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Bigg Daddy's Philly Steak House opened in January next to the Viking Pub.

BIGG Daddy's Philly Steak House Open In Adams

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Xavier Jones grills up Philly cheese steaks in his new eatery on Commercial Street in Adams.
ADAMS, Mass. — Bigg Daddy's Philly Steak House brings a little piece of Philadelphia to Berkshire County with a list of inspired steaks, hoagies, burgers and wings. 
 
Philadelphia native Xavier Jones said he wanted to bring something special to the area, something natives may have never really experienced in its true form.
 
"You go to Subway and they put this precooked processed meat on and they toast the bun and there are other places that are just steak and cheese," Jones said. "People travel from all over the world to go get a Philly cheese steak, why not bring Philly cheese steak  to the mecca of New England."
 
The chef has been in the area for some time, involved in restaurants up and down the county as well as other parts of Western Massachusetts. He moved back to the Berkshires to help open the former Spice in Pittsfield but over time has been involved in The Press Box and most recently Paddy's Bistro in Dalton, among others.
 
He said he also was going to be involved in an expansion of On A Roll Café, but Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts graduate knew it wasn't for him.
 
Jones was driving through Adams and couldn't find a place to eat and felt a Philly cheese steak restaurant was just what the town needed.
 
Once he found the 85 Commercial St. location next to the Viking Pub, he realized it was the perfect fit for what he wanted to do.
 
"I looked at a bunch of places but this right here seemed perfect. I came up and looked at it and studied it and found that this was the perfect spot to do take out delivery," he said. "Plus it was a triple threat: take out, delivery and the Viking Pub — our food is served right in the pub."
 
The eatery opened earlier in January and Jones said all his ingredients are fresh and made in house. Currently, he offers 13 different cheese steaks that range from a BBQ bacon to a pizza.
 
He said he also serves specialties inspired by his hometown such as the Rocky, the Philadelphia and the Broad Street Bully.
 
He added that there is nothing ordinary about his menu. 
 
"It is not just your normal sandwich and there is some history behind everything I make," Jones said. "I use Cajun spices from the Mediterranean on my chicken breast that gets dressed in South African fruit. So you aren't just going to come in here and get a plain chicken sandwich."
 
"I want to mix some flavors and give Adams something that they never had before," he said. 
 
Jones also has visions of teaming up with local businesses to have them create their own sandwiches.
 
"I blow that business up on Facebook and that business does the same for me so we build the economy together," Jones said. "That is what it is all about in the Berkshires. Let's help the next man."
 
The eatery is open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 3 to 10 p.m.
 
Jones said he urges people to stop down and try something different.
 
"The thing is a lot of people open up pizza places and whatnot because they inherit it or they know that pizza is a good money," Jones said. "The thing for me is it is a passion, and it is something that I grew up eating and it is something that I love."
 
Bigg Daddy's number is 413-749-7098; find more information on the Facebook page.

 


Tags: new business,   restaurants,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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