Taste of Buffalo!  It’s one of the premier events of the summer around here (we went last year and had a blast) when local restaurants, food trucks and wineries congregate in downtown Buffalo and we get to sample all kinds of delicious treats.  Last year, we went in with a plan and did three loops – one to check out the scene, one for savory sampling, and one for sweet.  This year, with a two-year-old and a baby, we knew that was not going to be possible.  So our goal was to make one loop through, tasting savory on our way up Delaware and sweet on our way back down, and be home in time for afternoon nap.  It was a challenge, but we were up to it.

Our first stop, OF COURSE, was Lloyd’s Taco Truck.  I love Lloyd’s!  The tacos are magnificent, and it’s up there with my favorite DC food trucks as far as quality of food goes.  (I’m not sure there’s a food truck in the world that could replace the DC lobster truck in my heart, but Lloyd’s comes close.)

Hubby and I split a chicken taco, and I got my own half order of krazy korn.  Dudes.  This corn.  Is.  Amazing.  Charred corn on the cob seasoned with chile sauce and liberally sprinkled with cheese, doused with crema, and finished with cilantro.  Does it get better?  I made it clear that the krazy korn was MINE and if anyone else wanted some they would have to GET THEIR OWN.

Look who else was enjoying the Lloyd’s bounty!  Nana was in town for the weekend to visit with the tinies and provide extra hands while hubby was away (he left town for a few days to attend to some family business; he’s back now).  She tried a beef taco and said it was delicious.

From Lloyd’s we wandered around the circle, tasting as we went.  We tried the Buffalo mac ‘n cheese from 716 Food and Sport (a newcomer to the scene, and we have to check out the restaurant!) – verdict: good but spicy.  And we stopped by Ebenezer Ale House for Bavarian pretzels.  Peanut was all over that.

I did my homework before the Taste, and I knew I wanted to hit Osteria 166 as well.  This is one of my favorite downtown restaurants, and I especially love their salads.  (I don’t know what they put in them that’s so good, but they’re seriously addictive.  And if you think I’m exaggerating because salads can’t possibly be addictive, well, you haven’t had these.)

They also were serving meatballs and risotto sticks, but obviously I went for the arugula salad.  It was incredible.  So fresh and flavorful.  I fed hubby bites of arugula and he enjoyed it too, although I don’t think he loved it quite as much as I did.  I was practically weeping, it was so delicious.

And my other must-stop: Merge.  Another favorite downtown restaurant, Merge specializes mainly in really, really good vegetarian food.  (There’s a little bit of poultry and seafood on their menu, but it’s mostly vegetarian or vegan.  We love it.)  I was actually still pretty hungry by the time we got to Merge, because Nana and hubby were tasting a lot of beef and pork dishes, which I don’t eat.  So I took advantage of the opportunity to fill my tummy a bit and ordered two dishes:

Seitan barbeque wings, which were good, and…

Bean curd tostada, which was phenomenal.  I could have eaten three more.  On the way back we stopped for Charlap’s ice cream and Paula’s donuts – no pictures, but both were delish.  All in all, a successful Taste this year.  Some good vegetarian food, an Osteria 166 salad, and Lloyd’s – how can you go wrong?

Does your city have a local tasting event?  Is it a must-attend on your summer calendar, too?