Lemonade is sure sign of warmer weather ahead

field is holding a “pre-Mother’s Day Kids’ Event” on Tuesday, May 9, from 4 to 7 p.m.

The focus of the occasion will be the chance to decorate a flower pot, to gift to Mom. While participating, kids eat free from the kids’ menu at Uno; an adult entrée purchase is required to access the “free meal” deal.

For more details or to make reservations, contact the restaurant at 413-543-6600.

IF SUMMER HAD AN OFficial drink, it would most likely be lemonade. The simple blend of lemon juice, water, and sugar has been around for a long time, with the first recorded recipe for it dating back to the 12th century.

Lemonade has played a role throughout the modern restaurant industry’s history, although during much of the 20th century, carbonated soft drinks dominated the non-alcoholic beverage category.

More recently, lemonade has enjoyed a resurgence, trading both on its nostalgia factor and a perception that the drink is “healthier” than soda. According to Tastewise.io, the Tel Aviv-based data platform for food and beverage trends, lemonade currently appears on over a third of all restaurant menus.

Selling lemonade can be an attractive business proposition. Apart for its “healthier” image - most chains distance themselves from corn sweeteners by emphasizing that their version is made with cane sugar — lemonade is easy to make, store, and dispense. Sold at a price point similar to soft drinks, lemonade is also quite profitable.

Chick-fil-A, the chicken sandwich chain, has long promoted its classic lemonade as being made from three simple ingredients: real lemon juice — not from concentrate, cane sugar, and water.

The brand has enhanced its lemonade-based repertoire to include the Sunjoy, an Arnold Palmer-like blend of lemonade and sweetened ice tea, while a seasonal Watermelon Mint lemonade is currently being featured at participating locations.

McDonald’s, which has long been a lemonade hold-out, has this month introduced their own version of the beverage, which they describe as being formulated from lemon juice, bits of lemon pulp, and cane sugar. The lemonade is currently in four major markets as a limited-time-only option. Food industry observers expect “McLemonade” to go national if this four-city test is successful.

A number of other restaurant chains have announced plans to feature lemonade in the months ahead — blended with other fruit flavors, as an ingredient in summer cocktails, or as part of a dessert creation.

Side Dishes

• Jackalope Restaurant in downtown Springfield has developed a “Whine Down Wednesday” deal this spring.

Every Wednesday night, the establishment is promoting half-priced wine specials and, at the same time, offering a kids-eat-free deal for youngsters 10 or younger with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Jackalope, which is located on Worthington Street at Stearns Square, answers at 413-2334422.

• Panera Bread Bakery Cafes has introduced two salads for the springtime enjoyment of their customers.

A new Southwest Caesar Salad with Chicken brings together romaine lettuce, sliced grilled chicken, and avocado with grated Parmesan and cilantro before tossing them all together with a traditional Caesar salad.

Panera has also brought back the Strawberry Poppyseed Salad, a romaine-based fan favorite that incorporates mandarin orange, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries, and roasted pecan pieces in a composition that’s dressed with a poppy seed emulsion. Both are available for an unspecified limited time.

• On Monday, May 1, from 4 to 6 p.m., Max’s Tavern at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will be hosting another “Max on Monday” networking event.

Cocktails, connections, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres are on offer; the evening’s featured charity is the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club.

Those wishing to attend should RSVP to AnnMarie Harding at 413-244-4055 or email aharding@maxtavern.

com.

• Thanks to an online petition by fans of the flavor, Butter Pecan Swirl has joined the permanent lineup at participating Dunkin’ shops.

The flavoring syrup can be added to any iced or hot beverage for a nominal up-charge.

• Union Pizzeria & Grill at Haymarket Square in Spring-

• Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub locations have introduced a “Colossal” Lobster Roll as a limited-time-only menu addition. Available in either a cold lobster salad or a hot buttered lobster meat format, the lobster roll comes on a brioche bun and is served with French fries and coleslaw.

Ninety Nine is currently serving a Lemon Caper Haddock entrée special as well. Plated with a white wine sauce, the haddock comes with two sides. A BBQ Ribs & Chicken Combo plate and a Chicken Parmigiana main dish are also menu contributions to this limited-time-only effort, which will be available through May 12.

• Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield is holding its 2023

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CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE

Rose Release Party on Saturday, April 29 from 12 noon until 6 p.m. The event has been organized to celebrate the debut of the winery’s 2022 Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon.

To be held outdoors the Release Party will feature live music, several food trucks, and an on-site photo booth. Admission to the party includes a sample of the freshly-released wine and complimentary wine glass from which to enjoy the “taste.”

Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Food and snacks can also be brought along, but no offsite alcoholic beverages are permitted.

Tickets, which are $12 plus a “convenience fee,” are available at simpletix.com/e/2023ros-release-party-tickets-122620.

For more details, contact the Vineyard at 413-2473300.

• The Max Cares Foundation has announced its 2023 Scholarship Awards Program. Student from Greater Springfield who are interested in pursuing a career in the hospitality industry can apply for a scholarship that will support the pursuit of a degree in either the culinary arts or hospitality fields.

More information and applications materials are available online at Max CaresFoundation.org/ Scholarships/. May 15 is the application deadline.

• Weather permitting, Cima Restaurant & Chop House in Wilbraham is providing outdoor dinner seating on its porch.

Reservations, which are strongly advised, can be made by calling 413-2793322 after 4:30 p.m.

