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Cortaditos and Cubanos: A Classic Morning Match at Cafe Reyes

Cortaditos and Cubanos from Café Reyes on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Pair a cortadito with the Desayuno Cubano for a sweet start to your day at Café Reyes on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester. As a subset of the Hector Reyes House, Café Reyes offers on-site training for program residents and outstanding Cuban fare for Worcester’s breakfast and lunch crowds.

A cortadito is a single shot of roasty Cuban espresso topped with an undulant float of steamed milk and brewed with raw brown sugar. The beverage is prepared in a teensy two ounce mug, but, rest assured, two ounces of cortadito will prove plenty.

Only the lustrous body of a Cuban espresso can keep pace with helpings of cilantro-lime mayonnaise and sharp mustard first thing in the morning. Sandwiches are served on a traditional Cuban Roll imported from Miami’s iconic bakery, La Segunda Central. The Desayuno Cubano is made with two eggs, slow-cooked pork, thinly sliced ham, roasted red peppers, melted cheddar cheese, and mojo onions.

Your delicate little cortadito may seem like an odd match for a gigantic breakfast sandwich, but sip from the dainty little mug to bring the saccharine notes of your Desayuno Cubano to life. Allow the petite libation to illuminate fruity notes of red bell pepper and floral hints of clove.

Café Reyes embodies the unique spirit of Worcester and the lighthearted soul of Little Havana. You can stop by 421 Shrewsbury Street between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. or call 508-762-9900 to enquire about catering.

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Oyster Pairings at Sturbridge Seafood

Oyster Pairings at Sturbridge Seafood in Sturbridge, MA

Summer never ceases at Sturbridge Seafood, a fetching beach-bistro where oysters abound. Settle in at one of the butcher paper clad high-top tables to admire the open kitchen views and set to work making careful selections from the raw bar. Servers will be happy to provide articulate tasting notes and thoughtful suggestions upon your request.

Pair buttery, sweet oysters (Duxbury, Raspberry Point, and WiAnno) with a gin cocktail like the Basil-Lime Gimlet, made with fresh squeezed lime, fresh basil, Tanqueray and a dash of simple syrup. Juniper’s natural bitterness balances the salinity of east coast bivalves allowing for a pop of subtle citrus to emerge. Dry gins like Tanqueray provide a stark contrast between the sweet and briny notes of plump, succulent selections such as these.

Pair crisp, clean oysters (Malpeque, Wellfleet, Village Bay) with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. The flinty aroma of Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc complements each oyster’s distinct minerality, particularly the tender Malpeques. Bright grapefruit notes and bracing acidity enhance the lettuce-like freshness of each of these offerings.

Guests eager to welcome the autumn months will enjoy seasonal entrees, including the grouper served over house made sweet potato gnocchi and the pan seared scallops presented on a bed of butternut squash risotto. Sturbridge Seafood is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to close and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call (508)347-2600 to inquire about reservations.