About an hour before opening on a Sunday morning, Ryan Swift labors over hashtags for an Instagram post. Swift, the owner and driving force behind Sinful Sweets (258 Alexander Street), pays close attention to the details when it comes to his cakery. The ingredients, the execution, the pun-inspired names; nothing is left unexamined. Swift is […]
Restaurant News
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All roads lead to Village Gate
Ever since The Gate House moved into the former location of Espada Brazilian Steak last Fourth of July weekend, there has been a void in Village Gate. Kristen Flores-Fratto, the owner of The Gate House, knew another restaurant could flourish in the large, visible location at the end of the courtyard. Flores-Fratto and her husband, […]
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Honeoye Falls Distillery finds art in its spirits
Teal Schlegel, head distiller at Honeoye Falls Distillery, is a bit of a chemistry nerd. But despite all my questions about the distilling process, it’s clear that Schlegel wants to focus on the craft rather than fixating solely on the science. “It’s funny that you latch onto my obsession with the technicals of it,” Schlegel […]
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Branca breaks bread in midtown
If you’ve ever worked downtown, you know that options for grabbing something to eat are limited. If you’re looking for a drink after work with your co-workers, the choices are even fewer. And while there are plans (and many construction vehicles) in place to breathe new life into downtown, it’s hard to picture what it […]
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The Lounge offers the full experience
Joseph Cipolla, owner and executive chef of The Kitchen and now The Lounge, says he and his team “want to create the whole night out.” “I like to create things that relate to my own life,” Cipolla says. “My wife and I get all dressed up for a night out, and when dinner is over […]
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JB’s Smokehouse makes barbecue its own way
It’s simple: Bill Schnupp is cooking the food he likes to eat. Schnupp, along with partner Justin Washington, opened JB’s Smokehouse (211 Main Street, East Rochester) in June, with a menu that has all of the meats you’d expect from a quality barbecue joint — cooked in a style that isn’t quite Texas BBQ nor […]
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Penny pinching provisions
Some of us are starting to feel the panic of the holiday season — especially when it comes to the balance of our bank accounts. A few of the things I am especially thankful for around the holidays include my Amazon Prime subscription (free two-day shipping is a necessity for all procrastinators out there) and […]
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What’s coming in local beers this winter
Last winter, Genesee Brewing’s Salted Caramel Chocolate Porter was everywhere. The porter became one of the bestselling beers at Wegmans locations across seven states, boosted by a feature in Wegmans’ Menu Magazine. Beer drinkers around Rochester were eagerly talking about the porter because of its distinctive, successful combination of flavors. It is not hard to […]
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Cedar Mediterranean opens on Monroe Ave
There’s something glorious about freshly baked bread. Biting into a still-warm slice; feeling the steam as you bring it to your mouth. The smell … it’s good stuff. All of the bread is baked to order at Elia and Ghada Ghanatios’ newest venture, Cedar Mediterranean Restaurant (746 Monroe Avenue). The couple has been in the […]
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New tavern opens in the Triangle
When Aaron DeBlieck took over the space that used to house his father-in-law’s bar and grill, Ellison’s, he wanted to keep the feeling of a friendly, neighborhood bar — nothing too fancy. DeBlieck and his partner, Ben Kulikowski, opened Tryon City Tavern (2300 East Main Street) the first week in August. DeBlieck has been in […]
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After beer release, Rochester brewers continue to build collaborative
It almost reads like a recipe. Combine 10 Rochester breweries, various hops, yeast, and some collaboration. Brew and let ferment. Yields 20 barrels of India Pale Lager. In August, 10 local breweries — Roc Brewing, Stoneyard, Swiftwater, Naked Dove, Knucklehead, Rohrbach, CB Craft Brewers, The Lost Borough, Three Heads, and Genesee Brew House Pilot Batch […]
