July 5, 2017 Tuesday Water Cooler – Exploring Hudson
Tuesday’s water cooler post is coming to you a day late due to the holiday yesterday. Growing up, my dad used to work at a pharmacy in Hudson (that is no longer) and sometimes I would get to go with him. He’d let me walk two doors up to the pizza place to get dinner, but that was about it. Hudson was a different place all those years ago. Now there are great new shops and restaurants reinventing Main Street. I do love Rail Trail Flatbread Company for dinner (see my previous post here) and of course their sister restaurant, New City Microcreamery for dessert (see previous post here). They have a hidden speakeasy inside. Did you also know that New City Microcreamery serves breakfast? Kim and I stopped in for a breakfast sandwich, and it was super tasty. Highly recommend stopping in. There’s Medusa Brewing Company, Serendipity (a cute gift shop) and a bagel shop in the works – among other places on Main Street. Hudson has a Farmer’s Market every Tuesday from 3pm – 6pm. It’s located in the Avidia Bank Parking Lot, behind Town Hall (off of Church Street). There’s plenty of free parking! Check out their Facebook page here.
One of my favorite new finds is Mullahy’s, a specialty food and artisan cheese shop run by Katie Mullahy Quinn. Katie is a certified cheese professional and a native of Hudson. She offers cheese tasting classes where you can sample 5-7 cheeses, hear about their origins and how to put together pairings. Another fun option is her cheese of the month club – get for a gift, or get it for yourself! Her shop offers a nice selection of cheeses and the necessary accoutrements.
She offers fresh sandwiches for $8 and picnic packages!! Picnics are so “in” these days, and I love the idea! Check out some of Mullahy’s options below:
Snack Box $8.50 Each
Great for a meeting or to take on the go! Choose Two – snack cheeses, your choice of salami or almonds, olives or cornichons and comes with fig jam and a slice of baguette (Gluten Free Crackers are available) – can be a same day order.
Picnic Pack 18.99 Each
Great for sharing! Choose Two – 2 ounce cheese selections (Brie, fresh local goat cheese, Double Crème Gouda, 6 Month Manchego or Stilton), chunk of salami or summer sausage ( may substitute almonds), olives or cornichons, 1/3 of a baguette, fig jam, 2 Poland Spring Sparkling or Spring waters, utensils & plates ‐ Gluten Free Crackers are available) ‐ can be a same day order.
Fresh Sandwiches $8.00 each (includes a bag of chips)
Cheese Based Sandwiches, varieties include: Tomato Caprese & Garlic, and Herb Goat Cheese with fresh veggies. Sandwiches are served on a Silva’s Roll – same day order is available – call or check out Facebook for our daily selections.
Kettle Cuisine Fresh Soups ‐ 2 sizes are available – Soups are served Tuesday through Friday from 11am to 3:30pm. Soups are served with a piece of baguette or roll. $4.75 Sm. / $5.25 Lg.
Mullahy’s Custom Cheese Platters
We love to make custom platters for all occasions. We will work with you to pick the cheeses and accompaniments and size based on your event’s need and will prepare it on one of our platters or will use a board or platter from your collection.
Traditional Cube Platter $ 24.99
Cubes of Red Wax Gouda, Cheddar, Colby Jack and Pepper Jack Cheeses garnished with Grapes. (price is for 12” plate which feeds 8‐10, 14” and larger are available)
Holiday Entertaining Sampler Platter $49.99
French Brie, Double Cream Gouda, Alpine Varietal, Coastal Cheddar and English Stilton. Accompanied with Dalmatia Fig Jam & garnished with seasonal fruits.
(price is for 14” plate, larger are available)
Mullahy’s Tour of Europe Platter $59.99
Fromager d’Affinois Double Crème, Artequeso 12 Month Manchego, Le Gruyere Reserve, 4 Year Aged Gouda and English Stilton. Accompanied with Dalmatia Fig Spread, Marcona Almonds and garnished with seasonal fruits.
