Scooper Bowl Treats are Ready to Go|Eat Mass

MASSACHUSETTS — Welcome to the newest edition of Eat Mass, Patch's weekly roundup of food and restaurant news in Massachusetts. Scroll down for more, including:

• Flat Top Johnny's nixes move to Allston.
• Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market returns to Worcester.
• Phantom Gourmet Food Fest heads to Waltham in September.

Restaurant Openings, Closings

• Boston (Kenmore Square):Boston Restaurant Talk reports that after 15 years, UBurger in Kenmore Square has closed. A Facebook post by the casual hamburger chain confirms this news, referring customers to the Andover location.
• Brookline (Coolidge Corner): Allium Market is scheduled to close, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. Citing an Instagram post by Allium founder Talia Glass, the market will remain open through September. If a new owner or investors cannot be found to step in, the market's last day of business will be Oct. 3.
• Framingham: Via a Facebook post by the pizzeria on Aug. 9, Neko’s of New York will be briefly closed due to a family issue. Neko's plans to reopen on Aug. 17.
• Jamaica Plain: Tori Japan has opened in the Jackson Square neighborhood, says Boston
  Restaurant Talk. Currently pick-up only, the eatery's menu includes bento boxes, teriyaki dishes and various types of sushi, nigiri and sashimi.
• North Andover: It looks like another location of The Friendly Toast is on its way come this fall. The restaurant's website lists upcoming spots in Chestnut Hill and Danvers to join those in Boston and Burlington.
• Salem: Ginger Cajun Seafood will feature Cajun chicken and seafood along with some Asian cuisine, as stated by Boston Restaurant Talk. An official opening is expected for the middle of August.
• Stoughton: According to Boston Restaurant Talk, La Stalla Osteria & Bar is coming to Washington Street sometime this summer. While the restaurant's website is still being fashioned, La Stalla's official Instagram account describes its cuisine as “Rustic Italian #slowfood cooking”.
• Worcester: The Shack officially opened its doors on Aug. 8. The vast multicultural menu includes American, Greek, Indo-Chinese, Indian and Italian fare. In addition, catering services are also offered.

Scooper Bowl Treats are Ready to Go

While concerns grow regarding COVID-19, the Jimmy Fund’s annual ice cream fundraiser benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is going digital and will allow chilled sweets lovers to take their treats home to enjoy.

This year, patrons can purchase ice cream kits, which may be picked up at designated locations on the following dates: Patriot Place in Foxborough on Aug. 19, Arbella Insurance in Quincy on Aug. 20, Roxbury Community College in Boston on Aug. 21, and Burlington High School in Burlington on Aug. 22.

Two Scooper Bowl packages are available. Both will contain almost 200 ounces of ice cream and frozen desserts, plus toppings and accompaniments, estimated to serve 4 to 6 people; coupons from sponsors will also be part of the package. The premium kit includes additional ice cream and toppings, Scooper Bowl merchandise and a "Golden Ticket" guaranteed prize.

Information on Scooper Bowl and how to buy a kit can be found at www.ScooperBowl.org.

More Massachusetts Food News

Worcester goes Out to Lunch again: The Out to Lunch Festival & Farmers Market returns to the Worcester Common after a year's hiatus.

In a collaboration between the Worcester Cultural Coalition and the city, visitors can not only experience cuisine from participating establishments, but can shop for items for sale by vendors in the farmers market. The event is also promoted as “mask-friendly.”

This year marks the festival's 11th, but while it usually takes place over 10 weeks, this summer's run will be shorter because of the pandemic.

Out to Lunch’s first day will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 12, and will feature entertainment by Crocodile River Music. The festival will run during the same hours again on Thursday, Aug. 19, with entertainment provided by Niki Luparelli. In the event of inclement weather on that day, a rain date is scheduled for Aug. 26.

Flat Top Johnny's not moving to Allston: The pool hall, restaurant, and bar left its post in Cambridge's Kendall Square last August after 27 years. According to a report by Boston Restaurant Talk, the plan to take over a space on North Harvard Street has fallen through.

As to why the move will not take place, BRT cites a post on Flat Top Johnny's Instagram account, in which the pool hall states that the "neighborhood was strongly against us moving in and we are not the kind of business to ignore their wishes."

Phantom Gourmet Food Festival moves to Waltham: Taking place on Saturday, Sept. 25, the event moves from its' prior locales outside Boston City Hall and Fenway to Moody Street. With over 40 participating restaurants and retail establishments, the festival is adults-only.

General admission tickets are priced at $30, $40 in advance, and $50 on the day of the event. The general admission tickets allow visitors to sample items offered by contributing restaurants, and provide access to the various parties held that day.

VIP tickets are priced at $100, which include early admission to the festival at 11:30 a.m., live music and entrance to Ernie Boch's private party at Tempo.

Tempo will create a customized menu for VIP guests, to include chicken and eggplant parmesan, and pork potsticker meatballs. Group tickets for 10 or more are also available and beverages are not included in the price of admission.

The festival's hours of operation will be from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Information on the event and how to purchase tickets can be found at https://www.phantomgourmetfoodfestival.com/.

Upcoming Food Events

Thursday, Aug. 12:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Taste Cambridge & Somerville 2021
• Farmers Markets: Falmouth, Foxborough, Harwich, Melrose, Milton, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Worcester, Yarmouth

Friday, Aug. 13:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Taste Cambridge & Somerville 2021
• Ice Cream Social at Fool's Errand (Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Osterville, Quincy, Worcester

Saturday, Aug. 14:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Taste Cambridge & Somerville 2021
• Suffolk Downs Food Truck Festival (Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Andover, Braintree, Marblehead, Newton, Orleans, Provincetown, Wakefield, Waltham, Worcester

Sunday, Aug. 15:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Taste Cambridge & Somerville 2021
• Farmers Markets: Acton-Boxborough, Canton, Needham, North Andover, Swampscott, Weymouth, Wilmington

Monday, Aug. 16:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Beverly, Billerica, Truro, Worcester

Tuesday, Aug. 17:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Chatham, Lexington, Newton, Sandwich, Worcester

Wednesday, Aug. 18:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• Farmers Markets: Arlington, Brewster, Dedham, Scituate, Wayland, Wellfleet, Worcester

Thursday, Aug. 19:

• Dine Out Boston (formerly known as Restaurant Week Boston)
• August 19th Farm to Table Dinner at Chatham Bars Inn Farm (Brewster)
• Le Syc'Amour French Farm & Wine Dinner (Newton)
• Farmers Markets: Falmouth, Foxborough, Harwich, Melrose, Milton, Stoneham, Tewksbury, Worcester, Yarmouth

Katy Kostakis is a freelance writer specializing in Arts and Entertainment, Lifestyle, Health and Wellness, and Food and Beverage. She has written for Gannett's Wicked Local, YourTango, and Film Inquiry.

Have a tip, question or suggestion? Connect with her on Twitter @KatyKostakis, on Instagram @katykostakis, as well as on her website, katykostakis.com.