BEST CHEF NEW YORK STATE: Bruce Wieszala
Bruce Wieszala, Beacon Grille 185 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14201 Bruce Wieszala has won Buffalo Spree’s Best of WNY Best Chef honors two years running (2025, 2026), while his restaurant,…
Dive Into The Unexpected Buffalo
Discover Buffalo’s best-kept secrets, hidden gems, and local favorites with inspiring stories that are sure to have you ready for some fun in the BUF! Begin planning your adventure today with a little help from seasoned Buffalo experts and their treasure trove of can’t-miss attractions, eateries, breweries, and so much more.
BEST CHEF NEW YORK STATE: Jennifer Boye
Jennifer Boye, Moriarty Meats & Cafe 1650 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14207 At Moriarty Meats & Café, Jennifer Boye is both the cafe’s chef and its one-woman baking program, turning…
OUTSTANDING BAKER OR DESSERT PROFESSIONAL: Kevin and Melissa Gardner
Kevin and Melissa Gardner, Five Points Bakery 44 Brayton Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 Kevin and Melissa Gardner first met on Buffalo’s West Side 35 years ago. They eventually married and…
BEST CHEF NEW YORK STATE: Ryan Fernandez
Photo by Sharon Cantillon. Ryan Fernandez, Southern Junction 365 Connecticut Street, Buffalo, NY 14213 At his Texas barbecue-meets-South Indian spot, Southern Junction, chef and pitmaster Ryan Fernandez’s perspective goes beyond combining…
Nominee Categories and Selection Process
The 2026 James Beard nomination committee developed its slate of Erie County nominees through two months of shared and individual work. Members studied past nominees from the area…
Buffalo’s James Beard Legacy
Learn Who Built Our National Reputation It’s not every year that a Buffalo-area restaurant professional is acknowledged by the James Beard Foundation’s annual awards. But since 2008, ten separate…
Visit Buffalo Sends Message of International Goodwill to Canadians with New Billboard
The billboards say “O Canada, We’re Still Singing It, Love Buffalo”, referencing the Canadian National Anthem being sung at Bills and Sabres games BUFFALO, NY – Visit Buffalois once…
Visit Buffalo Debuts Buffalo Hiking Guide
A new guide highlights ten local hiking trails with detailed information and walk-through videos BUFFALO, N.Y. – Visit Buffalo rolled out its new Buffalo Hiking Guide on Wednesday, a new digital…
Visiting the New Highmark Stadium: A Buffalo Bills Fan Guide
If you’re heading to the new Highmark Stadium for a Buffalo Bills game this season, plan on taking a little extra time to look around. The new stadium…
Tourism spending in Erie County set another new high in 2025
Tourism Economics’ 2025 report on Erie County found that traveler spending rose 2.8 percents to $2.73 billion last year BUFFALO, N.Y. – Visitor spending in Erie County in 2025 reached…
