One of Kathryn Tsandikos’ greatest challenges as the owner of George’s Coney Island has been upkeeping the iconic restaurant’s infrastructure while simultaneously remaining frozen in time for her customers. On September 30th, Tsandikos and her team will transport us back through 100 years of history with a block party in celebration of their centennial.
The party will kick off in the middle of Southbridge Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with hotdog deals, giveaways, raffles, face painting, and exclusive merchandise including pins and cups.
“We want this to feel like a time machine,” says Katie Rozenas of Discover Central Mass, who has been working with Tsandikos to plan the milestone event. Even the live music has been structured to take attendees through the decades. “We’re doing this to celebrate Worcester and how the city has changed itself,” Rozenas says.
Guests will be encouraged to contribute to an art piece to help memorialize what George’s Coney Island means to the community. “It’s not just about us, it’s about our loyal customers,” says Tsandikos, “We want to celebrate the community that has allowed Coney Island to exist for 100 years.” She hopes that everyone who has ever set foot in George’s Coney Island will join her for the celebration.
Other partners will be on hand for the festivities including Polar Seltzer, Table Talk Pies, Worcester Bravehearts, Kayem Hot Dogs, Ben and Jerry’s, Wachusett Potato Chips, and Wormtown Brewery. Admission is free.
As is typical of New England, March came in like a lion and out like a rhino with a host of key developments for the Central Mass food scene.
B.T.’s 26 hour smoked beef brisket paired with Wormtown Buddha Juice X2IPA
On March 28th, Drew Day was named Executive Chef of Flying Rhino on Shrewsbury Street as former Executive Chef Chris O’Harra announced his transition to Maddi’s Cookery and Taphouse, set to open on Water Street by early May in the space that previously housed The Perfect Game. Maddi’s will mark the second restaurant for Adam Hicks, who also owns Depot Street Tavern in Milford, which opened in August of 2014. O’Harra was recently awarded first prize in the people’s choice category at the Worcester’s Best Chef Competition.
While Day and O’Harra were parting kitchens this month, two other Central Mass chefs joined forces. Chef Rick Araujo of Civic Kitchen & Drink in Westborough teamed up with B.T.’s Smokehouse Director of Operations William Nemeroff of Sturbridge for a night of award winning barbecue. B.T.’s smoked beef brisket has built up a loyal following to the tune of over 120,000 pounds of hand selected, hand rubbed beef brisket sold last year. Araujo and Nemeroff looped themselves into captivating harmony for the evening with Wormtown Brewery along for the thrilling ride.
Bibimbap from Choose and Mix in Worcester, MA
B.T.’s whet our appetites for barbeque and Choose & Mix swooped in for the assist. Contributor Giselle Rivera-Flores visited this Korean hot spot on East Mountain Street for “bulgolgi – thinly sliced beef tenderloin strips in flavorful Korean barbecue sauce – and galbi – Korean barbecue ribs.” She found the eatery welcoming, affordable, and loaded with flavor. Flores also visited Millbury’s new doughnut hotspot, Rocco’s, located at the former address of the Queen’s Cups. Members of the Astrella family have doughnuts “embedded in their DNA,” as evidenced by what Flores calls a frenzied social media buzz in addition to the long (but quickly moving) line out the door.
Contributor Jim Eber spent some time at simjang’sraw bar on Shrewsbury Street with Executive Chef Jared Forman whom he deemed, “a chef intimately connected to what he serves.” The two sampled sexy oysters, fat kid’s oysters, punchy oysters, crisp beginner oysters, and coppery oysters. If Eber’s praise is any indication, he’ll be back at the deep rock maple bar very soon for a Jang and a dozen more.
Stack of Doughnuts from Rocco’s Doughnut Company in Millbury, MA
Next door at Volturno, owner Greg Califano Jr. kept busy teaching pasta classes in his private function space as well as the Neapolitan pizzeria fresh outpost in Framingham. Volturno’s new location maintains the rustic charm of its counterpart, offering the added intimacy of a smaller space. Guests still have a view of the wood burning oven, and we were pleased to find that the “2 for 1” deal on Mondays and Tuesdays is graciously honored in Framingham as it is in Worcester. Pasta classes are offered monthly at each location and no two are ever the same.
In bleaker news, both Broth and The Hangover Pub shuttered their doors after former owner Chris Slavinskas pleaded guilty to charges of making a false statement to federal investigators relating to the ongoing Kevin Perry saga. Perry’s indictment resulted in the shutdown of The Usual, Blackstone Tap, and The Chameleon.
