Our Favorite Meals of 2023: Part One
Our first post this year features shucking uni, a family Polish sausage recipe, a celebration with pizza and wings, a touching meal on a farm, a viral breakfast sandwich in Vegas and more.
For the 12th year, we have reached out to various people tied to the Buffalo community to ask about their favorite meals from this calendar year. The parameters are wide open, these meals can be from anywhere and the folks we ask can write as much or as little as they’d like.
Enjoy the following 11 stories of favorite meals from our friends…
Arthur Bovino
Co-Host of Pizza Pod Party, Author of Buffalo Everything
3x Favorite Meal Contributor
My dining out experiences have changed pretty dramatically over the past few years since my son was born, the pandemic, etc. We're not "out on the town" the way we used to be a few years ago. Still, we've had some great meals in New York City and nearby on special occasions (Hawksmoor Steakhouse) and just as random family dinners (Yopparai, a Lower East Side izakaya, and Kura revolving sushi in Fort Lee).
Our son Gus became obsessed with sharing huge soft pretzels with me at the Upper East Side German Biergarten Heidelberg after his Sunday swim class (he wanted to go every week for about two months), and we took him to the famously caricature-filled restaurant Sardi's in the Theater District for the first time, which was gas. I've been lucky to have some good meals with colleagues in Austin (Birdies, Este, Launderette) and Las Vegas (Night + Market, Pizza Rock, Nobu, Best Friend), and there have been some great slices (Sammataro in Austin, a grandma at La Piazza and King Umberto's on Long Island) along the way, which for me, are always paramount.
Making mashed potatoes with my son for the second year in a row was meaningful to me too. But pressed to flag one restaurant meal, I'd have to say it was an uni-shucking class, an early Christmas gift from my wife Angela, at Osakana, a Japanese-style fish market and education center in the East Village. Angela doesn't like uni but knows I love it. She spotted the class and suggested I go with a longtime food friend, Rich Frazer, a real fresser and restaurant hound, a restaurant lawyer who likes to tell me he's taught me everything I know about food (yeah, yeah, yeah).
Anyway, we got to learn how to shuck uni (pictured above), which I hadn't done before, and then basically ate it in handrolls we made ourselves until we couldn't eat anymore (it was accompanied by a suite of fish as well). And that says a lot. I don't think you can ask for anything fresher than that. It was a memorable one to be sure, one I'm grateful to have had.
Joey Pucciarelli
Co-founder of Extra Extra Pizza
2x Favorite Meal Contributor
Looking back on the places I ate this year that really meant something to me (and wasn’t a banana with a single bite taken out of it that I peeled the ‘wrong way’), I realized I really kept it local, trying some new spots and some of my old standbys. Owning my own business means a lot of flexibility in my schedule, and a lot of little errands. Luckily, I’ve usually got my 2 year old sidekick (aptly named Junior) along for the ride and he loves a “little treat” more than just about anyone. Here are some of our greatest hits:
Zio’s Deli - this is within walking distance from our house, and right by one of our go-to playgrounds. Nothing beats a morning playground sesh in the beautiful summer sunshine and capping it off with a delicious hoagie from Zio’s. Always kid-friendly (they have two youngins themselves), the sandwiches are a big hit with Buffalo’s next generation of cooks (Junie + Vinnie forever)
The Downtown Bazaar - a chance to take the choo-choo train downtown?? Sign us up. Whether it be a Bisons game, or heading to Explore & More, a quick stop aboveground to the Downtown Bazaar is always the move. With enough space to tire out any toddler, and choices galore, a quesadilla from Oralia, or some Halo Halo from Pinoy Boy were some of our favorite bites from this past year. Pinoy Boy even catered Junior’s birthday!
Five Points Neighborhood - yes, we live and work here, but I promise there is no hometown favoritism happening. Butter Block and Remedy House have kept us satiated more than probably any other establishment this year. They're friendly, always accommodate Junior, and are the meccas for said “little treats.” Junior gets a “latte” (cold milk in an espresso mug) and a roll with butter, and I find myself getting whatever seasonal pastry Gina has in the case. When he sees those yellow awnings from the car, he often starts yelling “LATTE DADA!” Let me tell ya, this Generation Alpha is just built different.
Steve Micciche
Bassist for Better Lovers
1st Time Favorite Meal Contributor!
