It never fails; just mention a Mexican restaurant, and there will be some naysayer ready to insist that the cuisine is not authentic. I was ready to head off all this inevitable criticism in defense of Holden’s Mexicali Fresh Mex Grill.

However, after some research, I learned that Mexicali cuisine could refer to a full spectrum of ethnic dishes; the city is nestled just south of California and has a cuisine that was heavily influenced by early Chinese immigrants. My advice? Approach Mexicali with an open mind.

Perhaps this might sum it up best: After finishing our meal, my dining companion opined, “It’s traditional Mexican whose spice level has been adjusted for Northeastern palates.” True enough, the food may not be very spicy, but the constant playlist of Mexican music certainly was. And to be fair, after we mentioned the lack of fire, Michelle, our server, offered condiments guaranteed to ratchet up the heat.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s rewind to the beginning of this adventure.

Mexicali Fresh Mex is split into lounge and dining areas. Both are moderate in size but not cramped. Each of the stuccoed walls in the dining room has been washed with its own bright color. As soon as we sat down, we were presented with a basket of oven-warm tortilla chips and a bowl of tasty salsa containing chunks of fresh tomato. Fortunately, the menu is laminated, because salsa kept running off my chips onto its pages as I scanned the colorful food photos.

We started with the Baby Chimichangas appetizer. Another appetizer, Taquito Bites, made me wonder if the cuisine would be that pre-fab stuff for teenagers you see advertised on TV. But these chimichangas were hand-wrapped and stuffed with tender chicken and cheese. They came with cups of sour cream and guacamole and were slathered with orange and white Jack cheeses that were baked till molten and stretchy.

The menu billed them as “mini,” but beware: Size is relative, and this portion of four obviously is for sharing. These chimichangas were at least six large forkloads each. We enjoyed them with refreshing margaritas made with fresh lime juice.

Mexicali’s menu offered an intriguing twist on a poblano pepper favorite: Chiles en Nogada. They’re stuffed with meat and served with pecans and pomegranate.  I just had to try them and was crestfallen when Michelle told me they were not available that evening.

So I fell back to the obvious alternative: Chiles Rellenos. Mexicali takes two large poblano peppers, fills them with mozzarella cheese and batters them. If these were deep fried, as is so often the case, it was with great skill because they were not greasy or oily. The large peppers had collapsed under a slathering of gooey Jack cheese, the batter coating was golden-brown and thick, and the pepper walls were cooked till soft and creamy.

Combo meals are a tradition at Mexican restaurants, popular because they allow diners to pick and choose from across the menu. My friend tried the three-option Combo Mexicali. His choices: pork enchilada, beef burrito and chicken taco.

As he sampled his way through the combo, he reported the pork to be tender and tasty, but the beef was the spiciest of all. I inherited half the chicken taco; the texture contrast of the crunchy shell and the super-tender chicken chunks was striking ~ some serious marinating had taken place.

Both entrees were generous portions served with rice and creamy-soft refried beans topped with melted cheese. The menu describes the rice simply as “white,” but that hardly does it justice; it was flecked with herbs.

We finished with Churros, crispy sticks of cakey dough extruded though some sort of nozzle that yields crusty ridges, perfect for dipping in warmed chocolate sauce and velvety dulce de leche sauce. Michelle called it butterscotch, but I thought it smoother and richer than your average butterscotch.

Mexicali Fresh Mex has carved out its own cuisine space that manages to satisfy the urge for Mexican cuisine but does it with, perhaps, a lighter touch than others. And if you insist upon spicy, just have them pass the habanero sauce when you’re seated.

Mexicali Fresh Mex Grill
700 Main St., Holden, MA
(508) 829-7700
mexicalisfreshmex.com

By Bernie Whitmore

At its loftier reaches, our dining universe contains restaurants of heroic scale presenting landmark cuisine; establishments intent on leaving their mark on mankind. They can be exciting to visit for interesting spaces and provocative dining. Then, at the lower end of the spectrum, there’s the fast-food genre, whose industrialized fare I strive to avoid.

Wedged between these extremes is a huge firmament of indies, intent on simpler satisfactions, whose goal is honest cuisine at prices that don’t empty your wallet. This is the niche in which Lakeside Bar & Grille resides. When you find a good neighborhood restaurant, it can be wonderful; this is why I was pleased to give Lakeside a try.

Lakeside is situated in a corner of Shrewsbury’s Quinsigamond Plaza ~ that strip mall anchored by Trader Joe’s. Just step out of Petco, and Lakeside Bar and Grille is at your left. The lake we’re referring to is, of course, Quinsigamond. You can’t even see it from the restaurant, but there’s really no need to get much closer than this.

On a cold and nasty winter Monday evening, my friend and I were surprised that Lakeside was even open for business. Imagine our surprise to find a waiting line that stretched right out onto the sidewalk. Murmurs rippled through the line that there would be a 40-minute wait for a table. Gasp, no way! There were even darker rumblings regarding the (apparent) no-reservation policy. Things looked bleak at Lakeside.

But that was all just idle rumor, and soon enough, we were seated. Robin, our server, arrived with warm welcomes, menus and a pitcher to fill our water glasses. Lakeside’s menu is weighted toward Italian but provides a framework to satisfy just about any taste ~ sandwiches, burgers, pasta, chicken, steak … you name it.

The menu also posted a schedule of daily special events. It turns out Mondays are Kids-Eat-Free Night. That explained the crowd; especially since it was school vacation week. And as I looked around, I realized the place was crawling with children, mostly well-behaved.

I started with a glass of Wormtown Brewery’s Seven Hills Pale Ale, and we dug into an appetizer of Fried Calamari, formatted Rhode Island style, with a dash of red pepper flakes, sliced banana peppers and garlicky oil. The deep-frying oil must have been fresh and pure; the flavor of our plateload of rings and tangle of tentacles wasn’t burdened by that heavy, oily flavor you get when the fryer’s been left untended too long.

Surprisingly, the calamari’s spicy flavor was derived more from the zesty banana peppers; the mild red pepper flakes teamed up with flecks of green parsley for an attractive confetti of color.

That was a good start, but it was the entrée course that truly proved Lakeside’s culinary proficiency. My friend ordered Haddock Française. Two thick fillets of tender, fresh fish had been quick-dipped in a mild egg batter, then sautéed to a light golden brown in a lemony caper sauce. The filets were attractively draped with strips of rich sun-dried tomatoes ~ usually over your choice of pasta. However, at my friend’s request, Robin happily substituted a baked potato for the pasta.

I went with something more basic ~ the Lakeside Sauté, made with shrimp (chicken’s another option). Simple in scope, the dish boasted a white wine sauce flavored with strips of spinach and chopped tomatoes that allowed the mild seafood flavor to shine through. And the chef wasn’t skimpy with the shrimp; at meal’s end, I counted eight tails. I chose to have my sauté served over a bed of linguini.

Both meals came with a thick slice of bread, sliced diagonally into triangles and toasted on the grill. The texture was unusually dense, and the flavor was buttery-rich. It was perfect for sopping up the delicious sauces of our entrees and provided a crunchy counterpoint. A Lakeside signature touch, I assume.

From my vantage point in the corner of the dining room, I watched plenty of families coming for dinner and groups of good friends meeting at the bar. Everything about Lakeside seems modest and straightforward; it’s the kind of place you could go to every night. Tuesdays are Meatloaf Night; count me in!

Blueprint American Bar and Grille
9 Village Square, Westminster
(978) 668-5580

From the street, Blueprint was hardly welcoming. After passing the Westminster Cracker Factory, I scanned every business I passed till encountering Blueprint’s unlit street sign. Even after parking directly in front of the place, I was still unsure that I’d found it. But through the restaurant’s dark-tinted glass, I finally noticed football playing on a flat-panel TV, and ~ with an assist from a smoker banished outside in the cold drizzly night ~ my friend and I found our way to the front door and entered.

It wasn’t until Lauren, our server, passed us menus that reality started to come into focus ~ the reality that Blueprint American Bar and Grille might just be exceptional. Perhaps it was the Fig and Gorgonzola Flatbread Pizza, but soon I realized everything on this menu is intriguing. With football blazing on a half-dozen TVs, Blueprint has the decibel level of a sports bar, but the food and drink are of a much higher order.

Now, it’s one thing to print up a terrific menu, but execution is what really matters. This proved to be an evening of surprises, all of them pretty wonderful. Let’s start with drinks. When I asked Lauren about the draft selection, she directed my attention to an entire chalkboard wall divided into categories of brews ranging from craft to the standards.

Sensing that my amazement was tempered by the desire to make a quick decision, she asked, “What do you prefer?”

“An IPA,” I replied.

“Try Dogfish; 12- or 20-ounce?”

I’ve had Dogfish several times, and it’s always been a piece of beer heaven. It has a clean and crisp bitter flavor and deep amber color ~ totally refreshing after a day of working outside.

