Local Restaurant Week

Another week is upon us and what better way to start your Monday than knowing Local Restaurant Week is back. From October 21 thru the 27th you can enjoy great meals at local restaurants for $20.13. Many locally owned restaurants participate in this week and offer special meals for a great price. Its a great way for them to showcase items one may not think to try if they were dining out on leisurely time.

For a list of restaurants participating this week and for a list of what they're offering you can find out here.

Some places I've never been and am considering trying out are Tappo, The Oakk Room and Orchid Asian. Which restaurants are on your list to check out?

-B  

Don't forget its a great time to support independent owners.

{ Buffalo links }

 

Buffalo Links to take a look at this week:

1. An event for the ladies - hosted by Kaleida Health, enjoy a Night of Indulgence

2. All of us have had or probably know someone who has been to Hospice, Friday they celebrate their Harvest Festival - if you enjoy wine you'll enjoy this event

3. Halloween is approaching quickly and with that come Halloween parties like the Knights of St. John's on Saturday - Halloween Dance

4. Being in Ellicottville this past weekend made me really get into the "Fall" season. They have great places to shop and eat. One of my favorite stores was Kazoo II

5. I was so happy when I saw this article online and found out Gabby from After 5 Events had a hand in the couples special day! Congrats pretty lady!

6. Swirls in East Aurora is amazing!!! Congrats to Mike on creating a great café for anyone to enjoy!

7. Just another pair of shoes I'm obsessed with by Bella Belle Shoes, who by the way make their shoes locally here in Buffalo. You can purchase these online or get them at Ooo La La Boutique

8. The Buffalo News had a good article on the Fort Erie Race Track Tuesday. Since being around for 116 years the track had its last race of the season Tuesday and hope it will be around for years to come.

The Lodge

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the unveiling gala for one of downtown's newest and in my opinion, one of the best restaurants and bars on Chippewa - The Lodge. Bringing what feels like a touch of Ellicottville to the city of Buffalo, The Lodge is all class and no trash. Two levels with three different spaces all tying in with one another to create this ski lodge glow that embraces the Buffalo area for who we are. Antler chandeliers, tree mirages, a lounge area with fireplace, game room, Artic area and so much more, make this the finest venue I have ever seen on Chippewa.

What's that you say? You have a private function, like a bachelorette or cocktail party and don't know where to have it? The Lodge has you covered, having private areas that can accommodate up to 125 people.

And don't let me forget about the food, lettuce wraps, shrimp cocktail, veggie and fish tacos, venison, S'mores and so much more... the food was A-MAZ-ING, and I mean A-MAZ-ING!  So many options are offered that even the pickiest of eaters will be able to find something to please their taste buds. All thanks to the Head Chef, Fortune Macri.

The inspiration behind it; Peter Altholz and a bar in Florida.

The Lodge truly embraces the Buffalo area for what it is and where it is going. Everyone behind this project from the beginning and moving forward should be proud to bring one of the finest restaurants to the Chippewa District.

I was honored and excited to be able to cover the Unveiling Gala last week and to receive a tour from the General Manager Joe, the staff is friendly, the atmosphere is great and I had a great time out with my friends. With so many options, The Lodge is sure to please "Buffalonians."

"Like" The Lodge on their Facebook page to stay up to date on all the exciting things they have coming up.

The Lodge on Facebook

79 West Chippewa St. Buffalo NY 14202

-B

{ A special thank you to Annalise for letting me take part in this great addition to downtown Buffalo}

{ The Entrance Way }

{ Live Entertainment }

{ Downstairs Bar Area }

{ My lovely friend Kate striking a pose by the beautiful lounge area that has a fireplace }

{ Beautiful art work hangs from the walls leading to the 2nd level }

{ Upon walking up to the 2nd level you walk into the game area, featuring a pool table, ski ball (where you can win drink and food tickets), air hockey, old school TV's playing old cartoons and much more }

