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Acaí with Your Tea

You haven’t ordered one of Steam Energy Cafe’s acaí bowls yet because you don’t know how to pronounce it? Calm down. You’re not alone.

Acaí (articulated ‘ah-sah-EE’ for those who wish to avoid embarrassment) is the queen of all superfoods. Once betrothed to the smoothie, this tasty Brazilian fruit is packed with antioxidants, calcium, fiber, and heart-healthy fats. We know these vibrant violet bowls have been crowding your Instagram feed with what can only be described as a sister to sorbet. Thanks to Niche, now they are accessible in Worcester.

Steam Energy Cafe’s Tropic Thunder acai bowl

Steam’s Tropic Thunder acaí bowl marries mango, pineapple, and cold pressed apple juice topped with housemade (gluten-free) granola, honey, pineapple, goji berries, and shaved coconut. Order a 20 oz. peppermint tea to prime your brain for a magical morning. Mint is both chipper and soothing when paired with punchy citrus and tropical fruit. The cooling qualities of peppermint will suit your frozen acaí bowl while maintaining the temperate warmth required to avoid an ice cream headache.

If you don’t have time to linger then, order a fruit-forward Berry Banana Colada with your tea and make haste. There’s plenty of parking if you need to grab and go, but Steam’s wifi is free, so have at it! The smooth combination of strawberry, banana, pineapple, and coconut water will prove easy to take on the road.

If clean living is in your sights this month, we urge you to fit Steam’s herbal tea, smoothies, and acaí bowls into your routine. (Relax. They’ve got caffeine and bacon for the rest of us.)

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#SundayFunday – Party Like it’s 2018

Bull Mansion's beverage program boasts wine, beer, and kombucha. (Photo by Scott Erb and Donna Dufault for Mass Foodies)

Between the lively cities and snug towns, Central Massachusetts provides the perfect backdrop for ringing in the New Year. But, the scenery of snow-swept mountains and small-town charm, are nothing compared to the magic happening in the kitchens of some of the most admired places in downtown Worcester.

New Year’s Eve is all about starting a new resolution and if you must start one in 2018, include celebrating #SundayFunday with us and we won’t disappoint. Say goodbye to the last Sunday of 2017 by eating your way into 2018. Here are a few great spots to start your foodie resolution:

New Year’s Eve with Niche

Ringing in 2018 with chef specials and prix fixe menus is easy with the Niche Hospitality Group. The hardest part is selecting from one of their nine locations. From the Chef Specials and Experience for Two at Bocado Wellesley – a New Year’s Eve night celebrating tapas, platos and dessert a la carte or as a packaged dining experience – to the Four Course Prix Fixe Dinner at the People’s Kitchen of the Citizen – a menu filled with artisan cheese, filet mignon and Belgian chocolate tasting – there is dish to satisfy any foodie.

Full Listing of New Year’s Eve with Niche events

Small Plates at Lock 50

Start the New Year with a menu that gives you options – a lot of options. Lock 50 celebrates adventurous eaters with its Chef’s Tastings, a 5 or 7 course designed by the chef, Tim Russo.  Accompanying the tastings with wine pairings, selected by their house Sommelier, will set the tone for an impressionable 2018. If a chef tasting is a bit too adventurous, order a la carte and taste some of Lock 50’s best dishes like the Potato Gnocchi, the Crispy Pork Rings and Cape Cod Oysters and the Lobster Polenta.

Full Menu Listing for Lock 50

New Year’s Eve with Bull Mansion

Kick off 2018 with live music, world cuisine, specialty cocktails, performance artists and a champagne toast. Dinner seating will be throughout the first and second floors from 6 pm to 9:30 pm with international food stations celebrating American, Italian, Indian, Chinese and Jamaican cuisine. But the party doesn’t end with your last bite. After dinner, the Bull Mansion Ballroom will launch their musical performances to provide a great atmosphere to celebrate an epic #SundayFunday. Live music and international food…what else do you need to ring in the new year?

Full Ticket Information for New Year’s Eve with Bull Mansion   

New Year’s Eve Dinner – deadhorse hill

Ring in 2018 at the bay state house! Celebrating the new year in a historic setting is the best of both worlds. Join Chef Jared Forman and his team for a throwback menu celebrating fancy things. With a 4-course meal, deadhorse hill is ready to serve you a memorable night.

Reservation Details for New Year’s Eve Dinner at deadhorse hill