cheferella's Profile
Food Network Star
I'm reasonably sure that Michelle was a contestant on Bravo's Top Chef, but got kicked off relatively early.
Least bad sushi in Northampton MA?
I've always been a fan of House of Teriyaki in North Amherst. I went once with a group of Japanese graduate students (studying in New York), who pronounced the sushi the best that they had had in the States.
Vanilla beans
Penzey's also does mail order and their shipping prices are very reasonable. They have a selection of vanilla beans at various price points. I find the Mexican beans very tasty and inexpensive.
Sugar Shack Season
Gray's was a truly special place. People came for the experience, as much as for the food. The Gray family really went out of their way to give people that experience. The wait in line was often 2 or more hours to be seated, but they had coffee and doughnuts available, and outdoor games and activities for both grownups and kids. And the food was really good, served with warm maple syrup. If they were boiling, you could watch from the dining room. I worked the deep fryer for 7 seasons, and was terribly sad when they closed. Maybe someday the grandkids will be interested in opening the restaurant again.
Sugar Shack Season
I had breakfast this morning at South Face Farm in Ashfield. Alas, it is their last weekend of this season. Food and service both very good, and they were boiling. The prices are quite reasonable. It's a bit of a jaunt into the hills, but the views are spectacular, and they have birdfeeders at the windows, so we watched the birds while eating cinnamon bread french toast and corn fritters. I used to work at Gray's Sugarhouse back in the day, and South Face is a pretty close second!
Saturday Lunch in Northampton
Wow, I must respectfully disagree with the last post. In my experience, the food at the Hotel Northampton is truly awful, and the food at the Brewery is merely okay at best, and the service is generally pretty bad at both places. Paul & Elizabeth's is pretty good, although a bit on the "crunchy" side for some. The food at Amanouz is very tasty.
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Paul & Elizabeth's
150 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
Amanouz Cafe
44 Main St, Northampton, MA 01060
Great Burger in Pittsfield at Port Smitt's!!
I've eaten at PortSmitts a couple of times, as I live very close by, and both times was pretty underwhelmed by the quality of the food. The onion soup I sent back, something I rarely do, as it was a pure salt-lick, and therefore inedible. I had a burger on my second visit which was very overcooked and tasted old. I've had much better burgers at the Lantern on North Street. Overall I find the menu and food at PortSmitts to be very pedestrian, and most of what I've tasted has clearly been pre-fab food. I'd love to support this restaurant, but I think they need to step it up several notches.
Most Over-Rated New England Shoreline Restaurant
I'll second Landfall in Woods Hole. I had one of the worst meals of my life there, and it was seriously expensive as well. The service was as bad as the food--my husband and I decided that the waitstaff never came back to check on their tables to avoid the inevitable complaints. But the view was lovely!!
Asian food in the Northern Berkshires?
The absolute best (by FAR) asian food in the Berkshires is at Flavours on McKay Street in Pittsfield. Delicious handmade dumplings and fabulous curries, etc. Truly fine food.
Anyone eaten at the restaurant Noodles in Lenox MA?
The name of the restaurant is Nudel.
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Nudel
35 Church Street, Lenox, MA 01240
Looking for a great cake in Western Massachusetts
I have always loved the cakes from Henion Bakery in Amherst--gorgeous on the outside and delicious, too.
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Henion Bakery
174 N Pleasant St, Amherst, MA
Xicoh Express, Pittsfield
My DH and I have gotten food delivered from them. We tried the enchiladas and fajitas, and also got some soup. The food was pretty good, and came with delicious rice and beans, and the soup was really tasty. There were 2 kinds of enchiladas on the platter we got, and they each had very interesting and distinct sauces. They don't, however, do a great job of keeping the food hot while en route, so we needed to heat everything up. We tried to order delivery from them again a week or so ago, and they weren't delivering that day for some reason. I think they have a few kinks to work out, but we'll definitely be ordering from them again--I'm really looking forward to trying some of the more interesting things on their menu.
Nudel in Lenox: Exciting New Work in Progress
I'm really fascinated by the number of people who have mentioned in this thread that their food at Nudel was underseasoned, yet still are giving the place a good review. I'm not trying to be a curmudgeon, but the use of salt and pepper is a rather basic concept in cooking.
