Top 5 Things to Do around Hudson, MA this Holiday Season
the holiday season is upon us here in Hudson, Massachusetts! from where to shop for gifts, Christmas tree farms, and local holiday festivities, we’re sharing our top 5 things to do around Hudson, MA this holiday season.
The holiday season is right around the corner! Here at New City, we’re looking forward to the events and local happenings that emerge this time of year in Hudson, MA. We are excited to share with you the top 5 things to enjoy around Hudson, MA this holiday season.
Shop Locally for Your Holiday Dining Table
Whether we’re gathering around the table for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or another holiday get-together, we love to include locally sourced food as part of our seasonal spread. When shopping for our holiday gathering, we love to stop by Mullahy’s in downtown Hudson. While visiting our Hudson neighbor, we love to grab a variety of artisan cheeses, nuts, chocolates, jams, and crackers to make the perfect, locally sourced charcuterie board for our guests. We can’t forget to pop over to Medusa Brewing Company to pick up some local brews. Here, we grab some Laser Cat IPA and other Hudson-made beers to cheers with our friends and family. And we, of course, can’t forget about dessert. Shopping for our holiday dining table ends with a stop right here at New City Microcreamery to pick up an ice cream pie, made in-house with our creamy ice cream and homemade waffle cone crust.
Silver Bells Holiday Fair in Sudbury, MA - November 20th
On November 20th, from 9am-3pm, visit the Memorial Congregational Church in Sudbury, MA for their Silver Bells Holiday Fair! The fair will be full of seasonal food, unique gifts, holiday decorations, & more. Buy some locally made holiday gifts, enjoy some lunch, and get in the holiday spirit.
Downtown Hudson Holiday Stroll - December 4th
We look forward to the annual Hudson Holiday Stroll that takes place right here in downtown Hudson each year. From 3-7 pm on Saturday, December 4th, downtown Hudson will be full of holiday activities for the whole family. Enjoy watching Hudson glow with holiday cheer with the annual tree lighting. With activities like hayrides, a petting zoo, and other family festivities, the community will gather to celebrate the season.
Pick out the Perfect Christmas Tree at a Local Farm
One way you can support local businesses this holiday season is by heading to a local Massachusetts farm to pick out the perfect Christmas tree. One of our favorite places to embark on this annual tradition is Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm in Stowe, MA, which is now open for the 2021 holiday season. Visit this picturesque Christmas tree farm to pick out your tree, enjoy free hot chocolate and candy canes, and listen to Christmas music by the fire pit! A classic holiday tradition, Mistletoe Christmas Tree Farm is a great way to kick off the season with joy.
Holiday Shopping in Downtown Hudson, MA
Downtown Hudson, MA is lined with a variety of shops where you’ll find that perfect gift for everyone on your list. This season, take a stroll through Hudson, where you’ll find a gift for that food lover, crafter, or just about anybody in your life! Here are some of the places you'll find as you walk along Main Street:
Owen and Sage - At Owen and Sage, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of goods for babies, toddlers, and families. You’ll find gifts from modern-style baby and children’s clothing, unique toys, books, and even gifts for parents too!
Serendipity - Serendipity is a whimsical store where you’ll find a collection of gifts made by local artisans. Handcrafted jewelry, original prints made by local artists, and eclectic handbags and treasures are some of the gifts you’ll find here. They even offer workshops, ranging from jewelry making to sea glass crafts, which would make a great gift for that craft lover on your list!
Crose Nest Apothecary - This organic herbal shop on Main Street is where you’ll find small-batch artisan goods including plants, candles, and other unique home goods. They even have gift sets ready to go for an easy but thoughtful gift. Crose Nest also has an apothecary bar where they will work with you to create custom herb blends, teas, and other botanical needs for that special someone on your list!
Gift Cards - Gift cards are a great gift for anyone on your list. Pick a store that you know they’ll love and let them do the shopping! For the food lover in your life, pick up a gift card to New City or one of our two sister restaurants here!
A Fall Day in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Join us on a perfect fall day in Cambridge, Massachusetts! From seasonal coffee and ice cream, brunch of the patio, and fall foliage, we spend the day embracing the season of fall in the city.
Embracing Fall in Cambridge, Massachusetts
When we think of fall in Boston, Massachusetts, we think of seasonal food, warm fall drinks, and enjoying the New England fall foliage with a walk through a Boston park. Oh...and of course seasonal fall ice cream flavors! Come join us on a fall day around Boston, Massachusetts!
Fueling up with Coffee
We start off our day in Central Square, at our New City Microcreamery shop that is tucked along Mass Ave in the heart of Cambridge. To fuel up for our fall day, we pick from their new fall drink menu. With options like pumpkin spice latte, salted caramel latte, apple cider, chai-der, and french toast chai, there is a perfect fall drink for everyone! Coffee in hand, we head out for our next adventure...brunch.
Seasonal Brunch on the Patio
For this fall day, we’re travelling outside of Boston to the town of Hudson, Massachusetts. We pop over to say hello to our friends at our sister restaurant, Rail Trail Flatbread Company, who also happens to serve up the best brunch in Massachusetts. We check out their new fall brunch menu, which hosts seasonal dishes like apple cider donuts, apple crisp pancakes, and bourbon peach pancakes. We cozy up on their outdoor patio on this crisp New England fall day as we enjoy our brunch by the heaters. After enjoying our favorite brunch, we head back into Boston to continue our fall day.
