Tickets for this series sold out in a day. Tickets for Season Six will go on sale on January 3, 2014.

Consider joining us for Nickel City Firing Line in the fall.

Read more about Nickel City Chef online at nickelcitychef.com

The first season of Feed Your Soul’s latest series was a hit!

Watch video from all three matches here: http://nickelcitychef.com/firing-line/

Springing off the success of the hit Nickel City Chef series is Nickel City Firing Line, launching in the fall of 2012.

This live, three-part series bears some resemblance to the popular Food Network show Chopped, but features a slightly different format appropriate for a live audience.

Firing Line will take place at Artisan Kitchens & Baths, the home of Nickel City Chef and one of the Buffalo’s best kept secrets. This fully restored turn-of-the-century stove factory is located on the city’s west side. Outfitted with three competition-worthy kitchens, Artisan is the ideal location for guests to experience this one-of-a-kind live cooking competition first hand.

The audience will watch as professional culinary contenders vie for the season’s title of Firing Line Champion, enjoy snacks from Sample catering, and access to a cash bar.

Guest judges and local food professionals will determine which chef prepares the most technically perfect, creative, and delicious dishes. Even the audience will have a say by voting for their favorite chef!

See the Firing Line section of the Nickel City Chef website for more information.

Congratulations to Gen Perryman and Kelly Toomey of The Cupcake Orchard on their win!

Developed by Feed Your Soul and hosted by Bert Gambini, Nickel City Cupcake Challenge is a live, head-to-head  baking competition featuring three of Western New York’s most creative and talented cupcake artists, a team of professional judges, and a whole lot of fun for our audience!

Our bakers were selected from a pool of challengers who submitted applications to our panel. Selected for their diversity and passion, the 2012 Nickel City Cupcake Challengers are:

*Justina Adams with competition assistant Brittany Schlager from The Buffalo Cakery

*Gen Perryman with competition assistant Kelly Toomey from Cupcake Orchard

*Kelly Audette with competition assistant Mo Torpey from Fairy Cakes Cupcakery

Special guest judges for this event included:

*Brian Donaghy, of Criollo Group, a highly-awarded professional pastry chef and former two-time competitor on Food Network’s “Cake Challenge”

*Alli Suriani, cupcake aficionado and part of the top blogging duo behind BuffaloEats.org

*Chef Mark Mistriner, coordinator and founder of the Niagara Culinary Institute

Nickel City Cupcake Challenge is held at Artisan Kitchens & Baths, home of the Nickel City Chef series. In Artisan’s stunning loft showroom, each artist and their assistant works from one of Artisan’s three $100,000 kitchens.

Audience members enjoyed sweet treats prepared by Nickel City Chef Adam Goetz of Sample, plus sample signature cupcakes from all three of the competing bakeries, and ice cream from Lake Effect Ice Cream.

Held in conjunction with National Food Day, a Big FUSS 2.0 is hosted by Feed Your Soul and Bistro Europa. This event is an opportunity to come together over good food and drink to celebrate and support the beautiful bounty of WNY and those responsible for it. 100% of the money earned at the event goes to a local farm in need.

Visit the National Food Day website for a ticketing link.

While WNY is home to over 7,500 farms, very few of those farms sell their product directly to the consumer, and fewer still go to the trouble of becoming suppliers to Buffalo’s restaurants. Those who do have proven to be dedicated and talented folks, ensuring that Buffalonians enjoy fresh-from-the-farm veggies, meats, and eggs while dining at Buffalo’s finest establishments.

Several local restaurants have embraced the local food movement and offer their guests delicious menu items featuring sustainably raised food year round.

Over the last few years, chefs have donated their efforts to a variety of causes connected to Buffalo’s burgeoning local food scene, but none may be more important than lending aid to a small farm that is one of their chief suppliers.

Join Feed Your Soul and Bistro Europa on National Food Day, October 24th, as we present an opportunity to come together over good food and drink to celebrate and support the beautiful bounty of WNY and those responsible for it.

Chefs include:

Chef/Owner Steven Gedra of Bistro Europa in Buffalo
Chef/Owner Adam Goetz of Sample in Buffalo
Chef/Owner Jim Guarino of Shango Bistro in Buffalo
Chef/Owners Chris and Pete from Lloyd Taco Truck
Executive Chef James Roberts of Park Country Club in Williamsville
Executive Chef Ross Warhol of the Athenaeum Hotel in Chautauqua
Chef Bruce Wieszala of Carmelo’s in Lewiston

Also participating:
Community Beer Works
Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile
Painted Meadows
T-Meadow Farm
Spar’s European Sausage
More TBA

Excellent Auction Items
Tunes by DJ Cutler
and
A screening of the film “Downtown Flavor” by Griffin Shulz

Food from each chef, a cash bar (with all profits going to our farmer friend), and an auction should help us raise enough funds to put this farmer in a good spot. So, come commune with fellow foodies, chefs, and farmers from OUR WNY … it’s going to be a Big FUSS!

