If you were on vacation during the Taste of Buffalo or got rained out of the Italian Festival, you may want to attend The Taste of Williamsville (Tuesday, August 4th@ Island Park behind Wmsvl Town Hall, 11:30 am-9 pm).

Twenty-five North shore dining destinations will be at the day-long tasting affair providing petite tasting courses in exchange for tickets. Tickets will go on sale the day of the event and apply to food & beverage sales including locally brewed beers and wines from  New York state vineyards.

Expect to snack on culinary creations from Black & Blue Steak and Crab, Gatehouse, Glen Park Tavern, The Irishman, La Tolteca, Riva’s Pizza, Sonoma Grill, and Verbena. 

Newcomer’s participating in the affair include Lisa & Bob’s Cita’ di Militello & JoJo West (Black & Blue’s latest restaurant endeavor, which is scheduled to open this fall). 

If you have a sweet tooth, DiCamillo Bakery, Sweet Melodies, & Coffee Culture will provide the majority of pastries, desserts, and caffeinated beverages. 

To learn more about the event, go to http://village.williamsville.ny.us/events.html

Photo by Mark Dellas

       If you adore NovelTea’s lunch fare and world famous scones, the neighborhood bistro is celebrating the grand debut of it’s brasserie-style dinner menu (Friday, July 31st from 5-11 pm).

A $25 prix-fixe menu has been tailored for the evening to include a light starter, main course of Salmon w/ French lentils, Herb Roasted Chicken w/ vegetables, or Grilled Hanger Steak w/ mashed potatoes, and a decadent dessert. 

Live music & wine tasting from NovelTea’s bistro-style bar will also take place during the evening. Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited (Brasserie NovelTea, 6010 Goodrich Road, Clarence Center, N.Y., 716-741-1311).

Photo taken by Rose Mattrey

 If you’re a fan of Wasabi and live in the Southtowns, the Japanese restaurant just opened a third location in Hamburg (complete with full table service, beer & wine, and a sushi bar).

The menu still holds a strong emphasis on Sashimi and Maki with new additions like a summery 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).

   Searching for a cooking school where you can learn how to assemble a gourmet meal under the tutelage of a professional Chef (sans the Napoleonic attitude)? Check out the  The Savvy Gourmet.

Courses entail every aspect of the culinary arts from selecting & prepping raw ingredients to devising ingredient-focused menus, preparing ethnic dishes, and eating in season.

Adult classes are held every Wednesday-Friday (6-9 pm) and Saturday (11-2pm). Hands-on cooking classes for teenagers & children are also offered with a strong emphasis on nutrition & acclimating oneself to the kitchen. 

If you prefer to do the sampling rather than the cooking, The Savvy Gourmet’s Cafe serves coffee, baked goods, and a simple yet substantial lunch menu consisting of soups, salads, & sandwiches prepared by the school’s chefs (who hail from Culinary Institutes as far as Portland, Oregon).

If you have a lunch break on a Friday afternoon, stop by TSG’s ’Lunch & Learn’ session where you can observe how to eat like a Locavore or dine on Green Cuisine. For calendar updates & class listings, visit savvygourmetbuffalo.com (The Savvy Gourmet, 4610 Main Street, Snyder, NY, 716.626.2665 ).

Interested in learning about New York State’s wines & vineyards? Head to Chateau Buffalo (1209 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, 716-873-0074, open Tue-Sat/Noon-8 pm & Sun/Noon-6 pm ).

The urban wine retailer sells an extensive variety of vino and cidres hailing from The Empire State’s wine-producing regions (i.e. The Finger Lakes, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Chautauqua, and The Niagara Trail). 

If you’re hesitant about purchasing wine labels you’re unfamiliar with, Chateau Buffalo offers ‘5 for $5′  tasting sessions during store hours. The tutorials are designed to educate customers about the characteristics of wine… and the vineyards/regions they derive from. The $5 fee is actually refundable if you purchase a bottle after the tasting session. If you don’t have time to learn about wine in detail, 15-20 rotating wines are available each day for sampling.