Fall Foliage in the City
Back in Boston, we embark on a stroll to see some classic New England fall foliage. We go on a mini Boston fall foliage tour, stopping at some of the best places in the city to view the fall leaves. Our fall foliage tour includes stops at The Boston Common and The Public Garden, which are both beautiful places to take in the crisp fall weather and walk along the colorful trees. As we head back to Cambridge, we take in the foliage along the Boston skyline on the Longfellow Bridge.
Seasonal Scoops
We can’t think of a better way to end our fall day around Boston then with some seasonal ice cream. Here at New City Microcreamery, we’ve added seasonal fall ice cream flavors to our menu. We pick from flavors perfect for the fall, including apple crisp, cinnamon, and pecan pie. We enjoy our fall ice cream scoops in Cambridge’s Central Square, making sure to head back into the scoop shop to grab an ice cream pint for later.
Fall is one of our favorite seasons here in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and there are so many more things we love to enjoy with our friends and family this time of year. As our perfect fall day comes to a close, we are already thinking of our next adventure. Apple picking at one of our favorite Massachusetts orchards? A fall hike through the Blue Hills? Whatever it is, we know that it will be an amazing time spent with friends and family.
We also love spending the fall season in Hudson, Massachusetts, the home of our other New City Microcreamery scoop shop! Check out what we planned for a perfect fall day in Hudson, MA here!
FALL in Love with New City's Fall Menu
Each season we come together to carefully curate new menu items, taking inspiration from the things we know and love about this time of year. We love the fall season, especially here in Massachusetts. Every year, we are so excited to take classic fall flavors and incorporate them into our ice cream and drink menus. We’ve added fall-inspired drinks, with flavors like blueberry cobbler and of course, pumpkin spice. We've also been busy creating new ice cream flavors that are perfect for the new season, embracing classic seasonal tastes. As you head out to the apple orchards or to class this fall, be sure to keep your hands warm with one of our cozy new drinks. Don’t worry, these drinks can also be served iced - we are in New England after all! Don't forget to stop by on your way home to grab a scoop of one of our new fall flavors...the perfect treat to pair with a Halloween movie marathon! These fall offerings will be available in both Hudson and Cambridge!
Happy Fall!
The New Fall Drinks
butter pecan latte
espresso, butter pecan syrup, milk of choice
salted caramel latte
espresso, house-made caramel, kosher salt, milk of choice
*contains dairy
maple latte
espresso, maple syrup, milk of choice
vanilla rooibos tea latte
rooibos tea, house-made vanilla syrup, milk of choice
blueberry cobbler latte
espresso, house-made blueberry cobbler syrup, milk of choice
pumpkin spice latte
espresso, pumpkin spice syrup, milk of choice
apple cider
apple crisp latte
apple cider, house-made cinnamon syrup, oat milk
chai-der
unsweetened spicy chai tea, apple cider
french toast chai
sweetened chai, house-made french toast syrup, milk of choice
chocolate chai
sweetened chai, house-made mocha syrup, milk of choice
THE NEW FALL Ice Cream Flavors
pumpkin spice ice cream
fall spice base with pumpkin puree
apple crisp ice cream
fall spice base, roasted local apples, homemade oat streusel, & a cinnamon sugar swirl
New City Ice Cream is Launching in Whole Foods
New City ice cream is launching in exclusive Whole Foods Markets! We are excited to announce that you can now find your favorite New City flavors at select Whole Foods stores. From Salted Cookies & Cream, to Mint Chocolate Chip, to Vanilla Bourbon, a pint for everyone can be found on the shelves!
New City Microcreamery’s dedication to making the best ice cream in the world results in placement on the shelves of Whole Foods Markets. Starting this July 4th weekend, ice cream lovers will find popular New City Microcreamery ice cream at select Whole Foods grocery stores.
Because we are so dedicated to making ice cream that is consistently spectacular, we're humbled to be able to partner with a business that is dedicated to high quality products like Whole Foods.
Last April, as the world shut down, the team at New City Microcreamery wanted their guests to still be able enjoy their ice cream from the comfort of their homes. That’s when they started selling pints of everyone’s favorite flavors at local markets and small grocery stores like Formaggio’s in Cambridge, Idylwilde Farms in Acton, and Nan’s Market in Stow. Now, just in time for summer, their ice cream production is doubling in size and ready to supply world class grocer, Whole Foods. The seven flavors, which will be available on Whole Foods shelves on July 3rd are classic New City favorites: Cake Batter, Salted Cookies and Cream, Vanilla Bourbon, Mint Chip, Ruthless, Strawberry Cheesecake, Key Lime Pie, and more to come.
“We are humbled to be able to partner with Whole Foods. We love making the best ice cream we possibly can and it’s exciting to have a platform to share our creations with more ice cream lovers”
When New City first opened in 2015, their pints were hand-packed - scoopers would write the flavor on a sticker of the logo and put it on a standard white pint. The re-branded pints are ready for unveiling with the Whole Foods launch featuring art by New City’s own Cambridge Manager Jake Lisakolsky. The pints tell the New City story and the company is excited to share it with a whole new audience.
While the design is new, the ice cream flavors are familiar and comforting. Fans of the shops’ Salted Cookies + Cream, Vanilla Bourbon, Ruthless and other featured flavors will immediately feel right at home when they taste a pint off the Whole Foods’ shelves. All seven flavors will be available at the Sudbury, Shrewsbury, and Westford Whole Foods Markets on July 3rd. As they roll out flashy new pints into a big grocery retailer, the core of the New City Microcreamery brand—community, local dairy, and small business ethics—isn’t going anywhere.