**Tickets are non-refundable but fully transferable. Guests must be 21 or over, I.D. required.

Sponsored by Lexington Co-operative Market

Featured in The Buffalo News, Buffalo Spree magazine and Artvoice, Feed Your Soul’s annual farm tour is always a unique and memorable experience.

Our farmer-led field walks, in-field sampling, and chef-prepared local-centric meals are just a few of the reasons why Feed Your Soul’s annual farm tours always sell out!

In celebration of our 5th year of hosting farm tours, we have developed a special, extended day-trip to the rolling hills of Chautauqua County.

We will depart Sunday morning from a central location in Buffalo. Guests will travel to Chautauqua County where they will visit family-owned farms, a winery, and enjoy two exquisite meals prepared by some of our region’s best chefs.

First we will visit the Busti Cider Mill, a small mill where Bob and Judi press fresh cider using a 17th century cider press originally built in Syracuse, NY. We’ll also stop at their adorable fruit and vegetable stand where cider, fresh produce, jams, goat milk fudge and other delights await.

Then we will journey to Sherman, NY where Steve and Julie Rockcastle will welcome us to their organic farm, Green Heron Growers (also the home of the Great Blue Heron Music festival). The Rockcastle’s raise produce and free-range livestock. Guests will also tour their shiitake grove, where a variety of techniques are employed in order to raise an abundance of these flavorful mushrooms. If time remains, we’ll review the benefits of grass-fed beef with Steve.

A local-centric lunch will be created by Chef Bruce Wieszala. In his career, Chef Wieszala has made a long-term commitment to sourcing local food year-round. He studied in Atlanta, G.A. for 10 years, working in the kitchens of that city’s best dining destinations: Emeril’s, The James Beard award-winning JOËL, Woodfire Grill, the 5-star Mobile-rated Seeger’s, and James Beard-nominated Restaurant Eugene. While working at Restaurant Eugene, Wieszala had the opportunity to compete on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”, and has also appeared on Alton Brown’s “Good Eats”. Today he can be found in the kitchen of Carmelo’s in Lewiston, NY. The meal will be served on the beautiful acreage that makes up Green Heron Growers.

Guest swill board the bus for Ashville, where they’ll meet a young family that raises what might be the best chicken you’ve ever tasted! Good Grass Farm is a special place where the chickens are raised on pasture, along with a small herd of cattle, using a mobile chicken coop, ala Joel Salatin.

Next up is Westfield, NY where we will stroll the vineyards of Johnson Estate Winery, the oldest winery in New York State. We will also sample some of their wines in their lovely tasting room.

Finally, enter the Chautauqua Institution for a remarkable multi-course dinner at the hands of lauded culinarian Chef Ross Warhol. Warhol graduated at the top of his class from both Culinary Art Institute at Hyde Park, and from the baking and pastry program at CIA, Greystone. He’s staged at the French Laundry, el bulli, Ubuntu, and Alinea. As if that weren’t enough, he’s won top honors in local and not-so-local competitions and even tends his own garden on the Institution grounds. At the historic Athenaeum Hotel overlooking Lake Chautauqua, our farm tour guests will experience a sumptuous meal created by one of our region’s most fascinating chefs.

Press for this event:

New York Cork Report

Buffalo Eats

Buffalo Foodie

—–

If you have a group of a dozen or more, we are happy to arrange a private farm tour just for you, email us at NickelCityChef@gmail.com with inquiries.

See previous farm tours here: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008. You can also find lots of other pictures from recent farm tours on Nickel City Chef’s Facebook page.

This series sold out in less than an hour!

Join us on Facebook in order to stay on top of our upcoming events.

A Big FUSS is a new, annual event designed to raise funds for a local farmer in need.

While WNY is home to over 7,500 farms, very few of those farms sell their product directly to the consumer, and fewer still go to the trouble of becoming suppliers to Buffalo’s restaurants. Those who have proven to be dedicated and talented folks, ensuring that Buffalonians enjoy fresh-from-the-farm veggies, meats, and eggs while dining at Buffalo’s finest establishments.

