Combo Platter: Flynn Food Festival Canceled; Barre Bites
By Alice Levitt and Suzanne Podhaizer
Flynn Moves On
After 26 years of hosting an annual Fine Wine & Food Festival, the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts has decided to move in a new direction. This year's event, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 19, has been canceled.
"We just made the decision within the last couple of days," says Membership and Special Events Manager Paula Roberts. Although last year's festival was a success, she says, the Center's staff decided it was time for some fresh ideas. "I don't know the people who originally conceived [the festival] because I wasn't here then, but I don't think anybody thought it would last 26 years," she says. "I think that says a lot."
Back then, there were only a few ways for artisan food producers to get the word out about their products, and the FWFF provided a cherished opportunity. Now, says Roberts, producers can do the same thing at myriad farmers markets. Not to mention that, over the past quarter-century, a bunch of other opportunities for wining and dining have cropped up.
Are there more foodie fests in the Flynn's future? "We have wonderful relationships with wine and food producers, so we will definitely have some wine-and-food-related events," Roberts says. She suggests that the big bash might evolve into a series of "smaller, more intimate, more Flynn-like" gatherings as early as late fall.
Suzanne Podhaizer
Delicious Heritage
From Wednesday through Sunday this week, the city of
Barre will host its annual Barre Heritage Festival.
Several local restaurants are marking the occasion with upgrades.
Ladder 1 Grill, located in
the city’s old firehouse, celebrates its first anniversary this weekend. When
owners Richard and Valerie Beaudet bought the
1904 firehouse, where they also own Flowers
by Emslie & Company, they had the building’s original weathervane
appraised. The city had estimated it was worth several thousand dollars, so all
involved were shocked to learn the artifact would garner more than 2 million
smackers if sold. Instead, it now rests in a safe place at the Barre Historical Society.
A replica of the weathervane will be restored to its
rightful place on Saturday at an event called “Firefighters' Tribute to Heroes.”
Commemorative T-shirts will be on sale, along with the restaurant’s sandwiches,
steaks and pizzas.
Basil's Pizzeria & Restaurant
is already known for its pies and specialties from owner Vasilio Vlahakis’ native Greece. On Wednesday, "Broasted" chicken will join the gyros and baklava in the eatery’s
lineup. It's not a misspelling: "Broasting" is a trademarked term for a cooking method that leaves foods super crispy but less greasy than traditional frying.
On May 22, Vlahakis debuted a second Main Street business, Maple Leaf Pancake House & Restaurant. The spot opens for breakfast at 5 a.m. on weekdays and features 10 varieties of pancakes. At lunch and dinner there's stuffed shrimp, chicken piccata and panini.
This week, Vlahakis is making a big improvement to his new eatery. Thursday through Saturday, he'll offer an all-you-can-eat array of 32 items at breakfast and dinner, in addition to the already-packed salad bar.
Alice Levitt
