Elite Event – Icey Hot Holiday Extravaganza @ Dolci

My first Elite event in Buffalo and I was impressed. I’m used to the overcrowded Elite events in Manhattan where a venue tried to pack as many people as possible in the space. But not in Buffalo, with the limited guest list (and consciousness of the space) the event was intimate and very enjoyable.
I brought my finance along and we had the chance to meet Alex, who is fantastic and planned a great event. And we also were introduced to Fly Bison beer, which I hasn’t had before but I now plan on purchasing in the future.
We’ve been to Dolci many times before (usually once a week) so it was no surprise that the food and service wasn’t anything less then superb. We didn’t get to stay long enough to try to gelato, but the pumpkin-​squash soup was evenly spiced and comforting that I hope they consider adding it to the menu for the winter months. The various bruschettas were fresh and delicious, I especially enjoyed the mushroom/​dandelion green version (I believe it also included truffle oil, so it gets extra points).
Overall, I had a great time meeting new people and seeing another side of Dolci. I hope they seriously consider hosting special events, such as music since the space takes on a life of it’s own at night that makes you want to linger.

Scroll through those photos of the food there. They tell a great tale.
The various bruschetta were amazing. It’s difficult to choose a favorite. There were two soups but I only tried the one and fell in love. It was a pumpkin-​squash curry and I definitely needed a second helping of that. Château Buffalo was there serving up delicious mulled cider; one of my favorites. The secret gift was super exciting!
Now the icey… the first sample was the Beer and Bacon gelato. That wasn’t really for me but I didn’t expect it would be. Now the second sample was the Peppermint Mocha gelato and that I loved! I hope they continue to make it because I’d like to come back for a full-​size serving of that flavor!
I had been to a previous incarnation of Dolci years ago and this location is SO much nicer! I loved the ambiance; classy yet cozy. I think the band was a really nice touch. This was just a great place for a friendly get together.

This was my first Elite event thanks to a generous invite from an Elite member. All I can say is man do I wish I had been Elite a long time ago, you guys know how to party.
The food at Dolci was great and I really enjoyed talking to the owner/​chef about all of his creations. My favorite was the pulled chicken and I am looking forward to going back and trying the full sandwich.
The Flying Bison beer they provided was fantastic as I was able to try a couple styles I hadn’t before. I also loved the mulled cider from Château Buffalo. I will soon be heading to the Broadway Market to pick up a bottle. The star of the food show was the gelato, the peppermint mocha gelato was great but the Flying Bison Blizzard Bock gelato topped with crispy bacon was just heads and tails above the rest of the night. If he ends up making this a regular flavor I will be there quite often.
The rest of night was a blast. All the people I talked to were fun and interesting and I look forward to seeing them again at future events. The size of the venue was perfect, I never felt crowded and if I had wanted a seat I would have been able to find one. The noise level was just fine with a nice acoustic guitar band playing on the other side of the room.
All in all the event was great and I thank all you Elite-​ers for welcoming me and I hope to be able to attend more of these in the future.

As always, I am so darn grateful to be a part of the Elite group. The opportunities we have had to participate in events is an absolute honor. The Icey Hot Holiday Extravaganza at Dolci was no exception to the high quality events of the past.
There are two reasons why I docked one star. May as well get ‘em out of the way…
1. The room we were in had to be 90 degrees or warmer at one point. The spicy soups and hot cider just added to the heat and I literally felt like I was melting.
2. It would be nice if tables were set up to facilitate more mingling. Like create food and drink stations which encourage people to walk around and talk to others (like at the Brick House event) as opposed to sit with a plate and a little group. By the time my girlfriends and I arrived there were only seats near the band open and I felt stuck in the corner, so far away from other people.
Other than those 2 reasons, the night was a blast. The brushetta selections were awesome! There wasn’t one that I didn’t like. From the mushroom and dandelion greens (my favorite), to the chicken salad, to the tomato mozzarella pesto, each little dressed bread bite was excellent! The 2 soups to sample– curry squash and 14 bean and chicken were awesome with a spicy bite! The curry squash was total warm enveloping comfort. I loved it more with every spoonful. The 14 bean and chicken had really great spicy smoky flavor. I would love to eat a whole bowl of that on a cool fall evening.
The Flying Bison beer was a great nod to local flavor. The mulled cider was pungent and bright. Perfect for the holidays. I would have loved another cold drink option though, aside from beer, since the water was just cool at best. Totally loved the band. Thought they did a great job and didn’t overwhelm the room. Was a perfect noise level for that venue.
Though I didn’t LOVE the gelato, I appreciated the creations. Beer gelato… Not a fan, nor of the bacon brown sugar topping. It had a sharp hoppy undertone that left my mouth tasting bitter. The peppermint mocha was a bit better but I was hoping for thick fudgy dark chocolate with a much stronger peppermint taste. Again, I thought the coffee flavor coming through was a tad bitter as well. I was certainly appreciative of the cool down though since my schvitzing had turned to full on sweating after sampling the soups.
The Dolci guys were super nice and hospitable. Thanks Nick for your attentiveness! Alex was floating around spreading his holiday joy and cheer (& a great Elite gift!), and it was great to meet Jamie T., see my neighbor Smita (Hi Smita!), and to see Bethany M. Wish we’d had more time to chat!
Guess we’ll have to mingle at the next one… And it’d be great to get to know some other Unilocalers as well!
Thanks again Alex, Dolci Guys, and Unilocal.So grateful to have shared this holiday extravaganza with you all!

