Explore tastes of Elmwood Village with the Buffalo Bites Food Tours

Zillycakes at 1008 Elmwood Ave., one of the tasting locations of the Buffalo Bites Food Tours. 

For those who are looking to explore bits and pieces of Buffalo’s history and experience some of the city’s finest local cuisine, the opportunity to do so is now at your fingertips.  

The Buffalo Bites Food Tours offers the opportunity to sample a variety of foods and experience the culture of Elmwood Village. Tasting locations on the food tours include Globe Market, Cole’s, Blue Monk, D’Avolio’s, Zillycakes and Chow Chocolat.  

The three-hour guided tour is offered at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and will continue through Nov. 30.

 “The tour is a great way to spend a day with family and friends and eat great food,” said owner of the food tours, Laura Reed. “You get to see great architecture and neighborhoods, and learn about Buffalo’s rich history.”

BlueMonk at 727 Elmwood Ave. has been a participant of the food tours since its beginning in May 2012.

Bar manager Ryan Bedford said he thinks the food tours is a great opportunity for people to see what restaurants have to offer without being fully committed to sitting down and having a whole meal.

“It’s a good way to sample food items,” said Bedford. “Customers get two menu items, which are the blue balls, a traditional jerk style meat ball, and our duck frites, which is Belgium-style French fries that are fried in duck fat.”

“We also provide customers with one sample pour of beer, usually something local or a New York State beer,” added Bedford.

Zillycakes at 1008 Elmwood Ave. is offering customers mini cupcakes, which comes in a variety of flavors.

“Everyone gets a mini cupcake that we make to order at the cupcake bar,” said owner Zilly Rosen. “They choose from one of eight flavors of cake and then they choose from the different frostings and the different sprinkles.”

Zillycakes offer flavors such as yellow, red velvet, chocolate, and lavender. In addition, customers are able to choose from four specialty flavors, which change every month depending on the season, according to Rosen.

“Right now we have rocky road, vegan pumpkin, maple bacon, and rosemary corn,” said Rosen.

The food tours has been successful thus far, according to Reed. As a result, she plans to expand in the 2013 season.

“Our first season has gone quite well,” said Reed. “People from 11 different U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and the United Kingdom have participated.”

“Over time, we will add more tours in different neighborhoods,” added Reed. “We also hope to capture more of the growing number of tourists coming to Buffalo.”

Tickets are $30 for children 12 and under and $42 for adults.

For more information on the Buffalo Bites Food Tours, visit www.buffalobitesfoodtours.com, email info@buffalobitesfoodtours.com, or call 1-800-979-3370.