In Bloom: Spring Drink Menu 2021
Every season we come together to carefully curate a menu for our coffee program. We like to keep a mix of the classics and a few new recipes our baristas create together. Our spring drink menu is available at both Hudson and Cambridge locations.
Every season we come together to carefully curate a menu for our coffee program. We like to keep a mix of the classics and a few new recipes our baristas create together. Our spring drink menu is available at both Hudson and Cambridge locations and drinks can be made hot or iced.
Cold Brew Lemonade
Killer Bee Latte
Lavender Latte
Blueberry Cobbler Latte
Samoa Mocha
Brown Sugar Matcha
Almond Chai Latte
Raspberry Spritzer
Aarnold Palmer
House-made Lemonade
Iced Tea
DRINK SPOTLIGHTS
Samoa Mocha
Our Samoa Mocha will transport you to savoring the cookie of the same name. We use a dark roast espresso with notes of chocolate, caramel, and spice. We mix in our house-made hawt fudge, caramelgravy and coconut to bring this drink to life.
You can order this mocha hot or iced, with a milk of your chosing. Perfect for those who crave sweetness throughout the day.
Cold Brew Lemonade
We get our coffee from Barrington Coffee Roasters in Lee, MA. We use a medium roast with notes of sandalwood, nut, and immense chocolate. We let our course grinded beans sit for over 18 hours to make our cold brew.
We squeeze every single locally farmed lemon by hand as the base for our house-made lemonade. We'll pour the lemonade over the cold brew for this super refreshing iced spring drink.
Brown Sugar Matcha
We get our ingredient grade matcha from Mem Tea in Watertown, MA with notes of fern, moss, and turnip. As matcha is a tea that comes with ceremonial ancestry and to honor its Japanese roots, we use a chasen (bamboo wisk) to mix it.
We make a brown sugar matcha mix to then pour over oat milk or steam together for a hot drink.
Blueberry Cobbler Latte
We make our signature blueberry cobbler syrup in house with the freshest, local blueberries around. With notes of cinnamon and brown sugar, this latte will warm you up after a chilly spring day or help you refresh in iced latte form.
Typically served with oat milk, this latte is fully vegan.
Lavender Latte
Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to get down with floral flavors. Due to lavender’s calming and stress relieving properties, this is the perfect solution to balance out a busy morning.
While you may believe lavender doesn’t belong in coffee, don’t knock it until you try it. Enjoy hot or iced and vibe to our perfect coffee shop playlist.
Killer Bee Latte
The changing season means the bees are finally ready to come out of hibernation, and so is our killer bee latte. Using our homemade chipotle honey syrup, we mix in espresso and pour over the milk of your choice. It’s a balance between sweet and spicy with a soothing finish.
Almond Chai Latte
Sugar, spice and everything nice, is our trusted chai latte. It’s the perfect alternative to coffee when you’re still searching for that caffeine hit. We use spicy chai from MEM Tea with notes of clove, ginger, and peppercorn.
This flavorful and complex tea drink is great iced or hot, whatever you’re feeling!
Raspberry Spritzer
This iced drink is all vegan baby! We take our house-made Razzle Dazzle gravy and pour it over ice cold seltzer. It’s a raspberry overload!
Arnold Palmer - lemonade and iced tea of choice
Lemonade - made in house with freshly squeezed lemons
Iced Tea - english breakfast, jasmine or crimson berry
New City Holiday Flavors 2020
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Check out our holiday flavor breakdowns to find your favorite.
Holidays with New City
Find your favorite ice cream flavor to bring home and enjoy by the fireplace
This month, Chef Alyssa came up with a nostalgic holiday flavor that feels like being home for the holidays: PEPPERMINT STICK. Starting with our signature sweet cream base, we crush peppermint candies by hand to steep in the base, which releases their fragrant flavor.
Gingerbread Ice Cream
Our Gingerbread ice cream tastes like it came straight out of the oven. Each bite you can taste the whole process of baking gingerbread cookies at home. Using our gingerbread base, we fold in freshly baked pieces of gingerbread and then swirl in our signature icing.
Who said ice cream couldn’t warm you up?!
Our Eggnog flavor is a staff favorite (we even have guests asking to keep it on the tap list year round!). Our secret ingredient is eggnog from Mapleline Farms in Hadley, Massachusetts. Each bottle is stamped with a reminder, “bring home to holiday cheer” and this creamy ice cream does exactly that.
So many of you messaged us asking for more vegan options. We heard you and created Vegan Peppermint Stick! Made with coconut milk, we infuse peppermint into our ice cream base. Later we fold in hand-crushed peppermint candies to really enhance the flavors and color!
We can’t do the holidays right without keeping our signature Vanilla Bourbon on tap. Starting with an extra creamy base, we let vanilla beans seep into the base for over 24 hours to soak up the flavor. We swirl in our secret bourbon to add that flavor kick our guests know and love. Vanilla Bourbon is a staple for the holidays; whether as a milkshake or to eat with cookies you’ve baked at home, it’ll warm you right up.
Maple Walnut
We created a separate maple base exclusively for this flavor. Once it’s ready to spin, we add in homemade maple candied walnuts at the last minute for a crunchy and creamy texture.
