Business & Tech

SLIDESHOW: Guests Fall In Love With the Hospital Food

For the second year in a row, it was the hospital food everyone was talking about at Taste of MetroWest, sponsored by the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce.

MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham won best appetizer and best entree awards from the more than 1,200 attendees to the 4th Annual Taste of MetroWest Tuesday night at the Sheraton Framingham.

It was the largest crowd ever for the event, which showcases food and beverages from the MetroWest's finest restaurants, caterers, gourmet and ethnic markets, wineries, brew houses and local purveyors of fine liquors.

Other award winners included: 

  • The Verve Crowne Plaza in Natick for best beverage
  • Sweet Lydia's for best dessert
  • Pepper's Fine Catering in Northborough for best presentation
The Violet Thorn Lounge at the Verve Crown Plaza in Natick served delicious cheesecake cake pop desserts (my favorite was the tiramisu one) and one of the lounge's signature cocktails called On the Esplande, served in mini martini glasses. The cocktail won best beverage. It features Bully Boy White Rum, lime juice and Prosecco.

While the drink was delicious my favorite beverage was the Nor'Easta Kicka from SKYBOKX 109 in Natick. It featured Jack Daniel's honey, vanilla syrup, peach puree and lemon juice. The gastro pub also served Guinness-braised pork sliders to attendees.

Debbie Bernardi also loved Tavolino's butternut squash tortellini. Framingham's Pam O'Callaghan also raved about the Westborough restaurant's pasta.

Tomasso Trattoria in Southborough served home-made rolls, deep fried saffron risotto, filled with mozzarella and hand-made beef & pork meatballs.

The Sheraton Hotel in Framingham served a delicious appetizer comprised of shrimp, scallops and Chorizo sausage. The dessert was a homemade lavender ice cream, which should be added it its summer menu. It was refreshing.

Linda Dunbrack of Framingham said Sweet Lydia's deserved the award for best dessert. She said the "to die for peppermint patties won my vote, but also the salted caramels and vanilla marshmallow candy."

Leslie Harvey of Framingham said her favorite dessert was the passion fruit coconut ginger macaroons by Harvard Sweet Boutique. Bernardi agreed.

Sarah Nquyen of Franklin said she loved the appetizer from MetroWest Medical Center but the fruit gelatin made by the students at Keefe Technical culinary department was her favorite. "Sweet, light, and refreshing" is how she described the dessert.

The British Beer Company in Framingham offered guests either its New England Pasty or its Shepherd's Pie Pasty along with some beer. The New England Pasty is honey-roasted turkey breast with white cheddar mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing and cranberry sauce all baked into a pasty pie, brushed with olive oil.

The Deluxe Depot Diner, scheduled to open in Framingham in May, served a pastrami sandwich to guests.

Special Thanks to Charlie Pasewark of Photography in Motion in Framingham for the photos used in this slideshow.


Editor's Note: Originally posted on Wednesday, March 26. Updated with additional photos.


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