February 18, 2017 Chocolate Fest at Wilson Farm
This past weekend I braved the snowmageddon weather to head over to Wilson Farm to check out their Chocolate Fest. That’s right, will travel for chocolate. There were a bunch of brands sampling on Saturday, including some goodies from Wilson Farm’s own kitchen (oh but that chocolate mousse!). Don’t worry mom, I glanced at the vegetables while I was there too, just for balance 😉
So Harbor Sweets, one of my favorites, was there sampling their sweet sloops (photo left). Sweet Sloops are almond butter crunch toffee covered in white chocolate, dipped in dark chocolate and sprinkled with pecans. I decided to take home a different kind of chocolate this time, you know, diversify. I went with the Barque Sarah, named after a three masted sailing ship to commemorate Salem’s maritime history. Milk chocolate with whole roasted almonds…so good!
Another company that I hadn’t heard of before, Barú, was sampling their marshmallows. They come in flavors like dark chocolate sea salt caramel marshmallows, dark chocolate raspberry marshmallows and milk chocolate covered marshmallows. In addition to making marshmallows, they have adorable little mini chocolate hippos filled with things like hazelnut truffle, milk chocolate honey almond or dark chocolate sea salt caramel.
Pure Sugar Candy was there sampling their delicious treats that come in the most adorable shapes – think footballs and little rubber duck lollipops. Stacey has a number of flavors to choose from: coconut, cake batter, pink grapefruit, apple and cinnamon to name a few.
And Boston Bon Bon was sampling their French macarons. There are so many flavors to choose from:
Lemon Custard, Earl Grey, Green Tea Latte, Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Thai Iced Tea, Black Sesame Tiramisu, Taro Fudge, Coconut Caramel Flan, Chocolate Nutella, Salted Caramel, Lavender Honey, Creme Brulee, Rose, Orange Blossom, Coconut Peach Cobbler, Lychee Yogurt, Lemon Coconut, Blueberry(df), Black Raspbery Rose(df), Lavender Peach, Strawberry Peppercorn, Hisbiscus Tea, Apricot(df), Golden Peach(df), Mango Lassi(df), Vanilla Creme,White Chocolate, Dark Chocolate.
Personally the lemon was my favorite of the bunch.
Didn’t have a chance to make it out to Wilson Farm for Chocolate Fest? No worries, they carry great brands year round. Did you know that they have an award winning bakery? They make cookies, bread, muffins, pies etc. all in house. I’m told the apple cider donuts are not to be missed. I picked up some of their home made chili and a Shepherd pie (there was a snowstorm going on outside after all) which were delicious. I need to go back soon to wander through the aisles.
Wilson Farm
10 Pleasant Street, Lexington, MA
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February 17, 2017 Dumpling Kingdom
Leah and I visited Dumpling Palace a while back, so when Dumpling Kingdom, their sister restaurant, opened in Allston, we were excited to check them out (with our gal pal Kim too). Owner Zengqi Lui and Executive Chef Peter Wang also run Dumpling Cafe in Chinatown. Parking is a little better at Dumpling Kingdom, with a lot out back and street parking. The restaurant was pretty spacious (it is the largest of the three restaurants and holds about 85 people) and we had the place to ourselves – a weekday early lunch! They have a few large fish tanks in the back with live lobsters and fish along with an ENORMOUS crab! Service was on point, our waiter gave us some good suggestions and checked in with us throughout the meal.
I love the rice cake noodles here. I order them where ever I go and these are quite tasty – the pork and vegetable combination gives this dish great flavors. All the dumplings we had were delicious, each in their own way. The pan fried dumplings were flavorful and cooked perfectly. The skins on the wontons were just the right thickness (I hate dumplings that are too bready) and the filing was good. The soup dumplings, Xiao Long Bao, were a star, they were just the perfect salty (pork) goodness that warms you up on a chilly day.
Dumpling Kingdom
137 Harvard Ave., Allston, MA
http://dumplingkingdomallston.net
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February 16, 2017 Brunch at Il Casale
It feels like I haven’t had Sunday brunch with friends in forever! I was glad to head out to il Casale in Belmont for a day out with some great ladies that I haven’t seen in some time. Our meal started off with these delicious chocolate biscotti, dipped in chocolate. How could chocolate dipped in chocolate ever be bad?
