Buffalo Rising Online

Western New Yorkers are spoiled in the summer and autumn months. It seems that farmers markets are everywhere, supplying fresh produce from local growers. But where do we go in the winter to get quality local produce without paying the steep prices supermarkets charge for goods shipped from the warmer climates?

The Broadway Market of course!

Lewandowski’s Produce has been a mainstay at The Market for almost 25 years. Ten years before coming to The Market, Mary and her late husband Ron made the rounds at area farmers markets. Their business provided an outlet for the produce of farmers that could not commit to going to the various outdoor venues. The markets in Springville, Clinton-Bailey, Niagara Falls, and the Super Flea on Walden are where they began their journey as a business.

Mary buys cold…

I love lemon curd; it’s pretty hard not to. Despite its potentially unsettling name, lemon curd is a delicious alternative to jam, a great tool for the home baker, and in its off-the-shelf store bought version, a really handy tool to have in your pantry for last minute guests.

Lemon curd comes to us from Great Britain where the homemade version was initially used as a spread on scones enjoyed during afternoon tea. And for those of us who love old-fashioned, made-from-scratch lemon meringue pie, lemon curd is the base underneath all of that fluffy meringue goodness.

You can hop down to your local supermarket and pick up a thick and tangy version of lemon curd in the jam and jelly aisle; I purchased this jar at Wegmans, but have bought it before at Guercio's and Delish. It’s great to have on hand as it can make delicious treats in minutes. Obviously it’s perfect on scon…

I remember the days when you visited the local butcher weekly and they knew you by name. Meats were trimmed by hand and cut to your specifications. Whether you needed veal, Cornish hens, tripe, a pot roast or prime rib, you could find what you wanted for any recipe. This old fashioned way of doing business is still practiced at Lupas Meats, located in the rear of the historic Broadway Market.

This family has the right formula for success. For the last 20 years Lupas Meats has offered quality meats, outstanding service, great prices and a spotless environment. if you're not looking for a specific meat cut, you can also find a variety of other food products convenient for those days when you don't have time to cook.

While waiting for my number to be called, I listened to the pleasant banter between the staff and customers. It…

A trip to one of Buffalo’s Middle Eastern markets is a sensory delight and an opportunity to purchase ingredients not often available at some of the city’s more well-known grocery stores. Fresh *halal lamb? Check. Baklava and other pistachio-laden sweets? You bet. Saffron, tumeric, paprika, cardamom, cumin, cinnamon, mustard seed, bay leaf and tons of other spices in large quantities? Definitely. Mango juice, pulp, concentrate, and paste? Yep. The list goes on and on, providing the creative cook with ample options for delicious meals. With the assistance of my friend Ali Ait Si Mhamed, I’ve profiled four of Buffalo’s Middle Eastern markets below; please feel free to join the conversation and let us know of any others you enjoy.

Al Noor Grocery is renowned for its always-fresh halal meat, including lamb, beef, goat and chicken. For a mere $160 you can p…

Lent is here and fish is on the family menu at least once a week in many Buffalo households. Restaurants are packed with folks looking for their Friday fish fry fix, but where is a person to go in Buffalo to get fresh fish to cook at home?

Broadway Seafood located in the Broadway Market is one of the city's best kept seafood secrets. On a recent visit I was amazed at the prices for some of the freshest fish on display. Whole red snapper was only $4.99lb., whole tilapia and porgies, a mere $2.99lb. Whole flounder, black sea bass, croaker, bluefish, yellow pike and shrimp were also reasonably priced. Seeing the haddock fillets, fresh clams and oysters, jumbo prawns and fresh scallops made it difficult to decide what to buy.

Owner, Steve Lee, moved to Buffalo eight years ago from South Korea. When he lived in South Korea he…

When I moved into my first apartment, I brought with me the belongings most twenty-year-olds would bring: books, records, clothes and--this will come as no surprise to those that know me-- pots, pans, dishes and wine glasses.

After I moved in and unpacked, my major focus was on the one thing I could not live without. I believed that the only thing that would make my cozy little nest feel like home was my very own spice rack. So I set out on a crusade to find the dried herbs and spices that I was most familiar with and a few of the more exotic with which to experiment. Pleased to have found all that I was looking for, I headed back to my humble abode, carrying packages filled with my prized seasonings.

It was quite a shock to learn how much money I had to spend that day to fill my spice rack. I could not stop myself from buying; I wanted everything and I bought it all! While …

Its game day, folks, and if there’s anything that Americans love as much as football, it’s probably the food that accompanies it. For many, Superbowl provides welcome relief from the rigorous diet and exercise that many have committed themselves to since their New Year’s resolutions were made. (Might I suggest that they allow themselves another day or two of freedom, as Mardi Gras is only two days away?) For others, it’s a chance to really strut their stuff when it comes to casual entertaining.