You’re not sending shockwaves to anyone local to Buffalo, NY about how good the food is here. You know the staples, the secret sneaky spots don’t stay a secret for long, and it’s far more rare to have a BAD meal than a good one. I’ve tried a lot (city and burbs) and any place I’d say was incredible has probably been in this publication. So I’m going interstate.
I had my 1st Toca Madera experience this past September in Las Vegas. I believe there are currently 3 of these across the US. It’s a modern Mexican steakhouse that has all types of options including vegan, gluten free, etc. This place gets my vote for best meal not only because of the food, but the experience is straight up insanity from start to finish.
If you’re looking for a quiet, romantic, stuffy steakhouse, just stop reading this right now. You’re going the wrong way. Bail. Hit eject. I can recommend plenty of those. We know where those are.
Walking in, the place was surrounded by a moat that you had to cross via a bridge surrounded by fire. Then you get inside, and there were fire dancers at the table. The drinks were on fire. The food was on fire. I was in real time living a Beavis and Butthead fire fantasy.
The music was loud, and I’m half deaf. There was a live DJ and not only was he spinning, he had a guitar strapped on and ripping solos.
Oh yea the food. The cocktail menu was incredibly fun and fresh. Appetizers we had crispy tacos, Shishito Peppers, street corn and truffle Mac. The usuals, but all prepared well.
My main I shared with a couple people was a flaming 40oz Tomahawk and bone marrow. Some dude came to the table with the steak hanging from an apparatus and lit it on fire. Great combo of rub and salt on the steak. Everyone was a big fan.
This place didn’t just hide behind big flashy gimmicks with sub par cuisine. Food was fantastic. I still think about it. I also have slight issues with attention so in the entertainment capital of the world if you’re looking for a place to stimulate a bunch of senses, have great food and also have a bunch of fun, I couldn’t recommend this more.
Mark Goodwin
Buffalo Eats, Creator of 10AM Hayburner
4x Favorite Meal Contributor
My experience at Stillwater Farm back in August was a dinner l'll remember for the rest of my life - for a variety of reasons. First obviously, being the food. Chef Ross Warhol of Oliver's/Britesmith fame previewed his upcoming Hamburg restaurant,
Perennial, and gave us a look inside his sustainable, delicious, and purely wild menu. Lots of lamb, fresh tomatoes, roasted carrots, juicy peaches, among other fruits and veggies from his farm with perfectly paired wine to accompany it all. I never thought a simple dish like "Tomato and Cucumber" could be transformed into a jello-esque texture that also tastes like the best sherbet you've ever had. Or that I'd ever be craving sweet corn custard. Or wanting to eat chicken caesar salad in the form of pasta. Or that eating cabbage, horseradish, and yogurt tastes like Bison Dip. Food can make you think of the world in a different way.
But what especially made that Sunday memorable, was the fact that it gave me much needed perspective and reminded me of what got me into the food world in the first place. It’s been a very tough year filled with a lot of challenges, changes, and pain. I was talking to my friend’s Mom about some life changes I went through and when I said I was taking a step back, she gave me some of the best life advice I’ve ever received - “It’s not a step back, it’s just a step.” We’re all trying our best. Life is tough.
So, to be surrounded by beautiful farmland that raises animals the way they deserve to be raised and hearing Jay, the owner, talk about all they do for pediatric cancer patients through their farm programs was truly inspiring. Not only that, but Jay giving Buffalo Eats a special shoutout at the end of dinner for recently being recognized for raising $100K for the Ride for Roswell was what really made me break down and cry. My best friend’s Dad passed of cancer this year. Losing an Aunt to a brutal cancer battle recently was so tough. Both my parents are cancer survivors. It runs in the family.
But this moment of appreciation, surrounded by family and the best people in the industry I love the most, made me realize all the good we can do with this platform. Which is exactly what chefs try to do with their platform. Food and love go hand in hand, and I hope you continue to enjoy our content while we try to do our best. Thanks for listening.
Brother Bill
@brotherbill716
1st Time Favorite Meal Contributor!
I have had a lot of great food through the year, shout out to my friends at Ziggys for my favorite chicken wings in their house made “Duck Sauce” and Chortke Grill, a newly renovated, reopened Persian dine in restaurant and their pistachios cheesecake that goes crazy (both restaurants Rochester based.)
