BUFFALO HEALTHY LIVING
By Shannon Traphagen
Food festivals are all the rage, and usually signify the beginning of summer, which in Buffalo can’t come soon enough. Not only are food festivals popular, but they can transform the local economy — and the Taste of Buffalo does that and more!
On par with other festivals such as the Charleston Food and Wine Festival and LA Food Fest, Taste of Buffalo, being held July 7-8, brings the hometown flavors of the City of Good Neighbors to more than half a million people each year, and is considered the largest two-day food festival in the United States. New this year, the Taste’s footprint will expand, extending past Chippewa for the first time in the history of the event. Restaurants, food trucks, and other attractions will begin at Delaware and Johnson Park, continuing south down Delaware and around Niagara Square.
“Buffalo’s food scene has exploded over the past few years with rich, culturally diverse menus popping up all over the region, and are represented at our event. We’ve got traditional Buffalo staples such as Lloyd tacos, Chiavetta’s chicken, and pierogis from Chrusciki Bakery along with po’boys, jerk pork, Mediterranean shawarma, dumplings, cannolis, and many more mouth-watering items. As more new restaurants open each year, they are usually showcased at the Taste, so everyone gets to experience what the food culture is all about in Buffalo,” says Erin Collins, Taste Communications Chair.
A big theme this year is organic and locally sourced products. Elmhurst Milked will offer free samples of their plant-based milks made with clean, simple ingredients. Varieties include Milked Almonds, Unsweetened Milked Almonds, Milked Brown Rice, and Milked Oats. Tops Markets will be introducing samples of their natural and organic food and beverage products in their Tops Better for You and Organic Foods tent.
The Independent Health Foundation continues its partnership with the Taste to bring patrons healthy option choices. Clearly popular, festival goers get to enjoy sampling a taste of something both healthy and delicious. “The healthy options are menu items that are lower in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, and marked with a sticker on each restaurant’s menu,” explained Collins. A patron from last year’s event told me, “I love the healthy options. There is so much food at the Taste, and I know I’m completely over-eating, but I’m also getting to try food that isn’t typical festival food. I feel a little less guilty and I’ve learned that healthy can still taste good.”
This year’s Taste will showcase 54 restaurants, including newcomers Alex’s Place, Taqueria Los Mayas, Niagara Café, and Ru’s Pierogi. Along with this will be two new food trucks, Dirty Bird Chicken N’ Waffles and Souped-Up food truck.
I am honored to be a food judge at this year’s Taste of Buffalo, and I hope to see many of our Buffalo Healthy Living readers there! Check out more great things to do at Buffalo Healthy Living’s online calendar at www.BuffaloHealthyLiving.com/events and in our Healthy Happenings listing on page 46 of this issue.
Originally posted by Buffalo Healthy Living Magazine . Republished with permission.