September 13, 2017 Little Owl Tavern
Kaki Lima just finished their residency at Wink and Nod’s culinary incubator. I thought I’d take this opportunity to throw it back to a post I had forgotten about in my drafts since the space is changing over. Little Owl Tavern was Wink and Nod’s first stab at Italian fare since they opened three years ago. Other notable restaurants/chefs that have been at Wink and Nod are: Whisk by Jeremy Kean and Philip Kruta; Bread and Salt with Josh Lewin and Kate Holowchik; Akinto with Chef Patrick Enage; Pelekasis from Chef Brendan Pelley; and Gita from Chef Gita Kantrow. Currently the space is being occupied by Pareja by Chef Aaron Lhamon. The restaurant features bold flavors of Spanish, Portuguese and Basque cuisine. Small plates include items like Asparagus with grilled salmon hollandaise and espelette, and artichokes with boquerones aioli, garlic and vin juane. Larger plates include a paella, a chicken roulade and a ribeye.
We feasted that night:
Artisan ricotta with orange truffle honey ($9); burrata with green hummus, red onion marmalade, and olive focaccia crumbs ($13); and the butter poached king crab with avocado, cara cara orange, and meyer lemon vinaigrette ($25).
Other menu offerings included:
mini oyster tacos with pancetta, anise spinach, picked red onion and roasted garlic aioli
crispy eggplant carpaccio with lily-yogurt, tomato chutney, sweet peas and Parmesan
charred octopus with stewed tomato-white bean ragout and rapini
lobster bolognese with squid ink pappardelle, oven roasted tomatoes, chiles, pea puree and mint
grilled branzino with lemon, olive oil, herb yogurt puree, confit tomatoes, picked fennel and arugula
Looking forward to trying out Paraja. Have you been? Let me know what you thought!
Little Owl Tavern at Wink and Nod
1 Appleton Street, Boston, MA
Tags: casual dining, restaurant, south end
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September 12, 2017 Four Seasons Hotel – Tuesday Water Cooler
We were recently in the city for a wedding at the Four Seasons Hotel. The luxury hotel just underwent a 15 million dollar renovation and it couldn’t be more beautiful. The iconic hotel is steps away from the Public Garden and the floral displays in the lobby are always a sight to see.
The public spaces have been refreshed with new furniture and artwork and the 273 guest rooms have been converted into “sleeping sanctuaries”. They have double walled windows for soundproofing, blackout shades and high end bedding. They have proprietary mattresses made by Simmons, and man are they comfortable! I love the artwork in the rooms, simple and elegant – my favorite (not shown) is a whale weathervane in gold leaf. I love the pop of the yellow furniture in the rooms.
We spent most of Saturday at the pool. Located on the top floor of the hotel, the pool and fitness center offer guests picturesque views of the Public Garden. The pool has noodles and kick boards for the kids (or the young at heart), and robes and slippers so you don’t slip on the deck. Take a relaxing soak in the whirlpool or swim laps in the 44 ft pool. Spend some time in the pool chairs reading the paper and snacking on some fresh fruit.
The service at the hotel does not disappoint. They offer a complimentary house car drop off service within 2 miles of the hotel; coffee, tea and fruit are offered in the lobby from 5am – 8am in the morning on weekdays; a gourmet pastry is offered at check in each afternoon; they offer twice daily housekeeping and evening turndown service; you have access to a DVD player with a library of children’s dvds; and special age appropriate amenities for children and teens.
If you are looking for a staycation option, I highly recommend checking out the Four Seasons Hotel.
Four Seasons Hotel
200 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
www.fourseasons.com
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September 11, 2017 Simply Divine Pizza
Fall may be my favorite time down on Cape Cod. The crowds are gone, you can get down Main Street in a reasonable amount of time, and you can get into the restaurants again. We recently went to Simply Divine Pizza in Falmouth. The kids loved watching the chefs make the pizza, spinning the dough high up into the air. The pizzas are Neapolitan style and cooked in a stone fired oven. They only use all natural ingredients and locally sourced produce.
Pizzas come in mouth watering combinations like fig and prosciutto, chicken pesto, shrimp scampi, white three cheese, cheeseburger, meat lover, Greek and scallop bacon to name a few. You can make your own pizza with toppings like house made maple fennel sausage, meatballs, apple wood smoked bacon, black olives, fresh pineapple, kalamata olives, sweet potato, and anchovies. Pizza not your thing (seriously?), they have other options such as pasta, sandwiches and paninis.
Kid’s menu options include a ham and cheese panini, grilled cheese, hot dog, kids pasta and meatballs, mac and cheese or a slice of pizza all for $8.95. They come with a free soft drink and a Hoodsie cup.
