Favorite Meals of 2013
Photo source: BlogTO.com
Over the last two years we have sat down with 106 different people to record 103 episodes of our podcast, Eat It Up. Simply put, it’s been amazing. We’ve made new friends, heard great stories, gained new insights into the restaurant world and have been inspired to make Buffalo Eats even better. LThis year we asked all 106 guests from both years and got 75 responses. Some of our guests sent us 30 words and others sent 800.
Rachel Fix Dominguez (Writer for Buffalo Spree). My best meal in 2013 was not a meal at all. I furtively scarfed bites of food cooked by some of Buffalo’s finest chefs while working at Big Fuss 3.0. Why was this non-meal the highlight of my year? Because for me, food is also about community. And there is no finer example of the local food community pulling together than this annual farm fundraiser.
Cam Rector (owner of Vera Pizzeria. OK, I’m going to have to hit up my brothers up north. Not because they have been giving team at Vera so much props, but because of the one thing they have that the US needs: Horse!
On a trip up to Toronto in May, Ivy Knight hooked me up with Chef Grant van Gameren, at his newly opened Bar Isabel. A beautiful basque/Spanish restaurant on College St. Knowing that he had left The Black Hoof to open this place, I knew meat was the order of the day. I saw the usual list of house cured meats, grilled/smoked fish, and regional game but what I didn’t expect to see was Horse. Its not offered in the states (yet), and I had only read about it in books. Horse Carpaccio house bread read the menu. Ok got me. I will eat anything once (OK, maybe twice) and this was a mind, scratch that, life fuck. I love horses. I ride them, I cherish them, hell I used to own one. CAN I EAT ONE? Knowingly? Ordered! Boom! Man up, own it.
Asking a few questions to my barman, I was told that these horses were breed for slaughter. This isn’t your “Oh Blackies sick, Lets grind him up and eat him” deal. Its an organic ranch, breeding horse for consumption as humanly and pure as possible. We in the states don’t eat dairy cows, our draft cattle, or breeding cattle. We eat beef cows. Cows breed and raised for slaughter. Same with Horses. This isn’t Sally pulling your cart. Not Hoof Hearted running the track. Not Atrieu drowning in the Swamp of Sorrows. Never riden, never broken. Free range all the way. Okay, I can deal with that.How does it Taste? AMAZING! Think beef carpaccio on 11. The most flavorful lean bison consistency, minus the game flavor, times the meat flavor. Is that an equation? Horse at every meal is my Motto now. Wish I could.
Thomas Jablonski (Business Manager of Lockhouse Distillery). My favorite meal of 2013 was the local organic freekeh salad at Bistro Europa with shaved fennel, red onion, apple, and toasted curry. I’m not a vegetarian or vegan, but I decided this year put an effort into not eating like a college student. I was blown away that something lacking animal fat could be so delicious, and Gedra is obviously a genius.
Jason Draper (A Thirsty Dude). My favorite meal of 2013 contained a greater quantity of food than I normally consume in several days. It took place at the Chicago Diner in…well Chicago. They recently opened up their second location and they serve only vegan/vegetarian fare.
I started my meal off with BBQ seitan wings that were dripping with sauce (I’m from Buffalo, isn’t everything supposed to be soggy with sauce?) Next came a garlic ginger kale (I had to sneak something healthy in the mix). This actually may have been the highlight of the meal. Push a 5-gallon drum of that green gold in front of me and I would probably continue eating it until my stomach-lining burst.
Finally the main course came, which was my favorite meal: a vegan Philly cheese steak. It was made with Daiya “cheese,” which is the most acceptable fake cheese on the market. It melts nicely and doesn’t taste like plastic. I am still baffled as to how I fit that much food into me, but I do know that had I been able to fit even a little more I would have followed it up with a milkshake to complete my meal of complete gluttony. Unfortunately I thought I would vom all over the nice new restaurant and that they wouldn’t allow me to come back the following day for breakfast.
Mike Shatzel (owner of Coles, Blue Monk and Liberty Hound). Here’s my best meals of 2013…
Les Brignittines in Brussels, Belgium. Amazing braised dishes, superb presentation and of course Belgian Beer.
Braueri im Fuchschen in Dusseldorf: giant pork knuckle with altbier.
Wife’s Birthday Dinner at Tabree, A++ from start to finish.
Mac McGuire (Editor In-Chief at buffaBLOG). My favorite meal was the Ultimate Lobster Feast at Viking Lobster Company. A friend of mine was leaving Buffalo this past summer to move out west so a few of us took him to Viking Lobster Company for a goodbye meal. The restaurant is one of Black Rock’s best kept secrets and for good reason. They have this meal that you need to have at least six people order for them to make it for you, the Ultimate Lobster Feast. We had seven at our table. Five of us could not order fast enough. One person didn’t eat fish, so she was out, and we practically had to threaten our seventh into ordering, but we got our meal.
What came first I guess you could consider an appetizer. A massive plate full of shrimp, scallops, dumplings, and mussels, not to mention a cup of soup, got us started. The meal could have ended right there, but we weren’t even close. What came next was a cluster of snow crab legs, a king crab leg claw so big you could use it as a blunt weapon, and our own personal full lobster. The meat was incredibly sweet and rich. One of the best lobsters I have had. Wash it all down with the table full of drinks we brought, BYOB at its finest, and this was some high living.
Each person dropped $50 for the meal, which considered how much you got, was a steal. I believe the price is now at least $70. This was hands down the best meal I had in 2013 and I would rank it as one of the best meals of my life. Please go to Viking Lobster, but don’t tell anyone else. Don’t want the secret out.
Mike Literman (A Thirsty Dude). Favorite meals, eh? That’s a tough one but one that shouldn’t be hard since I don’t think I went anywhere this year besides Treasure Island, Florida for four days and although that sloppy joe was good, it doesn’t touch this list.
I have recently went from 2011 not eating Indian food to 2013 where I feel like I eat it every other week. My buddy turned me on to Zaiqa on Delaware Ave by Delaware Road. It’s Pakistani for those that are counting. Is that on top of my list? It was until this. I went to Taj Grill on Delaware at Hertel-ish and it was great. You always get about one and a half servings and you get unlimited rice which is more than I can say for some other Indian restaurants that shall remain nameless. Am I done? You wish.
I went a couple weeks ago during a day off to Taj Grill and managed to catch the lunch buffet and the quality of the food might have dropped down to 95% of the “entree version” of the same dish but you got the selection that you don’t get with entrees. Their butter chicken is unbelievable and at the buffet comes with unlimited honey almond balls and thai tea. You cannot beat that.
Corey Siegel (Commis for Team USA at the 2013 Bocuse d’Or). The best meal that I had in 2013 was an extreme honor and an incredibly unique experience. As we were training for the Bocuse d’Or competition in Lyon, I was able to dine at the original Café Boulud.
We drove through the hills and back roads of the old country until we arrived at the household of Chef Daniel Boulud’s parents. As his mother was inside pressure cooking a leg of veal the old fashioned way, his father brought us out to his wine cellar. Speaking only in French of course, he showed us all of his unrefrigerated headcheese, pickles and hanging hams. He pulled a few sausages out of a mailing box taped underneath a table to “hide them from the American soldiers who hid in his pantry during the war.”
We then headed inside to find his brother and sister who come over every day for lunch. Before we sat I was asked to open the wine and I recall the Irony of them having an electric bottle opener which I had no idea how to use. We then dug in to the incredible stew with some of the shaved ham, headcheese, cheeses and wine. Throughout the meal, staring at the pictures on the wall. I was in awe over the legacy I was now a part of.
Michael Obarka (Chef of Ristorante Lombardo). Well. Well. Well. My favorite meal of this year would be the dinner that I had at Bar Isabel in Toronto. The thing went down after Christa Glenney Seychew was nice enough to invite Bruce Wieszala, James Roberts, and I to a homemade weenie roast at the Drake hotel for the 86′ d event that her friend Ivy Knight does (Similar to the IN that Christa and Mike A put on). We had a couple of pops and we all agreed we were hungry as hell. I guess first reason it was so good was the crew that went. Those three I really like a lot, but I honestly don’t get to see them often at all. Plus James brought a couple young guys that got to experience that young cooks usually relish. That is witnessing and consulting with, a bunch of respected food service professionals really let loose in a restaurant late at night.
Now as I said we had sampled a couple of really good cocktails at the Drake, so the exact ingredients of all the dishes escape me. Every course was just so fucking good. Marinated white anchovies, Morcilla sausage with brioche and foie gras. They had a whole octopus that was so tender that it made me question the one we serve at Lombardo’s, and I honestly think we have the best octopus dish in the city. On Christa’s recommendation, we had these glazed cod collars that were so sticky and somehow the skin was still crispy. We were also treated to a platter of cured meats which were not terrible. There may have been a couple courses I left off. Like I said, it was a fucking whirlwind of great ingredient driven food, Cava, and Cider. And I don’t recall a whole hell of a lot of silverware used. Usually a good measuring stick of meal enjoyment. A ton of laughs, and company of like minded restaurant folks. I would really like to do that again sometime. All after slinging some home made wieners. Love this shit!!
Jill Gedra Forster (Owner of Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile). My favorite meal of 2013 was at Ristorante Lombardo over the summer. I had never been there before, so I didn’t have high hopes (food snobbery sucks). Went with two foodie friends and was blown away by the service (which is sometimes hard to come by). The food was out of this world and I have been back several times since. Never Disappointed.
Second favorite, Summers Giving at the Gedra House. Fresh Maine lobsters, corn on the cob, cold beer & the pool… Heaven!
Sarah Walley (Former French Macaron Baker). Just over our friendly border, at a little cafe in the Kensington Market called Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, I had a plate of pierogi that rivaled my grandmother’s. They had a perfect pan sear on the outside, the dough was just right, and the potato & onion filling was spot on in quantity and flavor. Plenty of other wonderful things in the shop, like chocolate sparkle cookies, but I’ll go again and again for the pierogi.
Chris Schobert (Creator of FilmSwoon.com). I’m an unrepentant cinephile, so it’s only fitting that my meal of the year had as much to do with the mise en scene than the food itself, correct? I hope so. Anyway, the meal did not occur in a nice restaurant, but on a lawn on Main Street – obviously. It was sometime during the summer, and a coworker of mine mentioned that Frank’s Gourmet Hot Dogs would be stopping in front of Daemen College, not far from my house, for dinner. So after work, I raced home from downtown, picked up my wife and son, and we made our way to Main. Sure enough, the large, mustard-yellow food truck was waiting. My wife and I both enjoyed the “Holy Moly” (dog with guac), while our 3-year-old chowed down on a “standard.” The hot dogs were stellar, but what truly made this a special experience was, well, everything. The dogs, the sun, the feeling of sitting on the grass with the two people who mean most to me … It was a perfect moment. The food may have only played a small part, but to me, that was as wonderful a meal as I’ve ever had. “Fin.”
Matt Carlucci (Founder of Soupfest). My wife and I don’t get out as much as we used to. With two toddlers at home it’s mostly chicken nuggets, peas, and apple juice. Luckily, I started doing these food truck events and discovered something miraculous; the Arancini (pictured above) from the Black Market Food Truck. So simple, yet so complex in flavor, this is easily the best thing I’ve eaten all year.
Tony Rials (Bar Manager at Mike A’s at the Lafayette). So #2 was my birthday dinner at the Rue Franklin. We showed up a little late but they had our table ready to go. Great spot on the patio for me Devon. You couldn’t have asked for a better night. I brought a special bottle I had been saving and it was perfect with the delicate food. Plus they treated us like rock stars, even when she and I were the only ones left, bringing us dessert and after dinner drinks. Great night.
