Tag: Bay State Shawarma

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Recap Map: September 2018

Rice Violet on Main Street in Worcester, MA

Great Restaurants That You Haven’t Thought Of In Central Massachusetts: These establishments are approaching dining from angles that may feel unfamiliar in the local dining scene. Check out a few spots that feel exploratory even in our own hometown. Restaurants like Addie Lee’s, Bay State Shawarma, Fatimas, Meze, and Red Pepper are valuable contributors to Worcester’s beautiful and complex multicultural identity.

An Allergy Story – Navigating the Restaurant Scene with a Food Allergy: Contributor Dana Harrison speaks with simjang, Armsby Abbey, and Lock 50 about how seriously they approach food allergies in their kitchens.

You’re Invite to the George’s Coney Island Block Party: On September 30th, the George’s Coney Island team transported us back through 100 years of history with a block party in celebration of their centennial.

#SundayFunday – Traditional Thai At Rice Violet: Contributor Giselle Rivera-Flores shares that in Thailand, sharing a meal is the social occasion and at Rice Violet, the embodiment of shared dishes and good company make it a #SundayFunday destination.

Five Destinations Fit For A Knowledgeable Beer Pairing: I am always in search of knowledgeable hospitality teams to help me land on the perfect beer pairing. I found what I was looking for at Armsby Abbey, Kummerspeck, BirchTree Bread Company, The Civic Kitchen & Drink, and Rail Trail Flatbread Company.

Live From Redemption Rock Brewing Co. On Shrewsbury Street: I went live with CEO Dani Babineau who took us on a tour inside the future home of Redemption Rock Brewing, set to open by December of 2018 at 333 Shrewsbury Street.

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Worcester Restaurants: The True Cultural Melting Pot

Worcester is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities creating unique dining experiences.

The term “melting pot,” or blending of diverse peoples, has been a cherished ethos that our nation has embraced throughout history. The cities were built by immigrants and communities were formed by their assimilation and integration. Locally, Worcester’s seven hills represent the pillars of various cultures that come together to make the big city of Worcester a little smaller. True testament to the importance of this ethnic diversity was brought to light in a 2015 Seven Hill Foundation report that found, “Foreign-born entrepreneurs account for 37 percent of all business owners in Worcester, double the statewide rate. Historically, immigrant entrepreneurs are more likely to own neighborhood-based businesses such as restaurants, groceries, and retail stores.”

Worcester reflects this diversity with a vast selection of ethnic markets including Ed Hyder’s Mediterranean Marketplace, Al Anwar Market, Bahnan’s, and many more. Today, it is easy to find that the hospitality culture has embraced traditions and flavors of a community and shares them with the consumer—especially in the form of restaurants.

Jamaican Patty from Homestyle Kitchen on Harrison Street in Worcester, MA
Jamaican Patty from Homestyle Kitchen on Harrison Street in Worcester, MA

While there are a lot of diverse restaurants in the city (Fatima’s Café, Tandoori, Hacienda Don Juan, Addie Lee’s Soul Food… etc.) Worcester Foodies experienced two great evenings with Afghani (Pomir Grill) and Greek (Mezé). If you want to get your hands dirty, we ate African (Ghana) food with our hands at Anokye Krom, devoured Levantine cuisine (multiple times) from Bay State Shawarma, and even went as far south as Jamaica with a visit to Jamaican Homestyle. The range of restaurants in Worcester offer an opportunity for some to “feel at home” and others to “travel without leaving the state.”

The city of Worcester expanded because of the Irish canal workers and European immigrants who worked tirelessly to open the Blackstone Canal. The canal breathed life into the region and created an economy in Central Massachusetts and the Blackstone Valley Corridor. Today, the city continues to flourish because of a growth of popular from around the world—and with it, they share the diverse flavors of their foods.