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Merrimack Valley Magazine

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2021 MVMA Winners – Good Eats

July 16, 2021 by Kristin Cole

We are happy to present the winners of the 2021 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. This spring, the top picks in all categories were chosen by our readers via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and congratulations to all the winners.

Alfresco Dining
Cobblestones of Lowell
Known for their hand-cut steaks, burgers and seafood, Cobblestones of Lowell combines comfort food with regionally inspired American fare and contemporary selections. Dining outside at Cobblestones comes with its perks — beyond the sights of downtown Lowell, there’s occasional live music and entertainment.
91 Dutton St.
Lowell, Mass.
CobblestonesOfLowell.com

American
The Loft
The Loft in North Andover has created a rustic, inviting atmosphere for enjoying food and spirits. They serve fine USDA top-choice steaks, fresh seafood, poultry, produce and are open for lunch, dinner and private celebrations.
1140 Osgood St.
North Andover, Mass.
LoftSteakAndChopHouse.com

Asian
Blue Taleh
Located in downtown Lowell, Blue Taleh offers Thai, Japanese and sushi cuisine as well as a famous martini menu. Visit them and enjoy their cocktails, traditional maki dishes, and much more.
15 Kearney Sq.
Lowell, Mass.
BlueTalehLowell.com

Butcher
Alpine Butcher
Alpine Butcher has remained in the Doyle family since its start in 1913. The beef is USDA prime, and their pork and chicken are humanely raised as well as antibiotic- and hormone-free.
963 Chelmsford St.
Lowell, Mass.
AlpineButcher.com

Coffee Shops & Café’s
Frobie’s Cafe
This family-friendly cafe brings coffee, smoothies, acai bowls, juices, breakfast sandwiches and more to the Merrimack Valley food scene. The pleasant staff and tasty treats have earned Frobie’s a loyal following since it opened in 2014.
101 Broadway Rd.
Dracut, Mass.
Frobies.com 

CSA
Farmer Dave’s
Farmer Dave’s is a farm that responsibly grows a myriad of vegetables and fruits. With their CSA programs and “pick-your-own” offerings, Farmer Dave’s is committed to keeping their community strong and healthy.
437 Parker Rd.
Dracut, Mass.
FarmerDaves.net

Frozen Treats
Sullivan Farms Ice Cream
Sullivan Farms Ice Cream in Tyngsboro is known for their variety. They offer over 50 traditional flavors and seasonal options such as Bailey’s Irish Cream and White Chocolate Caramel Latte.
176 Middlesex Rd.
Tyngsboro, Mass.
SullivanFarmsIceCream.com

 

Italian
Al Fresca Ristorante
Family-owned and run Al Fresca Ristorante brings a taste of Italy to Tewksbury. They offer homemade Italian cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and a private dining space perfect for events.
1768 Main St.
Tewksbury, Mass.
AlfrescaRistorante.com

Irish Pub
Peddler’s Daughter
The Peddler’s Daughter has locations in Nashua and Haverhill. In addition to their Irish cuisine, they are open for brunch and dinner. Plus, they offer an extensive whiskey menu.
Haverhill, Mass. & Nashua, N.H.
ThePeddlersDaughter.com

Mexican
Casa Blanca
Casa Blanca’s Mexican dishes make them a staple for Mexican authentic cuisine in the Merrimack Valley. The atmosphere is inviting, the food is fresh, and the margaritas may be some of the best in the region.
Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover, North Billerica and Wilmington, Mass.
CasaBlancaMexican.com 

Middle Eastern
Jocelyn’s Mediterranean Restaurant & Lounge
Jocelyn’s offers Lebanese and American food, a full-service bar and even a martini lounge. The menu boasts lamb, kafta and kibbee dishes, as well as a vegetarian combo appetizer plate.
355 South Broadway
Salem, N.H.
JocelynsRestaurant.com

New Restaurant
Tuscan Sea Grill & Bar
An original restaurant concept of Tuscan Brands, Tuscan Sea Grill & Bar features locally sourced seafood, a raw bar, pasta, and much more. With a waterfront location overlooking the Merrimack River, guests can enjoy harbor views and warm weather alfresco dining.
38 Rear Merrimac St.
Newburyport, Mass.
TuscanSea.com

