RosemaryHoney's Profile
Help me, quick! I'm making homemade applesauce and there's a ton of liquid??
Do you have a stick blender? I would blend it up and check the consistency. You can always cook it down - it will become thicker and more silky, but also more concentrated, like apple butter.
For what it's worth, you can also make applesauce by just tossing cored, peeled, and quartered apples into a stock pot with just a little water or apple cider (just enough to cover the bottom of the pot with about 1/2" of liquid). It's great for babies, because it has no added sugar. And if you have a food mill, you don't even need to core or peel the apples - just toss them in the pot halved or quartered.
Toronto Hound visiting Buffalo - Need recommendation for 1 lunch & 1 dinner
There are a lot of great places to eat. Since you didn't really specify what type of experience you're looking for, but mentioned Treadwell, these are places that might be in that vein:
Left Bank
Tempo
31 Club
Tabree
The Wine Thief (Elmwood Ave) also does a good dinner and has an interesting atmosphere. I don't know if it's ever been mentioned on these boards, but I've had a couple good experiences there in the past 6 months.
Blue Monk (also on Elmwood Ave) is a Belgian-style bistro that does lunch and dinner, and has something like 25 high-quality beers (mostly Belgians) on tap, and a huge number of beers by the bottle. From what I understand, Canadians who love beer love this place because they have beers that are hard or impossible to get across the border. And the food is pretty good too.
All of these restaurants are in the city.
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Left Bank
511 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213
Tabree
423 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
Wine Thief
431 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222
31 Club
31 N Johnson Park, Buffalo, NY 14201
Buffalo for Graduation Dinner
I see that you're not getting a lot of help on this one.
Assuming you're willing to drive into the city, I'd recommend:
Tempo (French I believe they call it - look at the menu - on Delaware Ave)
Lombardo's (Italian on Hertel Ave)
Fiamma Steak (Steaks on Hertel Ave - might be slightly above your price range)
Prime 490 (Steaks on Rhode Island - slightly cheaper than Fiamma)
Mulberry's Cafe in Lackawanna would be a somewhat farther drive - maybe 25 minutes from UB North Campus - but it has fantastic, truly homemade and authentic Italian food that's very reasonably priced, and they do take reservations for parties of 6 or more.
There are some posts on this site about all of these places, I believe.
Buffalo Bar Suggestion for a stag night
There's a whole bunch of places within very easy walking distance. You could probably do a "pub crawl" into and out of any of these in one evening. They are sort of in order if you start at Mother's and head north to Allen Street, then West on Allen across Delaware and then Elmwood to Wadsworth.
For more info on most of them, you can search this site for the names I mention below, but here's a quick run down:
Mother's: Actually has a great bar atmosphere that lasts way into the night.
Scarlet: Across the street from Mother's, it's a "vodka bar", a little more upscale than most places for Buffalo.
Snooty Fox: Name kind of describes atmophere, but it usually has a crowd. It's best for the mixed drink/wine crowd planning to dress up and "go out".
Fat Bob's: Pool table, huge outdoor patio (might not be open, but has heaters so it could be), TVs...kind of a beer/hang-out bar.
Colter Bay: Great tap list, TVs, opens up the restaurant booths for drinkers later in the evening.
Gabriel's Gate: More of a restaurant than a bar, but has a huge, nice bar and tables that they allow drinkers to sit at. This is a laid-back beer kind of place.
Frizzy's: Bubble hockey, old-school photo booth, funky decor. This is a very laid-back place, great for crowds and Molson-style beer drinkers. check out: http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/club-watch/article326226.ece
Allen St. Hardware: Small, nicer bar, gets very crowded as evening goes on, has live music most weekend nights. Great wine and beer list.
Sample: Has very nice, handmade (and homemade...no bottled syrups here) mixed drinks and some excellent beers and wines. Not so much a bar, but a good place to stop in if you need a breather.
