This is a list of our favorite people and food producers in WNY. Since we just moved here 1 1/2 years ago and have been working non-stop since, this list will continue to increase as we make more friends throughout the region. There are a ton of great people here, just because their names are not part of this list, doesn’t mean we don’t like them, it’s more that we haven’t had the opportunity to meet them.
Carmelo’s Ristorante (Lewiston, NY)- A wonderfully friendly and talented chef, Carmelo has been a driving force in the farm to table movement in WNY since the beginning. He is known for his amazing palate and is fearless when it comes to trying new techniques or ingredients. One of our great friends.
http://www.carmelos-restaurant.com/
Inkwell Studios- (Designers of our beautiful website logo)
http://inkwellstudios.com/
Painted Meadow Farm (Franklinville, NY)- (Producers of all of our duck eggs, chicken eggs, goose eggs, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and lamb. Unrivaled quality.)
http://http//www.localharvest.org/painted-meadows-M26597
Seabar- One of our favorite places to drink and eat. Beautiful, pristine sushi, creative menu of top-notch ingredients and technique. Mike A is one of our favorite people.
http://www.seabarsushi.com/
Singer Farms Naturals (Appleton, NY)- Beautiful stone fruit in season. A dizzying array of heirloom garlic. Dried Balaton cherries (a tart Hungarian species that is one of Steve’s favorite ingredients), cherry concentrate, and chocolate covered dried cherries that will make you slap your Pappy!
http://www.singerfarmnaturals.com/SFN/Welcome.html
T-Meadow Farm (Lockport, NY)- Rich Tilyou and his family produce some of THE BEST pork you will ever have the pleasure of consuming. His heritage breeds consist of- Large Black, Old Gloucester Spots, Red Waddles, and a few more that he brings into the mix. We’ve never had better pork. Period. Raised on 75 acres of beautiful, pristine meadows. No antibiotics, no hormones, quick, merciful death. The way it should be.
http://heritagebreedsusa.com/TMeadow.html
Five Points Bakery- Family run bakery specializing in whole wheat bread that is grown specifically for the bakery and milled IN HOUSE!! Incredible bread, great people. They are changing the way things are done in WNY, for the better. They also offer a bread CSA!!
www.fivepointsbakery.com
Nickel City Chef- The closest thing you’ll come to resembling Iron Chef, possibly in the entire US. NCC pits local chef challengers against one of four “Nickel City Chefs”, established Chef/Owners from WNY. This event features a 1 hour battle, having chefs create 3 dishes featuring local ingredients. It is truly an amazing event. It began as a grassroots production as the brain child of Christa Glennie Seychew, WNY’s driving force behind local-centric and farm to table philosophies. Christa’s impact on the region will truly be gauged as incredible in 10 or so years when everyone will just be doing it because “that’s the way it should be.” Nickel City Chef is a vital and undeniably significant showcase of WNY’s unique restaurant culture (most of which are independently owned, “Mom and Pop” operations), and top notch farmers and artisan producers, as well as a wicked fun time. If you haven’t gone to one yet, you MUST do it. It’s a blast!
www.nickelcitychef.com
Oles Farm- Dan and his wife Jane produce vegetables of stellar quality, consistently. Europa is fortunate enough to be one of seven restaurants that the “Magic School Bus” delivers to in Buffalo every Thursday during the season. Dan and Jane also sit on the board of the Buffalo Chapter of the Field and Fork Network, which is responsible for closing a lot of the gaps in the farm to table movement. Oles Farm supplies the Promised Land CSA, one of the first farms to use the community supported agriculture models in the region. On top of growing pristine produce, Dan and Jane are some of the best people we have the pleasure of dealing with. All of their children have taken to farming in one way or another, and we are excited to see what the kids have learned!
www.promisedlandcsa.com
Spar’s European Sausage Shop- Steve had the pleasure of opening Pearl Street Grill and Brewery with Beth Kennedy, co-owner of Spar’s, in 1997. He also worked with Joe (The Sausage King of Black Rock) at the Park Lane in its heyday. Spar’s is a very unique place and a necessary asset for Greater Buffalo. Spar’s makes European sausage by hand, the old way, and smokes the ones that need smoking accordingly. Many cities the size of Buffalo do not have a place like Spar’s. With Europa’s guidance, Joe has begun sourcing whole local animals to butcher in-house to offer to its die-hard customers. If you’re feeling particularly peckish whilst visiting, ask for a hot Leberkase (fancy bologna loaf, produced in-house) sandwich with mustard and your choice of cheese. (FYI, Tilsiter will NOT be sliced on the mechanical slicer as it is soft and stinky and therefore very difficult to clean). Spar’s sausages are an essential in any good Buffalo cook’s pantry, be it professional or amateur. Tell Joe and Beth Europa sent you! They’re counted amongst our good friends!
http://sparseuropeansausage.com/
Elmwood-Bidwell Farmer’s Market-Pound for pound Greater Buffalo’s best Farmer’s Market. You will see either Steve or Bruce here every Saturday in season. The region’s best produce farmers are located here, as well as White Cow Dairy (the best yogurt you will ever put in your mouth, no joke. As well as rotating and original yogurt based pro-biotic energy drinks.), Painted Meadow Farm, Weiss Farm, Tom Tower Farm, Dan Tower Farm, Native Offerings, Five Points Bakery, and many more. A must during the growing season.
www.elmwoodmarket.org
Native Offerings- Again, one of the first farms to employ the CSA model in the region. Stew Richie’s beets and greens are SECOND TO NONE. Our larders are packed with Native Offerings goodies whenever they are available.
www.nativeofferings.com
Pasteurized Tees- Michael Bowen and his crew press custom T-shirts right before your very eyes! They will design one for you, or you can bring your own design and let them press it! The creativity and awesomeness just pulses from this place. We’re fortunate to have them as neighbors.
www.facebook.com/pasteurizedtees
