From May 25 through May 28 Berkshire Grown, which promotes locally produced foods in Berkshire County, will be sponsoring Farmed+Foraged: A Weekend of Spring Flavors. More than two dozen restaurants in the Berkshires will be participating. Each will be offering prix fixe menus and a la carte selections that feature Berkshire grown ingredients -- not just produce, but artisanal...
From May 25 through May 28 Berkshire Grown, which promotes locally produced foods in Berkshire County, will be sponsoring Farmed+Foraged: A Weekend of Spring Flavors.
More than two dozen restaurants in the Berkshires will be participating. Each will be offering prix fixe menus and a la carte selections that feature Berkshire grown ingredients -- not just produce, but artisanal cheeses, meat from locally raised heritage breeds, foraged wild edibles, and other locally sourced food products.
Some of the restaurants involved in Farmed+Foraged include Allium Restaurant, Cafe ADAM, Fiori Restaurant, and the Route 7 Grill, all in Great Barrington; Cafe Reva and Baba Louie's in Pittsfield; Firefly and Cafe Lucia in Lenox; Gramercy Bistro in North Adams, and Mezze in Williamstown.
A complete listing of those eateries offering Farmed+Foraged experiences can be found at berkshiregrown.org under the "Farmed+Foraged" link on the home page. Berkshire Grown answers at (413) 528-0041.
Lobster lovers, take note; the Munich Haus in Chicopee is holding its second Lobsterfest of the season on June 5. The Fest, which will be held on the restaurant deck (weather permitting), begins at 6:30 p.m. and features a six- to nine-pound lobster served with oven roasted potatoes and seasonal vegetable.
The menu also includes chips and dip, homemade clam chowder, Caesar salad, and a homemade strawberry sundae.
Price for per attendee is $90, but a couple can split a lobster for $110. Contact the Munich Haus at (413) 594-8788 for reservations.
A note from Robin Lamothe, one of the owners of the Steaming Tender Restaurant in Palmer, brought word that the restaurant's 1909 copper-clad dining car, which is positioned on a railroad siding adjacent to the restaurant, has been completely redecorated.
Steaming Tender is promoting the car, which seats 30, as a memorable venue for small social occasions -- wedding rehearsal dinners, birthday celebrations, or family gatherings.
Steaming Tender also offers a four-course Romantic Dinner for Two aboard the car; private butler service is part of that dinner experience.
Photos of the rail car and its authentically restored Victorian interiors can be found on Steaming Tender's Facebook page.
In the message Lamothe additionally reported that the restaurant's patio is now open for full service. Steaming Tender can be reached at (413) 283-2744.
Early June is a special time in Northampton. The academic semester is over and the students are (mostly) gone, yet it's still too early for tourists and summer conference goers to populate the community's public spaces.
Perhaps the existence of such a lull in the action was the motivation behind the Northampton Business Improvement District's decision to organize Northampton's Restaurant Week for the first week in June.
The 2012 Restaurant Week runs from June 4 through June 10; twenty of Northampton's downtown eateries are signed up to participate. As is customary, each will be offering a specially priced $21 three-course menu that incorporates three appetizer, entree, and dessert possibilities.
Among the restaurants involved in the event are Eclipse on Main Street, which will be serving choices like beef Wellington and seared salmon with dill cream; Paul and Elizabeth's, where wild Gulf shrimp tempura is on the agenda; and Teapot, whose Restaurant Week selections are to include braised duck, Grand Marnier shrimp, and basil delight.
A full listing, including menus, of restaurants observing the Week can be found at www.northamptonrestaurantweek.com. Some of the participating operations are already taking reservations.
More information on the 2012 Northampton Restaurant Week can be had by calling the Northampton Business Improvement District at (413) 582-0723
Chandler's Restaurant at the Yankee Candle Flagship in South Deerfield will be reprising some of its most popular special events in June.
These include a Berkshire Brewing Beer Dinner on June 8, which offers both a brewery tour and a four-course dinner. The evening starts at 6 p.m.; cost to attend is $45.
Kids Cooking Classes will be held on June 2, July 14 and August 4. The one-hour sessions are designed to let children explore cooking in a safe, no-pressure environment. Cost is $25 per child.
Fancy Nancy Luncheons are planned for June 9 and 23. Both events provide little divas the chance to step out in their "fancy" best while ordering off the restaurant's regular kid's menu. Highlight of the get-together is a reading of Jane O'Connor's "Fancy Nancy."
Reservations for any of these programs can be made by calling (413) 665-1277.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College's hospitality and culinary arts program and has over 35 years of restaurant and educational experience. Please send items of interest to Off the Menu at the Republican, P.O. Box 2350, Springfield, MA 01102; Robert can also be reached at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com