EVENTS listed free

Tenth Annual North Quabbin Garlic and Arts Festival
Saturday and Sunday, September 20 and 21, 2008
10 a.m. to 5 PM both days. Shine or Rain
Location: Forster’s Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Rd. Orange, MA 01364
Directions and Info: www.garlicandarts.org
 (978) 544-9023
Admission: Adults $5 per day, $8 for weekend pass. Kids 12 and under free.

Calendar of Calendars

Amherst Area

Jumptown

North Quabbin

At the Orange Library

Quabbin Woods - Roadside Americana menu, major credit cards, no smoking. Breakfast all-day Sunday and regular hearty meals and sandwiches during the  week. It's a warm and tasty place to meet a friend for breakfast or lunch and recently added a 25-seat additional dining room which can accommodate a meeting or larger party. Prices are moderate and the soups are pretty good. Closed Mondays.

Tool Town Pizza, Exchange Street, Athol. Twenty-four  years of pizza and subs. Quick and friendly service from subs to pizzas. Owner Costa Kousilis and wife Catharine make sure the ingredients are fresh and tasty. Well done and at the top of  its class.

FOOD NEWS -

Farmer's Table Opens In Barre

We had a pleasant visit recently with Anita Lockesmith of Petersham who seems to have put down her painter's brush and picked up a spatula. She opened the Farmer's Table opposite the south end of the Barre Common. The restaurant is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a breakfast/brunch buffet for $11.95, breakfasts and lunch quesadillas and enchiladas with fresh breads, salads and soup special. Eat indoors or step out to a spacious country porch and enjoy and weather. Moderately priced and with friendly, neighborly service.

Anne's Dairy Drive-in, also on 2A - is Open for the 2008 season. Subway in Athol has closed.

Villa Pizza, formerly Dona's II is open on Route 2A. Pizza, etc. in a large dining room or takeout. Country Style Pizza finally opened. It's across the street in Athol from Ledgard's and Eddie's. The interior renovations are well done with booths for 20. The pizza is thin crust Italian style for those who prefer it that way. 

ASIAN CHOICES are to be found in the region and China Gourmet, just east of the Route 2 Rotary on Route 2A in Greenfield need apologize to no one. It is the best of the regional bunch. A robust banquet of traditional Asian offerings has been augmented by fresh sushi dishes. Just a good place for those who aspire to eat with chopsticks.

Looking for Lunch in Gardner? Stop in for the buffet at Yen Yen near Ocean State Job Lot and Aubuchon Hardware. Fresh Bok Choy and gingery sauces on offer along with a bottomless bowl of tasty hot and sour soup. Under $10.

Shelburne Coffee Roasters on Route 2. Pastries and  locally roasted fresh coffee. A good quick stop when out on the road.

Lazy Mary's - open for pizza in Hardwick. Bill and Wendy Westman, owners of the Hardwick General Store gave the store a rest for several months, but have recently re-opened as Lazy Mary's Pizzeria and Bakery. See related item, this page. They deliver in Petersham for an extra fee..

The Black Crow Tavern 29 West St. Orange has new owners. Debra Lucey and Bill Booth bought the tavern a few months ago. The tavern has two full floors and offers something for everyone. The first floor is open weekdays and is a place to meet for a game of pool, to watch a game, or visit with friends. The second floor is open Friday and Saturday night and offer karaoke and dance music. Space is also available for club meetings and parties.978-544-1922

Roadside Bar-b-Que in Barre - Carter Stevens Farmstand will be returning Friday and Saturday nights for the summer serving wood-fired ribs, chicken, shrimp, burgers and hot dogs. Eat out under a post and beam pavilion on the foundation of a former farm workshop.

