Barbara M. Houle
A 12 months in the past, Steven Sprague took on the brand new position of chef supervisor of The Cookery at S&S Market in West Boylston after spending 9 years as govt chef at Harrington Farm, a preferred marriage ceremony venue in Princeton.
Sprague says he was able to put his restaurant expertise and keenness for meals to work at S&S, bringing the weather of consolation meals and residential cooking to the corporate’s new line of “high-quality, take-out delicacies.”
“I’m past grateful for the years I’ve spent in native kitchens,” stated Sprague, “however for me personally, I used to be on the level in life the place I wanted a change.”
Today, he’s not alone with regards to cooks taking a look at new choices. For some cooks it may be pandemic fatigue, whereas others need off the road, stated Sprague. Cooks are hard-working, devoted and keen about what they do, and so they work lengthy hours. It’s not as straightforward as cooking reveals typically make it appear, he stated. His new gig permits him weekends off and extra leisurely time.
Sprague has held stints at Nashoba Valley Vineyard Restaurant in Bolton (15 years), and at first of his profession at Mar-a-Lago Membership in Palm Seashore, Florida, and the previous Shorah’s Ristorante on Park Avenue in Worcester. Sprague was employed at former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago within the late ’90s across the time of his commencement from Florida Culinary Institute in West Palm Seashore. He recalled getting ready meals utilized by Trump and membership members on flights out of Palm Seashore. “I noticed Trump come and go however by no means met him,” stated Sprague.
He stated he first heard that Josh Bailey, who owns S&S together with his spouse, Erin Bailey, was seeking to rent a chef over the cellphone. “I had used S&S as a wholesale provider and infrequently talked to Josh,” stated Sprague. “We had by no means met head to head till he advised me concerning the chef place, and I stated I used to be and accessible.”
The Cookery is S&S’s new kitchen that Sprague helped plan. It took six months to construct, he stated, calling it a chef’s dream come true. “New tools, expansive kitchen house totally loaded.”
The Cookery provides “small batch, elevated ready meals” that run the gamut from the favored Lasagna Bolognese to Apple Barbecued Smoked Pulled Pork and Vegan Risotto Stuffed Peppers. Basic dishes embody Rooster Piccata, Rooster Parmigiana, Swedish Meatballs, Oven-Prepared Meatloaf, Macaroni and Three Cheese, Crafted Stromboli, Calzone, Stuffed Pizza, soups and salads. Smoked Beef Brisket was a current chef’s particular. Contemporary Focaccia (garlic Parmesan) is obtainable daily. Carry-out meals can be found in S&S’s deli. So are a few Sprague’s desserts. He hinted chocolate-covered strawberries as a romantic dessert for Valentine’s Day.
S&S’s house owners perceive the significance buyer suggestions performs in a profitable enterprise, stated Sprague. Cooks prefer to put new issues on their menu nevertheless it’s actually the client who dictates it, he stated. “It’s about buyer satisfaction.”
Sprague doesn’t have to achieve far for substances. He makes use of meats from S&S’s Butcher Shoppe (which lately began providing dry-aged meats) and recent produce and herbs from the S&S Farm Stand, situated throughout the road from {the marketplace}. “Every part’s recent every day,” stated Sprague, whose menu is poised to ship simplicity and selection in meals. S&S buys from native companies equivalent to Berlin Orchards in Berlin and Smith’s Nation Cheese in Winchendon, and helps native fundraisers, he stated.
The chef grew up in Fitchburg and studied culinary arts at Newbury School in Brookline. He recalled his first job in a restaurant was washing dishes, and like different cooks he labored his means up the road to govt chef. His spouse, Danielle Sprague, is also a chef and meals service supervisor at Dr. Franklin Perkins Faculty in Lancaster. The couple reside in Leominster.
The most important influences in Sprague’s life have been his mom and grandfather. “At a younger age I used to be all the time interested by what my mom was getting ready within the kitchen,” stated Sprague. “My grandfather would give me excursions of his gardens, and his family-size batches of home made meatballs or stuffed grape leaves had been usually within the slow-cooker. These aromas had been ingrained in me very early on,” stated Sprague, “and I now have his (grandfather) grapevine rising within the yard.”
Sprague in spare time rides a Harley Davidson with the Leominster Eagle Riders and participates and cooks at native fundraisers. His interest is “BBQ on the outside grill at dwelling.” Sprague is a member of the Les Amis d’ Escoffier Society, New England Joseph Donon Chapter.
S&S is situated at 307 West Boylston St. (Route 12), West Boylston. Go to www.ssmarketplace.com for extra details about hours, The Cookery, Delicatessen, Butcher Shoppe and Farm Stand. Phone: (508) 835-9989; join on social media. Customized-catering is obtainable. Observe: Bailey purchased S&S Farms and Deli in 2008.
I did a bit of seize and buy groceries at S&S after interviewing Sprague, aka Chef SS at The Cookery. I had the all time Eggplant Parmigiana! Will be eaten with a easy, leafy salad, or loved as a aspect vegetable dish or appetizer, lower into squares (no gooey mess).
I say, “What’s to not like a couple of chef-inspired carry-out meal?”
Oishi plans transfer to Most important St.
Oishi Japanese Restaurant, 8 Franklin St., is closed as house owners look to relocate at 422 Most important St., Worcester.
“We apologize for any inconvenience and stay up for serving you at our new location,” is the Fb message. Clients can count on new menu objects when the enterprise reopens. Join on Fb, or ship e-mail to yummyoishi12@gmail.com.
REC winter farmers markets open
The 2022 Regional Environmental Council (REC) Winter Cell Farmers Market started this week, working by way of April.
Contemporary and native produce will likely be dropped at indoor areas in Worcester that embody the Worcester Youth Heart, Inexperienced Hill Towers, New England Ghanaian Seventh Day Adventist Church, Coes Pond Village and Elm Park Towers. There additionally will likely be a weekly cease on Wednesdays on the Webster Housing Authority in Webster.
Go to www.recworcester.org/farmers-markets for full schedule. All REC markets settle for SNAP, Wholesome Incentives Program (HIP), WIC, credit score and debit playing cards and money.
“Whereas we settle for all types of fee at our markets, we’re notably centered on guaranteeing that there’s constant and protected entry for SNAP recipients in Worcester and Webster to make use of their Wholesome Incentives Program Advantages,” stated Grace Sliwoski, director of packages with REC.
“The Wholesome Incentives Program gives as much as $80 in month-to-month rebates for purchases of native produce made with SNAP (Supplemental Vitamin Help Program). HIP gives a essential useful resource for households in Massachusetts to stretch their meals budgets with recent vegetables and fruit whereas supporting our native farmers.”
Based on Undertaking Bread, starvation charges in Massachusetts doubled throughout the pandemic, “rendering a document 19.6 p.c of households meals insecure at its peak.”
“Guaranteeing our neighborhood members utilizing SNAP have entry to native produce by way of HIP advantages is a crucial piece of assembly our neighborhood’s meals safety wants,” stated Ashley Carter, REC Farmers Market program coordinator.
“The REC markets are one of many few walk-up pleasant HIP farmers markets in most of South Worcester County and the one in Worcester throughout the winter months,” stated Carter.
Masks are required to be worn in any respect REC Markets.