My #1 was Daniel in NYC. We walked into one of the finest restaurants in the world and instantly felt completely comfortable. I was amazed by how they pulled that off, it’s something any restaurant or business should aspire to be. The bar was gorgeous, yet small, and the bar staff helped you feel completely at home. Food was legendary, and Daniel even made it a point to come over and say hi.
Chad Maslanka (Head Roaster at Spot Coffee). I have been thinking about this for a while. What I am really looking for is a really well executed meal, excellent customer service/interaction, and food that blows my mind. This is truly hard to find for a lot of restaurants are too pretentious and trying way too hard to mix in truffles, saffron, and bone marrow into their offerings and lose the simple idea of making it taste good. So with that in mind I am going to go with good old Sun Restaurant. Burmese food done well. Amare Thar Hin or better know as Beef curry. The savory mix of crazy Burmese spices with star anise, tons of ginger and garlic, mixed with some onions and spicy chilies easily was the best dish i have had all year. Explosions of flavor all the way around. Classic Thai dish executed really well with a Burmese twist. Makes me want to order some right now.
Chris Taylor (Owner of Roaming Buffalo). Of course my favorite meal came from a food truck (three food trucks to be exact this year). My wife and I made the trip to Canada to visit our buddy Adam and his wife Tamara, the owners of El Gastronomo Vagabundo. Everything I’ve had from this truck has been simply amazing. This visit was grilled octopus with roasted potatoes, corn fritters, and a salmon croquet (pictured above). The Black Market Food Truck with their BLT is always a treat to have when it’s on the menu, and lucky for me we trade food all year long. I crossed a meat off my bucket list with Knight Slider’s ostrich slider which I have to say was the best thing I stuffed my face with this year.
Jason Wulf (Owner of Lake Effect Ice Cream). First, was the Duck Breast at Mike A’s. I’m not usually someone who orders duck off the menu, but thank god my curiosity got the best of me that night. It was one of those meals where you look down at the last forkful and really feel sad that you’re done. Then a secret part of you wonders what people would think if you ordered another one.
The second was a bit more unconventional. My family and I were invited over to the Bedenko home a few months ago and were treated to a make your own pizza night that easily rivaled any meal I had this year. Alan is a masterful pizza chef and it is my hope upon hope that he expands his pizza making from a hobby to something available to the public. Any sort of peer pressure I can invoke upon Alan to become Buffalo’s best pizza maker, consider it done.
Carmelo Raimondi (Chef/Owner of Carmelo’s Restaurant). Well it was June 8th, my 40th birthday. Steve and Ellen Gedra (Bistro Europa) put together a tasting menu. The dish that I would day was unforgettable was called New Pork State, T-Meadow pork kidney roasted in its leaf lard and served with smokey polenta. Really a show stopper. So f-ing good.
Marco Sciortino (Chef/Owner of Marco’s and Marco’s Deli). Had the ‘Philly Cheese Steak’ at The Bazaar in Beverly Hills (pictured above). It’s paper thin bread dough injected with air, filled with aged white cheddar cheese and topped with seared waygu Kobe beef filet that’s sliced super thin. You have to bite down so you get all the flavors together absolutely amazing! It’s about the size of a spring roll two bites and done! The culinary adventure at this restaurant was amazing!
Phil Dzikiy (Co-host of In Pod Form). I got a crash course in José Andrés’ restaurants in 2013 — I dined at China Poblano, Jaleo, and é in Las Vegas, and Mi Casa in Dorado, Puerto Rico. All register somewhere on the greatness scale, and yeah, I could rank them if you ask. But é … é is magical. One room, eight seats, 20 courses. Surprise and wonder at every turn. And all of it delicious. The best meal I’ve ever had.
Very few meals can be so extravagant, of course, and some of the best food my wife and I ate this year came from the Luquillo Kiosks in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. The kiosks are a row of 60 small roadside restaurants, most serving inexpensive, authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. We’d show up once or twice a day, not knowing which kiosks would be open or closed. We had to try as many as we could. The food ranged from good to incredible.
Locally, it’s all about Martin Cooks. Easily the most interesting restaurant in Buffalo at this point, and probably the best. And though not Buffalo-based, Rochester’s Brick-N-Motor has been seen around these parts enough. For me, it’s been a food truck revelation.
Deb Clark (Chef/Owner of Delish!). Okay, I’m thinking that my favorite meal of the year may have been (not surprisingly) at Lombardo’s. On this particular night I was with my friends Jill and Kelly and we started with a great bottle of champagne, and continued with many drinks paired with several courses of wonderful food. Some of which were sent over by the owner or chef as a special treat. It was just one if those beautiful summer nights with a winning combination of great drinks & food and three friends in rare form having a blast eating, drinking and laughing (a lot)! It just clicked.
Christa Glennie Seychew (Founder of Feed Your Soul Productions & Food Editor at Buffalo Spree).I had three great meals in 2013.
The first was in Toronto at Bar Isabel after I accompanied a slew of Buffalo talent to The Drake Hotel for a special happy hour party for an artisanal hot dog throwdown (yes, you read that correctly). It was JDR and his crew from Park, Obarks from Lombardo’s, and Bruce W from Tabree—all great guys who I’d happily hang out with any day, even if there weren’t world-class eats to be had. Bar Isabel was recently rated as the number one restaurant in Canada by en Route, but it’s not the type of place you’d expect to get that sort of attention. It looks like any TO-neighborhood bar from the outside, but once seated at your table inside it only takes a few moments with the menu to see that this isn’t your average place.
Five or six of us showed up there at midnight on a Monday and had the most wonderful meal. The whole table ponied up to order the very affordable chef’s tasting, so everything came to the table at once and was eaten in a very communal fashion. That is my favorite part of any meal, where the companionship and jovial atmosphere allow the food to be part of the conversation and central/shared experience. That’s really the best dining scenario to me. There were at least eight modestly sized courses, but the boys loved the fried chicken. There was also sliced pea salad that looked like an after thought but turned out to be pretty phenomenal, and the whole grilled octopus was as wonderful as I’d heard it was. But, the dish I spotted on the menu and begged to be included in our tasting was divine. A cutting board arrived, covered with smoked cod collars maple syrup, peanuts, chiles, and greens (pictured above). It was divine and memorable—smokey, salty, sweet, spicy, and nutty all at once; each bite was tremendously satisfying and exciting. I can’t wait to get back there this winter.
The second and third best meals I had in 2013 were consumed within 48 hours of one another. It was pretty heavenly. The first was at Del Posto in NY the night before the Nickel City Chefs cooked at James Beard House. The food was phenomenal and the service impeccable, as you would expect from any restaurant with a Michelin star. It was such a good value, too. I would send people there in a heartbeat. Everything was special, but there were two stand out items. The first was a pasta dish that seemed too simple to be special—orecchiette with lamb sausage and caraway. The nuances of flavor and texture made this dish not only one of my favorites in 2013, but a dish I will remember for a lifetime. The second was the mignardise—I have no idea what the Italian term for this is—but the parade of tiny, deftly prepared desserts that we barely had room to consider nibbling at, were remarkable and—if not for the seriousness demanded by expert execution—whimsical
Last but not least was a long and leisurely lunch with chef Jennifer Boye at the Nomad Hotel. Our plane left later than all of the other JBH folks, so we had some time to kill. The F&B program at the hotel is designed and overseen by Daniel Humm and Will Guidara, the geniuses behind Eleven Madison Park. We had cocktails and lunch in the atrium—the decor in the hotel is exquisitely modern and old-world all at once, and so is the service. The food is beautiful and feels so very fresh without being complicated or distracting. We shared crispy sweetbreads and broccoli with lardo and parm. Jen had suckling pig and I had cod gently cooked with corn, radishes, and epazote. It was a really lovely meal, and it when it was over we moved into the library and had wonderful desserts with coffee. I didn’t want to leave and can’t wait to get back and stay there for a night or two so I can sample more of the menu and, with a good book in hand, explore the dark, cool interior of that beautiful place.
Brad Rowell (Sous Chef at Park Country Club). My favorite meals of 2013 are as followed:
Lunch at Blackback Pub in Waterbury, VT. My wife and I had several delicious tacos from Mad Taco who serves tacos out of a home kitchen in the back back of the bar. We spent hours drinking several different beers from Hill Farmstead and other great Vermont Breweries
Late night food at Bar Isabel in Toronto during Terrior. Excellent blood sausage, fried chicken, and a lot of fun people to hangout with.
Sausages, spaetzle, german potato salad, and braised cabbage at the Buffalo Brewhound Octoberfest Party
My birthday tasting menu at Tabree. The food was creative and executed perfectly.
Matt Kahn (Owner of Big Ditch Brewing). OK, this is technically on the very last day in 2012, but still within the last year right? New years eve of 2012, my wife and I went to Bistro Europa to celebrate. Beer and food pairing. I think it was like a six course meal. The beer was good, but the food was amazing. I remember the duck confit specifically, and I remember pairing Dogfish Sah’tea with a rich chocolate dessert which was awesome – although I was completely stuffed by the end!
Ann Hacket (General Chair for 2014 Taste of Buffalo). One night at the end of the summer, I was able to finally stop at Smoke on the Water in Tonawanda. After hearing many people raving about their food, I decided to check it out for myself. And since this is the only place I am writing about for 2013, the food did not disappoint. In fact, it surprised and delighted. We started with Pork Belly Tacos (pictured above): Pickled Ginger, Cumber & Carrots, Sour Cream, Cilantro, Sweet Chili Glaze. These tacos still make my mouth water at the thought of them. The Pickled ginger, cumber & carrots as well as the sweet chili glaze were the highlights of this appetizer. After that I was very much looking forward to the rest of the meal. I enjoyed the pulled pork with their ta tas (Tator tots, Frank’s red hot & Nacho cheese) and nickel city mac & cheese which are topped with goldfish crackers. A beer is also a must when having their spicy ta tas. One of the best parts of eating at Smoke on the Water was that everything you ate was definitely not what you expected. The taste of their food went above and beyond expectations and made your taste buds wanting to come back for more.
Jennifer Boye (Chef at The Mansion on Delaware). There are three dishes I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying this year that really made impression on me. The first was a dish that I had when we were in New York City to cook at the James Beard House. We went to Del Posto for a wonderful dinner the night before our event and the restaurant, and the company, couldn’t have been more lovely. We were served a pasta course (one of three) that consisted of handmade orecchiette, lamb neck, stewed carrots and rye crumbs. Sounds simple, but the the flavors and textures in this dish were astounding. It’s honestly one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
Steve and Ellen Gedra were kind enough to ask me to cook for Midnight Mass this past September, and we chose to do a menu with an Oktoberfest theme. I brought over a bunch of things to serve and Steve was preparing some pastured veal schnitzel to serve with my sides. One bite of the veal and I was in heaven. The meat couldn’t have been fresher, and it was seasoned and cooked to perfection. There’s a reason why Bistro Europa is one of my most favorite restaurants–their food is always spot-on and this veal was certainly no exception.
I feel very fortunate to work alongside an extremely talented and creative cook every day–my sous chef, Dan Borelli. Having the opportunity to taste his new creations is a really nice perk and he often hits it out of the park. A couple of months ago he put together a little appetizer consisting of Daniel Oles’ kale, brown butter, toasted hazelnuts, farmers cheese, picked raw pumpkin and a crispy piece of slightly chocolaty toast. I can’t tell you how delicious this combination is–I get a big, goofy smile on my face whenever he makes this.
