Seasonal Somethin's

Seasonal Somethin's

Massachusetts is bisected by two major thoroughfares, the Mass Turnpike made famous by James Taylor when he sang of the snow covered roads from Stockbridge to Boston.  The second is known by a few different names, the Mohawk Trail, Rt 2 and Johnny Appleseed Road.  Today's visit was along Rt 2 were we headed out to try some "Seasonal Somethin's" at the @435BarandGrille in Leominster, MA

Leominster is said to be home to Johnny Appleseed, the guy who walked the area that is now Rt 2 tossing apple seeds from his leather satchel that would one day become the orchards that make this part of the state a must see in the autumn months.  Leominster is known as the plastics city and is  home to the original Pink Lawn Flamingo! (Come on do not pretend you do not know what that is or tell me you didn't know someone who had one on the front lawn.)  It was inside one of these old mill buildings that the 435 Bar and Grill was born.

Now before my smoked meat eating minions start to complain about this edition, let me explain "Somethin" to you.  The summer in New England is the time when chefs from all the fancy restaurants go a little crazy with the heat, or as Lou Reed said, they Take a Walk on the Wild Side.

The 435 is a great example of what I am talking about.  Year round this beautiful spot is loaded with people drawn to the almost 50 seat bar that boasts 6 TV screens and the amazing selection of foods served up by some of the nicest waitstaff's and bar tenders in the business.  You want a glass of red wine and a thick juicy fillet cooked to perfection, you will get it here!  However, every summer "Somethin" happens and the chef goes a little wild.  They roll out the "Seasonal Somethin's Menu" and the Bone Bag decided we must go try it out.

All of these fancy chef's have a dark smoke filled side, they just don't show it often.  After months of
forming Charcuterie boards, tossing fig and goat cheese salads with quinoa, and finding new and exciting ways to serve Kale, these men and women just need to take a walk on the smokey side, and the meat eaters go do ta do ta do ta do.....

The Special "Somthin's" included Slow Roasted Racks of tender and meaty smoked ribs with a warm BBQ glaze that was just the right combination of sweet and spice to accent the meat.  Served with fresh cut thick fries and a cold slaw, it made you think of a true BBQ Smoke House.    For a little more backyard BBQ flavor you may want to try the Dirty Dog, a Kobe Beef Hot Dog topped with Peppadews, Pickles, Aioli Mustard and Crispy
Potato Strings.  This dog rocks!

The menu also has BBQ Ribeye Baguettes, Firecracker Chicken and BBQ Steak Tacos, but the dish of the night was "somethin" they call the Mac Attack.  They start with a fresh cavatappi pasta, all nice and curly and they drop a generous portion of moist and tender pulled pork right on top.  Now here is where the dark side comes in, the pork is seasoned to perfection but not like any I have had before, for one thing, it is not red.  They use a house made White BBQ Sauce that is oozing with butter and Parmesan cheese.  This white sauce clings all over the wrinkled cavatapi and forms a nice little puddle in the bottom of the plate, just begging you to dredge those last slices of bread thru.  I like to think I am doing the dish washer a favor by getting all that gooey cheesey BBQ sauce off the plate, it's the least I could do.  This is not your mothers Mac and Cheese, it is a twist that only the Heat of the Summer and a chef that has the smell of Wood Smoke as cologne, could make happen.

If your near to Leominster, you should go, they are located at 435 Lancaster Street.  If the ride is to far, check out your local spots for their version of "Somethin Special"  Go ahead indulge in the insanity that only pops up in the summer heat.  When these chef's let loose, "somethin" good is bound to happen.