MA Ice Cream Shop Wins Awards, Shake Shack In The Sky: MA Food Week

MASSACHUSETTS — Welcome to Patch's weekly round up of food and restaurant news in Massachusetts, where we review openings, closings and more in the state's dining scene.

This week, we learned a North Shore Ice Cream destination has once again achieved high honors on the national stage after Holy Cow Ice Cream Cafe was named a Grand Master Ice Cream Maker and won the Northeast Region's "Flavor of the Year" for its Pistachio Baklava at the annual North American Ice Cream Association's ConeCon convention.

Holy Cow has three North Shore locations in Gloucester, Peabody and Salem, as well as a Cape Cod location at Dennis Port.

The Flavor of the Year award for Pistachio Baklava marked the company's third straight year winning the award.

The flavor features a homemade honey-infused pistachio butter base, with roasted pistachio toffee and bits of crispy phyllo dough.

"We knew we had something special as soon as we added it to our menu," said Mike Schifino, Founder & Creative Director of Holy Cow. "To win these awards at the largest ice cream competition in North America is truly an honor."

Shake Shack Burgers In The Sky?

Delta will begin offering Shake Shack burgers on flights out of Boston starting on Dec. 1. The company said it's a "first-of-its-kind" partnership, though there are expansion plans in the works for 2025.

Here's the catch.

The Shake Shack cheeseburger option will only be available for first-class customers on routes over 900 miles.

According to officials, the Shake Shack cheeseburger features a 100 percent angus beef patty, topped with cheese and served on a toasted potato bun. Burgers can be customized to create the signature ShackBurger, with toppings like tomato, lettuce and Shake Shack’s famous ShackSauce, all served on the side. The meal also features chips, a Caesar salad, and a dark chocolate brownie.

Samuel Adams Partners With Celtic Derrick White On New Beer

The Derrick White Ale is a limited edition offering from the legendary Massachusetts brewery Samuel Adams.

A partnership between the Celtics' guard and the brewery, the beer "combines refreshing coriander and orange peel with adventurous spices like rose hips and tamarind, making it the perfect drink to celebrate the season."

Samuel Adams will donate $1 from every pint sold to the Greater Boston Food Bank, up to $10,000.

Here's what was cooking this week in Massachusetts:

• North Shore Ice Cream Shop Brings National Awards Home To Massachusetts
• Restaurant Chain Announces New Location For Shrewsbury
• Pipe Dream Cupcakes Holds Soft Opening In North Andover
• MA Shop Brews Up Free Coffee For Dancing Customers
• 6 MA Restaurants Among Top 100 In U.S., According To New List
• Thanksgiving 2024 Grocery Store Hours: What’s Open And Closed In MA?
• Falmouth Harvest Market Brings Local Farms, Food To Marine Park
• 4 Food Resources This Holiday Season In Framingham

Freebie Of The Week

Van Leeuwen is continuing its Boston-area expansion this week with the opening of a new Harvard Square scoop shop on Friday.

The new space at 1 Brattle Square Space C2, in Cambridge, will open with a number of special deals for customers.

On Dec. 5, Van Leeuwen will offer $1 scoops (excluding tax) from 12 to 2 p.m. The first 100 customers will also receive free Van Leeuwen tote bags.

Also in December, Van Leeuwen will try to relieve some of the stress on area college students doubling its student discount for the month from 15 percent off to 30 percent off exclusively in the Harvard Square location when students show their school ID.

"We’re so happy to bring Van Leeuwen to Harvard Square, just in time for the cozy fall season. We look forward to becoming a part of this iconic neighborhood and bringing our guests good ice cream made with good ingredients that makes you feel good.” said Ben Van Leeuwen.