Jessica Railey (Former Owner of Vera Pizzeria). I feel this year was more about the experience than the actual food for me. Here are two that really stick out…
I went home (Long Island) to visit family in July. My younger brother convinced my parents to try a new restaurant instead of going to the same place and ordering the same dish for the 50th time this year. We went to an Italian place which just opened up called Il Luogo. It was quiet, small & quaint. They performed a lot of table side services which I usually find a bit cheesy & antiquated, but they really made it work, and it added to the already impeccable service we received all night.
I went on a picnic in Delaware Park before the Flaming Lips concert this summer. Albeit simple (soft cheese, nuts, champagne & Swedish fish), it was unexpected, sweet & in one of my favorite settings in the city.
Tommy Lombardo (Manager at Ristorante Lombardo). My best meal of 2013 was at Del Posto in NYC with Chef Obarka. We went there for lunch in late winter early spring and had the tasting menu, opting for an extra pasta course and a wine pairing. Opulent would be a good way to describe the whole experience. To me when a restaurant is honest and true to its vision from start to finish that’s what makes it great, that was Del Posto, honestly opulent. The tablecloth was like 10 times nicer than my bed sheets, it was little stuff like that. Also, the progression of the glassware they used for our wine pairing was ridiculous, each course the glass got bigger and bigger the last savory course was served in a wine glass that had to be about around 80/100 oz.
Standout dishes: Agnolotti filled with Taleggio Dolce and served in brown butter with black truffle dust (pictured above); rich, buttery, earthy, awesome. And Orechiette with lamb neck sausage and carrots. They slowly cook the carrots in carrot juice, they were these bright bursts of orange speckled throughout the dish and it was sprinkled with freshly picked carrot green florets, it was a beautiful dish. Also, they served us chicken salad as an amuse, so that was cool.
Calvin College (Executive Chef for Savor Restaurant). My favorite meal from 2013 by far has to be Canlis in Seattle WA. We took a vacation to Seattle in January this year and besides the great city the food scene is really thriving. We chose Canlis by doing some research and we were definitely not disappointed. We both chose the seven course tasting menu which was outrageous. We had the carrot and curry amuse followed by the second course of Rhubarb (celery peas and steelhead roe). The third course was Hearts of Palm (uni, foie gras, yellow fin tuna and green apple espuma), fourth course was Sweetbreads (congee, pearl barley and tripe). The fifth course was Wagu Beef (bone marrow, yogurt and turnips), sixth course Wild Huckleberry (sheeps milk yogurt sorbet, candy cap and douglas fir) the last course was Apple Tarte Tatin (green apple and Ginger sorbet with hazelnut). To say the least, this meal was great and one of the best I’ve ever experienced. If you ever get a chance, I definitely recommend Seattle for a vacation. The food scene is outstanding and should be experienced.
Nick Guy (Writer for Serious Eats and The Sweet Home). My favorite meal of the year was way back in January, at José Andrés’ Jaleo in Las Vegas. It’s a Spanish tapas restaurant, and it’s amazing. Not only is it some of the best food I’ve ever had, but the company was great. Having been there a few times before, it was awesome to be able to share the experience with people who haven’t. They have some of my favorite foods of all time there, including a chilled soup made from almonds and garlic with grapes and crabmeat, and patatas bravas. Plus, the gin and tonics aren’t too shabby, either. I highly recommend swinging by if you’re ever in Vegas.
Ben Tsujimoto (Online Content Coordinator for Buffalo.com). Maybe it’s my slightly bizarre eating habits, but I remember exceptional dishes rather than exceptional meals. I know Buffalo’s “foodies” — I don’t like that term either — have fallen in love with Black Market Food Truck’s Black Market BLT and their various takes on the Banh Mi, but I think their Cemitas (pictured above) was the best singular food I’ve eaten this year. From the quality of the bread to the dissonant flavors, you can tell there was pretty extreme care in creating a sandwich that may have never been served before in WNY — especially not out of a truck.
Runners-up: Pork belly tacos from Smoke on the Water; Chipotle turkey sandwich from Globe (most underrated sandwich in Buffalo); Dirty South burrito from Lloyd Taco Truck.
Erik Bernardi (Owner of Lake Effect Ice Cream). Best meal of 2013 in WNY: Party of 5 at Bistro Europa, we ordered virtually every app on the menu and special offered that night. I personally indulged in the braised oxtail which, after a salad with pork belly and the charcuterie board with lardo, was about as rich a meal as I’ve ever had.
Best out of town meal: Fuego Cocina y Tequileria in Arlington Virginia. As the whole menu is a la carte, there’s far too much to write, especially since we ordered a broad range of items including tongue, goat tacos, duck, tuna, and some serious margaritas with our entrees.
Kevin Purdy (Co-host of In Pod Form & Coffee Aficionado). I’m going to cheat a bit and cite a meal from last year. Perhaps that still counts as part of the Buffalo Eats Fiscal Year. I was not handed a prospectus before submitting. Apologies all around.
A group of friends and I were offered a private dinner at Panaro’s in late December 2012, as one of our group is close with the owners and chef. Six couples arrived, one after the other, shaking off the heavy, wet snow. Growlers of Community Beer Worksand bottles of wine were passed. It was a one-off thing. One chef, cooking his most comfortable dishes for a friend and his friends, in a small space on Delaware Avenue on a nearly cinematic night just before Christmas. Probably one of the five best meals I’ve eaten during my time in Buffalo, if not the best. Certainly among the most memorable. I think more people should know about Panaro’s.
Alan Bedenko (Blogger for Artvoice). I’m going to cheat and give you two favorite meals of 2013.
1. Martin Cooks: August 22, 2013. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a night out dining in western New York that was as satisfying as this. Admittedly, we have cut back significantly on dining out of any sort and there are myriad local places that are well-regarded by people whom I respect, and I haven’t tried most of them. But I watched my Facebook feed get loaded up with incredible images of the food and ambiance at Martin Cooks that we had to give it a try.
Everything about this place is different – perhaps even groundbreaking. Martin is a talented and creative chef who is trying something unique. For dinner, at least, you don’t get a choice – you are given a menu with a wine pairing option. $60/person, two seatings per night. Simple.
You get 4 – 5 courses of lovingly prepared, delicious meals using fresh ingredients and contemporary techniques. The kitchen isn’t just open – you sit at a bar, so you can watch the action. You’re invited to come in and check out what’s going on. The wine guy – he knows his stuff and can make great recommendations. And every week the menu changes. In late August it was, naturally, a peach and tomato theme. Smoked salmon with peach puree. Toasted baguette with peeled tomatoes, tapenade, and whipped goat cheese. Pappardelle with tomatoes and cheese followed by a melon palate-cleanser. Chicken saltimbocca that was to die for tender, and a peanut butter & jelly dessert on shortbreads with pickled blueberry jelly (pictured above). We went back a few weeks later and the menu was completely different, but the food just as spectacular. This is a place, in a location, that deserves people’s support and admiration. I love what’s happening there and happily say it’s my favorite of the year.
2. Hindin Han: April 1, 2013. We spent a little over two weeks traveling through Croatia, and on the way from Dubrovnik took a day trip detour to Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina. We didn’t have a lot of time, but in our quick walk through the old town and crossing the iconic Stari Most, we saw a little restaurant with a terasse overlooking the roaring Neretva River below. Its name was on the side of the building, so I looked it up on my phone and grabbed the address. We returned to the car and I plugged the address into the nav system, and a short walk down a steep and narrow street – past at least one building still empty from the war – we reached a charming little place where we sat outside, listening to the rushing waters below.
The service? Typical Balkan peremptory – you order and the waiter responds, “mozhe”, which is directly translated as, “this is permitted” or “this is possible”. It wasn’t speedy, but it was worth every moment. We watched a guy fishing on the banks of the river. We watched tour bus groups following guides with different-colored umbrellas. We listened to the conversations that passed us by. We were at once immersed in a place that was at once European, but not quite. The food we ordered was your typical roadside Balkan grill fare. Raznjici – cubes of lamb meat skewered and grilled, served with a gorgeous slab of freshly baked, soft pita bread, some ajvar and onions for garnish, and a side of fries. (Always fries). Cevapcici – spiced mixed meat sausages also served with pita, ajvar, and a cheese curd thing called kajmak on the side, little onion and veg garnish, and a side of fries. (Always fries). It was outrageously inexpensive, too. 7 KM, which works out to US$5.00.
Afterwards? Turkish coffee. This is the very epitome of the south Slav experience. The meal was so simple, so familiar, yet so outstandingly good. This meal took me back to my childhood visits to old Yugoslavia, and introduced my kids to a new culture. The quality of the food was superlative, and the overall ambiance is unattainable elsewhere in the world.
Ivy Knight (Editor in Chief at Swallow & Cookbook Author). My favourite meal of 2013 happened at a winery in the spring. It happened during this year’s Terroir Symposium, which is Canada’s largest hospitality symposium. The keynote speaker was René Redzepi and other notable guests included Kate Krader from Food & Wine, Magnus Nilson, Alessandro Porcelli, the editors of FOOL magazine, food writer Joe Warwick and many more. In a week filled with cold, sleety rain there was one day of perfect sunshine and blue skies and it happened to fall on the one day we needed for an outdoor meal at Norm Hardie’s Prince Edward County winery. All the guest chefs worked together beside the local chefs. Volunteers had arranged a beautiful pantry of ingredients from across the province – Ontario peanuts, fresh eggs, maple syrup, perch…At various jury-rigged and a few legitimate barbecues and fire pits the chefs created a feast.
We ate sitting on hay bales in the sunshine, with sips of Norm’s incredible Pinot Noir and sparkling wine from Hinterland Estates. Everyone was so happy. The miracle of the weather and communal spirit of the whole thing was really unbelievable. I’m glad I was lucky enough to be there and that I got to share it with so many incredibly talented chefs, which included, I might add, a certain Mr. James Roberts!
My straight up best dish of the year is the Tempura Prawns at Oddseoul. It’s dirty junk food and it’s awesome. They’re served with this pink sauce that’s Kewpie mayo, tobiko roe and chili paste. Also the Loosey is a crazy sort of burger on challah that’s dynamite. Love that place.
Corey Catalano (Owner of Big Ditch Brewing). Bistro Europa, I had been wanting to check them out for quite some time. We sat down in the cozy 12 seat environment and ordered the slow cooked rabbit. Damn was the first word out of my mouth. I had never eaten rabbit before, so tender and flavorful. Not gamey at all. I was very happy to hear they were expanding to a new location. There is no way that quality of food should be limited to 12 people at a time. Their pierogies were also very tasty as well.
Adam Kern (Owner of My Buffalo Shirt). Honorable mentions of some of my favorite meals from this year include the Dan Kabobs from Amy’s Truck and Mississippi Mud Slingers from Smoke on the Water. The Dan Kabobs I’m pretty sure I ordered on accident but it was an awesome combination of deep-fried breaded chicken, french fries, tomatoes, garlic spread, and hot sauce all rolled in a pita. The Mudd Slingers are thick smoked bologna slices with Budweiser braised onions and ball park mustard on a roll. Towards the end of 2013 I dabbled into the sushi world. Some of my favorites included the Beef on Weck roll from Seabar and the Joey from Sakura. I cant forget about Ice Cream. I was finally able to find Lake Effect ice cream in my area (at Orchard Fresh) and I can honestly say I am now hooked on it. My favorite flavor is The Aud, which is Sweet Labatt Blue ice cream loaded with roasted peanuts and chocolate covered pretzels.
