vegetable | Page 4 of 5 | Mass Food & Wine

Merluzzo al forno from Mare E Monti Trattoria on Wall Street in Worcester, MA

Choosing the healthy meal while eating out is not my forte. Cries for indulgence echo throughout my whole being. Chicken, vegetable, or white fish dishes are dull, make-at-home on a Wednesday meals. So I once thought. Apparently, when healthy foods are cooked perfectly and served with a side of savory risotto, they ARE indulgences! The Merluzzo al forno includes a lemon and herb crusted haddock filet, parmesan spinach risotto and Italian string beans. I say includes because each was delicious and full-flavored. The haddock filet was cooked to flaky perfection and topped with a very crunchy topping with strong lemon and pepper notes. The thin green beans were bright green, drizzled with olive oil, and topped with chopped tomatoes. A complimentary amount of olive oil and tomatoes I must add; the green beans were not drowning and the plate was not greasy with excess oil. The risotto was very savory with a think sauce and just a little bit of spinach. I was extremely impressed with everything I ate at Mare e Monti, from the bread and olive oil, to the TWO different pie slices I ordered to-go from the dessert platter. I highly recommend Mare E Monti Trattoria and encourage everyone to brave the awkward street parking and indulge!

Spicy Ocean from Racha Thai in Worcester

I would have to say the Racha Thai is the perfect example of never to judge a book by its cover. When I went into the plaza where this restaurant resides, I first wondered if I was in the right location because it just didn’t seem right. Then I spotted the restaurant front, that looked like a converted Chinese food takeout place, with a few booths and tables in the lobby, and I started to worry. However, upon entering and turning the corner, you are welcomed by a much larger and comfortable dinner space with customary Thai decorations, sculptures and art. My worries were put to rest, but I still had my reservations about how the food might be. After looking over their large menu, I decided on the Spicy Ocean. This dish was a mixed assortment of sauteed shrimp, scallops, squid, and an assorted vegetable medley in a curry sauce, served on a bed of mussels with a side of white rice, for just $12.95. When my meal came to the table, I was pleasantly surprised at the huge portion that I was given, my plate almost overflowing with seafood and creamy curry sauce. Upon tasting it, my mouth was awakened by the spicy curry. It had great flavor while not being overpowering and taking over the entire dish. The different seafood was a great compliment to the spiciness of the meal. The shrimp were tender, while the scallops were sweet, and the squid was even done in a tempura style that gave them a nice crunch and textural contrast to the rest of the meal. The one down side that I would mention was that I did not like the addition of pineapple chunks to the dish. It may just be a personal preference, but they just seemed out of place in the meal. They could have been to offset the spice with a little bit of sweet, but it just wasn’t doing it for me. Overall, I would go back to this restaurant, especially if I was craving something spicy in large portions…although a little out of the comfort zone, but definitely worth the try! -ED