New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

Olneyville classic mini wieners Forbes.com recently featured Olneyville New York System in Providence, R.I., in its 15 Most Memorable Meals of 2014 article. Contributing writer Larry Olmsted went worldwide to find the best meals, and certainly showed accuracy and good taste bud genes when writing about Olneyville's "mini wieners" topped with onions and chili -- otherwise known as wiener sauce. They are truly delicious! This isn't the first time Olneyville has been recognized beyond the local media. The James Beard Foundation, a well-known proponent of American food cuisine, awarded Olneyville the 2014 America’s Classics Award for "regional establishments, often family-owned, that are treasured for their quality food, local character, and lasting appeal."  The Food Network, The Daily Meal and Travel Channel have also found fast food bliss at Olneyville by praising this fourth generation fast food restaurant. I first met co-owner Greg Stevens last s...

Jimmy's Steer House, Arlington, Mass. (photo by Eric) Jimmy's Steer House has been near and dear to my heart for the past 30 years, so when I heard the rumors of this Arlington, Mass., dining landmark closing, I felt a great sadness. Happily, Jimmy's Steer House will not be closing, according to a Jimmy's employee I spoke with today. The employee told me that they are not sure where the rumors started, but Jimmy's going out of business is "certainly not the case," and that business will proceed, as usual. Great news, as this is one of the best steak houses in the Boston area -- affordable and with quality approaching some of the more expensive, high profile restaurants in this category. Conrad's Restaurant , renowned for its mouthwatering steak tips, plans to expand beyond its Norwood, Mass. and Walpole, Mass., locations with a third restaurant in Sudbury, Mass. Diane, at the Walpole location, tells me that they plan to open Conrad's ...

The Wahlburgers web site is reporting  plans to expand with new nationwide restaurant openings, including Massachusetts in the Fenway section of  Boston and in Lynnfield. This expansion comes just three years after the original Wahlburger's opened at the Hingham Shipyard in Hingham, Mass. A popular burger joint founded by executive chef Paul Wahlberg and celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie, Wahlburgers agreements have been made for 20 locations in Florida and seven in New York City -- six in Manhattan and one on Coney Island. The Florida and New York locations will also include full-serve and quick-serve dining options, take-out and a full bar. The Brookline Ave. Fenway and MarketStreet Lynnfield locations will have the same format with expected openings some time in 2015, according to the press release. Franchise agreements have also been made in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Philadelphia, Penn., area. Canada has one Wahlburgers with its November 2014 opening in Toronto. ...

Article and photo by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com For those in search of restaurants serving delicious roast beef sandwiches and featuring a silo, a giant authentic indoor stone wall covered with antiques and wood carvings, and side rooms with mock chicken cages in the walls and other rural farm accents, then the Beef Barn in North Smithfield, RI, should fulfill that lifelong quest. For the rest of the world, the Beef Barn will do just fine, given that amazingly tender roast beef, low prices, and a friendly, informal atmosphere with booths, tables and a counter with stools. The Beef Barn has been in business more than 40 years, always seems crowded, and is also known for its char-broiled burgers, coffee milkshakes and the pleasant, old lady waitresses who seem to be embedded into the Beef Barn history and culture. The younger generation waitstaff seems to be pleasant, too, with more on their minds than text messaging and weird piercings -- they generally enjoy working here. It...

Article and Photo by Eric H., at VisitingNewEngland.com The journey to Parker's Maple Barn in Mason, NH, is almost as fun as the final destination. Coming from Boston, MA, we eventually leave the Masachusetts to southern New Hampshire urban and suburban madness, once west of Nashua, NH. The roads in quaint towns like Hollis and Brookline feature roll-down-the-car-window fresh air, farm stands with apple picking, serene lakes and ponds, and winding country roads with some of the best fall foliage color in New England. All of this splendid New England scenery just might be the best appetizer to any impending meal. There's no letdown when arriving at the dirt parking lot at Parker's Maple Barn. The look is classic rustic New Hampshire with a slightly-worn 1800s reconstructed dairy barn and silo housing the restaurant, and a small footbridge leading to the equally rustic Corn Crib Gift Shop specializing in maple products and a great variety of gifts. Inside the restaurant is...