Duke's: Eccelectic crowd, unique atmosphere, wide selection of beers. This article calls it a "club" on weekends, which wasn't my experience three months ago, but maybe is the case now? But might be worth checking out - it's next door to Allen St Hardware and in the vicinity of several other places, so you can easily walk in and out if it's not your thing. http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/gusto/club-watch/article326226.ece
Nietzche's: excellent live music, beer-bar hangout kind of place.
There's also Mulligan's Brick Bar, the Old Pink (which might have a new name these days), and The Bend all on that section of Allentown. They are all more of the "dive bar" genre.
Enjoy the weekend.
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Allen St Hardware Cafe
245 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201
Fat Bob's
52 Main St, New Paltz, NY 12561
Useful cooking mags
I second the CI recommendation. No ads, no glossy photos - just good recipes with techniques and whys explained well. I personally love it because I have never had a bad meal. Some are labor-intensive, and I don't think I'd make them again, but for the most part, they are reasonable and delicious. (Quite opposite from BA....I've had mixed success with their recipes).
Another note: I recently started a subscription to their website, which is a separate cost (no included in mag subscription), and it has a ton of great recipes, taste and equipment testing notes, and menu planning, BUT the recipes don't include the full explanation of how and why the recipe includes the exact steps it does. So if you are kind of a nerd for that sort of stuff (like I am), you might want to start with a mag subscription.
Making Homemade Marshmallows
I've tried to make marshmallows without gelatin twice. Both experiences were bad - much like described above. For one batch, I used something called "Vegan Gelatin" that I found in the "Organic" section of a Wegman's supermarket - I think it was kelp based? - and the marshmallows set up more than when I'd used Xanthan, and I had some high hopes until I tasted them - ick. Maybe if I had flavored them with mint or something...
But I do wish you luck making homemade marshmallows. I disagree with Il Divo, and would say that they are pretty easy to do (I use Alton Brown's recipe, which requires that you do very little but your stand mixer does a ton) and the results never fail to impress.
making mozzarella
Your biggest problem will be finding the not-ultra-pasteurized milk in New Orleans, where UP helps extend shelf life dramatically in a hot climate. II doubt Albertson's has non-UP milks, but maybe. Whole Foods may carry a small, local brand that isn't ultra-pasteurized, but since they aren't required to label when milk has been UP, it can be a process of trial and error.
If you have milk that is UP, you'll end up with a ricotta-style cheese - the curds won't set up like they should for a mozzarella. The cheese is actually fine to eat and tastes pretty good. When I started making cheese and wasn't sure which milks were UP, we had a lot of this "failure" cheese, and it worked out okay. But when you find a brand that works, stick with it!
Traditional Mardi Gras/Carnivale Recipes
I agree with Zeldog that you might not find much about food. I've been to Quebec's winter carnival twice, and can't recall the food at all. I'm sure we ate some poutine, but I that's because it was Quebec, not Mardi Gras. Same story when I attended carnival in St. Vincent and the Grenadines where I ate roti and drank rum from a coconut shell - again, because it was SVG...
In Baton Rouge, we always had a Mardi Gras brunch on the Saturday prior (when a big parade ran through our neighborhood) and served a huge pot of red beans and rice, bloody marys with pickled okra, and of course, several king cakes. after the parade, someone in the neighborhood held the (usually) first crawfish boil of the season.
Mamou, Louisiana celebrates by making a community-wide gumbo that features chickens collected by men on horseback from people throughout the town.
What to make with farm fresh eggs
Just a note if you're getting REALLY farm-fresh eggs - chill them before poaching. We have chickens, and on the occasion when I've poached them straight from the nest, they spread tremendously. Chilling them for even just a couple of hours really helps keep them hold together much better when they hit the water.
Heading to Buffalo from Toronto for a couple days and need advice
I'm not originally from Buffalo, so I have don't have loyalties like some other Buffalonians have. A lot of my recommendations are outside of where you'll be, like Zetti's and Bocci's, and I don't know that they are really worth the journey. La Nova is in the city, and they have great wings too, so you might want to check them out, but more as a snack. I don't find anything wonderful about Pizza Junction, but I also don't know that there are any better options for anything up near the Outlet malls...Dicamillo's Bakery is good choice but otherwise I find that area to be somewhat of a wasteland. Maybe others have rec's for Niagara Falls?