They deliver within a 5 mile range with a $10 minimum purchase plus a $2.50 delivery charge. Parking is available on Main Street or in lots close by. They have a good size space and can accommodate large parties.
Where is your go – to place for pizza on the Cape?
Simply Divine Pizza
271 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
www.divinepizza.com
Tags: cape cod, casual dining, delivery, falmouth, family friendly, pizza, restaurant
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September 10, 2017 Shop Local, Shop Small
Now that we don’t live in the city, I almost never get to the South End. I mean, when I WAS in the city, I barely got there…
Leah and I met for lunch at Coppa (we had a Gilt City voucher to use), and I decided to drop in to some of my favorite shops. First up, Olives and Grace. You can’t help but love Sofi. Make sure to follow her on Instagram. I picked up this adorable Boston tea towel by Claudia Pearson (and picked up one for Leah too!).
There are so many things to choose from, it’s hard to control myself. There are gifts for the foodie, for the local, for the bar, for men, for babies and for the home. A new addition that I love are Seacoast Sweets. Kirstyn Pearl makes these homemade patties (peanut butter, peppermint, s’mores, and coconut) in Newburyport, MA. They are your favorite classic candy – but elevated in flavor! Check out the website for fun tastings and a chance to meet some of the makers.
I also stopped in to Formaggio Kitchen. I didn’t have a cooler with me, so I had to pass on buying cheese 🙁 , but managed to walk out with a few good finds. This great little shop not only has some delicious treats, but you can pick up some take home meals for the week as well. This week’s menu included BBQ pulled pork, Thai peanut chicken, lasagna bolognese and a grilled salmon. I like to take my time and browse every inch of the store.
I’m a big fan of the Generous brand, they make delicious little bite sized cookies. I think their packaging is adorable and love the Stella Stracciatella flavor. This time, I picked up the Sylvain Speculoos cookies and really enjoyed the flavor.
Tomorrow I am heading to the New England Made Giftware and Specialty Food Show. I’m looking forward to discovering some new brands to introduce to you just in time for the holidays. The show is for buyers and not open to the public, but you can read all about my finds a little later on this fall. I’m excited to revisit some old favorites like Anchor Toffee, Stonewall Kitchen, Atlantic Saltworks, McCrea’s Candies and The Salty Cottage. And I’m looking forward to meeting some new friends to – Black Dinah Chocolatiers, Cape Cod Sweets, Safe Harbor Confections, Goose Pond, Chatham Pottery and The Poppy Seed, to name a few. For a full list of vendors, check out their website. These brands will be coming soon to some of your favorite local shops.
Where are your go-to spots for local, handmade gifts? I love Olives and Grace, Duck Soup, and Greentail Table to name a few. Leave me a comment and let me know where I should be checking out!
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- Posted under Products, Stores
September 8, 2017 Parmigiano Reggiano: From Wedge to Rind
If I could only eat one dish for the rest of my life, it would be pasta with Parmesan cheese. I was pumped when I was invited to the “From Wedge to Rind” event at Eataly with the Consorzio. The event was mainly cheesemongers and cheese writers. Me, I’m just a cheese lover. We were treated to a variety of dishes, of course featuring Parmigiano Reggiano, and some of the attendees had a chance to make risotto with the executive chef of Eataly.
So what was on the menu?
Sformato di Patate con Fonduta di Parmigiano Reggiano® (Potato Sformato with Parmigiano Reggiano® Sauce)
Risotto con Brodo di Parmigiano Reggiano® (Risotto with Parmigiano Reggiano® Broth)
Tagliata di Manzo con Scaglie di Parmigiano Reggiano® (Sliced Steak with Shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano®)
Torta al Olio d’Oliva e Gelato al Parmigiano Reggiano® (Olive Oil Cake with Parmigiano® Gelato)
And here were the wine pairings:
Antinori, Cervaro della Sala, Umbria
Caves Cooperatives de Donnas, Donnas, Valle d’Aosta
La Stoppa, Macchiona, Emilia Romagna
Capanna, Moscadello di Montalcino, Toscana
Every dish was delicious, and used Parmigiano Reggiano in a different way. The most surprising dish was the Torta al Olio d’Olivia e Gelato al Parmigiano Reggiano. Parmigiano gelato?!? Yeah, that’s what I was thinking! But it was delicious! Another wonderful surprise was the dessert wine pairing that went with it. Sweet, but not the usual dessert wine sweet – you know what I mean…
Want to try out some of the recipes from the event? Check out the links below:
EatalyBoston_LaScuola_RecipeCard_Sformato di Patate con Fonduta di Parmigiano Reggiano
EatalyBoston_LaScuola_RecipeCard_Sliced Strip Loin
Want to visit the dairies where Parmigiano Reggiano is produced? Check out the Parmigiano Reggiano website to see how to make that happen!
