City of Cambridge Orders Shepard to Stop Cooking with Wood and Charcoal

Last fall, we reported that a Cambridge restaurant was in the middle of a controversy that could ultimately decide the fate of the place, and last month the dining spot lost its chef de cuisine in part over the issue. Now we have learned that the city has come down with a decision that could have serious repercussions for the eatery.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, city health officials have ordered Shepard to stop cooking with wood and charcoal, with the ruling taking effect immediately. The decision was made following neighbors complaining about smoke coming from its wood-fired oven, and while the city understands that owners Rene Becker and Susan Regis have tried to ease the smoke problem by taking such steps as installing a vent scrubber system, using wood that causes less smoke, and substituting charcoal for wood more frequently, the smoke issue is still serious enough in the eyes of health officials to rule against the restaurant.

Earlier, Becker had said that if the city decides to keep Shepard from using a wood-fired oven, they would likely close the place down; Becker declined to comment on today's decision, telling the Globe that he had not yet read it.

The address for Shepard is 1 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website is at http://www.shepardcooks.com/home

[June 20 update: According to a source, Shepard plans to remain in operation following the ruling against the place, with Eater Boston confirming this, saying that the place will now start cooking with gas.]

[June 22 update: CBS Boston mentions that the owners of Shepard are now thinking about whether to appeal the city's decision; once a decision has been made, we will post another update here.]

[Earlier Articles]
Peter McKenzie Leaves Shepard in Cambridge; Smoke Issue Could Decide Fate of Restaurant
Clash Over Shepard's Wood-Fired Oven Worries Dining Spot, Other Cambridge Restaurants

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Fifteen Comfort Food Items from Boston-Area Restaurants]

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Peter McKenzie Leaves Shepard in Cambridge; Smoke Issue Could Decide Fate of Restaurant

Last fall, we reported that a Cambridge restaurant was in the middle of a controversy over its wood-fired oven, and now we have learned that its chef de cuisine has left in part because of the smoke issue while the city could at least indirectly decide the restaurant's fate next month.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Peter McKenzie of Shepard has said goodbye to the dining spot, saying the following in an Instagram post:

"This, and its handling, is a big reason why I parted ways with the restaurant. The smoke inside was far worse than that outside, and health concerns were met with the same reaction. When properly engineered and ventilated wood fired cooking implements can be safe and add nuance to the food being prepared. When there are serious health issues at stake however, form can not come before function."

Meanwhile, the Globe and Boston Magazine state that some neighbors continue to clash with the restaurant, with one family actually hastening their planned move because of the smoke, while Shepard's owners Rene Becker and Susan Regis say they have changed the type of wood used, are using charcoal more often, and have spent over $100,000 on equipment to help lessen the issues with the smoke.

The city of Cambridge held a hearing in April on the matter and is expected to make a ruling in June; earlier, Becker had said that if the city decides to keep Shepard from using a wood-fired oven, they would likely close the place down and sell it.

The address for Shepard is 1 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138. Its website can be found at http://www.shepardcooks.com/home

[May 18 update: Boston Magazine says that Alex Crabb of Asta in Boston's Back Bay is the new chef de cuisine at Shepard, and that menu changes are on the way.]

[Earlier Article]
Clash Over Shepard's Wood-Fired Oven Worries Dining Spot, Other Cambridge Restaurants

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Steel & Rye Team Opening Prairie Fire in Former Lineage Space in Brookline's Coolidge Corner

A new restaurant is on its way to one of the busiest parts of Brookline, and it has a connection to a popular upscale spot in Milton.

According to a job post within the bostonchefs.com site, chef Brendan Joy and the team at Steel & Rye are planning to open Prairie Fire in Coolidge Corner, with the restaurant having a large wood-burning oven and the menu offering regional fare, with charred vegetables, local shellfish, and wood-fired pizza being a few options. The post mentions that the focus will be on "simple yet thoughtful food" that is "rooted in classical technique" while also "preserving, fermenting, brining, and cooking with fire everyday." No address has been given as of yet, and it is not known exactly when Prairie Fire might open (the post simply says "spring"), so stay tuned for updates.

Steel &amp Rye, which first opened in Milton in 2012, is known in part for its inventive New American fare along with its classic and modern cocktails. The Eliot Street restaurant is housed in a former ambulance garage.

[March 6 update: Boston Magazine states that Prairie Fire will open in the former Lineage space on Harvard Avenue and that Steel & Rye operating partners Dan Kerrigan and Bill Scannell are behind it along with chef Brendan Joy. (The article also says that the restaurant will be "a little sibling" to Steel & Rye.)]

[July 28 update: A Patch article says that Prairie Fire plans to open by the end of the summer.]

[September 4 update: A tweet from @BostonAttitude indicates that Prairie Fire is now open.]

[September 5 update: Boston Magazine mentions that Prairie Fire is just open for dinner at this point in time, though lunch service will begin at some point. (The post also says that the restaurant does not take reservations.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Clash Over Shepard's Wood-Fired Oven Worries Dining Spot, Other Cambridge Restaurants

It looks like concerns about a possible ban on wood-fired ovens in Cambridge can be put aside for now, but one restaurant in particular could be at risk.

