Blog / Eat
Share your photos for a chance to win a tote
At the market or on the farm around Hampshire County
We want to see your side of Massachusetts! Since it’s time to celebrate the season of fresh local produce from our nearly 800 farms and all that comes with it, we want you to share your best "farm-to-table" photos! Visit us on Facebook and post your favorite farm-to-table photo on our page! We'll pick our favorite photo on Friday, June 13 and announce the winner on Facebook.
Dine Farm to Table in Western Massachusetts
The Lord Jeffery Inn, Amherst | Photos by Lynne Graves
Come taste the season. Enter to win the Farmers Market Chef Experience Weekend at the Lord Jeffery Inn in Amherst! The package includes a two-night stay at the Lord Jeffery Inn, breakfast for two, and a shopping excursion with Executive Chef Dino Giordano to the Amherst Farmers’ Market to select ingredients for a private lunch prepared by the Chef.
Baked goodness in Western Massachusetts
Tart Baking Baguettes | Photo from Facebook
The local bakery has made something of a comeback in the last 20 years. In fact, you can get bread baked all or in part from wheat that is locally grown. Most local bakeries serve morning coffees and afternoon lunch so you aren’t limited to just what you can take home. And since our region in Western Massachusetts is known for its creativity, you’ll find way more than just sourdough, whole wheat loaves, croissants and some baguettes at places like the Henion in Amherst, Bread Euphoria in Haydenville, and Hungry Ghost Bread, Woodstar Cafe, and Tart Baking Co. in Northampton.
Special getaways for Valentine’s Day weekend at unique lodgings
30Boltwood at the Lord Jeffery Inn | Photo by Lynne Graves
Are you looking to extend your Valentine's Day celebration with your partner? How about spending the night at one of our unique inns or hotels? These packages have special inclusions like dinner or champagne and roses in your room.
Stick to your resolutions while dining out in Hampshire County
Paul and Elizabeth's | Photo by Lynne Graves
OK, so it's January and it's time for the traditional New Year's resolutions. High on most people’s lists are exercise and eating better, especially after the food fest of the holiday season. Our food blogger Don Lesser suggests a few places across Hampshire County where you can stick to your resolutions while dining out like the 100% vegan cafe in Florence or the 35-year-strong Paul and Elizabeth's in Northampton.
Win a Snowy Getaway in Western Massachusetts
Photo by Lynne Graves
We're already off to quite the cold and snowy winter here in Western Massachusetts! We know that in the winter it's easy to get stuck inside your home, so why not take a chance and make Hampshire County your home for a few nights? Enter here and you and a guest will enjoy a snowy two-night getaway. You just might find yourself cross-country skiing the back country and warming by a cozy fireplace at night. Sounds good, right?
Christmas Tree day trips in the Hilltowns
Justamere Tree Farm | Worthington, MA
What better reason for a trip to Hampshire County than to get your holiday tree? Take a trip to Justamere Tree Farm in Worthington for the tree and lots of maple goodies or Hanging Mountain Farm in Westhampton for one of the best breakfasts in Western Massachusetts at its restaurant, the Strawbale Cafe.
International fare in Hampshire County
Banh Mi | King Street Eats
Our food blogger Don Lesser originally planned to write about a different set of restaurants this week, but after a devastating fire in Hadley destroyed his favorite Banh Mi and Pho place and a much beloved Mexican restaurant, plus a host of other small stores and eateries, he found himself searching for other places to feed his international food cravings all over Hampshire County in Amherst, Easthampton, Northampton and South Hadley.
The pumpkin prepared: Bistro Les Gras
Bistro Les Gras | Northampton
Feeling fancy? Feeling French? Chef Daniel Martinez of Bistro Les Gras in Northampton shared one of his favorite seasonal recipes for pumpkin for you to try! Check out his Bisque d’Homard et Citrouille á la Curry (curried lobster and pumpkin bisque). Bistro Les Gras is an award-winning farm-to-table restaurant in Northampton, focused on sustainable French cuisine.
Fall festivals, corn mazes, and more, oh my!
Photo by Lynne Graves
It's nearly time to throw those hands in the air, full of leaves: it's almost FALL in Hampshire County! Like a true New Englander, we love fall just as much as you do, from the abundance of apples and pumpkins to the stunning foliage and crisper weather. Western Massachusetts has an abundance of can't-miss fun fall activities including the very popular McCray's Farm Haunted Hayrides, Belchertown's Austin Brothers Valley Farm annual corn maze and hayrides, and Southampton's Rolling Acres Farm corn maze and fall activities right here in Hampshire County.