{ Two thumbs up for ski ball }

{ The balcony overlooking downstairs }

{ The Artic Area }

{ Private area that can be used for meetings, parties, etc. }

{ The 2nd level }

{ Shrimp Cocktail, Lettuce Wraps and more }

{ Its official, press passes! }

{ Great ladies night out }

{ The guy behind this one of a kind venue - Peter Atholz }

{ The creative crew who did everything from the lighting, carpentry, design and layout to the food }

Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin

If you're like me you may have heard and even seen food trucks throughout Buffalo, but have not had a chance to taste all the foods these trucks have to offer. That all changed this summer when Harry Zemsky thought of an awesome idea to host Food Truck Tuesdays at Larkin Square.

While I have been down to "Larkinville" a variety of times, I haven't been there on a Tuesday night, so last week my Mom and I went to Food Truck Tuesdays. We of course stopped and paid a visit to my friends at the Ooo La La Fashion Truck and then made are rounds. With a packed house of people and over 10 food trucks it was overwhelming to chose who to go to. Mind you I've only every had a gourmet hot dog from the famous Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs truck so deciding who to go to was a hard decision. Do I try the famous and ever so popular Lloyds? Or do I go with a truck I never heard of before? Decisions, decisions. Eventually I decided on Mac n' Cheese and my Mom chose a sandwich from Square 1 Sandwiches.

With food trucks taking Buffalo by storm over the last few years this is a great place to go and check out what's to offer. Each week there is a different line up of food trucks that stop down and serve you up what they have to offer. Bands are on hand playing live music, colorful patio furniture is on hand for you to relax in (or you can opt to bring a blanket or your own chair to sit in), the tennis courts are on hand for people to play on and hula hoops are available for kids.

Food Truck Tuesdays has been such a hit that food trucks from Rochester have been making special guest appearances the last few weeks and with such positive feedback you can be sure to see this carry into the early stages of fall and go out with a big bang in October.

Food Truck Tuesdays takes place every Tuesday (rain or shine) from 5-8pm.

-B

{ Larkin Square Food Truck Tuesdays Facebook }

{ Buffalo Food Truck Directory }

{ Another busy night at Food Truck Tuesdays }

{ The lucky food truck I chose }

{ Cute presentation - Mac n' Cheese in a Chinese container }

{ Still my favorite food truck - Franks Gourmet Hot Dogs }

{ Just hanging out on some fun patio furniture }

My New Favorite Spot on Elmwood

Last Friday, I had frozen yogurt for the first time. After are awesome workout at Bike or Bar, Amanda and I headed over to White Rabbit on Elmwood to catch up and enjoy a little sweet treat. I didn't know what to expect, but when you walk in you get to combine your own flavors and toppings. The fun, bright colors put you in a great mood and the end result is delicious. Check it out some time!

-B

{ Peanut Butter, Vanilla, Rainbow Sprinkles, Strawberries & Chocolate Shavings }

{ So Good }

Bertha's Diner

One great thing about Hertel Avenue is a little place called Bertha's Diner. Filled with the 1950's style and a friendly staff, they are home to classic American foods and Buffalo favorites. Open at the early hour of 6am, the diner brings in a crowd. If you happen to make a visit make sure to bring cash because that's the only form of payment they accept. -B

Bertha's on Facebook

Root 5

An area of Western New York I don't get to visit very often are the restaurants on Route 5 and Lakeshore Blvd. This past weekend I was happy to have made plans to visit that neck of the woods. My friend Annette and I had a nice lunch at a place called Root 5 located right on the water it's a great place to visit for an afternoon lunch. Here are pictures from my afternoon.

