Joe’s Diner has been sold to Heather Earle and Shelly Swindell from Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. The e two sisters have plans to improve the diner’s kitchen, dining room and make some changes to the menu while keeping the general feeling of the diner “as is.” Both women have worked in food service for many years. We wish them good luck in their new venture. 85 Center St., Lee; 413-243-9756
Clearwater Natural Foods in Lenox has been sold by sisters Ruth Wheeler and Maggie Sadoway to the brother-sister team of Danielle and Jason Dragonetti. The Dragonettis are owners of Spoon, a breakfast, lunch and organic ice cream scoop shop across the street in Lenox Village. They will be changing the name to Lenox Natural Foods. The shop will undergo renovations before reopening, adding local produce and take-out food into the mix. Lenox; 413-637-2721; www.LenoxnaturalFoods.com
Nejaime’s Wine Cellar in Lenox has embarked on a major renovation, adding over 1,800 square feet to their current building. They hope to be open in late May. The new space will allow for a better customer flow with more room and better display options, and the addition of more craft beers and other goods. We look forward to visiting.
Guido’s has taken over the deli department from Berger’s specialty Foods at their Pittsfield location. They plan on continuing with customer favorites as well as adding new offerings into the mix. Don’t forget about their 10% senior discount Mondays–Wednesdays in both stores (65 and older, excludes alcohol, lobsters and turkeys).
Laura shack of Firefly and her chef/partner Zee Vassos are planning to open a new breakfast and lunch restaurant called The Kitchen on the Commons in the space recently vacated by Jonathan’s in the Lenox Commons. The restaurant is scheduled to open in the beginning of April after renovations. They will continue to use as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, with affordable prices geared to a local market all year round. We know it will be delicious! Good luck, Laura and Zee.
Daire Rooney, formerly of the now-closed Brixon West Street, Pittsfield, has become executive chef at Allium restaurant in great Barrington. Known for her creativity, Daire has been making small changes to their menu, reflecting a “new American” cuisine.
Rachel Hunt, formally brunch chef and kitchen manager of Fiori in great Barrington, has been made the new executive chef. Rachel replaces co-owner Alexander Feldman, who will remain general manager and sommelier. she mentored at age 16 with Chef Mark graham of Saratoga Springs, New York, with a brief stint at the CIA and returned to the Hudson Valley, gaining much regional experience.
We wish Daire and Rachel, these talented women, continued success, and look forward to many delicious meals.
Edible Berkshires is now on Facebook! Please visit our page regularly to get updates on happenings, events, restaurant specials, pictures, videos and more!
Berkshire South Community Center in great Barrington hosts a free community dinner every Monday from 5 to 6 pm. A delicious meal prepared by some of the finest chefs in the Berkshires. Greet your neighbors! Meet new friends! No reservations are required, just come and enjoy!
Breaking Bread hosts a free community supper every Thursday at 5:15pm sharp at American Legion Post #340 in Sheffield. All welcome, no reservations required.
Café Adam in great Barrington is planning a move in April into their newly purchased and renovated building in Jennifer House Commons. The larger space and new kitchen will allow for more tables and greater culinary creative possibilities for chef/owners Adam and Sylwia and their talented staff. 413-528-7786; www.CafeAdam.org
The Marketplace Café in Sheffield is offering a family dinner night on Thursdays all year round, with enough food for a family of four for $24.95, takeout or eat-in. dessert is also available at an additional charge. Pre-orders are a must by 7pm Wednesday by phone only. Menus and orders at 413-248-5040. The Marketplace at Guido’s in great Barrington offers a takeout meal as well and they are working on offering a similar deal for their Pittsfield café at 53 North St.
We hope this rumor is true: A little birdie told us that Haven, on Franklin Street in Lenox, is planning to take over the space being vacated by Café Adam to bring their famous breakfast and lunch spot to route 7 in great Barrington. Now we’ll have two places to enjoy those yummy omelets, sandwiches and salads. Their eggs are so fresh; we swear they must have chickens in their kitchen …
Starving Artist Creepier and Café in Lee is offering Sunday “musical brunch” with live music. Barrington Coffee Roasters coffee, organic food, including signature crepes, salads and panini. Music ranges from folk to jazz and other acoustic.
