Table Hoppin

Specialty Sandwich extends outdoor dining with new deck, heaters

BARBARA M. HOULE

The Specialty Sandwich

Company Bar & Grill in Holden prides itself on quality and diverse menu, including award-winning sandwiches (hot and cold), traditional Grecian dishes, salads, charcoal-grilled treats, brick oven pizza, 26 craft beers on tap, specialty cocktails and plenty of dinner options.

This summer, the business added an outdoor deck with accessories and designs that make al fresco dining fun and safe during COVID-19. The company has invested in heaters to stretch the deck’s dining season, TVs, surround sound, string lights and even live outdoor entertainment.

Vasilios Gjinis, known to family and friends as “Bill,” opened Specialty Sandwich Company at 624 Main St. in 2004. His father, Ilia, and mother, Aphrodite, and his brother, George, work in the family business, which in 2014 expanded its indoor seating capacity when Bill Gjinis took over empty store space next door. Gjinis called the move a “leap of faith” that proved successful and helped maintain a restaurant ambience that’s “family-friendly, relaxing and entertaining.” The Gjinis family has built a strong relationship with community, forming not only friendships, but also a strong bond with customers.

Specialty Sandwich Company closed in March as a result of the pandemic, reopening in late July. The business has implemented new procedures and follows all safety guidelines and regulations, according to Gjinis, who said a new website offers options for online ordering and delivery. Curbside pickup also is available. Reservations are recommended for weekend dining, indoors and out. Visit www.specialtysandwich.com for more information.

Outdoor seating during the pandemic makes social distancing more comfortable and gives customers plenty of space to enjoy their food, said Gjinis. The deck currently accommodates more than 50 people. He said his family worked very hard to ensure a smooth transition when reopening and business so far has been good. The Gjinis family and employees all were happy to welcome customers back. “We love them, and we can’t thank everyone enough for all the support and love they have shown us through phone calls, emails, social media, or just by stopping by,” said Gjinis. “This has been a tough time for restaurants and their employees. We’re all doing our best to move forward with new ideas and innovations.

“As for us, we’re taking it a day at a time,” said Gjinis. “We are very fortunate that we had the space to build a large deck and hope we can keep it open as long as possible, if weather permits.”

Current hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. It’s a good idea to check the business website for any updates. Telephone: (508) 829-4848; (508) 829-5858 for takeout; Reservations: www.opentable.com. Connect on Facebook and other social media.

Gjinis credits restaurant manager Adam Gerhart, “an award-winning bartender and mixologist,” with some of the popular new cocktails being poured at the restaurant. There also are new appetizers and several new entrees on the menu, in celebration of the new deck, he said.

Despite taking a hit as a result of being closed for months, Gjinis remains as enthusiastic and passionate about the business as when we first met him in 2014, writing about his restaurant’s expansion in Table Hoppin. At the time, Elaine Cowan and her son had helped Gjinis develop an artisan pizza menu. Cowan later opened her restaurant, The UXLocale in Uxbridge.

Gjinis has met the challenge of reopening and keeps an eye toward a post-pandemic future.

Restaurants join Harvey Ball celebration

Local restaurants participating in this year’s Harvey Ball celebration on Oct. 2 (World Smile Day) not only are donating gift cards, but also may have a few surprises for diners.

Worcester Historical Museum

and members of the Harvey Ball Committee encouraged participants to offer a “signature drink” or “fun treat” the day of the celebration.

We’ve learned that The Mill 185, 185 W. Boylston St., West Boylston, will wow its guests with two drinks: Go the Mocha Mile and Deepen Every Smile. The chef ’s special dish will be Strip Steak with Lobster Risotto.

Participating Worcester restaurants include Struck Catering, Basil n’ Spice, Bocado Tapas Wine Bar, The Fix Burger Bar, Flying Rhino Café & Watering Hole, Mezcal Tequila Cantina, Lock 50, O’Connor’s Restaurant & Bar, One Eleven Chop House, Piccolo’s restaurant, the Sole Proprietor and VIA Italian Table. Call for Oct. 2 reservations.

Lots to smile about!

Wayland Farmers Market winding down

The season is winding down for the Wayland Summer Farmers Market that takes place Wednesdays at Russell’s Garden Center in Wayland. The last market is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 7.

The Wayland Winter Farmers Market will begin Jan. 9, with details about hours, etc. to be announced at a later time. This popular market held in the garden center’s greenhouses definitely is a bright spot during winter months.

Popped Popcorn adds new flavors

Eagle Foods, parent company of Popcorn Indiana, a leader in sweet and savory popcorn, announced it has launched four new and reformulated flavors of Kettlecorn, Black & White Drizzlecorn, Movie Theater Butter and Aged White Cheddar.

“We conducted a national survey of Popped Popcorn consumers to understand what they wanted when it comes to taste,” said Mala Wiedemann, vice president of marketing for Eagle Foods. “Our consumer research showed that taste and flavor were the top two considerations when choosing a snack. And while

General manager Adam Gerhart, left, and owner Bill Gjinis are pictued on the deck of Specialty Sandwich Company Bar & Grill in Holden.

RICK CINCLAIR

Popped Popcorn consumers loved our popcorn, they were looking for even more flavor and taste from real ingredients like butter, salt and sugar. Our new and improved flavors deliver on that request and even more.”

Kettlecorn: It’s a perfect mix of sweet, salty and crunch. Popcorn Indiana uses the finest popping corn, a pinch of salt and pure can sugar in its recipe. “We tried more than 10 recipes to enhance the flavor of our Kettlecorn, and we actually found that increasing the amount of oil in the kettle during the time of popping would allow the kernels to be better coated when they popped,” said Wiedemann. The flavorful snack has 130 calories per serving.

Black & White Drizzlecorn: This one is Popcorn Indiana’s fast growing flavor. The drizzle features a rich dark and white chocolate compound made from real cocoa. Trust me, you can’t put the bag down!

Movie Theater Butter: The popped popcorn is tossed in real butter and has an amazing, savory taste. You can smell the butter the moment the bag is opened. You don’t have to watch a movie to enjoy it.

Aged White Cheddar: The team at Popcorn Indiana sourced cheese directly from aged Wisconsin white cheddar cheese to enhance the flavor of this popcorn. The new formula has double the cheese than the original recipe. According to Wiedemann, “It took some work to get 100 percent more cheese onto the popcorn, but our chefs at Popcorn Indiana were able to make it happen.”

All Popcorn Indiana products are grown and popped in the USA. They are available at Walmart and other national retailers. Visit www. popcornindiana.com for more information.