Taste the flavors of New England with these classic and new food destinations!

While we pride ourselves on amazing and healthy meals at our transitional assisted living communities in Massachusetts, sometimes you just want to take your loved one out for a special treat. Luckily, being in eastern Massachusetts means incredible seasonal food, ready to warm your tummy on a cold winter’s day.

We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite restaurants and seasonal food destinations near our memory care community in the Methuen area. We hope you have a little time this holiday season to enjoy time with your loved ones and even take them out for a delicious meal or treat from our list!

1) Mann Orchards
First up is Mann Orchards Farmstand and Bakery! Founded all the way back in 1877, this family owned orchard offers tasty seasonal treats made from local produce, really homing in on the term farm-to-table. Stop by for some apple picking, homemade pies (some sugar free options available) including spicy and aromatic mince pie, and maple syrup! Hot tip: for seasonal allergy sufferers, local honey is an excellent way to diminish seasonal allergies, and Mann Orchards has plenty for purchase!
2) The Miller’s Tavern
Located on Pleasant Valley Street in Methuen, The Miller’s Tavern offers classic New England meals, often with a twist, or out of the box options to get anyone’s creative juices flowing. For those with a classic palette, New England clam chowder or the baked haddock offer rich, warm, cozy winter flavors that epitomize the sandy coasts of our Massachusetts shoreline. For anyone a little more adventurous, the seafood casserole absolutely hits the spot. If you or your loved one needs something a little less rich, we highly recommend Mediterranean zoodles!
3) Heav’nly Donuts
While not an everyday food, fresh donuts are such a fun treat. Take your loved one to Heav’nly Donuts in Methuen for some seasonal desserts. If your loved one isn’t up for a trip, swing by for a box of them to share at our wonderful community residences. Seasonal flavors include pumpkin and apple cider donuts, and coffee flavors include caramel apple, pumpkin spice, and pumpkin pecan waffle. Heav’nly Donuts also has savory treats like bagels and breakfast sandwiches with apple maple chicken sausage!
4) Local Farmers Markets and Grocers
While going out to eat is fun, sometimes the fun comes in the shopping and cooking aspect! Cooking is an excellent activity to do with your loved one as it can evoke warmth, happiness, and sometimes amazing memories through the senses of smell and taste. We love going to the farmers market or boutique grocer to see what kind of local fruits, vegetables, and other goodies they have, and concocting the perfect recipe at home utilizing those incredible finds! Might we suggest diving into Vitamin C and B rich carrots, and creating an incredible roasted carrot and ricotta toast with your loved one? We found an incredible recipe for some honey thyme carrots on ricotta toast. For neighboring farmers markets, we love Groundwork Lawrence which is a year round market in Lawrence, MA.

Spending time with your loved one builds such special moments for both of you. When you throw special seasonal foods into the mix, you both can’t help but feel warm and fuzzy. This winter season, take your loved one to one of these amazing spots and build memories that will last you a lifetime, and give your loved one a beautiful moment of bonding with you. We just gently request to remember to bring us back a donut or two!

If you are interested in learning more about our retirement communities in Massachusetts, give us a call!