Before a chill has even thought about entering the air, the Mayer Brothers Cider Mill typically opens for its season, supplying the fall-obsessed with a very early taste of apple cider.
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The Mayer Brothers Cider Mill is opening on Aug. 14.
But not this year. The Cider Mill (3300 Transit Road, West Seneca) opens for the season Aug. 14, about a week and a half later than previous years. Store manager Samantha McGranor said the Cider Mill’s seasonal reopening typically coincides with the start of the Erie County Fair, which is often a reminder that summer is coming to an end.
However, McGranor said they decided to wait until after the fair's start this year to become more of an "indicator that fall is beginning" and capture more of the fall market.
“Most of our comments are, ‘No, we’re not ready for summer to end,’ ” McGranor said.
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The Cider Mill will still beat Starbucks in the parade of fall flavors coming within the next few weeks. Starbucks is expected to reprise its iconic Pumpkin Spice Lattes during the last two weeks of August (though no return date has been announced yet). As for other local cider mills, Mayer Brothers is also ahead of the curve. Smith's Orchard and Cider Mill in Pendleton opens Sept. 14, while Cherry Bank Farm Cider Mill in Sanborn is also expected to open in mid-September.
The Mayer Brothers Cider Mill also will look slightly different when it opens because its exterior American flag bunting has been replaced with maroon, orange and yellow flags to reflect its fall theme. Another notable change is the return of the Cider Mill's original pie recipe following customer feedback. The frozen apple cider slushies, hot apple cider and cider doughnuts will return at the same price as last year. Mayer Brothers had a “really great” apple crop this year, allowing the store to keep pricing the same because there is no need to outsource apples from another grower, McGranor said.
Black Restaurant Week
If you’re heading out to eat Aug. 12-18, you'll find special deals at many of the Black-owned restaurants throughout the Buffalo area. Black Restaurant Week, a weeklong celebration of Black-owned restaurants organized by Buffalo Urban League, returns next week. Nearly 50 local restaurants, food trucks and bakeries participated last year. If you're looking for recommendations, here are 7 Buffalo restaurants to try.
Peach season
Late summer’s stone fruit splendor is popping up on menus throughout the Buffalo area. You’ll find local peaches with which you can make your own peachy toasts and salads at farmers markets, farm shops and grocery stores.
Or swing by Anderson’s Frozen Custard (six locations) for a sundae topped with grilled peaches and hot caramel. Art’s Cafe (5 E. Main St., Springville) has a limited-time toast loaded with peach slices, bacon and your choice of cream cheese or tahini.
Blue Eyed Baker (636 E. Fillmore Ave., East Aurora) is using Zingler Farm peaches from the East Aurora Farmers Market to bake a cinnamon streusel-topped peach cobbler muffin and a peach compote-filled vanilla cupcake.
WNY Empanadas is baking local peaches in two mini galettes, one with berries and almond cream and another with ricotta, pepita cinnamon crumble and drizzled tamarind sauce. Both are available for online pre-order this week to be picked up at either the North Tonawanda City Market on Aug. 3 or Kenmore Farmers Market on Aug. 4.
Food Trucks at East Side training center
The Northland Workforce Training Center’s weekly food truck event returns Aug. 8. A rotating lineup of food trucks, artisan vendors and musicians will be outside the training center (683 Northland Ave.) from 5 to 7 p.m. every Thursday in August (Aug. 8, 15, 22 and 29). The food truck roster includes Mad Sauces, which is known for its wacky chicken wing flavors, Caribbean Flava (Jamaican), The Maine Bite (seafood) and Dirty Bird Chicken N’ Waffles.
Restaurant news
Emperor Dumplings is now back open and, crucially, its dim sum has returned. The dim sum parlor at 2309 Eggert Road, Tonawanda, closed in late January after losing its master chef. Owners Zaw Win and Nyein Nyein Aung had planned to reopen in May, at first without dim sum, but waited until July. Cobble together a meal of small but flavorful plates by ordering a selection of dumplings, bun and rolls. The new menu has items such as Cantonese-style Sui Mai pork and shrimp dumplings, chicken feet with black bean sauce, black duck eggs and sweet, black bean paste-filled sesame balls. There are also Asian entrees, such as drunken noodles, pineapple fried rice and pad Thai.
District 37 Kitchen & Taphouse (110 Sweeney St., North Tonawanda) is a new spot for dinner, lunch and beers and it feels very of the moment. It has 37 craft beers on tap and a menu of modern American pub favorites. You’ll find rectangular, caramelized cheese-crusted Detroit-style pizza in nearly a dozen flavors, including a vegan option. Appetizers offer distinct choices, such as Cuban cigars (bacon wraps a medley of ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, pickle and mustard), pickle fries with avocado ranch and Thai chili crispy Brussels sprouts with fresh mint and basil leaves.
The Irishman East Aurora (160 Main St., East Aurora) has closed, but the building won’t be vacant for long. Owners Suzy and Gene O’Donovan are remodeling the restaurant for two of their other businesses, Yotality and Favo Pizza and Draft House. Yotality used to occupy the space before The Irishman opened in 2019. Yotality sells frozen yogurt at two locations in Williamsville and Pittsford. Favo Pizza has a location in Pittsford, where it sells New York-style pizza. The Irishman in Williamsville remains open.
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