Tag: pizza

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#SundayFunday – Uxlocale Brings Italy to Uxbridge

UxLocale, located in Uxbridge, Massachusetts

We’ve established that #SundayFunday doesn’t have to mean the drinking-and-activities-pre-Monday-hipster-ritual intended to be gushed about on social media. For us, the concept of pre-gaming on Sunday to gear up for the week is less about drinking mimosas and more about making the end of the week significant. Significance can come from a culmination of different elements of scenery, location, food style, and people. At Uxlocale, there is a great balance between picturesque scenery of Uxbridge farm life, high-quality ingredients, and the heartwarming familiarity of a family business.

Outdoor dining at UxLocale, located in Uxbridge, MassachusettsUxlocale is a newcomer to the quiet food scene of Uxbridge but has proclaimed itself a destination eatery and rightfully so. With a twist on modern country, Uxlocale breathes life into passionate dishes stemming from family traditions and cultivates a sense of country leisure and travel with its backdrop of rolling green hills, farm living and old country Italian flavors. Catering to Italian favorites like pasta puttanesca – a pasta topped with garlic, anchovies, Sicilian & kalamata olives, capers, sun-dried tomatoes, crushed san marzano tomatoes and Italian parsley – and smelts limoni fritti – lightly fried and super crispy dressed smelts with fried lemon, garlic and white wine – the menu speaks of secret family recipes and an admiration of tradition.

Italian dining at UxLocale, located in Uxbridge, MassachusettsWhen we consider Italian traditions, it is hard to avoid the mention of pizza. At Uxlocale, pizza choices like the harvest – a pizza topped with roasted grape tomatoes portabella mushrooms, basil, scallions, fresh mozzarella, bacon, arugula and balsamic reduction – and the Margherita – topped with fresh pomodoro tomato sauce, mozzarella, freshly torn basil and a hint of oregano – offer a refreshing take on average New England pies. Pairing a glass of Sasyr Super Tuscan with the Uxlocale – a pizza topped with house-sausage, red peppers, and red onion – brings together a full experience of what Uxlocale has to offer although the mussels bianco paired with a glass of Riesling – preferably the Blue Fish Dry – is a good enough reason to award Uxlocale its #SundayFunday title.

Whether you are dining indoors, in the luxury of a finely crafted restaurant – walls adorned with paintings by local artists, or you choose to sit under a string of vintage-style lights in the open outdoor dining space, Uxlocale fully embraces the culinary talents of Chef Elaine Pusateri Cowan and couples it with an impeccable atmosphere, making it a worthy trip for #SundayFunday.

 

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#FamilyEats – Kid Approved at 2 Ovens (RIP!)

2 Ovens in Shrewsbury, MA

Editor’s Note: The same day that this original article was published, it was announced that 2Ovens would be closing their doors—fallout from their parent company, Bertucci’s, filing for bankruptcy on Monday. 2Ovens opened their doors in 2012 as the first location for the company’s new concept chain—which never took to fruition. RIP 2Ovens.

Dining out with kids can be challenging especially if the little ones haven’t yet perfected their table manners, but that shouldn’t stop mom and dad from enjoying a dinner without having to wash the dishes. Parents who sacrifice the pleasure of enjoying a restaurant because its too much of a hassle or it creates uncertainty, should not have to skip out on a great meal. Maybe you feel your children aren’t ready for the sophisticated experience at food havens like deadhorse hill, maybe your spouse or significant other isn’t ready for exotic ingredients at places like Baba, or maybe you’re not interested in a chef’s tasting at a restaurant like Lock 50, but there are plenty of restaurants in the region that will fulfill whatever expectation you have to make your family eating experience comfortable.

Just outside of Worcester, 2 Ovens is a hidden gem for family dining. Lunch or dinner at this Shrewsbury institution hailed as a foodie destination inspired by “a passion for brick oven cooking,” has quickly become a place to satisfy the taste palettes of children without sacrificing the adult appetite. With two handmade brick ovens from Italy, 2 Ovens boasts a menu of “brick oven fare,” signature pizzas, shared plates and most importantly, a thoughtful selection of children’s favorites for the kids’ menu.

Each oven is dedicated to its own food selection, with oven one focused on pizzas like the Margherita, the prosciutto, and caramelized onion, and the famous mac & cheese pizza – a pizza topped with sriracha chicken, smoked applewood bacon, spicy paprika aioli, and lemon pepper cream sauce – while oven two is focused on the entrees including the wild roasted cod – topped with olives, tomatoes, lemon pepper cream, bread crumbs, parsley oil, and tangy house slaw with Yukon potatoes – and the slow roasted bbq pork sandwich – drenched in a mustard bbq sauce, cheddar, mixed greens, crispy dill pickles and a toasted brioche bun. These hearty dishes are a fan favorite among the moms and dads that dine at 2 Ovens on a consistent basis. “As a family, we come here often. It is a great place to dine, watch a game, enjoy the evening and satisfy the kids all at once and for the price, we think it’s worth it,” said one mom as she sat across her husband and two children.

The children’s menu, as with most family-friendly restaurants, offers classic “kid approved” dishes like pizza, toasted cheese sandwich – aka a grilled cheese served with Yukon potatoes – and mac and cheese; however, there are options like salad and roasted chicken to balance out the kids’ menu. To add a little magic to every kid dining experience, each kids menu includes a scoop of ice cream. Hey, 2 Ovens, maybe you can add a scoop for moms and dads too?