Category: Pairings

Welcome to Pairings, a column dedicated to the infallible union of food and drink. Join us each month as we celebrate the beverages that enhance the dishes we love in the Commonwealth.

Posted on by

It’s Fry-Day on a Monday at Kummerspeck

You will be hard pressed to find a better deal than fried chicken Mondays at Kummerspeck on Water Street. Half a bird “with fixins” is just $14, not to mention their $20 all you can eat rate. What are fixins, you ask? Biscuits, cornbread, hot honey, potato salad, collards, and slaw. Even the accoutrements mean business.

Chef/owners Matt Mahoney and Rachel Coit have picked a worthy pair to entice, offering first responders and teachers 10% off their bills (excluding alcohol) on fried chicken Mondays all summer long. Kummerspeck’s social media presence alone sets them apart from most of the other carefully curated acts around town. A recent post directed at local educators read, ”It’s August and the clock’s ticking. Pretty soon you’ll be surrounded by those little maniacs again. Get your chicken and boozy limeade on while you still can!” Quick wit coupled with a fair amount of self-deprecation might make you forget that Mahoney and Coit’s combined resumes have placed them in some of the top kitchens in the region. One bite of fried chicken bliss will help you to remember.

Mondays also mean $5 cans of Medusa including their mid-strength American IPA, Prosperous. Kummerspeck’s fried chicken is juicy on its own, so the sharp, clean bittering of Apollo hops makes a can of Medusa Prosperous the perfect pair. The addition of Zythos casts off aromas of grapefruit and pine from your glass along with high acidity to refresh the palate after each crunchy, caramelized bite. This combination is sure to bring you the balance and fulfilment that you need to start your week. (Or give it up, and order a rootbeer float. You deserve it.)

We suggest you arrive early or make a reservation because Kummerspeck’s fried chicken Mondays can get pretty busy; after all, it might not be Friday but it’s certainly fry-day. Eat to your heart’s content.

Posted on by

Buck’s First Rodeo

Stonecow’s Farmhouse Saison pairs with Buck's Spicy Cougar from Buck's on Green Street in Worcester, MA.

There is now a place for everyone on Green Street: folksy cafe goers, beer nerds, club kids… Meet the cowboys; they’re headed to Buck’s.

I never mind a deer head on the wall, just as long as there’s a sporting tale to follow. The same can be said of country music; behind every hit lies a gripping story of love, loss, debauchery – or if you’re lucky, all three. I find the smell of pine and bourbon intoxicating when the sun shines late in the day, although that can be an elusive combination to pin down in the city of Worcester. Until now. Next time you’re in a small town mood with a big city zip code, rest assured that you’ll get along just fine at Buck’s Whiskey & Burger Bar.

A sign on the exposed brick wall reads, “Whiskey Wednesday is like Taco Tuesday for Badasses.” They’re not joking. There are some no-nonsense spirits pouring at Buck’s, particularly from Japan. Yamazaki 12 was the first Japanese single malt whiskey to take Americans by storm with pointed notes of honey and citrus. This tropical, medium-bodied whiskey cuts through complicated flavor profiles with a touch of bright acidity. Pair Yamazaki 12 with something outrageous like the Stuffed Buck, a beef burger infused with bacon and blue cheese, then topped with arugula and whiskey caramelized onions.

Since you’re playing cowboy (cowperson?) for the night, it’s only fitting to order Stonecow’s Farmhouse Saison. Aromas of lemon zest and peppercorns will suit an order like the Spicy Cougar, a burger (I opted for turkey) topped with aged cheddar cheese, black pepper crusted bacon, arugula, guacamole, and some seriously spicy Buck’s sauce. Sessionable beers are key for me when it comes to a lot of heat. At just 4.5% abv, this beer is superbly crushable.

Buck’s is open at 62 Green Street until midnight every day of the week. Giddy up.