Ristorante DiPaolo, Turners Falls, MA

Few people, I imagine, are familiar with Turners Falls, MA. North central Massachusetts can be easily overlooked. While people may stop in the cultural, college towns of Northampton and Amherst, it is likely as they travel north on Route 91, they pass the Route 2 East exit for more favored destinations in Vermont.

But this area of Massachusetts deserves a look. While it is rich with history, it is the people that make the area so relevant today. Turners Falls was named in honor of William Turner and there is a monument in town which was erected to honor his battles against and subsequent removal of the Native Americans from the land so that settlers could occupy the area. You start to get a sense for the rich, progressive nature of the people when you hear that this particular monument is vandalized annually by area youth to protest this idolized version of history that honors genocide.

I have been visiting this area of Massachusetts for several years now and am always pleasantly surprised by everything it has to offer - Ristorante DiPaulo is no exception. Housed in a renovated store front in Turners Falls, you would never expect this level of decadence could live in this small town. Enter DiPaolo's and a small, rich wood bar is to your right, while the dining room opens to your left. Elegant chandeliers arched from custom iron work and I have no doubt you notice the fabulous faux paint treatment on the far wall reminiscent of weathered villa stucco.

I visited DiPaulo's the summer of 2007 with a group of close friends and we had an fabulous time. Our table teased our appetites with the Cozze e Canellini, mussels steamed in a broth with pancetta and canellini beans. For dinner, I ordered the Gamberoni – Jumbo shrimp wrapped in prosciutto and served with a creamy sambuca sauce over Parmesan polenta, and topped with sautéed spinach. The pasta selections included several risotto dishes which caught my eye before I settled on my selection. For dessert, the table tried a number of items, but the Olive Oil cake was by the far the most interesting and delicious of the group.

If you find yourself driving up Rt. 91 through Massachusetts, do consider making a stop in Turners Falls on Rt. 2 East for dinner at DiPaulo's.

Great service at the Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop

This past Saturday my mom and I made our way to Chestnut Hill to do a little shopping, and we had the most pleasant experience in the Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop. We walked into the shop and it was bustling. One wall was lined with dry goods, while a long wooden counter displayed wheels of delicious cheese and salamis. Yum. Wallace and Gromit heaven, for sure. Three "kids" were working behind the counter, eagerly engaging the crowd of customers and fixing orders. The mood was definitely cheerful - or maybe it was just me. Cheese is a glorious food.

My mom selected one cheese from the Pyrenees that she wanted to taste, while I tried to rather crudely describe a particular french cheese I was looking for to the girl helping us. She was young, but quickly cut through my lame description and began naming some possible options to my search. French rolled off her tongue with such ease I could have been standing in a little shop in France itself. The moment felt strongly of travel - that feeling of trying to speak an unfamiliar foreign language and getting easily left behind in a conversation.

This cheese shop interaction stands out mostly in my mind because my experiences at the Doylestown cheese shop, La Masion Cheese, have been so disappointing. Not that the cheese isn't good, because it is. But every time I have gone there I have expected the experience I had in Chestnut Hill - being enthusiastically engaged by the store employees - people willing to share their love of cheese. The Doylestown shop owner is friendly and warm to her friends, but cold to everyone else. After going there twice and having the same blown-off experience, I decided not to bother with any future visits.

Now, I am excited to know not all cheese shops are of the same breed. The Chestnut Hill Cheese shop is a total delight! Self-described "Cheeseheads", the staff is a tremenedous help and their knowledge and enthusiasm are contagious.