Domenic Mercurio: My Heart’s In Sturbridge…And Worcester

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Domenic Mercurio, GoLocalWorcester Guest MINDSETTER™

You know, if I were to reflect on where I live and where I grew up (and they’re two different places), I would draw two different impressions. But, if someone asked me, “What do you like about where you grew up and where you now live?”, I’d have to say, “Give me a few minutes to think about it and get back to you…”

I live in Sturbridge and I really love it here, although I grew up in Worcester and always tried to promote that city as a destination–a place people can actually plan to visit and spend time.

When I started the Worcester’s Best Chef competition back in 2007, I was always asked by Tom Colletta, Hank Stolz, Jordan Levy, and some of the city’s other great media figures, “Why Worcester? Why not do this event in Boston?” My answer was always the same, “Worcester has a lot to offer food-seekers and foodies, and it really is a fine dining destination, if you know where to look.”

The Worcester’s Best Chef competition was created with that very statement in mind. It’s all about showcasing Central Massachusetts’ best chefs and their best, most imaginative creations.

Coincidentally, several of these chefs have come from Sturbridge–my present address–and have won top honors at Worcester’s Best Chef. Stellar culinarians like Bill Nemeroff, who once ran Cedar Street Restaurant, now Cedar Street Grille owned by Table 3 Restaurant Group. Others, like Brian Treitman from BT’s Smokehouse, made it into the top 3 spots in both the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice categories. Then there’s none-other-than Chris Rovezzi from Rovezzi’s Ristorante in Sturbridge, who was our Iron Chef Champion in 2012, and then advanced to the Judges Panel to oversee up-and-coming chefs.

Together, these chefs, and many others, represent what the Worcester’s Best Chef planning committee have come to call “The Sturbridge Contingent,” and they are very eager and very talented to show their skills. That’s why Sturbridge has so many terrific restaurants.

I’ve heard some say that Worcester is a large town, not a small city. I disagree, and I’m happy to see that it truly offers lots of entertaining aspects besides fine dining, like live Broadway-quality shows at the Hanover Theater, inspiring exhibits at the Worcester Art Museum, and incredible concerts at elegant Mechanics Hall, where we hold the Worcester’s Best Chef competition.

Also, Worcester’s academic community is one of the most excellent and diverse in the country. With 11 colleges and universities hosting students from all around the world, Worcester is becoming more and more culturally significant with each passing year.

Worcester is also full of small and growing businesses led by imaginative and ambitious entrepreneurs. One of which is Shrewsbury native Mike Noonan from Global Wines. Mr. Noonan likes to create wine brands that can be enjoyed by thousands of people all over New England, and especially in central Massachusetts.

Wines like Wicked and Cape Cod Bay come from the best wine producing countries in the world, and are already being enjoyed in some of Worcester's and Sturbridge's best restaurants.

Still, even with Worcester’s continuous climb up the “Interesting” meter, I have truly grown to really love Sturbridge. When I first moved there 10 years ago, I couldn’t get Worcester out of my mind. I was used to hearing some semblance of city outside my windows, whether it was a siren, kids playing on the sidewalk, people talking, or cars going up and down the street. Now, surrounded by trees and a river, I can say I’d never want to leave the serenity of Sturbridge, with all of its quiet New England charm.

Here, the restaurants offer some selection, but not as vast as that of a city. Yet, the quaint little town more than makes up for it with its tranquil lakes, small shops, distinctive architecture and warm, friendly people, all reminiscent of Main Street, USA.

In all, I think I’m fortunate to work with a team of people like Scott Erb and Donna Dufault (Erb Photography of Worcester), Rick Bridges (Bridges Design, Sturbridge), and Jodie Lynn Boduch (Much Ado Marketing, Sturbridge). Together with these talented people, and through the Worcester’s Best Chef and Foodies Magazine and Foodies TV brands, I’m able to experience the subtle growth and diversity of Worcester with the pleasant and attractive appeal of Sturbridge. Promoting local chefs, restaurants, farms, and specialty stores in New England is a thrill, but I’m especially fortunate to be able to focus on Worcester and Sturbridge, where my heart is, and where incredible people like Scott, Donna, Rick and Jodie all call home.

Domenic D. Mercurio, Jr. is the president of Mercury Media & Entertainment, LLC. A Worcester native, he is a staple in the Worcester food community. He is the publisher of Foodies of New England magazine and creator of Foodies TV, as well as the producer of Worcester's Best Chef competition and director of sales for Global Wines.