Western Massachusetts

Let’s face it—there’s a lot of delicious things to keep up with in western Massachusetts so it’s easy to miss a few things here and there.

More places in western Massachusetts for your bucket list 
Only in Your State listed 14 restaurants you have to visit in Massachusetts before you die, and you can try three of them in Hampshire County. This list features Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton, White Hut in Amherst, and Bistro Les Gras in Northampton. This was a nice reminder that Buzzfeed named the Tunnel Bar one of 19 bars to visit before you die last year.

James Beard Award nominees feature western Massachusetts chefs
Last week the James Beard Foundation also released its list of semi-finalists for this year’s awards. Cheryl Maffei and Jonathan Stevens of Hungry Ghost Bread in Northampton are up for Outstanding Baker, marking the bakery’s sixth year being nominated for a James Beard Award.  Unmi Abkin of Coco & The Cellar Bar in Easthampton is up for Best Chef Northeast, a first nomination for the western Massachusetts chef. In case you haven’t seen it, check out our video about Coco and why Unmi and Roger picked western Massachusetts for their restaurant.

 

It’s maple season!
This Saturday, February 27, marks the opening of many Massachusetts sugarhouse restaurants, which means it is officially the sweetest season of the year. Take note from our friends at the Valley Nibbler, these seasonal restaurants are the highlight of maple sugaring season in western Massachusetts. Among those opening this Saturday are the Red Bucket Sugar Shack and High Hopes Sugarhouse in Worthington, Steve’s Sugar Shack in Westhampton, and South Face Farm Sugarhouse in Ashfield for its last season serving breakfast. For a list of all sugarhouse restaurants in Massachusetts, visit the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association.

The best brunch spot & more, according to a Bostonian
A blogger recently proclaimed, “Esselon Cafe is hands down one of the best brunch spots I've ever been to.” The blogger at Boston-based Pop. Bop. Shop. visited us in western Massachusetts and featured a regional takeover on the site for a week. While she was here, Molly also caught the Mill Valley Milk Company & Farm Store’s opening weekend in Hadley, home to Maple Valley Creamery Ice Cream! Other posts from her blog takeover featured Atkins Farms Country Market, and ConVino Wine Bar, Paul and Elizabeth’s, and Ellie’s Oils in Northampton.

Save the date for a week of delicious dining in Amherst!
With over 60 restaurants alone and its annual Taste of Amherst festival, Amherst might as well be the foodie capital of Hampshire County in western Massachusetts. In case you haven’t heard, this year the Amherst Business Improvement District introduces another signature event for dining in Amherst, the first annual Amherst Downtown Restaurant Week, March 12-19.

Don't miss WGBY's  Wine Lover’s Weekend
It’s that time of year again for WGBY’s Annual Wine Lover’s Weekend (March 4-5), western New England’s largest wine, beer, and food tasting event. This year’s events celebrates James Beard Award-winning cookbook author and chef, Joanne Weir, who happens to be a western Massachusetts native and alum of UMass Amherst.