Nudel in Lenox: Exciting New Work in Progress
I got a sandwich to go from Nudel last week and will give it very mixed reviews. I called and ordered the pate sandwich and when I arrived to pick it up, I waited at the counter area. There were 3 (!) guys in the kitchen, one of whom was clearly the owner, and none of them even acknowledged my presence, and there were only 7 people seated in the restaurant at that point.. The server was missing in action, so I stood waiting for someone to wait on me for more than five minutes. Finally the server came out and handed me a cardboard box and the bill, which was nearly $10.00. When I got back to work and opened the box I was quite surprised to find that there was ONLY the sandwich (I guess I thought there would be a little "go with" for that kind of money). The sandwich was okay, although didn't have very much of the pate on it, but it sure had a lot of "local greens". I love good food and don't mind paying for it, but this had a sort of rip-off feel to it for me. I'm not sure I feel the need to go back any time soon.
Suggestions for Lunch and Dinner in Arlington/Bennington/Manchester Vermont Area
I really like the sandwiches and the homemade potato chips at Zoe's Deli in Manchester. They bake their own bread, and their soups are also good. I second All Day and Onions--it's not extraordinary, but consistently good food and service. Their onion soup is especially tasty.
Smokehouse Needed!!
I don't know the name of the place, but there's a wonderful smokehouse in Proctorsville, VT that makes terrific pepperoni and other sausages, as well as bacon. I'm sure you could google it. I had some of their products this fall, and the pepperoni was especially good.
MGM Foxwoods
My husband and I had a very nice meal at Cedar's restaurant in Foxwoods in September. We sat in the bar area, which is lovely and could order off both the bar menu and the dinner menu, so we got entrees from each. The pork chop with caramelized onions and apples was especially good. Prices were quite reasonable.
Foxwoods Eats
My husband and I were at Foxwoods about a month ago, and had a very nice meal in the tavern of the Cedars restaurant. In the tavern you can order off the tavern menu, or the main dining room menu, and we actually got entrees off of each menu. The pork chop with caramelized apples and onions was yummy, and we also got a Thai steak salad with mango that was delicious. The price was quite reasonable--we each had a drink, we got two entrees and a side of creamed spinach and had an appetizer and the bill was under $70. I was frankly surprised to find good food at a decent price in the generally overpriced world of a casino!
Seafood recommendations around Gloucester / Cape Ann
I was very resistant to going to a place called "Lobsta Land" when we went last fall, but was pleasantly surprised. Their lobster roll was wonderful, as was their chowder, and everybody else in our party loved all that they ordered. We went back again when visiting friends in the late spring, and again had a wonderful meal, with great service.
Pittsfield/Lenox
I'd be careful re: the Brazilian place. My husband and I were asked if we'd like our chicken rare when we went there a few months ago. The stuff on the hot buffet was cold and pretty tasteless.
Alta's in Lenox, MA
I talked with someone who went to their opening party. Apparently only the bar is open thus far, and they just opened on Friday night.
Rockport, MA - Father's Day Dinner
The Blacksmith Shop is long gone. I've enjoyed all meals that I've eaten at My Place by the Sea, and the view is certainly spectacular!
Nodine's smokehouse on 63 in Goshen,CT
Pekarski's in South Deerfield (on route 116N) is still very much in business and their kielbasa is amazingly good.
Try Nodine's smoked duck breast. I used to buy it when I was chef of a catering company in the Berkshires (they ship) and it's the best I've found.
Veggie Friendly in Lenox Area?
Check out Flavors, which is located (unfortunately) at the Econlodge on route 7 North. Great Malaysian food, although the atmosphere isn't anything to write home about. Everything is made on the premesis, and tastes divine. My husband and I have also enjoyed the food at Pho Saigon, a relatively new Vietnamese place in Lee. Nice noodle dishes and great condiments.
Inn or hotel, Fireplace and Tub
Check out The Village Inn in Lenox, Mass. Great packages (you have to call to book). Amazing restaurant on site, great tavern with live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and a bunch of rooms with fireplaces and jacuzzis. I LOVE the food there!
best near Mass MoCA
I've had a couple of really nice meals at Milan (I think it's also called 155 Main) on Main Street in North Adams. They do a roasted beet and goat cheese salad that's really wonderful. I also loved the skirt steak they had on the menu.
Bakery in Great Barrington?
My favorite cakes in the area come from Cakewalk on Main Street in Lee. A bit of a drive, but worth it!
Best Caterers in the Pioneer Valley
Check out For the Health of It, located in Easthampton also. Jen (the owner) is an amazing cook and caterer. She does great things with Pan-Asian flavors and vegetarian cuisine.
What happened to Pearl's Restaurant -Great Barrington?
I think you meant to say that "John Andrews never disappoints", rather than "never FAILS to disappoint".
Fave caterer in Northampton/Amherst area?
He catered my friend's wedding (and she's also a caterer in the area--For the Health of It ) and did a fine job. The food was plentiful and tasty. There were stationary and passed hors d'ouevres, followed by a rather lavish buffet. His staff were professional and personable. He did a great job!