We have more flavors dropping throughout the month and if you’ve read this far, we’ll give you a sneak peak: except Baklava and Tuxedo Cake to make comebacks this season. We’ll also be introducing Vegan Chai Almond sometime soon! Keep your eyes peeled to our Instagram for daily tap list updates for new flavor drops!
Happy Holidays from the New City Team!
New City's Signature Holiday Ice Cream Pies Are Ready for Preorder✨
Holiday Ice Cream Pies are ready for preorder! This year may feel a little different so we wanted to bring back some guest favorite flavors.
Holiday Ice Cream Pies preorders are back and ready! This year may feel a little different, so we wanted to bring nostalgic holiday flavors to life in ice cream form! Each pie is handmade with love in our scratch kitchen in Hudson, Massachusetts and features our signature ice cream, seasonal ingredients, and a handmade, buttery waffle cone crust. This year, we're offering three winter wonderland flavors:
Peppermint Stick Ice Cream Pie feels like being home for the holidays. We start with a sweet cream base, then crush peppermint candies by hand and add them to steep in the base releasing their fragrant flavor! It's extra delicious smothered in our homemade whipped cream.
Pecan Ice Cream Pie is our sweet cream base steeped with rich, dark molasses and loaded with candied pecans, topped with plenty of whipped cream and even more candied pecans.
Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie warms us up by the fireplace as our most over-the-top pumpkin flavor yet! We use heirloom pumpkins that we carve up and roast in our oven to bring out those warm flavors we love. We mix those in with even more winter spices to create the perfect pumpkin ice cream, topped with whipped cream and a homemade caramel drizzle.
PICK UP is available 12/21-12/24 IN STORE ONLY. Preorder by 12/20 here. Please indicate Hudson or Cambridge pick-up when choosing your tickets.
Announcing New City Thanksgiving Ice Cream Pies
With an anything-but-traditional Thanksgiving around the corner, New City will offer your favorite ice cream flavors in pie form.
With an anything-but-traditional Thanksgiving around the corner, New City will offer your favorite ice cream flavors in pie form.
We are mixing up the traditional Thanksgiving desserts this year by offering Ice Cream Pies as the star confection on your table, with a flavor roster of Apple, Pumpkin and Pecan for the whole family to enjoy. All pies are made with a homemade waffle cone pie crust and topped with our signature homemade whipped cream. Each pie is $35 before tax and you can preorder a pie or two by heading to our website to be ready for the week of Thanksgiving.
Our pie flavors this year are an ode to New England fall and the warmth from the familiar spices. Apple Pie is a sweet cream base with slow-roasted apple pie filling and homemade pie crust pieces swirled throughout the ice cream. Apple crumb tops the whipped cream on this warm flavor. Pecan Pie is a molasses base with candied pecans soaked in bourbon with even more crunchy candied pecans on top. Lastly, everyone’s favorite, the Pumpkin Pie is made with slowly roasted fresh and local pumpkins; A fall spice base with a cream cheese swirl and topped with a caramel drizzle.
Pies are available for preorder online here. They will be available for pickup 11/23-11/25 at both Hudson and Cambridge locations. Any questions about pick-up time, allergens or general inquiries can be made directly to info@newcitymicrocreamery.com
A Fall Day in Hudson, Massachusetts
Learn more about fall activities you can do in Hudson, Massachusetts. From fall ice cream flavors to apple picking to where to eat dinner.
Hudson, Massachusetts is home to the Best Ice Cream in Massachusetts as well as the best New England fall activities. Our favorite ice cream flavors are inspired by New England fall. Pumpkin Cheesecake is a fall spice base with pumpkin puree, graham cracker crust and a cream cheese swirl. Another favorite is Carrot Cake. Carrot Cake is a carrot cake base with shredded carrots, crushed ginger, cinnamon allspice and fennel.
One fall activity to do in Hudson is to visit Ferjulian’s farm. They sell pumpkins, fresh produce and other home-made goods. Another fall activity is Honey Pot Hill. You can go apple picking, try their cider donuts or shop for produce and cider in their farm store. Another great apple orchard is Tougas Farm. You can also go apple picking here or pick up bags of apples at their farm store.
After a long day of fall activities we always stop by Rail Trail Flatbread Co. for dinner and head back to New City Microcreamery for dessert. We love fall here at New City and Hudson, MA is the perfect place to explore all things autumn.
Alyssa Lieberman of New City Microcreamery wins Rising Star Chef Award
Artisan Ice Cream Maker Alyssa Lieberman of New City Microcreamery by Star Chefs
Chef Alyssa Lieberman wins the Rising Star Chef Award! (for a complete list click here)
The Boston restaurant scene certainly needs the boost right now: Thousands of workers have lost their jobs, businesses are being forced to reinvent themselves to survive, and takeout—including to-go cocktails, something the buttoned-down Bay State finally okayed over the summer—has become a crucial component of even the high-end dining scene. These difficult times have inspired different decisions about how and whether to dole out chef-world awards; while Food & Wine went ahead and unveiled its annual Best New Chefs lineup in May (which happened to include Boston’s own Douglass Williams of MIDA), the James Beard Awards recently decided to not release 2020 winners in deference to the “uphill battle” the industry faces (and also, according to some reports, over concerns about diverse representation).
For its part, StarChefs has been “even more inspired by Boston’s hospitality professionals since the COVID crisis hit,” according to managing partner Will Blunt. “For all the change and challenges, Boston has shown what it’s made of: generosity, ingenuity, and perseverance.”