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Pizza Junction
1269 Erie Ave, North Tonawanda, NY 14120
Heading to Buffalo from Toronto for a couple days and need advice
Yes, Beef on 'Weck is a Buffalo specialty, and not available in Toronto. Ulrich's just doesn't have a great example of one. They don't slice off the roast to order, as they do at some of the better spots. If you want to try a great beef on 'weck, the most highly recommended spots are Bar Bill (in East Aurora, a quaint little town about 25 minutes from downtown) or Schwabl's (in West Seneca, about 15 minutes from downtown). In the city, I'd go to Blue Monk and have their version. Anderson's and Charlie the Butcher also do beef on 'weck in more of a fast-food style - there's an Anderson's close to the Galleria Mall that would be a better choice for lunch than anything in the food court.
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Charlie the Butcher
495 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052
Schwabl's Restaurant
789 Center Rd, Buffalo, NY 14224
Heading to Buffalo from Toronto for a couple days and need advice
Good idea to stay downtown, versus at the Galleria or near the NF Outlets. You don't mention your budget, but good places to stay are The Mansion on Delaware, Hampton Inn (Chippewa at Delaware), Embassy Suites (in the new Avant Building), or the Hyatt Regency (Main at Huron) - probably in that order. If you're looking for cheaper, but in same vicinity, try the Best Western or Holiday Inn on Delaware near Allen Street. There's also a good B&B on St. James Place off Elmwood Ave, up in the Elmwood Village (EV) neighborhood (BTW: Elmwood Village has a bunch of cute, independent shops that sell unique items at surprisingly reasonable prices...might be worth checking out after a day at the malls. If you're foodies, you might want to check out Penzey's Spice Store and D'Avolio Olive Oils and Vinegars, both on Elmwood right there).
On to the food: Blue Monk just opened on Elmwood at Breckenridge in EV. They have 30 or so taps of mostly Belgian beers and pretty great food (mussels, duck-fat fries, braised short ribs sandwich, beef on 'weck) in a lively pub atmosphere. It gets crowded. Right around there are all those shops I mentioned above, plus two local chocolate shops (Watson's and Fowler's), a nice coffee shop complete with couches and armchairs for lounging (Spot Coffee), and a couple nice bakeries (Dolci and Delish) for dessert.
Ulrich's is a good rec, but I'd go there for wings, not the beef. It's a got an ol' time tavern feel, and they are known for their German fare, like potato pancakes. It's a little off the beaten path, but there's a nice wine bar on the corner of Main and Virginia that you might be able to tie into your beer-drinking evening at Ulrich's.
Allentown is the other part of town that would offer a string of places to visit within walking distance of each other. Gabriel's Gate has better wings than Anchor Bar in a far less touristy atmosphere. Allen St. Hardware is a relaxing bar with live music, good wines and beers, and a nice cheese plate. Sample has small plates, most of which are excellent , plus it's got an upscale atmosphere for not so upscale prices. Colter Bay or K. Gallaghers might fit your definition of good pubs.
Your easiest appetizer
I always make baked brie when I need a super easy app that looks gorgeous and tastes great. For 15-20 people, you can do two little ones or one large one. Buy a wheel of brie and those puffed pastry sheets (I've heard people use cresent rolls too, but I like the puff pastry). Defrost the pastry by setting it out on your counter for 45 minutes, then roll out a little. Place the brie wheel in the middle of the sheet and wrap the dough around the brie to make a little package. You can even use the excess pastry to cut out some little design - leaf or turkey or apple or whatever. Brush with egg wash and bake at 400 for about 20 minutes. If you pull it out right before you leave for your party, It'll stay hot and gooey for at least an hour. Serve with crackers, but you can also just cut wedges and eat.
