So pick yourself up and head on over to

www.blackberryfoodblog.weebly.com

because BFB just got a facelift and you should see it. (Don’t worry, I did my research and consulted with a board-certified virtual plastic surgeon. I’m happy with the results. Really.)

Will my culinary adventures in England result in the colonization of new and uncharted foodie territories?

Get me to the Greek (Greek food in Buffalo, that is) and setting sail towards Anchor Bar

Under normal conditions, I can hardly ever be convinced to walk 3 miles through downtown and suburban Buffalo, NY in the chilly Fall in fashionable brown heeled boots but tell me I’m going to try some of the best Greek food I’ve ever had and you’ll be eating my dust. Don’t eat too much, you’ll spoil your appetite.

After an urban hike to the Elmwood Village section of downtown Buffalo, I began by ordering the hummus and veggie appetizer which, as you can see in the pic, is a giant platter full of hummus with veggies throughout and hot fresh chewy pita bread. The appetizer was so huge, it could have been a meal or even better, take the leftovers to go and eat it as the best hangover breakfast the next morning to recover from the FDNY banquet you crashed the night before. Just saying, it would probably be the best thing in that scenario … should you find yourself in it … not that I would know.

Follow that app with a fresh and flaky Spinach Spanakopita and you’d almost be good to go. I say almost because if you left Pano’s without trying their Baklava, you’ve wasted your entire urban hike to Pano’s even if you did wear fashionable brown heeled boots. The Baklava is, without a doubt, THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. It was warm, flaky, not too many nuts (major plus in my book) and surrounded by dollops of thick, sweet, creamy fresh whipped cream. This is what it’s all about, people. Thick, sweet creamy cream.

So all this talk about Greek food and mochas and crappy beer might have you wondering “Where’s the post about Buffalo’s hot wings? The post you promised like a month ago when you told the world and all 3 people that follow your blog that you were going to arrive at Anchor Bar in Buffalo with bib in place to partake in the wings that gave birth to other wings around the world?”

I have a very good answer to that question.

I chose to join about 100 blue poncho-wearing fools on the Maid of the Mist to watch 600,000 gallons of water a second pass over the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.

What, not good enough for you?

Fine, I just ran out of time. BUT … lucky for me (and for the future of my blog) there was an Anchor Bar INSIDE Buffalo International Airport. Cue “Hallelujah” chorus.

So, how are these amazing, world renowned wings? Just what you would expect. Meaty, slightly spicey, dripping with tangy sour hot sauce that makes the corners of your jaw tingle and burn like when you think about eating an entire bag of Sour Patch Kids. For an airport restaurant, these wingers were GOOD and I thanks to them, I can still hold my head up high in the food blog world having fulfilled all my bloggy promises. 

The Spot gets it’s own post … it is that good

 I would consider returning to Buffalo, NY for one thing and one thing only … a mocha at The Spot coffee on my current favorite corner in the whole world, Chippewa and Delaware. If you’re not completely in awe of the café when you walk in with its warm and friendly staff, pastry shelves full of sinful items or the super cool cold brewing system for their iced coffee that’s half middle school science project and all genius, the mocha will.

One sip of this mocha and you’ll forget your first name. Another sip and you’ll forget your last name. A third and you’ve comfortably slipped into mocha nirvana after leaving a sign on the door that says, ‘Sorry we missed you, but we’ll be back NEVER”. This mocha is that good. Would I lie to you?

Buffalo: The Land of Many Food Wins …. And A Food Fail

Buffalo. Oh, Buffalo. So many wonderful gastromic experiences and one, just one, dramatic food fail.

We might as well just get it over with and start with the dirty laundry. Or is it air out the dirty laundry? Or clear the air? Yes, I do believe that’s it. Let’s start off by clearing the air and saying that while Pearl Street Grill & Brewery might be known for its endless stories of fun and debauchery (it’s literally 5 stories tall) with views of Lake Erie and decent food to boot, their beer, the beer they make on-site, might have been the worst beer I’ve had from a brewery.

Ever.  Period.

Granted, I didn’t try their seasonal brews as I opted to go with the beer flight or locally known as “The Teaser” of 10 different brews to try (a favorite menu item that I compulsively order anywhere that offers a beer flight. A flight of beer. A flight to a land where ale flows like waterfalls and quenches the thirst of drunken butterflies.)

Too much? Yeah, I’ll stop.

The ten beers I did try ranged from tolerable (Lighthouse Ale) to downright vomitous (Raspberry Chocolate) which tasted like cheap chocolate mixed with bad bad beer.

Now, if food is what you’re after, Pearl Street was decent. My portabella burger was enormous and the fries were fine. All in all, if you’re in need of a place to eat in the mildly depressed downtown Buffalo area, go ahead and eat at Pearl Street … but don’t say I didn’t warn you about the beer flight. No drunken butterflies for miles …

Actually, there is a better, more interesting place to eat dinner in Buffalo with adult beverages that don’t taste like chocolate ass. Go see the cocoa professionals at The Chocolate Bar and see how chocolate and alcohol are divinely combined.

The Chocolate Bar, as its name implies, is a restaurant that puts chocolate into nearly all of their offerings from white chocolate pasta to Chocolate Truffle Martini’s. More on that later …

Now I hear a few remarks from the locals along the lines of ‘Oh, you went to Chocolate Bar? All the chicks go to Chocolate Bar” … not true, my friends, not true. Sure, there were a few tables of all ladies in the joint while I was there but there were definitely some dudes partaking in the chocolately goodness and one of their near 20 varieties of martini’s. At $10 a pop, they can be a bit of an investment but definitely, definitely worth it. Anyways, when’s the next time you’re going to be back in Buffalo at Chocolate Bar drinking one of their martini’s?