Honoree Hana Quon of Cafe Madeleine acknowledges that it “feels surreal to be celebrating these accomplishments in the midst of economic and political turmoil.” Still, she says, she’s honored to be included in a lineup of “amazing and talented chefs that I admire. This is especially true during these unprecedented times where survival is foremost on everyone’s plate and a chef’s ability to be flexible and roll with the punches is being stretched to the limit.”
Chef Charlie Foster of Woods Hill Pier 4, another Rising Stars winner, agrees. “It requires an incredible amount of flexibility to have a chance of success in this environment,” says Foster. “We are having to reinvent ourselves and our way of conducting business in real time, while trying to stay true to our mission—all while trying to generate the revenue we need to keep as much of our staff employed as possible.”
Boston’s first Rising Stars Restaurant Week—which replaces a traditional awards ceremony and tasting gala—is a way to focus attention on hard-pressed, independently owned businesses at a time when local chefs are concerned about their survival prospects. “I really hope Boston doesn’t get taken over by chain restaurants,” says Kevin O’Donnell, who is being honored by StarChefs alongside his former SRV co-chef Michael Lombardi (Although Lombardi continues to slay it at SRV, O’Donnell has since relocated to Newport, where he’ll launch his first solo restaurant, the Italian-oriented Giusto, opens for lunch on Tuesday, September 8.) “There’s got to be a breaking point where landlords charge a fair price for rent to help keep independent restaurants alive. This should be a wakeup call not only to them, but to local government to provide assistance. I’ve seen the conversations with local senators, and I’ve seen local chefs-turned-activists fighting for change. It’s been amazing to witness, and I hope it happens more.”
In the meanwhile, diners can show their support eating their way across all the winners’ restaurants (and be entered to win a $100 gift card if they share their meal on social media). Check out a sneak preview of highlighted Restaurant Week plates below—and you’ll find the full list of Rising Stars honorees here, which additionally includes O’Donnell and chef Michael Bergin of the temporarily-shuttered Salty Pig restaurant.
Ambiente in the Hudson Air
written by Ashley Stickney
Stepping off the plane once again, into a country she barely knows. Their last visit was where the streets were cold, and the people of this city were hiding indoors. Now the streets are smoldering and full of life, feeling more like the Dominican Republic, their home, el calor pero no el ambiente. They wait for her sister to pick them up at Logan International, it had been two years since she has seen her sister and her nieces and nephew. Living in another country made it hard to see them as often as she wanted. There was always a physical distance, but never an emotional one. With the heat she thought back to moments with her sister, playing on the street and spending time at the beach, hot always hot, the only memory she could feel in the Boston sun.
“Is she here yet”, the sound of her daughter’s voice and a timbre snapped her back to reality, the call came through WhatsApp, which was not her sister as expected but her niece. Hola mija, the way she always answered calls from her children, soon her sister’s car was visible, and her own daughter screamed with excitement, but it was the voice on the other end of the line who stepped out of the car. With this excitement the call was abruptly ended, hugs were exchanged, hugs filled with tears of sadness and joy.
Since they were born, she thought of her nieces and her nephew like her own children, missing them but keeping up with their lives as if she was right alongside them. She held onto everything, clothes, pictures, anything her sister would send. Even though she wasn’t present physically for those memories, she held on to them. Now she looked forward to creating new ones, but still holding onto the distant ones that were hard to grasp. - Cion tia, brought back again to the present, - quiero eseñarte algo, I want to show you something said her niece.
They pulled up to downtown Hudson, the town her sister and niece now called home, busy with cars and the sweet and savory scent of coal. The engine abruptly went silent, ay que calor, she thought as the cool air cut with the turn of the keys. They walked Main Street, her niece pointed out the local shops rich in antiquities and bursting with color and creativity. It was all overwhelming, nothing like her hometown. When the smell in the air quickly shifted from coal to the aroma of freshly baked bread, she felt a small piece of home with her. She could smell the bakery she would walk past on her way to work; she could picture la gente walking up and down her streets. With a tap on the shoulder, her niece pointed out that their destination was just across the way.
They stepped through the doors, ¡que bella!, the shop was lit like Christmas and smelled like it too, with lights hung from the ceiling with care and the sweet smell of what reminded her of pan dulce, but all she could see cooking were ice cream cones unlike she had ever seen. Her niece escorted them to a large, green, school-like chalkboard, with some familiar words like “cookie” or “chocolate” and images that were all their own. She looked around and saw the shining surfaces, behind which people were smiling and laughing, making this unfamiliar space feel warm. Her niece explained what the board was trying to teach her, the treats she would be able to try. She tasted her sister’s favorite, cookies n’ cream, que rico, salted oreo, mmm…interesante, but in the end she went with vanilla.
The three walked to a table to take their seats, mira, look, the little one said. They turned and watched the plume of what looked like smoke rise from behind the crystal window. They had seen this before on cooking shows but never in person. The hypnotic process, from which their treats were born out of, had stopped them from even tasting what was in their bowls. ¿Todo lo hacen aqui?, she asked in disbelief to her niece, how could they possibly make all those flavors there? – Si todo, everything, her niece replied, who went on to explain the process. During this explanation she finally took her first bite.
