While unwinding over Buffalo wings and a few pitchers of beer after the meeting is a pretty commonplace occurrence in the Buffalo/Niagara area, as it’s the place where Buffalo wings originated and microbrews continue to pop up, there are other tasty items, from hot dogs to biscotti, that will also tempt the group’s collective palate.
A half-century ago at the Anchor Bar, explains Brian Hayden, spokesman for Visit Buffalo Niagara, Teressa Bellissimo created Buffalo wings while she was tending bar late one night.
“She took some chicken wings, fried them up, tossed them in hot sauce and served them with celery and blue cheese,” he says.
Today, groups are welcome at the Anchor Bar, where they can purchase bottles of wing sauce to take home.
Among Buffalo’s beer purveyors is Resurgence Brewing Company, which opened last year on Buffalo’s West Side in a former warehouse.
“This brewery is revitalizing one of Buffalo’s historically industrial areas with its creative brews, like Loganberry Wit and Sponge Candy Stout, as well as its fun atmosphere,” Hayden says of the group-friendly brewery where attendees can enjoy a game of Giant Jenga and more.
Sponge candy is another Buffalo tradition that dates back decades, and the original Watson’s Chocolates of Distinction in Kenmore, which is located north of Buffalo, is a great place to sample it, according to Hayden.
“A trip for sponge candy is a must when visiting Buffalo,” he says, “The sugary, crunchy, chocolate-covered confection is a favorite for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Easter and throughout the year.”
Sweet treats are also available at Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based DiCamillo Bakery, which opened in 1920 and still produces world-renowned biscotti, including chocolate-dipped, amaretti and cherry butter flavors, and cookies, including coconut macaroons and anise pizzelles.
DiCamillo also sells authentic Italian breads and pastries, as well as jams, candies, tea, coffee, pasta and biscotti jars.
At press time, Niagara Brewing Company, the newest craft brewer in Niagara Falls, Canada, was on track to open this May on Clifton Hill behind the Sheraton on the Falls. It joins established neighboring beer makers, including Silversmith Brewing Company, which is located at Niagara-on-the-Lake and features Black Lager and other brews.
And back in Buffalo is the group-friendly Ted’s Hot Dogs, where groups can sample Buffalo-style char-grilled hot dogs.
“Buffalo hot dogs are of a taste and flavor all their own, grilled over an open flame on a charcoal grill,” Hayden says, adding several local eateries serve hot dogs this way, but nowhere longer than Ted’s, which began as a small stand on Buffalo’s west side in 1927 and has since grown to several local locations. “Make sure to order it with ‘the works!”
