Every week, 2 On Your Side’s Joshua Robinson takes a closer look at what’s new, unique and happening across the Western New York food scene in “Out 2 Eat.”
Generally speaking, when it comes to gourds or squash or any other oddly shaped, fleshy edible fruits... Pumpkin reigns supreme in autumn.
But there are plenty of other options that are just as delicious, just as diverse as pumpkin.
Case in point: butternut squash, a food many Western New Yorkers associate with keeping warm in the cold weather, and here are three local restaurants that prove it:
Larkin Filling Station (Instagram: @_thefillingstation)
We must begin a butternut squash feature with some kind of warm soup, right?
I (Joshua) first dialed in to the Larkin Filling Station when I saw they had a sweet potato soup with butternut squash gnocchi, but clearly they've proven they can be as creative and versatile as anyone when it comes to their soup.
Case in point: their apple butternut soup that goes on sale next week, which is also topped with maple cream and cranberry walnut croutons.
(My stomach is literally growling at me as I wrote those words...)
Bread Hive Bakery (Instagram: @breadhive)
It's so easy to enjoy a crisp piece of fresh bread, dipped into a warm butternut squash soup... So why not combine the two ideas into one?
Bread Hive in Buffalo is rolling out a new potential centerpiece for your Thanksgiving dinner, a seasonal sourdough bread made with butternut squash, cranberry, and walnuts inside the bread.
If you're interested in grabbing one, they'll be available through Wednesday, November 27th, the day before Thanksgiving.
Gondola Macaroni (Instagram: @gondolamacaroni)
The "in trend" with ravioli and other fried pasta seems to be deep-frying them, but whether you want to give that style of pasta a taste-test or you've got a family sauce recipe you prefer... Gondola Macaroni is a go-to option for fresh, local pasta.
And yes, that includes butternut squash-stuffed ravioli!
It's also a fantastic way to celebrate a family business that's been running on Buffalo's West Side for more than 60 years.
If you have a specific question, request, or comment reach out to Joshua on social:
Facebook: Joshua Robinson WGRZ
Twitter: @JRobinsonWGRZ
Instagram: @Shua_On_TV
E-Mail: Out2Eat@wgrz.com
RELATED: Out 2 Eat: October Mailbag