January 17, 2013 PDF Edition - Wilbraham-Hampden Times

Page 1 The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES
January 17, 013
Upscale Asian dining in Longmeadow
By The Undercover Epicurean
I
was fully recovered from my extravagant
New Year’s Eve celebration
and ready to get back to work doing
what I do best, finding fabulous
food for you, my loyal fans. I had heard
of a relatively new Asian restaurant in
Longmeadow that was said to be out of
the ordinary. This is how my accomplice
in dining detection and I found ourselves
on our way to Ume Asian Bistro just two
days after the new year began.
We chose a Thursday night and a
slightly later arrival time of 7:30 p.m. to
be sure our dinner was selected and on
the way, if not on the table, before the soft
jazz stylings of saxophonist Joe Wilson
began. The smooth and subtle tones of
Wilson’s musical interpretations offered
a soothing background. Wilson is truly a
master who can also be enjoyed at Ume
on Wednesday nights.
Martini to Start
I ordered a Caramel Apple Martini
($8.95) to get started. A blend of Stoli Apple
Vodka, Butterscotch Schnapps, Apple
Pucker and sour mix offered up a smooth
sensation with an almost non-existent
vodka bite and, for me, brought back the
childhood memory of sweet and sour
candy that made you pucker. This may be
an autumn-inspired drink, but I found it to
be an awesome accompaniment even on a
chilly winter evening.
I ordered the Black Angus Thai Boneless
Short Ribs ($18) accompanied by
sweet potatoes and sugar snow peas. The
at the budget,” said Puppolo.
Puppolo said the governor and Legislature
have to deal with an $800 million
deficit gap that has to be closed.
He said the governor was scheduled
to give his State of the State address Jan.
16, which will define where he stands and
what programs will get trimmed. Patrick
has already mentioned cuts in state hiring,
reduction to judiciary funding, less money
for safety net programs for low income
people, limited funding for new projects,
drawing from the Rainy Day Fund, and a
reduction in money going to the Massachusetts
School Building Authority. (Wilbraham
and Hampden recently benefitted
from the school building authority, which
helped fund the new Minnechaug Regional
High School that opened this fall.)
In a press release from Evan Horowitz,
director of communications of the
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center,
an independent think tank that concentrates
on middle and lower income people,
he blames several factors that causes
the state to face persistent deficits. They
are: The weak economy that has lowered
state revenues even as it has increased
the number of people relying on core
safety net services. And, income tax cuts
of the late 1990s, which continue to cost
the state over $2.6 billion per year. “Our
state is still in a severe fiscal crisis. We
DININg Out
ribs were most definitely the focal point
of the meal. An apple and ginger coating
added a sweet flavor with a slight kick
to the savory ribs. The snow peas were
cooked and served in their pods giving
them a crunchy texture, but losing some
of the sweetness normally found when
served on their own. The potatoes were
accented with a vanilla blend and seemed
to have been pureed. The amount was less
are now five years into the worst national
economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Equally important, we are almost 15
years into an ongoing fiscal crisis,” said
Horowitz.
Budget Timetable
Puppolo said he is expecting Patrick
to come up with a revised budget by the
end of January.
“The timetable will include debate in
the House through April. Then the Senate
will take a look at it. Differences between
both houses will be reconciled by June
and we will finish by July 30,” said Puppolo.
But, he said there could be a possible
reason for optimism. “We will be watching
how tax revenues will go this tax season.
It depends what we receive from the
income and capital gains tax revenues.
We’ll see what happens,” observed Puppolo.
Puppolo said he prides himself in
supporting a balanced and on-time budget
each legislative season.
Local Aid
How will the budget affect Wilbraham
and Hampden? Wilbraham Town
Administrator Robert Weitz said, “For
Wilbraham, we get about $1.2 million in
local aid that could be cut. But the school
system is much more vulnerable and will
be affected. Unfortunately, town government
has been relying less and less, over
the past five years, on money from the
than generous, but when it came to the
flavor, I could offer no criticism. Less is
more, they say. They tasted sweet enough
to substitute as dessert.
My meal came with the basic garden
salad of greens, grape tomato and cucumber
slices, but the ginger dressing made it
exceptional.
My only challenge of the evening
was the popular Asian dining instru-
state, so we will be less affected than the
schools,” commented Weitz.
Weitz said the Hampden-Wilbraham
Regional School District usually receives
Chapter 70 funds, for general schools use.
Regional transportation support could
also be affected, he said.
In other 2013 legislative school matters
Puppolo said as a member of the
House Ways and Means Committee and
other committees he will be active in refiling
and studying bills this session.