However my favorite meal of the year was a homemade classic. My Grandpa was a baker by trade, but when after he retired there was a few years where my sister and I would stay with him and my grandma after school until my parents got home from work. He didn’t cook much for dinners but there was one meal we would beg him for because it was so good and no one could make it like him. It was polish sausage on the grill, with some grilled onions and pan fried insanely crispy egg noodles. He would lather the pan in way too much butter and fry them in a cast iron skillet to have a thick crunchy crust on the top and and bottoms of the egg noodles.
He passed away about a year and a half ago now, and I hadn’t had that perfect childhood meal in so long but right around Thanksgiving I was craving it. That Sunday I went to my Moms and she replicated the meal, grilled polish sausage and those crunchy egg noodles. No one can get the egg noodles as crispy and buttery and delicious as my Papa did, but my Mom did an amazing job. And for a little bit while I ate that meal, it felt like he was here again, and I was a kid after school hanging with my Grandpa without a care in the world.
Ray Delucci
Creator/Podcast Host of Line Cook Thoughts
2x Favorite Meal Contributor
The beginning of 2023 saw some major life changes for me. I had just recently moved to the suburbs of Chicago, my second favorite city behind Buffalo. The move was for work, and it was exciting as I had the opportunity to dine in and around both the city and the suburbs. While it is quite obvious that Chicago has an incredible food scene, the suburbs boast some excellent places to enjoy as well. So it is easy to say that I did feel a bit spoiled and slightly overwhelmed at all of the food places I would enjoy in the coming months and years of my life.
A fun fact about me is that I actually lived in Chicago before the COVID-19 pandemic shook up the world. I used to manage a restaurant on North Michigan Ave in River North. I was surrounded by so many different dining options, but one restaurant in particular caught my eye. And it was not located within the culinary heaven that can lie within The Loop. The restaurant I sought out was a restaurant that was a 30-minute subway ride on the Red Line from my old apartment.
This restaurant is Sun Wah BBQ. They specialize in Hong Kong-style barbecue and are known for dishes such as Whole Roast Duck and Whole Roast Pig. The restaurant has been recognized as a dining destination by publications and media outlets such as Eater, Condé Nast, and Food Network. While it is no secret how good their food is, it is incredible how consistently they put out such an incredible meal. I would often go there and order their roast duck, which would come with a side of rice and pickles. It was incredible, and I ate there more than any other restaurant during my stay in the city.
So when COVID hit, and the world changed, I left Chicago and Sun Wah’s incredible food. Throughout the pandemic, I would check to see if Sun Wah was still open, and to my incredible joy, they seemed to push through. So, upon my return to Illinois, it was a goal of mine to go back to a restaurant that meant so much to me and marked what felt like a bygone era in my life.
I visited Sun Wah this past summer with some friends, and my anticipation of a great meal and the excitement to be back and show it to new people was very apparent.
We ordered their Beijing Duck Dinner, which is an experience on its own. For the first course, they roast the duck whole, and it is beautiful. Crispy skin, savory, tender, juicy meat, and just so delicious. Flavors built around their seasoning and the roasting method shine with this perfectly cooked duck. They wheel the whole roast duck out on a cart and carve it tableside for you, which is a sight to behold. Once finished, they then take any leftover meat and bones and bring them to the kitchen. You are given steamed buns, pickled carrots and daikon, and an assortment of sauces to enjoy the duck with. This, on its own, would constitute a great meal, but there was more to come.
The second course is fried rice made out of the little bits of leftover meat on the duck carcass that could not be sliced for us tableside. They literally utilize all of the leftover delicious meat and turn it into an incredibly satisfying duck fried rice. For the third and final course of this dinner, they render down the duck bones into a soup that also contains winter melon, cilantro, and eggs. Both the rice and the soup are mind-blowing, and it is one of those dining experiences that just lets you admire the art of cooking. You will not find the Beijing Duck Dinner on their menu. It is a dine-in-only option, and during busy hours, it can be limited.
This meal is my favorite meal of 2023 for its flavor, experience, craftsmanship, and meaning. The pandemic shook up my life in many ways, both personally and professionally. My love for Sun Wah was never lost, but my ability to eat there for some time was. To be able to take the red line back up to Argyle, walk into the dining room, and have the best dining experience of the year is just a testament to the quality and care the staff put into their craft. If you are ever in the Windy City, I highly recommend you visit. It is a meal you will surely never forget. Thank you Sun Wah BBQ.