Roadside Reviewed (SEASONAL) : We tried the  burger and ribs at Carter & Stevens last evening.  Great, really great... everything was done to near perfection.  Best burger I think I've ever had (from their own, grass-fed herd) and ribs, crispy on the outside, moist and tender inside, made even more delicious with some of their homemade sauce. Friendly, attentive grillmaster and other folk working there. Don't ignore the ice cream for afters. I also give it (have only tried the coffee flavor, so far) rave reviews.  Made from the milk of their own cows, and wonderful.  The last evenings for the barbeque this season are soon upcoming (8/31 and 9/1/07)...so don't miss it. MM FLYNN

Main Street Diner 311 Main Street Athol - The Main Street Diner is a family-owned and operated business with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Mother and son, Yvette Reed and Eric Gray serve up generous portions including daily breakfast and lunch specials, chili, homemade soups, sauces, and desserts. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch of soup and a sandwich, one of their freshly made salad plates, or a full dinner, you could not find a better place for lunch. As for breakfast, you could easily become addicted to their omelets, Belgian waffles, breakfast sandwiches and homemade muffins. - Terri McGrath

Copper Angel, Route 2A West, 199 Main Street, Erving. The first time we visited, we found the flavors uninspiring and the wait staff unfocussed. Several months on, we went back and found the service exemplary, even on a busy pre-holiday Friday evening. A requested substitution was allowed without a murmur. The ginger-flavored Malaysian Chicken Wing appetizer was a treat.  A seafood medley over pasta with Marinara sauce was cooked perfectly and the duck drew raves from a companion. We didn't sample the deserts but it took an effort. Entrees are $15 to $17 in one of the few North Quabbin eateries that actually uses tablecloths. Well worth the trip.

Tea House Restaurant, 326 East Main, Orange. A completely renovated building and a friendly staff  along with a broad selection of typical Asian food dishes will likely make The Tea House a permanent and much welcomed addition to the area's list of restaurants. Entree ingredients are fresh and the "hot" dishes can be tuned to your palate. Owner Kan So of Manchester, N.H. has added a much-needed  and much appreciated stopping place to the North Quabbin's list of places to eat out.

The Big Fish - Inland Waterway - Miami, FL. If you get to Miami, definitely go to this place. Sit outside on the stone quay by the canal and watch the manatee chase the minnows. The tug boats and cargo ships alone are the best show in town. Even if the Italian seafood was not excellent, this would be worth it.

Yummy Garden - South Barre - Uninspiring but capable presentation of Sichuan and Cantonese dishes. Capable service and fresh ingredients. The hot and sour soup is pretty good and lunch from the special menu is under seven bucks.

Country Mischief - Templeton Common. We had a good potato and leek soup the other day. If you have to shop for kitschy Americana, then stop for lunch at the same time.

McCusker's Market - Miller's Falls, a grocery with a deli full of tasty sandwiches and dishes. McCusker's is busy on spring and autumn weekends, packed full of good energy. A great place to stop for a sandwich and some soup with coffee. The deli has a broad selection of tasty cheeses.

Anne's Dairy Drive-In - (SEASONAL) with a full menu of  the usual in ice cream, fried clams and haddock and burgers, pastrami and hot dogs. Park and eat in your car or at an outside picnic table. Best on sunny days. New Athol Road in Orange.

Orange House of Pizza - aka OHOP Center of Orange - Another dependable menu with quick service on subs and pizza. Takeout and delivery available. The sausage sub with peppers and onions is outstanding.

The Country Store - On the Common in Petersham - offers lunch.

McKusker's Market, Shelburne Falls, produces fresh and healthy sandwich choices for residents and travelers. Dean's Beans supplies the coffee and the cookies are to die for.

The 1880 House in Orange has expanded seating and is now open for dinner on Firiday and Saturday nights. At recent visit, we found an interesting menu of salads, wraps, grilled wraps and 11 different toasted paninni. Service was fast and friendly. Prices are moderate. Dean's Beans supplies the coffee. Open from 6 a.m. weekdays for coffee and pastry, from 8 a.m. on Saturday. Closed Sundays.