It’s great when people come together to celebrate who they are — Foodies — and even better when they gather for a common cause — Buffalo First; but it’s extra special when you’re in a venue like Dolci on Elmwood.
Many thanks to Chef/​Owner David Simpson and his staff for the excellent atmosphere and some really awesome food. As a NYC man I have to give kudos to the peppermint mocha gelato. It’s got an old school recipe taste to it that reminds me of home.
Cent’anni Dolci — Cheers!

An experience at Dolci, could totally make me addicted to this place. To start with, the best tasting dish was everything they make there!
Great party tonight and super friendly people. Highlight was the gelato made with some flying bison beer and topped with bacon bites. The curried squash tasted almost like «dahl «or «daal «to my Indian pallet .
From sandwiches to coffee and gelato, all tastes so different from what I have at regular places. I haver never had such tasty hummus before. I am craving for some more. Their mocha lo was so delicious cup of coffee which is decaf hence the name low or lo. Its chai, mocha and vanilla but tastes so good !
I enjoyed the event on the whole, with the awesome band playing for us, great food served, gelato being made in front of us. Also, loved the gifts for us, thanks Alex for arranging such a fabulous event for us.

Icey hot holiday extravaganza of hot vs cold drinks and apps was a great event. Dolci and the friendly staff did a tremendous job, and everything I tried was amazingly yummy! The food highlight of the evening was the Flying Bison Beer and Bacon Gelato… let me repeat that in case your eyes deceive you… Beer and Bacon Gelato!!! And it really paired well with the Flying Bison beer I was drinking… how about that! I also enjoyed the small bread crostini topped with the caprese salad and pesto, and the roasted red pepper hummus salad crostini.
The 6-​String Circus was pretty cool, and the cozy upstairs was a great atmosphere for an event. And also having the opportunity to donate to Buffalo First was icing on the cake!
This was my first Elite event, and it was cool catching up with fellow Unilocalers and meeting some new ones as well. Actually attending it at Dolci was very befitting, as this is where I first met Alex… and Kristen, Kim, Jody, Smita, for the first time over the summer and my Unilocaling adventures really started to take off from there.

Another great Elite event from Unilocal!I am really starting to look forward to these events and they make me so proud to be an Elite.
What I loved:
— Peppermint mocha gelato (all 3 little cups… but i did not love resisting cups 4 – 19)
— the best gift you could ever give a Unilocaler, and another awesome gift from Keyshaun S.
— seeing all those Unilocaly people and the great conversation
— mulled cider from Château Buffalo! yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!
— the Dolci guys, they were great hosts and super friendly
— the fact that Nicole H. came in from the great white north aka Mississauga
— Meeting Sean from City Dining Cards — because man do I love those things
What I really liked:
— although i’m not a beer drinker, that was a solid move having a bunch of local beers from Flying Bison
— tastily topped breads
— the opportunity to check out Dolci and see the savory aspect of the place — very impressed and will definitely return for lunch
— the additional opportunity to support a local nonprofit. yay!
— catching up with some Unilocalers I haven’t seen in a while, and meeting new ones
What I wasn’t super crazy about:
— beer gelato. But I get it… just not for me!
— it was super, super hot in there for a while! Comes with the territory, I know. Next time I’m wearing less layers.

Such a SUPER FUN party! The food was great, but the company was EVEN BETTER! What’s better than hanging out with a couple of «Yelpers»? I know. I know… Hanging out with a WHOLE ROOM FULL of «Yelpers»!! YAY!!!
I loved the food provided by «Dolci». That soup was amazing! Curried squash, I think. And, the little sandwiches were superb… especially the caprese and the hummus ones. Super Yum! And the gelato… peppermint mocha for me… WOW!
I’m not a beer drinker, but I do love coffee beverages. The vanilla latte made by the barista downstairs was great. Thank you!
Great food… great drinks… great music… and even a super great mystery gift. It was an amazing event! And, our ability to help our community by donating to «Buffalo First» allowed at least this « Unilocaler» to feel the spirit of giving… and isn’t that what this season is all about?

Thanks so much Alex for (literally) welcoming me with open arms! You put on a fabulous event!
Not knowing anyone there I was a little apprehensive at first but Alex was an awesome host, introducing me all around. I enjoyed chatting with Kim D. and her +1 Craig in the cozy back room where we were all thrilled to get our super secret Elite-​only check in gifts! (Big ups to Sean from City Dining Cards (
) for the holiday love! Very cool gift and they will be an awesome way for me to get to know the best places in B-​Lo!)
Carl from Château Buffalo (
), thanks for providing the mulled hard cider — it was just right! I also got to sample a bottle of Flying Bison’s (
) Bisonfest Beer which totally hit the spot!
Loved the vibe and space at Dolci. In addition to being a fantastic lunch spot, I will keep it in mind as a great rendezvous for a date! David — it was a truly amazing spread! Great imagination in creating the soups, crostinis, and gelato flavors. Your passion definitely comes through! (And I can’t believe that there was so much food left at the end!) Thanks for taking good care of us.
I loved meeting and laughing with everyone while enjoying the talented kids of 6-​String Circus, who provided the mood music.
Special shout outs to Bethany M. who I do believe carries ANYthing necessary to fix ANYone in her purse, Kim F. who nearly made gelato shoot out of my nose with her commentary, and Keyshaun S. who I’m expecting will be hosting a BBQ/​beer party next summer with all those cozies! ;) You guys ROCK!
Until we meet again, SYOY!