Stillwater firsthand is to stop in and sample their new prix fixe (fixed price) lunch menu, which allows guests to order two courses for only $15. 

The Stillwater
481 Delaware Ave
Buffalo , NY 14202
(716) 884-9283
http://www.thestillwater.com

January 22, 2009 I have started to update the restaurant listings and have completed the "A" section. If there are any that should be there. let me know and I will add them. Also, if any have web addresses that I have not linked, please let me know. Let your restaurant friends know that there is no charge for listing and links. If they don't have a web page and would like one free for a year tell them about me. There are no contracts to sign. Best wishes. Ed  [Contact me]

January 9, 2009    This announcement just came in from Christa Seychew

Field and Fork Network's first annual Farmer-Chef Conference will be held on Monday, February 23rd at Byrncliff Resort & Conference Center.

Our daylong conference will offer Western New York's chefs and other food industry professionals the opportunity to network with local farmers and artisan food producers. Our key note speaker will offer advice and inspiration to chefs and farmers alike, and a lunch featuring local products will typify the bounty that Western New York agriculture has to offer (even in mid-February). During the conference, chefs and farmers will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops together that will further their understanding of the local food movement, its promising future, and their place in it.

To register for the conference, please visit our website at http://www.fieldandforknetwork.com and click on the conference page for registration forms and more information. The fee for the conference and lunch is $50 per person. City chefs also have the option of utilizing the Chef Shuttle for transportation for an additional $20. You can download the appropriate form (there is one for chefs, farmers and also for "other" food industry professionals), fill it out and send it to the address noted along with the conference registration fee. Space is limited so we recommend you register as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us via email or phone with any questions.

Best Regards,

Christa Glennie Seychew
Co-Founder, Field & Fork Network
716.812.1615

January 8, 2009 I am preparing the Food Events Calendar for the upcoming year. Please let me know if your group is planning any, and I will be glad to include it. It doesn't have to be just about food, just if food will be offered at the event. We have such a diverse cultural heritage in WNY that sampling food at these events is like traveling around the world. What's great too is that the food is locally made and was someone's parent's or grandparent's recipe!  Contact us

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