Rich Tilyou (Owner of T-Meadow Farms). My favorite meal in 2013 was an off the menu eight course dinner at Tabree in November. Chef Bruce kept dazzled us with the crispy, lighter than air pork skin, and charcuterie plate. The courses kept coming, and the entire experience gave my cousin and I time to really enjoy dinner with conversation to catch up on each others lives. The main course was a sous vide venison eye of the loin. It was perfect, tender, delicious!
Joe Kennedy (Owner of Spar’s Sausage Shop). (Note: Joe’s top meal was submitted via his wife Beth.) I directed your question to Joe and this is a little embarrassing because he said his favorite dinner this past year was the Canadian Thanksgiving that I cooked in October. Thanksgiving is Joe’s favorite holiday because he says it’s Christmas without the bullshit but great food with family and friends. We don’t always have the energy to celebrate both Thanksgiving holidays but we try! The only requirement Joe had was to bring me home a smoked turkey breast and it was delicious as usual. So, here’s my menu! Roasted butternut squash soup with curry, apples and creme fresh. Smoked turkey breast with banger sausage stuffing. Roasted brussel sprouts with T-Meadow pepper bacon. Orange balsamic glazed sweet potatoes. Farmer Oles mashed potatoes with gravy. Coleslaw with Farmer Oles apples. Fresh cranberry sauce. Pecan Pie and pumpkin pie.
I was humbled when Joe told me his choice. We have so many good chef friends who own restaurants and consistently cook us phenomenal food, so I was wondering myself which meal he found memorable. I love nothing more than cooking for Joe and taking care of him. I’m as happy as a little girl!
Kerry Quaile (Bar Manager at Vera Pizzeria). I thought long and hard about this and I have to say that my first meal ever at Rue Franklin last March blows everything else out of the water. Jon and I had a Bib Lettuce salad, Oysters and I got the White Fish as my main coarse topped with a little curry while Jon got the Venison. The portions were perfect and the flavors were amazing. The 175$ bottle of wine didn’t hurt either. Note: Jon Karel, who appeared on episode #36, also said this was his favorite meal of 2013.
Laura Anhalt (Author of Mexican Flavors). My favorite dish this year was the Mac & Cheese at a restaurant called Jacob’s Pickles in NYC. Patrick and I took the train to NYC and stayed 5 days to actually go to some of the restaurants and/or places featured in the Best Thing I Ever Ate TV program. However, Jacob’s Pickles wasn’t on the list but the had the best darn Mac & Cheese ever!
But I have a tie… the Best Hotdogs ever were from the Shake Shack – also in NYC. As far as Junk food, the best Doughnuts I’ve ever had have been from the Donut Plant with flavors such as Tres Leches, Creme Brulee and Peanut Butter and Jelly (pictured above). I can’t pick my favorite, we ate a dozen of doughnuts between the both of us in about an hour.
Mike Andrzejewski (Chef/Owner of Seabar, Cantina Loco, Mike A’s, Tappo). This years best meal was a stunner. I was in NYC, and have been looking for the meal that was inspiring: you know, the type of thing that really transcends a meal and makes you awestruck on every level. I’ve had some great dinners, good dishes and enjoyable experiences, buts its been awhile since I have been blown away. Then I made a reservation at Daniel, Daniel Boulud’s flagship in NYC.
I had called late and could only get a table in the lounge and I was happy with that, considering the food comes from the same kitchen as the dining room. I had asked however if a kitchen tour might be arranged and was told they would try but it depends on the nights activity. When we arrived we were welcomed at the door, by a hostess and a manager who didn’t have to ask my name, but told me they took the liberty of arranging a table in the dining room and their premiere captain will be handling our dinner. (Wow OK, I feel important now!) So the Gentleman came to our table, which was perfectly situated to see the entire room and watch the action. We discussed menu selections, and I secretly hoped he would be a little less formal, and I could pick his insider’s view for information on the restaurant and kitchen. I ordered a bottle of nice Champagne for Sherri and asked for a Non-Alcoholic cocktail for me and we decided on the menu we would dine on this night.
Throwing all self restraint out the window, we started with a supplement of ossetra caviar and another of the truffle Angollotti feature, the seven course tasting (each of us were to receive a completely different selection), then added on the Foie Gras presentation from the ala carte menu, as well as a portion of “barely cooked Scottish Langoustines “. The service staff went into what could only be described as the ‘Royal Treatment’ (although they seemed to be just as attentive to the tables around us). Our captain became increasingly open as the night progressed, never being overly familiar, but really entertaining, informative and knowledgeable. After our last savory course, Chef Daniel Boulud himself visited our table. The visit in itself was really great but the fact that he remembered me from an event he was involved in seven years earlier and spent about 15 minutes with us was pretty incredible. Two dessert courses later, some macaroons, french jellies and a tour of the kitchen later, we ended the best meal of the year. Probably the best of my life.
The only thing better than the service and attentiveness was the perfection of the food. Each course held a restrained brilliance. Every component of each dish meaningful and technically near perfect. Each course was followed by the next in an order that was sensible, yet still surprising and exciting. I had found what I was looking for and was exhilarated and humbled at the same time.
Bill Rapaport (Created Buffalo Restaurant Guide). In looking over my own reviews from the past year on my restaurant guide, four restaurants come out on top. I had two memorable meals at Linguine’s in Bowmansville and at the Trattoria Aroma in the Elmwood Village: an exquisite lobster tail over linguine with lobster cream sauce and wilted arugula at the former, and the best lobster ravioli I’ve ever had, with fried leeks, in a prosecco-corn sauce, at the latter.
But for consistency of a wide variety of dishes over many visits, Rocco’s and YOLO, both in East Amherst, stand out. My wife and I agree that the best chicken marsala we’ve ever had, rich in flavor, was at Rocco’s, and a memorable dish of mussels in a wonderful marinara sauce, with chunks of tomato and basil, along with three slices of ciabatta bread and just enough strands of a very thick spaghetti to help sop it all up was one of the most satisfying meals I’ve had in a long time. That mussel dish convinced me that Rocco’s was a very special place, both for variety of cuisine as well as service.
YOLO has also consistently surprised us with wonderful dishes (and service), especially a fall-apart tender salmon dish in a blueberry barbecue sauce; an exquisite crab-stuffed lemon sole with sauteed artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, pancetta, and arugula, served with jasmine rice and a pesto cream sauce; and a salmon pasta with a heavenly tropical risotto that would have made a terrific dish all by itself.
Paul Vroman (Owner/Operator of Aunt Rosie’s). When you guys asked me to write about my favorite meal of 2013, I was stumped on what was my favorite. Most times i can answer that right away with this meal or that meal. But this year I was lucky enough to have eaten a lot of great meals with great people. So here is a couple of them…
All of the street food in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico that my wife and I consumed on our honeymoon. From Smoked marlin tostadas to mole to shrimp ceviche to chicharron. Oh god, the chicharron. If you are ever there you should check out Vallarta Eats, they give tours of the hidden gems and them some.
A little closer to home I experienced some pretty amazing meals at Bistro Europa,including some late night tasting menus (thanks Steve) to some pretty cool Midnight Mass dinners courtesy of Steve, James Roberts (Ramen) and Ed Forster (Fried Chicken). Speaking of Ed, I was lucky enough to attended his first Workshop mealin Silo City, everything was spot on from the cocktails to the amazing meal either cooked in mini fryers (Rabbit Lentil soup croquette 2.0) or over open flames (Steak and Grains, pictured above).
And I really can’t forget all of the snacks at Larkin Square, thanks to everyone who feed me before my drive back to Rochester.
Mike Dimmer (Owner of The Black Market Food Truck). 2013 has easily been the craziest, busiest, and most fulfilling year in my life. Running the truck quickly became a 24/7 job (as if we weren’t expecting that). Unfortunately, it didn’t leave a whole lot of free time to eat at all the fabulous food spots Buffalo has gained over the past year. When thinking about my best meal, though, the answer is easy. I was lucky enough to find almost every Sunday relatively free, and “Lunch with Lori” (my Mom) became a staple. We made our best attempt to try new spots when we could, but found ourselves mainly returning to Niagara Seafood. Vietnamese is one of my favorite cuisines and at this point, my mother and I have triumphed the entire menu, after many regular visits. It’s all great, and will always be a strong recommendation of mine. So in all, I can’t put my finger one one specific time, but any of my Sunday lunches with mom stick out as my best meal(s) of 2013. Love you, Mom.
Paul Tripi (Frank Gourmet Hotdogs). The best thing I had in 2013 was the Banana Split at Central Michel Richard in Washington, D.C. I am not a huge fan of bananas, but it didn’t even matter w/ this dessert. Made up with artisanal ice creams and sorbet, chocolate and caramel sauces & loaded with fresh whipped cream… it was the best $12 I have ever spent!
Franco Kroese (Owner of Franco’s Pizza). Well, anyone who knows me knows how much I love food! One of my favorite restaurants to go to is Sinatra’s on Kenmore Ave. I have been going there for years, and they never disappoint. One of my very favorite meals is their Sunday Pork in Sauce. If you have never had it, you don’t know what you are missing! The dish comes with a very generous portion of pork that has been simmered for hours. It is so tender you don’t even need your knife! The sauce is fresh and delicious! Of course it wouldn’t be the same without the side of pasta that comes with it. It is such a comforting and enjoyable meal. You can’t help but smile after you have eaten this dish! My mouth is watering just thinking of it! Enjoy!
Frank Dispenza (Owner of Dispenza’s Meat Market). Rachel and I had a tough time with these but hands down the charcuterie board (pictured above) at Carmello’s has been one of the greatest. All house cured and of course extra proud that I processed the meat before he cured it. His beef tongue and homemade gnocchi are also at the top of the list. Not just flavor and presentations but the fact that Carm uses local meats and products really attracts those who care about supporting our communities.
Frank Tripi (Owner of Frank Gourmet Hotdogs). I didn’t get to dine out much, but my favorite overall experience was at Good Luck in Rochester. This restaurant is an open kitchen concept with shared plates and Prohibition style cocktails and beers. Anyways, my favorite meal was a simple one that many places mess up. I had the Good Luck Burger: 1 lb house ground, grass fed beef on a Brioche roll with McCadam cheddar, vegetable slaw, and house cut fries and paired it with many Gilded Ricky’s which is a cocktail with Hendricks gin, Meyer lemon, Yerba mate syrup, and tonic. Simple meal, but executed perfectly, and was fun experiencing all the share plates.
S.J. Velasquez (Digital Engagement Editor at Buffalo News). My favorite meal of 2013, without a doubt, was the duck ragu over gnocchi from Mulberry in Lackawanna. I can’t think about that dish without losing my mind. I’m sorry. I just can’t. I gotta go.
Brian Mietus (Executive Chef/Owner of Bacchus). Definitely Del Posto while in NYC for the James Beard dinner.
Nathan Hurtt (Owner of Brick-N-Motor). Thinking about my favorite meal of the year keeps bringing me back to the smoked fish ribs with homemade tator tots at Cheu Noodle Bar in Philadelphia. Bark crispy fish skin but easy to tear, light flaky flesh with deep flavor from the smoke, and a tamarind-yuzo sauce to cut through and brighten the flavor. Other standouts of the meal were the BBQ pig tails with turnip kimchi and definitely the hand torn noodles with braised lamb neck and pickled mustard greens. Though I think I would have been thoroughly satisfied with just a big bowl of that fish skin.