Community Health Program (CHP) in great Barrington hosts “Kid’s Kitchen at CHP” every Thursday from 11 to noon. These free cooking classes are for children ages 2½ to 5 years old and focus on healthy food choices.
The Guthrie Center on Division Street in great Barrington opens its doors to community members for a delicious and free lunch every Wednesday from noon sharp. Way to go, Arlo!
Be sure to check our website edibleberkshires.com Approximately four weeks after our print release, the full digital version of that season’s edition will be available for viewing, with live links in directory and advertisers’ websites.
High Lawn Farm will be turning their wonderful Jersey milk into rich, high-butter-fat ice cream. Starting with the top three American flavors—chocolate, vanilla and strawberry—they expect to offer limited-edition nostalgic, seasonal, flavors throughout the year. Initial availability is planned for this summer.
Castle Street Café is offering a $25 “mud season” three-course prix fixe locally sourced dinner on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, available until May 1.
Chocolatier Doria Polinger of H. R. Zeppelin is negotiating at press time for a store in downtown great Barrington. Expected opening is early June. For special orders prior to opening, visit www.hr-zeppelin.com. Also, check with Edible Berkshires on Facebook for updates as we hear.
Once again Berkshire chefs, organized by Brian Alberg (red Lion inn), were invited to present a dinner at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. On March 1st, “The Berkshire Cure-All dinner” included ingredients cured with salt, acid and smoking techniques and sourced and preserved from local harvests. Chefs included Stephen Browning (Bell & Anchor), terry Moore (The old Mill), Jamie Paxton (The Meat Market), Daire Rooney (Allium), Dan Smith (John Andrews) and Zee Vassos (Firefly). Dan Thomas of the red Lion inn served as sommelier for this wonderful feast. Many of these chefs will serve similar selections at their own restaurants for those of us who could not attend. And as we all know, a visit to the Berkshires can truly “cure” what ails you… fresh clean air, beautiful vistas, delicious food and drinks produced locally—all this and culture too! What more could you want?
Congratulations to chef/owner Bjorn Somlo of Nudel in Lenox, nominated for a James Beard 2013 Best new Chef Award, and as we go to press, if that isn’t enough, Bjorn has been nominated for Food & wine’s Best Chef New England!
Feasts in the Fields : outstanding in the Field is returning to the Berkshires! The four-hour sellout of last year’s outdoor feast at Indian Line Farm apparently encouraged them to stage two events at separate venues for 2013: • September 7 at Lila Berle’s Sky Farm in great Barrington features host Chef Dan Smith, owner of John Andrews: A Farmhouse Restaurant in South Egremont. • September 8 at Hancock shaker Village in Pittsfield brings back Chef Brian Alberg of the red Lion inn for an encore performance. Tickets for either event (if available, we heard that sky Farm sold out in one hour) would be $220 per person for a four-course family-style dinner. www.outstandinginTheField.com/events
Looking for a Mother’s or Father’s day gift? Stop by LOCAL, a wonderful shout out to local artists, in the Lenox Commons. LoCAL is a combination gallery, workshop and meeting place. Conceived by Michele O’Hana, it features handcrafted work by dozens of local artisans, including paintings, photographs, writing implements and jewelry. Some of the most beautiful objects are the ethereal porcelain pieces that O’Hana makes herself, in her work space with kiln in the back of the shop. (Photo courtesy of LOCAL)
If you know Five Guys burgers and fries, you’re in luck! If you don’t, then you’re in for a real meat & potato treat! They have established a beachhead in Pittsfield in the Stop & Shop plaza. 100% fresh beef burger with a list of free toppings and French Fries, cut in-house from select us-grown spuds. Order online as well. www.Fiveguys.com