Looking to learn more about raw milk cheeses? I certainly am. Head over to the Oldways Cheese Coalition to learn more.
Thank you to The Brand Connection for hosting me at this event. All opinions are my own.
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- Posted under Events, Recipes
September 7, 2017 The Upper Crust Pizzeria
While shopping back in my old neighborhood, Coolidge Corner, we stopped into The Upper Crust Pizzeria for a quick and easy lunch with the kids. We had the place to ourselves! Panera would have been my go to place for lunch, but they have since closed. The chain is one of three pizza places in Coolidge Corner, and I think that they have some tough competition with Oath Craft Pizza and Otto. These two new spots make The Upper Crust seem a little outdated. The Upper Crust, that first opened in 2001 in Beacon Hill, has had some negative press, but regardless, their pizza is still pretty good.
The pizza is Neopolitan style, with a super thin rolled crust. You can watch them make it in their open kitchen. They have a large selection of pizzas, but we opt for quick slices of cheese. They even cut the kid’s slices into smaller pieces (thanks!!). The pizza was good, certainly fresh, and didn’t taste like it had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours on end. There was nice ratio of cheese and sauce and the crust was just enough chew and had just the right amount of crisp bite to it. Cheese slices are large, a 1/4 of a pizza, and are $3.49. Eat in or take out, they have free delivery and offer catering at all locations.
Parking is at meters out on Harvard Street or two nearby pay lots.
The Upper Crust
286 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA
www.theuppercrustpizzeria.com
Tags: casual dining, family friendly, gluten free, pizza, restaurant
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September 6, 2017 Blackbird Doughnuts
Blackbird Doughnuts, the popular South End spot for artisan doughnuts has come to the Fenway. We stopped there on the way out of town on Labor Day Weekend to pick up a half dozen for the ride since we were able to get an earlier jump on the road (when does that ever happen?). Anything for research right? So we picked up a variety of doughnuts, cake and raised. The flavors we picked were: chocolate old fashioned, peach jam bismarck, cookies and cream, vanilla glazed, cinnamon roll and strawberry honey (not pictured). I’m a team cake doughnut myself, so the cinnamon roll doughnut was one of my favorites. It’s a vanilla bean cake doughnut, frosted with velvety cream cheese buttercream and dusted with cinnamon sugar. That cream cheese buttercream was TO.DIE.FOR. The cookies and cream, a vanilla cake filled with crushed cookies and topped with cream glaze and chocolate cookie crumbles, was tasty too, but I wish the cookie crumbles had been a bit chunkier (sounds silly, I know. The vanilla glaze and the chocolate cake doughnuts are just classics, and my mom secretly snacked on the strawberry honey one for ‘dinner’.
Too bad that we were there first thing in the morning (and getting on the road), because they have made to order ice cream sandwiches available. Pick your doughnut from the menu and add vanilla, chocolate or swirl soft serve. AHHHH! One of these days I’ll get one! They also offer doughnut cakes – vanilla or chocolate (with 2 days notice). The chocolate cake is layers of rice chocolate cake, homemade seasonal jam in the center, frosted with velvety vanilla, cream cheese or strawberry buttercream. It says that it serves 4 people, but I’m guessing I could make it happen in one sitting. Cakes are $26.
Blackbird Doughnuts
20 Kilmarnock Street, Boston, MA
www.blackbirddoughnuts.com
Tags: dessert, doughnuts, fenway, restaurant, takeout
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September 5, 2017 50th Anniversary Party – Tuesday Water Cooler
My parents just celebrated their 50th anniversary. My family was in town and we ended up throwing my parents a surprise party. The surprise was almost blown a few times, but my mom was surprised all the way up to the point where she opened my front door! Prep work for this party was a beast as I was doing most of it on my own. I wasn’t going to cook, with little kids, I knew my limits. I had my good friend Kim make the cake, I ordered most of the food from Brother’s Marketplace in Weston, picked up beer and prosecco at Trader Joe’s, and got the charcuterie from Moody’s in Waltham. We had the party in the later afternoon, so were weren’t planning on serving a meal, but we had so much food that people ate, and ate, and ate. No real theme for the party, my mom loves Liberty prints, so I made it a point to get paper goods with all different Liberty patterns. I bought them off of Amazon, and they are Meri Meri.
Brother’s Marketplace was amazing. Basically one stop shopping. Everything was super easy. I got steak tips for 20, picked them up cold and warmed them up in the over before the party. Served them in a warming tray and kept them heated with a Sterno. Sides were a corn and bean salad (for 10), a fruit salad (for 10), Caesar salad (for 10) and an amazing crudité platter (for 10). They were very conscious of someone who had a nut/sesame allergy, double checking that the marinade for the steak tips didn’t have sesame in it. Let me just tell you how many people RAVED about the steak tips. They are our favorite, and people just couldn’t believe that a market made them!
