Category: Casual Eats

Whether you’re looking to enjoy a quick bite to eat at the bar or sitting down to relax without the fanfare associated with white linen and fancy wine menus, Casual Eats takes a look at all of the food that can be enjoyed when you’re able to sit back and unwind.

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#SundayFunday – Carl’s Oxford Diner: Where Breakfast is Reinvented

A diner fare at Carl’s Oxford Diner in Oxford, MA.

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, providing energy and sustenance for the activities that lay ahead. According to new evidence, we should consume 15-25 percent of our daily energy intake at breakfast, yet it seems that less than half of the adult population take this notion seriously. And we know why.

Breakfast is the hardest meal of the day to plan. Between beating the morning commute and starting our day with high levels of stress, it is hard to sit down and enjoy an uninterrupted meal during the week but at Carl’s Oxford Diner, you can dig into a hefty breakfast way passed the suggested 7 am breakfast time.

Carl’s famous omelets at Carl’s Oxford Diner in Oxford, MA.
Carl’s famous omelets at Carl’s Oxford Diner in Oxford, MA.

According to popular belief, the ideal breakfast is comprised of two eggs, a pancake, a strip of bacon and maybe toast. But at Carl’s Oxford Diner, that meal plan is weak and doesn’t fulfill the criteria for a proper morning routine. Ordering breakfast at Carl’s means taking in more than the suggested 25 percent of our daily energy and we are okay with that. While the diner offers your typical diner menu – a menu lined with pancakes, French toast, and home fries – it is the serving portion that makes us stamp Carl’s Oxford Diner with the seal of #SundayFunday approval.  Ordering for two at Carl’s includes 18 pieces of bacon, 10 pancakes, a full plate of home fries and half a loaf of toast and if you’re dining alone, well…we wish you good luck finishing your meal. Carl’s famous omelets are of massive proportions. The shaved steak and cheese – you can substitute the shaved steak for pastrami – is made with five eggs, two cups full of shaved steak, a few slices of cheese and served on top of a plate of home fries and bacon. If you weren’t a breakfast lover before, Carl’s will change your perspective. The best part of the massive portions are the prices. With loaded omelets starting under $9 and sandwiches starting at $6, you can eat for hours and still stay under that magical $20 budget.

Our one request is that you prepare yourself for the wait on Sunday as the line at Carl’s pours out through both entrance doors all morning. The weekend schedule is tough but if you’re a dedicated foodie, you’ll bring some friends, occupy your time and wait to indulge in Carl’s ultimate breakfast meals.  And while you’re waiting, ask about the professional eater who stops in to eat 33 pancakes in one sitting.

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#SundayFunday – Stuffed Bacon Donuts: The Hangover’s Cure

The Stuffed Bacon Donuts from The Hangover Pub in Worcester, MA

Let’s just get to the point. The debate over the cure for a hangover has loomed over our generation for far too long. The solution for bouncing back after a night out on the town is not hidden in the medicine aisle of your local drug store nor is it fizzing among the bubbles of your lemon-lime Sprite. Worcester’s Hangover Pub, however, has unearthed a cure of their own, and it can be found on their dessert menu. They believe you’ll find solace between hefty bites of a stuffed bacon donut.

While we have all experienced one or two questionable Saturday nights, only a handful of us have soaked up the experienced with a dessert so good it solidifies the true meaning of #SundayFunday. The Hangover Pub isn’t your typical bar serving up half-pound burgers and fries. Instead, the Hangover has made a name for itself with Chef Michael Arrastia’s infusion of bacon into every meal on the menu. From the lobster and bacon stuffed mofongo – a dish that kicks up Latin flavors with a little sofrito wine sauce – to the triple pork ramen – a meal filled with three variations of pork – the Hangover Pub carves its name in bold letters marking the home of Worcester’s hub for indulgence.

Vanilla ice cream stuffed between two donuts, topped with dripping cereal milk glaze and a breakfast cereal crust – a combination of fruity pebbles, cinnamon toast crunch and bacon bits – make the stuffed bacon donuts a cure for more than just hangovers. The sweet and savory combination explodes with every bite. From the sweet vanilla ice cream to the crunchy bits of thick maple bacon, the stuffed bacon donuts are worthy of a #SundayFunday visit. If you’re not looking to cure a hangover with this sweet plate, then pair the stuffed bacon donut with the Warm Soul cocktail – a maple bourbon with smoked caramel, Irish cream, Nitro Hot Coffee topped with whipped cream – to magnify the mark of a #SundayFunday.