You can see why that question gets me into a lot of trouble. Come to think of it, I think that’s the beginning of the thought process every time I order a beer flight … coincidence? Nah.

What is wet and crunchy with 20 odd legs and wings?

You would be incorrect if you guessed a fraternity hazing gone horribly wrong (or incredibly right?)

You would, however, be correct if you guessed a Double at Anchor Bar in Buffalo, NY, where I’ll be going at the end of September. A double is 20 crispy-fried, hot sauce-slathered, sell-your-soul delicious wings served at the globally accepted birthplace of buffalo wings. 

Would it be awkward if I arrived at Anchor’s with a bib on?

From whence the untamed Colorado River doth flowed, now stands a mighty dam (and mighty good tasting BEER)

So the Boulder Dam Brewing Company is only about, oh, 30 miles off the strip, BUT if you’re a travel junkie like me and need to get out and see as many sites in a given area that you can possibly cram into a 4 day trip, you will undoubtedly find yourself at the Hoover Dam … preferably standing on the dam … with one foot in Nevada and the other in Arizona … cool.

Fun Fact: Hoover Dam, before it was named Hoover Dam for and by President Hoover, was initially named Boulder Dam. Now remember me when you’re on Jeopardy! and you get that question right during Double Jeopardy like the clutch player you are and you win the show to the applause of senior citizens everywhere because of me. Deal?

The Boulder Dam Brewing Company has your regular brew restaurant fare but I wasn’t quite that interested in food since our early morning buffet breakfast at The Spice Market in Planet Hollywood. Seriously, 3 of the 5 people in the car (myself included) were in such a self-induced high caloric hibernation snoring away in the back seat that driving straight into the Hoover Dam (originally named Boulder Dam, remember?) would likely fail to awaken. Really, let’s be honest here, Vegas is about eating, eating, drinking, eating, WALKING, maybe dancing and SLEEPING.

In a pool cabana.

On the monorail.

On the dock of TI waiting for the lame Siren’s show.

Anyways, I digress.

The Boulder Dam Brewing Company offers a sort of beer flight so you can try 6 different beers including a Shandy (see, Irish beer drinking music makes sense.) If you’re like me and never had a Shandy, it’s one part pilsner, one part lemonade and all parts awesome. Try one. Today. Do it.

The rest of Boulder Dam Brewing Company’s in-house brews are quite tasty and a bit hoppy if you’re into that. I nibbled on a large Bavarian pretzel that partnered nicely with the rest of my liquid lunch.

Don’t judge.

Liquid lunches can be nutritious.

There are nutrients in beer.

Studies have found that women who drink beer daily have improved mental health.

Boom goes the dynamite.

Ah, Vegas. From what I can remember, you were a pretty awesome destination and I have a shiny $1 chip from the Excalibur for the first person that can find my brain and give it a one way ticket back to the east coast and reality, thankyouverymuch.

Unknown German Monk

So, about all those Vegas food pics …

I really did have high hopes for my Sin City foodie post but as the horribly overused phrase goes,” What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” …  including my pathetic brain which is, in fact, still there enjoying the mile long buffets and ridiculous crepes at Paris Hotel and not here, on the East Coast, where I need it to write this post.

I was so caught up in the complete wonderment of the adult playground that is Las Vegas, NV, that I barely took any pictures and have even fewer memories thanks to the “Let’s try all the great looking drinks in Vegas and see which one wins the “Best, Awesome, Best Tasting Drink” Award (Yes, I am aware there are two Best’s, just go with the flow.)

I did, however, have some senses about me twice. Yup, four days and two moments of sensefullness (the opposite of senselessness?) and that is when we visited TAO (insert heavenly chorus here) and the Boulder Dam Brewing Company (insert Irish beer drinking song here). TAO will be featured in this post, Boulder Dam Brewing Company in the next which gives me time to make sense of the yard long adult beverages, freaky clowns, gliding monorails and strobe lights still having a rave in my head.

First, TAO.

Oh, TAO.

With your Tiger Lily cocktail, a worthy Best Awesome Best Tasting Drink contender made of Absolut Kurant, Chambord, and Pineapple Juice (Calgon, take me away!) and the platefull of specialty sushi rolls like Shrimp Tempura with Curry Sauce. Tao does not discriminate. Tao borrows tastefully from other ethnic cuisines and hires some internet ordained minister/Elvis to legitimize the marriage between Asian and Indian flavors at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in this ridiculous roll o’ sushi.

Or maybe you’re looking to go more traditional. The TAO Angry Dragon Roll with Eel & Kabayaki Sauce (no idea what that is but again, just go with the flow, it feels good) is just delicious. Round off the sushi plate with a Fried Soft Shell Crab and Shiso Roll with Yuzu Mayonaise and you might as well bring out the welcome party at the Pearly Gates because I am dead. Death by sushi. What a wonderful way to go.

Stay tuned for Boulder Dam Brewing Company and their damn good beer …

It’s Vegas, baby, and I would be lying if I told you I was only mildly excited about our plans to purchase the “Buffet of Buffets” package with 24 hour access to 7 different hotel buffets on the strip.

This will be epic.