New York: Buffalo Food Trail

By Michael C. Upton Arts & Leisure Writer

The city of Buffalo can be called many things. It is proud to be the City of Good Neighbors.

Because it was the first city to receive electricity it has been called the "City of Light."

The Society for Beautifying Buffalo, prevalent in the early to mid-1900s, would like to call Buffalo the City of Trees. But modern travelers may want to call this area the City of Trails—not hiking trails, food and beverage trails.

The folks at Visit Buffalo Niagara proudly cling to the words of James Beard-award winning food critic Michael Stern, who called Buffalo “one of the great eating cities” of the United States. The tourism group has designed seven trails to help visitors eat their way around town. To wash down all the victuals, Visit Buffalo Niagara has created a series of Ale Trails, too.

For 40 years, the foodie destination has celebrated its culinary exquisiteness during a two-day event called the Taste of Buffalo. Hailed as the largest food festival in the US, Taste of Buffalo is a non-profit event, which has donated over $543,000 in annual scholarships to high school seniors pursuing a major in culinary arts or the hospitality field. It is one way to ensure Buffalo’s food trails (www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/crawls) remain blazed with talent and promise for future visitors.

Buffalo Wings

In Buffalo, they are just called wings. And if you want to avoid the furrowed brow of disapproval from your server at any Buffalo establishment never order spicy chicken wings with a side of ranch dressing. It is bleu cheese or nothing. What the rest of the world calls Buffalo Wings were an invention of the family who owns and operates The Anchor Bar, and the iconic downtown site is just one of 14 stops on the Wing Trail. The trails online listing allows diners to choose a path of hot, saucy, unusual, or classic for their preferred wing flavors.

Fish Fry

The fish fry is not unique to Buffalo, but Buffalonians have adopted the dish and it is a staple on many menus throughout Western New York. The dish is often served with a side of fries and a cold salad, like macaroni or potato. The suggested destinations include Gene McCarthy’s in the city’s First Ward, Wiechec’s Lounge in Buffalo’s Kaisertown neighborhood, and Bailey Seafood who proport to have “the best fish fry and seafood in Buffalo.”

Beef on Weck

Overshadowed by wings, this sandwich may be the most delicious thing most people have never heard of from Buffalo. Weck is short for kummelweck roll, a semi-hard roll akin to a Kaiser roll, topped with caraway seeds and coarse salt. The beef is roast beef, and depending on where it is served comes shaved or thick sliced. Most sandwiches are served with a dousing of au jus and some have horseradish. The Beef on Weck Trail lists five places serving “excellent sandwiches”: Bar Bill Tavern, Schwabl’s, Charlie the Butcher’s Kitchen, Ulrich’s Tavern, Eckl’s @ Larkin, and Glen Park Tavern.

Buffalo-style Pizza

The most crucial element to understanding, embracing, and enjoying Buffalo-style pizza is the pepperoni. The thick, round meat toppings curl up when charred creating a crispy “cup” to complement the ample cheese and sweet sauce found on Buffalo-style pizza. Here, sauce, cheese, and toppings go to the edge of the usually soft crust. This trail has 10 stops, but two must-visit staples are the circa-1946 Bocce Club Pizza and West Side’s La Nova Pizzeria.’

Hot Dogs

With hot dogs, Buffalo has once again put their own mark on a staple found all around the US. Relying on a long tradition from manufacturers like Sahlen’s and Wardynski’s, the folks in Buffalo like to charcoal broil their hot dogs. The result is a snappy casing with an earthy coal-fired flavor. Hot dog stands can be found throughout Western New York and several hot dog carts have become staples in the city. Six destinations mark this trail.

Ice Cream

Locals claim ice cream shops in and around Buffalo are historically underrated and the Ice Cream Trail hopes to change that perception. Four generations have owned and operated Antoinette’s Sweets since 1915. The 1950s vibe is still alive at Nick Charlap’s ice cream stand in the Buffalo suburb of Boston. One of the newest ice cream spots is Churn Soft Serve, where cones and toppings are all made in house.

Sponge Candy

Buffalo’s most unique food item is sponge candy. And there is a trail for it, too! People love sponge candy so much trail-member Watson’s sells 40 tons of the caramelized chunks of spun sugar drenched in chocolate— milk or dark. Fowler’s Fine Chocolate produces 17.5 tons of sponge candy per year. Five other candy purveyors make up the Sponge Candy Trail.

Ale Trails

The Buffalo Ale Trail is divided into five segments representing the diversity of brewing and cultural influence of Buffalonians. Nine establishments make the list of Irish pubs. A vast selection of Polish brews can be found at the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle club. IPA fans should flock to Thin Man Brewery, Big Ditch Brewing Co., or Resurgence Brewing Co. More experimental drinkers enjoy 42 North Brewing Co. and two other establishments on the list. And those who enjoy the more classic styles are encouraged to visit places like Old First Ward Brewing and Beltline Brewery & Kitchen.

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