Chateau Buffalo also hosts ‘Meet the Winemaker’ once a month so patrons can learn about the art of vintification. And if  you really feel like experiencing wine in a new element, Spirit of Buffalo offers a 2 hour sailboat cruise every Wednesday, which features wine tasting aboard, complements of Chateau Buffalo.

To learn more about ‘Meet the Winemaker,’ ‘5 for $5,’ & ‘Chateau Buffalo’s Wine Tasting Club,’ call 716-873-0074. For Spirit of Buffalo’s Cruise dates & Ticket info, visit http://spiritofbuffalo.com/adventures.

Photo taken by Rose Mattrey

   Remember the good old days when Steve’s Clam Bar was a summer destination on the Elmwood Strip? The seasonal seafood stand is now open for lunch & dinner at Cecelia’s Ristorante & Martini Bar. 

If you’re in the market for raw oysters, clams casino, lobster dainties, steamed crab legs, crawfish, prawns, or just about any other tasty crustacean, Steve’s Clam Bar probably has it. The casual seafood stand is situated on Cecelia’s patio and serves the same menu fare from the Italian ristorante’s kitchen (which also happens to have one of the best Martini lists in town).

Steve’s has a rotating selection of raw oysters that are geographically priced and served by the dozen or half dozen. Specialties include Oysters Rockefeller, Seafood Ceviche, King & Dungeness Crab Claws, Cajun Crab & Shrimp Casino, and Lobster Casino.

Whether you’re in the mood for champagne & oysters or steamed clams & beer, Steve’s Clam Bar/Cecelia’s patio is the place to be (and be seen) this summer. 

Steve’s Clam Bar @ Cecelia’s Ristorante & Martini Bar, 716 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY, 716-883-8066

SPOT Coffee is now open in the Williamsville! (SPOT, 5330 Main St., Wmsvl, NY, 716-565-0200).

If you’re unfamiliar with the local coffee shop, it’s worth checking out. Some of SPOT’s perks include free Wi-Fi, free parking (complements of a large lot located on the corner of Main & Union), and ample seating ranging from tables that accommodate 2-10 people to high bar counters w/ stools and cushy chairs.

SPOT’s Barista can dole out just about anything caffeinated from assorted teas & coffees to espresso beverages. If you’re off caffeine, protein shakes, smoothies, and decaffeinated drinks are available. And if you crave a toasted bagel or croissant to accompany your coffee, SPOT has ‘em. Contrary to most coffee chains, SPOT’s provisions are prepared daily in their in-house kitchen. Healthful breakfast & lunch fare includes yogurt w/ granola, omelets, egg sandwiches, wraps, oven-made pizzas, soups, and salads. If you feel indulgent or have a sweet tooth, you won’t be disappointed with SPOT’s assortment of cookies, croissants, cakes, candies, pies, and their ultimate dessert; homemade waffles w/ warm berry compote.

 Interested in adding Beer to your Food & Wine Tasting Repertoire? On Thursday, July 9th  Ommegang Brewery of Cooperstown, NY will debut their latest Belgian Pale Ale, Duvel Green, for the first time in Buffalo! The tasting will commence at Coles Restaurant & Bar @ 7 pm where free samples of the Belgian ale will be served on draft.

If you have a conflict of interest that evening, three more tasting opportunities for Duvel will be held the following week at Allen Street Hardware (Monday, July 13, 9 pm), Pizza Plant on Transit road (Wednesday, July 15, 7:30-10 pm), and Consumer’s Beverage in Williamsville (Friday, July 17, 3-7 pm). 

The Village Beer Merchant will also host a free beer tasting event featuring a selection of brews from Great Lakes Brewing Company of Cleveland, OH on Thursday, July 16th from 6-9 pm. VBM will extend their hours that evening for customers who want to purchase beer and gourmet snacks after the tasting.

For future updates on local beer tasting events, check out ‘Chew on This.’

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).