The Sunflower Shanty at Houlden Farm in North Grafton officially opened this month, spotlighting an outdoor beer garden and pizza concept, plus so much more.
It’s all about family, friends and the enjoyment of local food and drinks al fresco in this business venture with owners of the farm, brothers Tyler and Trevor Houlden and the team from Flatbread Company, a Boston pizza restaurant. Thomas Keane of Boston heads Flatbread Company. He’s also a partner with Churchill James LLC, the developer that purchased the former Lucky Dog Music Hall in Worcester.
The dish on Sunflower Shanty:
The six-tap beer garden, hand-built from a storage container, sits within the sunflower fields at Houlden Farm, 139 Old Westboro Road. The sunflowers are expected to bloom sometime in July, according to Chloe King, the Sunflower Shanty’s general manager, who with manager Cindy Swanson helps run the beer garden. “The sunflowers’ bright colors will be an awesome sight,” said King.
The shanty operates from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting. It features a wood-fired pizza oven with rotating flatbread pizzas ranging in flavors from Jay’s Heart — Flatbread Company’s take on a classic red sauce with cheese — to a Buffalo Chicken Flatbread with house-made buttermilk ranch. All flatbreads are made with organic, all-natural ingredients with a strong emphasis on sustainable sourcing and seasonality, according to the company.
Houlden Farm’s food truck, Seed to Table, parked nearby, operates throughout summer and fall, offering salads, sandwiches, smoothies, etc. Food is based on ingredients grown on the farm, said King.
The beer garden’s rotating draft list highlights brewers, including Greater Good in Worcester, she said. Guests also can opt for hard cider from Carlson’s Orchards in Harvard. Artic Chill hard seltzer (Harpoon and Polar Seltzer collaboration) and 90 + Cellars wines are available. There will be live music Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer, beginning this weekend when shows will be 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Check the farm's Facebook page for more information.
The farm features a variety of family-friendly attractions such as a playground, farm animals and seasonal pick-your-own fruit. There’s also a fall pumpkin patch and corn maze. Pick-your-own flowers at the farm is expected to start up soon, said King. An onsite seasonal farm stand sells fresh fruit and vegetables. Visit Facebook for updates on all farm events. More about the farm at https://houldenfarm.com.
Flatbread Company Brighton opened in the Boston Landing neighborhood in 2019 and features nine bowling lanes and two “primitive clay ovens dishing out hearth-cooked pizzas.”
Keane said he and Churchill James partners Paul and Harry DiLeo plan to “”re-introduce” candlepin bowling to Worcester and open a flatbread pizza restaurant on Green Street in Worcester, referring to the development as “The Cove.” FYI: Keane’s take on candlepin bowling is “a ton of fun and exciting.”
The DiLeo brothers grew up in Millbury, he said, and DiLeo Gas in Worcester is a family property.
Keane estimates that the Canal District development he’s involved in is “about three years out, maybe two and a half if we’re lucky.” He’s excited and looking forward to being part of the Worcester business community, he said. “We love the city.”
Steven H. Foskett Jr. in a story published in the Telegram & Gazette on April 26 reported on Churchill James future plans in the Canal District.
Keane, who grew up in southern New Hampshire, “spends a lot of time in the Worcester area” and was on site for the debut of Sunflower Shanty. “Tyler and Trever (Houlden) are so passionate about the farm and their community,” said Keane. They’ve worked hard and done an amazing job.”
The brothers have lived on the farm their entire lives and took over the operation of the multi-generational family-owned business seven years ago. Keane met the owners through his business partners.
Besides summer and fall activities, the farm is a place where you can “sit back and watch the sunset,” according to Keane. “With food and maybe a beer or wine, it’s pretty cool.”
Keane may team up with the farm’s owners in other projects, throwing out the idea of a seated dinner around Thanksgiving partnered with a local brewery or winery.
For now, enjoy what Houlden Farm offers, especially the showy sunflower fields.
Farmers Market season underway
The Regional Environmental Council’s Summer Farmers Market season opened June 14.
Ashley Carter, farmers market program coordinator, said markets will run six days a week (except Sundays) through November.
The REC Standing Farmers Markets operate at Beaver Brook (326 Chandler St., Worcester) from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Friday; and at University (Crystal) Park, 965 Main St., Worcester, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The REC Mobile Markets will bring fresh and local produce to city neighborhoods Tuesday through Thursday.
The schedule: Tuesdays: Seabury Heights, 240 Belmont St., 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.; Green Hill Towers, 27 Mt. Vernon St., 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; Webster Square Towers, 1050 and 1060 Main St., 1 to 2 p.m.; Coes Pond Village, 39 First St., 3 to 4 p.m.
Wednesdays: Family Health Center, 26 Queen St., 10 to 11 a.m.; Elm Park Towers, 425 Pleasant St., 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; Plumley Village, 34 Laurel St., 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Thursdays: Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., 8:30 to 10 a.m.; Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, 90 Holden St., 11 a.m. to noon; Lincoln Village Apartments, Victoria Center, 116 Country Club Blvd., 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, 19 Tacoma St., 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
The markets accept cash, SNAP, HIP, Senior Coupons, WIC, credit and debit cards. Visit www.recworcester.org for more information.
Extended hours for On the Rise Baking
On the Rise Baking, 1120 Pleasant St., Worcester, has extended summer hours.
The bakery is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday through Wednesday. Telephone: (508) 752-3809.
Executive pastry chef/owner Betty Casey said customers requested the longer opening times. Indoor and outdoor seating is available at the bakery.
Pioneer Valley Wine Fest a success
The second Pioneer Valley Wine Festival, hosted by Brimfield Winery & Cidery at Brimfield Auction Acres was held last weekend.
I attended Saturday’s event with friends, both of whom love food and wine. They’re also in the food business and owned restaurants. This was a fun day out, no strong critiques.
Among local wineries: Hardwick Vineyard Winery, Common Ground Ciderworks in North Brookfield; Brimfield Winery; and Broken Creek Vineyard in Shrewsbury. Other wineries (12 total) were from Ipswich, Florence, Hawley, Westfield, Richmond and Franklin. If you discovered a new wine you liked, you could buy a bottle to take home. Of course, we did.
Four food trucks, including Off the Hook Roadside Eatery out of Rutland, owned and operated by executive chef Adam Foreman, and “The Fork” in the Road, owned and operated by Table 3 Restaurant Group in Sturbridge. There was adequate seating throughout the grounds to enjoy food and drinks. Also, live music at the event and jewelry vendors, etc.
Tastings began at noon and by mid-afternoon people were in line for food and beverages. A lot of people seemed to love the idea of a “to-go” wine slushy in a pouch.
At tastings, you always want to learn more about the wine you’re sipping, and the owner or rep offers the info and answers questions. Throughout my wine tasting years (too many to count), I’ve waited in long lines while people in front sip and chirp with friends about the weather, kids, job or whatever, not the wine they’re sampling. They don’t move an inch and seem clueless about the people behind them who sometimes wait up to 15 minutes before getting to try a wine, or decide to forget it altogether. At the weekend tasting, wine was poured into mini disposable cups, so it was a sip or two and you were done. Wineries showcased more than one wine, most had three or more. Personally, I think a show of wine etiquette would help move lines. Move to the side and continue conversations with friends. Let the rest of us move up. Tastings at a wine dinner are a different experience. You’re not going table to table.
There were great new wines to try at this festival, and the owners and folks working booths were friendly and informative. We look forward to next year’s event, and yes, the wine tasting lines!
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