Take a Tour of the Tastes of Chelmsford

The, at and are three restaurants that have more in common that just exotic food; all three local establishments will be representing Chelmsford in the Third Annual Greater Merrimack Valley Restaurant Showcase Week.

The local event, presented by the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, will begin Aug. 28, 2011 and run until Sep. 11. Food fans will be offered a unique chance to sample multiple courses from restaurants in the Merrimack Valley area. Courses start at just $9.11 for lunch.

One reason Aric Becker, owner of the South American-themed Tango Grill, wanted to join the event this year is because he believes it to be a “great opportunity for the community.”

He said he is “very excited for the local event,” especially to show off the special dishes his new chef Shandapao Vanthin designed just for the event.

“Our special menu for the Showcase Week was made by new chef Shandapao Vanthin and are not offered on our regular menu,” he said. “These are her creations.”

Some of Vathin’s creations include a mesclun mix greens salad (topped with sauté chorizo, sliced avocados and roasted tomatoes tossed in a pear infused vinaigrette), pan-seared salmon (with grilled corn, Fresno's peppers over potato bisque and garnished with sliced avocados) and simple-grilled pineapple milhojas (puff pastry layers with chantilly cream and citrus granita). This particular three-course dinner combination, as well as other appetizer, main course and dessert options, is available for $33.11 per person. 

Becker says his establishment will feed the most diverse of customers.

“The Tango Grill is very blue-collar in the day, and transforms into a romantic, relaxing and intimate restaurant at night,” said Becker.

Another restaurant with multiple personalities showcased in the event is moonstones on Chelmsford Street, a bar-centric urbanized restaurant that aims to bring the great city scene to life through its food creations.

According to chef and owner Scott Plath, the goal of the restaurant is to be excellent while remaining unpretentious, evident in both the lower case “m” in the restaurant’s title as well as its eclectic menu.

“We offer three separate environments; a quiet, tablecloth and candle dining room with fire place, a busy, exciting bar/lounge with an urban feel and elevated musical levels that appeal to ‘fun’ people and groups," said Plath.

Regardless of which section of moonstones customers may end up in, the flat rate for a three full course dinner is $33.11. This tour includes choice of an appetizer, main dinner course and dessert, with options such as za'atar spiced chicken  (a hummus and harissa butter from turkey), New England crab stuffed cod, and shared sampling of Brazilian coconut pudding, Italian zeppoli and French chocolate pate. 

In addition to the culturally diverse dinner options, one thing that makes the moonstones' Showcase Week menu special is its ingredients, which, according to Plath, will come from local farms.

“Every special on the special board for the next 10 weeks will be sourced from local farms and/or fishermen,” he said. “We are passionate about what we do and pass that along to our guests.”

 In addition to passing along great food to guests, Plath says events like Restaurant Showcase Week can pass along a sense of community.

 “I seize each and every opportunity presented to promote our area and our industry,” he said. “Moonstones became involved in the Showcase Week not only for our own benefit but on behalf of all the beautiful, incredibly hardworking and creative people who work in restaurants for a living.”

 Like Tango Grille and moonstones, the Independence Bar and Grill is also offering a special three-course menu with options such as house soup with lilet mignon with baked stuffed shrimp and banana chocolate chip cake for $23.09 per person. 

Additional dinner items are available for the special as well. Specializing in New England seafood and other American cuisine, the Independence Bar and Grill will be offering two-course lunch specials for $12.11.

Food lovers in and around Chelmsford looking for new tastes can explore these and other nearby restaurants during the Greater Merrimack Valley Showcase week. For a complete list of participating restaurants, prices, and lunch and dinner menus, visit http://www.merrimackvalley.org.