Several local restaurants have embraced the local food movement and offer their guests delicious menu items featuring sustainably raised food year round.

Over the last few years, chefs have donated their efforts to a variety of causes connected to Buffalo’s burgeoning local food scene, but none may be more important than lending aid to a small farm that is one of their chief suppliers.

Join us on February 8th as we come together over good food and drink to celebrate and support the beautiful bounty of WNY and those responsible for it.

Chefs include:

Chef/Owner Steven Gedra of Bistro Europa in Buffalo
Chef/Owner Adam Goetz of Sample in Buffalo
Chef/Owner Jim Guarino of Shango Bistro in Buffalo
Chef/Owners Chris and Pete from Lloyd Taco Truck
Excutive Chef Kate Elliott of Merge
Executive Chef Ross Warhol of Chautauqua’s Athenaeum Hotel
Sous Chef Bruce Wieszala of Carmelo’s in Lewiston

Also participating:
Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile
Tuscany on Main

With donations from:
Promised Land CSA/Oles Family Farm
Unfinished Farm
Painted Meadows
T-Meadow Farm

Food from each chef and participant, a cash bar (with all profits going to our farmer friend), and an auction should help us raise enough funds to put this farmer in a good spot. So, come commune with fellow foodies, chefs, and farmers from the WNY … it’s going to be A Big FUSS!

Press from this event:

Buffalo Rising

The Good Neighborhood (interview)

The Good Neighborhood (video)

Buffalo.com

Pick your copy up at a local bookstore or boutique or buy it online. Stay tuned for book signing dates!

Our annual Feed Your Soul farm tour is SOLD OUT!

Our farmer-led field walks, in-field sampling, and chef-prepared local-centric lunch are just a few of the reasons this event is so popular. If you have a group of a dozen or more, we are happy to arrange a private farm tour just for you–email us at NickelCityChef@gmail.com with inquiries.

Click here for tickets! (http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185206)

Featured in The Buffalo News, Buffalo Spree magazine and Artvoice, Feed Your Soul’s annual farm tour is always a great time full of unique experiences. This year we’ll venture to the south of the city for a visit to several of our most interesting farms. This event is sponsored by the local heroes who operate the Lexington Co-operative Market!

We’ll visit Patrick Lango of White Cow Dairy, the little dairy that could. White Cow, a small artisan dairy brand hailing from Blue Hill Farm in East Otto, has been recognized (by Saveur, the New York Times, and countless others) for its ability to produce amazing European-style yogurt, rich in flavor and boasting a unique terroir imparted by the diet of grass its small herd grazes upon. Lango will lead a field walk, introduce us to his favorite cows and show us his remarkable creamery.

We’ll also visit Deb & Stew Ritchie of Native Offerings, one of the WNY area’s first farms to embrace organic growing methods and the Community Supported Agriculture model. Careful to use only sustainable growing practices, the Ritchie’s have cultivated a passionate following of foodies and chefs who appreciate the large variety of greens and vegetables raised on their Little Valley, NY farm.

A third farm is on the roster. Details pending.

We’ll also enjoy a delicious local-centric lunch prepared for us by one of Buffalo’s most well-recognized chefs, Chef Bruce Wieszala. In his career, Chef Wieszala has made a long-term commitment to sourcing local food year-round. He studied in Atlanta, G.A. for 10 years, working in the kitchens of that city’s best dining destinations: Emeril’s, The James Beard award-winning JOËL, Woodfire Grill, the 5-star Mobile-rated Seeger’s, and James Beard-nominated Restaurant Eugene. While working at Restaurant Eugene, Wieszala had the opportunity to compete on Food Network’s “Iron Chef America”, and has also appeared on Alton Brown’s “Good Eats”. Today he can be found in the kitchen of Carmelo’s in Lewiston, NY.

As Feed Your Soul’s staff, this farm tour is really the highlight of our year, and we hope you enjoy yourself as much as we do.

——IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Tickets are non- refundable, but fully transferable.

Please be forewarned that we use a school bus to avoid issues with getting stuck in ruts, etc. We have had that happen in the past, so we now forgo the luxury of the passenger bus and use a utilitarian school bus, made to endure snow, sleet, rain, and mud.

Be sure to give us a proper email address when ordering your tickets so that we can send you an itinerary one week before the tour.

