One could follow the beef on weck rabbit hole for a very long time. I followed it for a bit. Here’s my story on the (ancient, beloved, controversial) beef on weck’s current status in and out of Buffalo. buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

I interviewed Ani DiFranco for @buffalonews.com ahead of her concert tonight at Terminal B. We talked about her Broadway debut, her new album and what she’s expecting from her first trip to Buffalo since the pandemic. Check it out while there’s no paywall! buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Since the paywall is down on The Buffalo News website this weekend, here are some of the stories I’ve written over the last few months. And if you want to read more after the weekend is over, support local journalism (woo!) and become a subscriber. buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

The Anchor Bar’s chicken wing origin story — Teressa Bellissimo invented the Buffalo wing on a Friday night during lent in 1964 — is a famous tale in culinary history. It also can’t be true, based on ads for Anchor Bar’s wings printed in 1963. Full story: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Check out our new series and Instagram account highlighting timely stories from @TheBuffaloNews archives. Today we dive into Bills training camp: buffalonews.com/sports/bills...

There’s fire. There’s juggling. There’s a person juggling fire while padding around on a circus ball. A look at Flow Jam, a free party-meets-circus every Monday evening at Delaware Park: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

A new “pop and pop” shop in the Elmwood Village takes a creative approach to movie theater snacks (and adds a sprinkle of nostalgia). Read more: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Robabeh Ghorbanzadeh and Arman Naeemi, immigrants from Afghanistan, recently opened Saffron Kitchen, where they serve a tight menu of Afghan and Persian food for lunch and dinner. More here: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

A Lao-Thai restaurant and soul food restaurant join the lineup of immigrant-run food kiosks serving up a culinary trip around the world at the West Side Bazaar: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Two historic Niagara County buildings come back to life with food and drink at Fairbanks and Big Ditch. Story here: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Rattlesnake, buffalo on weck and chicken wing cupcakes with bleu cheese frosting: how the Taste of Buffalo has changed, and remained the same, over the years buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Unlike downtown Buffalo, which saw its food and drink renaissance of the 2010s freeze during Covid, the midsection of Niagara Street – roughly between the Peace Bridge and Scajaquada Expressway – has experienced a recent wave of new businesses. Read more: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

🧵of my recent @TheBuffaloNews food stories… starting with today’s newsletter about Italian sandwiches with a sense of humor: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

From @chessabond.bsky.social and myself: ‘There’s more of a hunker-down mentality’: WNY farms worry about ICE raids buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

ICYMI: Amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown many Western New York farmers fear for their workers. Excellent reporting from @chessabond.bsky.social and @robertgavinbn.bsky.social . buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

ICYMI: Buffalo News reporter @chessabond.bsky.social donned a Bleu Cheese mascot uniform to go behind the scenes of a Bisons game and learn about the team's most delicious between-inning entertainment.

Blue cheese and I meet again 😏 buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

With this follow up story: buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

ICYMI: another wonderful collaboration from @chessabond.bsky.social and @libbymarch.bsky.social published over the weekend: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Beautifully done as @chessabond.bsky.social becomes bleu cheese mascot at Bisons game. Suggested next step: Cage match with a ranch mascot before Bandits game - Chicken Wing, perhaps, could referee - to symbolically finish even the mere suggestion:

Plastic Bleu: Confessions of a Last-String Dressing*. *Yes, that's a George Plimpton reference! Do I have to explain everything to you? bsky.app/profile/buff...

I spoke to dozens of people in Buffalo’s growing fashion scene to understand what it is, why it’s taking off and what its future could look like, because “there’s mad fashion shows here” now. Read the first of two back-to-back stories: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Wrote five mini profiles on immigrants who have redefined Buffalo’s dining scene. “Because I have a passion for this, I’m happy even though the circumstance,” said Congolese restaurant owner Nathalie Zola Malu. “I’m happy because I’m living. I am free.” buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Coffee prices are going up, but local roasters facing skyrocketing bean costs have no choice. (“We have to be able to stay in business.) My story: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

🧵 of recent food stories time! I wrote about the national potential of some of Buffalo’s lesser known culinary exports: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Beyond local small businesses shuttering and the knock-on economic effects, beyond losing the taste and character of artisans and curators, the Nonna I was in a previous life weeps at what these tariffs will do to my pantry and my beloved Italian stores. And then there’s the Asian Store on NF Blvd!