(price is for 14” plate, larger are available)
Additional Platter Accompaniments include:
Salami and Cured Meats, Various Olives, Pate, Baguettes & various crackers…. ask us for more details
You can find Mullahy’s at 661 Main Street in Hudson.
Tags: artisan, cheese, restaurant, shop local, shop small, take out
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June 22, 2017 When Pigs Fly Bakery
When I was a kid we would drive by the Wonder Bread factory and just smell that delicious bread in the air (and stop in to buy those fruit pies). The factory is no longer, but I still swoon over the smell of bread.
Located in Davis Square, this cute shop sells the most wonderful breads. Breads range in flavors, from the traditional (whole wheat, cinnamon raisin, rye and pumpernickel) to artisan (blueberry and raspberry with lemonade, maple walnut banana, and chocolate). Loaves will run you $5-$7.
While When Pig’s Fly may be known for their breads, I also love the other things they offer in the store – bread pudding cakes, pretzels, and cookies! Cookie flavors include choices like: chocolate heath bar, lemon blueberry sugar, salted caramel chocolate chip and chocolate chip campfire. If you’re lucky enough to be near the Kittery outpost, they sell fresh donuts there! The cookies are generous in sized and packed with flavor, almost too decadent to eat the whole thing in one sitting. Almost.
I was swooning over the campfire cookies, what’s your favorite cookie?
When Pig’s Fly
378 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA
https://www.sendbread.com
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June 21, 2017 Harvest “The Book and Cook” Cookbook Series
Photo provided by Agency 451
I’m excited for Sunday! What?! Yup, you heard that right. No, I’m not looking forward to Monday. Leah and I are going to Harvest’s Cookbook Series dinner, featuring Battersby Chef and Author, Walker Stern. Since I’m probably not doing any traveling any time soon, I’m pretty pumped to be able to eat at Battersby without leaving the state. Battersby opened its doors in 2011 and has quickly risen to fame. We are going to enjoy dishes from Chef Stern’s cookbook, Battersby: Extraordinary Food from an Ordinary Kitchen, along with wine and beer pairings.
Want to see what you can expect? Check out my previous post about a cookbook series dinner last summer.
Here’s the menu for Sunday:
RECEPTION
GOUGERES WITH MORNAY SAUCE
Chicken Liver with Shaved Mushrooms and Balsamic
Chiarli Cleto, Lambrusco, Modena Spumante Rosé
FIRST COURSE
WATERMELON SALAD WITH SHISHITO PEPPERS AND FETA
Villa des Anges, Pays d’Oc Old Vine Rosé
SECOND COURSE
GRILLED TUNA WITH PIPERADE AND SPANISH HAM
Chimay Rouge, Belgium
THIRD COURSE
PAN-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH SUMMER FRUIT PANZANELLA
Julien Sunier Fleurie Beaujolais 2014
FOURTH COURSE
FENNEL SEEED PANNA COTTA WITH LEMON CONFIT
Evolucio Tokaji 2012
Sound like a fun evening out? You can get tickets here, they’re $70 per person (inclusive of a signed book, beverage pairings, tax and gratuity).
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June 20, 2017 Tuesday Water Cooler – Greenway Open Market
I thought I would start the summer with a “Tuesday Water Cooler” series. I’m sharing with you what we did on the weekend (I need Monday to put together the post). So this was two weekends ago, but we did yard work this past weekend, and I’m sure you don’t want to see pictures of my enormous piles of weeds or me pH testing my soil in the yard.
We hopped on the train, which was so nice because it was empty, and headed into the city for the Greenway Open Market. The market is close to South Station if you take the red line, the Aquarium if you take the blue and Haymarket if you take the green.
The Greenway Open Market is open on Saturdays from 11am – 5pm (and every 1st and 3rd Sunday), with over 60 New England artisans. Locally produced goods include: jewelry, ceramics, crafts, apparel, and accessories. The market runs from May through October. I especially love “It’s Sew You”, a little shop by Kirsten Cole, who makes cool appliquéd items. I picked up this cute lobster shirt and how cute is that little whale?! She has great shirts, onesies, banners and more. Check out her Facebook page here.
