Fran Bellamy's 10 best dining experiences of 2015

Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Fran Bellamy's 10 best dining experiences of 2015

Fifty two weeks of dining at some of Western Massachusetts best restaurants have revealed a wealth of fine ethnic fare: Italian, German,  Korean and more, as well as steaks, burgers and more. Here are 10 of my favorite dining stops in 2015.

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Osteria Vespa, Amherst

Osteria Vespa is located at 28 Amity Street in Amherst.   Fresh, flavorful farm-to-fork, Italian style.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Osteria Vespa, Amherst

Osteria Vespa is located at 28 Amity Street in Amherst. This is a plate of Spicy Calabrian Chili Prawns. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Osteria Vespa, Amherst

Bartender Josh Draghe makes the Raspberry Basil Limonata cocktail at Osteria Vespa in Amherst.

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

The Student Prince and Fort Restaurant, Springfield

The Student Prince restaurant is located at 8 Fort Street in downtown Springfield. Renovated and updated, but still true to the sensibilities that made it a Springfield landmark. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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The Student Prince and Fort Restaurant, Springfield

The Student Prince restaurant is located at 8 Fort Street in downtown Springfield, Ma. This Oven Roasted Pork Shank is ready to leave the kitchen. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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The Student Prince and Fort Restaurant, Springfield

The Student Prince restaurant is located at 8 Fort Street in downtown Springfield, Ma. These are braised lamb shanks. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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The Gill Tavern, Gill

The Gill Tavern is located at 362 Main Road in Gill, Massachusetts. Inventive cuisine, country store setting, no pretense.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Treeger

The Gill Tavern, Gill

The Gill Tavern is located at 362 Main Road in Gill, Massachusetts. This is an order of Irish Fishcakes ready to be served. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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The Gill Tavern, Gill

The Gill Tavern is located at 362 Main Road in Gill, Massachusetts. Here, a New York strip steak is turned on the grill. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Oriental Flavor, Amherst

Oriental Flavor is located at 25 South Pleasant Street in Amherst.  A dim sum specialist that delivers on its name.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Oriental Flavor, Amherst

Take a look inside the kitchen of Oriental Flavor in Amherst.

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Oriental Flavor, Amherst

Oriental Flavor is located at 25 South Pleasant Street in Amherst. This is a dish called Sichuan Style Dry Braised Fish Fillet. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Blackjack Steakhouse, Springfield

Blackjack Steakhouse is located at 912 Main Street in Springfield. The South End gets a serious steakhouse (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Blackjack Steakhouse, Springfield

Chef Peter Stewart of Blackjack Steakhouse in Springfield talks about searing steaks and the importance of letting them rest.

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Blackjack Steakhouse, Springfield

Blackjack Steakhouse is located at 912 Main Street in Springfield's south end. Here, steaks are seared on the grill. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Joe's Cafe, Northampton

Joe's Cafe is located at 33 Market St., Northampton.  A 70-year history of blue-collar Italian comfort food.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Joe's Cafe, Northampton

Joe's Cafe is located at 33 Market St., Northampton. This is an order of Shrimp Scampi ready to leave the kitchen. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Joe's Cafe, Northampton

Joe's Cafe is located at 33 Market St., Northampton. Here's a plate of Eggplant Parmesan ready to leave the kitchen. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Blue Heron Restaurant, Sunderland

The Blue Heron Restaurant is located at 112 North Main Street in Sunderland, Massachusetts. This is the bar dining area. A small-town destination with big city sensibilities.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Blue Heron Restaurant, Sunderland

The Blue Heron Restaurant is located at 112 North Main Street in Sunderland, Massachusetts. This is their Lightly Smoked Pork Chop dish made with a Blackstrap Molasses demi glace, roasted pear compote and squashsh & goat cheese polenta. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Blue Heron Restaurant, Sunderland

Blue Heron sous chef David Hersom prepares their Pan-Seared Sea Scallops appetizer with lentils du puy, applewood smoked bacon, apple cider reduction and Mascarpone cream

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

India House, Northampton

India House Restaurant is located at 45 State Street in Northampton. South Asian cuisine in all its glory.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

India House, Northampton

Watch as India House Executive Chef Amit Kanoujia prepare his Lobster Masala.

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Treeger

India House, Northampton

India House Restaurant is located at 45 State Street in Northampton, Massachusetts. This is an order of Lobster Masala made with lobster meat simmered in a sauce of curried tomatoes and ginger with cream and a bit of saffron. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Champney's at the Deerfield Inn

Champney's Restaurant & Tavern is located at the Deerfield Inn, 81 Old Main Street in Deerfield, Mass.  A gastropub serving great food and great beer against a 19th century New England backdrop. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Don Treeger | dtreeger@repub.com

Champney's at the Deerfield Inn

Join Chef Ameer Whitmyer in the kitchen of Champney's Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn as he shucks and talks about fresh oysters.

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Champney's at the Deerfield Inn

Champney's Restaurant & Tavern is located at the Deerfield Inn, 81 Old Main Street in Deerfield, Mass. This is their pan roasted Faroe Island Salmon. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Gohyang Korean Restaurant, Hadley

Gohyang Korean restaurant is located at 113 Russell Street (Rte. 9) in Hadley. Here's a view of the kitchen. True-to-form Korean cookery in storefront surroundings.  (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Gohyang Korean Restaurant, Hadley

Gohyang Korean restaurant is located at 113 Russell Street (Rte. 9) in Hadley. This is an order of Bulgogi (thinly sliced grilled marinated beef) working on the stove. (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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Fran Bellamy | Special to The Republican

Gohyang Korean Restaurant, Hadley

Gohyang Korean restaurant is located at 113 Russell Street (Rte. 9) in Hadley. This is an order of Japchae bop (stir fried sweet potato noodles and vegetables). (Don Treeger / The Republican)

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