Rachel Glover
@kylorae716, NY/NJ Market Manager at Patco Brands
1st Time Favorite Meal Contributor!
Reminiscing back on 2023, and all of the amazing experiences, and locations that I have traveled to both for work and pleasure really have any scratching my head at what was the single stand alone meal that topped them all. This was going to be a lot more difficult than I had anticipated when I enthusiastically agreed to participate in this piece. When I really sat down to think about what was the most memorable meal along with experience, one place really stood out to me, that place was the Marble Room in Cleveland. This trip was a little bit of a celebration for myself and my fiancé as I was nearing my 35th birthday and we wanted a mini getaway. He had planned and booked this reservation months in advance. After checking out the cocktail menu, I understood the excitement and anticipation for such an amazing place.
We spent the day sight seeing and taking in all of the history of the city, stopping for a small lunch at a local Mexican inspired hole in the wall that had amazing tacos. When it was finally time for the reservation, I could hardly contain my excitement. Walking into the marble Room was unreal, behind the pull back curtains as you walk in, the ceilings seemed to be a mile high and the glass enclosed third story wine cellar was breathtaking. We were seating at an intimate little table nestled into the back where the noise wasn’t too much but also you could feel the buzz and excitement from tables around us.
As I looked over the menu, being the seafood lover I am, the spicy shrimp really stood out to me (pictured above). Of course we looked over the appetizers but first thing was first, cocktails. One of the most unique parts of this cocktail program was their Sous Vide old fashioned to which that had quite the selection. Patrick grabbed one of those and I of course ordered the seasonal espresso martini. Both cocktails were absolutely unreal, the espresso martini was the perfect sweet to bitter ratio and the old fashioned was unlike anything I had ever tried in the best way possible. We started with an order of the duck confit spring rolls and sipped on our cocktails while enjoying each others company and soaking in all the Marble room had to offer.
When our server came back, we made our final choices for entrees and I of course ordered the spicy shrimp. As the server cleared the table we ordered more cocktails and after what only felt like a few minutes, our entrees arrived. When he placed the steaming plate in front of me, I knew I had made the right choice. Several large shrimp were served over a bed of black rice and coconut curry stir fried vegetables, it was then seasoned with cilantro, basil and a house made chili oil. The first bite was unforgettable, the sweet and spicy mingled together on my tongue and was the perfect blend. The sweet coconut curry mellowed out the chili but the heat didn’t completely dissipate and the buttery sweet with a slight crunch of the shrimp really pulled the entire bite together. This was the absolute perfect dish and one of the most amazing I had ever experienced. I savored every single bite Of this meal, I still think about it to this day.
After we finished our main course, the server brought out a higher cotton candy on a stick with happy birthday” written on the plate for a delicious and sweet way to end a meal. Overall from the ambiance to the service to the food, this was one of the best dining experiences I have ever had. The food was absolutely perfect along with the cocktails and our server even recommended a few fun cocktail bars to visit after to keep our night going strong. If you ever find yourself in the Cleveland area, I would highly recommend checking this place out.
Joe George
Creator of Urban Simplicity
4x Favorite Meal Contributor
To answer the question of what was a favorite or memorable meal of the past year is difficult as we all eat multiple times a day, and when one cooks for a living it compounds the question. But one of my favorites that comes to mind is eating a gumbo out of a paper cup in a dive bar while drinking a bottle of Budweiser. This said, there’s a back story.
I’ve read that one’s sense of smell and taste (especially smell) are the strongest memory senses. And this meal is a good example.
Last spring I was sitting in a dive bar on Decatur Street in New Orleans. It’s a bar I frequent each time I make it to the Crescent city. There were only a few people besides myself in the bar on a sunny afternoon when someone emerged from the back and asked if we would like a bowl of gumbo; gratis. Initially I said no, but then he commented that he had learned to make it from his grandmother.
In the winter of 1987-88 I lived on the opposite side of the French Quarter and worked as cook in a French restaurant on St Charles Avenue. I was fresh out of culinary school, but this is where I was really learning to cook. This is also where I first learned to make gumbo, and even more importantly a dark Cajun roux.
