Elizabeth Sher and her family fled genocide in her native Myanmar to find a husband and career in Buffalo. Here, she raised four children, and reunited her family by bringing her parents to join them in their new homeland.
She made the jump from home cook to learning how to run a restaurant kitchen while living in a Thai refugee camp. After immigrating to the United States in 2011, she met her husband-to-be Soe Win when he was working at Golden Burma Asia Food, a Grant Street grocery.
She was working as a hotel cleaner. She couldn’t buy the big bag of rice because she had to take two buses home. Then Win offered to drive her home with her groceries.
They married in 2013, and have four children. In 2016, she started her restaurant business selling papaya salad and other food in Unity Park on weekends, when Karenni and other immigrants gather for picnics on the island in the Niagara River.
In 2017 Sher became a U.S. citizen. At International House, 617 Main St., Sher’s older kids Moeyusher Julywin and Soethanda Win are behind the Pattaya Street Food counter some afternoons, helping run the food and bubble tea operation.
Early this spring, Pattaya expanded into the International House space left vacant by the departure of Nile River. They’ve added wokked dishes, stir-fries and noodle numbers that require live fire cooking.
Her food has been part of my report since she and her husband were part of the original Rakhapura crew at 302 Main St. We’ve worked together before, so it brings me no small amount of joy to present Burmese 101 with Elizabeth Sher.
On April 30, guests can enjoy five tastes of Sher’s repertoire. Kickoff is 6 p.m. I’ll be explaining what you’re tasting, how to make it yourself, where to buy the ingredients, and answering any questions you might have.
Menu: Tea leaf salad, chicken curry puff, green papaya salad, owno khao swe, lotus flower cookie.
The $30 ticket price includes tax, tip, and recipes. Buy tickets here.
REVIEW: A decade into serving platters of meltingly tender lamb haneeth and bubbling cauldrons of fenugreek-topped stew with hubcap-sized fresh bread, Almandi has earned my praise as Buffalo’s best Yemeni restaurant. Families, vegans, and hungry people who don’t speak Arabic are all welcome. From house salads to fattah, an indulgent dessert made of yesterday’s pita, clarified butter, honey, dates and pastry cream, Almandi offers Yemeni hits that move everyone. (For patrons, later this week.)
ASK THE CRITIC
Q: We followed your suggestion to try The Dove, and were so happy. We just loved the pasta fagioli with cheese and onions that is part of any dinner. Are there any other places that greet you with soup like that?
– Janelle K., Lackawanna, via email
A: Isn’t that lovely? The Dove gives you real, feathery grated cheese, too, instead of canister pebbles.
For warm welcomes in a bowl, two places immediately come to mind. Nana Peruvian Kitchen, the astonishingly legit Peruvian place in Fredonia, and Almandi, the veteran Yemeni family restaurant on Broadway.
Nana’s warm hug is chicken cilantro rice soup, aguadito, wetting your whistle while whetting your appetite for ceviche and lomo saltado.
If you’re sitting down at Almandi, your meal is preceded with a gratis bowl of maraq, broth in Arabic. Lots of garlic and turmeric and chile in chicken or lamb broth, served with lime wedges and seriously spicy tomato-chile salsa.
More reading from Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:
- Mr. Galarneau told us about the delicious Hawaiian plate lunches and other dishes you can get at Hānai Hawaiian BBQ [Four Bites]
- Andrew also wrote about the delicious sausages he got to try at the Buffalo’s Best Keilbasa Contest [Four Bites]
- CollaBEERation 6 has begun to announce the list of brewers that will participate including Buffalo Olde Brewery, Pearl Street Grill & Brewery and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- Brian wrote about some of the best local beer gardens including Hamburg Brewing Company, Buffalo Brewing Company and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- Sarah wrote about Pocketeer Billiards and Sports Bar in Cheektowaga [Step Out Buffalo]
- Rhythm & Brews returns to Kleinhan’s Music Hall on 5/8 [Buffalo Beer League]
- Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about the return of New York Craft Beer Day on 4/11, a new Sabres-inspired beer from Other Half and more [Buffalo Beer League]
- Francesca wrote about a new, fast-casual momo restaurant opened by two Bangladeshi American best friends – Sarnia [Buffalo News]
- You can get afternoon tea at Wonder Coffeehouse [Step Out Buffalo]
- Jamie told us about her lunch at Milkie’s Elmwood Lounge [Open till Four]
- Soirée Lounge & Grill has opened at the Hotel at the Lafayette [Buffalo Rising]
- Brett told us why he couldn’t stop thinking about the dessert case at Raha Coffee House [Step Out Buffalo]
- Allentown has a new ramen spot – JBC Rice Noodles & Ramen [Step Out Buffalo]
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