There she was walking in her pueblo with her siblings after a trip to Tia Ruby’s house, a woman who used to make homemade helado. She would make it from fresh vanilla beans and with milk from the cows she had grazing in the backyard, something common in el campo. She could feel the heat of the tropics but with each bite she would feel el ritmo of her isla, the rhythm, love and community of her island. She was running in the streets, trying to bring her mother a taste before it melted laughing along the way. In the smooth and delicious folds of that confection she could really feel it, el ambiente.
But she was sitting there, in an American ice cream shop, seemingly far from home, tasting the helado from Tia Ruby’s. A tear fell from her eyes, - que te pasa, what’s wrong? - asked her niece. Nada mija, nothing my daughter, she said wiping the tears from her eyes, tiene el sabor de mi niñez, it tastes like my childhood, she said trying not to let more tears flow. That memory, one she had thought was forgotten, brought back on a trip to create new ones. With a single bite, an irretrievable sensation was hers again, el ambiente de la Republica Dominicana was in the Hudson air and memories were in the ice cream.
Spanish to English
Ambiente – atmosphere
el calor pero no el ambiente – the heat but not the atmosphere
Hola mija – hello daughter
Cion tia – short for “bendicion tia”, sign of respect; literally meaning “blessed aunt”
Que rico – how delicious
Interesante – interesting
Helado – ice cream
El ritmo – the rhythm
Isla – island
New City Microcreamery Finalist in Toasty Awards!
Vote for New City Microcreamery to win the Food for Thought Leadership Award: Vote Now!
New City Microcreamery has been named a Toasty Awards finalist in Food for Thought Leadership honoring the teams dedication to giving back to the Hudson and Cambridge community by growing young entrepreneurs, helping youth understand financial literacy (through an open book management program), and teaching them to run a business by creating a culture focused on education and transparency.
The third annual Toasty Awards will celebrate the hard work and ingenuity of the diverse restaurant community. Toast will name the 2020 award winners on January 29, 2020. “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the Toast restaurant community,” said Aman Narang, president, and co-founder of Toast. “The 2020 Toasty Awards finalists are 20 top examples of outstanding leadership in the restaurant industry.”
New City Microcreamery was selected out of nearly 500 submitted entries as a Food for Thought Leadership finalist. Winners - selected by public vote - are eligible to receive prizes including a year of Toast software, a $15,000 donation to a charity of their choice, and a sponsored staff celebration. “Food for Thought Leadership” finalists which commend a restaurant that has pushed the industry forward through innovative hospitality and strong core values.
New City Microcreamery has advocated for grants totaling $100,000 to apply to financial literacy classes and education for their entire staff. Staff are eligible for profit sharing and learn about the business through its transparent business model based on Open Book Management. “We know that our teenagers and youth need a place to experience their first job. We want that first experience to be impressionable and to lead them down a path of self-discovery beyond their wildest dreams,” says Jason Kleinerman, Partner of New City Microcreamery.
New City Microcreamery’s Ice Cream Shop team was the first in Massachusetts to implement the Great Game of Business along with sister restaurant Rail Trail Flatbread Company. “We found ourselves in a unique position to write our own playbook leveraging our core principles. The restaurant industry has a uniquely high level of turnover which presents the opportunity for our team to find the solution to create a consistent Great Game of Business culture. When thinking about the solution, we found an important part was connecting hospitality training and embedding it with our financial training in order to have the highest level of impact and engagement on our young staff at New City Microcreamery,” says Kleinerman.
A LETTER FROM ZOE COLLINS: WHAT I HAVE LEARNED WORKING AT NEW CITY MICROCREAMERY
I had always expected life to carry out logistically, growing and growing until I finally reach a point of consistency and stability. But disproved by many people I have come to the realization that I will never stop trying to figure out the way life should be. I became certain of this after help from my young adult coworkers. I started working at a local ice cream shop at fifteen, so naturally many of my coworkers were much older than me. When I first started I still had the mindset that people have life figured out by their twenties, so meeting people in their twenties and thirties working alongside me took me by surprise. I had never expected to learn so much at my first job. I learned that success is still achievable without the stereotypical education, from my manager. She has been working with the company for a long time, eventually being recognized for her abilities to communicate and organize. Although she has not received a degree in business management she continues to better the company and make her credibility known through hard work and dedication. Her perseverance has taught me that even if I do not learn everything about an activity, success is still achievable and I will always be learning new things after I complete my formal education.
Another concept that I learned was that no matter what my job title is, if I utilize my resources effectively, doing what I love will be easy. Although employed as a barista, one of my supervisors is very dedicated to art. Expressing this to owners and higher ups, he is now able to do many ads, posters and other artwork for the shop building his portfolio. The way he is able to combine his interests taught me that if I reach out, opportunities to succeed are very attainable. Another example of finding great opportunities is the way the production manager can associate his job with his passion. With a major in journalism, production is not my first thought. But, he has always been interested in food blogging, so production is an amazing introduction to the industry.
Taking advantage of opportunities is a huge lesson that my supervisor and production manager have made me aware of.
Another thing that I learned about was succeeding in foreign environments. English is not the first language of many of the kitchen staff but they constantly impress me with their ability to communicate and succeed in the shop. Succeeding somewhere foreign must be so difficult but the way they carry themselves through this career has taught me the importance of dedication. They are completely devoted to practicing their English and communicating with the staff. This also influenced the behavior of all of the staff while we continue to improve our communication skills. Experiencing this taught me that language is not the only source of connection in humanity.
