Tag: The Queen’s Cups

Summer Canal Crawl — Walking Food Tour With Mass Foodies

Mass Foodies and Canal Food Tours Walking The Canal District in July

Mass Foodies is partnering with Worcester Canal Food Tours to offer a summer evening Canal food walking tour. Become a Canal District insider and let us guide you through the sights, flavors, and history of this buzzing, transforming area. In about three hours, we indulge in substantial food tastings from at least five locally-owned food stops. All in less than a mile of easy walking. We do more than eat though. First we connect through food to the hard-working people at each food stop and then your local guide helps you connect to the Canal District by walking and talking about the highlights of its history. Even learn some trivia that only a local would know.

Registration and the guided tour led by Lori, the Canal Food Tour Lady, will begin at STEAM Energy Cafe promptly at 6:00 pm:

  • STEAM Energy Cafe (Ed and his team will prepare a fresh Acai bowl)
  • BirchTree Bread Company (Rob, Avra and their team prepare a family-style board of turkey and bacon and Italiano sandwich samples, sweet bread pudding, and iced tea)
  • Table Talk Pies (Caitlin and her team help us choose some of Worcester’s favorite pie flavors and walk away with pie)
  • Bay State Shawarma and Grill (Hamad and his team prepare chicken and beef shawarma sandwich platters and a platter of hummus and Babaganoush)
  • El Patrón (Mirna and her mom, Maria, will serve chicken/pulled pork soft tacos, guacamole with chips and salsa paired with either a Sangria or Margarita)
  • The Queen’s Cups (Renee and her team end the evening with a freshly prepared cupcake paired with a glass of wine provided by 90+ Cellars)

During the walk, Lori will briefly talk about the following Worcester History topics:

  • The Blackstone Canal
  • Ash Street School and the Irish Immigrants
  • Three Decker History and the Jewish Immigrants

The fine print: Tickets must be purchased online, and will not be available at registration. Please park at the Worcester Ice Center (the location of the first stop) and plan on attending rain or shine—there is no rain date and no refunds. Any allergies (not preferences) must be submitted during ticket purchase so restaurants can be aware of any dietary restrictions. The evening will begin promptly at 6:00 pm with registration and check-in. The tour will conclude at 9pm.

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Miss Last Month’s Food News? Here’s A Small Bite

Mass Foodies and The Queen's Cups sit down at Good As Gold Coffee to understand their air roasting and begin planning a fall event together. (Erb Photo)
The Kale Brussels Salad with Yellowtail at 110 Grill's new Worcester, MA location.
The Kale Brussels Salad with Yellowtail at 110 Grill’s new Worcester, MA location.

May means outdoor dining, a reality made simple with the launch of 110 Grill in downtown Worcester. I had the opportunity to tour 110’s new space for a Live segment with General Manager Patrick McClelland who expressed his excitement about the restaurant’s proximity to the AC Marriott. Lights still need to be installed on the patio, but guests are welcome to dine before dark in the meantime; stay tuned for fire pits. If you’re curious about the parking situation, rest assured that 110 Grill validates after 5 p.m. and anytime on the weekends.

The building permit for Crust's expansion as North Main Provisions.
The building permit for Crust’s expansion as North Main Provisions.

I joined Renee King of the Queen’s Cups on a tour of Good As Gold Coffee, one of her Canal District neighbors. I have driven past Good As Gold hundreds of times over the years, but this was my first venture inside. New advanced air roasting technology allows these local crafters to ensure steadfast consistency for customers. Their custom air roaster controls how heat is applied to the coffee bean, impacting the outside coloration of the roast color as well as the inside by taking measurements 10 times per second. What now separates Good As Gold from other roasters is an ability to provide more consistent coffee and dial in their recipes. Good As Gold is currently the only roaster in the United States with this precise technology. You can expect an autumn collab with the Queen. (Stay tuned for Coffee + Dessert #1!)

This month, Mass Foodies contributor Jim Eber took a chance on Crust Artisan Bakeshop’s Coney Island pizza. Alexis Kelleher’s homage to the “Up” dog, an iconic preparation with all the fixings, was created to trigger the same nostalgia she feels whenever she sets foot in her family’s eatery, Coney Island. Kelleher and her partner Nate Rossi are expanding their footprint to offer fine wine and cheese, a compliment to their signature fresh baked goods at Crust. The new entity will be called North Main Provisions.

The Worcester Market, photograph from Worcester Historical Museum
The Worcester Market, photograph from Worcester Historical Museum

Giselle-Rivera Flores broke the news that Chef Jay Powell has sold the Twisted Fork Bistro in Leicester to open a new venture in the town of Auburn. The new project will be called the Twisted Cochon BBQ and Grill. Flores also treated the family to a tea party at Fancy That in Walpole for her new series, #FamilyEats. In addition, she zeroed in on the community, applauding public markets like Allen Fletcher’s new Kelley Square Market project. Rivera wrote, “In the midst of a growth spurt, Worcester looks back on its roots in an attempt to infuse what the city needs the most: a common space to define and explore shared values among the diverse culture that breathes life into Worcester’s identity.”

The Worcester Foodies braved torrential downpours to test the waters at simjang on Shrewsbury Street. The crew found it easy to step out of their comfort zone under the watchful eye of Chef de Cuisine Mike Wenc and his knowledgeable staff. Robyn sprang for the Mulgogi (whole fish) and reveled in its flakey perfection. What a way to delight in May.