Wilbraham – On issues that affect
Wilbraham specifically, Puppolo said
he, as well as state Sen. Gale Candaras
(D-Wilbraham), a former Wilbraham selectman,
is expecting to be asked to support
the effort to build a new Wilbraham
Senior Center due to lack of room at the
Scantic Valley YMCA. “I know they need
bigger space,” he said.
He said he also recognizes that the
current police station is too small. “I have
talked to Police Chief Roger Tucker and
know what he needs,” said Puppolo.
Parole Issues – He said he would be
working with Hampden County District
Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni to tighten
up rules on state parole policy. “The laws
haven’t caught up with new technology.
We want to close some of the loopholes
on wiretapping. I am anticipating the
Speaker of the House (Robert DeLeo, D-
Winthrop) will make an announcement
soon,” said Puppolo.
ment, chopsticks. Not the wooden ones,
but metal. They looked pretty, but in the
hands of one who lacks fine motor skills,
it can be a sad sight.
Fusion of Styles
My companion ordered the Pad Thai
($15) with beef (other choices included
chicken and shrimp), rice noodles, peanuts,
bean sprouts and fresh lime. Plenty of
tender beef and “tons” of noodles filled her
plate. She was delighted with the contrast
in flavors, noting a bit of sweetness accented
by the sour lime, and textures ranging
from the crumbled peanuts to the softness
of the beef and noodles. Small pieces
of tofu could also be found although she
would have preferred they remain lost.
Ume is an upscale, authentic Japanese
restaurant that offers a fusion of styles in
a relaxing and intimate atmosphere with
a décor that is unlike any other Asian restaurant
in the area I have visited. This is a
must-see for your dining “To Do” list.
Located on Bliss Road in the Longmeadow
Shops, Ume’s hours are Monday
through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10
p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.
to midnight and Sunday from noon to 10
p.m. For more information, call 413-565-
5088 (388-4145). You’ll have to wait a bit
to visit them at www.umeasianbistro.com
since their website is currently under construction.
* * *
Food Fact - The world’s largest
restaurant is Bangkok, Thailand’s Royal
Dragon, serving 5,000. (Source – Soft-
Cafe.com)
Budget shortfall causes cuts to local aid
PUPPOLO from page 1
Cultural Center offers gnocchi-making
SPRINGFIELD - The Italian
Cultural Center of Western Massachusetts,
Inc. is sponsoring a
gnocchi-making class on Saturday,
Feb. 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Italian
Cultural Center, 56 Margaret St,
Springfield.
An instructor, supplies and
space will be provided for adults
and children. Just bring an apron
and take home what you make.
Space is limited. Seats will be
sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
Call the ICC at 413-784-1492
or email to CookwICC@comcast.
net to request a registration form
and to check seating availability.
Payment must be received by Jan.
25 to guarantee a seat.
Mail your name, address and
phone number along with the registration
fee of $20 for ICC members,
$15 for children of members
12 years and younger, $25 per adult
non-member, and $20 for children
of non-members 12 years and
younger to: Italian Cultural Center
of Western Massachusetts, Inc.,
Attn: Gnocchi-Making, 56 Margaret
St, Springfield, MA 01105.
AGAWAM – “Chefs for
Jimmy” fundraiser will be
held Friday, Jan. 25, 6:30
p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Join nearly
30 of Western New England’s
culinary greats at Agawam’s
Chez Josef to benefit the Jim-
Transportation – Puppolo said for
public transportation he and other Western
Massachusetts representatives struggle
with the eastern Massachusetts MBTA
getting more than their fair share of funding
at the expense of the Pioneer Valley
Transportation Authority, which serves
Wilbraham. “It has to be looked at,” he
said.
Unemployment Rates – Puppolo
said he wants to keep a freeze on unemployment
rates for small businesses. He
said he would file a bill as early as he can
to continue a rate freeze so that companies
can know what to expect.
Jobs – Puppolo said he would work
at reducing red tape for businesses by
streamlining regulations. “I want to make
it easier for small businesses to expand,”
he said.
Gun Control – Gun control is a very
hot button issue in the wake of the tragedy
at Newtown, Conn. Puppolo was careful
to say that he didn’t want to restrict lawful
gun owners and hunters but wants to
put controls on assault weapons and large
capacity ammunition magazines. “The
problem is where gun owners cross with
mental illness,” said Puppolo.
In summing up the coming year, Puppolo
stated, “We’re in there pitching but
more money is not on the radar screen.”
Charles F. Bennett can be reached at
cbennett@turley.com.
Culinary greats cook
for Jimmy Fund
my Fund which supports cancer
care and research at Dana-
Farber. Tickets are $75 and
are only available in advance
by calling 800-525-4669 or
purchasing online at jimmyfund.org/chefs-for-jimmy.