The story of The Silo, 115 N. Water St., began in the 1930s, back when this area was referred to as the "Hojack Country."

The White Linen Tea House of Wheatfield was the winner of the People's Choice Awards for Best Culinary Samples at the Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens held June 8 and 9. The home of Bob and Marian Granfield of Youngstown (The French Country Cottage) was the winner of the People's Choice - Best in Show for Décor and Tablescapes.

Mike Shubic, one half of the Rand McNally/USA Today "Best of the Road" "Best for Food" team the "Road Bros," returned to Lewiston this week - but not to judge its culinary offerings.

Dunkin' Donuts today continued its sustained growth and expansion in Western New York with the opening of a new restaurant in Lockport.

Amberleigh Retirement Community in Williamsville recently hosted a "Cutest Cupcake" bake-off among its residents and staff to benefit the Alzheimer's Association of WNY.

Don't miss the fifth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens and Homes June 8 and 9. Get an up close and personal look inside of six of the area's most fabulous homes and entertaining spaces located in the Lewiston and Youngstown region

Dunkin' Donuts celebrated the opening of its newest restaurant in the greater Buffalo area at Roswell Park Cancer Institute on Tuesday.

Hard Rock Café Niagara Falls, USA, is giving fans a chance to celebrate National Burger Month with a beach getaway to the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Punta Cana.

Vincenzo's Pizza House opened Tuesday in the Village of Lewiston. ... And within 10 minutes, it was filled with customers munching on old-fashioned and cheese slices.

Plans are shaping up for the fifth annual Lewiston Region Tour of Kitchens, taking place Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9, from 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at select addresses in Lewiston and Youngstown.

Alan Hastings has one simple goal for his Water Street eatery: He wants The Silo to be the best fast food restaurant in the world.

The Grand Island Market is enjoying a honeymoon in the first week of operation since the marriage of the store with Marco's Italian Deli.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce, the Village of Lewiston and The Silo Restaurant, in cooperation with the Niagara River Anglers, will celebrate one of the region's most famous natural resources as they host the Lewiston Smelt Festival on Friday, May 3, at the foot of Center Street along the Lewiston waterfront.

The Beach House has won Niagara Frontier Publications' second annual "Best Fish Fry" contest. Following a record number of entries, the Grand Island restaurant netted 13.1 percent of the 268 votes - more than double the tally of the second-place winners.

Chef Carmelo Raimondi and sous chef Bruce Wieszala of Carmelo's Restaurant were selected to compete as challengers in the annual "Nickel City Chef" competition at Artisan Kitchens and Baths in Buffalo.

Plans have been revealed for the Historic Lewiston Jazz Festival's annual fundraiser.

Have you ever been to a hibachi restaurant? My first experience was Fuji Grill in LaSalle.

Many people take the easy way out when it comes to eating healthy.

People turn to fast food and junk food to save time in their busy schedule - especially college students.

I recently dined at Lewiston's Brickyard Pub & B.B.Q. There was a three-page menu with a wide range of entrees to select from. Everyone in our party seemed to be pleased with the variety of food options. Not only were there many options, but everything ordered was delicious and worth every penny.

Three pastry chefs will go head-to-head in Verona next month to see who will win the title of American Culinary Federation Northeast Region Pastry Chef of the Year, sponsored by Plugrá European-Style Butter.

Niagara Frontier Publications is proud to announce noted food blogger Jude Russo Caserta is now a contributing writer for its website, www.wnypapers.com. A new version of her column, "Jude the Foodie," appears online each Monday.

"We are thrilled to be working with Jude, a well-liked and well-respected foodie," said Web Co-Editor Joshua Maloni. "Food is always a popular topic, and we're happy to have a tried and tested home cook and world traveler contributing stories, recipes and dining-out pieces for our website."

On Feb. 24 and 25, the Field & Fork Network will host its biennial "Connections Conference" (formerly the Farmer-Chef Conference) at the new, state-of-the art Niagara Falls Culinary Institute.