Annie Levay-Krause (Creator of The Land of Peapodriot). My husband jokes I’ve become the black widow of restaurants. I rave about an offering or am in the midst of doing a write up and boom the place goes out of business or bam some crazy drama happens and makes visiting the location awkward. One of the best no drama spots I can’t get enough is Essex Street Pub. I swear I’m not getting free swag out of this, but I can’t help but mention Macky’s place. Genuine and not pretentious, local ingredients and great plating, the design your burgers and sandwiches (PLT pictured above) are out of this world. I also can’t get enough of Esther Pica’s Press Raw Food & Juice’sGinger Shots and Moroccan carrot and beet salad, and her sunflower falafel and zucchini alfredo is off the hook!
I also can’t forget the chicken fried rabbit with local apricot sauce (pictured above) from Bistro Europa!
Edward Forster (Chef/Founder of The Workshop). 2013 was a pretty great year for me. I was able to eat around our town, Toronto, NYC, and Chicago. The best dining meals of my year are hard to pin down, because its not always in a restaurant, or even food centric, or a complete dish. I’ll explain…
Hands down my best experience was a happenstance cocktail experience in Toronto. I had a really cool meal at Cafe Boulud, got to chatting with staff, and asked for drink recommendations for after the meal. They went above and beyond to provide true service, suggesting three places with different themes, getting addresses, and checking to make sure their recommendations were actually open (being a Sunday night most of our list of cocktail bars were closed). So we headed out to Sidecar in what looked like a pretty cool neighborhood well populated with bars and restaurants. Walking in with a friend to sidecar, the crowd was noticeably a little too dressed up. Everyone was chatting and mingling. After standing at the bar, I asked the bespectled doormen if this was a private event. It was indeed someone’s holiday party. Seeing a look of disappointment, the gentleman offered us a cocktail upstairs. We agreed. And with any new city, and a weird location with trepidation we followed this gentleman through a wall, up a very dark and snakey stairway. A calm fell over us as we arrived in a beautiful candlelit speakeasy, that in actuality was a private club, with smiling faces and gentle chatter. We settled in to a nearby table and met Robin, who offered to craft a cocktail for us or guide us through the menu. The night ended up being one of the best service experiences of my life. Thoughtful suggestions, laughs, and this consummate desire to help us enjoy our evening really set this night apart. Well into an evening where Robin was constantly able to find something I had never had behind his seemingly endless bar. Looking for something to close off our night, a smile came to his face. He brought over a bottle of Weller whiskey a friend had brought in, that was from a small and limited bottling not available. It was bottle 7 of 100 released. Sipping that in a dimly lit room with old and new friends made for a magic night that stemmed from great service and a friendly owner unwilling to turn us into the night without a smile.
Another perfect and memorable meal also seemed to matriculate out of nowhere and turn into a perfect meal. I was lucky enough to be in NYC with longtime friends Scott Crombie and Tony Rials to be honored to present the food of Mike A restaurant at the James Beard House. We decided late one night to go Michelin star bar hopping, stopping at area fine dining lounges for a cocktail and an appetizer or so. But sadly, even later in the evening, and on a weeknight, all Le Bernardin, Jean Georges, Manrea, Cafe Boulud, Eleven Madison Park, and Per Se were all committed in both dining room and lounges (excellent for them) so our plans were a bit demolished. So, fuck it lets go have a glass of champagne. We were near Jeans Georges, and having worked in his restaurant at the ripe age of 19, why not. Tony grabbed a seat at the full bar and looked at the drink offerings. Tony pointed to a bottle of Billecart Salmon Rose on the list, and Scotty and I perpetuated the “fuck it, why not?” attitude of the evening with a very loud yes please. After a beautiful creamy few sips of one of the finest champagne houses I felt right. The clouds seemed to clear at the bar for us, as serendipitously two stools opened up next to Tone. So why not have a plate? The food menu had a la carte options, but fuck it, why not go for le degustaion traditionelle? Oh and there’s a seasonal menu as well? Fuck it, we’ll do two of one and one of the other. Fuck it. What had to be two tablespoons of caviar arrived in front of each of us. A little rose, some sturgeon roe, life is great. After a while, I think there was some ear hustling by the bartender, overhearing me recollect one of the signature tasting courses that I had also served at Jean Georges London outpost, Vong. Then extra uni courses, and crudo, and Jean Georges himself. I was a bit taken aback to meet the 3 Michelin man in his namesake restaurant. Beautiful food with luxury ingredients served and executed seamlessly proved a 3* evening. But the night wasn’t over there, because we were then rushing to load our mise en place into the superbowl of chefdome and the Jame Beard house that evening, I don’t think I could make up a more story book evening of dreams come true.
And here in Buffalo, I’ve had some great food standing around a wooden table in the basement of Adam Goetz’s restaurant with fellow chefs.. No silverware, no reidel glasses. There may have been some PBR. But talking about food and perspectives and passions and idea sharing late into the night with good friends is what food is all about. Charcuterie, rice grits, roasted carrots, and mochi were just a few of the samplings of that evening. This was an open forum, grab it with your hands, goddam did you try that kind of evening. But watching a small core of our local chefs get together and idea share and help one another grow was a goddam miracle. One that is sure not to be the last of many occurrences. One that will hopefully help our food scene shine a little brighter.
Chris Hitchcock (Board Member of the Taste of Buffalo). I went to a relatively new place – Osteria 166. I started with the best meatball appetizer on the Planet! It was covering in the owner’s mother’s red sauce. For the entree, I had the Chicken Lasagna, which was to die for. Layered with 3 cheese, chicken filets, tomatoes and eggplant and smothered in a parmigiano sauce. I also had the perfect wine paring, The Arrowhead 2011 Pinot Noir. After finishing, I had to track down the owner and make sure they applied to the 2014 Taste of Buffalo next year. They will be a great addition to our Restaurants.
Seamus Gallivan (Founder of The Good Neighborhood). My favorite meal of the year was homemade. I recently started my first share from Oles Farm aka Promised Land CSA, got produce & eggs for the winter and the first thing I made with the eggs was a mostly-local take on a Tex-Mex breakfast staple (pictured above). Migas with 2 eggs scrambled (Oles Farm, Alden), Monterey jack (Kutter’s, Corfu), salsa (Amish, Randolph), crushed organic blue corn tortilla chips (Wegmans). Home fries (potatoes, onion and garlic from Oles), organic black beans (Wegmans), A lotta butter (Amish), grapefruit juice (Indian River County, Florida) and of course bacon (Spar’s).
Combining food from Western New York farmers and artisans, the greatest supermarket in my world, the morning riser that reminds me of picking from my Grandma’s backyard in the heart of grapefruit country, and a go-to easy meal I fell for while living in Texas – it’s like having an episode of “This Is Your Life” for breakfast, comfort food at its best.
Derek Neuland (Former Thirsty Dude and Artist). I had two favorite meals this year. The first was at Ground Control in Chicago. They were these amazing vegan Baja Tacos, made of breaded fried tofu, avocado, pickled red onion, shredded cabbage, black sesame seed, and baja sauce. My other favorite meal of the year was at Melt in Cleveland where I had a vegan falafel grilled cheese sandwich, which was basically falafel balls and pickled vegetables and melted vegan cheese in between Texas toast and served with fries and coleslaw.
Emily Koenigsberg (Creator of Emily Bites). I can never pick just one! I had an incredibly delicious meal at Delmonico Steakhouse in Las Vegas this year that started off with a steamy bowl of rich, spicy chicken and sausage gumbo and ended with me swooning over a decadent plate of braised short rib ravioli they had as a special that evening. As in every Emeril restaurant I’ve visited, the service was impeccable as well. That’s certainly one of my best 2013 meals.
The other dish that stands out to me is actually from a chain restaurant (though unfortunately not one we have in Buffalo), Brio Tuscan Grille (I was at the one in Columbus, OH). They serve a roasted chicken, sweet potato, pancetta and pine nut risotto that made me want to lick the bowl. Seriously, it was the risotto of my dreams.
DJ Cook (Sous Chef at Shango Bistro). My favorite meal of 2013 is actually a meal I have had dozens of times before and hopefully one I will continue to enjoy in the future. The signature ramen (pictured above) and pork buns at Momofuku Noodle Baris my death row meal, and now the opportunity to indulge in this meal is just a short drive to our neighbors to the north in Toronto. The comfort of a giant bowl filled with pork belly, shoulder, pickled cabbage, fish cake and a perfectly cook egg is extraordinary. Since Momo has opened on University in Toronto, I have had the pleasure to introduce a proper bowl of ramen to my incredible girlfriend Diana. Being able to enjoy this meal with someone I love who appreciates the experience of Momofuku as much as I do will keep me finding any excuse to make the hour drive for noodles. This meal will continue to make my favorite list every year.
Nina Barone (Creator of Buffalo Foodie). After spending an impossibly beautiful day touring Capri, Italy by boat and swimming in the deep blue waters around the island, my husband and I left the beach with the wonderful feel of salt water on our skin and huge grins on our faces. Running on adrenaline, we made our way back from Marina Grande to the area around our hotel, which was about an hour’s walk. It was roughly 100’F, sunny and zero cloud coverage. When we reached our little top of the island, we had two things on our minds: food and drink. We went in search of the gorgeous pizza we saw the night before, and I could not have it without stopping at the granita stand where I was becoming a regular. With “take away” pizzas from Buca di Bacco (Via Longano, 35, Capri) in hand, we got to Chiosco Tizzano (Viale G. Matteoti, 2, Capri) where I ordered a giant cup of watermelon granita. We found a spot nearby on a stone ledge that overlooked the water by our hotel. The hot pizza was covered with a smear of tomato sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil, and boasted the perfect amount of crisp to the crust. We were smitten. I slurped my icy watermelon granita, which was basically pureed watermelon and ice — essentially lust in a cup for a watermelon lover on a hot day — and downed my pizza, slice by slice. It was satisfying in a raw and unpretentious way, just like Italy. Happy memories of our day and the view created the perfect backdrop for the best meal of a trip filled with outstanding food, and arguably one of the best days of my life.
Michael Bernhardt (Creator of Dinner with Danger). Truly, over the past year, I really have only considered Suzy Q’s a treat. I changed my diet, lost 30 pounds, and really don’t eat out like I used to. Last January, I did a raw week through merge, after I had started juicing, and it taught me so much about my bodies relationship with the food I eat. I eat very little starch, processed sugar, and I try to keep the dairy to a minimum as well. I basically just eat fruits veggies and meat. My body works so much better now, it’s amazing. I weigh less than I did when I entered high school. Went from a 38 to a 34. But I love Suzy Q’s more than anyplace I eat in WNY. Bob (I am pretty sure that’s correct) and Suzy are great, their food is delicious and consistent. The menu is flexible, and the atmosphere is wonderful. I had my birthday dinner there this year!
Ross Warhol (Executive Chef at The Pelican Club). So, the best meals of 2013….
Matbaren in Stockholm, Sweden. The menu was designed to order one course as you go to “create” your own tasting. The one dish I had which was Steamed Cod basted in brown butter served with a carrot puree, fried brussels sprouts, brussels sprout slaw, and white soy hollandaise was life changing. the balance of all the flavors were memorable and I ended up ordering another dish of it as my “dessert” just to walk away with that truly inspirational dish
Frantzen/Lindeberg in Stockholm Sweden. I’m not partial to this place because I had worked there, but the one course in the 19 course menu made me sit back in my chair and just shake my head in disbelief. It was a celebration of vegetables…28 components to the dish which was composed of different variations and textures of Swedens bounty. Each bite was different and surprising taking me for a ride throughout the whole dish.
