Apollo Grill (Easthampton, MA)

Stepping into the refurbished old paper mill building with the original flooring and windows takes you back to a time when craftsmanship was appreciated. This restaurants unique way of recycling the old into something new while still maintaining the essence of the past is a custom which should be praised and replicated. It is quirky and slightly beatnik with its bohemian artist staff, spilled over from the local colleges, and it's rich diverse menu makes a customer ask for nothing less. The full bar has been redesigned and is stacked to the brim with cute mixed drink names that compliment the theme of the restaurant.

I fortunately tried the crab cakes and their cesar salad. Both had strong, crisp, fresh textures that complimented each other, as well as the surroundings. It was a light, refreshing mixture and did not over compensate each other. Each had its own signature flavors with the salad, nicely displayed in a elegant dressing with freshly grated Parmesan. The crab cake on the other hand was a mexican theme with black beans, warm yellow corn, avocado and a small side of salsa with tortilla crisps.

My partner had the chicken sandwich with mozzarella cheese, pesto mayonnaise and the seasoned french fries were delicious. As you can see by the photograph, it was a good presentation with an abundance of food that did not leave us wanting.

(4 stars- ****) Fresh food, American/ mixed design, full bar- good variety of wine.

Apollo Grill
116 Pleasant St
Ste 121
Easthampton, MA 01027

(413) 517-0031

Black Sheep (Amherst, MA)

In the heart of the city of Amherst, MA, off the main street, sits a quaint bakery/cafe that houses a plethora of tasty freshly made treats daily. Ranging from delicate desserts to fresh made sandwiches, this hipster/college hang out is the kind of San Francisco wannabe deli that make me ache for the west coast's famous Tartine off 18th street.

I tried the Californian Sandwich, as more of a novelty, then for any other reason. I was pleasantly surprised by the roasted warm sun dried tomato paste with red onions, spinach and coupled with thinly sliced chicken. I was looking forward to tasting a pesto flavoring within the paste as described and was disappointed not to experience anything close.The house regular iced coffee was rich and robust which helped speed me along for the rest of my afternoon. However, the variety in coffee was weak and I did not notice a selection in Tea's which would help diversify their clientele.

The Apple Pecan Muffin, I tried on a second visit as more of an early morning dash to work. The muffin was not only a refreshing treat, it was a sweet comfort that was not overpowering nor was it bland. It was warm, fresh, and exactly what I wanted. I look forward to trying more of their baked goods soon.

Four Stars ****

Black Sheep
79 Main St
Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 256-1706

http://blacksheepdeli.com/

PBC: Poconos Brewering Company (Mt. Poconos, PA)

Interesting fact about restaurant: After PBC built their brewing room, they discovered that Pennsylvania law says that if you brew your own, that's the only beer you can carry. So, PBC decided to contract with another brewery to produce the Pocono Brewing Company "Ball & Chain Lager" as well as a "Black Ghost Porter."

Beverage:

Old Bastard- This is a new offering from Pocono Brewing and is not the same beer as the PBC Pale Ale that was brewed several years ago. On draught, it arrived at the table in a pounder glass a clear gold with a very thin head that faded to a ring after several sips. Light aroma of flowery hops and malt. Flavor was a bit light but balanced between malt and hops with some lingering hops bitterness at the finish. Very easy to drink. Poured hazy dark straw toward copper with off-white head. Tasted crisp, caramel malty, with a nice solid hop element that integrated well with the malt.

Ball & Chain- My dinning partner for the evening tried this barrel aged- (apparently this is xtra gold aged in wine barrel with rose hips and elder flowers.) the pour was super murky yellow orange and the bottle was an unexpected gusher. it smelled fantastic! VERY floral even a bit sweet, but earthy...the flowers dominate the smell, can't really describe it other than strong flower with wonderful sweetness...almost potpourri in taste. Overall, this was a super awesome treat. It tasted delicious and was a major highlight of the evening and of our conversation.