Just to balance things out, we also had the macedonia di frutta, a seasonal fruit salad $12. (with prosciutto di Parma, an additional $7)
These delicious fig pastries were a hit at the table – they were gone in the blink of an eye! Brunch is served every Sunday from 11:30am – 2:30pm and they have some great live music!
No brunch would be complete without a little day drinking. Their Bloody Mary is impressive, made with vodka, il Casale’s fra diavolo mix, castelvetrano olives, celery salt $12. I had the grapefruit flower, which was elder flower liqueur, white grapefruit, and prosecco $12. Sweet but not too sweet, a really nice smooth citrus flavor. The roses fizz was my second choice, made with lemony vodka, cranberry, prosecco, and orange peel $12.
Uova in “purgatorio”, fried eggs in “purgatory”, spicy tomato sugo $12. The eggs were perfectly cooked and the sauce wasn’t too spicy. Can we also just note how delicious that bread looks!
Of course I ordered the tagliatelle alla Bolognese, classic meat ragù from Emilia Romagna $26. This is one of my top bolognese picks – so delicious. I get it every time. I fell in love with this just before my wedding and we actually held our rehearsal dinner at Dante, il Casale’s sister restaurant in Cambridge.
Benedetto (all Benedicts served on grilled Pugliese bread with hollandaise and home fries) this one is the fiorentina with sautéed spinach $14. Just a bright, clean, healthy dish.
The toast….alla Francese, is brioche French toast, cinnamon-vanilla batter, butter gelato, and crispy pancetta $16. So many wonderful things going on in this dish, totally different level of French toast. First, butter gelato?!?! Yes, cold and it had little bits of butter in it, would be perfect to put right on the French toast and let it melt. Can we talk about pancetta that is in little circle discs? Umm…pretty sure that makes pancetta taste better. Now, if I can only figure out how to get someone to make me pancetta this way at home…
S.L.T. which is Nova Scotia smoked salmon, lettuce & tomato bruschetta, mascarpone, and served with a side of rosemary fries $16. The fries are PERFECTION. Crispy, thin, just the right amount of salt. How beautiful does that smoked salmon look?
The tortino al granchio are house made crab cakes, with a panzanella salad, and lemon-caper aioli $16. The crab cakes were so light and perfectly crisp. The salad was delicious, it almost stole the show! Wait, did I just say that?!?
And last but not least the pollo alla marengo, sauteed chicken breast, crispy pancetta, fried egg, and a mushroom cream sauce $18. Serious comfort food here, and again, those crispy pancetta rounds!!
Our meal ended with a shot of Limonio – a bright, not too sweet lemon flavored drink.
Disclaimer: I was invited to attend a brunch at il Casale with a group of writers. Our meals were provided complimentary. All opinions are my own.
il Casale
50 Leonard Street, Belmont, MA
Tags: bolognese, brunch, italian, pasta, restaurant
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February 15, 2017 Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Waltham is on fire with new restaurants. One of the newest additions is Ruth’s Chris Steak House, located right off of I-95 on Totten Pond Road. I was excited to get a sneak preview of the space with the designer herself, Taniya Nayak. Nayak is a Boston native, and you may know her from one of her many appearances on HGTV and Food Network. She started her own firm in 2005 and has designed spaces like Back Bay Harry’s, Petit Robert Central, 88 Wharf, Bostonia Public House, and Lola’s Cantina to name a few.
The light fixtures here are amazing, they really set the mood for the room. Nayak points out the subtle nod to the historic watch factories in Waltham with the mirrors. The space is sophisticated yet approachable. In addition to the main dining room and bar area, there is a beautiful private room with full multimedia capabilities.
How romantic is this cozy nook for two?
The bar area is a perfect place for after work drinks. They have an amazing happy hour food menu at the bar. You can get a prime burger and fries for $9 (that’s USDA prime meat!!) or a steak sandwich and fries for only $9. See the menu below. The happy hour menu is available Sunday – Friday from 4pm – 6:30pm at the bar.
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to preview Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Complimentary bites and beverages were provided. All opinions are my own.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
500 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA
http://www.ruthschris.com/restaurant-locations/waltham/
Tags: fine dining, restaurant, steak
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February 14, 2017 Maca
This year I want to focus some posts on women run companies. One #ladyboss who is killing it is Malden native, Tamy, owner of Maca. Not only does she make these labor intensive macarons, but she also has a 9-5 job! By day she is a project manager at a financial company and then she makes macarons out of an incubator kitchen up in New Hampshire. On top of that, she is usually at the Somerville Farmer’s Market on Saturdays and the Lowell Farm Market at Mill No. 5 on Sundays. I asked her if she ever sleeps.
