Around Town

Stop & Shop Accepting Fresh Connect Debit Cards to Increase Access to Nutritious Food

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The Fresh Connect prepaid debit cards are being accepted at Stop & Shop stores in Watertown. The following information was provided by Stop & Shop:

Stop & Shop and Boston-based nonprofit About Fresh announced today that they have partnered to expand access to fresh and healthy foods for people in need across New England. Through About Fresh’s “Fresh Connect” program, participants can use prepaid debit cards ‘prescribed’ by healthcare providers to purchase healthy food. With today’s announcement, Stop & Shop becomes the first major retailer to make this produce as a prescription program available. After a successful pilot at Stop & Shop’s Grove Hall store location, the program is now available at more than 100 store locations in Eastern Massachusetts and will expand to all 400+ Stop & Shop stores by early spring. 

The program is now available at the Stop & Shop locations at 700 Pleasant St.

Charity

LETTER: Watertown Community Fridge Fulfilling Important Role in the Community

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I first heard of the community fridge concept last year, after they began to appear in the Boston area in response to the pandemic illuminating and exacerbating the amount of people experiencing food insecurity. The one recently established in Watertown — in the parking lot of Francis Market, 1084 Belmont St. — is an accomplishment for which we should all be grateful to its founders and be proud as a community. A community fridge not only plays a direct role in addressing food insecurity and food waste, but also teaches us so much about what it means to be neighbors. The motto you’ll find on the Watertown Community Fridge’s posters and postcards says it all:“Take what you need, give what you can.” The purpose of a community fridge is to provide free food 24/7 to anyone who visits.

Business

New Restaurant on Arsenal Street Packs Flavors from Around the Globe into Takeout Dishes

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Flavor Boom!Six of the 10 entrees served up at Flavor Boom!, which opened recently on Arsenal Street. A pair of foodies have opened up their own restaurant in Watertown that serves up bold dishes from around the world which are designed to be taken out and enjoyed at home or work. Flavor Boom! began about three months ago in a space in a commercial block on Arsenal Street, and now has a menu with 10 entrees inspired by the cooking of places like China, Spain, Indonesia, France and Thailand. Owner Jim Tao said he came up with about half of the dishes and the others were the creation of his cooking partner Harry Liao, or “Chef Harry.”

Around Town

Watertown Farmers Market Seeks Feedback from Shoppers in Customer Survey

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The Watertown Farmers’ Market is seeking feedback about this season! Please take this brief, yet important survey about your experiences at the market this year.  We want to hear from ALL community members: from weekly shoppers to those who were not able to make it this year – your feedback is important! Thank you in advance for your participation, and please share the link: Customer Survey

For information about the market, visit: www.watertownmarket.com or contact Stephanie Venizelos, Community Wellness Program Manager at: svenizelos@watertown-ma.gov

Arsenal Yards

Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar Opens in Watertown’s Arsenal Yards

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Arsenal YardsCondesa Restaurante Mexicano & Tequila Bar opened at Arsenal Yards. Arsenal Yards proudly announced that Condesa Restaurante Mexicano and Tequlia Bar just opened its third location at Arsenal Yards, the thriving new neighborhood located along the Charles River in Watertown, Massachusetts. With two additional locations in Smithfield and West Warwick, Rhode Island, the latest location at 80 Arsenal Yards Blvd is bringing the finest and freshest Mexican dishes and original family recipes from brothers Roberto and Ernesto Leon to the Greater Boston community. Inspired by their late father’s rich Mexican heritage, the Leon brothers were determined to bring a taste of genuine Mexican cuisine and culture to the United States. They started with Condesa’s first location in Smithfield in 2015, and with the help of their mother, father and aunt, they opened a second location in West Warwick, RI, in 2018 and now Watertown, MA, in 2021.

Around Town

New Barbecue Restaurant in Watertown Holding Soft Opening

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Barbecue lovers will have a new spot to visit in Watertown beginning Thursday, Oct. 28. The Don’s BBQ Restaurant will hold a soft opening starting at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the restaurant located at 93 School St. (the former Avenue Deli and Strip T’s location). The owner, Sebastian “The Don” DiFelice, specializes in Texas-style barbecue, and the restaurant uses only USDA Prime cuts for his briskets, pork shoulder, and pork loin ribs sourced in New England.

Around Town

Don’t Miss the Final Watertown Farmers Market of the Year

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The season is almost over for the Watertown Famers Market, so don’t miss out on a chance to purchase fresh produce, meat, fish and other items on Wednesday. Market organizers sent out the following infomration:

Tomorrow is our LAST market of the season. It’s a bittersweet end to the season, knowing that we’ve had such a great summer together in Saltonstall Park. Tomorrow, look forward to music from A&W Ukulele Players from 4 pm to 6 pm on the green, opportunities to sign up for Fall CSAs, and a guest chocolate vendor, Sotto Chocolate! Please note that we will close at 6 p.m. tomorrow, due to the much earlier fall sunset. 

Don’t forget to give our Instagram and Facebook pages a follow and like to keep up with any additions or adaptions to the market day!

Around Town

Three New Restaurants Opening in Watertown, One Changing Management

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Flavor Boom!Some of the dishes served up at Flavor Boom!, a new restaurant on Arsenal Street. The restaurant scene in Watertown is brimming with life, with the addition of three restaurants. Plus, an established eatery is changing hands. The three independent restaurants are on or near Arsenal Street, one features barbecue, another serves Central American and Mexican dishes, and a third has a variety of flavorful dishes from around the globe. Flavor Boom!