Eddie's - 460 South Street in Athol, REVISITED  A first visit to Eddie's more than a year ago was a disappointment. We finally went back this week and found this bastion of the "American" menu working better this time. The wait staff was friendly and attentive, the Fisherman's platter was ample and nicely cooked in fresh oil; a pasta dish came with ravioli, meatball and sausage. But the requested extra tartar sauce never materialized, a cup of tea was served with neither lemon nor milk. The waitress forgot to ask about a choice of soup or salad. Overall, the devil is in the details. There is plenty of room for improvement, especially with prices rising toward $20 entrees.

Lazy Mary's Pizzeria & Bakery opened in Hardwick August 17. On a recent Thursday night, we found a busy pizza shop offering thin crust Italian brick oven Pizza, fast and friendly service and fresh ingredients at prices in-line with other pizza makers around the region. Small pizza starts at $7.99, large plain at $11.99. Wendy Westman said she and her husband Bill, hired in Santo Bruno, captain of the U.S. Pizza Team (who even knew we had one?) to help with training. Take out, eat in or sit outside on a spacious porch. Delivery to Petersham, at least, is in the works. Wendy said the shop makes the dough fresh every day and uses fresh tomatoes in the home-made sauce. The menu begins with 11 pizza choices. Or you can pick your own toppings. Start or finish with three salad choices, garlic knots or Sausage Rolls.

Chef Wok - Near Starrett's in Athol - started putting out a lunch buffet for $7 - $4.99 on Monday and Tuesday. We haven't found any world-class Asian cuisine in the North Quabbin but we have been willing to sit in on occasion for a varied buffet that  features oddities like French Fried onion rings, lettuce and tomato salad and shrimp with cocktail sauce. Sadly, the fare is no longer so varied as it once was and the buffet is allowed to run low all too often.

The Ale House - downtown gardner - is a comfortable space that has operated in the past as Papillon and as Il Forno.  In this incarnation, the same brick walls are the main decoration. A retort for micro-brewing has been added at the rear. We stopped for lunch the other day and tried a rack of ribs, a pastrami reuben and a burger. Beverages included two cups of coffee and a lemonade. The ribs were the best of the three offerings with a thick sauce. The service was excellent and the ribs were good. The burger was pedestrian and the pastrami decidedly middle of the road. For $57 (including tip) we  expected better.

Oriental House Route 2A west of Orange center has been many things over the years, including, on occasion, a good place to eat. We stopped in for lunch the other day on advice of a friend and were pleasantly surprised by tasty, well-presented Asian food. Service was fast - the meal was tasty and moderately priced. A good place to eat again.

Carter & Stevens Farm Fieldstone Grill (SEASONAL)   opens 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday with reasonably priced wood-fired bar-b-qued ribs, chicken and shrimp, a double burger and side orders. We tried the ribs ($10) and ate at a picnic table under a post and beam pavilion under the watchful eye of a friendly farm dog. The food was good but we thought side orders (baked potato for $2.75 and Loaded Potato for $5.25 were good but a bit pricey.) Order inside the farm stand and bring your order out to the cook. No jackets or ties required. (7-14)

Country Style Pizza - 11 Tunnel Street, Athol. Pizza is thin crust or regular and according to several customers we talked to on Saturday night, was well received and a small single topping thin crust pizza was just $5.65. We also ordered a generous portion of fish and chips for $8.25 that included French fries, tartar sauce and a small side salad with a light Italian dressing as well as a piece of French bread. A nice addition. Prices are similar to other pizza shops in the area and the menu includes seafood selections, grinders and other entrees. Worth the wait and worth a try.

Pete n Henry's - We took a ride by Pete and Henry's in Royalston the other day and wondered how we had strayed so far and so long from a regional classic. If you hanker for heaps of fries and clams with bellies - beef or a personal pizza - go there. Its still a traditional New England roadside seafood and other stuff kind of place even though the original owners have long since passed  it on to new owners willing to keep on doing what works. Head north on 202 and turn left just under Route 2. It's out there in South Royalston.