Tamy’s baking started as a friendly competition with her mother. She would make an apple pie, and her mother would try to one up her and vice versa. So Tamy started making macarons, her mother begged her to teach her how, but she’s keeping this delicious recipe to herself! Her macarons are FRESH, as in when you bite into one it has a little crispness to the shell but it is soft (hint: if you bite into a macaron and it crumbles – it’s not fresh). She has a killer buttercream recipe that is not too sweet and works well with the wide range of flavors she uses.
Now you’ve all seen the unicorn Instagram sensations that you can’t get shipped to you from Georgia. Don’t sweat it, Tamy takes special orders! And how adorable are her unicorns?!?
Her pokemon macarons are quite popular and you can get them during the week at Cha Shu Bubble Tea & Coffee Shop in Malden. So what flavors did I get?
Pikachu (Milk Tea), Unicorn Face (Fruity Pebbles), Hello Kitty (Cookies n Creme), Pink Velvet Heart, Panda (Cookies n Creme), Purple Totoro (Chocolate Dulce De Leche), Snorlax (Cookies n Creme), Red Velvet, Choc PB, Simply Vanilla, Fruity Pebbles, and Cake Batter (gluten free).
Verdict: Some of the most delicious macarons I’ve had. I especially loved the vanilla and the cookies and creme flavors, but they were all pretty tasty. All the macarons are gluten free except for the cake batter and cookies and creme. Note that the gluten free cake batter macarons do have a different flavor to them, let’s just say it’s an acquired taste (they’re made with garbanzo bean flour).
Make sure to stop at one of the markets to see Tamy and try some of her delicious macarons – trust me you’ll be hooked!
Tags: dessert, macarons, shop local
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February 13, 2017 Refreshing My Home with Fresh Wave
The new year for me was like a reboot, I wanted to get my home in order. We moved in this past summer and I have yet to feel settled. I took some time after the holidays to organize, purge and clean. I met the team from Fresh Wave at The Biggest Baby Shower and they were kind enough to send me some products to get my project jump started. Not sure about you, but one of the smelliest places in my house is the litter box. Fresh Wave has this odor removing gel that is super easy to use. It is effective for a 200 sq ft area and the gel will disappear as it evaporates. The 7 oz gel lasts about 30 days and it has made a huge difference! Not only is the litter box small gone, but there is a pleasant fragrance in the air. What cat!?! The 7oz gel is $8.99, the 15oz gel that will last you 30-60 days is $14.99 and the 3lb 15oz refill is $39.99.
Another great product they have is the fresh pod, you can stick it almost anywhere with those easy command strips. I stuck my pod in our smelliest garbage can in the garage (where the diapers and cat litter go) but it would also be great in the diaper genie as well. The case is refillable and each pack will last you 30-60 days. The pod is $5.99, a package of 6 odor removing packs is $9.99.
And for everywhere else, try the odor removing spray. Good for smelly shoes, gym bags or sports gear. I love that it comes in a travel size (2oz for $4.49) and a regular size (8oz for $7.99)
So here’s the lowdown on Fresh Wave: their products are a safe and natural way to remove odors. They are made from natural ingredients like plant extracts. There are no harsh chemicals and no strong fragrances. It’s not an air freshener, it removes odors with plant extracts. Don’t worry, this stuff is safe even near kids and pets.
For more information, head over to the Fresh Wave website.
What do you use to get rid of those tough odors in your house?
Disclaimer: I was sent Fresh Wave products for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Tags: natural products, products
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February 11, 2017 Benedetto
Located in the old Rialto space, Benedetto is the new Italian restaurant from the team that brought you Giulia. The space is lovely and my favorite part was the pasta table in the back. By day they make fresh pasta on it and by night it is set for large dinner parties.
I was at the restaurant for a party for the Charles Hotel, but they were serving a lot of items that they have on their main menu. The polenta cakes were delicious, they just melted in your mouth. Very light and creamy. Other small plates they offer in the menu are things like warm semolina cakes with taleggio, roasted mushrooms, parsley and lemon; ricotta crostini with pomegranate, aged balsamic and sicilian pistachios or duck heart ‘speeding’ with picked red pearl onions, heirloom apples and cider agrodolce. Sfizi run from $6-$12.
