June 30, 2015 Dean’s Beans
I’ll admit that I’m not much of a coffee drinker – that is, I don’t know much about it, except for what I like and what I don’t like. I hadn’t heard of Dean’s Beans before, but they are a great small company located out in Orange, MA. It was founded by Dean Cycon over two decades ago and their mission has always been to use high quality coffee as a vehicle for progressive change. They only purchase from small farmer cooperatives and work directly with them to help produce the best possible coffee. Choosing to buy a coffee from a company that is socially responsible just makes you feel good. I was reading over some of their literature and they have done some great things: In Ethiopia, in partnership with Grounds for Health, they embarked on an innovative, community based cervical cancer detection and treatment program (cervical cancer is the largest cancer killer of women in the Global South) with their partner, Sidama Cooperative. In Peru, they deepened their relationship with the Oro Verde Cooperative – interns started recycling and reforestation program and they taught English.
So when they reached out to me, I was excited to try their coffee. All of their coffee is organic, fair trade and kosher. If you check out their website they have lots of flavors to choose from, or you can create your own blend! The website tells you cupping notes about each blend and the flavor profile. You can choose what grind you’d like (from whole bean to finely ground) and what size (1 lb or 5 lbs).
I tried the Uprising! Breakfast Blend ($8.99 for a 1 lb bag and $43.95 for a 5 lb bag.), it was a mix of Honduran (hearty), Peruvian (sweet) and Nicaraguan (bold and dry). I love the smell of coffee, that first deep breath you inhale when you open the bag! The coffee was good – really smooth. The flavor profile says: 8.5 body, 8 flavor, 8 acid, 8 aroma, 8 aftertaste.
There’s nothing like breakfast on the porch – we had our Dean’s Beans coffee with a lemon poppy muffin from Harvest Market.
Another cool thing about Dean’s Beans is that they make ReCUPs, environmentally friendly pods for your K-cup machine. (If you haven’t read the article on K-Cups from the Atlantic, you can find it here.) Their ReCUPs are #5 Recyclable and they are only filled in small batches, so you get the freshest coffee possible. The Ring of Fire ReCUP is a dark blend of high mountain beans from the volcanic soils of Indonesia, Timor and Papua New Guinea! They are $8.99 for 12 ReCUPs.
Dean’s Beans sells more than just coffee too! They offer organic, fair trade sugar and/or cocoa products in their Sweet Justice line. I tried their Java Drops, Vienna-roasted, shade grown Guatemalan and Mexican coffee beans covered in dark chocolate. I love the crunch!! You can buy them in a 1 lb ($9.99) or 5 lb ($48.95) bag.
Disclaimer: I was offered samples of Dean’s Beans for a review. All opinions are my own.
For more information on Dean’s Beans, or to order, check out their website: https://deansbeans.com/
Tags: coffee
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June 29, 2015 Cross Sound Ferry Lighthouse Cruise
I was invited topreview the Lighthouse Cruise aboard the Sea Jet this past Thursday. Beginning on June 27th, it will run every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday, until September 9th. It will run on Saturdays only from September 12th to October 10th. The cruise is about 2 hours, leaving the Cross Sound Ferry’s New London terminal at 12:30pm and returning at approximately 2:30pm. Tickets are $28 for adults and $14 for children ages 2-11 (children 2 and under are free). There is limited parking at the terminal for $10 a day, otherwise, there is garage parking nearby. Check out their website for more information.
The Sea Jet is a high speed catamaran. What’s a catamaran? It’s a multi-hulled ship, consisting of two parallel hulls of equal size (shown above is one of the hulls). High speed ferries are often catamarans.
The tour takes you to see 8 lighthouses and historical sites along the Thames River and on Long Island Sound and Gardiners Bay. You couldn’t have asked for a better day, the sun was shining and the water was smooth! While the ride was smooth, some passengers felt they needed Dramamine – make sure to stop ahead of time and pick some up as they do not sell it at the terminal or on the boat.
The cruise was narrated by local expert Ted Webb (above). Ted had a wealth of knowledge of the area and the historical sites – it was a real pleasure listening to him. The tour is great for people who love lighthouses and even for people who don’t know much about them (read: me). It was just so nice to spend the day learning something new and being outside on the water on a beautiful day. The boat has two air conditioned levels, there are seats in the middle (shown above), with tables around the perimeter. The top deck is open for better viewing.