The cake was my first stop at 9am. I picked it up in Weymouth and dropped it off at home (this summer was not ideal cake weather). I didn’t want it to start to sweat or melt. Second stop was Moody’s in Waltham. I picked up the charcuterie platter for 20. They put out an awesome product. Again, great with the nut/sesame allergy here, they gave us poppyseed crackers instead of sesame. I was able to choose what I wanted on the plate, I had taken my brother to Moody’s a while back and he LOVED the Parmesan salami (although he doesn’t remember that he did) so that was a MUST on the plate. I also picked hard cow cheeses because if there was going to be left overs, I wanted it to be something I would want to eat. The honey, mustard and picked veggies were a really nice compliment on the plate. Moody’s charges per person for the charcuterie platters.,
I did make a few things for the party. A pasta salad with a recipe I stole from my sister in law. Peach and burrata salads are SO in this summer. I decided to make a simple peach, mozzarella, prosciutto salad and topped it with a drizzle of balsamic. Another option (if we didn’t have a nut allergy) would have been pesto over top. This salad went in the blink of an eye, and people were raving about it. I made a shrimp dish that also flew off the plate – super simple to make ahead of time and people just think it’s fancy. I doubled the recipe and used 2 1/2 pounds of shrimp for the 45 people that were at the party.
How AMAZING are these flowers?!? Again, people couldn’t believe that these came from a market. I picked these up at Brother’s, the talented Ali Papa put these together. I told her that I wanted all white and ‘elegant’ and she whipped this up. My mother loved them! We ordered two arrangements to balance out the long dining room table, allowing the cake to sit at the center.
The cake turned out AMAZING! I was originally going to do a flat cake of the record. My dad proposed to my mom on a record cover, that used to be hanging up at their house. But when I went looking for it, my mom had replaced it with another picture, so on to plan b. We used to have this old olive green, wood panel station wagon that we would go on road trips in. I was looking through my friend Kim’s instagram and she had just done this amazing VW Beetle cake. So thus the decision for a station wagon cake! The top brown and yellow things are suitcases, and on the other side they have all our names on them – like a family tree.
All in all, quite the afternoon. My parents were excited to see all of their friends, and my dad didn’t run away once he realized what was going on, so I would call that a success.
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September 1, 2017 LuLu’s Sweet Shoppe
Lulu’s Sweet Shoppe used to be located on Salem Street in the North End and recently (well, not so recently) moved into the former Cocoanuts space on Parmenter Street. Sandy Russo opened the shop in 2004, after spending time working in a number of restaurants and hotels.
I went in for the cupcakes. Pictured above is the red velvet cheesecake (!!) cupcake. Not a flavor you see very often, but super tasty.
We also tried the Oreo cupcake. Over the top decadent! Other cupcake flavors include: chocolate turtle cheesecake, chocolate peanut butter, chocolate cherry bomb, blueberry cheesecake, whoopie pie, pistachio and port wine, lemon curd and brownie sundae to name a few. The store also carries a variety of home made ice creams in flavors like salted caramel, strawberries and cream, cookies an cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, s’mores, Thai tea coconut, and green tea with ginger. There are an assortment of delicious looking candies for sale at the shop as well.
Nice change of pace from the traditional Italian desserts in the North End. Parking is a bear, so try taking public transportation to get here.
Lulu’s Sweet Shoppe
28 Parmenter Street, Boston, MA
http://lulussweetshoppeboston.com
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August 31, 2017 Jamba Juice
I first fell in love with Jamba Juice years ago in New York. Since then, Jamba has come a little closer to me – first on the ground floor of Boston University, and my newest find, in Bedford. Still not super close, but it will do.
I generally make smoothies at home – with yogurt and frozen berries. Mix up a huge batch and freeze them, and then defrost them as we need them. Such a great idea for the kids too, I freeze their smoothies in smaller sized containers – so it’s grab and go in the morning – so easy. But when I am out and about in the area, I always stop into Jamba Juice.
The Bedford location is a shared space with Bruegger’s. They they have high and low top tables, perfect for hanging out and doing some work.
What’s on the menu at Jamba? Smoothies, energy bowls, shots, and fresh squeezed juices. Grab a classic smoothie, a super blend smoothie, a ‘whole food nutrition’ smoothie or a fruit and veggie smoothie. What’s my go to? I love the Razzmatazz, with strawberries, bananas and mixed berries. Make sure to join their Jamba Insider rewards program to get credits for all of those smoothies you will now be drinking!
Jamba Juice
158 – K Great Road, Bedford, MA
http://www.jambajuice.com
Tags: casual dining, restaurant, smoothie
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- Posted under Restaurants