-B

:: My half eaten steak taco, it was delicious and served with a side of tortilla chips and homemade salsa ::

:: After lunch we made a pit stop at the private Hamburg Beach (you have to be a Hamburg Resident and have a permit on your vehicle to go to this beach) ::

:: Permit or not, that didn't stop Annette and I from stopping to take some pictures and enjoy the scenery ::

SoHo Burger Bar

:: After a busy Saturday, it was nice to enjoy an adult beverage on the patio of one of the nicest places on Chippewa, SoHo Burger Bar ::

:: Known for their custom burgers, I opted to go the healthy route with the Grilled Chicken and Strawberries Salad ::

:: Amanda got the Classic Caeser Salad with Shrimp ::

:: A nice relaxing night out, with Just a Blonde in Buffalo ::

Tao

:: Tao Restaurant in Orchard Park ::

:: Yummy Soup to start off with ::

:: Delicious Sushi (Happy Hour prices are from 4-6:30pm) Only $3 sushi! ::

:: Cooking Demo's ::

:: Love this water wall ::

:: A little fire ::

:: Chicken Hibachi ::

Cocktails on the Lawn

A few times throughout the summer you have the opportunity to enjoy refreshing cocktails, delicious appetizers and live music on the lawn outside the Mansion on Delaware's patio. Usually closed off to guests only, this cocktails on the lawn event is a nice treat for people who want to enjoy a nice happy hour outside in Buffalo. There are a couple more dates to enjoy cocktails on the lawn, keep up to date here.

-B

Sweet Potato Chips

The other day I came across this recipe for Sweet Potato chips, while its very similar to Sweet Potato Fries I thought I would give it a try.

1. Grab a sweet potato, thinly slice the potato.

2. In a heated frying pan with canola oil or you can substitute with a cooking spray, add the potato slices

3. Fry each side for two to three minutes

4. Serve in a bowl, top with salt and honey if you'd like.

Try and make for an upcoming party. Easy and Delicious.

-B

Up North

Lewiston, NY is one of the most beautiful places in the Western New York area. While I don't get to visit there as much as I would like to, it was nice to meet a friend and catch up by the water. With the nice weather I am looking forward to more visits up there this summer.

-B

:: Lewiston Landing ::

:: Strawberry milkshake from the Silo ::

:: What a beautiful vies, so relaxing and peaceful ::

:: The Silo - Man vs. Food paid a visit in 2010 ::

:: Boats ::

:: Just hanging out ::

Amigo's

Located in Kenmore Amigos is fancier than I expected it to be. Upon walking in to the building on one side is the bar area, which is quite spacious and on the other side is the restaurant with large booths for privacy. The decor is sleek, the food is fresh and the staff is friendly.

-B

Barbecue. Mac n' Cheese. Happy Hour. Allentown.

Last week one of my best friends was in town so we all gathered at a well-known place in Allentown for happy hour... Fat Bob's Smokehouse. While we were there we grabbed some of their delicious mac n' cheese and pulled pork sandwiches.

Fat Bob's is popularly known among I'd say the 20 - 40 years old's in Western New York. If you've never been try and make it a pit stop for lunch or dinner one time when you're out. If you can't make it to the Allentown area, they offer catering, (just an idea for an upcoming summer event, like a Graduation Party or Family Picnic). If you do however go to the restaurant, you'll enjoy it, and if not, the decor and fish tank are pretty nice to look at.

-B

Fat Bob's on Facebook

Fat Bob's on Twitter

CRAVing Buffalo on Hertel

Nothing beats great outdoor dining on a nice day. CRAVE is the newest restaurant that has opened on Hertel Ave. Delicious array of food, great scenery, friendly and personable staff (our waitress was awesome) and reasonable prices. Check them out!

-B

CRAVing Buffalo on Twitter

A Taste of BBQ

Last week I had a "catch up" dinner with my friend Kate at her family's restaurant Al- E- Oops. It sits on the corner of Harris Hill and Genesee St. in Lancaster, NY. Known for there barbecue, I decided to try the pulled pork sandwich over the ribs. It was delicious, along with the cornbread (which was my first time having). Kate's Grandmother - who is the owner, comes in every morning to make the bread. That's what being a good business owner is all about, making quality food for the customers, caring about the product. The restaurant is a nice family style place. On a nice day you can sit outside on the patio and enjoy the fresh air and quality time with the people you love. Make sure to check it out sometime this summer. If you love barbecue you'll enjoy this place.

