Turkey a Common Denominator on Cross-Cultural Holiday Menus

Three downtown restaurants' chefs share their traditions with Woburn Patch.

Later today. the mouth-watering aroma of cooking turkey may waft through your kitchen. Stuffing, too. Many people will gather today to mark the holiday, share each other’s company and eat together. With Thanksgiving at hand and Christmas in the wings, Woburn Patch wondered how people of another culture celebrate holidays in their kitchens and dining rooms. Based on the number of Brazilian restaurants downtown, we informally surveyed what people who work at Taste of Brazil, Oliveira’s Brazilian Steak House and DePaula’s Café about what would be served in their native country at Christmas, our next common holiday just a month and a day away. As here, turkey would be brought to the table, according to chef Jesse James Moraes of Taste of …

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North Pole Opens a Branch on New Boston Road

Special, locally-made Christmas stockings among the merchandise

Picture a line of traditional Christmas stockings hanging from a mantel or shelf. In a “workshop” on New Boston Street, Heather Gramstorff and her “elves” are working on a different kind of holiday stocking. They look like the bottom half of old-fashioned one-piece pajamas, with a trap-door in the back. They’re labeled “Mom” or “Dad” or “Grampy,” or waiting, Gramstorff said, to be personalized. Gramstorff is a vocational education trainer and head of the sewing program at the Woburn NuPath.  The stockings, made by NuPath clients, will be sold at the NuPath Mercantile general store, starting this Friday, Nov. 4. The Mercantile features seasonal merchandise, some the work of adults with disabilities. NuPath’s mission is to provide its …

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Bites Nearby

Diner in the Park Now Open

Bites Nearby introduces readers to the city's newest eatery.

Diner in the Park Overview: Diner in the Park is the newest eatery in Woburn. It’s so new that most folks don’t know about it yet! This is where Bites Nearby on the Woburn Patch comes in.  Diner in the Park serves up breakfast and lunch on weekdays in West Cummings Park off of Washington Street. Owners Jimmy and Mary Katsarikas ran Grecian Yearning in Allston which had been open since 1976 but met an unfortunate end when a fire burned down the restaurant in 2008. That wasn’t the end of the Katsarikas’ restaurant career though. A few years later, they opened up Diner in the Park and started serving their own classic breakfast selections (Jimmy calls himself “the fastest egg in town") as well as soups, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and dessert…

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Bites Nearby

Check Out Woburn's Newest Downtown Restaurant

Our Bites Nearby column looks at every angle of The BrickYard Restaurant.

The BrickYard: Authentic Pizzeria and Burger Bar Overview: The BrickYard is the newest eatery in Woburn! It made its debut in early May 2011 and serves up a simple menu of pizza, burgers and beers to local residents and traveling foodies alike. What do neighboring restaurant TreMonte and The BrickYard have in common? A chef! Decor: The BrickYard has two levels. The upper level has various tables and booths, a bar and a kitchen in the back. There is a second bar on the lower level. You can enter the restaurant on Main Street or from a convenient entry on the upper level in the municipal parking lot. Beverages: It’s all about the brewskis! BrickYard has a wide array of draft and bottled beers from standards like Stella and Corona to some …

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Bites Nearby

A Taste of the Pacific at Taipei Tokyo Cafe

Enjoy something tasty and exotic at this Main Street eatery. If you don't want soda or tea, you can bring your own beer or wine.

Taipei Tokyo Cafe Overview: A blend of Chinese cuisine and Japanese Sushi, the menu at Taipei Tokyo Café is both approachable and exotic. If you want to kick things up a notch, Taipei Tokyo allows patrons to bring their own beer and wine to complement their meal. Decor: A mix of modern and oriental, the open space offers a comfortable dining experience. Beverages: If you decide not to bring your own beer or wine, you can choose from their modest selection of sodas or an Oolong tea, complete with decorative pot and tea cup, to have with your meal. Appetizers: Start off your dining experience with some Sushi Bar appetizers like Yellowtail Jalapeno or a Sushi Sandwich. Other non-Sushi appetizers include Scallion Pancakes, Peking Ravioli, …

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Bites Nearby

Razzy's Is Snazzy

Check out this deli and dessert joint in the middle of an industrial park.

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Woburn Patch picks a great restaurant either in the city or nearby that is worth checking out in our Bites Nearby feature. Here's this week's choice: Overview: In the middle of an industrial park you'll find Razzy's Deli and Desserts, a little diamond in the rough. With a broad menu of deli classics and specialty fare, you can find everything from a salami and cheese sub, to an antipasto salad and a red velvet cupcake. It's a one stop shop for dine-in, pick-up, delivery and catering. And Razzy's friendly staff will make sure you are well taken care of when you stop by to visit. Drinks & Snacks: Razzy's has a couple of …

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Raquelle Matos

10:13 am on Friday, February 11, 2011

This location used to be Deli of Course. It closed and the owners of Razzy's purchased it. I know someone was asking about this on Facebook so I wanted to make sure I added this bit of information.   more ›

Bites Nearby

Masa Offers Up Southwest and Spanish Fusion

Eat locally at this week's Woburn Patch Bites Nearby pick: Masa Southwest Bar and Grill on Cambridge Road.

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Woburn Patch picks a great restaurant either in the city or nearby that is worth checking out in our Bites Nearby feature. Here's this week's choice: Overview: Masa Southwest Bar and Grill features an eclectic menu of Southwestern and Spanish delights. You’ll find lots of delicious fusions from their selection of tapas, entrees and cocktails. On Thursday nights, Masa livens it up with Salsa lessons and dancing. Decor: The dimly-lit restaurant has a sleek modern design with touches of old world décor. Large pieces of artwork adorn the walls and the bar is light up with a faint red glowing light. Drinks: Along with some …

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The Restaurant Celebrates Five Years in Business

Main Street diner serves up home-cooked meals and a family atmosphere in the heart of Woburn.

It's rare these days to find a family-run, family-oriented eatery that serves home-cooked meals at fair prices. But Woburn residents have a hometown gem all their own. For the past five years, The Restaurant, located at 489 Main St., has been serving up fresh-cooked, continental fare and beyond out of their cafeteria-style diner. Dec. 1 marked the fifth anniversary of this popular, breakfast, lunch and dinner eating. Owner and chef Peter Mamakos explained some of his food service background and why he thinks The Restaurant has been so successful. "I've been in the business for over 30 years now," said Mamakos." We came over from Greece many years ago. My father owned several restaurants throughout Boston, and I'm just continuing the …

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