Buffalo Without Borders

This is for the 2015 event: each year is different, but it seems the quality stays the same.
I had a great time. The space was a good one, albeit a little loud in the main performance room. It gave enough space to wander around and walk off the delicious food you were eating. Each vendor brought different foods and samples. Because I’m a vegetarian, I can’t judge all the stands — but what I did have was quite good. (Most stands had vegetarian options, so you won’t be out of luck).
Standouts were Sun Restaurant, Lucy’s, Sweet Melody’s, and the Chocolatier place — not sure of the name. But the truffles they were giving out were amazing.
Entertainment was stand out. Belly dancing, a local klezmer band, and a Caribbean ensemble playing pop music. Rocking out to Gloria Estefan, woohoo!
If anything, the whole event raises awareness and donates money to an important cause. The immigrant and refugee community in Buffalo is not supported enough and needs to be recognized by more Buffalonians.

I love this event which is the major event of the year for the International Institute of Buffalo. If you’d like to travel around the world via food, entertainment and shopping (but most importantly, food) then you need to attend this event.
The change of venue to the Hotel Lafayette was a good move. Although it was still very crowded, it was easier to see the many food choices than it was at Asbury Hall. Also, it seemed like because there was more space the event was larger over all, which is nice. Having the vendors in the Crystal Ballroom was the best improvement. There were more vendors but plenty of space for them to show their goods and they were so much easier to access than in the past. Hello early holiday shopping!
The food was excellent. I learned last year to come on time – before the vendors run or of food. This year I think the food tickets might have helped but some places still ran out of options early. Since organizers know how many attendees are coming, I wish the restaurants would plan a little better.
The set up this year did make it more difficult to watch the performances because it was hard to see around the crowds. (Crowds at a fundraiser are good though!) I spent a lot of time in lines in the other room too, so I couldn’t watch the performances from there either. What I did see was great.
The only thing I found difficult was that there weren’t enough places to put your trash after eating. There were trays but not enough and they needed to be emptied more often.
Over all, Buffalo Without Borders fun way to travel the world in one evening while contributing to a good cause. My taste buds love it! I can’t wait till next year!

What an event!
The venue choice of the Hotel Lafayette was completely on point. It was just enough room to not feel claustrophobic, while also not being so large that it killed the crowd-​energy.
The entertainment was stellar. I was so busy stuffing my face that I failed to notice which group was performing which set of music. Still, the entire ambiance of the event hinged on the wonderful sounds coming from the stage. The Den of Prophesy was also great. It felt like an expanded version of the West Side Bazaar wares (with a Unilocal stand to boot!) I didn’t buy anything due to the high price points, but found several things that I would have liked to purchase.
If anything, I wish that there were more tables (high-​top with no chairs, or dining-​style seating) available. We often ended up balancing multiple plates on elbows and against our bodies, then quickly stuffing food into our face before they fell. A few more places to set plates down would have been welcome.
I very proudly filled up my entire passport book (and all of the stomach real estate I own) at the event. Below is my near-​definitely list of the best and worst that the event had to offer. If it’s too much to read, I’ll put my conclusion here: Can’t wait for BWB 2015!
Vendor Reviews
1) Sun Restaurant: Just as good as their restaurant cuisine! Definitely best in show.
2) Rakapura Sushi: Even though their buffalo roll was a little heavy on the cream cheese, everything was delicious.
3) Lucy Ethiopian: Eating Ethiopian off a tiny paper plate was an odd experience, but the food quality held up to what I expected after eating at the restaurant.
4) The Irishman: I was warned that the shepherd’s pie soup wasn’t very good from another patron, but I beg to differ. It was warm, flavorful, and had tons of protein. The Irishman itself sometimes offers some… different… variants of Irish food, so the soup version of shepherd’s pie didn’t throw me off much.
5) Passport Wine Company: A speed class in wines from around the world! I walked away feeling tipsy, educated, and impressed.
6) Bavarian Nut Company: Okay, not the most impressive wares (3 almonds? That’s it?) but their bubble tea set-​up was adorable and on-​point. Oh, boba. It’s so easy for you to win my heart.
7) Caribbean Experience: The meat was delicious, but too spicy for my very sensitive palette.
7) Taste of Africa: Even though the offerings were interesting and exciting (love falafel) everything was a little bit dry.
8) Sweet Melody’s: I love Sweet Melody’s. I’ve had their gelato on many occasions. Still, the flavor choices always come across as a little Americanized. With so many great gelato places in Buffalo, I wish they had chosen something a little bit more authentic-​feeling.
9) Go Veggies: I love Go Veggies. I didn’t love their lentil soup. The lentils were a little under-​cooked and there wasn’t much else to it.
10) Wegmans: Disclaimer: I am a Wegmanite. I’ll drive past 10 other grocery stores to do business there. I was disappointed with their representation of Japan, though. The only sushi they offered was California (definitely not in Japan) rolls and veggie rolls. If they were going to participate, i wish they would have featured some more of their interesting rolls.
11) Blue Table Chocolates: Despite their eye-​catching display and friendly faces, the chocolate just wasn’t very good (I can’t believe that phrase just left my fingers). I’m sure their other chocolate offerings are great, but their creative rethinkings of baklava and tamarind/​chili fell flat.
Not listed: Pure Peru. By the time we got to Pure Peru (which I love — why did you leave the WSB, Pure Peru?) they were running low on stock. My compatriot and I were the last ones to be given food, which was only about a quarter of a bowl of soup. It was good, but I just don’t feel comfortable placing it on the list due to not having a lot of experience with it.

Great event. First time attending this party and really didn’t know what to expect but, I’m glad I went.
Awesome entertainment and delicious ethnic food. The Bhangra dancers from the University at Buffalo were by far the most impressive entertainment of the night. It’s obvious they are severely dedicated to their art form. I also really enjoyed the Jama Jama Peace and Love African drumming group, the one dude was really getting down.
For the food, I think the best cuisine was prepared by Pure Peru and Sun Restaurant. Marta, the owner of Pure Peru made ‘papas rellenas’, a deep fried potato fritter with beef, eggs and olives, awesome! That was covered with ‘aji de gallina’, kind of like a mix between chicken a la king and tetrazzini but, with more spice.
From Sun Restaurant I had ‘own no koksware’. A chicken noodle soup with coconut milk and hard boiled egg. It had almost a curry like flavor. It was complex and delicious.
Honorable mention would have to be from the Gelato Gypsy. She had a great chocolate-​hazelnut gelato and a very refreshing berry sorbetto. Although everyone had great food, these were my three favorites.
If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for next year. I know I will.