For a variation that adds more time, make a filling for the brie. I do everything from apples and brown sugar to mushrooms and thyme. Just saute up a small amount (like 1/2c) of some filling - on T-day, I did the mushrooms with a little garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Then cut the brie wheel in half, spread in your filling, and then close up the brie. Then wrap as described above. This entire process took me about 15 minute hands-on time, and it was the hit of about a dozen appetizers. I wish I'd made 2 big ones!!
Great Breakfasts and Quick Lunches AT the Riverwalk in SA
My trip was a mixed bag as far as food goes. Like others have pointed out all over these boards, the food is hit or miss in the Riverwalk area. Some of the biggest misses were at Casa Rio, Rio Rio, and Paloma Riverwalk. At Casa Rio, in particular, I had verde enchiladas that I found to be inedible - akin to day old chicken mircowaved, rolled up in rubbery, too-thick corn toritllas and covered with a pithy amount of what tasted like thin canned verde sauce. Really gross. Perhaps I had an off meal or ordered incorrectly? The place was packed everytime I walked by so there must be something redeeming about it.
I had some okay meals at a couple spots. Mi Terra wasn't great, but I see why people recommend it if atmosphere is more your thing than food quality. I also found the tapas at Las Ramblas in the Hotel Contessa inconsistent. How can you screw up olives? They just weren't great, and were served with definitely stale bread. Ironically, I also ordered the goat cheese in sofrito, which was great and served with fresh bread. The drinks there were excellent, though. Schilo's was also good - I had the corned beef and soup and it was better than average, but maybe it's because I had such high expectations, or maybe it's because I'm from an area with outstanding German food, but I felt it was overrated and overpriced. I paid $6.75 for the sandwich, which contained perhaps 2 slices of corned beef. Certainly not the stacked sandwich you'd get at most delis in my neck of the woods.
Much better were Boudrous and Acenar. Acenar had the delicious, flavorful enchiladas verdes that I was looking for, complete with fresh, smoky-flavored, tender chicken! Success!! Boudrous was also very good, as far as the Riverwalk went. We were told about their guac by multiple people, and it was tasty, but cmon - one thing to do before you die? Just make your own...but otherwise all of the food was high-quality, and priced comparably to some of the other, less-good stuff I had.
The highlights were off the Riverwalk, of course. Insignia, in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel, was amazing. We enjoyed every bite of food, and the drinks were divine. The crab and corn fitters were outstanding, and lured me back for a quick app another evening. Azuca Nuevo Latino was also excellent. We ordered off the apps menu, because there were so many delicious sounding options, and I think it was a good decision. We had a wide array of fantastic flavors in our selections. El Mirador was perfect for more simple meals. The corn and flour tortillas were obviously homemade and fantastic, and the pico de gallo fresh and flavorful. This was my pick for best affordable breakfast, with the tacos all under $2.
I also had the contential buffet breakfast at the Grand Hyatt hotel's restaurant, on the riverwalk level. It was $11, kind of steep, but includes a wide array of cereals, pastries, fruit, yogurts, coffee, and juices. I'm just mentioning it here, because if you are either staying in the hotel or attending a conference in the Convention Center, and don't have the time to walk over to El Mirador, this is actually a good deal - oatmeal a a carte is $8, and coffee will run you $3, so the buffet works out well, and it's probably the highest quality buffet I've had.
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Las Ramblas
306 W Market St, San Antonio, TX
Casa Rio
430 E Commerce St, San Antonio, TX 78205
Nuevo Cafe
1124 Ayers St, Corpus Christi, TX 78404
El Mirador Restaurant
722 S Saint Marys St, San Antonio, TX 78205
What do you drink at a wedding?
I'm a former bartender who has worked for an agency that provided services much like you described in NYC, and at a historic inn that hosted countless weddings. I strongly second ESNY's suggestion to find a place where you can return unopened bottles, and buy 2x as much as you think you'll need. I have bartended so many weddings where the drinks ran out halfway through the reception, or there is nothing by one thing (usually it's the gin!) left and people get pretty annoyed about that. And this is really the thing you want to avoid - as the bartender, I'm the one who heard the comments about the bride and groom being cheap, about how the wedding sucked once it ran dry, about which bar the guests were going to sneak out to...don't know if these trickle back to the happy couple, but people get absurdly angered when there's no drink at the wedding! Ungrateful? Yes. But better to be safe with too much than sorry with too little.
