Cushman Market & Cafe (North Amherst, MA)

Out of a John Denver song, next to the rail road running through North Amherst, waits the rustic Cushman Market and Café. This historic market is much more than a corner store where you can pick up your milk and eggs. The land was originally purchase in 1892, by George Cogswell and built a grocery store on the site where the current market continues to run.  

I adore the re-inventive design that is a constant theme of integrating the old growers packaging labels as the palate for the cozy, comforting charm of the relaxed local café. It’s outdoor patio is picturesque next to the clang-clang of the railroad tracks. Plenty of Parking on the side, back and across the street along the petite park with picnic table and rock wall. A great way place to break up your Saturday morning or afternoon.

The establishment currently is split in two between a small, but well stocked, market featuring an excellent wine and beer selection. As well as, a café serving the fresh, fine food made from local ingredients from nearby farms. Their coffee beans are locally roasted. Drinks are made with local Mapleline milk which is delicious.

Coffee Regular- French Roast was just what I wanted it to be- robust, rich, and with a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon was the perfect pairing to my chocolate croissant. The croissant was flaky, with a smooth dark chocolate granache filling. It was such a tasty treat on such a dreary day.

On my second venture to the cafe a few weeks later, I tried out their Lemon cupcake and Chocolate cupcakes. The lemon was simply garnished with a sugared lemon rind and was a bit dry and needed either more lemons or moist to zest up the actually cake. The Chocolate cupcake on the other hand was reminiscent of a hoho….decadent and moist its white butter cream frosting made this moist little morsel a decadent treat. (I dream of going back for another....)

(5 stars *****) Organic/ fresh breakfast and lunch artisan (FREE WIFI- good signal)

More information can be found on the markets website: http://cushmanmarket.com/

Cushman’s Market & Café’ (North Amherst, MA)

491 Pine St, Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 549-0100

Chez Albert (Amherst, MA)

Chez Albert- Like most French restaurants outside of a big city, it is one that is always in demand and coveted. This one in particular combines french cuisine with fresh organic food from local farms in the pioneer valley. Nestled on the main street of Amherst, MA it is decadent, with a slight romantic charm. The hustle and bustle of a college town outside reminds the guest of the rare dinning delight that is rarely found surrounded by students. The wait staff is just as carefully chosen as the menu. Hints of well-bred youth, coupled with optimism, and the desire to please. Attentive and knowledgeable, the servers have been trained to receive their guests with the utmost care.   

I was lucky to try their Filet Mignon, Halibut, and the tiramisu.

The filet mignon was cooked to perfection. Practically melting together, it was a perfectly prepared alfalfa raised slice of beef. However, the sauce was on the weaker side than anticipated. It was reminiscent of more of a Zinfandel than a Cabernet, that left me feeling cheated out of what should have been a great triumph. The mashed potatoes and the sauteed leeks helped to liven up the plate, but not enough to spare my deflated feelings.

The flounder on the other hand was spectacular. Truly remarkable pairings of  white wine and lemon saffron butter sauce with encrusted almonds with a side of sauteed spinach and golden yellow potatoes. Light, appealing and completely captured the essence of the Loire Valley.

The Tiramisu was delightfully robust while at the same time maintaining the light fluffiness of the traditional dessert. Strong, assertive, with a hint of a secret that left nothing to want was the best way to end the meal on a high note.

It was a bit more than what I would normally spend, but for a quality meal with fresh produce, and fine service; it is a pleasure that I hope that I will soon try again.  

(4 Stars-****) French Cusine

Chez Albert (Amherst, MA) French Cusine Restaurant- Amherst, MA
178 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 253-3811

Parking- along the street
Recommend making a reservation- Even if you just want to sit at the bar (They get busy quick!)

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/

Pasta E Basta (Amherst, MA)

Situated in the downtown of Amherst, MA, this Italian restaurant is two floors of nice kid friendly atmosphere, while still perfect for a first or second date. A good wait staff with attentive servers that will joke and still know what everything is on the menu. For a little place they have an excellent affordable wine and beer listings that pairs well with the rich and filling Italian foods.

As with most American Italian dishes- they are plentiful and rich with cheese. This meal was no exception, except the bread. Bread as a rule is the fresher the better... this bread however was a frozen and then re-baked which just doesn't cut it. There was a pleasant roasted pepper olive oil which was paired with the bread, but it was not enough to mask the hardened twice baked bread. (I would recommend consulting with the Black Sheep across the street for some fresh daily artisan bread or even ask them as a partner solely for updating the bread.)

For the main course the ricotta cheese with beef manicotti. The manicotti was everything I wanted it to be- rich, filling, fresh, and best of all there was a peppery kick at the end that was comforting and made me want to snuggle down with the rest of my white wine.

My partner had the white wine angel hair pasta with chicken and mushrooms. The sauce was not as flavorful as anticipated which was regretful, yet the chicken was well cooked and plentiful. The chicken was offset however by the mushrooms and cooked red bell pepper which didn't make the dish flow together. Good try, but a miss.

Overall, it was a good experience, as the waitstaff out performed the meal and I look forward to giving this spot another chance to make me eat my words.

( 3 1/2stars-***)

Pasta E Basta

26 Main Street
Amherst, MA 01002

(413) 256-3550