The boat has food aboard for purchase. Items include sandwiches (Caprice (shown above), Ham and Swiss, Turkey wrap, Roast Beef and a Chicken Salad wrap), pastries (those black and white cookies looked delicious), pretzels, coffee, and alcoholic beverages.
The first lighthouse on the trip was the New London Lighthouse: The oldest lighthouse in Connecticut, the original New London Harbor Light helped guide colonial privateers who sought shelter up the Thames River during the American Revolution.
It’s not every day that you see a submarine being escorted into the harbor: General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division, where the first nuclear powered submarine was built, is located in New London Harbor.
New London Ledge Lighthouse: A French Second Empire structure architectually unique for a lighthouse, the Ledge Light is unusual for another reason – it’s reportedly haunted by the ghost of an early keeper!
North Dumpling Lighthouse: During Prohibition, the keeper of the North Dumpling Lighthouse was accused of signaling to liquor smugglers. Today, its owned by the inventor of the Segway Human Transporter.
Race Rock Lighthouse: Many ships had been lost on Race Rock Reef before Congress decided to erect Race ROck Lighthouse. Built on a ledge where fast currents and conflicting seas are the norm, the foundations alone took seven years to build.
Orient Point Lighthouse: Also known as the Coffee Pot Lighthouse, the cast-iron clad and brick lined Orient Point Lighthouse was marked for demolition by the Coast Guard in 1970, but was saved by public outcry.
On the tour we also saw the Avery Point Lighthouse, the Little Gull Island Lighthouse and the Plum Island Lighthouse (not pictured), you will just have to take the cruise and see them for yourself. In addition you will see Fort Trumbull and Fort Griswold, both compromised during the Revolutionary War by turncoat Benedict Arnold. You will also pass ruins of a former military fort used for Navy torpedo target practice in WWII, and Plum Island, longtime home of the Dept. of Homeland Security’s Plum Island Animal Disease Center laboratory. And you’ll get a great view of New London’s historic waterfront.
For more information on the Lighthouse Cruise and the Cross Sound Ferry, visit their website: https://www.longislandferry.com/
Disclaimer: I was invited with a guest to preview the Lighthouse tour by the Cross Sound Ferry Company. The tour and food were complimentary. All opinions are my own.
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June 25, 2015 Anejo
Anejo opened in Falmouth on Main Street in 2010 and it’s been packed ever since. The restaurant offers Mexican cuisine and has a great outdoor patio – perfect for people watching during the summer afternoons (they have heat lamps for those nights when it can get a little cool).
We had a late lunch on a Saturday afternoon and we were lucky enough to be able to get a seat outside on the patio. Of course we had to try the table side guacamole ($12) which can be customized – we asked them to hold the cilantro!
The Tinga Tacos ($11): 3 grilled chile-marinated chicken tacos served open-faced on soft local corn tortillas with jack cheese, sauce negra, pico de gallo, sour cream, cotija cheese and lime.
Lobster mac and cheese ($14): fusile pasta, fresh lobster, chorizo, chipotle stung queso sauce, jalapeño panko crust and cotija crumble.
The menu offers a little something for everyone, from nachos and quesadillas to mojo mussels and corn dusted calamari you are sure to find something you will like (and if you’re like me you can’t decide they all sound good). Their drink menu consists of a nice variety of tequila and mezcal – make sure to try the prickly pear sangria blanco!
Anejo
188 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
http://www.anejomexicanbistro.com/
Tags: cape cod, casual dining, falmouth, mexican, no reservations, outdoor seating
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June 22, 2015 Cupcake Charlie’s
Cupcake Charlie’s seems to be taking over all of the old cupcake bakeries. In the Natick Collection they took over the old Crumbs and in Falmouth they took over the old CupCapes space. We brought a few home to taste test for dessert. Pictured above is the “Vanilla luvs vanilla” a vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting, topped with colored sprinkles. While the cake looked a little well done, it was light and fresh and the frosting was just the right level of sweetness.