Good Morning, Athol across from the Athol Daily News great croissants and other pastries and American breakfasts in the morning. Expect a generous cup of coffee. Lunch (not open on Tuesdays) features African flavors over rice, creative crepes and a few American ideas too. Prices are moderate and, as advertised, the Habanero sauce (optional) really is really hot. Really.

Lion Den Pub - East River Street, Orange. Good food, cheap - at lunch time in a neighborhood bar environment. Get in the car and go there. It's one of those places that hides its light under a bushel. Sit in a booth or at the bar. The specials are on the white board. Yes, there is a pool table and a juke box. Get over it -The cue ball rarely lands in the gazpacho. Thursday is Fig Newton Day and Doug has taken to using Dr. Gonzo's Uncommon Condiments to spice up both the pulled pork and the tartar sauce - a capital idea. After lunch, you may one day be able to take a stroll in the new riverside park next door.

Equus - formerly Bill's Place - Formerly known as The Norway on the way to Orange on Route 2A East Main Street. - The food is plain country roadside fare at moderate prices.

Picasso, a Mediterranean Grill, The Common, Barre in the space formerly known as Ricco's.  -  Ari Pugliesi, former manager of  The Country Store, has opened his own restaurant. It's a family affair - Chris is the fry cook - featuring a fresh and interesting menu with a Mediterranean touch. Entrees are $12.95 to $15.95. Picasso now has a liquor license so BYOB days are gone as of Feb. 10.

Johnson's Sugarhouse Restaurant and Gift Shop. Wheeler Ave., Orange. Roadside, Done Right! The Johnson family has grown from a farm to a sugar house to a restaurant and gift house. We stopped on a Friday to sample the spare ribs. A slightly sweet, with a maple-flavored sauce just slid off the bone. A true delight. Home-made doughnuts, biscuits and a fair weather side porch for ice cream makes this drive into the country truly worth traveling - and sometimes waiting - for. Johnson's is no secret, so arrive early or plan to wait.. 

Patriots Roast Beef and Grill, East Templeton. Settled into an extended doublewide trailer on the edge of an auto repair shop parking lot, the owners have been serving up great pastrami, ribs and roast beef and have recently added pizza. Modest prices and quick service combine to make this a real surprise. Across the street from the Cumberland Farms on Patriots Road.

Daily Grind -Uptown Athol near CVS - moderately priced limited menu for lunch, coffee, doughnuts and muffins for the early riser. A neighborhood look and feel where many of the customers are old friends.

A Petersham resident who prefers to remain nameless recommends Eddie's, at 460 South Street  in Athol for moderately priced, Italian inspired meals. Eddie's is open  for lunches and dinners. We do not.

202 Restaurant and Driving Range - Herrick's Tavern. On the Daniel Shays Highway near Route 2. Enthusiastic young staff delivers reasonably priced entrees for lunch, at the outdoor window and in the Tavern. They also have batting cages and live music.

Carter-Stevens Farm Stand, West Street Route 122 Barre. Closed till Spring.

Seven Dragons or is it eight? - Victory Plaza, Athol. Don't go there.

Cinnamon's, Main Street in Downtown Athol, features moderately priced meals, a huge overflow dining room and the occasional inspired deviation from standard fare - the Quesadilla was a tasty menu addition the other day.

New England Sea Food Restaurant - Near the State Police Barracks Upper Common, Athol. The only seafood restaurant that features theme weeks  like "Mexican" and "Southwest" cuisine. Eat here if you like fish or fried and your friend wants something else.

Pizza Factory - Center of Orange - Another as expected menu with quick service on subs and pizza. Takeout and delivery available.

1880 House - Orange Center - Limited seating and a genuine attempt to present creative sandwiches and really good pastry. Open until 2 p.m. Next to Hume Equipment.

Latchis Grille, 6 Flat St., Brattleboro VT. New American cuisine, elegant, relaxed. On-site brewery.

Del Raye Bar & Grille, 1 Bridge St., Noho. Swanky like in New York. French-American menu.