Food

See Who Were Named Watertown’s Top Bakers at the Faire on the Square

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Bakers from Watertown fired up their ovens to create their entries for the Faire on the Square baking contest, and the judges have spoken. The competition was fierce, nine bakers entered and competed for the title of top “apple pie baker 2015.” Each pie was individually scored by points of one through ten for their appearance and their taste. Three prizes were awarded to the bakers/pies with the most points. The top three bakers in the 2015 version of the contest were: First Prize – Chris Shepard, Second Prize – Jamie Mobed and Third Prize – Peggy Hayes. The event was graciously hosted by volunteers – Tammy McKenna and Charlene McGann, and the esteemed four volunteer judges were Marilynne Roach, Jean Agrillo, Shane McKenna and Joyce Kelly.

Around Town

Local Group Hosting Free Healthy Cooking Classes at the Library

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Head to the library on Thursday night to learn how to make Red Lentil Soup (a perfect dish for the cooler fall nights) and Panzanella Salad (made with last of the season locally grown tomatoes)! 

This is the first of two free Healthy Eating Cooking Classes presented by Live Well Watertown. The classes will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Thursday, Oct. 8 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St. in Watertown.

Business

New Places to Eat Popping Up Around Watertown

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Folks in and around Watertown have a number of new dining options, with new restaurants and cafes popping up around town. 

Perhaps the most visible is Ixtapa Mexican Grill & Cantina, which opened recently at 18 Mt. Auburn Street, right in Watertown Square in the former location of the Verona Restaurant. The local chain has other locations in Eastern Massachusetts, and features a wide variety of traditional Mexican dishes, along with a many choices of margaritas.  The restaurant also prides itself in being friendly to families with children of all ages. Find out more from a previous story on Ixtapa on Watertown News by clicking here.

Entertainment

Enjoy Some Art and Craft Beer at Arsenal Center Event

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The Arsenal Center for the Arts to host an outdoor celebration of visual arts, live music and craft breweries in Watertown on Friday, Sept. 18.  

Arts & Drafts will be held at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, on the grounds of the Arsenal on the Charles, 321 Arsenal Street in Watertown and runs from 5-9 p.m.

The event features beverages from Downeast Cider House and Aeronaut Brewing Company and live music from Boston Music community favorites Nemes, Gold Blood & Associates and Dirty Bangs. Admission includes a beverage token and commemorative T-shirt which participants can tie-dye on-site. “We’re excited to have one last celebration of summer here at the Arsenal Center,” says ACA Program Director Beverly Snow. “Arts & Drafts should be an excellent evening for Watertown, filled with great bands, great beverages and an arts project for everyone.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased for $30 at ArsenalArts.org Arts & Drafts is a 21+ event and proper ID is required to enter the festival grounds.

Around Town

Learn About Healthy Eating from Watertown Group at the Farmers Market

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Live Well Watertown will kick off a series of healthy eating and cooking demonstrations this week at the Watertown Farmers Market. The Farmers Market runs from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, at the Arsenal on the Charles, and features vendors with a variety of local food options. Live Well Watertown will have recipe ideas, have a seed planting activity for kids and there will be face painting. As a bonus, from 3-5 p.m., take a behind the scenes tour of the Farmers Market. Future events include cooking classes at the Watertown Free Public Library, which will also be taped by Watertown Cable for those who cannot attend. The series culminates the first year for the group which has the goal of promoting healthy living in town, said Stephanie Venizelos, project coordinator for Live Well Watertown.

Food

Watertown BYOB Program Hits Bump on Road to Approval

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Tuesday night, the full Town Council got its first taste of the bring your own bottle – BYOB – proposal for Watertown, but it will still be some time before the ordinance allowing the program. The proposal was hashed out over three joint meetings of the Rules and Ordinances, Economic Development and Public Safety subcommittees. The BYOB licenses could go to restaurants that do not already have a liquor license, and only establishments featuring full wait service would be eligible. One restaurant in particular, Royal, is anxious to get a license. The recently opened eatery on Main and Lexington streets does not have a liquor license and the owners say that is hurting them.

Food

Find Out Where You Can Botanical Springs’ Birch, Maple Infused Products

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Botanical Springs, a Watertown-based company specializing in maple and birch sap infused products and honey, will be holding a couple of free tastings in the area. On Sunday, July 19, Botanical Springs will be serving free popsicles made with their award-winning infused lemonade at Strip T’s, said co-founder Francesco Capaldi. They will be at the restaurant, located at 93 School St. in Watertown, from 2-4 p.m.

The next week, the company heads to Follow the Honey, 1132 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge, with their Evolution Academy mobile classroom.

Food

Subcommittees to Ask Council to Adopt BYOB in Watertown

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The Town Council will consider whether to allow restaurants to offer a “bring your own bottle” option to diners after joint subcommittees voted to recommend a set of rules for BYOB licenses. 

The licenses would be available to restaurants that do not have a liquor license. Also, the Joint Rules & Ordinances, Economic Development, and Public Safety committees recommended that the restaurants must be full service, which means they have a “full wait staff, sit down and eat-in dining services for the vast majority of patrons,” according to the recommended ordinance. A BYOB license could cost $1,000 a year, and would be issued by the town’s Licensing Board. They would to be available to a restaurant which has had a suspended or revoked liquor license. The restaurants must also carry alcohol liability insurance.