Tag: herbs

Posted on by

Grand Opening of Lock 50 Restaurant & Cafe with Whole Roasted Local Fish with Fresh Greens

Whole Roasted Local Fish with Fresh Greens from Lock 50 on Water Street in Worcester, MA

Lock 50 is located on Water Street in Worcester. The exterior reminded me of a restaurant you would find in Providence, RI. We entered through the front of the restaurant walking through the breakfast/lunch area. The delicious aroma of coffee welcomed us, in the back was a counter to place your order and plenty of seating next to the over-sized windows overlooking the street. Here we found a mix of contemporary artwork, great light fixtures and the warm feel of exposed brick from an old building. We were here for dinner so we were seated in the back dining area up a few stairs. The dining area had dark, rich, wood flooring, large chandeliers and an open floor concept, making the feel of the restaurant sophisticated and fun.

I decided to order the Whole Roasted Local Fish with Grilled Lemon, Fresh Greens and herbs. The fish was large and fresh with a hint of lemon, the fresh greens had just enough dressing to compliment it. I would suggest a few more herbs on the fish to give it a bit more flavor and also, another choice for a side dish.

Our waitress was prompt and knew the menu well, she kept our drinks flowing which was helpful since our food took quite a while to come out.

Lock 50 is a sophisticated addition to Worcester. The menu has some delicious shareable items that you do not find elsewhere and I can’t wait to return to try them. They also have a great wine selection and hand-crafted beer that change seasonally, I look forward to my return trip!

Posted on by

Gin: A Bright And Refreshing Liquor Perfect For Springtime

Bombay Blue Saphire Gin Martini in Worcester, MA

Bombay Sapphire Gin Martini in Worcester, MA“Three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it’s ice-cold, then add a large thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?” And so the legend was born. Contrary to popular belief, the famous special agent 007 did not always drink a vodka martini “shaken, not stirred.” In fact, in Ian Flemming’s first novel, Casino Royale, Bond orders the aforementioned concoction, known as a Vesper martini. Aptly named after his love interest, Vesper Lynd. Fans of 007 will also know that he never orders a Vesper martini after this novel, due in part, to the fact that the love of his life double crosses him, and she dies at the end. A bitter ending, much like the drink (thanks to half a measure of Kina Lillet). Bond’s last words in the book are “the bitch is dead now.” Nonetheless, the drink lives on, and is a fantastically bright and refreshing cocktail, perfect for the springtime.

Bombay Sapphire Gin Martini in Worcester, MAAs winter takes its last breath and blustery cold nights give way to warmer days ahead, gin becomes a perfect transition for your palate. Distilled with many different herbs, roots, and spices, such as juniper, coriander, and orange peel, gin takes on many different flavors. Although some flavors are more assertive than others, it are these same flavors that give gin its versatility and depth when mixing with other ingredients. Don’t let the Tanqueray bottle in your parent’s liquor cabinet scare you, not all gins are as juniper forward as that one. It is the juniper that people describe when they cringe at me from across the bar and remember gin tasting like a Christmas tree. In fact, there are many milder styles of gin out there that you might enjoy.

House made Gin and Tonic from The Fix Burger Bar on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA.Some of the more well-balanced and milder styles of gin out there are made in smaller batches including my personal favorite, Death’s Door gin. This particular gin is made in Wisconsin and is a perfect gin for mixing cocktails, as it won’t overpower the senses, and brings other ingredients to the forefront. Another popular gin, Hendrick’s Gin, actually uses cucumber and rose petals during distillation, to round out the juniper and other botanicals that make up this gin. This makes it extremely drinkable and has led to it’s rise in popularity (along with some clever marketing!).

While these are some of the popular gins now, we haven’t really touched on the ‘forefathers’ of gin. Some of the oldest styles of gin are sweeter and one, in particular, doesn’t resemble gin at all. The Genever style of gin is one of the oldest styles of gin and hails from Holland. This particular style has been produced since the 1600’s and uses malted wine, neutral grains, and botanicals. The spirit itself more closely resembles a brown spirit, such as bourbon or other whiskey, and is very complex. This makes it a great choice when trying to convert a gin drinker to whiskey, or vice a versa.

The sweeter style of gin that I mentioned earlier is known as Old Tom gin. Old Tom is sweeter than your London Dry styles like Gordon’s or Bombay Sapphire, yet a bit drier than the malty Genever style. One particular brand, known as Hayman’s Old Tom gin, has been around since the 1800’s, and is distilled in small batches in copper stills. The sweetness of this gin gives it a softer profile and makes it ideal for more delicate cocktails.

A couple of my favorite gin cocktails, the French 75, and the Tom Collins, are perfect for the warmer weather. The French 75 was named after a 75 millimeter machine gun the French used during World War I. They say the gun was very smooth, but packed quite a wallop! And although the drink only calls for an ounce of gin, it too packs a wallop (and is very smooth). I mention the other drink, the Tom Collins, because it is a legend in it’s own right. It would be hard to mention gin and cocktails without mentioning this concoction. Both drinks are simple, use few ingredients, and are extremely well balanced. Cheers!

French 75

  1. 1 oz. Gin (Bombay Sapphire or other London dry style)
  2. 1 oz. simple syrup
  3. ¾ oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice
  4. Shake ingredients and top with champagne or sparkling wine

Tom Collins

  1. 1.5 oz. Gin
  2. 1 0z simple syrup
  3. .5 oz Fresh squeezed lemon juice
  4. Shake ingredients and serve in Collins glass over ice. Top with club soda