Wedding Cakes by Zillycakes

There’s always a reason to host a soiree or dinner party that requires culinary ingenuity… Especially when it pertains to the last course! If you’re stumped for creative Dessert ideas or don’t have time to play the role of Betty Crocker, you’re in luck!

 Zillycakes  custom made Cakes, Cupcakes, & Cookies is now open in Elmwood Village. If you’re on a mission for  the perfect Wedding Cake, Cupcake tier, or Cookie platter, Owner Zilly Rosen and her team of pastry experts are ready to take action for any holiday or occasion.

Zillycakes also offers courses on baking, cake artistry, cookie design, and creating fondants & icing. To learn about class schedules, bakery hours, or how to order custom-made Zillycakes, email  zilly@zillycakes.com.

 (Zillycakes, 1008 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY  14222, 716.883.0365).

Photo taken by Mark Dellas

If you’re a fan of Wasabi Japanese Restaurant and live in the Southtowns, you no longer have to commute to the other two locations. Wasabi recently opened a third location in Hamburg complete with full table service & sushi bar.

The menu still holds a strong emphasis on Sashimi and Maki with new additions like a Seafood Summer Roll and Sunflower Roll. Starters include Edamame beans seasoned with sea salt, Shrimp Shumai (i.e. dumplings), and Crispy Calamri. Hot entrees from the kitchen vary from Udon & Soba noodles with vegetables to Teriyaki Chicken, Grilled Salmon, and Beef Negimaki served with Miso soup or Green salad. Takeout is available (Wasabi Japanese Restaurant, 3701 McKinley  Pkwy, Hamburg, 716-828-1881, www.wasabius.com).

If you haven’t paid a visit to The Crocodile Bar, summer is the perfect time to do it!

Two gentleman, who happen to be Buffalo natives, recognized the 13 year-old venue’s potential and recently took it over. They also added a few perks for regulars & newcomers.

Thursday in the Square fans on a quest for ‘post-square’ performances will be able to listen to live music at the Croc on Thursday evenings ($3 cover charge at the door). Live bands will also perform on Friday & Sunday ($3 cover). Expect to see guest musical artists like The Strictly Hip and the blues-influenced Mick Hayes Band.

In addition to featuring live music throughout the week, The Croc Bar will host a DJ every Saturday. Drinks specials will also be plentiful throughout the week including 2/1 drafts & cocktails on Biker Wednesday and Friday Happy Hour drink specials w/ complimentary food spreads.

For updates on music events & calendar listings, visit www.crocodilebar.com (The Crocodile Bar, 88 W. Chippewa Street, Buffalo, 716-853-2762).

Tealeaves

Shopping for teas, tea leaves, tea-oriented gifts, or tea-time accessories? Head to TeaLeafs (499 West Klein, Suite D, Williamsville, 716-688-8022).

TeaLeafs has over 120 varieties of loose leaf teas & boxed teas to choose from including assortments from Harney & Sons, Harrisons & Crosfield, Village Tea Company, and Ahmad Tea of London.

Feeling Zen? Try organic green tea or an herbal tisane. Need a caffeine boost?  Black tea like Flower of Hawaii can perk you right up. Want to soothe an upset stomach? Camomile Mint or Ginger Sun may do the trick. Craving sweet tea? Try Vanilla Cream, Blueberry, Pomegranate, or Chai. Feeling fruity? Blackberry, Strawberry Kiwi, or Orange Spice can satiate a sweet tooth. Going green? try Sencha or Jasmine w/ Flowers. If you’re in the mood for exotic or specialty teas, try Moraccan Madness, Indian Night, or South African Rooibos. 

