About Us

The Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is the largest two-day food festival in the United States. It began in 1984 with 22 restaurants on Main Street and has doubled in size, growing to it's permanent home on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, NY. The Taste is a not-for-profit corporation registered with the State of New York and is run by an all-volunteer board of directors, and event management and sponsorship agency and supported by approximately 1,000 dedicated volunteers.

The mission of the Taste of Buffalo is to promote the City of Buffalo and showcase the greater Buffalo area restaurants and businesses by providing an affordable and enjoyable weekend festival that takes place in an inclusive and socially responsible manner for all.

Named one of "10 Best Food and Wine festivals you can feel good about attending," by USA Today. Your purchases at the Taste help make possible donations to over 20 local charities and annual scholarships awarded to WNY students pursuing a culinary or hospitality degree. To date, over $606,000 has been donated.

The future dates of the Taste of Buffalo are:
July 11 & 12, 2026
July 10 & 11, 2027

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Board of Directors

Officers

Chair Matthew J. Reis, Tallinger Associates, Foodservice Design	Treasurer Lori Rizzo, Gibraltar Industries
1st Vice Chair Adam C. Roma, Principal Financial Group	Assistant Treasurer Rozana Ayanbadejo, Nova Healthcare Administrators
2nd Vice Chair Peter Sass, A-Kleen Windows, Inc./Bugg Control, Inc.	Past Chair Thomas Mahoney, SAHD
Secretary Cheryl Goldstone, Retired – School Counselor Williamsville South HS

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Ex-Officio

James K. Morrell, NFTA-Metro

Thomas P. Muscarella, Erie County Department of Health

W. Morgan Smith, Buffalo Place, Inc.

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Advisory Committee

Luke Baecker, Roofers Local No. 74/203 Benefit Funds

Erin Collins, Linde

Elizabeth Cohen, Aventra

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Festival & Sponsorship Management

Connie Wendling, Sell-utions Inc.