Cider Day Returns to Colrain

By Tony Polumbo

Mike & Tony's Pizzeria at Green Emporium
4 Main Road on the Common Colrain Ma. 01340
info@greenemporium.com

It all began 15 years ago for people who love apples. Cider Day was born by Judith and Terry Maloney. In the early 70's this couple were producing apple wine in their basement of their home in Colrain. Apples reign supreme in our neck of the woods in Western Massachusetts. We live in an area noted for it's numerous orchards. Even our home, which was featured on Home and Garden TV was once a former Cooperage or “The Kelley Barrel Shop” as most people called it in those days, where all the barrels for apple cider were produced.
From the beginning of it's inception, Cider Day filled the streets of Colrain with 100's of people. Heirloom Apples once again were shown and tasted to the delight of the crowds.
While the Brick Meeting House put on Cider Demonstrations the Green Emporium Restaurant in Colrain was busy with food demonstrations featuring apples and hard cider. Dinners included culinary delights like Roasted Pork and Hard cider, Chicken cooked in a cider cream sauce with shallots and apples, Thai Spy Curry made with Northern Spy Apples (This recipe was featured in Paul Correnty's Recipe book “The Art of Cooking with Cider”)
When Cider Day became a Franklin county event, people still came to Colrain but the streets were not as full .People were now all over the county visiting other orchards.
Last November Mike & Tony's Pizzeria at Green Emporium reopened at the former Green Emporium Restaurant. Chef Michael Collins returned once again to create magical culinary delights, working months on his recipe for pizza dough. When he was ready he began creating all types of artisan pizzas. Pizzas such as roasted red peppers and artichokes, Greek pizza with feta, kalamata olives and spinach, a Colrain spring pizza featuring local marinated asparagus and mozzarella, and The Margaretta featuring local fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic.
For Cider Day 2009, Chef Collins has created his Apple & Extra Sharp Cheddar Pizza, with Northern Spy apples from Pine Hill Orchard and Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese from Cabbots. The magical combination of the apples and cheddar cheese is something special that has to be tasted to be believed. And with it's new full liquor license Mike and Tony's Pizzeria will be featuring Apple Martini's as well.
Once again the streets of Colrain will be filled with people.
Cider Day will be on November 7th and 8th this year
The Pizzeria will be opened for lunch 11:30am till 2pm and from 5 till 9 for dinner featuring a special Apple and Cider Dinner Entrée
If you should miss this event, all of the above will be repeated the following weekend November 14th and 15th for the Crafts of Colrain Studio Tour which runs from 10am till 4pm.
As the expression goes “The apple never falls far from the tree.”