Assemblyman John D. Ceretto signed the New York State Legislative Wine Pledge Monday in support of the region's expanding wine and grape industry. The pledge requires Ceretto to serve New York state wine and grape products at events sanctioned by his legislative office or campaign organization.

You asked for it.

In response to patron requests, the Village Bake Shoppe is now serving sandwiches. Five different paninis are on the menu, and include "The Meltdown," a Cuban, the "Gucci" grilled cheese, ham and mozzarella, and turkey and bacon club.

The Village Inn and Serene Gardens were winners Sunday at the third annual Buffalo Soup Fest, held at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew. Village Inn owner Mike Carr and Sarah Mallare took home the Best Chili award at the event for their Mayan Chocolate Chili, while Satomi and Dr. Joshua Smith of Serene Gardens took home an award for Best Kept Secret.

For the sixth year in a row, Dunkin' Donuts and the American Red Cross are teaming up for the "Give a Pint, Get a Pound" campaign, which provides a coupon for a free pound of Dunkin' Donuts coffee* to all presenting donors at Red Cross blood drives in the greater Buffalo area during the month of January.

Christmas is just around the corner, and it's time to get into the holiday spirit.

While the calendar may say the start of winter, preparations for one of the region's favorite summer events is well under way. The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is now accepting applications from restaurants, food trucks and wineries interested in participating in the 2013 event, set for July 13 and 14 in downtown Buffalo.

VIDEO: Seneca Gaming Corp. upped the ante on casino dining Thursday with the unveiling of the new Thunder Falls Buffet at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls USA.

Kim's International Café is serving up "from scratch" cuisine from American classics to Italian and traditional Asian dishes.

Batter up, breakfast lovers! IHOP, one of America's most popular family-friendly restaurants, known for "everything you love about breakfast," will once again invite guests to enjoy free pancakes during National Pancake Day on Feb. 5, 2013, while celebrating Children's Miracle Network Hospitals' 30th anniversary.

Imagine a place where Gatsby, Sinatra and Bourdain would all feel at home.

Now imagine such a place on the corner of 19th and Ferry in downtown Niagara Falls.

Jonathan "J.B." Boas could imagine such a place.

PHOTO GALLERY: There's a reason professional chefs on television steer clear of baking: It's not easy.

Dunkin' Donuts, America's all-day, every-day stop for coffee and baked goods, will show its support for one of America's most iconic holiday toy collection drives this November through a first-time partnership in Western New York with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves' Toys for Tots program.

The Historical Association of Lewiston has announced tickets are on sale for its eighth annual Tour of Homes, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at select addresses in Lewiston.

Niagara Frontier Publications' Skip Mazenauer, publisher of the Sentinel, poses with Casa Antica manager Robert Herman, chef Charlie Soldano and the "Casa Girls" outside of the Italian restaurant.

The Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce held a "Business Blender" Thursday at Town Hall, the Village of Lewiston's newest Center Street restaurant.

Famed culinary experts Ludo Lefebvre and Brian Malarkey are confirmed to join no-holds-barred chef Anthony Bourdain and British food star Nigella Lawson as mentors on eight episodes of ABC's innovative new cooking competition show, "The Taste." The new one-hour alternative series will premiere in 2013 on the ABC Television Network.

With its first chicken barbecue fundraiser last Saturday, Island Presbyterian Church hoped to provide not just tasty Krolick's chicken, but food for the soul too.

Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams has introduced his very own cereal just in time for the new NFL season. The cereal is called "MariO's" and is available exclusively at Western New York-area Tops stores.

"MariO's" is a honey-nut toasted oats cereal packaged in a 14-ounce collector's box featuring the newest member of the Buffalo Bills defensive line. The cereal is available exclusively at Western New York Tops stores and online at www.plbsports.com. "MariO's" is the latest athlete endorsed product from PLB Sports, which has created products for some of Buffalo's most famous athletes, including Ryan Miller, Terrell Owens, Michael Peca and Doug Flutie.