I love this vintage inspired piece by Rusty and Ingrid, a husband and wife team from Gloucester, that creates limited edition screen prints. They hand print each piece, one color at a time. They have some really great Massachusetts themed prints, I happen to love the ones that are nautical themed the most.
Grab a bite at any one of the food trucks parked along the Greenway and then take a ride, like we did, on the Greenway Carousel. The carousel is located right outside Faneuil Hall Marketplace and Christopher Columbus Park. Tickets are $3 per ride or a 10 pack from $25. You can also stop by on Friday, August 4th for Free Fun Fridays, where they will be giving free carousel rides!
A little more background from the Greenway Website:
The Greenway Carousel features 14 different characters native to the land, sea and sky of Massachusetts including a sea turtle, a cod, a peregrine falcon, a grasshopper, a harbor seal, a fox, a skunk, a whale, three types of butterflies, a barn owl, and a sea serpent. The characters were inspired by the drawings of Boston school children and fabricated by Newburyport, Massachusetts artist Jeff Briggs. There are a total of 36 seats on the Greenway Carousel, considered New England’s most accessible carousel for adults and youth with physical or auditory disabilities.
Tags: artisan, shop local, shop small
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June 19, 2017 Breadboard Bakery
This week is all about sweets! Head over to Cutty’s in Brookline on Fridays and Saturdays (starting at 8ish) to grab some delicious treats from Breadboard Bakery.
Leah and I had been dying to try the cinnaknots which were good, they weren’t too sweet! Daisy Chow is the talent behind Breadboard Bakery, who started off at Clear Flour Bread in Brookline.
The kolcahes had delicious fruit fillings, I picked up a few of each flavor. Originally a Czech pastry, they are popular in Texas, which is where Daisy is from.
How cute is Daisy’s business card?
There’s a fair amount of seating in Cutty’s since they took over the space next door. Parking is at meters out front. Grab a breakfast sandwich while you’re there, you won’t be disappointed!
Breadboard Bakery
284 Washington Street, Brookline, MA
http://www.breadandstuff.com
https://www.facebook.com/breadboardbakerybos/
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June 16, 2017 110 Grill
110 Grill is the newest restaurant to open in Wayland, giving the town a much needed addition option for dinner on the south side of town. We arrive early and the place is starting to get crowded with families with young children. The kids menu is pretty good – for $7 you get your choice of grilled or fried chicken tenders, pasta with butter or mac and cheese, a cheese quesadilla, a burger, fried cod or a grilled cheese. It comes with your choice of carrots and celery, cucumbers, or seasonal vegetables. As a side, you can choose from French fries, white rice or sweet potato fries. For dessert, choose from sliced apples, a bowl of berries or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. While yes, pasta with a side of French fries might not be traditional, my son loved it.
110 Grill offers a good selection on their menu, with appetizers like: tempura shrimp, crispy fried pickle chips, a spinach dip bread bowl or poutine. Entrees include items like: cuban swordfish, shrimp scampi, steak tips, chicken pesto pasta, a pulled pork sandwich and a vegetarian stir fry. Above was the short rib special one night which was a bit on the pricey side, but tasty.
The jambalaya is no longer on the menu, as it rotates, but it was also quite tasty. Appetizers range from $7-$15 and entrees start at $12 for a sandwich and can go up for about $30 for a steak.
For dessert we tried the Oreo brownie sundae ($7) that was a warmed brownie topped with vanilla bean ice cream and housemade hot fudge. It was finished off with some whipped cream and crushed Oreos. Pretty good if I do say so.
110 Grill has locations in Berlin, Chelmsford, Hopkington, Leominster, Nashua (NH), Rochester (NH) and Wayland. They are expanding to Braintree, Haverhill, Marlboro, Fall River, Stratham (NH), Worcester and Wrentham in 2017/2018.
Sign up for their loyalty program: for ever $110 you spend on food and non alcoholic drinks you receive a $10 reward (every $1 spent = 1 point). Stop in on Mondays and earn double points.