Feed Your Soul’s 2011 Foodie-to-Farm tour includes:

*Transportation to and from area farms

*Farmer-guided tours

*Opportunity to speak with farmers and ask questions

*Water and sampling along the way

*Local-centric picnic lunch prepared by Chef Bruce Wieszala

*Take home packet loaded with information about local agriculture

*A super cool EAT LOCAL BUFFALO reusable tote bag

*Bathroom stops!

Feed Your Soul is proud to present a variety of culinary competitions and expositions at the Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS. Taste of Buffalo is the second largest food festival int he United States. Come down and visit us and you may be selected to participate as a judge!

Meet some of Buffalo’s best chefs, witness exciting competitions and learn how to prepare some delicious dishes! It’s like watching Food Network live!

Click through for a full schedule.

Saturday, July 9th 2011

Noon-1pm  Sous Chef Battle
Featuring James Gehrke of Sample versus Ryan McNeela of Creekview

Chef James Gehrke of Sample (Buffalo) and Chef Ryan McNeela of Creekview (Williamsville), will compete to complete the best dishes in 45 minutes. Each dish must feature a secret ingredient! This should be a fierce competition, as a restaurant’s second in command is rarely given the opportunity to show their culinary ability in a public forum. Judges for this event include: Chef Mike Andrzejewski of the critically-acclaimed Sea Bar, Alan Bedenko, food critic for Buffalo Spree magazine, Kevin Telaak, vice president of Artisan Kitchens & Baths, and one lucky audience member.

º

2pm-3pm  Nickel City Chef Presents Battle: Taco
Featuring Krista Van Wagner of Curly’s versus JJ Richert of Torches

There are a thousand ways to make a taco, but which one is best? Nickel City Chef Krista Van Wagner of Curly’s (Lackawanna) will compete against Nickel City Chef JJ Richert of Torches (Kenmore) to win the hearts of our panel of judges with their best interpretation of the humble taco. Judges for this event include: Musician and foodie Nelson Starr, chef and cookbook author (Mexican Flavors, 2010) Laura Anhalt, food blogger Don Burtless of BuffaloEats.org, and one lucky audience member.

º

4pm-5pm  Adam Goetz, Buffalo’s Most Versatile Chef presents Cooking on a Shoestring

Using just a few “leftover” ingredients, Chef Adam Goetz of Sample (Buffalo, NY) will show you how to prepare a delicious, nutritious and fresh meal for your family.

º

6pm-7pm  Blue Light Lime Culinary Challenge presented by Tops Markets

º

Sunday, July 10th 2011

11am-11:30am  Flapjack Fun
Featuring Marco Sciortino of Marco’s versus Tucker Curtin of Lake Effect Diner

A panel of kid judges pick the perfect pancake. Marco Sciortino of Marco’s and Tucker Curtin of Lake Effect Diner flip their favorite flapjacks in hopes of being crowned the Prince of Pancakes.

º

Noon-1pm  All Prepped Out!
sponsored by CUTCO
Featuring Brett Brennan of Sea Bar, Ken Foland of Merge, and  Hanna Youngling of Toro!

Chef Brett Brennan of Sea Bar (Buffalo), Ken Foland of Merge (Buffalo), and Chef Hanna Youngling of Toro (Buffalo) are vying for a trophy and bragging rights with this exciting competition. Speed, dexterity, and skill are required as these chefs race through a series of timed heats based on basic kitchen skills (i.e. chopping onions, separating eggs, julienning carrots, breaking down chickens). In this competition, precision and technique are as important as finishing first. Judges for this event include: Chef Mark Mistriner and Chef John Matwijkow of Niagara Culinary Institute, and Chef John Santora of Alfred State College.

º

2pm-3pm  Nickel City Chef Presents: Battle: Street Food
Featuring Adam Goetz of Sample versus Mary Ann Giordano of Creekview

Street food is all the rage, and in this exposition, Nickel City Chef Adam Goetz of Sample (Buffalo) will compete against Nickel City Challenger Mary Ann Giordano of Creekview Restaurant (Williamsville) to win the hearts of our panel of judges with their best savory street food item. Judges include: Pete Cimino and Chef Chris Dorsaneo, founders of Buffalo’s first food truck, Lloyd, well-respected local chef, James Roberts of Park Country Club, and one lucky audience member.

º

4pm – 5pm  Fresh Cooking with Chef Kate Elliott of Merge Restaurant
sponsored by Independent Health
Learn techniques for preparing healthy meals for your family with Merge’s own Chef Kate Elliott. Whether you are looking to learn about vegan, vegetarian, or raw cooking, Chef Elliott has the answers when it comes to preparing delicious and nutritious fare. This demonstration is presented by Independent Health.