Although these experiences gave me a new understanding of others in a work environment it also gave me a new look on my daily life. After meeting these people I made efforts to be more like them, I tried to be dedicated like my manager, in my job, of course, but in school as well, taking advantage of my opportunities to take more rigorous classes in subjects that I find interesting. I also began finding and taking opportunities like my supervisor and production manager, starting to become a barista at work, but also trying out new clubs and sports to seek new interests. I am trying to better my communication skills like the kitchen staff, by learning common words in their language but also communicating and becoming friends with people of all different backgrounds in my diverse community. Working with these people has completely changed my look on others and myself, the things I learned constantly helping me become a better version of myself.
Visit the Best Orchards in Massachusetts while getting the Best Ice Cream in Massachusetts
Hudson, Massachusetts has both the Best Ice Cream in Massachusetts and the Best Apple Orchards in the State!
We find so much inspiration from our neighbors along the borders of our town. The farms are bursting with apples, pumpkins and beautiful iconic New England scenery! Bonus, Hudson makes for a beautiful day-trip from Cambridge where we have our new location on 403 Mass Ave.
Some of our favorite ice cream flavors have been inspired by the beauty that is New England in the fall. Pumpkin Cheesecake is a rich blend of local Massachusetts pumpkins that we roast and steep in farm-fresh Massachusetts milk. We make our own cheesecake swirl and graham cracker crumble that we swirl in while flash freezing it all with liquid nitrogen. Another homage to our hometown is the Apple Pie! Massachusetts has the best Apple Orchards in the country and we have the best ice cream, so it is a natural pairing! We take local Massachusetts apples and use an heirloom apple pie recipe to make lots of pie that is then whipped into sweet cream and flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen.
Honey Pot Hill is only three miles away from us here at New City Microcreamery. It is a go-to for us! The farm is run by third and fourth generation family farmers Steve and Chelcie Martin. There are fresh cider donuts made at the farm, loads of beautiful apples to be freshly picked or available in their shop and a corn maze! It’s fun for all ages and they also have pumpkins and fresh-cut trees in the later months.
Tougas Farm is only six miles from our shop and it is a gorgeous drive. We recommend taking backroads through Berlin to get there because the views are SO stunning! There are even plenty of places to make a quick and spontaneous pit-stop to take a midday hike or stroll. Tougas has a large playground making it an excellent stop for a little extra fun! There are goats, llamas, and pigs to visit! They have rides to and from the orchard and even on the busiest Saturday afternoons—we find it quick to get around the farm!
Bolton Spring Farm has been running now for 82 years! We love going to visit and roaming the farm—it is 150 acres! There is a cute farm shop, plenty of variety in apples and pears to pick and it is a very family-friendly place!
We love Ferjulian’s farm (pictured below) which is down the street from us in Hudson! We always get so excited when we see their iconic pumpkin bins lining the rolling green hills that are ever so slightly changing to the golden tones of fall. Produce is still available until Thanksgiving and we love picking up local honey and Mrs. Ferjulian’s famous jam. It is very close to New City Microcreamery so be sure you stop by when you are in for a scoop!
After a long day exploring we always get Rail Trail Flatbread for extra fuel before a big scoop of our liquid nitrogen ice cream or an affogato!
We do have to admit... Fall might just be our favorite season to explore Hudson, MA! It is such a quaint town, filled with great local shops and family-friendly activities!
New City Microcreamery Wins Best Ice Cream in Massachusetts
Whoa. We just really want to thank our loyal fans and Mass Live for voting for us as the best ice cream in Massachusetts! The voting process was really cool (pun intended) to watch unfold. The first wave started with our community letting Mass Live know what their favorite shops were in Massachusetts. That narrowed the finalists down to ten. Each region of Massachusetts had a chance to win the best ice cream in Massachusetts!
The team from Mass Live joined us on their first stop to taste our ice cream.
The team tried Vanilla, Key Lime Pie and Hazelnutty.
Mass Live writes...
"No. 1 -- New City Microcreamery, Hudson
Kit's take: New City Microcreamery, which makes all of their ice cream in-house, earns our number one spot for creating a texture and taste of ice cream like no other. The liquid nitrogen process, concocted in an old-fashioned Hobart machine, froze and whipped the cream simultaneously, a delight to watch, and even more to taste. The first spoonful took my breath away at how frozen, yet creamy it was. The vanilla, made with vanilla beans soaked for three days, tasted like frozen frosting. A drizzle of their homemade hot fudge, made with real butter and cream and a high percentage chocolate, and I was in love. Each of the all-natural ingredients and add-ins at New City Microcreamery take the flavor to the next level of intensity. The key lime pie, made with real lime and a graham cracker pie crust throughout the ice cream, tasted so good it made me prefer the ice cream over the pie. Creativity flows like water at New City Microcreamery and you are bound to find an original flavor that will make you come back for more, whether it's fennel pistachio, Hazelnutty, mocha blanca raspberry or ginger Thai basil."
We are honored to have been voted the Best Ice Cream in Massachusetts! We look forward to another cool year with our community! Thank you again!
https://www.masslive.com/expo/news/erry-2018/08/7b52a4a1bb6644/best-of-mass-ice-cream-winners.html
Rail Trail Flatbread Co., New City Microcreamery and Less Than Greater Than featured in Forbes
HUDSON, MASSACHUSETTS
Rail Trail Flatbread Co., New City Microcreamery and Less Than Greater Than founders Michael Kasseris, Karim El-Gamal and Jason Kleinerman are featured in Forbes for applying the practice of Open Book Management to their business model. The article focuses on the core values of the establishment, good profit. The business defines stakeholders not just as the owners and investors, but the guests, the community, the team and the environment.
