By Andrew Galarneau

Read It and Eat Bookshop plans to expand its cookbooks, cooking wares and cooking classes in the heart of the Village of Williamsville, next to Muscarella’s Pizzeria.

“We’re definitely still going to be a culinary bookstore, but we’re definitely looking to expand more of our kitchenware offerings,” said owner Kim Behzadi, who has signed a lease for 5526 Main St. She hopes to open in November, and expects to expand hours to Wednesday through Sunday.

“When we did a survey of our customers, they said, ‘You know, when I need to go buy a new frying pan. I’m going to Target. I’m going to Home Goods. I want somewhere where I could buy pots and pans,’ ” she said. “So I’m looking to bring in some more like pots and pans and things like that.”

Behzadi is also installing a commercial kitchen in the space. “The commercial kitchen will be rentable, so it’s really meant to serve as a place for our first and foremost for our Talk and Taste author programming,” she said. “We want to bring all of that in house because, as you know, we’ve always been renting spaces elsewhere.” Talk and Taste won Best Lecture Series in Buffalo Spree’s annual awards this year.

“So now we’re going to be able to bring our authors right into our bookstore,” she said, “with a full commercial kitchen in the back.” The space could hold 30 to 50 for a sitting author event. For cooking classes, about 12 to 15 people.

If you want to have private events there, private dinners, your book club, it will be rentable as well.

“Krista, who owns Up Beet Cooking, will be offering her children’s cooking classes there in the fall once we open,” said Behzadi. “My goal is before opening in November, have an open house so people can come see the space and think about if they want to rent it.

Given her store’s growing fanbase, Behzadi is also offering memberships, bringing price discounts, invitations to member events and more, for founding contributors.

Until the Williamsville location is close, Read It and Eat Bookshop will remain open at 2929 Main St.

REVIEW: 

Amanda and Bruce Wieszala and their posse brought everything they learned over decades to create Beacon Grille, their fire-driven Allentown restaurant. The kitchen is designed around an Argentinian wood-fired grill wielded skillfully to advance the cause of local produce and meat. Focaccia and other bread, charcuterie, pasta, are all house-made. Its potential for feasts of baronial scale is exemplified in its order-ahead special of roasted pig head, with accouterments. Serves six carnivores not afraid to honor the whole animal. (For patrons, later this week.)

RAMEN NIGHT

Another round of smokehouse ramen hits tables Sept. 29 at Yankee BBQ.

Head to 4572 Clark Street, Hamburg for housemade noodles, double daishi broth, marinated soft-boiled eggs and bamboo shoots and your choice of smoked beef cheeks or pork belly.

Reservations are required. Reserve here.

MORE FARMHOUSE SODA OUTLETS

Agle’s Farmhouse Soda is now available at Farm Shop, Amabel Provisions, Buffalo Delights, and The Bagel Jar, according to Eden farmer-inventor Matt Agle.

That’s in addition to Agle’s Farm Market, Saturdays 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

ASK THE CRITIC

Q: Where can I find schnitzel in Buffalo?

– G. R., Buffalo

A: At Falafel Bar where Oded Rauvenpoor‘s chicken schnitzel outshines all comers, either as a plate or as a sub. Get the honey mustard.

More local food and restaurant stories compiled by Michael Chelus of Nittany Epicurean:

• Mr. Galarneau explained why Shamus is one of Lockport’s best restaurants [Four Bites]
• Andrew also wrote about the operations at Dopest Dough [Four Bites]
• Sarah wrote about cream cheese stuffed bagels from a “secret” local bakery – Kneaded716 [Step Out Buffalo]
• Brian’s Buffalo Beer Buzz told us about the sixth annual The Arc Erie Count Ale Trail, the second annual Pumpkin Chug at Resurgence Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest on 9/26 and more [Buffalo Beer League]
• Francesca argued that Bistro Avera in Lewiston has quickly become one of WNY’s best restaurants [Buffalo News]
• Jamie wrote about her recent stop at The Quesadilla Company in Lockport [Open till Four]
• There’s a new speakeasy in the heart of Williamsville – Room4one6 [Step Out Buffalo]
• Pumpkinville is celebrating its 58th anniversary [Buffalo Scoop]

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The post SUNDAY NEWS: Read It and Eat Bookshop bringing a bookstore that cooks to Williamsville appeared first on Four Bites.