The bar—which I frequented then just as now, and the one I ate the aforementioned gumbo out of a paper cup—is located across from the French Market, which at the time was open 24 hours. On occasion the executive sous chef from the restaurant at which I was employed would give me cash to purchase fresh okra from the market for the next day’s gumbo. So, tipsy from too much cheap beer (back then I drank Dixie Beer, which is no longer in production) I would walk the darkened streets of the French Quarter back to my apartment with a paper bag full of okra, and then carry it on a streetcar to work the next day.
So on this sultry day this past spring as I held the steaming cup of gumbo to my nose before digging in, it contained this entire story and more in that paper soup cup. And when I ate it, it was good.
Joseph DeBenedictis
Tik Tok Creator, YouTuber, Emmy Winning Video Producer
2x Favorite Meal Contributor
I took a risk and followed the advice of food TikToker Keith Lee. He had a breakfast sandwich in Las Vegas at a place 20 minutes off the strip that he rated 10/10. So I went there. It’s called Buldogis, an Asian fusion spot serving gourmet hotdogs, and apparently amazing breakfast sandwiches. The one in particular was the Sausage and egg drop sandwich.
I watched how they made it to see what was so special. The eggs are soft scrambled, the bread is thick and cut 3/4 so they can stuff it with egg, cheese, sausage and their homemade sauce.
I bit into it and WOW, it really was delicious. So much so that as I wrote this I’m sitting in the airport about to fly to Vegas and have it again. Here’s my own video review on it which ended up getting 1.3 million views!
Jess Forster
Partner/Sommelier at Waxlight Bar a Vin
5x Favorite Meal Contributor
It was another good year full of celebrations & a little bit of travel, all with my favorite people. High on the list is the family-style meal we had in the private dining room of Rizzo's House of Parm for my husband's birthday. Ed's twin brother came in from California to celebrate their 40th together, and our nearest & dearest were all there. I don't think I am alone in saying their eggplant parm is by far the best eggplant parm I have ever had, hands down.
Other Canadian treats included multiple visits to Bar Bea in Niagara on the Lake for pintxos & caviar, and a most delightful meal at Paris Paris in Toronto. The wine list here is really fun & interesting (especially for fans of well-made natty wines), and we had SO many small plates including this beautiful hamachi crudo. I dined solo at the bar at Crown Shy. Service was incredible, the sommelier was seriously talented, and they did justice to one of my favorite things to eat, grilled octopus.
I also got to spend a few days in Providence, Rhode Island in October and had an insane meal at Gift Horse, whose specialty is raw fish & seafood. They also offer a martini with a side bump of domestic caviar, which is a no-brainer when celebrating your best friend's birthday.
And last but in no way least, are the many meals we devoured in Germany & Czech Republic this summer. From our first sausage & pork knuckle dish with apple wine in Frankfurt, to this insane meat hall, Kantyna, in Prague, to the Mediterranean meal we had on our last night in Munich because we were done eating meat & needed vegetables and hummus, and every snack in between (including 2 Michelin restaurants in Prague- Field & La Degustation), you can say I ate very, very well.
Matt Bove
Sports Director at WKBW, @Matt_Bove
1st Time Favorite Meal Contributor!
2023 was the craziest year of my life.
On March 14 at 9:42 a.m. my wife and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Ellia, into the world.
Hospital restrictions only allowed us one visitor, which was my mother in law. But this was our first child and the first grandchild for either set of parents, so you could imagine how excited they were to meet our little girl. The next day we made the nerve-wracking drive home with my hands white knuckling the steering wheel.
We finally made it home, and our family was only 15 minutes behind. We had our parents and my brother in law come to the house to meet the baby, watch the Sabres game, and have some pizza and wings. How Buffalo, right?
We decided on Macy’s Place Pizzeria. My wife was craving their chicken finger pizza (pictured above) and I was in the mood for their Cajun wings.
And let me tell you, the pizza and wings that night were unbelievable. When asked what my favorite meal of 2023 was, I immediately thought of that. And sure, the story and the company probably played just as much of a role in this story as the food, but isn’t that what a good meal is all about anyway? For the rest of my life when I have chicken finger pizza or Cajun wings I’ll think of the night my parents met their first granddaughter.
Unfortunately, a few months later, my dad passed away. This was one of our last meals as an entire family. I’m crushed he’s gone but so thankful we had that meal together to celebrate the best day of our lives.
Not even the Sabres could ruin that night as they blew a late lead to the Capitals and lost in a shootout. Food brings us together during the best and worst times & sometimes nothing hits the spot quite like a piece of pizza and a few drums.