Buffalo Chow Upcoming Food Events

Previously offering foods and drinks from 18 different local vendors, primarily including local pizzarias and take-out places, the Taste of Lancaster is a single-day event with details yet to be announced at the time of this entry's creation. Live music and outdoor stands have been parts of past festivals.

Three days long, the Mediterranean Festival promises home made Arabic and Greek foods, ranging from souvlaki, gyros and falafel to baklava, macaroons, and koulouraki. Arabic and Greek music will be performed, along with Arabic dancing; vendors will be inside the grounds. A $1 admission charge will be assessed on entry.

With a limit of 25 vendors - 17 restaurants and a number of other local businesses - the Taste of Clarence plays host to a number of legitimately very good though mostly American restaurants from Clarence and East Amherst, as well as a huge collection of classic cars and a Chinese auction. Held in the Main Street Clarence Town Park, not one of the others, this event is put on by the Clarence Chamber of Commerce and has a relatively weak web presence, but surprisingly robust attendance given its size. It runs from 4pm to 9pm, and there's no charge for admission or parking.

Over 20 local restaurants and live music are expected to be the highlights of 2009's Taste of Williamsville, held outdoors at Island Park, with food tickets sold individually to provide access to all of the included vendors. Last year's event included some very good crab cakes, soups, and nice sandwiches, as well as some good desserts and great shish kebobs.

Over four hours, your $30 (presale) or $40 (at door) ticket provides access to 60 ounces of beer from 20 different local and regional breweries. If that sentence hasn't told you everything you need to know about Buffalo Brewfest, here are a few other enticements: beer-enhanced sausages, hot dogs, pretzels and brownies, live music from the band Black Widow, and plenty of room to walk around and relax at HSBC Arena.

Held at Ida Fritz Park, the Taste of Lockport appears set to offer food and wine from 26 different vendors, including nearby Niagara Wine Trail wineries and a number of well-known area restaurants. This is an open-air event where awards are issued in five categories, including appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, and a people's choice award, so you can expect multiple options in each.

With a $12 admission price for adults, $10 for kids 4-12, the Buffalo Irish Festival is a relatively small gathering with approximately 10,000 attendees over a three-day period, and Irish foods catered by Shannon Pub. In addition to a large parade, a collection of vendors of Irish products are on hand, as are a wide variety of musical performers.