Berkshire Tidbits: Mother's Day
Chez Nous Bistro, 150 Main St. in Lee, 413 243-6397, has reopened and they are still having fun for the next few weeks with their Thursday night Manger! Boire!/Eat! Drink! cooking demo and wine pairing tasting dinners at 6:30.
They start them about November until end-of-year holidays, pick them up again when the new year begins through the middle of February when they take their much needed vacation, then add another month and half of demos after they return in April.
If you remember from previous Tidbit columns, the two chef-owners, Franck Tessier and his wife Rachel Portnoy who is the pastry chef, present a small themed cooking lesson, share the evening's recipes, serve a full meal and a couple of appropriate wines.
Everyone has fun for $35 plus tax and gratuity for the evening.
This week, Thursday, May 5, Franck demonstrates Moroccan cuisine. He will start with an eggplant salad with chermoula sauce (which usually includes cilantro, garlic, lemon juice, Moroccan preserved lemon, chilis, cumin, saffron and more), then make traditional couscous with chicken and lamb. Rachel will have made a traditional Moroccan almond and rice pudding for dessert.
Next Thursday, May 12, Manger! Boire will focus on Italian tortellini
The last Manger! Boire! until the fall will showcase the cooking of Northern California.
Call for reservations.
The Yoked Parish of Becket again presents its free monthly pasta dinner this Friday, May 6 from 5 to 7. All are welcome.
Parish minister, the Rev. Kevin Smail said the meal always includes at least one pasta dish, salad, Italian or garlic bread and an assortment of — mostly — homemade desserts and beverages.
The purpose of these regular meals is to build community, Rev. Smail said.
The free dinner will be at the parish house of the Becket Federated Church, (413) 623-5217, 3381 Main St. across from the Becket Washington elementary school, just past the intersection with Route 8 in North Becket.
Even though this week is staying chilly, cloudy and showery, this Saturday, May 7, is the day a number of farmers' markets open or move outside for the season. The year-round Amenia, N. Y., market, Saturdays 10 to 2, is already outdoors. The Bennington, Vt., market, Saturdays, 10 to 1, will open. The Great Barrington farmers' market on Church St. will open, Saturdays 9 to 1, and will accept SNAP/EBT/food stamp cards. Otis farmer's market will be open Saturdays, 9 to 1.
More markets to come next week.
Saturday, May 7, will bring the 3rd annual food truck rodeo to Shire City Sanctuary, 40 Melville St. in the parking lot behind the Froio Senior Center in the middle of downtown Pittsfield, from 11 to 5. The Berkshires own How We Roll food truck has organized 10 food trucks and other food vendors for an event that will benefit Pittsfield's Giving Garden.
Well, Mother's Day is coming this Sunday, April 8.
I won't detail all the restaurants serving a Mother's Day brunch or/and dinner because so many will be. I won't go through menus. But, I will mention a few places and some dishes that caught my fancy. Sound good or look good. Hopefully, these meals will, also, taste good.
Your favorite breakfast, brunch or lunch place probably will be serving a special menu or, at least, some special mother-honoring and celebrating foods for the holiday. Places that are usually closed Sundays are often open for the Sunday of Mother's Day. And, some restaurants that serve dinner only will open for brunch or lunch.
Additionally, here in the Berkshires, Mother's Day marks the unspoken end to cold weather and winter specials. This second Sunday in May is the mark in the transition from winter hours and menus to seasonal/spring hours and foods. Summer is too far away to figure in the dining picture, yet, but Mother's Day dining is a reminder of warmth to come.
Mazzeo's Ristorante in Pittsfield, which is usually closed on Sundays, will be open their usual dinner hours for Mother's Day. They will have a special Mother's Day menu, including risotto with shrimp and sea scallops; artichoke and Parmesan ravioli — remember, Mazzeo's make their own fresh pasta — with sautéed asparagus and roasted tomatoes in a Mascarpone and pesto cream sauce; ricotta gnocchi with lamb, mushrooms and pine nuts; a lobster pot pie and cod served with lobster risotto.
Lobster seems to highlight Mother's Day menus this year.
Barrington Brewery in Great Barrington has a lobster quiche and Morgan House in Lee will serve lobster pie.
Mezze Bistro in Williamstown's a la carte brunch menu, served 12 to 7, has a few fun things on it like everything bagel crumbs sprinkled on scrambled eggs and ham and egg served with hen of the woods mushroom, peas and fava beans.
Pleasant & Main in Housatonic's 8 to 3 all day Mother's Day brunch, will include strawberry French toast. They will take reservations, which they do not do as a rule.
There will be a Mother's Day sausage and pancake breakfast — plus applesauce, orange juice and coffee — hosted by the Sheffield Volunteer Fire Department, from 7 to 11:30 at their fire house at 65 Depot St. in Sheffield, 413 229-7033, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Sheffield Volunteer Hose Company for the benefit of the Sheffield Fire Company. Sheffield farmer Daniel Barrett will donate his local maple syrup for the pancakes. Tickets, $7 for adults, $5 for children, will be available at the door or from members of the Hose Company.
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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.
