Martin Cooks up unique dining experience

By Michael Mazzuto and Mike Provenzano
BengalNews Reporters

            Martin Danilowicz is the owner of the Martin Cooks restaurant.  But don’t dare call him a chef, he’s simply a cook. Chefs take themselves too seriously.

            According to Danilowicz, a chef inspires other people or creates a new genre of food.

            “I’ve never created a genre of food and I don’t know anyone who aspires to be me,” Danilowicz said.  “Until that happens, I’m just Martin.”

Danilowicz, on Martin Cooks:

            This philosophy steams from Danilowicz’s humble beginnings growing up on a farm in Youngstown.  Danilowicz said he was  going to become a professional golfer, but  his mother and sister are very good cooks and helped introduce him to cooking.

            Danilowicz has previously worked for several local restaurants and his own catering business, which he still runs along with his new place at the HorsefeathersMarket on Connecticut Street. Before Martin Cooks opened on May 1, he also focused on his home cooking classes.

            “I go to people’s homes, it’s been a cool gig, we’ll make ravioli, make bread, braise meat. Everyone is drinking and we’re having a good time. It’s a good excuse to hang out and drink. And when you’re done you get to all sit around and have dinner,” Danilowicz said. 

            Danilowicz has transferred that same philosophy to Martin Cooks. 

            “I want food to be fun,” Danilowicz said.  “You have to take your food seriously, but not yourself.  I think you need to be humble.”

            It was Danilowicz’s attitude that brought close friends to work with him at Martin Cooks.

            Jim Wells, bartender at Martin Cooks, has known Danilowicz for more than  10 years and has followed him to the various Buffalo restaurants where he has worked.

            “We try not to take ourselves too seriously,” Wells said.  "I mean, come on.  We serve cocktails in mason jars for God’s sake.”

            Another close friend of Danilowicz, Amelia Nussbaumer, Martin’s right hand woman and marketing guru joins him in his new endeavor.

            “This is the place for me,” Nussbaumer said.  “Martin is doing something extremely progressive.  We’re in this space because it needed to be off-the-beaten-path, because he’s off-the-beaten-path.  It’s the perfect fit.”

            The menu for breakfast and lunch will remain stable but the dinner menu will change weekly.  Every Saturday, Danilowicz gets a call from local farmers who let him know what food is available for the week.  Danilowicz then plans dinner services around these ingredients. The dinner menu is where Danilowicz gets to flex his cooking prowess.

            “As far as dinner is concerned, we really want to push the envelope and do some pretty funky stuff,” Danilowicz said.

            Danilowicz hopes to expand his seating capabilities. It currently seats 12 people but expansions will be completed by June 1 to accommodate a larger breakfast and lunch crowd. But he hopes the restaurant retains its intimate setting and personal customer interactions.

            Danilowicz also has some other projects on the horizon. He plans to incorporate some of the dining pleasures other cities get to experience, but the West Side has yet to see.

            “I have a lot of energy right now,” Danilowicz said. “I have to get it all in right now.”

Credit union for W.S. in planning stage

By Bryan Price and Nick Stutzman
BengalNews Reporters

If you look around the busy streets  of the West Side you will see big name banks, but you won’t see a credit union that is specialized to educate residents and help out the community. West Side Federal Credit Union looks to be that answer. The credit union’s mission is to create affordable financial services by creating a socially responsible community-banking alternative for residents that are unaware there is a better way to bank.

Emma Wright is the West Side FCU project organizer and is aware that this isn’t just a credit union you can put up and make successful.

“The need in the 14213 is great for a low cost financial institution. I think when people realize they won’t have to pay at the corner store to cash their check, they will come to (the credit union),” Wright said.

 Emma Wright, on plans for the credit union:


          In a recent steering meeting for the credit union held by Wright, the aim was to get the foundation started so that the process can begin. The first step is to get the word out about what the credit union is, get response from the community and gauge the residents in a survey. Wright is looking for volunteers to man these sub committees that can help with the research, funding and public relations for the credit union.

The steering committee will essentially identify sponsors, develop an organizing budget, hold a pledge drive, identify officials, and then work on getting the funding needed to open the credit union. Wright estimated that the credit union’s chartering would be about two years away and that it would take almost 18 months to get enough funding needed to open properly.

Sterling Smalley, one of the first subscribers to the credit union, has local ties to the community and is trying to get the word out on why a bank like this is so beneficial to the West Side community.

“Financial education is going to be a huge part of it, just telling people there is an alternative,” Smalley said.

Smalley believes that the mean banking that is occurring right now on the West Side has been a detriment to the residents, and the predatory lenders aren’t helping businesses off the ground. He says the more residents can understand what a credit union is, the quicker they can start saving money.

Pou Ma, owner of Anokha Leewu Enterprises at the West Side Bazaar, was at the proposed steering committee meeting and believes the credit union will be a great idea. She believes that once residents, especially the international community, become educated on finances, the more financial support they can get to start up businesses like hers. She knows those opportunities like the West Side Bazaar is looking for startups with capital. Ma hopes that this credit union can be a motivational avenue to give back and learn to the community that has given so much to her.

Art vendors praise area for its support

By Brielynn Bell and Margot Harris

BengalNews Reporters

            Hand knitted accessories, self-painted sculptures, self concocted cosmetic and body products and self-welded jewelry filled the Burchfield Penny Art Center April 26 and 27 at the first ever Artists in Buffalo Spring Show.

            The event showcased local West Side companies on the rise and was also a fundraising opportunity for Burchfield Penney.

            All of the artists who participated will be donating 20 percent of their sales to support the ongoing mission of the museum. 

            Many businesses at the event are located on the West Side or have sold their products in the community and at the art center.

Vendors give their views of the business side of art:            


           Allison Kurek is a mixed media artist who sells original paintings and prints as well as small gift items such as, bottle stoppers, magnets, notecards and pendants.

“Western New York isn’t the most vibrant economic area, but I think that people want to support local.” Kurek said.

Kurek believes that the West Side offers ample opportunity for new business owners to venture into the professional world. Her advice for fellow business owners was to be able to market ones brand and to have faith.

            Kurek does not have a storefront, but has focused on selling her Silent Mylo Studio products in the West Side because she feels that the area itself is a great market to be in.

            Shaun Silverwood is a copper enamellist who lives on Amherst Street and sells her line of jewelry Roadkiln Products from home. Silverwood showcased her originally designed jewelry at the show and She explained that she doesn’t make jewelry for the money, she does it to make customers enjoy their shopping experience and to keep them satisfied with one of a kind jewelry.  

            The West Side has helped her business reach broader scopes than she anticipated. Silverwood began her business selling jewelry out of her house, but has gained popularity in the West Side and started to sell her products at local stores such as Westside Stories and the art center. The show has contributed to helping Silverwood promote her products as well.

            “This has been a fantastic show for me,” Silverwood said. “It’s a first-time show, so we didn’t have high expectations, but I’ve been doing really well.”

She feels that events like this give hope to business owners who don’t have storefronts, but are still trying to be successful in their trade. 

            Buffalo Gal Organics is an online cosmetics company owned by West Side resident Kasia Cummings. She is the chemist behind her line of natural, vegan body and cosmetic products. She sells her products in the community but also ships her products nationally and internationally.

            “I grew up on the West Side and although I have been blessed with the opportunity of travelling, this is home and will always be home,” Cummings said. “I think that local is the best way to go and I sincerely want to give hope to other local business owners by saying ‘you can make it here.’ It takes a lot of dedication, but it’s definitely possible.”

            A full list of artists who showcased at the event can be found on Buffalo State’s event calendar.