The only time I ever tended a wedding where there was a tremendous amount of leftover alcohol was when it was a strictly wine event, and they just purchased way too much.
Great Breakfasts and Quick Lunches AT the Riverwalk in SA
Thank you so much for these recs. I'm sure I'll dine at all of them. I'll report back when I return.
First Time Thanksgiving Host - Need your FOOLPROOF Roast Turkey Recipe!
Since you are getting a "heritage breed", I would suggest a wet brine. I've done both the wet and the dry, and the wet tends to be a little more fool-proof if you are looking for a juicy bird. A few years ago, I went through the hassle of making my own brine, but then I found William-Sonoma's Apple and Spices Turkey Brine. It's $16.95 or so, but well worth it. Just make sure you have a container large enough to brine a 16 pound bird in...I use a Rubbermaid tub.
Another note: Last year, I tried the breast-down/turkey flip described by Marsha a couple of times. I had a lot of trouble flipping the bird. One time, the skin from the breast stuck to the rack; another time, the legs sort of tore off a bit; not to mention that every time, it took at least two of us to flip the steaming hot bird during the middle of cooking. I decided not to go this route on my actual Thanksgiving, because I couldn't imagine risking a turkey on the floor during the festivities, especially because, with the wet-brine, I didn't feel it made a noticeable difference in texture or flavor. Just a thought...
Great Breakfasts and Quick Lunches AT the Riverwalk in SA
Hi Everyone,
I've been wading through the mountains of info on dining in SA, but I am wondering if anyone can give me a couple of great breakfast and quick and good lunch spots right around the Riverwalk. I'm going to be in town for an entire week, staying at and working in the Convention Center. I'm not going to have a car, or be able to walk very far, so I'm somewhat limited during the morning and at lunch to the immediate vicinity, and I'm hoping to avoid the hotel food.
I like all kinds of food - but I can't eat sushi right now, so that's my only limitation.
So what are the great breakfast and lunch spots people would recommend?
Thanks!
Buffalo This Weekend
Skip Anderson's and go to Abbott's if you are looking for custard.
From your list, I'd select dinner at Tempo or Hutch's. They have consistently excellent food. Mother's can be spotty (though it's generally good on weekends). Hardware is the spot to go for a before-dinner (quiet and relaxing) or after-dinner (live music, crowded) drink, but not for the food. Left Bank is great, but I doubt you'll get in on a Saturday night without reservations made weeks ago.
Tempo is a slightly nicer atmosphere than Hutch's...more sleek and clean. Hutch's can be louder, especially in the bar area, and the decor is more muted, maybe slightly out of date? But the food is a toss up. I'd look at both of their menus to make your decision.
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Left Bank
511 Rhode Island St, Buffalo, NY 14213
Creamy Homemade Hummus
Yep, I meant that using the dried barely made any difference in the end result. Actually, let me admit that it made no difference, at least in the CI recipe. They recommend using dried chickpeas for a superior hummus, so I went through the process, but in the end, no one could tell, so I stick with canned now.
As for removing the skins, it also makes no difference in this recipe. You can run the food processor long enough and get the emulsification right so that you won't know whether the skins were on or off at the start.
favorite quiche or other prep-ahead brunch food
Don't know how seriously they take the low-carb thing, but I always do strata when we have guests for brunch. It's so easy to throw together, and benefits from a night (or longer) in the fridge, and it looks amazing coming out of the oven, all golden brown and puffy.
There are tons of recipes out there, and I've never had a bad one. I use a large loaf of stale-ish bread, with the crust on, cut or torn into small pieces (1" cubes is the standard measurement). Then I make a custard of 6 eggs, 2c milk (you can use 1/2 and 1/2 or cream), 6-8oz cheese, salt, pepper, 1t dijon mustard, and pour it over the bread and fillings, and make sure all bread is weighted down in mixture overnight. In the morning, bake at 325 for about an hour. Like quiche, you can pick your "fillings".