Another popular dish was the octopus, fresh and flavorful! Other antipasti dishes on the menu include: prosciutto di parma with heirloom apples, escarole hearts, grilled rosemary flatbread and parmigiano; yellowfin tuna crude with bottarga di tonno, cucumber, radish and citrus or grilled mackerel with yucca ‘in soar’ (sun choke, pine nuts, golden raisins and coriander). Antipasti dishes are $15-$19.
I didn’t have a chance to snap a photo of the pasta that we tried, I guess I was just so excited to try it. Take my word for it, the pasta is delicious, it just melted in my mouth. I’m already planning my next trip back to try the bolognese (traditional ragu served with beef short rib, pancetta and chicken livers). Other picks on my list are the braised duck leg tortelloni served with broccoli rabe, dried cherries and parmigiano or the torchio served with lobster, roasted squash, burrata and Umbrian lentils. Pastas range from $19-$32.
Secondi options include branzino, a roasted duck breast, veal and a grilled swordfish.
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest of the Charles Hotel to a cocktail party at Benedetto. Complimentary appetizers and wine were served. All opinions are my own.
Benedetto
1 Bennett Street, Cambridge, MA (in the Charles Hotel)
http://www.benedettocambridge.com
Tags: bolognese, italian, pasta, restaurant
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February 10, 2017 Love at First Bite
If you’re going with heart shaped boxes of chocolates for Valentine’s Day this year, you certainly can’t go wrong with one from Phillips. They are Boston’s oldest chocolatiers, founded in 1925, and every chocolate is handcrafted. Two choices I personally love are the sea salt caramel assortment and the turtle assortment. I’m pretty fussy about my assorted chocolates, but these satisfy my sweet tooth.
The sea salt caramel box is $16.95. They have a top secret caramel recipe that they pair with both milk and dark chocolate. The caramels are finished off with a little local Cape Cod sea salt.
The caramel is the perfect consistency (I’m not a fan of the gooey, runny caramels) and the sea salt brings out the sweetness of the chocolate. I dare you to try and eat just one!
And how could you not give that special someone one of Oprah’s favorite things?!? They are a best seller and rightly so. The signature milk and dark turtle box retails for $36.75 and uses the same secret caramel recipe as in the box above. There are 15 turtles in the box, each made with premium roasted cashews, almonds or pecans. I love the foil heart shaped solid milk chocolates that are added in to this box, just as a pop of color!
Another option is a heart shaped assortment from Charbonnel et Walker. The UK based company was founded in 1875 and iconic customers include Princess Diana, Lauren Bacall, and oh yes, the Queen of England (no biggy…) I picked out the milk and dark selection and the pink champagne truffles made with milk chocolate and Marc de Champagne centers for my friends. Each box will run you around $50. You can order online at Charbonnel et Walker’s website or you can order from Saks. A luxury item that I wouldn’t necessarily buy for myself, but loved treating my best gal pals to them this year!
Located in a little kiosk in the Natick Mall, Favarger chocolates is my top swiss pick. Not a traditional pick by any means, but this adorable tin will run you $11.50 and comes with 15 pieces. The Avelines are gianduja hazelnut milk chocolate pralines with caramel crunchy pieces. I amy or may not have picked these up for myself…
Who makes your favorite chocolates?
Disclaimer: I was sent two boxes of Phillips Chocolate (caramels and turtles) for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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February 9, 2017 Modern Map Art
I love maps. When Jennifer reached out to me about her new company, Modern Map Art, I jumped at the chance to work with her. As you may know, we recently moved (check out the dining room transformation here) and I’ve been busy trying to decorate our new space. For some reason, the master bedroom for me is always the last room on the list. I had picked out the paint color and picked out a killer light fixture but we have been living without any art on the walls for months now. Maybe I’m slow to finish because I figure most of our guests will never see the bedrooms or that I was just waiting for the right pieces to call out to me. We are still working on the bed as far as pillows are concerned, but I am in love with the way the wall behind the bed turned out.
There are so many options to choose from, map prints come in 5 sizes: 8×10, 12×18, 16×20, 18×24, and 24×36. The Boston print comes in white, black, blue, green, red and yellow so you can find something that will go with your color scheme. I love the black and white prints, they make a bold statement (these are 24×36). I went with the black frame (that I picked up from Michael’s) so as not to detract from the art itself. My husband is from DC and I am from Boston, so this was a really nice way to customize our room. I love the way that this turned out, now I just need to work on the other walls!