Lauren was even more helpful with my friend. When he mentioned how much he enjoyed Leinenkugel’s Shandy last summer, she recommended Leinenkugel’s winter offering ~ Snowdrift Vanilla Porter ~ and offered him a sample taste. In color, it was as dark as vanilla extract, and it balanced rich coffee, chocolate and caramel flavors with a scent of sweet vanilla.

And now, the food. When was the last time you saw Deviled Eggs on a menu? Blueprint has them, with eggs (from local hens) topped with chunks of lump crabmeat and a dab of truffle oil. The order of six was ideal for sharing and soon established the chef’s credentials for restraint and balance. The seemingly disparate flavors balanced harmoniously.

We continued with a Wedge Salad. This is not something I would normally order because I find iceberg lettuce so boring. But Blueprint’s Wedge was in a class of its own. Large creamy chunks of blue cheese from Great Hill Dairy, of Marion, contrasted with the crunch of pecan-smoked bacon and ripe heirloom tomatoes. And, of course, the perfectly crisp iceberg was topped with tangy buttermilk dressing. Each forkful was a study in contrasting flavors and textures.

There isn’t a single entrée on Blueprint’s menu that I would hesitate to order, but I had to make a decision and chose the Caribbean Jerk Pork Chop. This generously-sized chop’s afterburners were fired up with a tasty bit of heat countered by touch of orange-blossom honey. Sticks of grilled sweet potato came on the side, and the chop was topped with roasted corn and smoked green and red peppers.

It soon became apparent that Blueprint’s chef has a theme: one of adventurous flavor and texture contrasts presented attractively with flashes of color. The result: delicious and exciting cuisine.

This theme continued with my friend’s entrée of Pan-Seared Scallops. Six large scallops were served in a row over a bed of creamy risotto flavored with Meyer lemon, truffle oil and studded with tender asparagus tips. He raved, “The risotto is not overpowered by the lemon or the truffle oil … it’s a perfect blend of the sweetness of the seared scallops with truffle oil!” The forkful of rice I sampled had each of these flavors, plus an undercurrent rich in scallop flavor.

Even though Blueprint’s portions are generous and I’d had three courses, I just had to know about dessert. Lauren began to recite the list, but when she got to the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Salted-Caramel Gelato, it was all over. Decision made.

As it turned out, the caramel gelato was replaced by vanilla bean. But the real star was, of course, the chocolate cake. Each forkful was sticky and moist and as deep and dark as the devil’s hopyard. No matter what happens in the world, just keep making chocolate this dense and rich and all will be well.

Blueprint American Bar and Grille was an exciting discovery. And I haven’t even mentioned the craft cocktails, Asian Hotdogs or Coffee-crusted Fillet. And did I mention the service? Lauren was, in every way, engaging and adept.

Blueprint’s just down the road from Wachusett Mountain Ski Area; I have a feeling it’ll be this winter’s favorite destination. But why not light up the place, so we can find you?

By Benjamin McNeil

If you’ve ever watched Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, you know that dining establishments crumble when owners fail to retain quality employees, menus become overcomplicated and unfocused, and food quality suffers. Truth is, most restaurants close after being open just five years, and blond f-bombing Brits usually aren’t around to play savior. That makes the 25th anniversary of Carmella’s Italian Kitchen something to celebrate.

For the past 25 years, Carmella’s Italian Kitchen, located in Brookfield, has thrived by following a concise list of ingredients: an allegiance to traditional Italian cuisine, family ownership and operation and a constant love of feeding the thousands of patrons who have walked through the doors since 1987.

“I run [Carmella’s] how my mother and grandfather told me to. Keep it simple and keep it fresh. Offer good portions at a fair price,” explained Marty Fitzpatrick Jr., general manager at Carmella’s. Carmella Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick’s mother, opened her kitchen in 1987 and modeled it after The Italian Kitchen on Shrewsbury Street, formerly owned by her father, Gerald “Chubby” Panarelli.

Fitzpatrick never attended a formal culinary school ~ with Chubby teaching him how to make true Italian meatballs and sausage from scratch, there was really no need. Fitzpatrick continues to stuff sausage and bake bread and pizza dough in-house. Fitzpatrick also serves beef tripe, a dish deeply rooted in Italian tradition, which is mostly ordered by the eatery’s old-timers and those feeling adventurous.

As for his dinner, “I always make and eat chicken Parmesan. It’s real simple, and that’s what I like.” The Kitchen’s menu also features fried calamari, chicken marsala, tiramisu and a host of other mouth-watering comfort dishes.

You want to drink some cold ones in the lounge while watching the Bruins, but you crave something other than Italian? As an Italian-American restaurant, Carmella’s also offers chicken wings, bacon cheeseburgers and a variety of sandwiches, along with fish and chips every Friday. Does your sweetheart want to end the meal with something sweet? Enjoy some spumoni whipped up in-house.

You can also belt out your best impression of Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” with karaoke at Carmella’s every Thursday night. (Just remember that there can only ever be one Rat Pack.) Carmella’s has treated customers like family for the past 25 years. That won’t change.

Fitzpatrick doesn’t hesitate when defining his favorite aspect of Carmella’s. “I like the people. Their kids play soccer with mine, so why wouldn’t I treat them like family?”

No one leaves Carmella’s hungry. That and the family atmosphere have made the establishment a mainstay. And Fitzpatrick’s not concerned with becoming wealthy, he said. “I don’t think anyone’s getting rich. But everyone’s getting back what they’ve put into [Carmella’s].”

If you consider yourself a foodie (or your kids want to get out of the house), come enjoy Carmella’s.

By Paul Giorgio

Ciao Italia is PBS’s longest-running cooking show. Recently, we had the chance to sit down with Mary Ann Esposito, who hosts the show, to talk about traditional Italian food, kitchen disasters and favorite dishes.

Tell me about your career. You have the longest-running TV show on PBS, which you are very proud of. What do you attribute this to?

Well, shows come and go. Ciao Italia is the longest running cooking show in America. Julia Child, for example, had a variety of shows. We are able to get the undivided attention of the viewer on PBS, which is why I like it.

I think we come from the same tradition, the grandchildren of Italian immigrants, and from the same part of Italy, outside of Naples. You talk about wanting American food occasionally. I remember asking my mother to buy Chef Boyardee canned ravioli because I saw it advertised on television. Did you do that?

No, we had hot dogs occasionally on July Fourth. We usually also had homemade sausage. I use the same funnel to make my sausage that my grandfather used. The only difference is that today, I have the butcher grind the meat.

Why do you like to cook?

It’s imbedded in Italians. I always grew up with good food, and now, it keeps me connected to my parents and grandparents. It’s healthier food, too.

What is your favorite meal to cook?

My very favorite meal is aglio olio. (Pasta made with olive oil and garlic). It’s a comfort food with so few ingredients.

How about your favorite non-Italian meal?

Grilled fish ~ haddock with a Ritz cracker topping.

You talk about there being no Italian cuisine like French food, that it is all regional cooking. Is there one thing that unifies Italian cooking?

Cooking with fresh ingredients is the unifying factor ~ and using product that is in season.

What is your favorite region in Italy in terms of cooking?

That’s so hard to answer because I love all the food, but I love the food of Sicily. A great many cultures have contributed to its cuisine, including everything from Moroccan and African to Roman food and French. There’s not a region I don’t like, but the two regions my family comes from ~ Campania and Sicily ~ are special to me.

Do you have a favorite dish from those regions?

Arrancini (a deep-fried rice ball) is high up there. I love any kind of tuna dish. I also love fresh artichokes and fava beans.

What is your favorite place to visit in Italy?

I love the big three ~ Rome, Venice and Florence. But the town of Gubbio, in the province of Umbria, is probably my favorite town of all. I also love Verona, which is a very refined city.

Let’s talk about your new cookbook. How is this different from the previous ones?

This is the largest one. It follows the cooking of three generations, my grandparents, my parents and me. All the recipes in my cookbooks are doable by the average cook.

How long did this book take?

It usually takes me a year and half to two years to complete a book.

How many times do you cook each meal?

Just once, since I’ve done this for so long.

How do you decide what to include?

First, it has to be doable; has to have a tradition to it. It has to be doable, and you have to be able to find the ingredients. Finally, it has to be easy to make and has to be delicious.

How many cookbooks have you written?

I’ve written 12.

Do you have a favorite one?

That’s like asking me which of my children I like better.

What do you consider to be the bible of Italian cuisine?

I don’t think there is a bible because everything is so local.

Pelegrino Artusi, who wrote Science in the Kitchen and the Art of Eating Well, comes the closest He wrote it in the late 1800s. It is Italy’s most treasured cookbook. He lived from 1820-1911.”

What is your next project?

I’m working on a book about pasta. It is 365 recipes ~ a pasta dish for every day of the year. I will come out in 2014-15.

It appears that the Maryanne Esposito franchise is a family affair. Your son works for you, and your husband Guy helps out. How does that work out?

Well, my son Chris handles underwriting and public appearances. My husband Guy does the gardening. His garden is 50- by 30-feet, and he grows everything we need. He has 60 tomato plants and 12 different varieties.

Do you cook when you are home?

Why does everyone ask that? I would go out of my mind if I didn’t cook every day. I have three freezers filled with tomatoes.

What do you make?

I’m making rabbit tonight.

What is your favorite non-Italian meal?

I like Chinese food.

Who is your cooking idol?

My mother, Louisa.

What are three ingredients in your home refrigerator?

Lemons, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and hot pepper sauce that I made.

What is your favorite ingredient?
Butter. I hate to say it, but it makes everything taste so good.

What is your favorite flavor?

Chocolate. I’m a chocolate freak.

What is your favorite spice?

Cinnamon.

Have you ever had a disaster in the kitchen?

Oh my goodness, yes ~ it landed me in the emergency room. I was trying to make cookies. I turned the gas on to light the stove, and then I went looking for a match. I had third-degree burns. I’ve improved since then.

I noticed you give a scholarship for culinary students at Johnson & Wales University. Why?

I created The Maryanne Esposito Foundation about three years ago for two reasons: I want students to study Italian regional cooking and I also want to preserve the tradition of Italian regional cooking, which is disappearing here and in Italy.

I think you have a negative reaction to chefs as celebrities. Why?

In my mind, I don’t see myself as a celebrity; I see myself as a cook. Some chefs see it as about them and not the food.

Any last thoughts?

I am just happy to do what I do with a national TV audience ~ it’s been a great ride.

Authentic Irish pubs aren’t defined by store-bought shamrock decor, dyed-green Bud Light on St. Patrick’s Day or relic-themed names. However, The Grey Hound Pub offers an authentic Irish experience.

The Grey Hound Pub, located at 139 Water St. by Kelley Square, boasts a 75-bottle selection of whiskey, the perfect pint of Guinness and a full Irish breakfast, available day and night. From Scotch Eggs to Bangers and Mashed and from expertly poured Guinness to an imposing array of single malts, owner Paul Curley need not rely on imitation Irish.

Curley, who reopened The Grey Hound on New Year’s Eve, after moving the pub a few hundred yards from its previous location, has since been flooded with loyal patrons and newcomers alike. “The rush never stops,” Curley said.

Apart from memorizing the black label of a Jack Daniel’s liter and suffering the day-after effects of rum in excess, I conceded to Curley that my knowledge of hard alcohol is far from encyclopedic.

But The Grey Hound’s character, I learned, extends past the live European football and rugby matches aired daily on two plasma TVs and the sea of Irish League flags hanging from the ceiling. Curley and his bartenders happily explain the nuances of their Irish whiskies and Scotches.
They’re educators who don’t place cash over customer, but instead shed light on the Scotch filling your glass. The term “Scotch” gets thrown around a lot, often erroneously, Curley said. By definition, he emphasized, Scotch must meet three standards: “It must be made [distilled and matured] in Scotland. It must be aged for at least three years and in an oak cask. And it must contain at least 40 percent alcohol by volume [AVB].”

Why settle for Bushmills or Jameson when The Grey Hound’s bartenders can fix you a drink from the pub’s extensive selection? “I’m still trying to find out if it’s the biggest collection [in Worcester County],” Curley said

If you need more evidence that The Grey Hound is the pinnacle of Worcester County’s Irish pub scene, consider this: Curley proudly sponsors Worcester Faded Black Rugby FC, Worcester Rugby Football Club, Worcester Hurling Club and The Worcester Shamrocks, all local rugby or hurling clubs.

Why settle on the usual, when Paul and his staff can treat you to an unforgettable, authentic experience at The Grey Hound Pub?

For more information, visit thegreyhoundworcester.com.

The wildly popular Worcester Restaurant Week will kick off its fourth year with the winter edition, from Feb. 25- March 8. More than 50 locally owned, independent restaurants will participate this year.

According to event producers, “This is a great dining value in tough economic times. You can get a three-course meal at the area’s finest restaurants for $23.13.”

Paul Barber, owner of the Flying Rhino Cafe, one of Shrewsbury Street’s most popular restaurants, said, “This is a way that we can give back to our customers. You will get an appetizer, entree and dessert for a low price of $23.13. Some of our entrees are priced higher than that, so you are really getting the appetizer and dessert for free.”

Returning for the fourth year is presenting sponsor UniBank, which recently opened its first Worcester location on Gold Star Boulevard. The other presenting sponsor is Pepsi Cola. Mercadate Funeral Home, of Worcester, returns as a supporting sponsor.

Atlas Distributing, distributors of Blue Moon, Harpoon, Sam Adams and Wachusett Brewery is taking a leadership role in supporting Worcester Restaurant Week.

Among the media sponsors are WXLO Radio, Oldies 98.9, The Pike, WCRN, TasteWorcester.com, Vitality Magazine, Pulse Magazine and GoLocalworcester.com

Worcester Restaurant Week is produced by Pagio, Inc., publishers of Pulse magazine.

For a complete list of participating restaurants, visit www.WorcesterRestaurantWeek.com.

Finally, a Reason to Look Forward to February!

February. Not exactly anyone’s favorite month of the year. Never mind the anxiety and pressure of Valentine’s Day, February usually comes with a lot of snow, shoveling, stupid high heating bills, and freezing your you-know-what off getting from the car to the office. It’s just that useless month between winter and the start of spring when all you want to do is hibernate.

Well, now there’s something to look forward to, a great way to start off the month ~ the Rhode Island Brew Fest on February 2. This inaugural year’s event is presented by Narragansett Beer and is an all-out celebration of American craft breweries ~ more than 30 of them ~ and a chance to sample over 100 styles of beer. See? February is looking better already.

Located in the beautiful, newly renovated Drill Hall at the Pawtucket Armory (172 Exchange Street), the Fest (a 21+ event) is split into two 3-hour sessions: 1:00pm – 4pm and 5:00pm – 8pm.

And while you’re deciding which brews to sample, you’ll get to enjoy live music as well.

Here’s some additional info about tickets, swag, and food, and for more information, just visit the event website. So choose which of the two sessions works best for you, and then order your tickets ASAP because they’re selling fast!

TICKETS: http://ribrewfest.eventbrite.com

GENERAL ADMISSION: $45.00
• Entry to one session of the Inaugural Rhode Island Brew Festival
• Complimentary pint glass
• Unlimited sampling of over 100 styles of beer

VIP ADMISSION: $75.00
• Entry to one session of the Inaugural Rhode Island Brew Festival
• Complimentary pint glass
• Complimentary event T-Shirt
• Entry to the VIP Sampling area with up to 10 additional select/reserve beers to sample
• Complimentary food
• Only 100 VIP tickets available per session

DESIGNATED DRIVER: $15.00 (major props to the event for discouraging drinking and driving ~ and for treating designated drivers so well!)
• Entry to one session of the Inaugural Rhode Island Brew Festival without sampling
• Complimentary water and soft drinks
• Complimentary pint glass
• Designated Driver passes are only available with the purchase of a full price GA or VIP ticket.

Special thanks to Matt Gray of Gray Matter Marketing, www.graymattermarketing.com

A Piece of Mass in Every Glass

By Michael Walsh

Since its inception on Park Avenue in 2010, Wormtown Brewery has not stopped growing. As Worcester’s first operating brewery in nearly 50 years, it was important to Master Brewer Ben Roesch to keep things local.

New England has long been considered a hub of craft brewing in America, and when Roesch saw that one of the region’s largest cities was devoid of a brewery he leapt at the opportunity to start Wormtown.

He partnered with friend and restaurant owner Tom Oliveri, Jr. to plant the seeds for Wormtown, whose name comes from one of Worcester’s oldest nicknames.

A closed ice cream shop connected to Oliveri’s Peppercorn’s Grille and Tavern is where Roesch’s dream came to life. What started as a small 1,000 barrel per year production continued growing; this year, Wormtown Brewery will produce around 2,500 barrels.

“The reception from the people of Worcester has been absolutely phenomenal,” said Oliveri.

Keeping local has always been a goal of these two friends. At Wormtown, everything from the ingredients (hops, barley, wheat) to the beer names (Seven Hills, Turtle Boy, Kelly Square) is local.

Roesch, a Worcester native and UMass Amherst alum, makes sure that there is at least one Massachusetts grown ingredient in each of his brews. On special occasions, a batch is brewed using only locally grown ingredients; these special brews are known as the MassWhole series.

The relationship between brewery and restaurant could not have been stronger. Peppercorn’s offered the opportunity for immediate feedback to the brewery as all their beers went immediately to Peppercorn’s taps.

However, there was an inherent flaw in the recipe for growing a standalone brewery attached to a popular restaurant: for all the benefits Peppercorn’s offered to Wormtown, the Brewery’s name grew associated with their symbiotic partner. This meant other restaurants in and around the city viewed supporting the brewery as supporting their competition at Peppercorn’s.

Unlike the brewing industry, which has a neighborly vibe, the restaurant business can be slightly more competitive.

“Breweries always have great relationships with one another,” said Roesch. “We can borrow or lend ingredients to other breweries with no issue. The restaurant game is a little different.”

Oliveri mirrored his partner’s sentiment saying, “While craft breweries have an ‘All for one, and one for all’ mentality, there has been some apprehension from local restaurant owners to accept Wormtown.”

Despite the public praise offered by local patrons, Wormtown has found it difficult to expand much further given their current geographic situation.

Wormtown has been actively searching for a 10,000 square foot space within the city. Though the location may change, the goals will not. Roesch’s No. 1 priority is to stay in Worcester and continue to bring people to the area.

Oliveri is a sucker for the Be Hoppy IPA, while Roesch feels the strongest connection to his Seven Hills Pale Ale. Look out for the Pumpkin Ale, hitting taps in late August. This brew is made with fresh Pumpkin straight from Czajkowski Farm in Hadley, MA.

Personally, I gravitate towards a brew named for one of the oldest parks in the U.S., the Elm Park Amber Ale ~ but hey I’m a traditionalist.

www.wormtownbrewery.com

August 31-September 1 tasting event promises more beer, new PBF merchandise, and additional homebrewing displays.

Plans for the second annual Portland Brew Festival (www.portlandbrewfestival.com) have been announced, and the much-anticipated event is shaping up to exceed last year’s success. Owner and producer Mak Sprague says that the festive, beer-centric event ~ scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Aug. 31 - Sept. 1 ~ will feature more brewers, a specialty sampling glass, and additional space made available for tasting and home brewing demonstrations. The event returns to Portland Company Complex at 58 Fore Street in Portland, Maine.

Designed for beer, ale, mead and cider lovers of all levels, the festival will spotlight established and up-and-coming breweries throughout New England, including two of Massachusetts’ best: Clown Shoes and Harpoon.

More than 30 beer producers, including Maine favorites Gritty McDuff’s, Allagash, Kennebec Ciders and D.L. Geary Brewing, have already signed on alongside other regional standouts including Magic Hat, Long Trail and White Birch from Vermont and Woodstock Inn Station and Brewery and Moonlight Meadery from New Hampshire. Additions are being made regularly, and Sprague plans to have more than 75 different brew offerings on site. In addition, attendees interested in crafting their own brew will have the opportunity to speak with home brewing specialists and see up close how the equipment works.

“The response to last year’s festival was outstanding, and we really listened to the feedback to make this year even bigger and better,” explains Sprague. “The expanded event and demonstration space will provide a comfortable setting to explore, visit, eat and learn.”

Every attendee will receive a signature tasting glass with the Portland Brew Festival logo and have the opportunity to purchase additional glasses along with T-shirts, posters and other festival-branded merchandise.

The event will feature traditional scheduled sessions, each with a limited admission that will allow guests the time and space to peruse the purveyors, interact with the experts, and hone their tasting techniques. The first session is scheduled for Fri., August 31, 5:30 – 9 p.m., a fantastic way to kick off the holiday weekend. Additional sessions are scheduled for Sat., September 1, from 12 – 4 p.m. and 5:30 – 9 p.m. An expanded array of local food vendors also will be on hand to add to the event’s appeal.

In addition to commercial brewing operations, Sprague has invited a number of respected home brewing clubs and retailers to the show to introduce attendees to the increasingly popular hobby of home brewing. Sprague will once again display the impressive tractor-powered cidering equipment he built with his father.

“Home brewing is growing by leaps and bounds, and this festival really showcases the hobby and gives folks the confidence to get started,” Sprague says. “As a novice homebrewer myself, I find the exhibitors very helpful and encouraging.”

The second annual Portland Brew Festival promises to be a one-of-a-kind beer experience, and tickets, on sale now for $35 each at www.portlandbrewfestival.com, are expected to sell out well before the event. Event sponsors include Portland Yacht Services. Anyone interested in volunteering at the festival can contact portlandbrewfestival@gmail.com.

Barista

Tip: $1 per complex drink

Notes: At large chains, tip s completely optional. At smaller shops, tip $1 per cup or more for difficult orders.

Bartender

Tip: 15-20%

Notes: Minimum of 50 cents per soft drink, $1 per alcoholic drink.

Coatroom Attendant

Tip: $1

Notes: There is no tip necessary for accessories such as scarves.

Parking Valet

Tip: $2-5

Notes: Tip when the car is returned to you.

Sommelier

Tip: 15-20% of cost of the bottle

Notes: At most restaurants, it’s okay to just tip the 15-20% of the final bill and let the restaurant divvy it up.

Waiter

Tip: 10-20%

Notes: No less than 10% for poor service.

Washroom Attendant

Tip: $1

Notes: Consider giving more for extras such as mints, perfume or cologne.

Information borrowed from www.hospitalitymanagementschools.org/tipping/

Founded by Ambrosio Rosales and Aurelio Lopez, Casa Herradura is one of the oldest and most respected producers of tequila, which many believe, delivers the world’s highest quality, most authentic tequila experience because of the expertise and leadership it has developed since 1870.

Located and produced in the heart of Mexico’s tequila region, in the tiny town of Amatitan, Jalisco, Tequila Herradura is 100% blue agave tequila carefully crafted using traditional methods, such as cooking the agave in clay ovens and fermenting naturally with wild yeast.

This sophisticated process delivers a rich, smooth and unexpected taste that evokes memories of our agave fields. Tequila Herradura is all natural and estate bottled and includes:

Herradura Silver ~ Aged for 45 days in American oak barrels, the touch of oak gives a light straw color and hint of vanilla with a warm finish. Ideal for margaritas, Herradura Blanco is smooth and surprising with a rich flavor of agave that is certain to ignite your senses.

Herradura Reposado ~ Aged for 11 months, a full nine months longer than required by Mexican law, Herradura Reposado is deep in color with a cinnamon and oak aroma that provokes a rich, smooth and unexpected mild taste. Herradura Reposado can enhance various meals for a delectable cuisine experience and can be enjoyed mixed or neat in a snifter. Casa Herradura introduced the first Reposado to the commercial market in 1974.

Herradura Añejo ~ Aged for 25 months, 13 months longer than the industry standard. Its deep copper color hints to its oaky, spicy taste, which is apparent at the sniff of this refined expression and lingers on even after the first sip. Enjoyed like a fine Cognac or bourbon, Herradura Añejo is truly one of the world’s finest ultra premium spirits.

Herradura Selección Suprema ~ Aged for more than 49 months in American oak barrels, Casa Herradura introduced the first Extra Añejo, Selección Suprema in 1995. Very dark copper in color with an intense aroma of brown spice and floral notes, this tequila gives a creamy, soft finish with a long aftertaste. From the bottle design to the creamy and soft consistency, Herradura Selección Suprema is a delight to each sense. The result is an enormously complex, world class sipping tequila.

With this portfolio of ultra premium products certain to satisfy even the most discriminating palate, Tequila Herradura, imported by Brown-Forman of Louisville, KY, can be appreciated as part of a margarita or other mixed cocktail, by itself in a snifter, or as an ingredient in one of many delicious summer recipes.

CASA HERRADURA BAY SCALLOP CEVICHE by Chef Mark Williams, Brown-Forman Corporation

Serves: 8

Ingredients

1 pound fresh bay scallops

1 cups fresh lime juice

½ cup Casa Herradura Silver Tequila

3 tbs. diced white onion

1 cup ripe tomatoes, diced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 cup fresh tomatillos, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

Fresh hot green chiles (2 to 3 serranos or 1 to 2 jalapenos), stemmed, seeded and finely chopped

1/3 cup chopped cilantro, plus a few leaves for garnish

1 to 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salt

Directions

In a 1 1/2-quart glass or stainless steel bowl, combine the scallops, lime juice, casa herradura tequila and onion. Use enough juice to cover the fish and allow it to float freely; too little juice means unevenly “cooked” fish. Cover and refrigerate for about 4 hours, until the scallops no longer look raw .in a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, green chiles, cilantro, olives and olive oil. Stir in the first ingredients and season with salt, usually about 1/2 teaspoon. Cover and refrigerate until serving time. Serve in a margarita or martini glass rimmed with coarse salt.

CASA HERRADURA BEEF ARRACHERA (Grilled Garlic-Marinated Flank Steak with Lime) by Chef Mark Williams

Ingredients

Marinade:

3 pounds flank steak

3 tablespoons finely chopped garlic

3 tablespoons olive oil

½ cup Casa Herradura Reposada Tequila

¼ cup fresh lime juice coarse

Salt to taste

Use when grilling:

1 tablespoon coarse salt

½ tablespoon ground cumin

½ tablespoon ground black pepper

Preparation

Whisk together marinade ingredients above Marinate steaks, covered and chilled, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. Prepare grill. Season steaks generously with seasonings and grill on a rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals 2 to 3 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or cook in a sauté pan set over medium high heat for the same amount of time. Transfer steaks to a cutting board and drizzle with lime juice. Let steaks stand, uncovered, 5 to 10 minutes and with a sharp knife cut diagonally across grain into thin slices. Serve steak with sauce below.

CHIPOTLE PICO DE GALLO

Servings: Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chilies in adobo sauce

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups chopped seed tomatoes

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

¼ cup Casa Herradura Tequila

Preparation

Combine fresh lime juice, chipotle chilies and minced garlic in large bowl. Add chopped tomatoes, onion, tequila and fresh cilantro. Season to taste with salt. Let pico de gallo stand 1 hour at room temperature to allow flavors to develop.

CASA HERRADURA SUMMER GARDEN GAZPACHO by Chef Mark Williams

Serves: 6

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes (about 1 pound)

1 large cucumber, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded

1 medium onion

1 large roasted red bell pepper (available in jars)

3 cups tomato juice

1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

½ cup fresh squeezed lime juice

1/3 cup rice wine or apple cider vinegar

¼ cup Casa Herradura Silver Tequila

1/4 cup olive oil

1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

Preparation

Cut 1 tomato, 1/2 cucumber and 1/2 onion into 1-inch pieces and transfer to processor. Add bell pepper and puree. Transfer to bowl. Add tomato juice, cilantro, vinegar, Casa Herradura Tequila, oil and hot pepper sauce. Seed remaining tomato. Dice remaining tomato and cucumber and onion halves and add to soup. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead.) Serve well chilled.

***

HERRADURA SPLASH (only 98 calories!)

Named for the refreshment it provides, the Herradura Splash combines the sweet flavor of pineapple, tangy flavor of cranberry and the rich taste of Herradura Silver making it perfect for the hot summer season. The Herradura Splash is a burst of flavor that is sure to make anyone feel relaxed while they lounge by the pool, lake, on the sand or just about anywhere outdoors.

Ingredients

1.25 ounces Herradura Silver

2 ounces Light pineapple Juice

2 ounces Light cranberry Juice

Splash of diet lemon-lime soda

Preparation

In a cocktail shaker, add ice, tequila, juices, lemon-lime soda, and shake. Serve over ice.

HERRADURA SUGAR AND SPICE MARGARITA (great accompaniment for outdoor barbeques and grilling!)

Ingredients

2 oz Herradura Reposado

½ oz Agave nectar

½ oz Fresh squeezed lime juice

1 oz Mango Juice

Cayenne salt (mix cayenne to salt ratio of 1:4)

Glass: Coupe

Garnish: Cayenne salt rim

Method

1.) Gently wipe a lime wedge round the rim of a chilled coupe glass and lightly press into a plate of cayenne salt; take care to shake off any lumps of cayenne.

2.) Place add liquid ingredient into a cocktail shaker, fill with ice and shake vigorously.

3.) Strain into a chilled coupe glass taking care not to disturb the cayenne salt rim

HERRADURA REFRESHER

Ingredients

2 oz Herradura Silver

½ oz Freshly squeezed lime juice

½ oz Simple syrup

1 inch Cucumber (diced)

6-8 mint leaves

Top soda

Glass: Hi-ball

Garnish: Cucumber disc and a mint sprig

Method

1.) Place mint then cucumber into a cocktail shaker and gently crush with a muddler.

2.) Add the Herradura Silver, simple syrup and lime juice to the shaker.

3.) Fill shaker with Ice and shake vigorously to break down the mint and cucumber

4.) Strain through a fine strainer (to remove all the little bits of mint) into a Hi-ball glass filled with cubed ice and top with soda.

5.) Garnish with a cucumber disc and a mint sprig.

For the latest news from Tequila Herradura, visit www.facebook.com/HerraduraTequila.

By Rachel Shuster

Located at 58 Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, Allgos Sweets and Drinks has re-opened as of March 1st with new menu items ~ but with the same charm that made it one of Worcester’s favorite places to grab drinks and dessert.

Due to extensive water and mold damage caused by a fire on the third floor of the building where Allgos is located, the sweet spot had to shut down last June.

“We were going to change everything for our re-opening, from the menu to the décor, but we started to miss the original items and atmosphere, and decided to put everything back to its original form,” said owner Naat Paiva.

The atmosphere is welcoming, surrounding guests in colors like chocolate and olive. “It’s very rustic and laid back. We have couches and lounge chairs with local artwork hanging on the walls,” Paiva said.

Allgos offers delicious dessert items including profiteroles and a pecan chocolate torte. They have also introduced new spring and summer menu items like gelato. All desserts are $7 and under.

Drinks include everything from beers, martinis, 8-12 infused vodka flavors and high-end scotches to cappuccinos and lattes. Make sure to check out the popular “molecular drinks,” too!

“We do these as alcoholic or coffee that have a little, squishy ball in them. Press on the ball and based on the drink, either a shot of espresso or alcohol explodes in your mouth for an extra burst,” Paiva explained.

Allgos has live music Thursdays-Sundays and holds private parties at no charge for 40-50 people.

“We cater to everyone. I have regulars who are in their 20s and 50s. We always try to do something different and give people something to look forward to,” Paiva said.

Allgos is open Wednesday-Sunday 6pm-2am, with outdoor seating from 6-11pm. Visit www.allgoslounge.com for more information.

By Jason W. Prokowiew

If you’ve been watching this season’s “Cake Boss: The Next Great Baker” on TLC, you may notice a familiar face: Carmello Oquendo. The Worcester resident, known in these parts as “The Cakefather,” can be seen bringing the same chill attitude (they don’t call him Mello for nothing) and artistic spin to his television goodies as he does to the cakes he makes right in his hometown.

“Anything can inspire me,” Uquendo says, with a cool, captivating enthusiasm. “I could be walking in the mall and think, ‘I am going to make that into art.’”

With his can-do spin and knack for turning ideas into mouth-watering cakes, TLC made Oquendo just one of 13 contestants vying for one hundred thousand dollars and an apprenticeship with Cake Boss Buddy Valastro. They discovered him after finding Oquendo’s cakes posted on cakecentral.com, known as “the world’s largest cake community.”

A gig on “Cake TV” is even more impressive when you consider that Uquendo’s been making cakes for less than a year. The 43-year old husband and father of six adult children previously worked for 17 years as a gang unit police officer for the Commonwealth.

“I had to leave because of my health,” Oquendo says, noting that his family lost his brother to gun violence and his sister to the streets. “I was getting a lot of death threats, and I had to reconsider my life.”

In a fateful seven-day visit last year to North Carolina to visit his cousin Marilyn, who happens to be a cake artist, Oquendo saw an outlet for his creativity and that there was money to be made in cakes.

“It was like bells starting ringing,” he says. “Could you imagine what I could do with my artistic ability with cakes?”

From the moment he made his first cake ~ a Tickle-Me Elmo ~for his grandson’s birthday last June, Oquendo’s second career started taking shape. Since then it’s taken the form of cakes shaped like turtles, Michael Jackson, and Spiderman, to name just a few. He’s created for customers as near as Worcester to as far away as New Jersey, and his cakes fetch anywhere from $15 to $1,000.

Oquendo’s quick rise to success has the David Hale Fanning vocational school grad characteristically mellow but excited as well. While he can’t reveal if he were named the Next Great Baker, Oquendo says you’ll be seeing him on quite a few upcoming episodes. And after that?

“We’d love to do a spinoff. I’d love to travel with my wife,” he says. “It beats getting shot at, people fighting with you, and the politics in court. You have no idea how stress free I am since this whole experience began.”

“Life is like a nice Puerto Rican mango,” he adds. “And I want to suck the juices out of it.”

To see some of Oquendo’s creations, visit his site at www.thecakefather.net.

Photos courtesy of TLC.
Bottom photo taken at chef reunion in the TLC studio in NY.

By Rachel Shuster

Located at 1121 Grafton Street in Worcester, Hirosaki Prime, opened late this past summer, is a top notch Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar.

Hirosaki Prime’s menu ranges from appetizers to sushi to Hibachi items. Prices range from a $2.99 bowl of soup to the delectable $42.99 plate of prime filet and lobster tail. The lounge area also offers a majority of the same items, plus chicken, beef and seafood dinners ~ all in the same price range.

John McHugh and his wife Liz are co-owners and describe their restaurant as unique. “Our service is 5-star, our layout, design and decor create an ambiance that far exceeds any Japanese steakhouse and sushi bar on the east coast and the quality of meats and seafood we use are the best money can buy. We also are the only restaurant in the city that has wagyu beef on the menu,” McHugh says.

Hirosaki Prime also offers a full bar with house cocktails, an extensive wine list and traditional Japanese sake.

McHugh adds, “Our kitchen hours are Tues - Fri 4pm -10pm and now we’re open starting at 11:30am on Sat and Sun. We will be closed on Mondays.”

Visit www.hirosakiprime.com for more info or find them on Facebook.

By Kristie Bartlett

Discover the beauty of avocados. Technically a fruit, avocados are a wonderful source of fat ~ the good kind! With their creamy texture and beautifying oils, avocados are extremely filling and provide long-burning fuel. What better way to kick off fall than with a beautifying recipe from The Beauty Detox Solution by celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder.

Beauty Guacamole

Ingredients

2 medium avocados

1 medium garlic clove, chopped very finely

Cayenne pepper, to taste

Juice of ½ a lemon

¼ tsp. Celtic or HimalayanSea Salt

1 cup chopped tomatoes

Directions

Slice the avocados lengthwise and remove the pit. Scoop out the green avocado flesh and add to a medium-size mixing bowl. Add the lemon juice and mash the avocados, using a fork. Make it as smooth as you like, or if you like your guacamole chunky, then don’t mash too much! Add the garlic, sea salt and cayenne pepper and mix well.

Add the chopped tomatoes last and mix well again.

Enjoy the guacamole with veggie sticks as a filling, wonderful afternoon snack during or serve the guacamole on top of a large green salad for a great lunch or dinner.

For more beautifying recipes, pick up a copy of The Beauty Detox Solution or visit Kim’s blog.

The Shrewsbury Street Area Merchants Association will host its second annual OktoberFest on Sunday, October 9 ~ the Sunday of Columbus Day weekend ~ at 6pm. Several of Shrewsbury Street’s restaurants will be cooking up German food for the occasion and there will be lots of music. Come down to Shrewsbury Street and let Schwarze Schafe, an authentic German Oom Pah band who will be performing at various venues along the street, entertain you; if you’ve never seen this band perform in their period customers, you’re in for a real treat ~ nothing goes better with German food than Bavarian music.

Last year, over 1,000 people came down to Shrewsbury Street for one of the only OktoberFests in the area; several of the restaurants hosted outdoor parties featuring Oktoberfest beers produced by Wachusett, Harpoon and Sam Adam Breweries, and although some of the establishments usually feature Italian food, they had no problem serving up delicious knockwurst, potato salad, sauerkraut and soft pretzels. To find a list of restaurants participating this year, visit www.ShrewsburystreetOktoberfest.com.

Sponsors for the event include Leominster Credit Union (located on Shrewsbury Street) and Atlas Distributors, who distribute Wachusett, Harpoon and Sam Adams beers.

Among the media sponsors are WCRN, WXLO, The Pike, and Oldies 98.5 as well as Pulse magazine and TasteWorcester.com.

A perfect blend of upscale and casual dining

By Rachel Shuster

Cedar Street Grille, located at 12 Cedar Street in Sturbridge, is an American bistro that blends elegance with a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Chef Patrick Farrelly and Executive Chef of Table 3 Restaurant Group, Enrico Giovanello, offer delicious food for their loyal clientele.

“We opened after Christmas last year,” Farrelly says. “The restaurant seats 80 and is a mix of upscale, casual, urban and relaxed.”

Menu items that showcase the two men’s culinary expertise include cold and hot small plates like beef carpaccio and curry mussels, sandwiches including the BLT and avocado wrap, large plates including grilled cedar salmon, and steaks and chops a la carte. Prices range from $4 to $28.

Cedar Street Grille also has areas for banquets and special events. “We have an addition to the building for the lounge and bar,” Farrelly says.

Looking into the near future, Farrelly adds, “We plan on having a beer dinner night and a steak night once a month.”

Cedar Street Grille is open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch 11:30am - 3pm and dinner 4:30pm-9pm (10pm on Fridays and Saturdays), Sundays 4:30pm - 10pm, closed Mondays. Gift certificates are available.

Visit www.cedarstreetgrille.com for more information.

By Tine Roycroft, Lynn N. Capri, and Josh Lyford

Each year, there are trends in dining ~ just like those in fashion, technology, films, etc. ~ that are a logical progression from the year before ~ like when we saw tapas become popular at a few select specialty restaurants before the trend caught on like wildfire the following year and seemed to be on everyone’s menu. Then there are the trends that come out of left field, like when blood sausage became a much sought-after main course for a [blessedly!] brief time (I blame Andrew Zimmern and his bizarre fascination with bizarre foods for that one!). Now, not all trends reach us here in Central MA ~ some are born and die, just flashes in the pan, in NY or LA or overseas (lots of trends come out of Japan each year), and some reach us slightly modified , but others do, and we’re going to introduce you to some of each, from the weird and obscure (wait ’til you read about corn fungus and edible dirt) to the yummy, like Mexican sandwiches called cemitas, to the technology that’s changing the whole concept of how we go out to eat. And since we’re most interested in the trends that will be shaping our dining experiences over the next year, we’ve called on the experts ~ local restaurant owners and chefs ~ to hear what they have to say about what’s headed to our plates next. …Read More

By Paul Giorgio

Ming Tsai was raised in Dayton, Ohio, where he spent hours cooking alongside his mother and father at their family-owned restaurant, Mandarin Kitchen. Ming Tsai attended Yale University, earning his degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris during a semester abroad.

In 1998, Ming opened Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA; the restaurant specialized in the best in East-West cuisine, service and wine. In its first year, Blue Ginger received 3 stars from the Boston Globe, was named “Best New Restaurant” by Boston Magazine, was nominated by the James Beard Foundation as “Best New Restaurant 1998,” and Esquire Magazine honored Ming as “Chef of the Year 1998.” The James Beard Foundation crowned Ming “2002 Best Chef Northeast” and, since 2002, the Zagat Restaurant Guide has rated Blue Ginger the “2nd Most Popular Boston Area Restaurant.”

Many of us are familiar with his Emmy nominated TV show “Simply Ming” that has taught a legion of loyal viewers Ming’s signature “one pot” cooking system. The show is now in its eighth season.

So who is the man who had earned these many accolades? We found out in an interview with Ming himself.

PG: How many restaurants do you have?
MT: I just have Blue Ginger. This way I can be with my kids ~ It is about quality of life ~ I have consciously made a descision. Also, I’m 46, so I have years ahead of me to open another.

What is your first memory of being in the kitchen?
I have so many. At the age of 2 or 3 I remember breaking down a chicken. Then later when I was a little older, around 6, I baked Duncan Hines cakes. I also made fried rice when I was 10 for friends of my mom who happened to stop by our house.

Yes, I’ve seen a couple of your shows with your mom “guest starring”. I think it was “East Meets West.”
She has been on every season ~she’s 79 now. I really enjoy being with her and cooking with her.

How did you get started in the culinary world?
My family owned a Chinese restaurant in Dayton, OH.

Last year, you were on “Iron Chef.” What was that experience like?
Yes, we taped the “Iron Chef Competitions” over a six week period. Iit was a riot and hard work. It was great to do it, but I’m sorry I lost.

Where does your heart lie ~ in cooking, running a restaurant, or writing a book/cookbook?
Cooking for sure and cooking for live people. I cook to make people happy. I love it when my 8 yr. old eats my food, but I also enjoy TV. I also enjoy the writing my cookbooks, but lately I have been writing about food allergies and how to cook around them. My heart also lies in fighting childhood obesity and I am working with Michele Obama on this.

Why are there so many kids with food allergies today?
They don’t get outdoors, everything is so sterile. I think we should take every child, bring him to a farm and roll him around on the ground.

Are you ever not in the mood to cook?
“The best food in the world is someone else’s” is a chef motto. I still cook for friends in the restaurant but I don’t work the line. I travel a week per month, so it makes it harder to cook.

What’s your favorite non-Asian meal or cuisine?
I would have to say New American Cuisine pioneered by Thomas Keller of Sonoma Valley’s French Laundry.

Who cooks at home?
My wife and I. Polly is a great cook

What kind of music really gets you going in the kitchen?
We play all kinds during prep but we never play music during service.

Which chef inspired/inspires you most?
A couple ~ I can think of Thomas Keller and Ken Orringer.

Are friends nervous having you over for dinner?
Friends really don’t invite me to dinner, although I had a fabulous meal at the home of John Abbot recently ~ He’s the head of WGBH and his wife is a fantastic cook.

What’s your go-to comfort food?
I have a couple. If you’re hung over, fried food. But I love braised meats like short ribs or duck.

Ming’s New Cookbook, Simply Ming One-Pot Meals, is available in stores and on-line at www.mingspantry.com/simionmequhe.html
www.ming.com

http://ming.com/blueginger.htm

***

Chef Tsai is a member of the Macy’s Culinary Council, an exclusive council of expert chefs from across the country who host culinary events at Macy’s stores nationwide throughout the year and also provide Macy’s customers with helpful shopping and cooking tips, recipes and entertaining ideas. The Council includes:

• Cat Cora
• Emeril Lagasse
• Gale Gand
• Andrew Robinson, master sommelier
• Govind Armstrong
• Marcus Samuelsson
• Michelle Bernstein
• Ming Tsai
• Nancy Silverton
• Rick Bayless
• Takashi Yagihashi
• Tim Scott
• Todd English
• Tom Douglas
• Tyler Florence
• Wolfgang Puck

To view live streaming video of the chefs in action, get delicious recipes and cooking tips, meet all the chefs on the Council, and find out when your favorite chef will be at a Macy’s near you, please visit www.macys.com/campaign/social?campaign_id=59&channel_id=1.