110 Grill
171 Commonwealth Road, Wayland, MA
www.110grill.com
Tags: casual dining, family friendly, gluten free, private dining, private room, restaurant, vegetarian
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June 15, 2017 Porto
Porto is a new Mediterranean restaurant that serves a modern take on seafood. The team behind this new hot spot are Jody Adams, Eric Papachristos and Sean Griffing (they are also the team behind Trade).
I love everything about this place from the moment I walk in, from the artwork on the walls to the summer beach cottage feel, right down to the blue tiles in the entryway.
Leah and I are doing some research for our Toasts and Bowls posts that went up earlier this week. We are lucky enough to run into Jody, who is just popping by, and we chat with her a bit before our meal comes.
The lunch menu is filled with delicious sounding plates: lobster roll, a fried oyster roll, grilled arctic char salad or a roasted half chicken to name a few. We went with the grilled avocado toast, topped with ricotta, red pepper and these addictive honey pistachios. This is a really nice twist on avocado toast, the grilled avocado makes this dish special. Very light and clean, filling – but in a good way.
Next up, we tried the Anson Mills faro verde grain bowl served with eggplant, broccoli, pomegranate and a perfectly cooked soft egg. The eggplant was delicious and while this bowl on paper sounds too healthy for my liking, it was quite tasty.
Service was excellent. They have a great bar – perfect for a glass of wine at the end of the day and some people watching. They also recently opened their patio, so make sure to stop by and check that out when the weather is finally warm for more than 20 minutes! Aren’t you ready for the rain and cold to go away? Is it summer yet?!?
Porto
Ring Road, Boston, MA
Tags: celebrity chef, dinner, lunch, mediterranean, outdoor seating, private dining, seafood
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June 14, 2017 Poke City
Leah and I met up with fellow food blogger Fiona, from Gourmet Pigs, for lunch at Poke City. Poke is blowing up on the restaurant scene and I couldn’t wait to check it out. Leah had been before and Fiona had been to a different Poke restaurant – I just wanted to see what those sushi burritos were all about.
So you know the drill with these fast casual concept restaurants:
- pick your base rice bowl with brown or white rice), zucchini noodles, salad bowl or a burrito
- pick your protein snow crab, salmon, tuna, shrimp, chicken or tofu
- pick your mix ins cucumber, shiitake mushroom, edamame, crab guacamole, avocado, jalapeño, kana salad, seaweed salad, bean sprouts, pinapple salsa, mango or spinach
- pick your sauce poke city sauce, sesame shoyu, wasabi shoyu, sriracha aioli, chili lime, savory teriyaki, yuzu ponzu, or sweet chili
- pick your toppings roasted seaweed, cilantro, scallions, sesame seeds, tobiko, furikak, onion crisps, picked ginger, bonito flakes
You can choose to make your own bowl or pick one of their signature bowls. Make sure to get a poke stamp card and start earning your way to a free poke bowl.
So let’s talk sushi burrito. Well, mine wasn’t exactly sushi, because I did mine with chicken and shrimp. Not bad I must say. Didn’t feel as heavy as let’s say an Anna’s burrito, but pretty decent. I’d certainly go back for one, although I do love the bowls. They are always willing to let you try the sauces before you choose one and you can make your bowls half and half, ie. half rice and half zucchini noodles. Service was quick and there weren’t many other people dining in, so it was a perfect afternoon.
Price are reasonable – $10.95 for two proteins and $13.75 for three when you build your own and around $11 if you choose from one of their signature bowls.
Parking is on street at meters.
Poke City
1722 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
www.pokecityma.com
Tags: casual dining, dinner, hawaiian food, lunch, raw, restaurant, sushi
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June 13, 2017 Island Creek Oyster Bar
Following up on yesterday’s Toasts and Bowls post, I wanted to elaborate on our lunch at Island Creek Oyster Bar. We went to the Burlington location for lunch: equally glamorous as the city location but less crowded. Yay, one vote for suburbia!
How beautiful is this mahi-mahi mahi-mahi crudo? ($12) The dish was light, clean and super fresh, served with nuoc cham, cilantro and grapefruit, a perfect summer dish.
