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A Little Bit About a Lot of Things

“A lifestyle blog with a focus on my food adventures”

December 25, 2017 Happy Holidays

Holidays are about family and traditions. When I was a kid, we spent most of our holidays at my grandparents house in Newton. My grandmother was not a (good) cook, but there were a few special things that we looked forward to (and no, I’m not talking about that try colored jello mold with the fruit inside).

One of the things we loved the most was her chocolate pudding pie. For years as kids we thought that she slaved in the kitchen to make it, only to realize when we got older that it was a store bought graham cracker crust and chocolate pudding. And even though my grandmother has been gone for many years now, we still have her pies at family get-togethers. This year, my oldest brother brought one to the Thanksgiving dinner he was going to and my mother made one (although she swears my grandmother made it with whipped cream on top – but she didn’t….) for the dinner we had. I guess, in a way, it is our way of keeping her (and my grandfather) with us at the holidays.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season – whatever you may celebrate!

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December 24, 2017 Judging the Gingerbread House Competition

Every year it is such a fun treat for the family to get to go to the Boston Christmas Festival and judge the gingerbread house competition. This was our second year judging the competition but we have been going to the festival for over a decade now. Nothing says holiday season to me like gingerbread houses – although, mine never turn out like this at home 😉

The houses are made by local chefs and the creations are then sold, with all the proceeds going to benefit Housing Families, a non profit organization dedicated to ending family homelessness.

Check out the amount of detail chef’s put into their houses! This house by Harvest and Grill 23 got the ‘honorable mention’ award.

This was a pretty good replica of Tupper Manor. I had never heard of it before, but it was originally built to be the summer home for the Bryce Allen Family, known for their Canadian shipping company, allan Shipping Lines. The family sold the home to Endicott College and is now used for weddings and special events.

‘Best in Show’ went to Cupcake City. Their shop is located in Reading and if you can’t make it to the shop, try tracking down their mobile cupcake truck!

Just look at the detail of that chimney!

Did you miss the Christmas festival this year? Make sure to keep an eye out for it next year – click here to check out their website.

Check out some of my older posts to see past competitions:2016, 2014, 2013.

Davio’s in Lynnfield earned the title of “Best Decoration”.

High school student Brianna Ficaro picked up the ‘best tasting’ award.

Treat Cupcake Bar picked up the ‘most creative’ award.

The kids choice was the ‘house’ by Ginger Betty’s.

Thanks to all who participated, it was such a fun way to spend the morning. Looking forward to judging again next year!

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December 23, 2017 Amaro dell’Etna

The holidays have me thinking about drinking. And not the “ugh the Jones’ are coming over” drinking, more like the festive and fun drinking that happens at holiday get-togethers. A while back I was treated to an evening out at Bar Mezzana to sample Amaro dell’Etna, a traditional Italian liqueur. The herbal liqueur is a perfect after dinner digestif  or could be served as a simple aperitif – over ice with soda and an orange slice.

The event was mainly corporate, but I was able to catch up with a few select blogger friends as well as an old PR friend who now works from MS Walker who hosted the event.

The South End restaurant serves coastal Italian cuisine, so it was the perfect backdrop for the US launch of Amaro dell’Etna. We sampled various charcuterie as well as an impressive raw bar.

There were two featured drinks, the first, the Bocca Nuova, was made with Amaro dell’Etna, citadel gin, lime and mint. Perfectly clean and refreshing. The second drink was the Mountain of Fire, made with Amaro dell’Etna, rye whiskey, contralto americano rosso, salt and grapefruit oil.

Thanks to Amaro dell’Etna and MS Walker for the night out!

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December 22, 2017 Get Ready for the Holidays with Xfinity

Sponsored Post: I recently partnered with Xfinity and was compensated for this post. As usual, all opinions are my own.

As a busy mom, I barely have time to watch tv, let alone learn about all the things that my cable has to offer. I recently visited the Burlington Xfinity store with some of my favorite blogger buddies to see what new things Xfinity had to offer.

