On a whirlwind tour of downtown Northampton eateries, there are five places right on Main Street that simply can’t be missed: Local Burger, Amanouz Café, Spoleto, Fitzwilly’s and Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium. Each offers a unique flavor that can’t be found anywhere else. This week the Daily Collegian got a chance to sample these fine places to chow down. In a college town, it’s essential to know where the best places are to take a date out, grab a bite or maybe just hang out and relax.

If you’ve ever wondered to yourself ‘where can I get a good pho noodle bowl?’ look no further than Miss Saigon, located in downtown Amherst.

In a college town, a savvy student ought to know the best joint in town to grab a cup o’ joe. The following includes a line up of the best study spots, most delicious café fare and grooviest music scenes. So stay in the know and check out future installments of NoHo Know How.

In November 2009, Alpha Pizza threw its hat into the ring of Amherst pizzerias and delivery joints and quickly separated itself from the pack through its incorporation of fresh local ingredients.

Sunday marked the Chinese New Year, and as a result there are bound to be a lot of fortune cookies eaten in celebration. Many people will crack open their oven-baked pastry to find grammatically incorrect predictions of the future. Some will inspire deep thought and others will inspire deep questioning as to what the fortune means in the first place.

In addition to the seasonal hallmarks of snowfall and the flu, the darkest months bring with them their own set of steaming-hot boozy beverages that warm our insides and breathe life into our nearly frostbitten extremities. Here are a few tasty pick-me-ups that may just help cure the winter blues.

Celeriac is not the prettiest of vegetables. It’s brown, covered in hair-like fibers, and even looks a little bit deformed. But its mild celery flavor and creamy texture are two reasons why professional chefs are increasingly utilizing it in soups, purées, salads and many other dishes. It is just one of the many vegetables grown by husband and wife, Timothy N. Wilcox, 28, and Caroline C. Pam, 32, owners of The Kitchen Garden in Sunderland, Mass.

Ever wonder where to get a good Cuban sandwich around Amherst? Well Latino’s restaurant is the place to go. Yes, the sandwich that has taken Miami by storm is now right here in Amherst. Tucked away behind the Moan and Dove and just to the left of the Hess station in South Amherst, Latino’s is a little eatery that is serving traditional and non-traditional Latin cuisine.

Right in the heart of downtown Northampton sits the Northampton Brewery Bar and Grille. Located at 11 Brewster Court, it is one of the best places to go when you’re looking for classic American cuisine with a twist. This establishment is the oldest brewpub in the northeast that is still in operation and it prides itself on serving up some of the most outstanding food to go along with one – or many – of their home-brewed fine ales and lagers.

If you’re looking for a great atmosphere, décor that includes dark wood furniture, a fantastic ambiance with small votives on every table and even better food made from a variety of local ingredients, look no further than Noho. The Sierra Grille, at 41 Strong Ave. in Northampton, is by far one of the best restaurants in the city.