| Correspondent
The Italian Festival of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Parish in Worcester returns after a two-year absence due to COVID-19, with opening festivities on August 11.
The four-day event at Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 33 Masssasoit Road, is a chance to see not only traditional Italian food, but also live music, local vendors, special activities for children ( bounce houses, face painting) and more.
Admission is $2 per person. Festival hours are from 5pm to 10pm on August 11; 5 to 11 p.m. August 12; from noon to 11 p.m. August 13; August 14 from noon to 6 p.m. Handicap parking is in the church lot, with additional parking on the street and at Rice Square School.
Elaine Beaudry and Matteo Colletta are the presidents of the festival. Volunteers include Sandy Penny and Michele Giangrande, festival banners; John Morello, entertainment; Nancy Gurgone, Vera Novick, Pat Naple, Pat Solitro, Sue Manoogian and Carolyn Haglund, Italian cookies. Kate Mercadante is the bounce house and vendor coordinator. Domenic D. Mercurio Jr. handles media advertising; Michelina Portas, festival signage and public relations.
“We are very grateful not only for the participating restaurants and vendors, but also for the many festival volunteers who will be working on the event,” said Beaudry. “Volunteers are the people who ensure that all attendees have a memorable and positive festival experience.”
People love the food and friendship the festival brings to the neighborhood, Beaudry said, explaining that it’s like a big reunion when everyone comes together. The annual festival draws attendees from the city and surrounding areas, and residents of the Grafton Hill neighborhood are very supportive of the event, he said.
Eat your way through this festival, enjoying everything from pasta and meatballs to squid and tripe.
On the vendor menu: The Boulevard Diner of Worcester, pasta, meatballs and sausage; Pepe’s Italian Restaurant in Worcester, homemade pizza; Russo Italian Restaurant, squid and ice cream; La Cucina Italiana Restaurant in Worcester; tripe and eggplant; Moe’s Sweet Eats of Shrewsbury, specialties like ice cream. Also, fried chicken tenders (popular with children of all ages); Simply Worcester Cannoli, a variety of signature cannoli flavors.
The smell of a flat grill and the smell of sausages and peppers cooking is a tradition at Italian fairs and street festivals held across the state. At this festival, look for authentic festival-style Italian sausage subs sold at one of the parish booths. Hot dogs, fried dough, Italian cookies (from generation-old cookie recipes) will be available at other booths. Wine and beer will be sold.
Festival facts: Anthony J. Panarelli Jr. of family-owned La Cucina’s on Grafton Street plans to make 600 pounds of tripe the week of the festival. It will be for both the event and his restaurant, he said. Tripe is one of the most popular dishes in Italian cuisine. You either like it or you don’t, Panarelli said. La Cucinia customers love it, he said.
Moe’s Sweet Eats owner Maurice (Moe) Bisceglia has added bread cones filled with sweet and savory fillings to his food truck menu. The hand-held, fully baked bread cone is a fun food trend, he said, and can be “loaded” with barbecue, mac ‘n cheese or other foods. If he does decide to offer bread cones at the Italian festival, he said they’ll be filled with pulled pork with a cheesy barbecue sauce and in limited supply.
Pepe’s Italian Restaurant’s hand-pulled pizza is considered a must-see at the festival. Loyal customers say you can’t go wrong with any of the restaurant’s amazing cakes. Last year, Pepe’s left Franklin Street and moved to their new location on Shrewsbury Street (Restaurant Row), where they recently started serving ice cream.
Russo Italian Restaurant and Boulevard Diner are among the city’s popular dining destinations, each offering a different dining and tasting experience. Here is your chance to learn what they can serve.
Festival sponsors include Mercadante Funeral Home of Worcester (a longtime parish participant) and radio stations The Pike, WXLO, Nash Icon and Cumulus Radio Station Group.
Italian festival countdown begins!
Whittier Farms Offers “Summer Boxes”
Whittier Farms in Sutton has created a Taste of Summer Box, A La Carte, a half-bushel box of seasonal specialties for $35 that can be ordered online or purchased at the farm store, 90 Douglas Road.
Diana Whittier, farm store manager and a “fifth-generation Whittier daughter,” said there’s a lot of variety in each box, with items changing weekly based on what’s ripening in the fields and gardens. There are always staples, onions and potatoes in the box, he said.
This week’s summer boxes contain celery, corn (Whittier’s), zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, local berries, peaches and nectarines. Whittier said he expects the apples to be available in a week or so. Items are grown by Whittier’s and other local farms. Note: It’s possible to substitute one fruit or vegetable for another if the box is purchased at the store, according to Whittier.
Who buys the a la carte aisle?
“Shoppers from their 20s to their 80s,” according to Whittier, who said a father of four recently told him the box is a great idea, especially for busy families. “He said he and his wife like the variety of the boxes and the idea that there’s always something new,” Whittier said. “Dad also collects meats that we sell in the farm shop in addition to the box. It’s easy to plan meals.”
Whittier Farms is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. visit www.whittiers.com or call (508) 865-1053. Connect to social networks.
The farm shop sells butter and dairy, sliced meats and cheeses, eggs, assorted meats including Whittier beef, coffee, fresh fruits and vegetables, maple syrup, sauces, candy, homemade items, and more. Also, fresh bread from Helen’s Bakery Shop in Worcester is available.
Check it out!
‘Steamers at Sunset’ in Uxbridge
The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its flagship event, “Steamers at Sunset,” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 at The Barn at Blissful Meadows Golf Club, 801 Chocolog Road, Uxbridge.
Member meal costs: Lobster, $85; steak, $60; chicken, $50; Vegetarian, $40. Non-Members: Lobster, $95; steak, $70; chicken, $60; Vegetarian, $50. Note: Lobster is market price; Vegetarian food is Beyond Burger. Attendees have a choice of steamers or New England clam chowder at registration. visit www.blackstonevalley.org/events/ for more information and to book.
At the event, the chamber will present the Golden Lobster Award to the person with the “best Hawaiian costume.” Fun competition!
If you have something for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Email bhoulefood@gmail.com.