Let’s start with their remote. You just talk to it. If only the family would listen to me as well as the Xfinity remote does 😉 Did I also mention that you can call your phone from your remote (when you are subscribed to Xfinity mobile)? Cause you know that when you’re in a rush (and just need to get everyone out the door) and can’t find your phone because the kids have wedged it in between the couch cushions while you weren’t looking, you need a little help.

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They have this cool feature (app) where you can see who is connected to the wifi and on what device, Xfinity xFi. From there you can set up profiles for each person in the house: mom with the computer and iPhone, dad with the iPad, etc. You can see all the network activity – so how much are the kids using the iPad during the week, when the kids are using the computer when they should be doing homework, or when the kids are watching the most tv. Pretty cool. Even better, you can choose to suspend the wifi in the house – so there’s not arguments when it comes time for dinner (my kids are always saying ‘just 2 more minutes….’), devices off – end of story. With Xfinity xFi, you can even troubleshoot issues – no more of that infamous “just unplug and replug”. xFi is available to Xfinity Internet customers with one of the latest wireless gateways. If you don’t have it, the app tells you and makes it easy for you to get upgraded – either with an easy-to-install kit sent to your house or by scheduling a tech to install it at a time that works for you.

Speaking of kids, they have a really cool Kids Zone feature where all the games are free (and it’s a safe place for them to explore their favorite shows). Did I mention the santa tracker?


Most people are mainly using wifi in their house, we only have one thing that is hardwire connected. In this case, you are probably like us, and have a few dead spots – ours are in the living room and in a far bedroom. Xfinity has these cool new xFi pods (that you can buy in packs of 3 or 6) that you plug right into the wall and it boosts the wifi in that part of the house. Yup, it detects when you’re using wifi in that particular area and pushes a boost to the places that you need it, without sacrificing wifi in another area. Pretty awesome. Right now they are only available in Boston and Denver, but they’ll be coming soon to other markets.

Comcast XFINITY mobile wireless press event product shoot at the Comcast Center on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Jeff Fusco/AP Images for Comcast)

Did you know that Xfinity also offers mobile service? I didn’t. They combine the largest 4G LTE network with 18 million Xfinity wifi hotspots to give you a pretty awesome mobile experience. So what does that mean? The mobile device automatically detects and connects you to an Xfinity wifi hotspot if you are close to one, it takes the guess work out. You can have up to 5 lines on your plan and you can switch month to month (if you want) between unlimited data and paying by the gig. So if mom wants unlimited data, and dad only uses 1 gig to play words with friends, and you want to give your kids only a gig of data to limit usage, you can. Mix and match usage between all the lines on your plan. If you have Xfinity internet, you can sign up for a mobile plan and pay as little as $12 per month (per line) if you choose the “by the gig” option (and unlimited plans will run you $45 per month).

Start the New Year off right (and make your life easier) by upgrading to all of the new Xfinity products out there!

 

December 21, 2017 An Afternoon at Cafe Art Science with Tenzin Samdo

Many of you probably recognize Bar Director and partner of Cafe Art Science, Tenzin Samdo. If you don’t, start taking notice (check him out on Instagram). He is known for his creative cocktails and his impressive garnishes. I first met Tenzin when he was working at Trade. He’s very personable and never forgets a face. After leaving Trade he moved on to manage the bar at Tavern Road in Fort Point and most recently joined Cafe Art Science this past summer.

Did you know that in addition to being named one of Boston’s best bartenders, he was part of an award winning mixologist team that helped create a line of bar mixes? He worked with Cocktail Artist and developed the perfect premium lemon juice, perfect for those aspiring home bar masters. Other mixes in the line include simple syrup, lime juice, mint syrup, grenadine, Manhattan mix, Old Fashioned mix, and a mule mix.

Tenzin’s bar menu is based on endangered animals. The titi monkey appeared on the endangered species list in 2012 and the menu gives you a short background if you are like me, and have no idea what a titi monkey is. The drink is made with orange peel, pisco, matcha, sandalwood, egg white and sugar cane ($15).