Al-E-Oops on Facebook

Al-E-Oops on Twitter

-B

A Taste of South Buffalo

A few weeks ago at our CrosSpin class my friend Dana was talking to Amanda and I about this little "hole in the wall" tavern in South Buffalo who has the best chicken wings in Buffalo. Amanda and I didn't really get what all the hype was about until Saturday when we and 4 other of our friends went to the Nine Eleven Tavern on Bloomfield St in Buffalo.

We let Dana take charge and she ordered the "famous" Chicken Wings, French fries and Pizza Logs for all of us to try. The French fries (which are also a popular item to order there) were yummy. The pizza logs were just like any other pizza logs you may have had and then finally, the chicken wings (medium to order) came out and they were delicious!! They were crispy, but yet saucy and had a little spice to them, making them overall very tasty.

Keep in mind the tavern is small - if you plan to make a visit you may want to go for an early dinner or a late lunch as they do have limited seating in the dining area, but if you're more of a sit at the bar type of person you can eat there as well.

If you're a chicken wing connoisseur make a stop to the Nine Eleven Tavern and let me know what you think of the wings, I'd love to know.

-B

In the Village

A couple weeks ago Western New York Restaurants participated in Local Restaurant Week. Its one of my favorite weeks because you can hit up restaurants you've never been before and get amazing food for a great deal. Whats even more great is that its local restaurants that participate, so you're supporting local business. A few friends and myself hit up Trattoria Aroma on Bryant Street in the Village of Elmwood. Everything from the appetizers to the drinks and dessert were delicious and our waiter was great, not to mention the scenery around the restaurant was nice. Check out the photos below.

The Aroma Group

-B

A Touch of Mediterranean

Located at 929 Elmwood Avenue Mezza Restaurant and Lounge is known for the delicious Mediterranean dishes and Hookah. This week is Restaurant Week in WNY (a variety of local restaurants offer special dishes for only $20.13). For a complete list of the restaurants participating click here.

Since it was a beautiful day out yesterday, my friend Annette and I had a couple drinks and dinner on the patio. It was nice to have the sunshine out and watch the activity going on, on Elmwood. While I've been to Mezza before it was my first time ever having rice pudding and I must say it was delicious! If you're looking for a change stop by Mezza and check them out.

-B

Beer & Science

Saturday night, the Buffalo Museum of Science hosted the fairly new event, Beerology. With a sold out crowd, over 500 people were in attendance to enjoy a variety of different beers, sample food, listen to music from DJ LoPro and walk around the exhibits in the Science Museum. They also offered an opportunity to win prizes if you tweeted during the event. It was an overall fun night out.

Food trucks Frank's Gourmet Hot Dogs and Sweet Hearth were on hand outside the building for guests to enjoy some one-of-a-kind eats before or after the event.

It was a night of firsts for me; It was my first time attending this event and it was great! I especially enjoyed the Blueberry Beer from Ellicottville Brewing Company and the Rasberry Beer from Harpoon. I have no complaints and overall is was enjoyable and unique. It was also my first time ever having food from a food truck in Buffalo and I was impressed with how good my food tasted.

I highly recommend you try a hot dog from Franks or grab some dessert from Sweet Hearth the next time you see them on the streets. Its cheap, delicious and you're supporting local business.

-B

More info:

• Buffalo Museum of Science on Facebook
• Buffalo Museum of Science on Twitter
• Franks Gourmet Hot Dogs on Twitter  
• Franks on Instagram: FranksGourmetHotDogs
• Sweet Hearth on Facebook
• Sweet Hearth on Twitter