Today on the site, we are talking about local photographer Aaron Ingrao about his favorite places to eat and drink in Western New York. Aaron has just launched a kickstarter campaign for a his upcoming book Keepers Of The Craft. He’ll be traveling around the United States, meeting various bartenders and photographing them while they perform their craft. Aaron has taken some incredible photographers of local bartenders over the years and we can’t wait to see more photographs from his journey. Since the kickstarter just launched, we decided to ask Aaron about his favorite places to eat and drink around town.
Right now, where are your favorite places to grab a bite to eat or drink in WNY?
Aaron: Thankfully this question has become a hard one to answer definitively. My favorite places to eat are my favorite places to have a cocktail as well. All have awesome food, drinks and staff/owners:
- Ballyhoo: This one tops the list for food, the Reggie Veggie is the bast damn tube of food ever. Favorite drink is the Talleyrand.
- Mes Que: This one tops the list for my favorite drink, the Louis Suarez.
- Bourbon & Butter, Vera Pizzeria, Buffalo Proper, Jaguar at The Bistro…I don’t go often due to the distance but holy hell Victor!, Providence Social for a killer Bloody Mary by Lisa Cooper, Taj Grill for Indian.
If you had a friend visiting from out of town, where would you take them for a good “Buffalo” time?
Aaron: Food: Ballyhoo for a sausage. Drink: Buffalo Proper on a slow night that Kerry or Jon are behind the bar. Entertainment: Summer time, somewhere down on the waterfront and or out to Ellicottville to mountain bike. Winter time, same for snowboarding. Hopefully they are here during the time of Winterfest that Campus Wheelworks put on, or Newels Powder-keg fest.
Tim Stevens of Ballyhoo (Photo by Aaron Ingrao)
What are some of your favorite food memories from your childhood?
Aaron: I was introduced to guacamole at the age of ten. It was all over after that. There was no going back to bland, midwestern diets of meat and potatoes and iceberg lettuce salads with white vinegar and cooking oil for dressing. Unfortunately, I grew up partially in the midwest where this was pervasive like a diseased Beatle killing off vast swaths of forest…I do not think this is hyperbolic. Thankfully, my mother was creative in the kitchen. She went to chefs school MATC in Milwaukee after being influenced by Her mother in-law. My grandmother on my Father’s side was an incredible cook. She favored strictly Tuscan peasant food like quick and easy marinara. She also used to teach cooking. I was really too young to fully appreciate what it is I am missing now. When I used to visit Buffalo, my Father would take me to Grandma Mora’s when it used to be on Niagara and was a viable option for edible food.
There was a restaurant called Speed Queen in Milwaukee that served BBQ ribs. This was always a treat. A few years ago I visit and it was still open. Listen, just go to Milwaukee to have Speed Queen ribs. It’s worth the 12 hour drive…totally.
What would you like to see more of in our local restaurant scene?
Aaron: I don’t think this is a question that needs answering anymore. in 2011, Vera opened. After that, the flood gates opened for cocktails. Look what we have now. So many new cocktail bars with awesome cocktail programs. If you want great Sushi, hit Up Kunis or for a creative style, hit up Seabar. If you want Mexican, take your pick. If you want blue collar, but incredible food, hit up ballyhoo for a sausage. I really feel like Buffalo is positioning itself aside the greater cities for food in the US. Were only limited by market size.
We’d like to thank Aaron for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer our questions. If you like what you see below, take a look at his kickstarter page and consider donating. His book is expected to be released in June 2017.
