Breaking bread among family, friends and neighbors dates back centuries and is likely the most globally ubiquitous form of social gatherings. From street block parties to town picnics to dinner clubs, nothing seems to bring us together more than good fare and drink. Food is clearly the focal point of planning and often the topic …

Paula Stadtmiller and Philip Duquette met by chance in 1987. The duo, owners of Premier Pastry on South Avenue in Rochester, both happened to have jobs at what was once a fixture for premium desserts, Crème de la Crème on Alexander Street. Classically trained chef Stadtmiller—hired as the café’s pastry chef—and Duquette—an optical engineer looking …

One integral ingredient to a sophisticated drink—often overlooked—is premium ice. Not the cracked and cloudy variety. Ralph DiTucci, founder of Cristallino Premium Ice, aims for crystal-clear cubes (or spheres) with no lines, clouding, or imperfections.  “When you’re spending $10 to $12 for a cocktail, you want the best possible version. A premium drink with premium ice should make you feel special when …

Soldiers of fortune will tell you—you’ve got to go where the war is. The same is true for pro killers. That’s why on December 17, 1981, Joseph “Mad Dog” Sullivan found himself on the Thruway in his peach-colored Caddy, heading toward Rochester. Here was where the war was. Sullivan was already a legend, deadly and …

Since 2010, on the first Saturday in November, the annual East Avenue Grocery Run 5K race brings runners, volunteers, and sponsors together to raise money for local food cupboards and emergency meal programs. Food insecurity is a pervasive problem affecting children, adults, and senior citizens. If you aren’t familiar with the term, consider yourself lucky. …

Wine aficionados in the (585) who enjoy the many tastes and varieties that the Finger Lakes has to offer may not be familiar with another wine-producing region, located in the northwestern part of Pennsylvania, known as Lake Erie Wine Country. LEWC comprises 30,000 contiguous acres of vineyards and is the largest grape-growing region east of …