Some hole in the wall in Vienna, Austria. It was some smoke filled cafe that my hostel recommended to my sister and I. The food was simple but some of the best comfort food I have had. Their potato salad was breath taking….also their Schnitzel (I am in love with Schnitzel) was so clean and perfectly executed, and a simple appetizer of fried emmantaler cheese served with a shredded beet coleslaw rounded out the meal. (We ate there both nights we were in town, having the same thing hahaha)
Tabree. I have been long awaiting to sample Bruces food for quite sometime in a restaurant he had full rein over, and it was well worth the wait. The tasting menu he had set up for us was well balanced. My favorite dish was the gnocchi with kale, smoked ricotta, and parmesan (pictured above) ….that man has a way with gnocchi we all could dream of achieving. Also the dessert of the chocolate ganache tart was a perfect ending. Great wine, amazing food…couldn’t ask for anything more, other than a bahn mi sandwich to go for a late night snack lol.
Christian Willmott (Owner of The Black Market Food Truck). With the truck opening in January I haven’t had much of a chance to eat out this year, but there are a couple of meals that I was lucky enough to enjoy. Two of my best meals of 2013 were in the last month. I walked into Bistro Europa on a Saturday at 8:30 and perfect timing got us an open table from a reservation no-show. Within 10 minutes of us sitting down they turned away 10 walk-ins. Unfortunately, they had been busy and were running low on most of the menu. I ended up ordering a T-Meadow pork chop, which my buddy and I agree is the best pork chop we have ever had. It was absolutely perfect from the brine to the seasoning, temperature, etc… My friend ended up getting the Cured Salmon Collar. I can’t remember exactly how it was served (mainly because the Bell’s Two Hearted Ale was going down very easily), but it was delicious. Steve Gedra has yet to disappoint me.
Another favorite meal was obviously Carmelo’s Midnight Mass. I willingly sat outside for the better part of two hours in really cold weather for that meal and it was worth every minute. I had great company, and every course was really good.
Lastly, I had a surprisingly great meal and Trattoria Aroma for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. I have eaten there quite a bit, and while it has always been good, this was the best meal I have had with them. We started with a Short Rib Ravioli with a Fois Gras Butter and Trumpet Mushrooms. Honestly, it was substantially better than my entree, but the Pappardelle Anatra was really enjoyable. I have to say that I was impressed by their Old-Fashioned as well.
Chris Daigler (Executive Chef at Encore Restaurant). My best meal of 2013 is an easy one, no thought necessary. I had a few days off in a row for the fourth of July this year and decided to visit a good friend and his daughter’s in Washington D.C. We have always tried to get together at least once a year, that usually involves some kind of culinary exploration. This trip was no different.
We had booked two seats at the venerable minibar by Jose Andres about two months prior. My anticipation of finally delving into this man’s cuisine was intoxicating. He had been and continues to be a source of inspiration both in life and the culinary world. The day was finally here, we put on our best threads and hit the door high and exhilarated for the 26 course symphony we had the pleasure of feasting on July 3, 2013. We get lost on the way and as we are about to call, I spot a man in chefs garb and decide to ask him directions. As we approach I shout to the man “excuse me chef, would you happen to know where minibar is located?” What happens next was a real treat.
The man in a t-shirt and jeans standing next to him turns to my truck and says ” I can tell you where to go” before he turned around I knew the voice. It was the energetic Jose Andres himself. He stood at the passenger side if my truck peering into my window at us as if we were friends. He told us he was sorry but there was a mistake, the restaurant was not open that evening and we must reschedule. He went on saying he couldn’t believe this had happened he must talk to the receptionist, etc. I responded with disappointment saying can we just go to the store and cook together then? He began to laugh in his intoxicating way and said, “you guys, you guys I am kidding with you. I am just trying to be funny, I just don’t know if I should let you in the restaurant tonight. I don’t know if I trust you guys.” At which point I realized he had been toying with us the entire time. He gave us directions to the restaurant and said “enjoy gentleman, it’s a pleasure having you both here tonight” and that was the start of my evening. It was remarkable. As we started the evening at the kitchen tables, it was clear from the start that the chefs we’re going to deliver something that would be truly memorable.
Some of the highlights of the menu .. the popcorn empanada, something so simple but yet so flavorful. This continued throughout the 26 courses. 26! The chicken shwarma was served in edible paper with a yogurt foam, the swarm itself was fried chicken skin. Another highlight was the beach mushroom risotto with black truffle which was served in fata paper and was cooked by puffing the paper on a plancha using the moisture of the mushroom to cook themselves. The flavor was extraordinary. We got to know our fellow patrons very well, the course providing a unique conversation between us. I never thought eating 26 courses cuisine would leave me feeling as if I wanted more, but this experience definitely did. I can’t wait to return to try is food again with his remarkable team of the same group providing the engine and ingenuity that is Jose Andres cuisine. I felt humbled and returned to Buffalo inspired.James Roberts (Executive Chef at Park Country Club). My favorite meal of 2013 had to be my solo dinner at Ippudo in NYC during my logistics and transport trip for the Nickel City Chef James Beard Dinner. It was a whirlwind 72 hours; driving equipment non stop to NYC. hopping around to a bunch of new/cool bars and restaurants (some new, some classics), then having dinner at the Beard house, then late night snacks with the Nickel City Chef crew post Beard house, then back to Buffalo the next day.
The Beard Dinner was excellent and an accurate representation of each participating chef’s style of food and a great collaboration effort from the Nickel City Chef Team as a whole. But for some reason, I’ve been on a serious ramen/ Izakaya kick lately. Now Ramen may be my favorite food in the world, always has been. But in the last two years, I’ve found myself researching ancient techniques and new ones, trial and error productions of stocks and broths and toppings and noodles, following all levels of Japanese pubs and restaurants all over the world. It has really become a rabbit hole type obsession. Then there is Ippudo, some say the best in the US, lots say the best in NYC, including Donnie Burtless. I had eaten there before and frankly I choose a no frills little ramen shop on St. marks as my personal favorite called Setagaya. But late on my first night in NYC after dropping off the gear at the Beard house and bidding adieu to the team as they went and enjoyed a fantastic meal at Del Posto, I sought out on my own to cram as much influence into my brain as I could In my short time in the city. I made my reservation at Ippudo as soon as they opened and was told to wait for a text message when my table was ready. When my seat was ready, I sat down right at the counter, all by myself and had one of the best pure Izakaya experiences I have ever had. Started with a shiso cocktail, and a Tako Wasabi appetizer of raw octopus and grated fresh wasabi root, then onto blistered shishito peppers with Togarashi and lemon, multiple caramelized pork belly buns, a little cold sake, and finally their classic Shiromayu Ramen with an onsen egg (ramen pictured above).
Everything was great, don’t get me wrong, but the ramen was exceptional. Light fatty broth, full flavored, not too many garnishes, tender pork, soft egg, chewy but not too firm noodles, served smoking hot. just excellent. In hind sight, it may not have been my favorite ramen ever, but the total experience of sitting there by myself, taking in all the yelling orders back and forth, all the cooks making everything right in front of you, the broths boiling away, all the customers chatting and laughing it up, beers and sake flowing, service ultra-efficient but nearly invisible. I’ve had some great meals in 2013, including an excellent off the cuff road trip to Farmstead in providence with my amazing wife in February, but this experience as a whole was definitely the best.
Teddy Bryant (Sous Chef at Lloyd Taco Trucks). My favorite Meal of 2013 was at Miss Hot Cafe. We started with the Shanghai Dumplings and the Ox tongue and tripe salad, then had Salt and Pepper Frog legs and the BBQ pork belly. It was really really good and I have been back about four times already.
Julia Burke (Freelance Writer and Booze Expert). Fried walleye sandwich at Old Fashioned in Madison. Huge salad with local greens and house vinaigrette almost but not quite overshadows a toasted, fat country bread masterpiece packed with the best fried fish filet I’ve ever had in my life, shredded cabbage, shaved radish, and house-made lemon-caper tartar sauce. I had it on an apartment-scouting trip to Madison and even now, after four months living in a foodie paradise, it remains one of my favorite meals. But we just call it The Number 36.
Chris Lindstrom (Creator of Food About Town). 2013 has been a memorable year for me overall. I got myself engaged in January, April marked the start of my food blog and I’ve been fortunate to have eaten some amazing food both in the WNY area and around the country. Narrowing it down to one local spot and one from my travels is difficult, but two places stand out to me as being the most memorable.
Although the rise of the food trucks is probably the biggest food news topic of the year for Rochester, the most memorable food I had locally came from Fiamma Pizza e Vinoin Gates. I’m a huge fan of Neopolitan pizza and Giuseppe Paciullo from Fiamma is putting out dynamite pies out of his imported wood fired oven. He serves up national level pizza with a perfectly cooked crust and their Margherita (pictured above) is my favorite individual dish in the city.
The other standout experience was a visit to Shiro’s Sushi during my recent Seattle trip. I think most of us are trying to find those places that transform what we know about a cuisine and give a sense of amazement that food can be just that good. The omakase nigiri sushi feast I had at the bar at Shiro’s was my eye opening sushi experience and I’ll never forget it for that. We had amazing quality and well cut seafood from toro to geoduck to uni right out of the shell and everything was seasoned well to fit each course. One of the best meals I’ve ever had and a great highlight to a trip to the Northwest.
Kelly Brewer (Chef/Owner of The Sweet Hearth). I’m a big fan of tapas, so many of my meals out include a selection of appetizers for everyone to share. One of my favorites is the mussels from The Hollow Bistro & Brewin Clarence. They are prepared in a Thai red curry coconut sauce, with Asian veggies and crunchy noodles on top. The sauce is to die for delicious. I’m always tempted to lick the bowl, but choose to soak up every last bit of it with a little (or a lot!) of bread instead. It’s a generous serving, perfect for sharing with a crunchy loaf and a good bottle of wine.
My second choice is from a trip to NYC earlier this year. It was just after New Years, holiday decorations were still up, I hadn’t been to the city in years. After hours and hours of walking, being wide eyed tourists and lost, my friend and I found Urban Lobster Shack in Chelsea. A pricey lunch wherever you are and no exception here (cuz I had two!) – but one of the best lobster rolls evah! The delicate bun was lightly toasted, brushed with melted butter and bursting with perfectly seasoned lobster meat. It was perfection and the roll that all others will be compared to. 🙂
Chris Seymour (Former buffaBLOG Radio Host). I’d have to say my favorite meal was the fried chicken waffle sandwich at The Lodge. Not so much because it was the most amazing thing I’ve eaten but it was one of the most interesting dishes I’ve tried. The chicken was breaded and fried beautifully in between two waffles with the most delicious maple infused cole slaw I’ve ever had.
Bruce Wieszala (Executive Chef at Tabree). I would have to say my favorite meal this past year would have to be the annual Crawfish Boil (pictured above). Even though the food was great and everyone contributed, it was more about a bunch of chefs and their friends and families getting to just relax and spend some time together. This year especially because there were so many new faces. It’s something we rarely ever get to do. It was really great.
Scotty Harris (Cook and Creator of Cooking In Theory). Best Meal Dining Out (Old Favorite Division): Carmelo’s Lewiston. We have only dined at Carmelo’s on a couple of occasions and have always been thrilled. This visit was no exception. This was our first visit since Bruce Wieszala left to take the helm of the kitchen at Tabree. As much as I love Bruce, Carmelo hasn’t missed a beat. Both the food and the service were exceptional and I can’t wait for a return visit. The “Meat Board” showed of T Meadow’s best in delightful variety. Trish had a seafood linguini dish that was delicious, and I had a T-Meadow pork chop cooked to perfection. The unbelievable concert by Chick Corea that followed was icing on the cake.
