Local Meals Splashin', Sizzlin' For Summer

We know North Andover residents don’t just stay in North Andover when they want a night out and a break from cooking.

Restaurant comings and goings, new business and the best dishes and recipes are among the items that have appeared on area Patch sites over the past month.

Below is a look at the restaurant and food stories local Patch sites have covered over the past month. Read through our round up for the latest food news in the area.

North Andover

sizzling barbecue and seafood -- grilled, bronzed or fried.

“We have native swordfish that’s caught right off the coast,” said Mike Tynan, a manger at Burtons.

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has been spoiling North Andover residents with some of the freshest seafood in the Merrimack Valley.

Dan O’Neill has been on board with The Lobster Tail for 16 years and has seen both the restaurant and fish market grow.

“What we’re mostly known for are our lobster rolls and seafood platters,” said O’Neill.

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recommends spicing things up this summer with his signature dish, Samosa Chaat -- often served as a hearty lunch on the streets of Mumbai. It features potatoes, chickpeas, fried dough, onions, coriander, hot spices, and a yogurt dressing.

“It’s basically a very famous dish in India which is a special of ours,” he continued.

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In other local food news, Smolak Farms got an unexpected demolition.

On July 20, after the business was closed, someone was backing out of a space, but she had the car in "drive" instead of "reverse."

The result was her car crashing through the wall of the bakery/shop.

There were no injuries in the accident, although the car went through the wall where the fudge was so there was a loss of fudge and some of the penny candies.

Smolak Farms is still open for business.

Chelmsford

Selectmen approved a common victualer license for Sweet Kiwi Frozen Yogurt, which will be located at 7 Summer Street next to the Animal Haus. The specialty frozen yogurt shop will be Chelmsford's first after many similar stores have started up in the area. 

Peabody

The Cabaret Lounge and Carrabba's Italian Grill have each been slapped with three-day suspensions of their liquor licenses by the city Licensing Board.

The two establishments were among a group of six to appear before the board on June 25 after having failed a random alcohol compliance check (or sting) on May 23 by Peabody police and undercover operatives.

In each case, an underage customer -- one of the operatives -- was sold a beer without being asked for an ID.

Maki Sushi, Martino's Liquors, Fuji Sushi and Royal Garden all had a first offense and were issued a warning and encouraged to train their employees if they hadn't done so already, but both the Cabaret and Carrabba's had violations within the past year as well.

And at Carrabba's, both the manager on duty that day and the managing partner for the Peabody operation lost their jobs in addition to the bartender.

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Oliveira's Steak House won't have to close after all, according to attorney John Keilty.

Keilty said that his clients, the new owners of the Brazilian restaurant and bar, were able to obtain an indefinite court injunction that will keep the establishment open for business for as long as it takes to have the new management of Oliveira's approved by liquor licensing authorities at both the local and state levels.

The Peabody Licensing Board, in June, gave Oliveira's up to 90 days from July 1 to file proper forms with the city and state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission, identifying who the corporate officers and manager of record are or else lose the license permanently. And that documentation had to be approved first by the ABCC within that same time period.

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If you've purchased meatballs at the deli in Hannaford's recently, the supermarket chain says you can toss them or return the products for a full refund -- the meatballs may be contaminated with listeria.

Hannaford Supermarkets initially alerted customers to the recall by Buona Vita Inc., based out of New Jersey, on July 10,.

The recall is specific to three meatball products from Buona Vita that are possibly contaminated with listeria monocytogenes. They are all sold through the deli department at Hannaford's -- Homestyle Meatballs with Sauce (sold by the pound), Meatball Panini (cold) UPC #941260723096, and Meatball Panini (hot) UPC #94126072102.

Hannaford's says customers who purchased any of those products should not eat them and can return them to the store for a full refund. The products have been removed from the delis at Hannaford stores.

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Danvers

on Elm Street will be offering a new line of speciality Rail Trail beverages, including soda, lemonade, and spring water.. 

"When Kate [Day] told me she still had a lot of drinks left from the , I told her that I would try to sell the items in the store to help out the rail trail,"  owner Andrea Harry said. "We feel that it is a great cause and we are willing to help out the town our business is located in as much as possible."

Proceeds from the drinks will benefit the . 

Rail Trail beverages will range from $1-2.

Reading/North Reading

According to Owner John Ryan there will be a tent outside on July 25 from noon to 6 p.m. with samples and free drinks.

A roasted beet salad, butternut bisque with fresh crabmeat and shrimp and a grilled veggie sandwich are just some of the new menu items customers can try on their anniversary.

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The self-serve concept allows you to choose exactly how much fro-yo you want, and you pay by the ounce. Try every flavor, or just one and then cover your yogurt with as many toppings as you'd like. 

"We are truly excited to be bringing a quality franchise like Zinga! to Reading," Pothier said. "We hope and trust that the community will embrace this new business and help us succeed. We look forward to many years of serving our community with his healthy and delicious product."

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 has re-opened for business. Regular Hot Spot customer Jerry Costa, CEO of JT Costa, LLC, acquired the business last month from its original owner . 

Stop by the café on Saturday from now until Labor Day for a free treat with the purchase of a coffee or fresh baked item.