Guests Gossip About Hospital Food at 3rd Annual Taste of MetroWest

Who hasn't heard someone complain about hospital food?

Tuesday night, many were talking about MetroWest Medical Center's food but it was a good thing.

Taste attendee Leslie Singer Useloff said she "loved the 'hospital food' from Metro West Medical Center." She was not the only one.

MetroWest Medical Center won "best appetizer" for its Margarita Shrimp and "best presentation" at the 3rd Annual Taste of MetroWest at the Sheraton Tuesday night.

The event, which attracts more than 1,000 attendees and 50 of the area's best restaurants and brewers, is presented by MetroWest Chamber of Commerce.

Award winners Tuesday night, besides the medical center were:

• Best Entree:  Sheraton Framingham
• Best Beverage:  Jack's Abby Brewing
• Best Dessert:  Pepper's Fine Catering of Northborough
• Health for Life Award: Keefe Regional Vocational Technical School

Pepper's Fine Catering won best dessert for its Peach Almond Cake. The bite sized dessert featured almond meringues layered with roasted peaches, mascarpone cheese and topped with caramel sauce and sliced almonds. This was not the Northborough company's first win at a Taste of MetroWest event.

Karen Decina posted on Framingham Patch Facebook that Pepper's "peach almond dessert was melt in your mouth delish! The caramel sauce perfected it!"

"My favorite was the peach almond tart ... that was gluten free," said Framingham resident Denise Zadina.

Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin, attending his first Taste, said his favorite Tuesday night was the lemon mousse shortcake made by the culinary students at Keefe Tech. The students and their faculty advisor captured the Health For Life award. They also served guests a traditional Italian bread salad, also known as panzanella.

Framingham resident Tanya Lipp said she enjoyed the butternut squash bisque from the Sheraton's soon-to-open new restaurant Postern Grille.

For desserts, Lipp said it was a tie between the chocolate-covered mango pops from the Verve in Natick and the red velvet crepes from the Pejamajo Cafe in Holliston.

"Those chocolate covered mango cream pops were awesome," said Framingham resident Joan Gonzalez.

Framingham resident Heather Smith said she "loved the tuna appetizer" from The Cottage in Wellesley. It was a favorite of Selectman Laurie Lee, too.

Lee said it was a tie between the tuna and the Caesar salad served by Deluxe Depot Diner for best item. Framingham Patch reported yesterday the diner will open a third location in downtown Framingham at the train station depot this summer.

Pam O'Callaghan of Framingham said her favorites were the bacon-wrapped shrimp with slaw from Longfellow's Wayside Inn and the beer cheddar cheese with bacon from Culinary Underground of Southborough.

Tammy Ferrara said her favorite was the New England pasty from the British Beer Company (BBC) in Framingham. Selectman Dennis Giombetti said his favorite was the pulled pork from the BBC.

It was a complete menu to choose from at the third annual event.  Charter Oak Country Club of Hudson served a delicious lobster risotto. The House of Blues of Boston served a mouth-watering chicken n' waffle. Fish in Marlborough was serving up scallops and The Chicken Bone had Caesar salad wraps. Justine's Table on Route 9 in Wellesley presented guests a lobster newburg on crostini and several other delectable delights.

Lots of seafood and pulled pork options this year.

Jack's Abby Brewers was popular for something to drink, but guests also enjoyed Good as Gold Coffee, Battle Road Brewing Company's brews and MetroWest Wines of Natick. (Thanks to everyone who stopped by the MetroWest Wines and Framingham Patch booth too.)

For dessert there were far too many options to try them all.

My favorite was the sweet tea cupcake from The Frosted Cupcake Bakery in Mendon, last year's winner for best dessert.

They also served a salted caramel gluten-free cupcake, a coffee-inspired hazelnut cupcake, a green velvet cupcake, St Patrick's Day cake pops, as well as a sundae cupcake.

Thanks to Charlie Pasewark of Photography in Motion for photographing the event for Framingham Patch.

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Tell us in the comments below what was your favorite item at the 3rd Annual Taste of MetroWest.

If you can't choose just one, tell us your picks for best appetizer, drink, entree and dessert.