Thurman Thomas to guest-bartend Aug. 27 launch in Brisbane Building, four blocks south of bazaar

By ANDREW GALARNEAU
(This column originally appeared on the Four Bites site; consider subscribing to support great food journalism!)

With the Downtown Bazaar’s future unclear, Jessica Melisz has found her own place, four blocks south, to continue feeding Oralia’s breakfast tacos and picadillo burritos to downtown denizens.

With an official address of 403 Main St., Oralia’s new spot actually faces Lafayette Square, in a former Edible Arrangements location.

Bills great Thurman Thomas is slated to kick off Oralia’s new spot there, on Aug. 27. He’ll guest bartend while customers check out the tacos, burritos, bowls and nachos ennobled with housemade queso.

Then, a pause. Oralia will start its regular service a week later, on Sept. 3. The breakfast tacos start flowing at 7:30 a.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Melisz launched Oralia, her Mexican restaurant, in May 2023 as the Downtown Bazaar opened in the Theater District.

As tenants of Westminster Economic Development Initiative’s 617 Main St. small-business incubator explore forming a cooperative, Melisz decided she was better off on her own. “I thought my chance of success would be better in this space,” she said.

Before Oralia, Melisz led the kitchen feeding Remedy House and Flint. She named her business after the inspiration for its cuisine. Oralia Tyner, her partner’s mother, is from Chihuahua, Mexico, and Tyner’s recipes are the foundation of Oralia’s menu.

Oralia will serve at Familia Fun Day at the Darwin Martin House Sept. 14, and Mercy Flight’s BASH Sept. 28, if you aren’t downtown Tuesday through Friday.

Oralia, 403 Main St., Suite 109, facing Lafayette Square

Hours: 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Closed Saturday-Monday. Phone: 716-598-1062.

REVIEW: In recent years, 1150 Hertel Avenue has held a succession of restaurants serving an array of Arabic menus. As Falafel House introduces its Palestinian-Syrian-plus-burgers menu to North Buffalo, a visit left me offering a prayer of appreciation for Hossam Abdallah and all the other skilled cooks who decided to settle in Buffalo, N.Y., and do the things they do best. (Later today, for Andrew’s patrons, via his Substack.)

CLOSINGS: Rafael’s ended its decade-long run in Hamburg, announcing the retirement of chef-owner Ralph Galluzzi.

“It’s been a great ten years,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “I really appreciated all the support from our customers.”

The building, at 4572 Clark St., Hamburg, is for sale, listed at $454,900.

EVENTS: Like Christmas, the St. Mary & St. Moses Egyptian Festival in North Tonawanda only happens one a year. 

Except it’s three days, and there’s no snow. It starts Aug. 23, but you can get Egyptian-style fava bean falafel and the burger-in-bread genius of hawawshi on Aug. 24 and Aug. 25, too.

The 15th annual fundraiser for St. Mary & St. Moses Coptic Orthodox Church, 350 Wheatfield St., offers, food, culture and church tours, along with Egyptian crafts and books.

Hours: 3 p.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 23, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday.

CRITIC ASKS: Would you mind sending me a photograph of your favorite farmers market treat? 

I plan to assemble them for a future Four Bites presentation. 

Please send them to andrew@fourbites.net – including the name of vendor and market, and price if you can.

Each one in the presentation will be credited to the author, unless you’d prefer no credit. The article will be news – and like all news here at Four Bites, will be free to read.

I was inspired by Jess Kent sending me a snap of the pandan-coconut tart from Prohibition Pie at the Elmwood Village Farmers Market.

Which inspired me to make the video below, in hopes of inspiring you on your next farmers market excursion. It includes some of my favorites. How about yours?

More reading from Michael Chelus:

• Mr. Galarneau wrote about the heartfelt classics at Simply Soul in Niagara Falls [Four Bites]
• Barbecue royalty – Daniel Vaughn, barbecue editor of Texas Monthly – flew to Buffalo to enjoy Chef Ryan Fernandez’s offerings at Southern Junction [Four Bites]
• Lots of new food at this year’s Erie County Fair [Buffalo News]
• Black Restaurant Weeks runs 8/12-8/18 [Buffalo Spree]
• Andrew told us about the Middle Eastern dishes we can find locally at places like Falafel Bar, Amira’s Kitchen and more [Buffalo Spree]
• In the latest edition of This week in Buffalo food, Francesca told us of the opening of Mayer Brothers Cider Mill for the season on 8/14, the opening of Yotality and Favo Pizza and Draft House in the space that formerly housed the Irishman in East Aurora and more [Buffalo News]
• Although Stack Burger is closing, co-owner AJ Giangrosso will open a new, takeout-only restaurant – AJ’s Kitchen [Buffalo News]
• Juicy Burger Bar is back! [Step Out Buffalo]
• Brett told us about District 37 Kitchen and Taphouse in North Tonawanda [Step Out Buffalo]
• Brian’s Buffalo Beer Briefs told us of Hamburg Brewing’s 11th anniversary party, a new release from Five & 20 Spirits and Brewing and more [Step Out Buffalo]
• Andrew asked how much of our food budget goes to local farmers [Four Bites]
• Brenda wrote about the creative and oversized offerings at Frosty’s Ice Cream [Buffalo News]
• You can now get gourmet cheese on Elmwood at the newly opened Amabel Provisions [Buffalo News]
• More coverage of the opening of Amabel Provisions [Buffalo Rising]

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