Judges honor festival’s top ‘Tastes’
Two suburban restaurants were multiple winners in this year’s Taste of Buffalo, including one that garnered three awards.
The multiple winners were Tandoori’s Royal Indian Cuisine of Amherst and Clarence Center Coffee Company and Cafe.
Tandoori’s won for the best vegetarian food for its sabzi pakora (vegetable fritters) and was the third place winner for Independent Health’s Healthy Choice Options contest with its Saag channa (spinach chickpeas with naan bread). Tandoori’s completed the Taste of Buffalo hat trick by winning the Carol Ann Roe Memorial Award for best decorated booth.
Clarence Center won the children’s award for its Oreo cookie shake and second place in Independent Health’s Healthy Choice Options contest for its mango smoothie.
The judging was done on Saturday by a panel of honorary judges, including representatives from Buffalo-Niagara’s media, political and business sectors.
One award, the “Chairman’s Choice” was selected by Kevin Cavalieri, the Taste 2008 chairman, while another, the “People’s Choice,” was selected by on-street polling. Siblings Matt, Emily and Carter Dentinger of Clarence chose the “Children’s Choice” award.
“All the judges said this year was the toughest, in terms of selecting the winners,” Cavalieri said.
The 2008 winners were:
• People’s Choice: Ms. Goodies, Buffalo, junkyard dog fish sandwich.
• Chairman’s Choice: Joe’s Deli, Buffalo, muffaletta sandwich.
• New York Award (presented by Erie County Clerk Kathleen Hochul): Filippo’s Ristorante Italiano, Buffalo, arancina (stuffed rice balls).
• Lou Billitier Memorial Rookie of the Year Award: Fireside Inn, Lancaster, lobster bisque.
• Best Seafood: Red Coach Inn, Niagara Falls, lobster crab cake.
• Best Vegetarian Food: Tandoori’s Royal Indian Cuisine, Amherst, sabzi pakora (vegetable fritters).
• Best Dessert: Village Desserts, Williamsville, ultimate peanut butter cookie.
• Children’s Choice: Clarence Center Coffee Company and Cafe, Oreo cookie shake.
• Best Wine: Casa Larga Estates, Fairport, Fiorivadao ice wine.
• Best Overall Food: Lafayette Tap Room, Buffalo, smoked barbecue chicken wings.
• Best Meat Item: JP Bullfeathers, Buffalo, Jack Daniels glazed chicken fingers.
• Carol Ann Roe Memorial Best Decorated Booth:Tandoori’s Royal Indian Cuisine.
• Pat Sardina/Abby Stalker Memorial Award: Fiamma Steak, Buffalo, tenderloin slider sandwich.
• Independent Health Healthy Choice Options:
• First Place: Kabab & Curry, Clarence, malai tikki with vegetables (grilled chicken with vegetables).
• Second Place: Clarence Center Coffee Company and Cafe, mango smoothie.
• Third Place: Tandoori’s Royal Indian Cuisine, saag channa (spinach with chickpeas with naan bread).