Rail Trail Flatbread Co. has been reaping the rewards of the process in the form of better financial results, highly engaged employees and loyal guests. As quoted by Forbes, “Business owners like Rail Trail’s partners play a central role in every American city and town.”
To view the full article that was published on Forbes click on this link here.
HUDSON, MASSACHUSETTS
Rail Trail Flatbread Co., New City Microcreamery and Less Than Greater Than founders Michael Kasseris, Karim El-Gamal and Jason Kleinerman are featured in Forbes for applying the practice of Open Book Management to their business model. The article focuses on the core values of the establishment, good profit. The business defines stakeholders not just as the owners and investors, but the guests, the community, the team and the environment.
Rail Trail Flatbread Co. has been reaping the rewards of the process in the form of better financial results, highly engaged employees and loyal guests. As quoted by Forbes, “Business owners like Rail Trail’s partners play a central role in every American city and town.”
To view the full article that was published on Forbes click on this link here.
We Love The Fall Season in Hudson, MA!
When we think of fall, we think of cozy flannel shirts, pumpkin spice everything, apple picking, picturesque foliage, hayrides and crisp weather! Fall is such a great season and it is the perfect time to wander around beautiful Hudson, Massachusetts, where you can find all of these fall staples and more!
Hudson has everything you need for the perfect seasonal adventure--we love bringing our friends and family to visit some of the local orchards like Honey Pot Hill, Tougas Family Farm, Davidian Farm and more. Many of the local farms offer apple picking, pumpkins and hayrides which makes for a fun day! Of course—you will need fuel for your adventure!
When we get hungry, we head to Rail Trail Flatbread Co. to fuel up with tasty flatbreads and fresh, hearty salads or a juicy burger. Rail TrailFlatbread Co. is offering up a fresh new fall menu and showcasing the best of what fall has to offer. Classics like the Butternut Squash Flatbread and Hot Tots will warm you up after a day in the fields! There is something for everyone: a brand new take on the Veggie Burger, hearty rice bowls packed with fall vegetables, and a kids menu using the same fresh ingredients.
Sometimes (ok, ok, all the time) we crave dessert and a Pumpkin Spice Latte. New City Microcreamery is the place for the season’s sweetest treats. Chef Alyssa worked her fall magic on scratch-made ice cream and created the best seasonal fall ice cream in Hudson, MA! Pumpkin Spice, Cran-Cherry and rich Chocolate Covered Cherry are all new fall flavors on the menu at New City Microcreamery.
We do have to admit... Fall might just be our favorite season to explore Hudson, MA! It is such a quaint town, filled with great local shops and family friendly activities!
THE BEST ICE CREAM IN BOSTON
We have had quite the exciting "SUMMER OF 2017" at New City Microcreamery! Eater Boston recognized our shop as one of the Coolest New Boston Ice Cream Shops for the summer of 2017. Jenna Pelletier of Boston Magazine also gave us a shout-out as one of the TOP FIVE ICE CREAM SHOPS in Boston this summer.
We are stoked to be the only shop on the list offering scratch-made ice cream with a liquid nitrogen process. Our Executive Pastry Chef, Alyssa Lieberman's favorite flavor this summer, Vanilla Saffron—made for quite the beautiful photo in Boston Magazine! Thank you to all of our loyal customers!
*Photo credit Boston Magazine // Toan Trinh // Styling by Monica Mariano
Check out the Eater Boston List Here: Eater
Read more about the Best Ice Cream Shops Right Now in Boston Magazine here: Boston Magazine
Announcing Hudson Fall Flavor Weekend
We’re teaming up with Medusa Brewing and Rail Trail Flatbread Co. October 20-23, 2016 to create the perfect fall flavor for everyone to enjoy!
When these forces combine you get a perfect intersection of Witchfinder Smoked Pumpkin Stout made with pumpkins prepared by Chef Tom of New City and Pumpkin Stout Ice Cream made with said beer at New City Microcreamery prepared in beer float format and served together in the Rail Trail Flatbread Company!
In the spirit of Fall and community collaboration, we are proud to be a part of downtown and cannot wait for you to enjoy the flavors right here on Main Street in Hudson, Massachusetts.
This is an event for everyone. Bring the whole family for an ice cream, or stop by Rail Trail Flatbread Co. for a taste of their brand new fall menu.
UPDATE:
Thank you to everyone who came out to Hudson Fall Flavor Weekend! The weekend was a complete success, and just another example of how wonderful our local businesses and patrons are. A great time was had by all. What should we create next year?...
Boston Globe Find’s Delight in < >
The cobbler adjacent to New City has received some impressive praise from Boston Globe correspondent Andrea Pyenson:
“At < > (read out loud as “Less Than Greater Than”), a hidden cocktail bar in Hudson from the team behind New City Micro-creamery and the Rail Trail Flatbread Co., some of the most exciting potions are neither shaken nor stirred. Instead they are frozen with liquid nitrogen, creating a bit of drama and a lot of smoke.”
We’ve always wondered what the locked door in the back of our ice cream shop led to… It seems the people of Hudson and Greater Boston have already found out.