Best Meal Dining Out (Pleasant Surprise Division): Miss Hot Café. The biggest surprise of the past year was easily Miss Hot Café. I have long awaited the arrival of more authentic (and less Americanized) Chinese cuisine in the Western New York area. Over the past few years, I became aware that there were Chinese cooks capable of producing such food, but only recently have these wonderful dishes and secret menus become better known. Miss Hot Café is the latest to arrive, and it may well be the best. Every dish was filled with delights making it difficult to choose “best” item. Again, I look forward to returning and exploring the menu further. You can read more on our adventure here.
Best Meal Dining In: Sous Vide Turkey Legs. Like many Western New Yorkers of a similar inclination, I’ve been experimenting at home with sous vide cooking techniques – essentially cooking food in a water bath maintained at the serving temperature in a sealed environment (a zip lock or vacuum-sealed bag). I described the process in my blog. Everything I have tried or tasted that was prepared in this manner has been exceptional, but perhaps the most wonderful work to Turkey legs placed in a bag with seasoning and some olive oil and cooked sous vide for about 72 hours – essentially making confit. When ready to eat, the legs were removed from the bag and placed under the broiler to crisp the skin. I admit to not being a big fan of Turkey, but prepared this way it was sublime.
I look forward to new adventures in the upcoming year.
Renee Allen (Chef/Owner of R&R BBQ Truck). Best chicken souvlaki wrap: Amy’s Truck. You can get souvlaki at many places in buffalo but there’s is by far the best! Best Burgers: Knight Slider Food Truck. “The Hoff” is my favorite. Best Stuffing: my Aunt’s house on Thanksgiving… homemade and sooo good! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! Best cornbread: made by my mom (she bakes for the restaurant and food truck.) We started grilling it and it’s amazing in these cold months w/ a hot bowl of chili. Def my fav winter comfort food! Best Ravioli: Oliver’s on Delaware, fresh ricotta ravioli they just melt in your mouth. Best taco dip: made by my boyfriend and I on vacation in the Adirondacks. It was a mix of seasoned ground venison, pepperjack cheese, red pepper and corn salsa, mashed potatoes and hot sauce. We ate all of it and a whole bag of chips in one sitting! Some things are just too good to stop eating. It’s hard to list all the good food I ate this year but these things stick out in my mind the most!
Mike Khoury (Best Friend and Foodie Guru). I ate a Cronut this year. And you probably didn’t.
But was it good? After hearing about all the hype for a month, I had to do it. I’m a sucker for hype. I had to taste this thing for myself. So at 6:45 AM, on a hot morning in July, I met my coworker at Dominique Ansel’s bakery in SoHo where there was already a line of 100+ people. By this point, Cronutmania had fully erupted. CNN was interviewing some of the people that were ahead of me. The bums around the area had created a black market by sleeping in front of the bakery, thus guaranteeing themselves “first in line” status. Then they’d auction their spot off to people who arrived late. I didn’t need to pay for a spot. I did the quick math when I arrived. Ansel was churning out roughly 300 Cronuts/day at that point. Each person was limited to 2 Cronuts. I was, at worst, 120thin line. I was safe. Two and a half hours later, I got my Cronuts.
But was it any good?? I’m not sure why Cronuts got as much attention as they did. It’s part donut, part croissant. So what? We’ve been putting out all kinds of gimmicky, fatty foods in America. There’s a restaurant in Vegas that prides itself on the amount of calories it puts out per meal. People have died there. At county fairs we deep fry anything and everything (deep fried butter, anyone?). My theory is that America has a special love affair with donuts and donut-related things. I’m not entirely sure why, though. But when Krispy Kreme arrived in Buffalo, and that HOT NOW sign came on, people were swerving across 3 lanes to get in. A minor league baseball team created a burger sandwiched between 2 glazed donuts and people went bananas. And now this.
Was.It.Good? But I respect the Cronut. Ansel apparently put months of work into crafting this delight. It wasn’t just some quickly thrown together marketing gimmick, unlike that other stupid hybrid sensation from this summer. He set out to make a finely crafted pastry. After all of the attention he got, he easily could have opened a chain of Cronut shops around the world. But that’s not what he wanted to do. He continued to put out his classics like the DKA, madeleines, and canneles. He continued to innovate by following up the Cronut with a frozen s’more. I respect that. And I think he raised money for charity as well, which is nice.
WAS IT GOOD?!?! Yea it was pretty good. I’m really not that into sweets.
My opinion, in case you were actually wondering: the DKA, in my opinion, is better than the Cronut and can be had at any hour of the day. Don’t get me wrong, if there was a plate of Cronuts in front of me right now, I would absolutely house them. But I would never wait in line for them. Especially not for 2 hours in 90 degree heat after forgetting to bring water with me. Dominique Ansel is a fantastic bakery full of all kinds of great stuff. You aren’t missing out if they don’t have any Cronuts left. But seriously, i’m not that into sweets.
Ken Legnon (Sushi Chef at Seabar). The best meal of 2013 (and also of my life) was in West Palm Beach at my friend’s restaurant Sushi Jo. He’s the guy that taught me the ways of sushi all those years ago which has allowed me to get my current job with Mike at Seabar. I spent the week of Thanksgiving in Palm Beach working for the Jacobs family, catering their Thanksgiving festivities and on Black Friday I decided to go see my buddy Jo. He happened to be there that night, which was odd because he now owns five successful sushi bars in the area.
I sat down and we caught up on the years that had passed and I told him to feed me… omakase all the way. I had 10 courses with sake flowing and even dessert…the courses ranged from santa Barbara uni with shiso, Bluefin toro nigiri, Hamachi kama tartar, cucumber maki rolls with tuna, wild Alaskan king salmon belly crudo, yellowfin chu-toro sashimi, angawa (fluke fin) and home made mochi ice cream. Just to name a few. There might have been more than 10 courses for all I know….I was pretty well drunk by the end of the 2 1/2 hour feeding frenzy.
Steve Gedra (Owner/Chef of Bistro Europa,). The first memorable meal that sticks in my head from 2013 begins in Orlando. Ellen and I were in Disney World with my parents gettin’ weird. This place was called LA. Boiling Seafood. (Buff Eats—peep this shit. SOOOOO GHETTO) The theme was Gulf Coast style seafood but…… it was owned and operated by Vietnamese. Totally clean and well lit, but stripped wayyyy down. They served the shit in tinfoil Glad containers. No joke. Mountain of crabs. Glad tinfoil. Po-Boy-tinfoil. Motherfucking bisque….you guessed it, tinfoil. (Just kidding about the bisque, though) Anyways, we were with my parents and my Father can knuckle the fuck out of some crab. So we lit that place up pretty well. Just straight up burled ass seafood with some potatoes and shit. I loved it. Fuck Disney. I’d go back to ORL just for that.
Next up is some gangster shit in Naples. A little place called Chilakil on Tamiami Road. I think I mentioned this place last year as well because I love it. We all know gangster Mexican is hard to come by in WNY. I get super gross and order like 12 tacos (3 buche, 3 lengua, 3 pastor, 3 cueritos), 2 aguas frescas (Jamaica and Horchata), some naayyyyychos, 2 tostadas, and some other shit. It was just Ellen and I. Muy gordo. I love that place. It’s run by a bunch of tiny, bad ass Mexican women who look like they’d rip out your throat if you fuck around. I’m gonna miss this one in 2014.
In February, my lovely wife and me were invited to attend a pig roast at Park Country Club by two of our regulars. You know James threw down some gnar-gnar once he got wind we were coming. I should have written this one down, but I definitely remember some supernova hot sauce. James also throws a Ninja Gaiden crawfish boil at some point in the summer. Buff Eats knows the deal with that one. Hurricanes and bugs with a bunch of great people? I wish it were held once a month.
Sometime in the Spring, Rich Tilyou of piglore hooks up a swine roast at the farm. All of the people you wanna eat pig with are there. Nothing like cookin’ up a hog in front of his cousins. That’s being connected to your food. I distinctly remember Bruce Wieszala and I gazing in wonderment at a stalactite of natural pork jelly that had coagulated on the trotters, glistening in the sun. Then we made out. It was weird.
We headed out to LA in July to see our new niece and nephew that were about 1 month old. We went bonkers at Oo-Kook in Koreatown. Traditional Korean BBQ. $25 all you can eat meat. They just keep bringing out pickles while you roast your meat. You have to eat all of the meat you order, or they hammer you with a $20 per person fee. I really love interacting with my dinner. If you’ve ever eaten with me, you know I revert to a caveman after about 10 minutes. We also hit up the infamous Kogi truck when we were out West. The kimchi quesadilla is the chronic. I could seriously eat that every day. I’d feel some shame, but I’m down with that.
Then we got real busy with the building of our restaurant, so not much has happened since then in my dining world, save for a few good meals at home and some Arirang, Miss Hot Café, and Quick One love. There was also the last Thanksgiving at Europa, which carried well into the morning. That was a bittersweet night. Just knowing we will be somewhere else next year. I know this year will bring newfound loves and returns to old favorites, and that is always encouraging and inspiring.
Rick Criden (Purchasing Manager and Sales at Schneider’s). In no particular order, here are my favorite meals. Snout to Tail Dinner at Bistro Europa (pictured above), Ramen Midnight Mass with James Roberts, Carmelo Raimondi’s Midnight Mass, Tabree with Penguino (aka Steve Gedra) – we sat at the bar and let Bruce feed us, Brad Rowell’s Midnight Mass, Ed’s first Workshop Popup at Silo City, every meal I’ve had in the past year at Peking Quick One, Tasting Menu at Max of Eastman (in Rochester), every meal I’ve had at Sun Restaurantand Big Fuss.
Nelson Starr (Visit Buffalo Niagara and Rock-N-Roll Guy). I hate to say but there a are a few places and meals I’m NOT going to tell you about because I am keeping them all to myself. They are open secrets to most in-the-know-foodies but I just need them to stay, at least, status quo for a while yet. That is awful isn’t it!? But they are doing just fine so why pack them in with any more hipster food porn voyeurs (oh, sorry Donnie – I didn’t mean you!) There’s already too many of those young, annoying, punk know-it-alls for my bitter tastes.
Enjoyable meals? I kind of love them all because I am certainly a gourmand pig of sorts and, yes, truffles are great. I would have enjoyed more of my own cooking except for the fact that I cooked it and all the tasting along the way kinda ruins the surprise. My friend Craig always makes better food than I can get out but, he doesn’t have a restaurant to promote so, why bother. As far as restaurants I’m NOT going to tell you about…
I enjoyed eating some quite oily but delicious pork product at a small Chinese restaurant in the T of T. This is memorable because it was during the hipster hubub phase and the owners had no idea that they were already “famous”, if one could call it that. The food was pretty spectacular and unique but the most memorable part was just how humble and pre-pretension a place can be. I am sure that the boy at the counter (whose English is about as bad as I can recall in any Buffalo food emporium…and God bless that actually) doesn’t even really know what pretension, cool or cutting-edge is, in any shape or form–brilliant! This restaurant is a total anomaly of the highest accident and a happy one at that. I also liked eating chicken hearts on a stick, gizzard and other naughty bits. I truly believe Sheridan Drive is turning into some sort of Asian food Mecca. I love that I live just one block north of all the action. For once, I loved this joints over-sized menu.
Speaking of more Tonawanda/Amherst exotica, I have been diggin’ me some butter chicken and an eggplant dish to die for (and have you ever eaten an eggplant dish to die for?) called Baingan Bharta. There are more finds under this roof but do stay away from the Hakka stuff in my opinion.