Cambridge Day is reporting that complaints from neighbors about smoke coming from Shepard--including one person's asthma apparently being enflamed by the smoke--resulted in a City Council meeting to discuss the possibility of regulating wood-fired ovens if a threat to public health exists. Initially, it sounded like a possible ban on such ovens could be a possibility within the city, which led to Shepard co-owner Rene Becker saying "If Shepard is disallowed its wood-fired grill and oven, we will be forced to shut down and sell," while Andy Husbands of Smoke Shop BBQ in Kendall Square stated that "Banning of wood cookery would mean we would close our doors immediately. And scrubbers [which eliminate most of the smoke particulate and half of the smell] would put us in financial ruins." Tom Brush of Felipe's in Harvard Square also weighed in, saying "People absolutely love [the restaurant's wood-fired grill]. If anything, it really perks their appetite."

Council members appeared to have differing views on the original policy order, with one member calling the language "inflammatory" and Mayor E. Denise Simmons saying "it was poorly written." The council ultimately voted in favor of the mayor's rewriting of the order by a 6-2 margin, with the rewritten order's language being "softened," according to the article.)

A hearing on the issue is expected to be held by the Public Health Department on November 16.

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Wood and Fire Neapolitan Pizzeria Opens in Melrose

A new option for wood-fired pizza--and more--has come to the Boston area.

According to its Facebook page, Wood + Fire Neapolitan Pizzeria in Melrose is now open, moving into the space on Essex Street where Tooba's had been until closing this fall. The menu on the eatery's Facebook page shows such items as wood-fired pizza and panini, along with soups, salads, appetizers, and desserts, and it also features some beer and wine options.

Earlier we had reported that Wood + Fire could be related to a restaurant in Westchester County, NY, with a similar name and menu, but it turns out that the two places are not connected.

The address for this new restaurant in Melrose is: Wood + Fire Neapolitan Pizzeria, 35-37 Essex Street, Melrose, MA, 02176. Its Facebook page can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Wood-and-Fire-Neapolitan-Pizzeria-1608806866036253/

Thanks to The Passionate Foodie for bringing the opening of this place to our attention.

[Earlier Article]
Tooba's in Melrose Has Closed

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Pizzas in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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The Brewer's Fork to Open in Charlestown

Last year, we reported that a new restaurant was looking to open in the Hayes Square section of Charlestown, and now we have learned a lot more about the place.

Boston Magazine is reporting that Michael Cooney of The Publick House in Brookline and Chef John Paine of Sorriso Trattoria and Les Zygomates in Boston's Leather District are teaming up to open The Brewer's Fork, a dining and drinking spot that will have a wood-fired oven and a beer garden. The article says that offerings at the new spot will include small plates and seasonal pizzas using mainly local ingredients, along with Belgian ales, local craft beers, and rare brews.

If all goes well, The Brewer's Fork could be opening late in the summer.

[February 25 update: A Twitter post from last night shows that The Brewer's Fork has soft-opened, though another note indicates that its official opening might not be until late next week.]

[February 26 update: UrbanDaddy states that The Brewer's Fork expects to open to the public tomorrow (Friday, February 27).]

The address for The Brewer's Fork will be 7 Moulton Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129.

[Earlier Article]
A New Restaurant Is Coming to the Hayes Square section of Charlestown

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Crush Pizza Is Opening in Downtown Boston

It looks like a pizzeria in Nashua, NH, that features wood-fired pies is going to be expanding to Boston.

A Twitter post sent today indicates that Crush Pizza is going to be opening somewhere in the local area, with one of the restaurant's posts saying "#woodfiredpizza coming to #Boston real soon!" According to their website, Crush takes inspiration in part from the Neapolitan pizzas found in New York City and New Haven (although it is different from those types of pizza, based on the comment posted here), and their wood-burning oven is built in Italy and has the capability of being able to burn at a constant temperature of 1000 degrees. Their menu shows that they also feature "pizza fritte," which is deep-fried pizza stuffed with sausage.

As soon as we find out exactly where Crush Pizza will be opening in Boston, we will post an update here.

[March 1 update: It looks like we know which street Crush Pizza will be on, as a Facebook post shows a "mystery" photo of State Street in the Financial District and a note asking people the name of the road that the new location will be on. They haven't given an exact address yet, so stay tuned for another update soon.]

[March 14 update: Crush Pizza has told us that they will be moving into the former Upper Crust space, which is at 107 State Street.]

[November 13 update: A new Facebook post from Crush Pizza indicates that their Boston location is opening tomorrow (Thursday, November 14).]

The website for Crush can be found at http://www.crushpizza.com/

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Charcoal Guido's Is Opening in Waltham

A brick-oven pizza restaurant that will feature wood-fired pies as well as grilled meats is on its way to Waltham.

According to a post on Brand New Watch (the blog for Wicked Local Waltham), Charcoal Guido's is planning to open on Moody Street in the winter of 2012, taking over the vacant space between Habanero's and Tempo. The article mentions that the upcoming eatery will offer Neapolitan-style thin-crust pizza in addition to chicken, lamb, and sausage cooked on the grill. Charcoal Guido's will be a sit-down restaurant, with a capacity of at least 50, and it will have a full liquor license.

[August 24, 2012 update: Charcoal Guido's is still not open, and in fact a poster on the Chowhound site mentions that the signage for the place now appears to be gone.]

[October 19, 2012 update: It looks plans for Charcoal Guido's to come to Waltham are back on track, as a reputable source tells us that they are looking to open within the next month.]

[November 14, 2012 update: A Twitter post from Brand New Watch indicates that Charcoal Guido's has opened.]

It looks like the address for Charcoal Guido's is 482 Moody Street, Waltham, MA, 02453.

Thanks to a poster on Chowhound for bringing this to our attention.

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