MGM Springfield - May 2019 Highlights

MGM Springfield Kicks Off May with 

“Food Truck Fridays” and 

“Derby de Mayo Weekend” on Armory Square

Get ready for May fun at MGM Springfield where they are ready to  kick off a weekend of fun and fabulous festivities beginning on Friday, May 3 with the launch of “Food Truck Fridays” and “Derby de Mayo Weekend” on Armory Square.

“Derby de Mayo Weekend” kicks off at 11 a.m. with a performance by local cover band Feel Good Drift, lawn games and bites from “Food Truck Fridays” inaugural event. 

Guests can also enjoy TAP Sports Bar’s signature outdoor beer garden, which will be open for the first time this season. 

Then, on Saturday, May 4 at 4:30 p.m., Armory Square will transform into an outdoor viewing party for the highly anticipated horse race, the Kentucky Derby, as it plays live on the 330-square-foot marquee screen. The event also will feature live music and MGM Springfield’s three food trucks. 

It's not over yet! The party continues Sunday, May 5 starting at 1 p.m. with a Cinco de Mayo fiesta complete with a mariachi band and custom tequila bar.

And the weekend fun continues all summer!

It's still not over! Every week throughout the spring and summer, “Food Truck Fridays” will bring local eats to downtown Springfield from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

The culinary bonanza will include three original concept food trucks from MGM Springfield, serving tacos, gelato and Asian-inspired dishes. A variety of other popular food trucks from across the region, such as Wahlburgers, Hot Oven Cookies and Say Cheese, will be offered on a rotating schedule. 

Opening day of “Food Truck Fridays” on Friday, May 3 will include:

• Guac This Way by MGM Springfield
• Asian-Inspired Food Truck by MGM Springfield
• Italian Gelato by MGM Springfield
• Wahlburgers of Boston
• Liberty Rock Tavern of Milford, Conn.
• Holyoke Hummus of Holyoke, Mass.
• Say Cheese of Worcester, Conn.
• Hot Oven Cookies of Springfield, Mass.
• Kona Ice of Stamford, Conn.
• Palazzo of Springfield, Mass. 
• Sweet Chili’s of Springfield, Mass. 

For more information on “Food Truck Fridays” and “Derby de Mayo Weekend” at MGM Springfield, please visit mgmspringfield.com. 

MGM Springfield

One MGM Way

Springfield, MA 01103

(413) 273-5000

https://www.mgmspringfield.com/en.html

About MGM Springfield

MGM Springfield covers three city blocks in the heart of downtown Springfield, Mass. Igniting a cultural and economic renaissance in a historic New England city, the resort, which combines new construction with revived historic buildings, offers more than 125,000 square feet of gaming space, a 250-room boutique hotel on Main Street, superior spa services, diverse retail and inspired dining headlined by award-winning Chef Michael Mina’s Cal Mare. MGM Springfield also features the seven-screen Regal luxury cinema complex, bowling lanes, a seasonal skating rink and outdoor marketplace displaying local art, events and talent. MGM Springfield opened on August 24, 2018. For additional information, please visit www.mgmspringfield.com.

End of Summer Vacation with Tenth Street Hats

Thank you Tenth Street Hats for Sponsoring this Post

Farewell to Summer with Tenth Street Hats

Tenth Street Hats - Style Challenge

First of all, can we give a big round of applause to the Royal Family for the huge comeback in hats! Ever since Kate Middleton's wedding there has been such a resurgence in millinery fashions, and our favorite new Royal, Meghan Markle, is also championing the cause! 

As a little girl, I remember my mom always wearing such stylish hats with every outfit. I also remember getting special hats myself to wear for holidays, especially Easter, along with a new spring dress and spring coat. 

And nowadays, I find ANY reason I can to wear a hat, like a visit to Saratoga Race Track or even a Royal Wedding.

When Tenth Street Hats reached out to challenge me to select a hat to style, I jumped at the opportunity! With a New England travel tour already on my schedule, I knew I'd have plenty of opportunities and NEEDS for a hat.

Traveling through three of the five New England States, we spent most of our time in sunny New Hampshire and Vermont touring antique shops, local attractions, and eating our share of great food throughout each state! We also did plenty of sightseeing, which meant plenty of time out in direct sun. A hat was definitely in order!

For my style challenge, I selected the Hokkaido from Tenth Street. The Hokkaido is a wide brim women's boater hat made with a natural straw fiber. I knew it would be casual enough that it would see plenty of wear, and yet, I could dress it up enough for church, a summer garden wedding, or to wear to my beloved Saratoga. It had a gorgeous baby blue grosgrain ribbon, and a cute little bumble bee adorning the bow.

Tenth Street was founded in 1921 by Jack Dorfman and Arthur Hyman. The Tenth Street name is from the original warehouse on 10th Street and Broadway in Oakland, California. The company is known for their blend of a vintage feel with modern sensibilities. Almost 100 years later, they remain a family-run organization.

First up, a casual look. Perfect for my breakfast meetup with friends, shopping, and sightseeing throughout New England.

Shopping Excursion in Lebanon New Hampshire

Hat: c/o Tenth Street
Top: Roz & Ali
Jeans: Nordstroms
Purse: Amazon Fashion

Town Green in Lebanon New Hampshire
Hat:  c/o Tenth Street
Top: Roz & Ali 

Sightseeing in Lebanon New Hampshire
Hat: c/o Tenth Street
Top: Roz & Ali
Jeans: Nordstroms
Purse: Amazon Fashion

Next up, we take it up a notch, but easy breezy none the less. 

This is a great look for brunch with friends, church, or a little garden party I attended at our bed and breakfast.

