July 11, 2009 - A diverse menu of food items was selected as award winners at the 26th annual Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS.

The judging took place on July 11 by a panel of honorary judges including representatives from the Buffalo-Niagara media, political and business sector. One award, the “Chairman’s Choice” was selected by Thomas P. Muscarella, the Taste’s 2009 chairman, while another, the “People’s Choice” was selected from on-street polling.  Nick and Xander Muscarella, children of chairman Tom Muscarella chose the “Children’s Choice” award.

“With 60 restaurants participating this year, the most the Taste has ever had, the judges said this year was among the toughest in terms of selecting the winners,” Muscarella said.

The 2009 winners were:

People’s Choice: Eddie Ryan’s (Lancaster) for their beer-cheese soup

Chairman’s Choice: Torches (Town of Tonawanda) for their Cubano smoked pork over steamed rice with cilantro

New York Award (presented by Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul): Giacobbi’s Pasta & Pizza (Hamburg) for their crab & shrimp bisque in a bread bowl

Lou Billitier Memorial “Rookie of the Year” Award: Dinosaur BBQ (Rochester)

Best Seafood: Carmine’s Restaurant (Clarence) for their shrimp cargo

Best Vegetarian Food: Cecelia’s Ristorante (Buffalo) for their fried ravioli with red sauce

Best Dessert: Kabab and Curry (Clarence) for their kheer (rice pudding)

Children’s Choice: Anderson’s Frozen Custard (Tonawanda) for their homemade ice cream

Best Wine: Woodbury Vineyards (Chautauqua Wine Trail/Fredonia) for their cherry slushi

Best Overall Food: Chester’s Cajun Grill (East Amherst)

Best Meat Item: Donnie’s Smokehouse (Buffalo) for their smoked baby back ribs

Carol Ann Roe Memorial “Best Decorated Booth”: Caribbean Experience (Buffalo)

Pat Sardina/Abby Stalker Memorial Award: Amici Ristorante (Kenmore) for their eggplant parmigiana

Independent Health Healthy Choice Options:

• First place: Fiamma Steak (Buffalo) for their frutti di mare
• Second Place: Mobay’s Restaurant (Buffalo) for their rice and beans with Mobay’s BBQ sauce
• Third Place: Joe’s Deli (Buffalo) for their Mediterranean hummus wrap

Click here to view all of the the 2009 winners.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS continues from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, July 12 along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo.