Saturday, April 30, 2016

EAT UP NE FAVORITE: SPoT!

Saturday, April 30, 2016
Step into SPoT! in Norwood, Massachusetts and let the nostalgia take over. With countless bottles of rare soda and shelves of candy, SPoT! is a modern twist on the 50's-style cafe.

 The amount of soda they have for sale is mind-blowing. Now, I'm not talking about five flavors of Coke and Pepsi. I'm talking sodas that are tough to find like candy cane and sugar cookie. They even have a gingerbread soda. It really is something. Customers can take their time checking out those drinks, because, yes, the lines at this local hot spot tend to be long. But, don't worry, it's all worth it.

SPoT! makes all of their bagels in house. There are trays and trays of them on racks. These bagels are MASSIVE and crusty. They're everything a perfect bagel should be. I love their bacon, egg and cheese bagel. In an age of fast food, it was truly something to watch the cook crack an egg right in front of me to make this sandwich. It doesn't get any fresher than that.

SPoT! also has a variety of hot and iced coffees. I loved their mint chocolate coffee. It wasn't just chocolate flavor. They pour some chocolate syrup right into the cup.

 It doesn't get much better than SPoT!. Whether you're near or far, take some time out on a weekend morning to check this place out. You'll be glad you did.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

BRUNCH AT DUO IN BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT

Sunday, April 24, 2016
For years, Duo has been a hot spot in Denver, Colorado. Now, its owners have opened a second restaurant on Main Street in Brattleboro, Vermont. Duo serves brunch on weekends only and I was lucky enough to sample their menu recently.

We started our meal with a homemade cinnamon donut with apples. Amazing. This was one of their specials, so it may or may not be available if you visit. I ordered their special cauliflower and cheese omelet for my main course. It was light and tasty. The potatoes served with it easily filled me up. Also on their brunch menu is French toast, a Vermont bacon scramble, egg sandwich, buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, grilled cheese & soup and a cider glazed pork benedict.

Duo is open for dinner every night. Entrees include meatloaf, tagliatelle, salmon, fried chicken and a pork chop. They also have several salads and apps like meatballs, mussels and warm beets. Duo also has a bar packed with red and white wines and champagne by the glass and by the bottle. They also offer several signature cocktails and Vermont beers like Barista Porter from Burlington Beer Company and Barnyard Blend from Whetstone Cider Works.

duorestaurants.com

Friday, April 22, 2016

IT'S VERMONT RESTAURANT WEEK

Friday, April 22, 2016
Vermont Restaurant Week is here! It started today and goes thru May 1. Prix-fixe dinners are going for $20, $30 and $40. There are also breakfast and brunch specials. Eat Up New England favorite Whetstone Station in Brattleboro is offering a $20 three-course menu, with rib eye, brisket taco, black bean salad and goat cheese-stuffed portobello mushrooms as main courses. While you're there, check out one of their craft beers made in house! Eat Up New England also recommends Duo in Brattleboro. I was just there for brunch late week and it was so good! They are offering a $30 three-course menu with entrees including lamb, beef and salmon.

 You really can't go wrong in Vermont. All of the food is just so fresh and local. Log on to vermontrestaurantweek.com for a complete listing of restaurants that are taking part and those all-important menus.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

EAT UP NE FAVORITE: LUCIANO'S IN WRENTHAM, MA

Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Luciano's in Wrentham, Massachusetts is a legendary spot for some of the finest Italian food around. It's a place where my family goes whenever we have a special occasion. The food is top notch. We visited for dinner last Saturday and had an amazing meal as always. I loved the "Homemade Canneloni Bolognese." It's stuffed with beef, veal and sausage and topped with a generous portion of bolognese sauce. Food perfection. It was so filling, but I had just enough room for dessert. I ordered their limoncello; lemon sorbet that's covered in meringue sprinkles with a heart of limoncello. It was the perfect dessert to end a perfect meal.

lucianoswrentham.com

Sunday, April 10, 2016

JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS

Sunday, April 10, 2016
I've seen Jersey Mike's Sub Shops on vacation and have always wanted to see what they're all about. I got my chance last week at Mohegan Sun. Who knew they had a shop right here in New England?

Jersey Mike's subs come in mini, regular and giant. Their bread is made fresh at all of their shops. Their sandwich meats and cheeses are cut right in front of you. A nice touch. I enjoyed a mini "The American Classic," a ham and provolone sub. They really piled on the ham, cheese and lettuce, so even though it was a mini, there was plenty to eat. 

Other cold subs include an Italian, tuna, "Jersey Shore's Favorite" with provolone, ham and cappacuolo and a roast beef and provolone sub. They also server many hot subs including meatball & cheese, chicken parm and "Jersey Mike's Famous Philly." There are also several chicken cheese steaks on their menu along with many classic wraps like chicken Caesar, grilled veggie and a turkey wrap. They can also make any of their subs into a salad.

 Check out Jersey Mike's in the Casino of the Sky at Mohegan Sun. They also have locations all over Massachusetts and North Providence and Warwick, Rhode Island.
www.jerseymikes.com

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

OGA'S JAPANESE CUISINE IN NATICK, MA

Tuesday, April 05, 2016
Vegetable tempura
California Maki
Teriyaki Teppanyani
It's always fun to order a bunch of small plates at Japanese restaurants. Eat Up New England did that last week at Oga's Japanese Cuisine in Natick, Massachusetts.

I started my meal out with a nice glass of cabernet sauvignon, before we ordered couple rounds of vegetable tempura. The tempura was sooo good. Other apps include lobster tempura, shrimp tempura and edamame. Oga's has a massive menu of fresh sushi. You can watch their chefs make it. It's hard to pick just one or two. I enjoyed the California Maki with crab, avocado, and cucumber. They also offer several vegetarian sushi options and salads.

I ordered one of their teriyaki teppanyani plates for my entrée. You can choose from two meats/fishes: chicken, shrimp, sirloin, ribeye or salmon. I enjoyed the chicken and shrimp. It's served with veggies and rice. It was a very filling and tasty dish. There are also several noodle dishes and tempura is also available in entrée-sized portions.

Friday, April 01, 2016

RESTAURANTS CELEBRATE APRIL FOOLS' DAY

Friday, April 01, 2016
Some New England restaurant chains got in on the April Fools' Day fun today. Friendly's was claiming to have a Fool's Gold Fribble today. Papa Gino's said they were introducing a squid pizzas with Japanese flying squid for $199.99.

Saturday, March 26, 2016

ON THE ROAD: SWEET GEORGIA'S JUKE JOINT

Saturday, March 26, 2016
One of my favorite things about traveling is trying the local cuisine. Southern food is one of my favorites, so I couldn't leave Atlanta recently without getting a real southern meal. I found the perfect one at Sweet Georgia's Juke Joint. This place has a laid back atmosphere complete with live jazz music. One of its customers told us he travels from across town for their fried chicken, so we were in for a treat!

They specialize in homemade moonshine, so ordered some. The moonshine had raspberries and pineapple. It was amazing! For dinner, I got the "Juke Joint Fried Chicken," which comes with two of their sides. The sides include garlic steamed broccoli, steak fries, fried green tomatoes, okra, sweet potato fries, cheese grits and mac & cheese. I settled on the mac & cheese and collard greens. The food was brought to us in no time. I quickly realized this was one of the best meals I've ever eaten. The batter on the chicken was phenomenal. The mac & cheese was out of the world. I also tried some of my friend's waffle, which was so good.

 Sweet Georgia's has all of the southern favorites like shrimp & grits, fried catfish, peach glazed Alaskan salmon, grilled rib eye, jambalaya pasta and a St. Louis rib rack. They all serve several vegetarian dishes including salads. Desserts include peach cobbler, banana pudding, spiced apple bread pudding and pecan pie.

If you're ever in downtown Atlanta, be sure to check out Sweet Georgia's. The food is incredible!

www.sweetgeorgiasjukejoint.com

Thursday, March 17, 2016

DINE OUT BOSTON: ST. PATRICK'S DAY AT DAVIO'S IN CHESTNUT HILL

Thursday, March 17, 2016
Dine Out Boston is winding down, but Eat Up New England was able to grab one last lunch. I enjoyed several courses at Davio's in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts today. I had to order a Guinness since it's St. Patrick's Day. Check out those buffalo chicken spring rolls. They are served on bleu cheese for dipping.
Course one: Spinach, snap peas and goat cheese salad
Course two: Atlantic salmon with roasted potatoes, spinach and capers. This was so tasty and filling.
Course 3: Chocolate cake with vanilla bean gelato. The cake was filled with warm chocolate lava.

Monday, March 14, 2016

ITALIAN AT SCORPIO'S IN ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS

Monday, March 14, 2016

UPDATE: Scorpio's has closed permanently.

Scorpio's in Attleboro, Massachusetts is one of my families' favorite places to gather whenever there's a birthday or celebration. They serve up hearty portions of Italian favorites at an affordable price.

Every meal begins with their delicious homemade bread topped with garlic. You'll want seconds or thirds! We often order their calamari to start. There's enough for two or three people and it's served with marinara for dipping. Other apps include caprese, wings, bruschetta and spinach & artichoke dip.

I enjoyed their gnocchi with meat sauce during my last visit. Scorpio's has many other homemade pasta dishes like chicken marsala, frutti di mare, baked ziti, lasagna and spaghetti alla Carbonara. Other entrees include pizzas, sandwiches, wraps and salads. They also have a full bar with a large selection of beers including Sam Adams, Harpoon IPA, Sierra Nevada, Mayflower, Magic Hat, Revival Brewing, Corona and Guinness. When I was there, they had a bunch of seasonal winter beers and cocktails like their tiramisu martini and a spiced pumpkin martini.

Desserts include tiramisu, cheesecake and gelato.
Scorpio's also holds trivia nights every Thursday starting at 7:30. They also have popular painting nights one Wednesday a month.

www.scorpiospizza.com

DINE OUT BOSTON AT THE FIREPLACE IN BROOKLINE

Monday, March 14, 2016
Another Dine Out Boston has come and gone. Eat Up New England made it out for lunch at The Fireplace in Brookline. They offered a three-course lunch for just $20. What a deal! I started off my meal with this smoked chicken and sweet potato chowder. It was very good and a nice change from traditional clam chowder.
For lunch, I ordered the sweet pea and asparagus risotto. This vegetarian dish was quite filling.
My final course was this amazing apple cheddar pie. This homemade pie was easily my favorite of the three courses. The pie was packed with apples and the crust was soooo good.
www.fireplacerest.com

Wednesday, March 09, 2016

MAD RIVER BARN IN WAITSFIELD, VERMONT

Wednesday, March 09, 2016
There's still snow on the ground in Waitsfield, Vermont, which makes the Mad River Barn the perfect place to warm up with friends and comfort food.

 Eat Up New England stopped by for dinner last weekend. The place was jumping on Saturday night. Upstairs, you'll find a young crowd enjoying drinks and playing games like foosball. Downstairs, there's a modern dining room, with long tables to accommodate families and large groups of friends.

 I was surprised to see aranchini as one of their apps, so we ordered it. They were very good (and vegetarian BTW). Other apps include warm pretzel sticks, crab hush puppies, meatballs and a Vermont cheese plate. The Mad River Barn also has a great selection of local beers, and yes, they do serve Heady Topper!

For dinner, there are several salads and burgers to choose form. I built my own burger with BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese. It was served with their delicious homemade French fries. Other dinners include Vermont maple chicken, salmon, a grilled cheese with pickled jalapenos and roasted lamb.

GOING GREEN FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Wednesday, March 09, 2016
It's almost St. Patrick's Day and that means many New England restaurants are going green. I had this yummy donut from Honey Dew the other day. Right now, Stew Leonard's in Connecticut is selling green bagels. Next week, Bruegger's will also have green bagels. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Friday, February 26, 2016

KANE'S DONUTS OPENS POP-UP SHOP IN NEWTON

Friday, February 26, 2016
Some of the finest donuts around are now being sold in Newton, but only for a limited time. Kane's has opened a pop-up shop at The Street in Chestnut Hill. It's right next to the Star Market.

Kane's is known for their huge, handcrafted donuts. I was only going to buy three or four when I stopped by today, but I wound up getting a half dozen. All of their donuts are amazing, but my favorite is their chocolate frosted. I also got a blueberry, chocolate glazed, jelly and strawberry frosted. The Kane's in Newton is open seven days a week now thru March 26th. Believe the hype! Be sure to stop by if you live nearby.

Kane's is also in the catering business. Brides and grooms are skipping out on the cake and going to DONUTS at their weddings instead, and that's where Kane's steps in:

How Kanes Donuts Became A Catering Leader One Cream Filling at a Time

THE BAGEL PLACE OPENS IN MASSACHUSETTS!

Friday, February 26, 2016
For years, The Bagel Place has been a hot spot in Burlington, Vermont. Now, they've just opened a new location in Newton, Massachusetts. The Bagel Place makes all of its big and crusty bagels fresh, in house. There are so many bagels to choose from like onion, blueberry, everything, cinnamon sugar, cheddar dill, Montreal spice and cracked wheat. Cheese lovers like me will love their Asiago cheese bagel. I enjoy it with butter to really bring out the cheese flavor. The Bagel Place also rotates special bagels. They had a S'mores bagel when I visited. They also have a bunch of homemade cream flavored cheeses like strawberry, honey walnut, scallion and vegetable.

The Bagel Place also offers breakfast sandwiches, which make for the perfect hearty breakfast. They are also open for lunch and have a full menu of sandwiches. I'm interested in trying "The Vermonter," which has smoked turkey, ham, cheddar and apple slices. Other sandwiches include a Caprese, hummus with veggies, chicken guac, classic Italian and spicy chicken. You can also create your own salad or choose from one of their soups of the day.

 The Bagel Place is open for breakfast and lunch everyday. 

@TheBagelPlaceMA
www.thebagelplacemass.com


UPDATE: The Needham location of The Bagel Place closed in September 2019.

Monday, February 22, 2016

1912 CAFE INSIDE L.L. BEAN'S FLAGSHIP STORE IN MAINE

Monday, February 22, 2016
The 1912 Cafe is a cozy spot for a quick meal inside of L.L. Bean's flagship store in Freeport, Maine. The 1912 Cafe specializes in healthy meals that are made in house with no artificial ingredients.

I recently stopped by for lunch and ordered their "Mainely Cuban" sandwich with a side of clam chowder. The chowder was think and hearty. The sandwich was stuffed with smoked ham, Swiss cheese and their amazing house pickles. The combination of flavors on that sandwich was so good! Those homemade pickles are amazing. They sell them by the jar to take home. 

Their menu also features several wheat wraps and salads. Go healthy with their Mediterranean salad or their Nuts & Berries Salad. They also offer cheese and hummus plates, along with plenty of vegetarian and gluten free options. The 1912 Cafe is also open for breakfast from 9am- noon every day with a menu that features breakfast sandwiches and bagels

www.1912cafe.com

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

INSIDE OF THE SPARKLING NEW CHICK-FIL-A IN FRAMINGHAM

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Check out those tents. There is no doubt that something special is going on at 1 Worcester Road in Framingham, Massachusetts. On February 18, 2016 around 6:30 in the morning, this brand new Chick-Fil-A will open its doors to the community. These people started camping out 24 hours in advance to be among the first to step inside. When I left around 2pm today, there were about two dozen people planning to spend the night. The first 100 customers in line will get free Chick-Fil-A for a year! Until then, they certainly aren't going unnoticed. They've been hooked up with free food and drinks.
Eat Up New England was lucky enough to be one of the first to step inside the new Chick-Fil-A in Framingham and check out that delicious spread of food! Pictured clockwise from left: Chicken biscuit with fresh fruit and hash browns, Waffle Potato Fries, chicken wrap with fresh fruit, breakfast wrap, Greek Yogurt with fruit, Chick-Fil-A Cobb Salad, Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich and their Grilled Market Salad with apples, blueberries and bleu cheese crumbles and Chick-Fil-A Nuggets.
Chick-Fil-A goodies including their famous Chocolate Chunk Cookies. They are baked fresh in house everyday. I brought them to work and they were a massive hit with my co-workers. Other desserts include milkshakes (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and cookies & cream), ice cream cones and their AMAZING frosted lemonade. Order this when you visit!
Eat Up New England got to step behind their counter for their Chick-Fil-A Backstage Restaurant Tour. (Sorry, no pictures allowed.) All of their workers were on hand training. One young lady was making fresh-squeezed lemonade. Chick-Fil-A is one of the largest buyers of Sunkist lemons worldwide! I also saw their pressure cookers. There are a bunch of them to cook their chicken. They've been cooking it in peanut oil since the beginning some 50 years ago. Another fun fact I learned on the tour, they use White Lily Flour for their tasty breakfast biscuits.
Check out Chick-Fil-A's indoor playground. It's inside so children can enjoy it all year long. There's even a lower level with a play area for toddlers.
On the tour, I learned that Chick-Fil-A is committed to healthy food. These are their new grilled chicken nuggets. They are only 140 calories without the sauce! They are also offering a new Superfood Side - a blend of kale, Broccolini, dried sour cherries and topped with a maple vinaigrette dressing. I sampled that, too, and really enjoyed it. It's a good alternative if you want to skip the fries but still indulge in a chicken sandwich.
Check out their cozy dining room. Chick-Fil-A has also been honored for their speedy drive-thru service. 90% of their breakfast business is done at the drive-thru, while 60% of their day customers use the drive-thru. All Chick-Fil-A's are open six days a week. They have always been closed on Sundays to give workers a day with their families, something they really appreciate.
Welcome to Framingham! Community events will be posted on this board. The owner of this franchise is Mark Parker, a longtime MetroWest resident.
Before today, I had only tried Chick-Fil-A at the airport in Atlanta. Today, I got a real taste for why so many people love this restaurant. I loved their Spicy Chicken Deluxe Sandwich. It has just enough spice and the chicken is so fresh and tasty. The fries are soooo good. I learned about their Chick-Fil-A Sauce today. It's a blend of BBQ sauce, Ranch and honey mustard. It was created in one of their stores. It's perfect for dipping those waffle fries in or to spread on your sandwich.
Fresh-squeezed lemonade, Frosted Lemonade and my restaurant tour hat!
Chick-Fil-A is giving back to the community by collecting books from customers and donating them. 
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