Well.
It's the end of November. We've all glutted ourselves with a fantastic Thanksgiving feast, enjoyed the company of friends and family, and are looking forward to doing it all again with more fanfare in hopefully cozier and even cheerier Yuletide season that is headed our way.
Or, if you're like me, you miss the sun, dread the grey days full of snow, and wish you could hibernate until the next equinox.
either way, Season's Greetings.
i'm sure my absence has been a bit conspicuous, and to tell the truth i feel a bit guilty about that. this blog started with a pop of promotion by local food bloggers, buffalospree.com, and even a mention by the buffalo news, only to have me leave you in the dark in these darkening days of oncoming winter. my apologies.
that said, its been all i can do to wake up with enough time to watch the sun peter out, or find much worthwhile for which to leave the house, which sadly means the gossip is flowing like molasses. Or at least my part in promoting it, anyway. that isn't to say a few things haven't crossed my radar.
TRUFFLE DINNERS - what i heard - Awhile back i wrote a blurb about the dueling truffle dinners, one led by Bistro Europa's Steven Gedra, with the help of Mike Andrejewski held at SeaBar, and the other, a Dinner With Danger Event at Torches. The politics of the dueling dinners was the focus of the write-up, and while dates have long passed, the drama still resounds. the Gedra/Andrejewski truffle dinner went off with more than a few hitches, as i understand it, but to great success nonetheless. with the aid of Chefs James Roberts (Park Country Club) and Bruce Wieszala (Carmelo's) the Europa/SeaBar crew, et. al. turned out what i hear to be a masterpiece of a dining event.
the Dinner With Danger Truffle Dinner Event at Torches, scheduled within a day of the Europa/SeaBar offering, in fact did not go off as planned. while i don't have specific details, sources seem to suggest that the event was pulled by Chef J.J. Richert himself, so as to avoid the appearance that the Torches truffle dinner was a direct and personal challenge leveled at Gedra and associates. Sources indicate, however, that a private truffle feast was held quietly at Torches with around a dozen or so guests and was neither advertised nor open to the public.
BRAINSTORMING CHEF - what was seen - Chef Tutu Inthalasy of Hucklebuckets seems to hope to be opening a new restaurant at some point in the future. if you're in the industry and you don't know his cooking, you know his name; and if you don't know his name, you're sure to know his face. Whether the restaurant is closer to concept or reality at this stage in the game, i truly couldn't say, but he was recently sighted at Vera by an industry contact of mine collecting "distinctive looking bottles for glassware." you're guess is as good as mine. Hucklebottles, perhaps? all joking aside, i'd be interested to see what comes of Tutu's endeavors...
ANYBODY GOT A COUPLE MILLION? - what they say - i've heard it from several sources, but i don't think a "for sale" sign's been hung, yet. Nick Kotrides (Toro, Faherty's, Empire Grill) seems to be looking to get out of the restaurant business. at least as far as Elmwood avenue is concerned. Apparently Nick has been toying with the idea of selling both Faherty's and Toro (no word on whether or not he'd like to keep Empire, on Hertel). the catch is that they both come as a package -- splitting up the ownership is impossible, especially considering that the two locations seem to share a basement. the figure Mr. Kotrides seems to have in his head is a cool $2 million, so if any of you investors out there are looking for an easy cash cow, the Toro/Faherty's duo might just be up your alley. Just do me a favor and don't clean house, they've got some of my favorite people working there.
that's all for now.
stay tuned, i hope not to be out of touch so long during this dreadfully delightful season. I'm hoping to have a "whatever happened to...?" article up down the road, not to mention some cool buffalo culture and dining projects in the works as well.
till next time.
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