The Taste of Buffalo is back

The second-largest food festival in the country returns this weekend as five dozen restaurants and hundreds of thousands of eaters converge on Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square for the Taste of Buffalo.

A record 60 restaurants will be on hand for what has arguably become Buffalo’s signature summer event. Nearly a quarter of those restaurants are “rookies,” new to the event. And a lot of the old standbys will be switching up their menus this year, according to this year’s Taste chairman, Tom Muscarella.

It’s a good year to try something new at the Taste, though Muscarella isn’t quite sure why so many restaurants are debuting this year.

“It could have been the economy,” Muscarella said. “Or a coincidence.”

In addition to the numerous new local restaurants at the Taste, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que — the barbecue powerhouse based in Syracuse (with additional restaurants in Rochester and New York City) — will make its debut at the festival.

“From what I hear, they’ve got a good following,” Muscarella said.

The Taste will offer patrons more than 220 different food items, including healthy options, which are lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium. Every restaurant will serve at least one healthy option. The options are designated as such on the event’s menu with a heart.

“This is one of the things we can do to show that good food doesn’t have to be bad for you,” Muscarella said. “I just hope (people) won’t see the heart on the menu and turn away.”

For those thinking about going to the event for the first time, or others who may have had a lackluster experience at the Taste in the past, Muscarella offers some advice.

“Plan ahead,” he said.

The event guide is listed at the event’s Web site (www.tasteofbuffalo.com), so Muscarella recommends that patrons get an idea of what they want to eat before visiting the festival.

Another recent feature that should hit new heights this year is the culinary theatre, which features local cooks showcasing their wares, among other presentations.

For Western New York foodies looking to sample the area’s cuisine, this is the weekend.

“You’re getting a higher quality food, you’re not getting a universal carnival food,” Muscarella said. “In my opinion, it’s the best local event that we have.”