Not only does the drink taste delicious, but watching it being made is like getting a front row seat to a show. Tenzin definitely elevates your bar/drink experience and will definitely help you up your Instagram game 😉

Lines can be long on the weekends to belly up to the bar, but know that the drinks and the service are definitely worth the wait. If you’re up for it, do a little day drinking – they are open for lunch Monday – Friday from 11:30-2:00pm.

The best drink at Cafe Art Science may not even be on the menu. They have this amazing little robot that holds a really cool vapor machine. You “sip” the vapor through a glass straw – it tastes exactly like Jagermeister (let’s say that’s the flavor of the evening), but it has no calories! It’s a surreal experience, you just have to try it out for yourself!

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December 20, 2017 China Rose

When we showed up there was no one else in the dining room. Most of the patrons were sitting in the bar playing keno, so it was nice to have the place to ourselves. China Rose does a big takeout business as well.

Make sure to go to their website to get a 15% off coupon. They also print coupons on the back of the local Stop and Shop receipts.

Lunch specials come in at a good price, all under $10. They’re served daily from 11:30-3:30. You can have your choice of pork fried rice or steamed rice and one choice of the following appetizer: egg roll, spring roll, chicken teriyaki, 6 boneless spareribs, 3 chicken fingers, 3 crab rangoon, chicken wing or a beef teriyaki. I’m usually a General Tso kind of girl, but they have lo mein, beef and broccoli, shrimp and mixed vegetables and sweet and sour chicken to name a few other options.

They have a good variety of sushi on their menu with special rolls like an alligator maki, a red dragon maki, a super spider maki and a volcano maki to name a few. Special rolls will run you about $12-$15. Regular maki rolls will run you anywhere from $5-$10. Pictured above is the shrimp tempura maki.

China Rose also offers dinner specials, similar to the lunch specials but coming in at around $12.95.

Service was friendly and attentive. Parking is available in a private lot out front.

China Rose

15 East Plain Street, Wayland

www.chinarosecuisine.com

China Rose Asian Cuisine and Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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December 15, 2017 Dig Inn

After a morning filled with all things sweet and delicious, my body was craving something savory. Leah and I popped into the Prudential Mall (because it was the closest thing and it was freezing outside) and grabbed some food from Dig Inn. This fast casual restaurant serves up mostly vegetables that will satisfy even this meat eater.

Choose your protein base and add on your sides from there. Choose from herb roasted chicken, charred chicken, herb grilled steak, grilled tofu or Atlantic salmon. Pick sides like broccoli three ways with sesame crunch, autumn kale and beet salad, maple cauliflower with chickpea crumble, upstate mac and cheese, charred Brussels sprouts or roasted kale with acorn squash. Try a sauce with your dish, maybe the tarragon mustard, pesto, a rosemary vinaigrette or perhaps something as simple as a lemon wedge. In a rush? You can order online and pick up at the nearest location.

The portion was generous and I even had some left over for lunch the next day. Would definitely come back for another meal here. Seating is available just outside the restaurant near Pinkberry. Perhaps next time I’m there I will try their breakfast options.

Have you been to Dig Inn? What’s your favorite combination?

Dig Inn

800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

www.diginn.com

Dig Inn Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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December 14, 2017 Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen brings an updated version of Hunan cuisine to Boston (well, Cambridge). A group of us decided to pop over and check it out after an event one night. Best to go with a group and get a bunch of dishes to share.

Love the bold decor and bright pops of color. We sat in a high top table out of the way near the bar and devoured everything we ordered.