You can choose a city or a country print or even a cell phone case or a throw pillow, the options are endless. The museum-quality posters are made on thick, durable, matte paper and use UltraChrome ink. They are printed on archival, acid-free paper. It’s fingerprint resistant (perfect because tiny kid hands were touching these while I was opening them up) and perfect for framing.
Check out the website here (affiliate link)
Disclaimer: I was provided with two complimentary prints for review purposes. All opinions are my own. Affiliate link provided above.
Tags: decor, home design, interior design
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February 8, 2017 Where to Eat for Valentine’s Day
So Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. So much pressure to go out and do something fantastic with that special someone. Here are a few options at all price points to help you celebrate the day.
(Photo provided by Del Frisco’s)
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House Boston will offer guests an intimate dinner for two, featuring:
- Oysters & Pearls – Chilled Oysters on the Half Shell, Caviar Mignonette paired with two Glasses of Veuve Clicquot Champagne or Grey Goose VX Vodka
- Chateaubriand– Roasted & sliced tenderloin, butter poached Lobster, Green & White Asparagus, Hollondaise, Peppercorn Sauce & Bordelaise
- Godiva Chocolate Mousse Cake – Warm Chocolate-Caramel Sauce and Shaved Chocolate
- The Blushing Valentini Cocktail – ABSOLUT Vanilla Vodka, Cointreau and Fresh Lemon
The menu is available from February 10th to February 14th and guests can make reservations by calling the restaurant directly at 617-951-1368.
250 Northern Ave., Boston, MA
(Photo provided by Branch Line)
Dinner For Two from Branch Line – $32 I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea for a takeout Valentine’s Day meal!
Skip the over-crowded restaurant and last-minute scramble for table reservations this Valentine’s Day and opt for a night in with a decadent dinner for two from Watertown neighborhood rotisserie, Branch Line. Let Chef Stephen Oxaal take the stress out of dinner with the signature Whole Green Circle Rotisserie Chicken, Arugula Salad and a House-made Chocolate Chunk Brownie. Call anytime to place your order and enjoy a quiet night in with your loved one without the hassle of reservations or cooking! 617-420-1900
321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA
(Photo provided by Outlook)
The Envoy Hotel’s Outlook Kitchen and Bar is offering a special 3-course prix-fixe menu for Valentine’s Day, this year. Executive Chef Tatiana Rosana’s Valentine’s Day feast is available on Tuesday, February 14, for $75pp, which includes a Champagne Toast. Look online at their full Valentine’s Day menu – abbreviated menu below.
Outlook Kitchen and Bar’s Valentine’s Day Menu
- Fried Wellfleet Oyster– saffron aioli, pickled shallots, micro amaranth
- Beet and Burrata Salad– gold and red beets, burrata, crostini, Hearts on Fire microgreens
- Duck Confit– polenta, watercress, red grapes, shaved fennel, Champagne and Honey Gastrique
- Pineland Farms Tomahawk Steak for Two– crispy potatoes, charred scallions, roasted garlic, Au Poivre
- CoCoa– Spiced flourless chocolate cake, pistachio brittle, vanilla cream, stout caramel
- Honey– Honey lemon cake, crème fraiche, honeycomb toffee, almonds
70 Sleeper Street, Boston, MA
(Photo provided by Deuxave)
The whole team at Deuxave has worked tirelessly on this beautiful four-course menu ($150/$75 for wine pairings), and they’re confident it’ll mean a dining room full of happy, smiling couples. (Perigord-truffled terrines of foie gras and Scituate lobster and hazelnut dacquoise tend to have that effect on people.) See their full Valentine’s Day menu here.
371 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA
(Photo provided by Blackbird)
Did you just start dating someone? Not that serious yet? Don’t want to make Valentine’s Day a big deal? Just love doughnuts? Blackbird Doughnuts has your sweet tooth covered. Doughnuts will come with a “sweet” message or with a “naughty” message, and all the pink, purple, hearts and sprinkles one can hope for and imagine. Regular prices at $3 a doughnut.
492 Tremont Street, Boston, MA
Whatever you decide to do, hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!
Tags: dessert, dinner, holiday, prix fixe, restaurant, takeout
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