In Lebanon New Hampshire
Hat: c/o Tenth Street
Dress: Jessica Howard for Dillards
Purse: Amazon Fashion

In Lebanon New Hampshire
Hat: c/o Tenth Street
Dress: Jessica Howard for Dillards
Purse: Amazon Fashion

I just loved my weekend away exploring all that New England has to offer!  I hope you enjoyed my style challenge looks with Tenth Street.

Tenth Street Hats 
Designer hats, made the old way, sold the new way. 
Hats for both men and women!
Find them online at https://tenthstreethats.com/

This post was sponsored by Tenth Street Hats, but all opinions are my own.

©  Home Place 2018

Shell and Bones Clam Chowder Recipe

Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho's Award Winning 

New England Clam Chowder Recipe!

Did you know that there is a National Chowder Day?  Now, rumor has it that France started this delicious holiday. (The French really know how to celebrate food, don't they!) But we New Englanders take our Clam Chowder to a whole-nother-level!

In any case, I hope you celebrated the holiday and had yourself a heaping hot steaming bowl of one of the best dishes that New England has to offer!

If you weren't able to partake - or if you want to keep the celebration going, I have an award winning New England Clam Chowder recipe for you!

Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho, of Shell and Bones Restaurant in the historic City Point neighborhood of New Haven Connecticut, is known for his attention to classic dishes, and this chowder recipe is no exception.

I first sampled it at ChowdaFest 15 - and waited in line for it at ChowdaFest 16. Its creamy deliciousness was so worth it! Chef Arturo never shies away from bold flavors and this chowder screams deliciousness!

With ingredients including whole fresh clams, bacon, thyme, golden potato and light cream, the recipe won the Big Taste of Greater New Haven 2015 and 2016, and was created by Executive Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho and he has graciously shared it with us!

Shell and Bones New England Clam Chowder
Photo Source @ShellandBonesOysterBar Instagram

Now you can create this delicious dish at home! 

Shell & Bones Clam Chowder

1½ cups water

½ cup dry white wine

50 littleneck clams

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon bacon fat

½ cup diced bacon

1 large Spanish onion, diced

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups diced celery

3 sprigs thyme, chopped

2 bay leaves

1½ pounds (about 2 cups) Yukon gold potatoes, peeled, cut into ¼-inch dice

2 cups heavy cream

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

Oyster crackers, Saltines, potato chips for garnish

Pour the water and wine into a large pot. Bring to a boil at high heat. Add clams, cover and cook until they open, about 5 minutes. Remove clams to a bowl. Strain liquid and reserve. When they have cooled, set aside 6 clams in the shell, remove remainder from their shells and cut into small pieces.

Melt butter and bacon fat in a pan over medium heat, add bacon and cook until bacon is crisp, 4-6 minutes. Add onion, garlic, celery, thyme and bay leaves. Saute until onions are translucent, about 4 minutes. Add potatoes, clam juice and heavy cream. Simmer until potatoes are tender, 8-10 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Add chopped clams and parsley, stir and serve.

If serving the next day, remove clams from refrigerator and let them come to room temperature. Reheat soup, return clams to the chowder, stir in parsley and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Serve with crackers, Saltines or potato chips. To garnish, place a reserved clam in the shell on top of each bowl. Sprinkle crispy bacon on top if desired.

Makes 6 servings.

There you have it - Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho's New England Clam Chowder Recipe to make at home ...

Or visit this beautiful water front restaurant and experience New England atmosphere at its best!

Shell and Bones Oyster Bar

100 S Water Street
New Haven, CT 06519
(203) 787-3466
http://shellandbones.com/

About Shell & Bones

Shell & Bones Oyster Bar, located on the waterfront in the history City Point area of New Haven, Connecticut, offers the finest in seafood and steak, receiving accolades from Connecticut Magazine, New Haven Living Magazine and a “Very Good” review from The New York Times since opening in July 2015.  Acclaimed Executive Chef Arturo Franco-Camacho incorporates fresh and sustainable ingredients to present new takes on classic dishes, including his award-winning New England Clam Chowder, with all soups, stocks, sauces and desserts made in-house.  In addition to its cuisine, Shell & Bones offers an extensive wine and beer list and creative cocktail menu, with several beers, liquors and wines sourced locally in Connecticut.

The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor waterfront dining with an indoor fireplace and outdoor fire pits, complimentary parking and private event space.  Shell & Bones is open for dinner seven days a week, and offers Brunch Friday-Sunday beginning at 11:00am.  For more information, visit http://shellandbones.com/.  The restaurant can also be found on Facebook (ShellandBones) and Instagram (shellandbonesoysterbarandgrill).   

Food and Wine Magazine nominates Lizotte of ON20 for people's best new chef of 2014

Food & Wine magazine is currently in the process of naming The People's Best New Chef of 2014, and Hartford's ON20 Restaurant's Chef Jeff Lizotte is the only contender from CT, and one of eleven representing the New England Region.

Lizotte, a Connecticut native, has been executive chef of ON20 in Hartford since 2012. The People’s Best New Chef, an extension of the Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs award, honors talented up- and-coming innovators who have run their own kitchens for less than five years. The public will determine The People’s Best New Chef winner via online vote on foodandwine.com/the-peoples-bnc continuing through 5pm EDT on Monday, March 31.

“I’m honored that Food & Wine included me in this roster of talented chefs nationwide and thrilled at the opportunity to possibly bring this award to ON20, to Hartford, and to Connecticut,” says Lizotte.

Lizotte, a Connecticut native and Hartford resident, trained at various restaurants in New York and France before joining ON20 and being named Executive Chef in 2012. In the time since, he has been recognized as the state’s Best New Chef by Connecticut Magazine and one of the Hartford region’s most influential chefs by Hartford Magazine. 

The poll runs from through March 31. Fans and foodies can place their votes at Food & Wine's website.