TeaLeafs also sells accessories including Japanese tea pots, steeping mechanisms, specialty sweets, and natural sweeteners (i.e. honey sticks, honey beads, and honey powder). Gift baskets & Gift cards are available. Stay tuned for updates on tea-tasting classes…

Mark your calendars. The Cigar Lieutenants smoking society’s second annual charity pig roast is September 19^th. Tickets include expertly slow-roasted pig, barbeque chicken, full picnic spread, 6 premium cigars, live blues and jazz, four whole hours of free beer and wine, a Cigar Lieutenants travel bag, and a chance to win a travel humidor and other great prizes. Volleyball, horseshoes, darts, and shuffleboard will also be available for the ambitious and athletic among all you BBQ-loving sippers and smokers.

Event proceeds will benefit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Aspire of Western New York . Cigars and prizes are being donated by Nice Ash Cigars and Lounge and the Tinder Box.

The pig roast will be held from 2-6pm at the Lamm Post Grove, 962 Wehrle Drive, Williamsville.

You can check out Photos from last year’s roast via the Cigar Lieutenant’s website.

Tickets are $75per person before the 11^th of September and are available from any member of the Cigar Lieutenants smoking society and from Nice Ash Cigars and Lounge, (716) 685-7970, 5334 Transit road, Depew, NY 14086. There are a limited number of tickets available, so buy yours now if you’re interested.

If you still want to take advantage of dining outdoors during Buffalo’s short-lived summer, consider these venues… SeaBar in the City  is now seating patrons during lunchtime hours at it’s newly established sidewalk cafe! A Bento box has also been incorporated into the lunch menu featuring Maki Roll, Soup, Seaweed Salad, Sesame Noodles, Japanese Pickles, and a Beverage  for $9.99, excluding tax & gratuity (SeaBar in the City, 475 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, 716.332.2928). 

Papaya’s sidewalk patio is officially open for late-night dining & cocktails. If you want to catch the last rays of sunlight, stop by on a Wednesday during happy hour for live jazz and 2-for-1 Martinis (Papaya Asian Kitchen, 118 W. Chippewa, Buffalo, 716.856.2444).

Heading north into the historical Town of Clarence, NovelTea Bistro has officially opened it’s charming patio garden for ladies & gents who want to take lunch and afternoon tea w/ scones in the sunshine. Beginning Thursday, June 25th,the charming restaurant will serve a seasonal dinner menu to accompany the variety of European beers & wines from the bistro’s bar (6010 Goodrich Road, Clarence Center, 716.741.1311).

Stay tuned for more updates on WNY’s restaurant scene this summer…

Looking for a sensuously sultry way to spend your Sunday evening…

This Sunday, May 24^th, the O Restaurant and Lounge will present Love, Lust ,& Wine: a food, wine, and entertainment experience featuring award-winning wines from five different wineries, expertly paired hors d’oeuvres, live jazz music, and erotic art.

Local sculptor and amateur wine maker, David Derner, will be one of four artists whose work will be on exhibit during Sunday’s tasting. When he talks about his passion for wine, Derner explains that art, music, and wine are complimentary, stimulating products of craftsmanship. “They go together.” Hit him up for more deep artistic insights on Sunday.

Also present at the event will be modernist bronze casting and welding artisan, Joseph Nizio; oil painter, Melinda Wright; and Karissa Bordin, whose mysterious medium of choice will be revealed at the tasting.

The O Restaurant’s own Chef Martin will be preparing an array of sumptuous hors d’oeuvres to compliment the seven distinct wines of the evening. You can expect the highly acclaimed Canadian jazz band, The Ron Davis Trio, and vocalist Sue Kincaid to offer up some smoky, easy listening, musical ambiance.

The evening’s wine selection includes traditional as well as inventive red blends, a mountain road pinot noir, an arrowhead semi-dry Riesling, a Cayuga white, a blueberry fruit wine, and a Glace noir dessert wine. Reps from each winery will be there to answer your queries and help you sound wine-savvy for your Monday morning water cooler convos. All you budding sommeliers out there can check out their sites beforehand… Vizcarra Vineyards, Arrowhead Spring Vineyards, Leonard Oakes Estate Winery, Schulze Winery, Warm Lake Estate Winery.

