About Chef Samantha

Samantha Buyskes, originally from South Africa, has been cooking, teaching and catering in the Finger Lakes for over 20 years. Her first restaurant was Simply Red, which opened in Trumansburg in 2002. Simply Red was followed with an extension pop up in Sheldrake Vineyards until 2012.

Most recently, Samantha is highly known for her cutting edge food at Kindred Fare and H.J Stead, right here in Geneva. She helped establish the epicurean roots for the locally and regionally sourced food movement. Aa an extensive traveler, her heart is true to the Finger Lakes, showcasing the best of the best within our region.

Her restaurants feature blends of the region’s seasonal bounty and exciting spice blends from around the globe. Chef Samantha has been extremely busy over the last years. She released her first cookbook, Mama Red’s Comfort Kitchen in 2008. Many of her recipes and features have been showcased in local issues of Edible Finger Lakes,

the Edible Communities Cookbook and Rochester Farmers Cookbook. In 2011, she had the adventure of competing on Food Network’s Chopped, Season 6 premier episode. Her ingredients were goat’s brains and fish heads. Everyday staples, right? This same year, she was listed in Rochester Magazine as one of the Top 20 women to know. Chef Samantha’s passion for food and community keeps her involved with amazing organizations such as Share

our Strength and Foodlink. Recently Chef Samantha headed up a team of 7 amazing women from the finger lakes, showcasing some of the best at The James Beard House in NYC, January 2020