Not in the mood for seafood? We tried the ICOB Rigatoni ($13) served with oyster mushrooms, Pecorino and English peas. Equally delicious as their seafood.
Another non seafood item is the Colorado angus burger ($15) served with house cured maple bacon and Cabot cheddar and topped with picked onion and horseradish mayonnaise. The fries were delicious along with the pickled side salad, which was a refreshing change of pace.
Here’s one most look at that lobster toast – with a perfect fried egg on top. If you’re looking to save a few dollars, head over to ICOB for lunch instead of dinner. The prices are more reasonable and the food is just as tasty! In fact, that’s a good rule of thumb for most restaurants.
Island Creek Oyster Bar
300 District Avenue, Burlington, MA
www.islandcreekoysterbar.com
Tags: brunch, casual dining, dinner, lobster, lunch, private room, restaurant, seafood
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June 12, 2017 Toasts and Bowls
Toasts and bowls seem to be very popular these days. Maybe because they are quick and easy, maybe because they are just a few delicious bites of pure bliss. Leah and I rounded up a few places around the city that offer toasts and bowls from the simplest to the very decadent. There’s something for everyone, whether you want fast casual or a sit down meal.
Not currently on their menu, but they made it for us anyway – the lobster toast from Island Creek Oyster bar. They said that the price of lobster has gone up and that is why they removed the item from the menu. Bummer 🙁 This was so decadent – a heaping pile of lobster served with a perfect fried egg on top. Such salty goodness, we couldn’t resist! We headed over to the Burlington location for this toast, stay tuned this week to see what else we had!
Island Creek Oyster Bar 300 District Ave., Burlington, MA and 500 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, MA
The Met Bar and Grill has locations in Natick and Dedham. I swear there is avocado under that pillowy cloud of shaved Parmesan cheese. The avocado is served smashed on a seeded seven grain bread, and topped with burrata and chili flakes, and then topped with Parmesan ($12). I’m thinking that the cheese cancels out the avocado in this dish, but if I’m going to have avocado toast, this is the way I want it!
The MET Bar and Grill Natick Collection 1245 Worcester Road, Natick, MA and 400 Legacy Place, Dedham, MA
Poke City, located in Cambridge, offers Hawaiian poke, a raw fish salad dish. This fast casual eatery allows you to pick your base and your toppings, Chipotle style. Stay tuned this week for an in depth post about our lunch there.
Poke City 1722 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA
Porto is Jody Adams’ newest restaurant, with co owners Eric Papachristos and Sean Griffing – the All Star team behind Trade. Porto offers Mediterranean inspired dishes with an emphasis on seafood. We headed out there for lunch one afternoon and tried the grilled avocado toast. I love the way the grilled avocado came out. They have certainly elevated the avocado toast game – it comes topped with ricotta, red pepper and these super addictive honey pistachios.
The Anson Mills farro verde grain bowl wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I ended up loving it. The eggplant was superb and it came with broccoli, pomegranate and a perfect soft egg. They also serve a campanelle bowl with braised tomato, meyer lemon and bottarga and a monkfish stew with mussels, ramp aioli and fried squid.
Porto Ring Road, Boston, MA
Not to be missed it VERTS, a fast casual Mediterranean grill restaurant that is taking the city by storm. With two locations, one in Back Bay and the other downtown on Summer Street, they already have a third location in the works.
Here at VERTS, you pick your base, add a protein and choose your toppings. See my previous post about them here.
VERTS 545 Boylston Street, Boston, MA
After having brunch at Club Passim (see previous post here) we decided try our hand at making the BKK Street Bread at home. Super simple to make: 1 stick of butter and 4 Tablespoons of sugar. It makes 8 pieces of bread. Soften butter and add sugar. Spread onto bread and grill in hot pan until browned.
Club Passim 47 Palmer Street, Cambridge, MA
What is your favorite toast or bowl around the city?
Tags: bowls, casual dining, lobster, lunch, restaurant, roundup, toast
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