
Málà Magic: Serving Up Simmering Flavors in Rochester’s College Town
While several more places are opening in the next few months, one new restaurant serving a popular Chinese ‘build-your-own’ dish called ‘Malatang’ is simmering some serious flavors. Mala Magic only recently opened its doors, but there is plenty of excitement coming from anyone who loves personalizing their hot pot with a simmering broth filled with fresh ingredients like broccoli, tofu, corn on the cob, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, quail eggs, lettuce, crab legs, fish, udon, and ramen noodles, and various meats.

Buffalo. Beats. Lucky Day Whiskey Bar.
Visiting Lucky Day Whiskey Bar in Buffalo, New York, is a warm experience. The bar is in a walkable area to many other great bars in downtown. At Lucky Day Whiskey Bar, you’ll find a true Buffalo experience, from the vibes of the crowd, the politeness of the staff, and the vibrant music playing in the bar on the right night.

To Anyone Who Thinks Rochester Doesn’t Have a Late-Night Food Scene, Read This!
For years, people have complained about Rochester, New York’s lack of a late-night food scene. While this may have been true in previous years, I am here to share that there are numerous fantastic restaurants and to-go spots that cater to the night owls around the city, serving up dishes until the early morning. Rochester, New York has a great late-night food scene, you just need to know where to go!

Some of the Best ‘Street Tacos’ in the Region Are in Syracuse, NY
Olivo Tacos began their journey as a Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Latin-infused restaurant in Rockford, Illinois, with the mission of serving up delicious and high-quality tacos at a great price. Considering that truck prices their street tacos at 3 for $5, I’d say they are living up to their mission by keeping incredible prices for this day and age.

A Fusion between Indian Cuisine and Texas BBQ is Changing the Game in Buffalo
Southern Junction, on Connecticut Street in Buffalo, New York, combines the flavors and spices of Kerala, a state on India’s Malabar Coast, with the smokehouse flavors of a Texas barbecue joint. This amalgam of flavors produces some of the best barbecue this side of the Mississippi, and that is no joke!

Your Next Chopped Cheese Should Be the ‘ROC’ Chopped Cheese at Starlight on South Ave
While the Chopped Cheese was born in NYC, it’s made its way upstate to delis across cities like Rochester, Syracuse, and Buffalo. The effects of this pilgrimage have paved the way for a new contender, one that pays homage to the classic sub but adds a new flair and uniqueness, and embraces the culture and heritage of Rochester, New York. It’s called the ROC Chopped Cheese, and it’s being chopped up at Starlight, a market & deli on South Avenue in the South Wedge.

A Quiet Reset at Recess Coffee on Montgomery St.
On the road, I find myself gravitating towards a good coffee shop. I have always loved sitting down in a warm café with a cortado or cappuccino to get a sense of the ambiance, the people, and the flow of the city.
Fortunately, while going with the flow on my way to lunch, I stumbled upon Recess Coffee on Montgomery St. in the Historic Courier Building in Downtown Syracuse. It was a hot day strolling around town, and the high temperatures were catching up with me. This felt like an opportunistic moment to sit down, hang out, and try a local roast.