Creamy Homemade Hummus
I'm sure it's recommended in one of those aforementioned threads, but Google the Cooks Illustrated recipe for Restaurant-Style Hummus. I make this all the time and it never fails to get rave reviews. Follow the steps, though - the key is blending the tahini and oil together, and adding them in a slow stream to achieve emulsification that leads to a super-creamy, ultra-smooth hummus. It's better than most I've had at restaurants or from stores. Oh - and you can use the canned chickpeas...soaking the dried ones barely makes any difference, in my opinion.
In Buffalo for honeymoon
I just ate at 31 Club for the first time, and it was outstanding. It's more on the pricey side ($25-$35 for entrees), but great for a special meal. Other great, popular high-end spots are Oliver's and Tempo.
Most people around here will recommend that you skip Anchor Bar, unless you want to go for the tourist cache. You would do much better to drive out to East Aurora and have wings at Bar Bill. If you wanted to make a day of it, you could visit Knox Farm (State Park) for fall foliage, stroll on the "historic" brick Main Street, and have a dinner or drinks at the renovated Arts and Crafts era Roycroft Inn.
Ulrich's or Gabriel's Gate are the best choices in the city...and I think Ulrich's was featured on No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain.
There isn't too much around HSBC, but the Metro Rail runs up and down Main Street, starting/ending at the arena, so you can essentially take the train anywhere. People like Pearl Street Brewery and Morrisey's Irish Pub, but if you're into good food, you'd be better off heading back up to Allentown and eating there.
You can troll around these boards for more suitable recommendations on the food front. Mulberry Cafe in Lackawanna, Schwabel's in West Seneca are two of my local favorites.
Other ideas are the Albright-Knox art gallery (which has a great restaurant in it), the Birchfield-Penney art gallery (right across from Albright-Knox), and of course, Niagara Falls. You can hike down into the gorge, which at this time of year is a beautiful option that gets you away from the bizarre scene at the top of the falls. Lewiston is also a nice town to roam through, and has a few decent spots to eat.
Enjoy the honeymoon.
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Irish Pub
58 South St, Glens Falls, NY 12801
Roycroft Inn
40 South Grove Street, East Aurora, NY 14052
31 Club
31 N Johnson Park, Buffalo, NY 14201
Chowhound in Buffalo - what not to miss
Lake Effect Diner on Main Street in North Buffalo is a great diner choice, probably best for breakfast.
Betty's on Virginia in Allentown isn't really a diner, but has great breakfasts and lunches in an old, beautifully renovated brick house. Fresh and tasty food for very reasonable prices.
Bar Bill in East Aurora should be your choice for wings and Beef on 'Weck, and could also satisfy your "dive" interest. Be prepared to wait for a table if there's a hockey or football game on.
Ulrich's on Virginia in the downtown area is another good "dive" spot, with good German food, decent wings (not on Friday nights, when the fryer is dedicated to fish fry), and a very authentic, local Buffalo atmosphere.
Gabriel's Gate on Allen in Allentown has the best wings in the city, and maintains a bar-ish atmosphere, despite a large menu.
Mulberry's in Lakawanna is the best Italian around - homemade pastas, mozzarella, sauces. Also has long waits.
For upscale Italian, Lomabardo's on Hertel is a solid choice.
Tempo on Delaware in Allentown has consistently excellent food, largely French-inspired, if you're looking for a splurge meal (and in Buffalo, "splurge" is not too bad).
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Lake Effect Diner
3165 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
Buffalo in August!
Yeah, I've been to K Gallaghers, and thought it was pretty ok. We sat indoors, but their outdoors tables seem appealling. Mohawk Place is also good, for a "dive"-type spot, and with good music typically. Dolphin - will you be in on a Thursday? Check out the Thursday in the Square website to see if you will like the band playing at the free outdoor event, and if so, you can head to Mohawk for an after-show drink. Never been to Irish Times.