The event starts at 6pm. Pop into the O Restaurant and Lounge for advance tickets ($40) or get a ticket Sunday night at the door ($45).

O Restaurant and Lounge, 3047 Sheridan Drive, Amherst NY 14226. (716) 332-4656.

Could it be safe to say outdoor patios are officially open?  

If your ideal summer evening consists of sitting under the stars with a chilled bottle of Sancerre, Tabree  (423 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 716.844.8477) has officially opened its clandestine veranda to Francophiles. The French bistro’s kitchen is also featuring a new spring/summer menu. Adhering to themes of Parisien authenticity & summer romance, Rue Franklin (341 Franklin St, Buffalo, 716.852.4416) is hosting cocktails in their charming courtyard until further notice that dinner will be served… 

La Tee Dah (206 Allen, Buffalo, 716.881.4500) is now accepting reservations for tables in their European beer garden (weather permitting, of course). Trattoria Aroma (311 Bryant St., Buffalo, 716.881.7592) has also opened its porch although seating is available on a ‘first come, first serve basis.’ If you’re looking for an artistic nature-oriented environment, Muse (Albright Knox Art Gallery, 1285 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, 716.270.8223) is serving cocktails & light fare in the Knox Gallery’s outdoor courtyard.

The outdoor patio at Coles (1104 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 716.886.1449) is now serving lunch & dinner as is the Martini-clad patio at Cecelia’s (716 Elmwood Ave, 716.883.8066). Both Brodo (765 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 716.881.1117) and Globe Market (762 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo, 716.886.5242) have officially established outdoor seating for the warm weather months. 

If you’re in the mood for southern comfort food, check out the casual patio scene at Fat Bob’s Smokehouse (41 Virginia Place, Buffalo, 716.887.2971). Mother’s (33 Virginia Place, Buffalo, 716.882.2989) spacious patio is now open for happy hour and late-night dining as is the outdoor back patio at Encore (492 Pearl Street, Buffalo, 716.931.5001).  Shanghai Red’s (2 Templeton Ter, Buffalo, 716.852.7337) expansive terrace is having their grand  opening Memorial Day weekend.  31 Club (31 N. Johnson Parkway, Buffalo, 716.331.3232) also plans on serving supper on the private porch of the brownstone sometime in mid-June…

Matriculating to the suburbs, the secluded side-patio at Siena (4516 Main Street, Snyder, 716.839.3108), the porch at Sole (5110 Main St., Wmsvl, 716.362.0356), and the sidewalk tables at Le Metro (5110 Main St., Wmsvl, 716.631.2725) are all open for lunch & dinner.  

Stay tuned this spring/summer for further updates on Outdoor Patio Dining…

 If you’re interested in trying traditional Mideast breakfast fare, head to Falafel Bar  (3689  Sheridan Drive, Amherst, 716.831.3980). Beginning Sunday, May 10th, Falafel Bar’s Amherst location will debut a Middle Eastern Breakfast Menu.

 The menu will continue to be available weekends only from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and incorporate a variety of dishes indigenous to Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, N. Africa, & The Mediterranean. American classics like Omelets & Pancakes (both blueberry & chocolate chip) will still be available but expect to see unique twists on traditional recipes like Challah Bread French Toast and Lamb Steak & Eggs served w/ mint aoili!  

If you want to sample something truly Middle Eastern, order Shakshouka; a stew of tomatoes, peppers, & onions served with two poached eggs & pita bread. Shakshouka (meaning blended or mixed) is also popular in N. Africa although the eggs are scrambled instead of poached! 

There’s also an Iranian ‘herb’ Omelet infused with caramelized onions, cumin, & tumeric spice mix, Greek-style Omelet prepared w/ feta, roasted red peppers, & tomato, and Turkish-style featuring stewed tomatoes & eggplant. All Omelettes will come with a side of home-style potatoes, mixed greens, & pita. European classics like Muesli served w/ Greek yogurt, homemade granola, & fruit will also be available.

Stay tuned for breakfast updates at Falafel Bar’s Allentown location…