By Paul Giorgio

Buddy Valastro, aka “The Cake Boss,” is the star of The Learning Channel’s number 1 hit series “The Cake Boss” and recently published a new book that, fittingly, is titled Cake Boss.

Buddy’s story is a familiar one; it’s the tale of his parents coming to America, of finding a job, of eventually buying the business. In this case, the business was Carlo’s Bakery, an icon of the Italian American community in Hoboken, New Jersey, just over the bridge from New York City and the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

Today, Buddy owns Carlo’s, employs about 100 people ~ most of them his extended family of sisters, brothers-in-law, cousins, nephews and just good folks from the neighborhood.

Buddy recounts his story in Cake Boss, which is basically the story of America ~ only a little sweeter.

While we were growing up, my friend Gerry D’Amico’s family owned Boston Bread and D’Amico’s Bakery on Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street. We hung around the bakery eating fresh Italian cookies and pastries until all that baked-with-love goodness started packing on the pounds.

I remember thinking that a baker’s job was not easy; Gerry’s father Gerry, Sr. and his uncles Joe and Eddie would get up in the middle of the night to start baking the day’s bread and pastries. In my eyes, they were ethereal angels with hands full of cannoli, Neapolitans and other Italian treats. To this day, I remember them clearly, dressed in their whites and covered in flour.

So in a sense, Buddy Vallastro’s story is that of hundreds of Italian kids growing up in a hundred American cities.

We interviewed Buddy recently as he was kicking off his book signing tour across America, catching him before his November 5 appearance at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

Buddy, since you’re the Cake Boss, do you have an underboss?
No, I’m the only boss.

How many relatives do you have working for you?
Ten to twenty. I got my sisters, my mother and a bunch of cousins.

Have you ever had to fire one?
Fortunately, not yet.

How did the TV show come about?
I did a lot of Food Network challenges and the TLC Network wanted a show, so we put something together.

What is the difference between you and your show and Duff and his show, “Ace of Cakes?” Do people recognize you?

I get recognized wherever I go ~ went to a sports bar ~ lots of people recognized me but I’m a Yankees fan.

I think people relate to the show. We are still that old fashioned Italian bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey. We’re more down to earth and real. I get recognized wherever I go ~ went to a sports bar ~ lots of people recognized me but I’m a Yankees fan.

What does one of your cakes cost?
It depends. If you want a regular sheet cake, it’s a hundred bucks, but they can go up to$20,000 if it walks and talks.

Who comes up with most of the ideas for the cakes? Is it the customer or is it you?
Usually it’s me; they tell me the theme and I come up with the idea and the cake.

How long does it take to make one of your cakes?
It can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 weeks. If you want a simple half sheet cake, we can decorate it in 5 minutes. If it is like the NASCAR cake, it can take two weeks.

I saw the show when you brought your family back to Italy. Was that emotional for you? What region are you from?
We’re from Bari, near the boot. Both of my grandparents were born in U.S. and then moved back to Italy. They made money here and moved back. My parents were both born in Italy. My father is from Sicily, he came to the states in 1952 and my mother came over in 1954. He bought the bakery from Carlo in 1963 and we kept the name. When we went back, it was very emotional ~ seeing where my folks were from and going over with my kids and my cousins and sisters. It showed me what hard work can do.

What was your most challenging cake to make?
The NASCAR cake-it took years off of my life. It was 20,000 pounds. It was a full size car.

What is your bakery like now?
It’s crazy. It’s only 7,000 square feet and we have 100 employees ~ we work 24/7. I’m still there 5 days a week.

What is it like when you film? Do the cameras get in the way?
It’s all hand held cameras and it takes 5 days to film a show. Most of the stuff doesn’t make it onto the show.

Are you still a neighborhood place?
We are and that will never change, but currently we’re building a 400,000 square foot place in Jersey City to make all the pastries we make ~ everything from cookies to cannoli to lobster tails. And we still only charge $3 for a cannoli.

Tell me about your tour. What do you do at the appearance? Do you bake a cake?
It’s an interactive show and I have the audience help decorate a cake. I tell them my life story. It’s very “feel good.” I get to meet with fans. You hear stories about what “Cake Boss” means to them. We have a lot of Italian American fans but we are also broadcast in 93 countries

To learn more about Buddy, his bakery, and “Cake Boss,” visit the following websites:

http://buddyontour.com
http://www.carlosbakery.com
http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/cake-boss

Cake Boss is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, Barnes and Noble, and other fine bookstores across the US.

By Paul Giorgio

Meet the rock-n-roll chef who, at age 41, has brought a new level of bleached-blonde cool to cooking. Guy Fieri was born in Columbus, Ohio, but moved to Whittier, California when he was 2. His mom taught school and his dad taught at Whittier College. He then lived in Ferndale, CA. His first cooking job came about from hanging around the local burger joint. His favorite part of the job? Working the milk shake machine. His next job was as a dishwasher at a Mexican restaurant called Roman’s.

OK, now we’ve got a little background on this traveling, entertaining, laughing whirlwind of culinary energy and adventure. But we all remember when Guy first caught our eye:

What made you try out for The Next Food Network Star?
My friends made me. They said, “Guido, you got to do this (my nickname is Guido). So on the last day, I sent in a 3 minute tape that was wild.”

When was that?
It was April 24th, 2006

Did you anticipate, and were you prepared for, the ‘star factor’ that came with your win on the show?
I was at Game 6 of the World Series and was surprised at my recognition factor. People coming up to me all during the game.

You recently returned from the Persian Gulf after entertaining the troops. What was that like?
It was awesome. I got to go on the USS Enterprise. I cooked for the troops and judged some cooking.

In World War II, they had the Andrews Sisters and Glenn Miller entertain the troops ~ now they have a chef! What’s up with that?
It was fun, and I guess times have changed ~ a lot!

Then you were the Grand Marshall of NASCAR in Sonoma, CA…
That was just crazy! I love cars.

So what’s your favorite diner that you’ve visited on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives?
That’s almost impossible to answer. If I say one, all others would be pissed!

How about a favorite dive?
Same answer, but I like Vito & Mike’s in Chicago for pizza. But there are so many other restaurants that I love. Especially the mom and pop ones that pour their heart and soul into good cooking.

Who came up with the concept of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives?
David Page, our producer, came up with the concept.

Tell us about the great car you drive on the show.
The car is shipped everywhere. We have a full time driving team. The only places the car hasn’t been is to Hawaii and Alaska ~ but it has gone everyplace else.

What would be your last meal?
Pasta and tomato sauce.

Who is your cooking idol?
I would have to say everyday people. I learned to cook from my mom and dad. But I am a huge Mario Batali fan.

How about a music idol? You’re known for playing some pretty hard music while you cook.
I would have to say AC/DC, Sammy Haggar…I love all the old 70 and 80s rock bands like Metallica. I have a jukebox in my kitchen and it has 50,000 songs on it.

Let’s get back to cooking. Do you get to do it much anymore with your insane schedule?
I cook on Guy’s Big Bite and I get to cook what I want, but I was on the road over 200 days last year, so…
I miss cooking. I made 4 gallons of chili, 5 gallons of tomato sauce and 180 meatballs this past weekend when I was home. That way my wife and kids (Hunter, 13, and Ryder, 4) get to eat my food when I’m not there.

Is there any food you hate?
Liver. I hate beef liver!

Tell us about The Guy Fieri Road Show that just blew away the audience in Lowell.
First of all, I love New England ~ my wife is from Providence so we get up there a lot. The show in Lowell was a blast. Lots of cooking and music. Michael Schlow from Radius in Boston and Via Alta 66 at Foxwoods was also be there, and plus some great flair bartenders.

Sounds almost like a Broadway show!
Nah, it wasn’t that well scripted, it was just a great, wild time!

www.guyfieri.com

By Paul Giorgio

Pictured Above: Luca Perrone and Lorenzo Esposito

Squire White’s Restaurant on Worcester’s Greenwood Street recently hosted a “Taste of Positano” Under the leadership of owner Joe Cancelmo, four chefs from the Almafi Coast of Italy prepared a marvelous seven course meal. Chefs Lorenzo Esposito and Vincenzo Sorrentino of Mediterraneo in Positano, Italy joined brother and sister chefs Lizia and Luca Perrone of Taverna Degli Apostoli. The chefs were brought here by Laura Birminghan of Cooking Vacations in Boston.

Cooking Vacations, as the name implies, sets up vacations to Italy centered around cooking schools and food. Whether visiting a cooking school, having a behind-the-scenes tour of a local restaurant, or soaking up Italian culture at the local farmers’ market, vacationers are treated to a unique vacation. The chefs were on a three city tour which brought them to Boston, Providence and Worcester. Cancelmo, as his day job, runs Voyageur Travel in Worcester, which partners with Cooking Vacations.

