Professional Culinary Academy 875 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14222

"This was one of the best training schools I ever attended and its still giving me the most and best opportunities I ever had with the experience I have received from PCA thanks DAV the Chef"

"Visited the new renovated Culinary Center at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, located at the corner of Lafayette Avenue and Elmwood Avenue in downtown Buffalo, New York. The staff was very nice and helpful. The kitchen rents hourly to food entrepreneurs, and cooking classes are also available; met the chef and he is very personable. A year or two ago, the church was redeveloped into a mixed-use space. It now houses apartments, the new Culinary Center, and the parish or church; met the pastor and he was very nice. The property is now known as the Lafayette Lofts, so Google that if you want to know more. The kitchen was very clean, spacious, well organized, and more than adequately equipped. I took a bunch of photos of the equipment , and it has everything a food entrepreneur would need. It's is all stainless with tile floors. There is a large room available for storage if you lease from them. Buffalo desperately needed an entrepreneur-friendly Culinary Center and Lafayette Lofts has met that need. The Culinary Center is organized as a shared commercial commissary kitchen. To look at the kitchen, contact Lafayette Lofts, look on their website under Culinary Center. To get your food business going, you will need a 20 C license from New York State Agriculture and Markets, renewable every two years, and you will be inspected. You need to operate out of a commercial kitchen for most things, but "home processor exemptions" are available under limited circumstances via Ag & Markets for people who process and sell low risk food items within New York state. Also, if you are starting a new food business, visit the New York State Small Business Development Center online for helpful info (Albany, NY). In addition, nearby Buffalo State has a food-oriented Small Business Venture Center; make an appointment in advance and request a parking pass so you will not be ticketed. With the heavy duty "foodie" culture here in Buffalo, especially given that we host many entrepreneur start-up activities, such as 43 North, it is about time that food entrepreneurs have a resource like this available so they can get off the ground in a legal and compliant fashion. Thanks, Lafayette Lofts, for the tour!"