Tag: Luke M. Vaillancourt

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Publisher’s Letter: “Check Please! Goodbye, Mass Foodies… Hello, Mass Food & Wine”

Mass Foodies and the Worcester Wine Festival will be merging into Mass Food & Wine in an effort to focus on coordinating, promoting, and executing world class food and wine events in Massachusetts with exclusive dinners and grand tastings effective January 2020.

When I started Mass Foodies in 2007 (then called WorcesterScene.com), the goal was to have one website that aggregated—and provided a free digital footprint for—the restaurants in Worcester. What began as a passion project quickly turned into a business after a year when I was joined by a business partner, talented contributors, photographers, and many friends who shared an affinity for the region’s culinary palates. Like all businesses, Mass Foodies has seen years of flourishing as well as weathering through the quieter news cycles. Today, the region continues to be infatuated with Worcester’s evolving food scene and, in stride, Mass Foodies has helped lead with events and content that offered insights for restaurant guests, advice and promotions for restaurant owners, and, above all, unique experiences for everyone. The products Mass Foodies curated were always aligned with its mission: to support and promote the independently owned businesses.

A few short years ago, I partnered with a few individuals to create the region’s first wine festival. The Worcester Wine Festival proved to be a tremendous success in every way we measured it. Even more so, it was fun.

In an effort to be more efficient in life and business, my partners from both Mass Foodies and Worcester Wine Festival made a strategic decision to merge both companies—bringing together the best of both, aligned with a leadership team, which includes Ed Russo and Joseph Giacobbe, that will focus on continuing the growth of the existing reputations of both organizations through the company, Mass Food & Wine.

Effective January 2020, you’ll notice that the branding will be switched and events that were formerly managed by Mass Foodies and the Worcester Wine Festival will be managed by Mass Food & Wine. Even more exciting, with a larger bandwidth, we’ll be introducing several other small events and new original content, all curated around food and wine—including, but not limited to, a food event focused on Worcester’s history; Worcester Wine Walks to bridge the gap of Worcester’s neighborhoods; and wine dinners that will promote the region’s most respected chefs and celebrate some of the world’s greatest wines.

Although Mass Foodies will cease to exist, I can promise that Mass Food & Wine will be better positioned to execute world class food and wine events, right here in the heart of New England.

Stay hungry,

Luke M. Vaillancourt
Publisher

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Fezziwig’s Ball Brings Dickensian Flare to Spark the Christmas Season

First Annual Fezziwig's Ball at The Citizen in Worcester, MA

Literary juggernaut Charles Dickens did one of his last readings in Worcester, Mass. at Mechanic’s Hall in 1868. And, Vaillancourt Folk Art has been flying Charles Dicken’s great-great grandson, Gerald, to their theatre in Sutton, Mass. to perform A Christmas Carol every Thanksgiving weekend since 2009.

Seeing the play will certainly put you in the holiday spirit but now Vaillancourt Folk Art and Niche Hospitality Group are joining forces to bring a little more Dickens to Central Massachusetts. Experience Act 1, Scene 5 at the First Annual Fezziwig’s Ball located at The Citizen Wine Bar on Friday, December 4 at 6 p.m.

First Annual Fezziwig's Ball at The Citizen in Worcester, MAThe Citizen’s covered patio will be transformed into a Dickensian themed dinner party featuring a traditional English feast including a carving station and 19th century inspired cocktails as well as music from the era. Decked out in authentic threads, Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig will be there to show everyone how to party like it’s 1822.

Niche Hospitality’s Mike Covino hopes the event will be a party for all ages. “When I think about Fezziwig’s Christmas Eve party in the book, I think about merriment, joy and fun. I hope our version of Fezziwig’s Ball brings people together from all walks of life to celebrate and to be grateful for our family, friends, and community.”

To give you the Cliffs Notes, the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge a time when he worked as an apprentice for Mr. Fezziwig. Fezziwig cared more about spreading joy to people than profits, which is why he hosted a jubilant Christmas Eve party with his wife.

“Fezziwig’s party epitomizes the celebratory nature of the holiday season and what better way to bring it to life than by partnering with the masters of hospitality: Niche Hospitality Group,” says Luke M. Vaillancourt, Director of Digital Marketing for Vaillancourt Folk Art, which is considered one of the last “Made in America” Christmas studios.

The authentic menu for the first annual Fezziwig's Ball at The Citizen in Worcester, MASome guests are opting to dress in traditional Victorian-era garb as Covino will offer prizes for tye best dressed. (For a little Industrial Revolution attire inspiration, women’s dresses began to change at that time. Waistlines dropped to the smallest part of the waist and skirts were wide with tucks, pleats, ruffles or loops. Men’s fashion emphasized broad shoulders with puffed sleeves and narrow waistcoats.)

No matter what outfit you pick, the mission of the party is meant to unite guests. Vaillancourt Folk Art and Niche Hospitality Group hopes to turn strangers into old friends by the end of the night with the help of some warm-hearted Christmas cheer—that maybe we’ll hold onto all year.

Like Dickens wrote, “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” And, there’s no better place to find merriment and the Christmas spirit than at a ball dedicated to the same sentiment. Tickets are $75 (inclusive of gratuity) and are available online or by calling (508) 459-9090. A cash bar will be available also.