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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Cast Iron Swordfish From The Fireplace Room at The International

Cast Iron Swordfish From The Fireplace Room at The International

Cast Iron Swordfish From The Fireplace Room at The International

The International in Bolton, Mass. is a world class golf destination with its own signature restaurant tucked away in the middle of nowhere. I knew about the location, but I never knew the restaurant was open to the public. When I arrived, I walked into the rich-looking dining area called The Fireplace Room. I immediately noticed the comfy and spacious restaurant’s spectacular view of its immaculate grounds.

I began my dinner with the Classic Caesar Salad without the optional anchovies. This Caesar, my favorite type of salad, did not disappoint. The portion was large for a pre-dinner salad. Fresh romaine lettuce, crunchy croutons, large shavings of Parmesan, and a delicious dressing came together to make an excellent starter.

For dinner, I chose the Cast Iron Swordfish. This blackened swordfish steak with white cheddar polenta, roasted garlic spinach, San Marzano tomato, and sun-dried corn was cooked to perfection. It pretty much melted in my mouth. The char and smokiness didn’t taste overpowering either. The crunch of the sun-dried corn provided a nice texture to the dish too. I’m not a polenta fan, but the white cheddar polenta was fantastic. The slightly cheesy flavor and creamy consistency of complemented the swordfish perfectly. The garlic spinach also provided a flavorful punch. I will certainly return to have this amazing dish again.

I found the service to be very attentive and knowledgeable, but I don’t think they were ready to handle our group of 18. We also arrived around the same time as another large party so our food took quite a while to arrive. While waiting, the waitstaff was very quick to refill water, snag drink orders, and keep us updated. Even though the service was slow, I understood why and still thought the servers were outstanding.

The Fireplace Room combines quality food, attentive service, and a beautiful location to create a wonderful overall dining experience. Despite the distance, it’s a trek I plan to take again and again.

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Pumpkin with a Yummy Twist from The International

Lobster Risotto from The International in Bolton, MA

Lobster Risotto from The International in Bolton, MA

While driving down Rt. 70 from Worcester toward The International in Bolton I could not help but wonder, “Why did I agree to go outside of Worcester on this Foodie adventure when there are so many places left to try in the city?”

My GPS directed me down long winding roads into the darkness so I was happy when I finally saw the welcoming lights of The International entranceway. When I found my way inside the Fireplace Room, it was a large space with a warm glow.

The menu had a few nice options on it and the waitress offered up some helpful suggestions as well. Generally I like to go for something I haven’t eaten before. When I saw Lobster and Pumpkin Risotto on the night’s featured menu I had to go for it. The menu stated that the dish included Maine lobster, brown sugar roasted pumpkin, smoked applewood bacon, peas, asiago cheese, and toasted pumpkin seeds.

I was not sure what to expect, but I was hoping it wasn’t a lot of cinnamon and apple spices. I was hoping for something creamy and savory.

What showed up was a tiny roasted pumpkin sitting in the middle of the plate with lobster pieces and creamy risotto pouring seductively down its sides. It smelled great. It looked great. And, when I slide my butter knife through the soft pumpkin skin and gathered up lobster, rice and a slice of pumpkin, it was heavenly. There was a lovely savouriness and a delightful creaminess that mixed perfectly. There were no disappointing flavors to be found. It was just fantastic so I ate the whole delicious thing.

Our table was served well. Our waitress was lovely and attentive. I did notice our companion table waited a long time for their meals. Large parties like ours can be a challenge to a kitchen staff. So I would say that if you go, expect a bit of a wait. The large dining room seats many a hungry diner.

Overall, my meal was excellent. The servers for our table were flawless. And, the company was lovely. I would go back there for a romantic evening or a group gathering with friends to celebrate a special occasion.