I met Laura Anhalt while I was a guest judge at the Taco Challenge at Nickel City Chef’s side stage at the Taste of Buffalo this year, and after realizing we had a cook book author in our city (of Mexican cuisine no less!) I had to ask her to be on the site. She originally released her book Mexican Flavors: A Journey Inspired by the Folklore and Traditions of Mexican Cuisines in July of 2010, but due to popular demand she’s releasing a second edition of the book this fall. It’s not just a cook book (although there is over 140 recipes inside) but there are also plenty of gorgeous pictures and stories from Laura about growing up in Mexico City. We managed to get a hold of Laura and sent her some questions about her favorite places to eat in Buffalo, here’s what she had to say…
Right now, where are some of your favorite places to eat in Buffalo?
Laura: It depends on the occasion. My favorite breakfast joints are Pano’s and Mythos. For over 9 years now, I’ve been enjoying a very early breakfast at Pano’s with my friend Paula on the 3rd Thursday of every month (their breakfast egg wraps are not bad!). As far as brunch goes, I like going to the Empire Grill on Hertel with one of my sons (we both agree that all of their varieties of Egg Benedict are superb). And another place I favor for a Sunday brunch is the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora since their buffet selection is excellent.
For quick lunch meetings, I like Betty’s on Virginia Street. I like the fact that their salads are made with local organic produce, and they are excellent, too! If I’m in the Orchard Park area, a lovely place to grab lunch is at the Two Sisters Café – they have the best turkey Reuben I’ve ever had! Whenever I’m in the UB area and I crave for fresh and tasty fare, then Pho’ 99 on Bailey is the place I go to. Their fresh spring rolls and soups are exactly what I what in the middle of a stressful day. If I’m lucky enough to be near a location where Lloyd’s Taco Truck or the Roaming Buffalo will be at on any given day, then you’ll find me eating standing up by the trucks. And when I sincerely can’t find the time to put together a fast meal when I get home, then I like to pick up a quick bite at Louie’s Hotdogs just a few blocks away.
I go out to dinner about once a week really seeking to enjoy my night out. In my line of business, where I cook and teach others how to prepare their own meals, it is always a treat for me to eat foods prepared by other great Chef’s in our area. Here’s a few that make it to the top of my list: The Left Bank, Curly’s, Oliver’s, Tempo, Seabar, Ulrich’s Tavern, Mother’s, Torches…and of course Nektar, Hutch’s, Sinatra’s, Shango’s, Brodo , and Kuni’s…they are each unique -and delicious!
Since I’m also a coffee fanatic, I cannot leave out my favorite coffee hang-outs. My # 1 place is Sweet-ness 7 since the day the opened their doors, but I also frequent Spot Coffee and Caffe Aroma.
Where do you like to hang out with friends and family on the weekends?
Laura: My favorite hangout spot in Buffalo is my home. I usually invite small groups of friends and prepare dinner for all of us to enjoy. These are long nights- I prepare a very large menu -from hors d’oeuvres to desserts- and we chit-chat all night long. The evening comes to an end at around 1:00 a.m. after a nightcap of ice-wines. I love cooking and entertaining at home, it is one of my favorite pastimes!
If you had a friend visiting from out of town, where would you take them for a good “Buffalo” time?
Laura: I’m already enjoying thinking about this one… it really depends on who the visitors are, though. If it is my children who are visiting (I have one in Toronto, one in California, one in Mexico, and one here still in Buffalo) the first place they want to go to is The Anchor Bar. I appreciate the Anchor Bar’s ambiance and history, but unless my kids are here, I never eat there…I don’t like chicken wings. Another place they truly enjoy (and I do, too) is Gabriel’s Gate, in Allentown. We could sit there for hours at a time…and we do! We all like cupcakes so when we are out & about, we zoom by Zilly’s (and Starbucks) and we eat them at home.
If my mom is visiting from Mexico City, then the Anchor Bar, The Left Bank and Mulberry’s are where we head on off to. She also enjoys Salvatore’s, but it is a bit out of the way so we don’t go there often. And she sincerely feels as though she never visited us in Buffalo if she doesn’t eat at Louie’s Hotdogs at least once during her stay.
When I have friends and family visiting from Toronto for the day, we usually eat at my home. However, after lunch, we stroll up and down Elmwood Avenue and we go from Watson’s, to Fowlers, to Dolci each getting what we want for dessert!
What are some food memories you have from your childhood?
Laura: I have many -and very good ones. So many and so good in fact, that my memories are the reason I wrote my book: Mexican Flavors – A Journey Inspired by the Folklore & Traditions of Mexican Cuisines, so I won’t spoil it for you; but there is one memory that I have never shared. This memory might very well be the reason I prefer cooking over baking. As you know, I am from Mexico City; and in our home, everything revolved around food. My parents would find any occasion to entertain guests, so feasts were a habitual part of our lives. When I was a tiny tot, the cooks and my mom would sit me on the kitchen counter which allowed me a birds-eye view of the whole kitchen. I would blissfully sit there watching and eating my way through the day, sampling whatever delicacies were offered to me on a constant basis. So this one day, my parents were hosting a very important dinner party and as usual, the kitchen was buzzing with activity. That day, I was offered a promotion in my kitchen duties, I was encouraged to go from ‘taste-er’ to ‘mix-er’ and was then given the task of continuing to mix a delicate cake batter by hand. Apparently (because I have no recollection whatsoever of the incident), I decided to an additional (and most crucial) ingredient into the batter –a paper napkin- that no one noticed until the dessert was promptly served (thankfully, the cake was not the only dessert prepared for that occasion). Immediately following the incident, I was once again demoted to ‘taste-er’ until I was old enough to carry out clear instructions; at which point, I gracefully declined to collaborate in preparing desserts that involved any kind of batter -opting for the fine art of cooking, instead…
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We’d like to thank Laura for taking time out of her busy schedule to answer our questions. Pre-orders are no longer available for Mexican Flavors however you can follow the book’s page on facebook for the latest information or head over to A Taste of the World to buy yourself a copy (good Christmas gift idea for your fellow foodie).
