Apples

Red Delicious is still No. 2, at about 34 million bushels. Its name has been a lie since the first day my teeth met its cellophane-like skin courtesy of the school cafeteria. The insect-pocked apples on hedgerow trees near my house weren't fist-sized, but their puckery jazz slayed Goliath's beige apple-lite character every time.

So what better way to break through the Big Apple hegemony than a trip to your local orchard? LynOaken is a schlep for Buff alonians, no doubt, but this Visit Buffalo Niagara guide updated in September 2023 has half a dozen first-rate suggestions.

From LynOaken branches, Oakes chose five you might enjoy eating for their distinctive flavors, full of other fruit echoes: Kingston Black, Pink Pearl, Golden Russet, Cox's Orange Pippin and Esopus Spitzenburg. The sixth is Brown Snout, an apple that helps you understand why English cider apples are scarce: they pack a fierce tannic bite that's refreshing – in small doses.

Choose your own apple sampler pairings with abandon. Just remember to toss cut apples in lemon juice water so they don't brown as fast. Jams, nuts and chocolate are standard cheese plate dance partners.

For apples, nut butters make sense, too. From straight-up chunky to artisanal organic almond butter, you would be nuts to skip the possibilities. Honey, vinegar, salty snacks – let your weirdness flow. Which is why I picked Sichuan chile crisp – fried chiles and spices in fragrant oil – as my wild card.

Fruit with cheese makes lots of sense. From a tasting board with eight varieties, Oakes picked creamy, earthy chevre to help Brown Snout's charms linger longer.

Kingston Black's huge flavor stands up to the resonant tones of aged Gouda. Esopus' raw electricity got honey to smooth its edges.

Pink Pearl's tart, rosy glow inspired him to choose cherry preserves from the LynOaken shelves. He also suggested Golden Russet vibes with nutty Spanish Manchego cheese, perhaps with honey dip as well.

When it comes to your own pairings, don't overthink it, Oakes suggested. "Apples are one of the most versatile fruits there are," he said.

"You might be surprised."

Send restaurant tips to agalarneau@ buff news.com and follow @ Buff aloFood on Instagram and Twitter.