What did we get? What didn’t we get…

The avocado meatballs: ground pork, egg, tofu, spicy mayo

Sumiao pickles: daikon radish, cabbage, carrot, sweet potato, celery

Changsha shumai: sticky rice, mushroom, pork fat, soy sauce

Scallion twisty roll

Scallion flavored noodles: lard, cucumber, chili bean sauce

Yellow River beef: thin-sliced fatty beef, white beech mushroom, pickled cabbage, duo jiao, banana pepper

The offered us white, brown or black rice as options. I had never heard of black rice, but apparently it is an ancient grain that has antioxidants. It’s higher in protein and fiber than its other counterparts, and is a good source of iron.

The pickles I think we my favorite part of the meal. Just perfect in every way – just the right amount of tang. The meatballs were interesting – consistency and flavor wise. We ordered the yellow river beef not spicy but it was still spicy!! You can order any level of heat – maybe go lower than what you would normally go with on this dish! The sauce that was in this dish was delicious, you just want to drink it all up. We even went so far as to dip our scallion twisty roll in it! The scallion twisty rolls are beautiful to look at. I almost wish that they were stuffed with something savory as they were enormous! Kim loved the noodles the best, and the dumplings were a hit! Would love to go back and try some of the other dishes on the menu, there were so many delicious things to choose from it was hard to just pick a few!

Have you been to Sumiao Hunan Kitchen? What do you recommend ordering?

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

270 Third Street, Cambridge, MA

https://www.sumiaohunan.com

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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December 12, 2017 Eli’s Natick

I had heard about Eli’s from a fellow blogger and had to check it out for myself. Located in Natick, it was an easy drive and bonus points that there is a lot out back and plenty of street parking. We have gone on the weekends and didn’t have to wait when we arrived at around 8am. Anything after 9 on the weekends, you should expect a wait.

Very cute space, with a decent amount of tables. The wait staff is friendly and attentive and our food came out quickly.

Here is the Little Eli ($5.99) a one egg sandwich served with a sausage patty and American cheese on a biscuit. It’s served with a generous side of home fries. You can get the Big Elie for $3 more, and it’s 2 eggs, ham, a sausage patty, spinach and cheddar cheese on brioche.

I went with the Common ($6.99) which was two eggs, bacon and cheddar cheese served on a croissant. Hit the spot.

The second time we went to Eli’s I ordered the breakfast bowl ($9.99) that was AMAZING! Bacon, pit ham, scrambled eggs and jack cheese served over a bed of home fries. Yes, speaking my language indeed!

Eggs not your thing? Don’t worry, they have pancakes, French Toast and Belgian waffles.

Extra bonus points that they have the coolest coloring pages for kids.

Eli’s

12 Washington Street, Natick, MA

https://www.elisnatick.com

Eli's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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December 11, 2017 New England Made Gift Guide

I am all about shopping local and shopping small. In the fall I headed over to the New England Made trade show to scope out some ideas for this holiday season. There is something for everyone: the foodie or the hostess, those who like something nautical or a little nostalgic. Take a look at my picks below. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated in any way for this post.

I had read about Black Dinah chocolates a while back, I remember the article in Boston Magazine. I thought to myself, I’d really like to try them…and then promptly forgot. I was excited to rediscover them. Based out of Maine, Black Dinah uses single origin chocolate and uses local cream and butter. Not only are they beautiful to look at, but they are quite delicious too. They have truffle assortments and lots of barks to choose from. Such a wonderful hostess gift or buy some for yourself (I won’t tell).

The True North Granola company is based out of Vermont and was founded by two educators, Ingrid and Franklin Chrisco. They make 12 varieties of granola in flavors like cherry vanilla pecan, ginger pineapple, coconut, apricot and maple vanilla. They have 5 gluten free granolas and they are all handmade in small batches using only the finest ingredients.

Rock Maple Syrup is based out of Enosburg, VT and is 100% pure, certified organic. This would make a great hostess gift – something that your host may not splurge on themselves, but will enjoy as a gift!

I am definitely not an energy bar kind of gal. That being said, these are pretty tasty, and not super sweet, which I liked. O.W.L energy bars are from Brattleboro, VT and are non-GMO, gluten and dairy free. What’s in them? Gluten free oats, raw honey, peanut butter, fruits, nuts and organic dark chocolate. Stock up, they have a 6 month shelf life, and come in full and mini (100 calorie) sizes.

