Feast on Local Flavor at the Worcester Public Market

By Barbara Radcliffe Rogers | Sponsored by Discover Central Massachusetts

Bouquets of bright, fresh-cut flowers and rows of alluring cupcakes topped with swirls of pink and white frosting vie to catch the shopper’s eye, while the aromas of teriyaki, Jamaican curry, and tangy tacos invite folks to nosh as they browse. It’s a typical Saturday at the Worcester Public Market, the city’s recently opened gathering spot for local farms, artisans, and small businesses to showcase their products.

The latest addition to Worcester’s revitalized Canal District, the market has immediately become the place to be and to eat — and there are plenty of choices for indulging in the latter. Along with tacos, Taqueria del Pueblo serves burritos, quesadillas, and grilled sandwiches; Jamaican-born Venice Fouchard’s One Love Ma Maebell’s Café sells Jamaican meat pies and goat curry as well as fried plantains and rice bowls, accompanied by all-natural juices. Momo Palace dishes up traditional Nepalese dumplings filled with chicken, pork, or vegetables, and further culinary diversity can be found at Teriyaki Japan.

Pasta Mani turns out fresh pasta right there in the market, offering different varieties each day; the menu of three or four dishes might include pappardelle with braised chicken and mixed peppers or radiatore pasta with baby artichokes and mushrooms. Fresh-made pasta is packaged for take-home. As popular as the pastas are, though, the desserts — such as cardamom sponge cake with diced pears, and ricotta pound cake with apple-rosemary puree — are just as tempting.

Shoppers with a sweet tooth will find more goodies at Creative Cakes by Colleen, which specializes in handheld treats such as cake pops, chocolate-dipped biscotti, and inventive cupcakes (chocolate salted caramel pretzel cupcake, anyone?). Other temptations await at Froze Zone, scooping gelato, sorbet, Italian ice, and frozen yogurt; Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, serving all manner of fresh-made flavors; and BubbleBee Café, which is known for its Vietnamese iced coffee and frappés, bubble teas, and smoothies (and delectable waffles).

For something a bit stronger to drink, take a break at the Wachusett Brewing Company’s Wachusett Brew Yard, which debuted new outdoor dining areas this summer. The Westminster-based brewery has some two dozen beers on tap here, plus cider and seltzer. Among the nine IPAs are its signature Blueberry Ale and Green Monstah IPA; other brews include a Mexican-style lager and a Belgian-style wheat ale.

Of course, what goes better with beer than cheese? The Brew Yard features tasty nibbles from Smith’s Country Cheese, a Winchendon cheesemaker that stocks its own stall in the market with artisanal wares such as raw-milk fenugreek Gouda, buttery Havarti, and mild cheddar made with milk from its herd of 200 Holsteins.

Joining Smith’s in representing local agriculture is Stillman’s Farm, which sells locally grown fruits and vegetables along with maple products, honey, and fresh-made doughnuts. Shop here, too, for sauces and other delicacies from small local producers; more local foods are sold in The Market Pantry.

Speaking of shopping, there’s a lot more to Worcester Public Market than food. Hillcrest Apiary sells natural honey candles (along with, yes, honey), while Worcester’s K Sense Co. makes soy candles in repurposed glass bottles. Alan James Co. creates customized wallets, belts, smart cross-body bags, stylish tote bags – even bracelets made to order on the spot. Cambio Natural Products features CBD creams, lotions, lip balm, and other products for both people and pets.

The Tinker’s Cart overflows with Irish and Celtic gifts, from Belleek trinket boxes and delicate Irish lace to chunky hand-knit Aran sweaters and leprechaun-inspired bird feeders. Worcester Wares, meanwhile, is all about local spirit, with T-shirts, jewelry, engraved glassware, refrigerator magnets, water bottles, beer coasters, jewelry, and even doggie bibs emblazoned with Worcester images and logos (though temporarily closed at the Worcester Public Market, Worcester Wares is taking online orders). More historic Worcester memorabilia forms the décor for Legacy Deli & Bagel, where one wall is a collage of artwork and photos of the city.

The Worcester Public Market is the brainchild of developer Allen Fletcher and began with his 2014 purchase of the previously vacant property on Kelley Square, in Worcester’s Canal District. Purpose-built for a combination of shops and market spaces, the 20,000-square-foot market aims to encourage area farms and food-related businesses to collaborate in an accessible, cost-effective venue to make locally grown and produced foods available to the community. To that end, most of the prepared-food vendors use as much locally grown produce as possible, further benefiting local businesses that raise, catch, or produce products in Massachusetts and New England.

More than 20 vendors and businesses now make up this showcase for Worcester’s unique character. In addition to those mentioned earlier, they include New England Burger Bah, Akrá African Fusion Cuisine, Sabrosa Venezuela, Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakery, Crate & Howl, Girly Girl Soaps, and George’s Middle Eastern Bakery.

The Worcester Public Market is currently open 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; the food court is open until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Wachusett Brewery’s patio hours are 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.