How much of the bread you eat is the same stuff, week after week, the convenient, not-so-bad loaf of adequacy?
It’s right there at the supermarket, after all. What sort of bread could even convince you a second stop was worthwhile?
How far off the beaten path would you go for something different? Would you travel to the wilds of Amherst, downtown Buffalo, or even North Tonawanda?
While you chew on those questions, here’s some international bakers working hard to be part of our daily bread.
Sahar Bakery
2784 Sheridan Drive, Tonawanda NY, 716-314-0116
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Closed Sunday.
Low-profile Afghan bakery offers barbari, the tray-sized finger-dimpled loaves also known as Persian flatbread, in white and whole wheat, $5 for two loaves the size of skateboard decks. Persian and Middle Eastern groceries, like black limes and jameed, dried fermented sheep’s milk yogurt.
560 Amherst St., Buffalo NY, 716-768-3826
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
Ten kinds of buttery baklava land in the display case before noon most days. By late afternoon the kataifi, salty cheese sandwiched between layers of shredded phyllo, baked until golden and drenched in syrup, is usually gone. But the pistachio-centered art of Syrian baker Mohammed Altaleh remains a complete steal, $11.99 a pound last we checked.
284 Ontario St., Buffalo NY, buffalofreshmarkets.com, 716-582-0510
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily.
Bakery in the back of international grocery produces Iraqi samoon loaves and cheese-topped manakeesh most mornings, in addition to other types of bread offered. Lunch choices include steamtable fish, meat, and rice dishes. In between is a world of Arab and Persian groceries, well-stocked freezers, and a halal meat counter.
Suenos de Azucar Bakery
56 Niagara St., Buffalo NY, 716-533-8470
Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Closed Saturday, Sunday.
Puerto Rican panaderia two blocks from Buffalo City Hall wows with guava pastelillos, mega queso rolls, and cream horns on the sweet side. Then there’s savory snacks like softball-sized deep-fried papas rellenos and beef-and-plantain fried turnovers. Sandwiches like the Cubano and tripleta are big enough for a day’s calories, stuffed with meat and salad fixings before being anointed with garlic oil.
Anastasia’s Artisan Bread Bakery
236 Zimmerman St., North Tonawanda NY, anastasiasbread.com, 716-906-4135
Hours: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday-Monday. Closed Tuesday.
Dark rye beloved by northern Europeans, cardamom knots, baguettes, financiers, and much more comes out fresh every morning in North Tonawanda. A couple of Russian engineers with a home-based baking enterprise went brick-and-mortar in November. Now there’s seemingly specials every week, like pistachio matcha danish and Anastasia’s version of Black Forest Cake.
That Greek Guy Bakery
999 Broadway, Buffalo NY, greekguybakery.com, 716-200-9825
Hours: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday, Monday.
Michael Giokas and his son Alex offer pocket pita bread that reminds you of the good old days. Spanakopita (spinach pie), baklava, and more, Personally, I dig the bougatsa, custard baked inside golden-brown folded phyllo dusted with powdered sugar, and maybe even cinnamon. That Greek Guy Bakery pita is delivered to both Lexington Co-ops weekly.
La Flor Bakery
544 Niagara St., Buffalo NY, laflorbuffalo.com, 716-812-0187
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.
Puerto Rican steamtable specials like smothered pork chops and pernil with rice and pigeon peas alongside a full bakery case of boricua sweets like tres leches cake and guava turnovers dusted with powdered sugar.
Dulce Hogar Bakery
448 Oliver St., North Tonawanda, dulcehogarbakeryny.com, 716-525-1010
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Monday.
951 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, dulcehogarbakeryny.com, 716-529-9225
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Closed Monday.
Try Colombian dishes like bandeja paisa, a carnivore Disneyland: fried pork belly, Colombian sausage, morcilla blood sausage, and steak, plus plantains, eggs, beans, and rice. Seafood stews, empanadas, and an entire lineup of baked sweets like caramel-cheese buns await.
REVIEW: Hidden in plain sight on Hertel Avenue, Horn of Africa opened last September. I’m sure I drove by it 50 times without knowing that the plain facade concealed opportunities for remarkably transporting culinary escapades. Tsegarada Abera and husband Samuel Awalom offer a quiet space to relax and enjoy Eritrean and Ethiopian dishes like kitfo, minced beef tartare drenched with spiced clarified butter, zelzel-style beef tibs in red wine butter sauce, and quanta firfur, sauteed dried beef. (For patrons, later this week.)
WAFFLES BACK AT FITZ: Fitz Books, 1462 Main St., has its liege waffles back at last.
Liege waffles? Instead of pouring batter into a waffle iron, use cookie dough sprinkled with sugar crystals, and you’ll end up with something reminiscent of a liege waffle.
Original ($3.50), cinnamon of chocolate ($4.50) and gluten free vegan ($4.50) are waffle choices. Innovations include a grilled cheese waffle and a chive cream cheese with capers and pickled red onions, salmon optional.
Fitz Books is open noon-6 p.m. daily.
ASK THE CRITIC
Q: Just re-watched the movie Tampopo, now I’m dying for ramen. Could you recommend some ramen joints? We’re in Cattaraugus County. Cheers, Toro B.
A: Great news. Yankee BBQ in Hamburg does ramen nights, and the next one is April 21.
The ramen is really, really good. You have to make a reservation. Here’s the link.
As fate would have it, Yankee BBQ is the answer to another internet craving. When a barbecue fan asked for smoked beef ribs, instead of the usual pork spare ribs, I asked owner Brian Nagy if the “brontosaurus ribs” might make a comeback.
Yes, one night only: Saturday March 14, $25 per rib.
More reading from Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:
- Mr. Galarneau told about the diner gem in Larkinville that is Swan Street Diner [Four Bites]
- Andrew also wrote about places where we can enjoy fish beyond a fish fry at places like Waxlight Bar à Vin, Bistro Avera and more [Four Bites]
- Christa gave us the history of the North American fish fry [Buffalo Spree]
- Christa also told us what we need to know about this year’s Maple syrup season [Buffalo Spree]
- Maple Weekend in New York State will take place 3/21-3/22 and 3/28-3/29 [Buffalo Spree]
- Lauren told us about a Native American farm in Cattaraugus County run by the Seneca Nation – Gakwi:yo:h Farms [Buffalo Spree]
- Craft Beer Happy Hour returns to the Buffalo Home Show this weekend and next [Buffalo Beer League]
- Rusty Nickel Brewing and Ebenezer Ale House are presenting St. Patrick’s Day Music Fest on 3/14 [Buffalo Beer League]
- The Banshee Irish Pub is now serving lunch [Buffalo Rising]
- Daniel put together a list of ten popular spots to get a fish fry including Hayes Seafood House, Sean Patrick’s and more [Step Out Buffalo]
- Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about Pizza Plant’s annual Imperial March of Stouts (which takes place TODAY), Big Ditch’s first anniversary party for its Lockport taproom and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- Spot Coffee has opened a new café counter inside a Jefferson Avenue gas station [Buffalo News]
- The bar at the Richardson Hotel is back and open every day [Buffalo News]
- More coverage of the opening of the Spot Coffee new café counter [Buffalo Rising]
- Beebe’s on the Squre brings European eats and jazz to Lafayette Square [Step Out Buffalo]
- Jamie reviewed this year’s Williamsville Soup Stroll [Open till Four]
- Very excited about this one – Santasiero’s will reopen under new ownership [Buffalo Rising]
- Brett wrote about a new Sicilian-inspired wine bar that’s opened in Hamburg – Black Flower Wine and Provisions [Step Out Buffalo]
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