MARBL Chocolates is a Massachusetts company that makes tasty treats. Their style and packaging is on the simpler side, but their flavors will leave you coming back for more. Not to be missed are the peanut butter cups – you may love Reese’s, but these are the better, more grown up version.

Runamok Maple makes infused, smoked and barrel aged syrups. They’re based in Northern Vermont and make some of the best syrups I’ve tried. Flavors include: Bourbon Barrel-Aged, Rum Barrel-Aged, Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged, Cardamom Infused, Cinnamon+Vanilla Infused, Elderberry Infused, Ginger Root Infused, Hibiscus Infused, Makrut Lime-Leaf Infused, Merquén Infused, Pecan Wood Smoked, and Sugarmaker’s Cut.

Cake and Islands is based in Dennis Port, MA and makes this adorable sea glass candy. Flavors include: Ocean Blues (blackberry/key lime), Nantucket Sunset (lemonade/mango/pomegranate), Monomoy Cranberry, Sandy Neck Sandbar (blueberry/apple), Brewster In Bloom (tangerine/grapefruit), Truro Treasures (cotton candy/passion fruit), Chappaquiddick Cherry  , Ptown Pink (strawberry kiwi), Girls’ Night Out (mojito/apple martini/mango margarita), Chatham Lighthouse (pear/apricot), Beachcomber (watermelon/pineapple), and Dennis Port Dunes (guava)

Bootblack Brand, out of Barrington, RI, mades small batch complex syrups for the home cocktail enthusiast in your life. There are three flavors available: classic citrus tonic, cranberry jalapeño lime and ginger cardamom lime.

Benoit’s Design Co is based out of Westbrook, ME and laser cuts a wide variety of home decor products from glassware and cutting boards to coasters and wall art. I love those buoy coasters and have my eye on the etched mason glasses.

I think these candles by Heleka would make beautiful hostess gifts or even gifts to your best gal pals. The 12 oz soy candles come in fragrances like: winter forest camomile, pineapple sage, blueberry pancakes and apple harvest – to name a few.

For the shellfish lover in your life, how about one of these beautiful mussel shell pendants. Artist Danielle Gerber, from Portland, ME, finds shells on the coast of Maine – those used for earrings are found intact, so they are the perfect pair. The shells are resin coated and come in a natural, gold, silver or copper back.

Photon Fabrications makes great laser cut gifts, choose from their designs or create a custom one of your own. These cute games in tins caught my eye, and would be perfect for trips with kids.

How cute is this pouch?

Based out of Newburyport, Todder makes fine leather goods that you may have seen in places like Kiel James Patrick. Bracelets, belts, keychains and even things for your four legged friends.

I’ve known about the Salty Cottage for some time now. I found her shop on Etsy and bought myself quite a few pillows for myself on holiday. The North Shore based company makes beautiful pillows that are hand stitched and made from wool blend felt, recycled fabric felt, canvas and linen. Not only are they great to look at, but they are super comfortable! They scream New England with their classic labs and ski designs. I have a more nautical themed set at home.

How great are these Hunter boots?

I love these cards – perfect in their simplicity and quite clever. The line of cards, inspired by her labs, cover all holidays and occasions. Check them out at Ellie Bellie Designs.

Holidays are about traditions. These adorable candle holders would be the perfect way to start a new birthday tradition in your family. Hampshire Pewter hand casts ornaments, home decor items, jewelry and more. What I love about their ornaments is that the front and the back are different (which is hard to come by these days).

Such a great hostess gift or for someone maybe who has moved out of town. Bedrock Tree Farm is located in Wakefield, RI, uses the fir needles from their clippings (they are a Christmas tree farm) to give their products (candles too) the authentic smell of Christmas. Usually I am pretty fussy about scented soaps and candles, but these are clean and fresh, not overpowering at all.

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