I like to keep it simple. Hearty, one-pot, American fare is the way to go as far as I’m concerned. I decided to cook up a pot of chili this year, nothing fancy, just good. It seemed like a good opportunity to try out one of our city’s coolest products: Growing Green’s Amazing Chili Starter.

Growing Green is a…

I recently had the chance to stop into the newly opened Village Beer Merchant. Not only are they open, but they’ve finally received their liquor license and should have the coolers stocked in no time. Look for an upcoming post from Queenseyes featuring more information about their selection. I’m excited to check out the selection and even more thrilled about the growler filling station. But as YUM editor, the fact that they are offering gourmet grocery items is perhaps most appealing.

The shop is adorable, with one side of the store dedicated to wooden shelves stacked with unique items perfect for the home cook. The extensive selection of fine salts makes an attractive display; I was impressed to find a 3.4 ounce jar of truffle salt made by Sabatino for less than $12. Equally impressive is the selection of fine vinegars an…

While visiting friends in York, Maine, I was introduced to the flagship location of Stonewall Kitchen's chain of retail stores. For years, my friends, originally from Buffalo, would send me packages of these products as birthday and Christmas gifts. Over time I have become addicted to the vast array of mustards, jellies, jams, sauces, oils, dressings, toppings, and new to the product line, Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa products. I used to have to resort to mail order, but I am pleased to report that these fine products are available in Buffalo now.

Life is hectic and time is of the essence when it comes to getting a fast and easy meal on the table. How nice it would be to pack…

You all know how much I love Guercio's, so it's no surprise that I was there yesterday afternoon. One of the things I love about going to Guercio's during the day is watching how this little independent business maneuvers its tremendous wholesale business around its retail customers. Guys in jackets and aprons run cases and cases of product up and down the narrow aisles from the back of the warehouse out to the curb all day long. Even better is the chance to bump into chefs and restaurant staff picking up smaller orders or last minute items for the evening's specials.

I was there to buy some of the ingredients necessary for preparing the recipe that will be featured in February's Buffalo Rising Magazine as part of Sunday Suppers. On my way out I noticed a new line of cookies being sold. Traditional Italian biscotti and sesame cookies made by Lena are packaged in cello bag…

On a recent trip to the Lexington Co-op I ran into Barbara, the store's cheesemonger and a former co-worker of mine. Barbara's passion for cheese was recently featured in a Buffalo News article, and since then the cheese-vending area of the Co-op has seen a drastic increase in sales.

I like to chat about cheese, and so does she, so there we found ourselves immersed in cheese talk at 8:30 in the morning. As we began to say good-bye she pointed out a few new cheeses that she thought I might be interested in. On a previous visit I was drawn to a very iconic, Nordic-style display for a cheese called Ski Queen Gjetost. I had never heard of it before, and the somewhat intimidating appearance of the cheese--that of peanut butter-- was none too appetizing, to say the least.

Barbara told me that the product has attracted a lot of attention. It seems that it is difficult to find but…

I was delighted and surprised when I discovered that my local Wegmans was carrying Vosges chocolate bars. Vosges is one of Chicago’s most exclusive chocolatiers. That is until they participated in the Fancy Foods Show, which introduces retailers from around the world to gourmet "artisan" goodies. Stacy’s Pita Chips, Bear Naked Granola, Pom drink, you name it, if a food item begins popping up on local shelves everywhere you go, you can bet it was discovered at the Fancy Food Show.

And we should be grateful. My mother, a helpless chocoholic, certainly couldn’t find high quality chocolate at the supermarket when I was a kid, especi…

Tuesday I stopped into Spar’s on Amherst to chat with owner Joe Kennedy about an article that I’m working on for January’s Buffalo Rising Magazine. I was pleased to find the shelves laden with special Christmas treats imported from Eastern Europe.

An assortment of stollen line the base of an entire display. Stollen is the German take on fruitcake; it has a bread-like consistency and is speckled with almonds and dried fruit. Beth, Joe’s wife, was quick to point out that the Marzipanstollen are especially delicious; they’re shot through with a thick line of marzipan. There are also cute little marzipan pigs, given with the wish of good luck at Christmas or the New Year as a part of a tradi…

The other day I stopped into Guercio’s for some produce and cheese. Without my children in tow I seized the opportunity to scour the shelves and read labels- something I rarely have the time to do. I was pleased to see a number of new products in the dairy case, but I was most excited to come across a product line called “Tastings” that bears a Buffalo address on its cute label.

At Guercio’s three of Tastings’ products were available, priced at $5.99 each. The first was a Heavenly Hazelnut Pesto made of roasted hazelnuts, basil, garlic, and oil. The second was called Aji a-Hot, a sauce made of Peruvian hot peppers, and the third was Olive Madness, the product I chose to bring home.

In order to test drive my find, I selected a box of crackers from the shelves at Guercio’s, one that I had never seen before. Sold…