Pastry Shops / Bakery
Purple Carrot Bread Co.
Every item on Purple Carrot Bread Co.’s menu is made from scratch, from hearty stews to salad dressings and condiments. Rustic breads are the heart of Purple Carrot’s menu: Country Blonde, Kalamata olive, rosemary and garlic ciabatta are among the popular offerings.
107 Merrimack St.
Lowell, Mass.
PurpleCarrotBreadCo.com

Pizza
Flatbread Company
Beginning in Amesbury in the summer of 1998, Flatbread Company has prioritized serving real food, by real people, in a real environment. They partner with farms, supporting their surrounding communities and bringing an authentic taste to their pizzas.
Multiple Locations
FlatbreadCompany.com

Seafood
Seaglass Restaurant & Lounge
Located on the shores of the Atlantic, guests at Seaglass enjoy lunch and dinner with panoramic views framed by floor-to-ceiling windows while seated at tables over the ocean. Their seafood menu celebrates the ocean’s bounty by taking the freshest fish and treating it to the creative preparation of their culinary team.
4 Oceanfront North
Salisbury, Mass.
SeaglassOceanside.com

Specialty Market
Borrelli’s Italian Deli
Established in the Merrimack Valley over 50 years ago, Borelli’s Italian Deli is known for its Italian products, including their famous sausage and cold cuts. Borelli’s also offers hot subs, paninis, salads and specialty sandwiches.
322 Merrimack St.
Methuen, Mass.
BorrellisDeli.com

Wine Shop *TIE*
Andover Classic Wines
Locally owned and operated for its entire existence, Andover Classic Wines features more than 1,800 wines from every fine wine region, over 1,100 craft beers from around the world, and hundreds of the best bourbons, scotches, whiskeys, rums, gins, tequilas and other spirts.
209 N. Main St.
Andover, Mass.
AndoverClassicWines.com

Wine ConneXtion
Boasting “excellent wines at exceptional prices” customers at Wine ConneXtion can browse their large, open, cellar-style design that helps educate their clientele on everything from the characteristics of the wine to food pairings.
117 Main St.
North Andover, Mass.
WineConnextion.com

World Cuisine
Olympia Restaurant
Olympia Restaurant has been serving the Merrimack Valley Greek cuisine since 1952. They specialize in fresh USDA Colorado lamb, traditional Greek specialties, chicken, pork, Angus steak, chops, seafood and more.
453 Market St.
Lowell, Mass.
NewOlympia.com

Stop by next week for the winners of the ‘Health & Beauty’ category.

 

The 2021 MVMAs are sponsored by:

Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union logo

Filed Under: MVMA Tagged With: 2021 MVMA Winners, 2021 MVMAs, Al Fresca Ristorante, Alpine Butcher, Andover Classic Wines, Blue Taleh, Borrelli’s Italian Deli, Casa Blanca, Cobblestones of Lowell, Farmer Dave's, Flatbread Company, Frobie's Cafe, Good Eats, Jocelyn's Mediterranean Restaurant and Lounge, Merrimack Valley, Olympia Restaurant, Peddler's Daughter, Purple Carrot Bread Company, Seaglass Restaurant and Lounge, Sullivan Farms Ice Cream, The Loft, Tuscan Sea Grill and Bar, Wine ConneXtion

2020 MVMA Winners – Good Eats (Part 2)

July 21, 2020 by Terry Suzuki

We are happy to present the winners of the 2020 Merrimack Valley Magazine Awards. This spring, the top picks in all categories were chosen by our readers via our online voting platform. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and congratulations to all the winners.

