Tag: Worcester Foodies LVII: The International

In November 2015, the Foodies group celebrated their 57th month by venturing outside of Worcester, heading to the rural town of Bolton where one of the premier Golf Clubs in the country resides: The International. The Fireplace Room at the International has been on foodies’ radars for quite some time and this Fall evening, the foodies had a lot to try.

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Cauliflower Steak at The Fireplace Room

Cauliflower Steak at The Fireplace Room in Bolton, MA

Cauliflower Steak at The Fireplace Room in Bolton, MA

The Fireplace Room, located in Bolton, is tucked away at the upscale golf club known as The International. With the fireplace aglow and the tables perfectly set with white linen tablecloths and napkins, I knew I would be in for a relaxing dining experience.

There were so many creative dishes listed on “Tonight’s Features” and the dinner menu, but the Cauliflower Steak caught my eye and ignited my curiosity.

The generous slice of pan-seared Cauliflower Steak was topped with San Marzano tomatoes and crushed toasted pistachio nuts, which came together to form an absolutely addictive crust. The cauliflower florets were cooked to perfection while the stems were slightly under-cooked. It’s challenging to cook this vegetable given that florets and stems are two different textures. Either pan-searing or oven roasting may have helped to cook it more evenly. Other than that, the steak was presented beautifully on top of roasted fingerling potatoes and fresh spinach. The spinach was not in the dish description, but it complemented the potatoes. The gorgeous vegetables were bathing in a very flavorful layer of San Marzano tomato broth that seeped down through the Cauliflower Steak.

Our server was very attentive. What I found to be exceptional was that the server gave individual checks to everyone in our large group.

Overall, I enjoyed my very first Worcester Foodies dining experience. All of the dishes looked like works of art. I’ll definitely come back and not just for the fine dining. The very informative hostess told us that during the daylight hours you can see for miles. I’ll be back to check out the lunch menu and the spectacular views.

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The International Sirloin

New York, New York Sirloin Steak - RS

New York, New York Sirloin Steak - RS

I had never been to The International in Bolton, Mass. so I had no idea what to expect. The restaurant is called the Fireplace Room. As its name implies, there is a beautiful wood-burning fireplace throwing off generous amounts of welcoming heat. The dining area is very large, but it’s not cozy as the name suggests.

The prominent sign that greets you as you enter states, “Cell Phone Use Prohibited.” We joked about it as we approached the bar. “It’s a good thing we have hand-held computers and not cell phones,” someone quipped.

The bar is long and well lit with plenty of seating. We ordered drinks to enjoy while we waited for the rest of our group to arrive. An attractive young lady approached and gave us a short introduction to the facility before seating us.

To start, I had a Caesar Salad with anchovies, of course. The anchovies were not the dark salty kind that I prefer, instead they were the light pickled version. Despite that fact, the salad was crispy and fresh with a tangy dressing.

My ravenous appetite made the wait seem like forever, but I am sure the main course came within a reasonable amount of time. The New York, New York Sirloin Steak I ordered was cooked to perfection. This thick and juicy piece was easily cut with a butter knife. I was surprised by how flavorful it was because normally I don’t like a steak if it is too tender.

The steak came with two deep-fried potato and mozzarella croquettes. These were consumed with much vigor and reluctantly shared.

Other than the wait, the service was excellent. Our server knew the menu well and offered advice freely. Perhaps the kitchen was backlogged because it was extremely, and perhaps unusually, busy for a Tuesday night. Despite the delay, we all had a fantastic time. I will definitely return.

If you enjoy fine dining, you won’t be disappointed. When you go, make sure you use your GPS for guidance, otherwise you may find yourself lost on the labyrinth of winding roads that you must traverse to get there.