‘Tis the season to eat pumpkin, but is anybody else getting sick of pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin coffee? Don’t get me wrong, I love the fall fruit flavor, but I’ve been waiting for some innovative pumpkin-licious treats for the last 12 months now. The only seasonal juice I’m not sick of yet is pumpkin beer, but that’s a given. Amidst all of my complaining, I received an email from Parker’s Maple Barn recently, boasting their special of the month: french toast stuffed with spiced pumpkin and cream cheese. Now, I’m not sure exactly how this will be - french toast filled with pumpkin-cream-cheese-pie filling, or just toast made with pumpkin spice and stuffed with cream cheese? The mystery is half the salivating. Either way, I’m in for trying this seasonal dish.

What’s your favorite pumpkin-inspired treat?

If you’re a hippie and/or like disco music, get ready to celebrate: The City Room Cafe on W. Pearl Street will be holding a “Seventies Saturday” party tomorrow from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The cafe will be featuring a 70’s style menu with some old favorites from the flower power decade. Come dressed in your best retro gear, too, because the customer with the best outfit wins a $50 gift certificate toward a future visit to The City Room. Customers can even participate in 70’s trivia while enjoying music from the decade. If the rain decides not to show up tomorrow, some customers will even be showing off their classic 70’s cars. Want to show yours too? Bring it, and receive 15% off The City Room Cafe’s menu. While you’re gettin’ your groove on, don’t forget about their food: try one of their omelettes, crepes or deli sandwiches.

I finally tried Cassidy’s Grille and Bar (which, as mentioned in an earlier post, is the new eatery that took the place of J Beaner’s in Amherst), and I must say: I was pleasantly surprised. All of your welcomed reviews sent me there with low hopes, but I left with a happy stomach. I went for breakfast, and opted for the Garden Vegetable Wrap made with fresh eggs, portobello mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes (there might have even been peppers on it…I inhaled the thing), with a side of well-seasoned breakfast potatoes, that were still good even though they lacked the crispy fried outer coating. At first glance, the wrap looked like it could have been gone in two bites, but was chocked full of so many heart-healthy ingredients, I almost didn’t even finish it (but somehow managed to). My waitress was friendly, though lacked the ability to smile, and I could have sworn the guy who owned J Beaner’s was behind the counter…am I alone in this? Is Cassidy’s owned by the same guy? Regardless…the food was good, and I heard several customers express their satisfaction to the staff. However, due to readers’ reviews, the eatery may be hit or miss. I got lucky.