Really fun story by @chessabond.bsky.social

ICYMI: Local restaurants, food stores grapple with tariffs cutting into already-thin profit margins. buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

Loved covering Chaand Raat, the eve of Eid-al-Fitr, at Buffalo Trade Center this past weekend w/ @chessabond.bsky.social. See more photos below: #chaandraat #eidalfitr #buffalo

As Buffalo’s Bangladeshi community continues to grow, the newish Buffalo Trade Center has emerged as the hot spot to see friends, family and new faces. I spent Saturday night chatting with revelers for Eid. Here’s the party report: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

A wonderful snap shot of our growing Bangladeshi community on their most important holiday from my colleague, @chessabond.bsky.social. And incredible photos from @libbymarch.bsky.social. buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Loved learning more about Bailey Avenue and, as ever, reporting with @chessabond.bsky.social !

Redevelopment efforts could transform Bailey Avenue from a chaotic thoroughfare into a destination. Buffalo News reporter @chessabond.bsky.social and photographer @libbymarch.bsky.social explored the efforts to revive the once bustling street and "Bring Back Bailey."

Bailey Avenue is on the brink of changes aimed at “building back Bailey” by redoing the road, sidewalks, bus routes and stations. via @chessabond.bsky.social @buffalonews.com buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

Bailey Avenue is a long, busy road with businesses and boarded-up storefronts, broken sidewalks and empty lots. It’s surrounded by tight-knit residential neighborhoods. It has one of the busiest bus routes and the highest rate of car crashes in the city. buffalonews.com/news/local/a...

As part of our 5-year Covid anniversary coverage, @jepsteinbuffalo and I combined our reporting for a story on downtown Buffalo struggling to recover from the pandemic’s lingering effects. buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

I had dinner with Buffalo’s fish fry concierge. "I know I'm a little wacky," said Courtney Smith with a smile. "It takes a very specific mind to take this much effort to go find these fish fry pictures. I'm using my craziness for good." buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

I didn’t know much about Pączki Day last week. But after two cultural festivals, conversations with 7-year-old Polish American royalty and an overnight spent at Mazurek’s bakery, I learned it’s about more than donuts (but they’re an important part): buffalonews.com/article_b636...

In this week’s food newsletter: where to go on Paczki Day, local restaurant news and food events buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Fantastic reporting from my colleague:

Downtown Buffalo restaurants are feeling the significant drop in office foot traffic. The suburbs, with their residential customer bases and free parking, are looking more appealing than ever. My story on downtown’s struggling restaurant landscape: buffalonews.com/news/local/d...

ICYMI: Elmwood bar and music venue Jack Rabbit is facing a slew of restrictions following a violation from the Liquor Authority amid neighbor complaints about noise. Owner Josh Mullin said the restrictions would cause significant revenue loss and layoffs. buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Andy Hedley and his brothers exist because his parents had first date at Parkside Candy that almost didn’t happen. His folks married 80 years ago today, on Valentine’s Day - and he hopes fabled Buffalo candy shop survives uncertain moment. My @buffalonews.com column: buffalonews.com/news/local/c...

Spent some time in Jamestown to learn about the city’s rich Swedish American culinary traditions and the push to keep them alive (and eat a lot of shortbread cookies): buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Parkside Candy is up for sale. Retiring owner Philip Buffamonte is looking for someone to continue the business and has declined an offer to turn his chocolate factory into apartments. “I think Western New York would be unhappy if anything else happened." buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

Nietzsche’s is closing, but only temporarily!, as its new owners make some upgrades to stay competitive. More here: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

News sports reporter Katherine Fitzgerald is on a mission to bring king cakes back to Buffalo

Restauranters are bracing for the challenges posed by looming tariffs threatened by the Trump administration on goods from some of America's biggest trade partners. by @chessabond.bsky.social buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

"It is the end of an era,” said Nick Ananiadis, son of Nick’s Place owner Peter. "We grew up in that kitchen, in that restaurant... I like to say that is my culinary school." More on Nick’s Place closing and next steps here: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...

As local restaurants continue to struggle with soaring food costs, President Trump’s proposed tariffs threaten to cut into already thinning profit margins. Spoke to some local businesses here: buffalonews.com/life-enterta...