Travelling way north, I had probably the best meal of the year at a cozy little place in Lewiston run by one of the regions best chefs. The chef’s initials are C.R., okay, but that’s as close as I’m getting to spelling it out for ya! I can’t recall exactly what I had other than it was ridiculously good (it must have been the NYS distilled Gin I was drinking too much of). I know it was some locally raised protein and some spicy meatballs and T-Meadow charcuterie. No matter how you slice it, I tasted love, love and more love which is what I love to taste mate. Bravo!
I’ve has several memorable lunches but may I say that some really obscure cook, an upstart, an unknown really is making one hell of a cobb salad. Could we really ask for more…when it is so chocked full of this and that. Eating healthy never tasted so porky with what I call lardons and they call bacon and some of the best chopped then grilled (or is it reverse) chicken thigh this side of championship winning mall version chicken teriyaki (and that’s an odd but honest compliment in my book)–fuck breast. Now if he could only find some fans and open his own place. One can dream can’t he. Someday…
A much needed addition to our otherwise predominantly un-Italian Italian restaurant scene was the much anticipated opening of this little cucina povera, also in my neck of the woods. This really is akin to what “poor” people eat in Italy–take that baked Parmesan and shove it. Ouch, it’s freakin’ hot man. Finally a true peasant food take on some classic dishes and done right with a lot of love and detail…all in an atmosphere near and dear to my heart. Remember to add some fresh grated nutmeg to your creamy sauce and a reggiano heal to your chicken broth. That’s the kind of technique I’m into and, apparently, so is she. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a bunch of other meals. So, I’ll be remiss and not. Donnie doesn’t pay me y’know and, oh, my fingers are SO sore. If any of these NOT recommendations sound good but you don’t know just where these joints are, that’ okay, I don’t want to run into anyaya anyway. Just kidding but, eating in peace and privacy is one of my few pleasures and almost a prerequisite to a memorable meal for me. Not knowing anyone in my table’s panorama is something I cherish when I can find it. Early, late and weekdays, I say.
Tom Burtless our podcast producer describing his favorite meals of 2013. Even though he still eats Jim’s Steakout on a regular basis, he’s come a long way and tried some new things this year.
Here’s what made his top five…
5. Briskettown – Holy shit, I’ve never had meat that tasted this good in my life. It was tender enough that it melted in your mouth. This was one of those rare meals where I actually said out-loud “this is stupid good” while actually eating. I cannot wait to go back and try this place again.
4. Elm Street Bakery – The best pizza I’ve eaten this year, by far, came from Elm Street. Cooked at just the right temperature with just the right amount of sauce and delicious fresh mozzarella.
3. Ippudo – I had the pleasure of going to NYC with Donnie this past October for the first time since I was 17. One of the stops we were set on making was Ippudo, which gave me a taste for real ramen. Delicious broth, tasty noodles and great pork all combined for a fantastic meal.
2. Black Market Food Truck – Mike and Christian are putting out some of the best (if not the best) sandwiches in Buffalo. I’ve had their banh mi more times than I can remember, and each one was absolutely delicious. They’re great guys making great food, what more can you ask for?
1. Mike A’s at the Hotel Lafayette – Amazing cocktails, delicious oysters, and a perfectly cooked steak. For a special occasion, I can’t think of anything else I’d rather have. Chef Ed Forster’s food was phenomenal that July night and Tony Rials’ drinks are my favorite in Buffalo. I’m already thinking about the next time I can grab a Sazarac, I’m obsessed with that drink.
Alli Suriani: It’s inevitable… Every time someone finds out we are the people behind Buffalo Eats, one of the first things they ask is some version of “What’s the best thing you’ve ever eaten” or “What’s the best restaurant/dish in Buffalo?” My answer is always the same and 100% true: there’s too many options to pick from. I know that’s sort of a cop-out but in all honestly, and without trying to sound like a food-snob, we really do eat a lot of amazing meals in a lot of great restaurants each year. But, to appease Donnie and everyone else who might care, I’ve narrowed down my meals from 2013 to five that are the best of the best. In no particular order…
Pizza at Roberta’s Pizza in Brooklyn NY. If I could afford to move to NYC, I would in a heartbeat. I know a lot of people say that, and yeah I love Buffalo and all, but NYC is a food paradise. Last April we took our annual (or I guess it’s becoming bi-annual) trip to NYC to visit friends and eat our faces off. As usual, we tried to pack too many restaurants into our 3 day visit and almost went into diabetic shock, but it was worth it. We started our trip at the uber-hipster, uber-trendy, uber-delicious Brooklyn pizza joint, Roberta’s. These people don’t mess around and their wood-fire pizza’s are incredibly legit. The crust, oooooh the crust. I don’t know if it was the atmosphere, the added charcuterie plate or simply just the pizza that made the experience so memorable, but if you are in the NYC area for any reason and you don’t stop in, then I have no sympathy for you.
Wild Boar Ragu at Osteria l’Brincello in Florence, Italy. I know, I know, you can’t just drop everything and head to Italy right now. But if somehow you could, and you found yourself in Florence, this is where you’d want to eat. Italy is filled with equal parts mind-blowingly amazing food and terrible overpriced tourist trap food. And sometimes it’s really hard to figure out what restaurant serves what. It was on a whim and a random google search that I found this small Osteria right outside of the city center. Florence, among other things, is known for boar ragu and my mind was set on finding the best version I could. Not only was Brincello’s version the best ragu I’ve ever had, but it was the best meal I had in Italy overall, which is saying a lot. The boar was slow roasted over at least two days and the pasta was made fresh that morning; it was simply perfect. Delicious pasta on a warm summer night in Italy…I’m pretty sure nothing can top that.
Japanese Kobe Beef Tenderloin at Mike A in Buffalo, NY. We had the pleasure of dining at Mike A’s multiple times before Chef Ed Forester and the restaurant parted ways. Last February we went for dinner with my parents. Why? I wanted my birthday meal made by the best chef in the city. That night, Ed even got my dad to try (and enjoy!) squash ravioli, which is pretty much like achieving world peace. The Kobe was all my dreams and more, so much so that the picture of my meal was the background on my phone for a few weeks, replacing my beloved spoiled dogs. Now that’s impressive.
The Workshop: An Exploration of Grain in Buffalo, NY. Surprise, surprise, Chef Forster has made my list twice. I feel like I owe him cookies or something. This was another meal that was really a culmination of the entire experience; location, other diners, underground secret coolness-facter, etc. You really couldn’t ask for a neater setting. Wandering around the old grain elevators, still slightly buzzing from City of Night just weeks before, was quite incredible. And while the chicken tostada and family-style beef tenderloin were amazing, the corn bisque still haunts my taste-buds. If a certain chef would open a certain restaurant and have this on the menu regularly, I would be the happiest girl in the universe.
Dad’s Birthday dinner at Tabree in Snyder, NY. If people ask me for a recommendation for a “nice night-out” dinner, I almost always tell them to go to Tabree. Since Chef Bruce Wieszala has taken over, it’s only received ultra positive reviews (a 10 from the Buffalo News!) and it could not be more deserved. Fresh, local, top quality ingredients and one of the best chefs in WNY create a combination that will literally knock your socks off no matter what you order. I feel like I’m writing an advertisement here. But in all seriousness, everything we ate for dinner last July was a hit. Stuffed squash blossoms, Bruce’s famous Pork Belly Bahn Mi, and the ‘deconstructed’ cheesecake all combined to create the perfect meal. Tabree might just be in the running for where I choose to have my birthday dinner this year.
Honorable mentions: Every meal I’ve had from the Black Market Food Truck (in particular the Schmandy, the BELT and all arancini’s), Tuesdays at Larkin with Brick ‘N Motor Food Truck (RIP, sorta), the french fries from Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs and the most recent Omakase.
Donnie Burtless: We are posting our year-end review tomorrow, but spoiler alert: we ate well in 2013. This year I was lucky enough to make two trips to NYC, spent a weekend in San Francisco, attend several underground dinners, visited over 60 local restaurants in WNY, went on a 10 day trip to Italy and judged over 10 events. The point is that I ate a lot this year, and most of it was good which means that it was really hard to narrow down my five favorite meals from this year. Here’s what I came up with…
Snout To Tail Dinner at Bistro Europa. This might be the only meal on this list that made feel angry and happy at the time. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved everything about this nine course barrage of T-Meadow pork. Each course kept me interested and pushed the limits of my stomach. By the time I finished my dessert (a leaf lard brioche with raspberry jam), I was struggling to breathe, but I kept eating because the trio of Wieszala/Gedra/Raimondi were preparing some outstanding food. I still think Steve was trying to kill me that night, which would have been a pretty bad ass way to go out.
Every meal at Brick-N-Motor this summer. I might be biased on this one. Admittedly I’ve become good friends with Paul Vronman this year, who was one of the owners (he’s since opened Aunt Rosie’s in Rochester, which I’m looking forward to trying out), and they did name a special after me. But every time I visited their truck at Larkin or at the History Museum, I was very excited to see what they had that day. Their pork buns were some of the best I’ve ever had and their pastas were lights out. Their food is the best I’ve ever had from any food truck, period.
Midnight Mass IV with Chef Brad Rowell. Alli and I went to a couple Midnight Mass events this year and each one was pretty special. Whether it was the food, the company or feeling like I was part of a secret club; I really enjoyed each one. But it was the Midnight Mass meal featuring Brad Rowell from Park Country Club and the insanely delicious lobster roll/salt and vinegar chips/shandy combination that I will always remember. The giant pile of lobster, the amazing New England style roll from Ellen, the fresh and crispy chips and a really tasty ginger beer shandy really won me over that Saturday night.
Salumeri Rosciole in Rome, Italy. Alli and I were serious on our second visit to Italy. We were going to avoid tourist traps at all costs and in Rome, that’s really difficult. So Alli planned weeks ahead of time to come up with a list of trusted restaurants. First on that list was Salumeri Rosciole and I’m so glad that we picked it as our first proper meal of our trip. The food was outstanding, the restaurant is very hip and we were eating around mostly locals in a quiet neighborhood. I was so excited that we actually pulled off an ‘authentic’ Italian experience at a really good restaurant. Not to mention I had the best Burrata and Spaghetti Carbonara that I have ever had in my entire life.
Our first meal at Ristorante Lombardo. It was really hard to limit this list down to five, but I couldn’t forget about our first meal at Ristorante Lombardo this past January. Between fantastic service, a visually beautiful dining room and some of the best Italian food I’ve had in WNY, it was really a meal to remember. Somehow Chef Obarka hooked me on a salad, who knew? The pastas were outstanding and Alli still talks about their burrata. We’ve actually gone back to the restaurant a few times since and had a second and third great meal…and we are going this New Years Eve. Considering we don’t get to make 2nd and 3rd (or 4th!) visits very often, the fact that we are going out of our way to eat at Lombardo’s three times this year really means something.
Runners Up: Omakase Destination – great food in a neat setting and I was able to share it with a good friend of mine; James Beard Rehearsal Dinner at The Mansion – fun experience with our wonderful friend Christa and celebrate everything she’s done with Nickel City Chef; Our Anniversary Meal at Daniel’s – suburban dining at its finest and I was honored to have one last meal from Chef Daniel Johengen; Medina Taco Trip with the Lloyd Boys – sitting in the rain, eating some tacos at a road side stall with Pete, Chris and Teddy was pretty awesome; The Workshop at Silo City – amazing food in a gorgeous setting with close friends’ Father in law’s Birthday Meal at Tabree – happy to see Chef Bruce’s skills first hand and was glad I could show my in laws what really great local food can taste like.