Butcher
Alpine Butcher
Alpine Butcher, a fourth-generation butcher shop, has remained in the Doyle family since its start in 1913. All of the beef is USDA Prime, their pork and chicken are humanely raised as well as antibiotic-free and hormone-free, and their seafood comes directly from the docks of Boston.
963 Chelmsford St. | Lowell, Mass.
AlpineButcher.com

Wine Shop
Drum Hill Liquors
Drum Hill Liquors offers a wide selection of fine wine, rare cordials, liquors, tequila, whiskies, scotches and domestic and imported beer, as well as craft beer and unique spirits. They host many weekend tastings to showcase seasonal and new products and pride themselves on warm, friendly customer service.
83 Parkhurst Rd. | Chelmsford, Mass.
DrumHillLiquors.com

World Cuisine
Moonstones
Moonstones, the younger sister of Cobblestones of Lowell, delivers on variety with their globally inspired menu. Stop in for brunch, lunch or dinner and enjoy Turkish mezze, a croque madame, or Korean pork belly with a few of their signature cocktails. For less adventurous diners, there are plenty of American options. Need to translate a foreign word? Check out the global glossary at the bottom of their menu. Want to enjoy their dishes on your own time in the privacy of your home? Their new menu features prepared meals perfect for a family of ’stones fans.
185 Chelmsford St. | Chelmsford, Mass.
Moonstones110.com

New Restaurant
Panela
Panela offers a modern take on the traditional flavors of Colombian cuisine. Chef and co-owner Viviana Acevedo was born and raised in the city of Medellin, Colombia, and attended Lowell High School before studying at Le Cordon Bleu. Her restaurant is independently owned and family operated, its name inspired by panela — raw sugar cane — a staple of Colombian cooking.
7 Hanover St. | Lowell, Mass.
PanelaRestaurant.com

 

Diner
Four Sisters Owl Diner
Breakfast at this historic diner is guaranteed to start your day off right. Old favorites are given new life in Owl’s savory steak and eggs, homemade corned beef hash and creamed chipped beef on toast. Soups, salads and sandwiches make up the lunch menu. Wake up and fuel up at the Owl Diner, a Lowell landmark since 1982.
244 Appleton St. | Lowell, Mass.
TheOwlDiner.com

Frozen Treats
Sullivan Farms Ice Cream
Sullivan Farms offers an array of homemade ice cream flavors, including standout offerings such as Jen’s Cookie Dough and White Chocolate Caramel Latte. They also sponsor the annual John Carson annual road race, named after a much-loved Chelmsford High School track star who died tragically during team practice in 1987.
176 Middlesex Rd. | Tyngsborough, Mass.
SullivanFarmsIceCream.com

Alfresco Dining
Grazie Italian Restaurant at Four Oaks Country Club
Prominently situated at the Four Oaks Country Club, an 18-hole championship golf course, you can’t miss Grazie unless the incredible views distract you. Their wood-burning oven was imported from Naples, Italy — it produces pizzas with a fire-kissed crust. Traditional Italian appetizers such as calamari fritti and prosciutto di parma and entrees such as pappardelle with braised boar and porcini mushroom ragu are perfect for outdoor dining.
80 Meadow Creek Dr. | Dracut, Mass.
Grazie.Restaurant

Caterer
Lenzi’s Catering
You may have heard of their famous baked chicken pot pie and maybe even the zucchini bread, the virtues of which are extolled even by those who otherwise hate zucchini bread. The wedding packages are a Merrimack Valley institution. Want to really wow your guests? Ask about the Champagne waterfall. Suitably, the establishment looks out over our namesake river.
810 Merrimack Ave. | Dracut, Mass.
LenziCatering.com 

Seafood
Fishbones
Since 2006, Fishbones has set the standard for fresh seafood. From steamers to herb halibut, this is the place for lovers of the grand New England culinary tradition. Their shellfish are harvested in Elliot, Maine, and the smoky, silky clam chowder regularly shows up on local “best of” lists. Find out why.
34 Central Sq. | Chelmsford, Mass.
FishbonesOfChelmsford.com

 

Stop by next week for the winners in the ‘Health & Beauty’ category.

 

The 2020 MVMAs are sponsored by:

Filed Under: MVMA Tagged With: 2020, 2020MVMAs, Alpine Butcher, Drum Hill Liquors, Fishbones, Four Oaks Country Club, Four Sisters Owl Diner, Grazie Italian Restaurant, lenzi's catering, Merrimack Valley, Merrimack Valley Magazine Award, moonstones, MVMA, MVMAs, Panela, Sullivan Farms Ice Cream

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