I agree with Jerry's assessments of the local bars, although I would say that my opinions of Snooty Fox are similar to his statements on Scarlet. Neither one of them I really get. But yeah - Fat Bob's is not the place to go for food. However, they have some decent taps and a nice outdoor back pation. Frizzy's is for bubble hockey and the old-school photo booth. Gabriel's Gate has the great bar and excellent tree-filled back patio, as well as pretty good wings.
Obviously the Buffalo locals could talk on and on about the bars, and the food spots, especially the down-home and dive-style places. So Dolphin, if you have any more questions, toss 'em our way, and certainly we'll find something to say!
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Irish Times
38 Swan St, Buffalo, NY 14203
Fat Bob's
52 Main St, New Paltz, NY 12561
K Gallagher's
73 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14202
Buffalo in August!
Right - FF isn't a dive, and neither is Fat Bob's, really. But more in line with a bar, as opposed to the more upscale spots to get drinks.
And jerry makes a great point - I don't know what your definition of a dive is, dolphin, but The Old PInk is a complete and absolute dive in probably every single person's opinion. Mulligan's Brick Bar, nextdoor to The Pink, is a slight step up, then on to Frizzy's, and then you have places like Fat Bob's and the like. Just thought it was kind of interesting someone actually asked about dive bars...in Buffalo! Wow - you could really get into trouble :)
Buffalo in August!
Jerry has pretty much nailed everything - his recommendations are outstanding. I just wanted to add a note for your night out drinking. You could do a great bar crawl on either Chippewa or in Allentown, but they are pretty different when it comes to the scene.
Chippewa (which I assume to be very close to where you are staying based on the "downtown hotel" description) is a strip of generally slick bars that all seem rather similar. The crowd tends to be suburban kids and frat-types, with a couple of notable exceptions (like Bacchus). It's sort of like Adams Morgan in DC, or Glenwood South in Raleigh.
Allentown, which is an easy walk on a nice summer night, has more of a Buffalo-ish, neighborhood feel, and a plethora of bars to tuck in and out of, including those Jerry has mentioned, plus "dives" like Founding Fathers, the Ol' Pink (THE definition of a dive), Fat Bob's (fantastic patio) and Frizzy's (complete with bubble hockey), and more upscale places like Mother's, Scarlet, and Stillwater.
As Jerry mentioned, Buffalonians love to drink and reach out to visitors, so I'm sure you'll have a great time.
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Stillwater
481 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202
Fat Bob's
52 Main St, New Paltz, NY 12561
Anyone know whats happening to my eggplant and tomatoes?
Do you have any suggestions for getting rid of voles in an organic vegetable garden? They showed up in mine last August. It was my first experience with them, and they destroyed everything! This winter, their population exploded in my garden area, and they ate my asparagus crowns, greatly weakening production. Everyone says "Get a cat!", but we've got one, and it's no help! We also have a healthy owl population, but the voles are just thriving anyway...I'm at my wits end.
Anyone know whats happening to my eggplant and tomatoes?
Depends on how tight the weave of the fence is...we bought the standard green garden fence (30" high) and still had problems with someone eating the plants. One morning we caught 2 bunnies in the garden. I thought they must have hopped the fence (which did seem insane) until we chased them THROUGH one of the holes. Seriously, if I hadn't seen this with my own eyes I would not believe a rabbit could fit through such a small hole. So we reinforced the bottom 24" with chicken wire, and that finally solved the problem. Good luck!
BBQ & Breakfast in Buffalo?
I haven't heard anything about Donnie's. That's too bad. I'm the one who said Donnie's wasn't THAT bad. Basically, I meant that the chances of getting shot and killed ona Sunday afternoon are pretty slim, but I'll admit that after years of living in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there really isn't any neighborhood in Buffalo that compares to some down there, so my sensitivity to such things is probably a lot lower than most other peoples'. Sorry!! I promise Suzy-Q's is a better neighborhood, and good BBQ to boot.
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Suzy-Q's
1110 Chenango St, Binghamton, NY 13901