• “Hot ‘n’ sweet” is the flavor theme for the current sandwich promotion at Arby’s, where Hawaiian

Wine

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As a result, you’re essentially paying 25% more for a smaller glass of wine. But that’s another topic for another day. Let’s get to this week’s wines.

• Crafters Union Pinot Grigio ($4.99 for 375 ml can at Table & Vine in West Springfield)

Region: Sonoma, California

Grape: Pinot grigio fornia pinot grigio in a can.

• House Wine Chardonnay ($4.99 for 375 ml can at Table & Vine)

Region: Walla Walla, Washington

Grape: Chardonnay style buns and a special sweet and spicy sauce are being used create a pair of handheld options

The King’s Hawaiian Sweet Heat Chicken Sandwich is made with a breaded and fried chicken breast cutlet topped with the aforementioned sauce, cheddar cheese, onions, and other accents, while a King’s Hawaiian Sweet Heat Beef ‘n Brisket Sandwich features smoked brisket and thinly sliced roast beef that’s been garnished in a fashion similar to that of its chicken sandwich cousin.

Participating Arby’s locations are also offering Loaded Fries topped with sweet and spicy sauce along with cheddar cheese sauce, diced chicken nuggets, and chopped bacon.

• As might be imagined, the city-by-city rollout by Starbucks of its Oleato lineup is triggering plenty of social media buzz. The Oleato drinks, which pair espresso variations with a “finish” of extra virgin olive oil, are earning both praise and disapprobation from customers and Starbucks baristas alike.

While some online influencers report enjoying the drink, others are sharing anecdotes of temporary gastrointestinal “urgency” after consuming an Oleato drink.

In some individuals, at least, the latter may well be a natural reaction to drinking a slug of olive oil in the morning. Rapid ingestion of fat can often benignly prod into action a digestive system unaccustomed to such fat ingestion.

• Pizza has been dubbed by one food writer as the “unofficial food of the COVID pandemic.”

Pizza chains racked up impressive sales gains as Americans picked up and took delivery on record numbers of Italian pies. Starting in 2022, however, that pizza sales boom began to taper off, with same-store sales nearly flat when compared to the year before. Company executives blamed labor problems and delivery driver shortages for the weak sales performance.

But this year a new obstacle to pizza sales growth has emerged — menu price inflation. Consumer research undertaken by marketing firm Vericast reveals that customers are choosing frozen supermarket pizza over ordering from pizza shops, and the reason for the switch is price.

Frequent pizza purchasers are often quite price-sensitive, Vericast points out, and thus they are turning to non-restaurant pizza rather than ordering delivered pies.

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.

Tasting notes: This crisp, dry, refreshing wine has a wonderful, complex array of flavors and aromas. Initially, the wine tastes flinty and smells fragrant, like a bouquet of wildflowers. The next sip, there are hints of sea salt, peach and honeydew melon with an earthy finish that seems to last a full minute.

• 2018 Charles Smith Kung Fu Girl Pinot Grigio ($4.99 for 375 ml can at Table & Vine)

Region: Sonoma, California

Grape: Pinot grigio

Tasting notes: Charles Smith Wines has been making great wines in Washington State since 1999. Founded by former rock band manager Charles Smith, his wines might seem gimmicky with names like Boom Boom! or The Velvet Devil. But don’t let the cheeky marketing fool you. Smith’s wines rock. And this pinot grigio from California is no exception. Straight out of the can, this wine has a light, bright, lemon-like finish. A few minutes later, the wine tastes crisp and fragrant, with hints of sea salt and flowers. Another exciting, Cali-

Railroad

CONTINUES FROM PAGE E4 opportunity to bring it in and show it off and talk to others about it,” he said.

There will also be a White Elephant table where attendees can bring in large-scale model railroad gear to show and sell.

Free clinics will include “Adding a Water Feature to Your Outdoor Garden Train by Ted Curtain, “Intro and Features of the RailPro Control System with Comparison to DCC,” Pruning Dwarf Trees for Your Garden Railway” and “Access Your Garden Railway” by Nancy Norris. There will also be mini demos and clinics offered throughout the day by experts at

Tasting notes: Plain acme-like packaging, no bells, no whistles, just simple, straightforward great wine. This can did not last long in our house. My wife and I both loved this bright, clean, refreshing chardonnay. The flavors include lemon and sea salt with a crisp, mineral-like finish. In a way, this chardonnay reminds me of ones from Macon in the southern part of Burgundy in France. An absolutely delightful, delicious wine.

• House Wine Rose ($4.99 for 375 ml can at Table & Vine)

Region: Walla Walla, Washington

Grape: Unknown their exhibit areas.

Tasting notes: Same wine company, same straightforward approach — absolutely great wine without a lot of fanfare. I couldn’t find which grapes are used to make this rose wine. Whatever they are, the wine tastes crisp, refreshing and slightly flinty, just the way I like my roses. Flavor wise, there are hints of raspberry and strawberry but nothing overpowering and not a hint of sweetness. Just delicious, dry wine that happens to be in a can.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

“One of our clinicians, Nancy Norris, is among the foremost garden railway designers and builders in the United States. She operated out of California for a long time but now lives in Maine. She is also helping us design a garden railroad in Palmer,” Maas said.

Show hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets — sold on the grounds one-hour before the show begins — are $10, with children 15 and under admitted free when accompanied by an adult admission. Parking on the fairgrounds is $5. There are no online ticket sales For additional show information, visit nelsts.org.