Samuel Adams: Cherry Wheat-5.30% ABV Appearance - Cloudy yellow body. Medium white head with medium retention.Smell - Moderately strong maraschino cherries up front. Slight undertones of wheat beer. Smells delicious. You've really got to be in the mood for it though.
Taste - Wheat front end. Corny musk body. Cherry finish... though somehow still dry. Little weird. Pretty much no sweetness. A bit of earthy musk and astringency throughout. A strange astringency kills the beer for me. Overall - Had high hopes for this beer, because I like a good sweet fruit beer once in a while. But this was just dry, astringent, and kinda weird.

Food:

For our evening meal we split the Pesto burger with homemade french fries. The pesto was homemade (lots of basil and Parmesan cheese with pine nuts), which this in itself is enough to make me go back purely because it was really, really good. The rest of the charbroiled 8 oz. burger with red onions, lettuce, tomato, jack cheese, red sauteed bell pepper. Ordered medium well and received medium well. (Rave review of burger!!!) PESTO, PESTO, PESTO...I would go back just to get that pesto....so good!

Service: Slow, came back to check on the table only once and had a slow wait time for a greeting or drink order.

( 3 Stars) American (Traditonal), Bar

Poconos Brewing Company

RR 611
Swiftwater, PA 18370 (570) 839-3230

http://www.poconobrewingcompany.com/

Ham & Eggs in the Pan (Swiftwater, PA)

While visiting Pennsylvania over the weekend, I decided to try the local fare. I dropped into a charming place around midday for some brunch. It is called Ham & Eggs In the Pan. A charming place right off highway 615 as you are driving through Mt. Poconos. After asking for the house recommendation, I sided with their Ham, Egg, with a white cheddar cheese sandwich on a brioche bun and a cup of coffee. It was warm, cheesy, and everything that I wanted it to be. The ham was well cured and not too salty but still consisted of the fresh finely cut piece that always makes me want more. I would have recommended a side garnish to pretty the plate a bit, but at $4.50, I was not complaining.

My partner on the other hand went with the Spanish omelet, which consisted of tomatoes, green bell peppers, white onions, jack cheese with a side of Rye toast. For an extra dollar, I asked the waitress to throw in some of their home fries on the side. It was crisp and clean, with finely cooked vegetables and a slight bit of salsa mixed into the omelet. The salsa was not over powering, but more of an interior garnish. (In future, ask for it on the side if you like your omelet hot and dry.) $8.75

Coffee: Standard, but good. I do not take coffee lightly. Everyone has a different way of preparing a house blend and it is important for the wait staff to understand that customers pay attention to coffee. If you have really good coffee, that alone can bring you good, consistent, and friendly business.

Service: Excellent- Hot coffee kept coming and wait staff was very attentive. Our server helped to make a balanced meal which was enjoyable and comforting.

Take Home: Ham, sausage, turkey, or even bacon!!!Cured and smoked on the farm!

(Stars 4): Breakfast/ Brunch/take-out

Ham & Eggs in the Pan

HC1 Box 101 off highway 615

Swiftwater, Pennsylvania 18370

570-839-6492.

Atkins Farms Country Market: Cider Donuts

Dense cinnamon sugars delight in this homemade and enjoyable doughnut. Yes, I said doughnut. I had one with my morning coffee and I’ll tell you that it was a treat that I continue to fantasize. The moist dough is almost more of a delicate pastry than “just” a doughnut with its sugary/ cinnamon outer layer encompassing the fried dough which couples with the apple cider and a hint of cinnamon hidden inside the dough itself. This pairing is comforting to say the least. It has an original taste and consistency that reminds me of home cooked meals with your mom hovering over the oven with those feel good aromas wafting into the rest of the house. To achieve a higher degree of excellence, I would recommend readers to heat donuts for 5 minutes in your oven at 225 degrees (watch the donuts carefully depending on your stove), then serve with warm coffee, cold milk, or a nice cup of apple juice.Regular retail: $9.50 on sale $6.25!!

Family friendly, it pairs extremely well with a warm cup of butter toffee Keurig coffee!(http://www.keurig.com/) (shown in photo.)

(Stars 5): Homemade- Breakfast

Atkins Farms Country Market

Corner of RTE.116 & Bay Rd.

Amherst, MA 01002

http://www.atkinsfarms.com/