Joe Cancelmo and Friends

Wines for the seven course extravaganza were provided by Ruby Wines. Each course was paired with a wine that was expertly described by Ruby’s Andrew Cadrin. Preceding the meal was a brief cooking demonstration where the chefs taught pasta making.

Only Mediteranneo’s Lorenzo Esposito spoke English proficiently enough to narrate the cooking demo. His lively and fun-loving approach was a stark contrast to the snowy Sunday which in itself was a perfect counterpoint to the food of the sunny Amalfi Coast. I was particularly impressed with the appetizer, a calamari stuffed with a parmesan and shrimp filling and with salmon topped with a zesty Parmesan almond sauce. The wine was a Nero D’Avola from Sicily, a dry white.

This delight was followed by a pasta course of half rigatoni tossed with fresh mussels, clams and roasted cherry tomatoes. The pasta course was followed by a light risotto tossed with lemon zest and shrimp.

I was lucky enough to catch the chefs making the entrée, tenderloin wrapped in smoked provolone, topped with proscuito and baked in a puff pastry. This was paired with a Sasyr Sangiovese, the preeminent grape of Italy.

The crowd was encouraged to ask questions of both the chef and the wine expert. It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. If we are lucky, Cancelmo will present more of these events.

Andrew Zimmern is host of the Travel Channel’s “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern,” which recently kicked off its second season. Zimmern, a native New Yorker who is a former chef, restaurant owner, and graduate of Vassar College, now lives in Minneapolis with his wife and child. Despite a very busy travel schedule, Andrew sat down with us to talk about how he ended up as the guy who eagerly ingests cockroaches and sheep’s bladders with nary a second thought…but often with a second helping!

Paul Giorgio: How did you end up as a chef?
Andrew Zimmern: I’ve spent my whole life cooking. I love the action; I’ve eaten all over the world traveling with my parents, so I learned about food at an early age. In high school I figured I could hang around all day and work at night, while my friends worked all day. I had my first job at the Quiet Clam in East Hampton, Long Island during the summer. I’m pretty much self taught, although I took a semester off from Vassar and went to the CIA (Culinary Institute of America). I lasted one day. When I graduated from Vassar my father thought I would go to Wall Street, but I went to work in a restaurant.

PG: How did you end up in Minneapolis?
AZ: I came out here 13 years ago for rehab and stayed.

PG: What is your favorite country ~ culinarily speaking?
AZ: Oh my gosh, I have to answer a couple different ways. First, I always love the country I’ve just come from, but I love Asia, Korea and Japan specifically. The biggest surprise is the food of the eastern Mediterranean ~ southern Turkey. Turkish food is the most underrated food. It is complex, it is thrilling. It has a great combination of flavors. I just love the mezza [tapas/appetizers]. Turks are some of the most gracious people I’ve encountered.

PG: What is the most bizarre food you’ve eaten?
AZ: It had to be in Chile. I ate a Piure, which is like a sponge. You cut it open and inside are hundreds of bright red and yellow sacks which have the strangest flavor I’ve ever experienced.

PG: Coming from the US ~ where a fishwitch is as far as someone will stray from a Big Mac ~ the question is, what got you into this?
AZ: I traveled with my father at a young age around the world and we ate what everyone in the local towns ate. We ate the local food. I live in 21st century America but I step back in time when I eat. I love eating like a native Samoan.

PG: I’ve seen you eat a beating snake heart, what was that like?
AZ: Pretty benign. It is the least flavorful muscle on a reptile ~ but some peoples believe that when you eat the heart you are getting all the powers of the animal.

PG: I’ve also seen you eat all manner of blood and blood products.
AZ: The world has a fascination with blood & I have a fascination with the world.

PG: I’ve read that you have never been sick, how can that be?
AZ: I have a very strong constitution, maybe it comes from eating certain funky foods from Mexico or China. I have developed the antibodies ~ however, my crew gets sick. I tell them to eat what I eat but they don’t listen.

PG: You seem to have a preoccupation with penis dishes ~you even have eaten snake penis soup. Why?
AZ: Certain cultures have a fascination with the penis. In China, they think eating it will make you virile. Beijing even has a penis restaurant, where that is all they serve. It is not surprising that it seems only men eat there. I was surprised at the different textures. The Yak’s and the donkey’s were my favorite ~ the larger ones have more meat.

PG: Why do cultures eat penises and not women’s reproductive organs?
AZ: I had female reproductive organs of the cow in China and in Chile. I think you’re talking about male dominated society ~ but every culture has a uterus dish, too.

PG: What do you consider to be comfort food?
AZ: When I come home I eat my wife’s roasted chicken with lemon & garlic. I love a good hamburger, or pizza.

PG: Why are Americans such squeamish eaters?
AZ: Because we don’t have a big food culture ~ we’re only 250 yrs old ~ thank God for immigration. We have a big restaurant culture, one of the greatest in the world. The biggest trend in America is local peasant food ~ roasted chicken, braised short ribs. We are going back to the farmhouse. American chefs are seeking new cuts of meat; we are trying to define ourselves. We are defining the American cuisine. We are discovering the farmer. We’re not hiding him. We now want to know were the lettuce comes from. I’m proud of American food culture.

PG: What is the most bizarre American food?
AZ: American cheese singles or the Twinkie.

PG: What happens when your producer wants you to visit cannibals in the Amazon?
AZ: I don’t think I’ve eaten human flesh even though I‘ve been around people who do. We are going to Papua, New Guinea and plan to interact with cannibals. It will be interesting to see what happens when I get there. But I don’t have to make that decision today. This question has come up a couple of times.

By Paul Giorgio

Central Massachusetts appears to be the center of the diner universe. Maybe that’s because one of the 10 companies in the United States that built diners was located in Worcester. The Worcester Lunch Car Company operated from 1906 to 1961, first on Franklin Street and later moved over to Southbridge Street. During this time, they built 651 diners. The company was sold in 1961 and became the Worcester Deluxe Diner Manufacturing Company.

The Lunch Cars were unique in that they all had barrel roofs and distinctive porcelain enamel exteriors. Almost all used a Gothic-type face for their name on the outside.

Let’s take a look at some diners in Worcester today. They are all unique in their own way. Some are open for breakfast and lunch, others serve at night and only a few remain open 24 hours a day.

If you are a club goer, a night owl or a worker on the late-night shift, there are only a couple of places to choose from. One is the Kenmore Diner on the corner of Grafton & Franklin Street in Worcester. This diner, which is literally under I-290, was rebuilt by owner Jimmy Yansides after being destroyed in the Worcester Cold Storage fire. The menu is packed with classic diner favorites. Breakfast choices are their specialty. They are open all night on Fridays and Saturdays and serve lunch on Fridays.

The Boulevard Diner on Shrewsbury Street serves round the clock. Interested in meat loaf, a plate of pasta or eggs? You got it! The diner has been run by the George family for two generations. Jimmy George took over ownership from his father Ringo. The Boulevard, built in 1936 and on the National Register of Historic Places, is perhaps the finest example of a Worcester Lunch Car Company Diner.

Directly across the street from The Boulevard is the Parkway Diner. Originally operating at night, The Parkway now serves breakfast and lunch. And like The Boulevard, you can get diner food, breakfast specialties or Italian dishes. Be sure to try the lasagna. This diner is now in the hands of the second generation of the Evangelista family.

The Canal District sports a few diners, like Corner Lunch on Lamartine Street, Green Island Diner on Millbury Street and the quintessential diner Miss Worcester on Southbridge Street. By the way, Miss Worcester didn’t have to travel far since the Worcester Lunch Car Company was located right across the street.

If you want to travel further a field, Spencer has two diners on Main Street ~ Kenwood Diner and Charlie’s Diner. Charlie’s is an example of the mobility of the lunch car. The diner relocated to a number of different areas, the last of which was on Plantation Street. It was then put into storage before reemerging in Spencer a couple of years ago. Like most diners, it is under second or third generation ownership of the Turner family.

Edgemere Diner on Shrewsbury’s Route 20 has recently undergone a renovation and is now called “The Edge.” It now serves as a hotdog stand and has received rave reviews. Word has it that they make their own relish.

The newest diner in Worcester just opened last year ~ Blanchard’s 101 Diner at 322 Cambridge Street. This diner has an interesting history. It was most likely the last diner built by the Worcester Lunch Car Company. However, it was never finished until the Blanchard Catering Company bought it a few years ago and rebuilt it.

This brings us to our last diner which really isn’t a diner anymore ~ Ralph’s Chadwick Square Diner. Ralph’s, as it is known to everybody in Worcester, has become one of the local hotspots for great live music. The original diner was preserved and a two-story building was built around it. The menu is very limited with burgers, chili and other dishes.

Many diners in Central Massachusetts have disappeared or have relocated to other parts of the country. The best way to make sure we don’t lose anymore is to stop in for a meal at any of these neighborhood places. Everyone will know your name by the time you leave.