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Foodies Take The Bull By The Horns at Bull Mansion

Mass Foodies' Worcester Foodies take Bull Mansion in March.

It’s hard to say which the Foodies enjoyed more during their visit to Bull Mansion this month: the food or the ambiance.

Okay, well, it was the food. It is always the food.

But the ambiance of the four-story historic Worcester mansion certainly held a charm to the food-obsessed group of diners. The overall stately feel of the converted 140-year-old mansion left the diners in awe – and that was before they even tried anything on the menu.

The Menu of Bull MansionThe mansion provided the perfect backdrop for an evening with a few cocktails and a delicious meal. Several cheese and charcuterie boards welcomed the Foodies to Bull Mansion’s unique and fresh menu. Items like turducken and chocolate brie may have sounded strange at first, but the Foodies said they tasted absolutely divine. The boards were a fitting introduction to the rest of the Bull Mansion menu.

From burgers to pasta, Bull Mansion’s seasonal menu didn’t lack for options.

Donna’s fresh pappardelle pasta with wild mushrooms and a goat’s milk cheese cream sauce couldn’t have been more perfect: “My pasta was perfect. Cooked Perfect, sauce-to-pasta ratio was perfect, mushrooms were fresh and cooked perfect, the flavor was delicious! Perfect!”

Joe, who also had the fresh local pasta, described the sauce as “rich and flavorful” with breadcrumbs adding a nice crunch.

Amy described her beer-braised pork shank with a tomato-Gansett beer gravy as “beautifully rustic.”

“The Moroccan Lamb Tagine was a nice lamb shank cooked perfectly and was complimented by Yukon potato, carrot, couscous, spices and had a great flavor and was a great value,” said David.

Julie said her salmon came on a puree that she could only describe as “amazing.” Bull Mansion was even able to class up the burger with something they call their “Mansion Burger.”

“The slices of bacon were more than I was expecting to get and the house-made slaw made for a refreshing bite, by adding a creamy element and a fresh crunch. The fries were cooked to a crispy, dark consistency and were seasoned generously…fabulous!” Evan said.

This author had the best soup she’s ever had. It’s hard to get too excited about soup, but Bull Mansion’s potato bisque was creamy and cheesy and made me literally want to lick the bowl clean.

A few minutes with Bull Mansion owner Victoria Mariano explained exactly how the meal came to be as fantastic as it was.

“You can taste the local farm influence,” Mariano said.

She said the meat is all local – with “happy” pigs, Mariano noted. She even has a farmer she calls daily.

With so many events and live music scheduled regularly at Bull Mansion, it won’t be hard for the foodies to find an excuse to go back and enjoy another great meal.

The Pork Shank From The Bull Mansion in Worcester, MA
The Pork Shank From The Bull Mansion in Worcester, MA
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#TacoTuesday Done Right at Plaza Azteca

Mass Foodies' Worcester Foodies group enjoying Taco Tuesday at Plaza Azteca on Lincoln Street in Worcester, MA

Mass Foodies recently celebrated #TacoTuesday the right way – with large (because why would you ever order the small?) margaritas and tons of delicious Mexican food – at Plaza Azteca on Lincoln Street in Worcester.

This small New England-local chain dishes up fresh Mexican food with all your favorite staples and margaritas so big you could swim in them. After the foodies took over a whole section of the restaurant, they were greeted with a drink menu featuring brightly-colored pictures showing all the varieties of fruity, frozen or otherwise and massive margaritas. If you’re looking for a suggestion, Robyn loved the “amazingly large” strawberry pineapple frozen margarita, though a simple “skinny” margarita pleased many diners just as much.

Writers for Mass Live and Mass Foodies enjoy the table-side guacamole station at Plaza Azteca on Lincoln Street in Worcester, MA.
Writers for Mass Live and Mass Foodies enjoy the table-side guacamole station at Plaza Azteca on Lincoln Street in Worcester, MA.

Patrick said it best: “Always a must try at any Mexican restaurant, the guacamole was a great way to kick off the night.” Plaza Azteca offers tableside-made guacamole that delighted the foodies. Not only was it delicious, but it was fun to watch. Giselle said, as always, it was “fascinating” to watch someone create a dish. The tableside option also pleased those who would prefer guacamole without cilantro, onion or tomato. Some foodies also tried other appetizers including a cheese dip and chicken wings – both a big hit.

The wait staff serving Mexican to the Worcester Foodies group at Plaza Azteca in Worcester, MA.
The wait staff serving Mexican to the Worcester Foodies group at Plaza Azteca in Worcester, MA.

Plaza Azteca’s menu offered plenty of variety and the foodies found huge plates full of favorites. Foodies tried a range of the usual Mexican offerings, including tacos, fajitas, enchiladas and more.

“My go-to Mexican dish is Pork Carnitas and since I do have a favorite in the city, I was a little worried the Carnitas at Plaza Azteca might not meet my expectations. Not only did they meet my expectations, they might actually rival my current favorite. The Carnitas were tender and packed with authentic flavors – a little smoky with a nice char on the ends,” Amy said.

In the kitchen at Plaza Azteca Worcester, preparing the Pina Loca (Grilled Pineapple stuffed with Chicken, Steak, Peppers and Onions in a "al pastor sauce" topped with melted Cheese with a side of white Rice) being cooked.
In the kitchen at Plaza Azteca Worcester, preparing the Pina Loca (Grilled Pineapple stuffed with Chicken, Steak, Peppers and Onions in a “al pastor sauce” topped with melted Cheese with a side of white Rice) being cooked.

Giselle went traditional on #TacoTuesday and ordered the Camarone Tacos. She said they were great and “with a small serving of rice, it was a filling dish.”

Patrick went with the Super Mix Enchilada plate and got to try five different kinds of enchiladas covered in lettuce tomato and cream fresco. “The shredded beef took the cake, but the beans and cheese enchiladas, along with the veggies, were delicious too,” Patrick said.

Dana loved the large portions and said his fajitas were excellent.

Most were too stuffed to try for dessert, but Giselle took one for the team and ordered the Fried Ice Cream for her table.

“The fried ice cream was like biting into a cold bowl of frozen Frosted Flakes. Yummy and completely unexpected,” Giselle said.

All in all, Plaza Azteca is a perfect destination for the next #TacoTuesday!

 

Part two of #TacoTuesday at Plaza Azteca in Worcester: Join us for a dinner conversation with Mass Foodies’ Luke Vaillancourt!

Posted by MassLive.com Worcester on Tuesday, February 21, 2017