And just to balance it out, we got a “Hostess with the Mostess” cupcake, a chocolate cake with cream filling, topped with chocolate ganache and a buttercream swirl. Again, a super fresh cupcake – I really loved this one.
Cupcake Charlie’s
153 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
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June 18, 2015 Brio
I met Caroline for lunch mid week – we laughed as I said, “So this is what it feels like to be a lady of leisure”….not quite. Brio at lunch time was pretty quiet and the clientele was of an older crowd, a much older crowd. The restaurant is part of the new Chestnut Hill Square, it offers call ahead seating and brunch both days of the weekend. The service was a bit aloof at times – the hostess sat us right at the front of the restaurant, in the path of the drafty open door on a cool afternoon, right on top of another table and our server was a bit out to lunch himself.
I had the Ravioli di Bello ($13.95), portobello ravioli, crimini mushrooms, tomatoes, Parmesan and thyme in a champagne brown butter sauce. The pasta dish itself fell a little flat for me. The menu felt a little “Cheesecake Factory” and the flavors in my dish were lacking. The best part of the meal was the warm bread that they brought out to the table. On the upside, Caroline and I were catching up and we did’t feel rushed to leave our table after we ate.
Brio
200 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
http://www.brioitalian.com/chestnut_hill_square.html
Tags: brunch, casual dining, chestnut hill, italian, lunch, outdoor seating, restaurant
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June 16, 2015 Post 390
We had a guest in from out of town and we decided to spend the day walking around the Public Garden and Beacon Hill. Before we headed over there, we stopped at Post 390 for lunch. I started off with a Cranberry lime rickey ($5.50) that was tart, but I wish that the cranberry flavor would have been a bit bolder.
The margarita flat bread ($13.50) was delicious, very light. The sliced tomatoes, paired with pesto and snipped basil were a nice choice for lunch. They also offer an herbed ricotta flat bread.
The chicken panini ($14) came with linguica and sambal aioli with a small side salad. Check out the enormous pickle that accompanied the dish? It made for a great plate presentation. Service was excellent and we were in and out in under 45 minutes – we were anxious to get on our way to enjoy the nice weather outside.
Post 390
406 Stuart Street, Boston, MA
Tags: back bay, brunch, casual dining, lunch, restaurant
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June 15, 2015 Bonefish Grill
I was invited to preview Bonefish Grill in Westwood, in the newly developed University Station. Bonefish opened on June 1 and offers a casual dining experience for those looking for fresh seafood. The restaurant has a great patio and a large bar area. We went on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. We were greeted by our waitress who promptly took our drink orders. The blackberry smash (non alcoholic) was a little on the sweet side, but tasty – light and fresh, perfect for the summer time.
The Bang Bang Shrimp, their signature appetizer, is crispy shrimp in a creamy, slightly spicy sauce. While we would have liked this dish better if it had less sauce, it was a nice way to start the meal.
The wagyu beef and ginger potstickers are pan seared with crispy onions, thai papers and soy sauce.
Blackened Baja Fish Tacos came in three warm tortillas, with mango salsa, lime crema + shredded lettuce. The tacos tasted really light and fresh – and the portion was so big that we took half of it home!
The wood grilled shrimp and scallops came with sugar snap peas and a side (upgraded to a deluxe side) of crab fried rice. The portion was just right on this dish and the seafood tasted really fresh.
The crab fried rice was tasty – I would have liked to have seen everything mixed together (instead of the crab and egg placed on top) but it went really well with the seafood grilled in the asian sauce.
The creme brûlée was served with whipped cream and fresh berries. I love that first bite of creme brûlée, when your spoon breaks through the sugar and you get that crunch followed by the creamy custard.
Key lime pie with a pecan crust and served with a healthy amount of whipped cream. The crust on this was really tasty – and it was the perfect crust to pie filling ratio.
The service was good for only being open 5 days. Bonefish Grill would be a great place to come to have a girls night or to watch the game at the bar. It’s great if you have kids, as there were a lot of families
Disclaimer: I was invited with a guest to dine at Bonefish Grill. Our meal was complimentary. All opinions are my own.
Bonefish Grill
174 University Ave, Westwood, MA
Tags: casual dining, chain, outdoor seating, restaurant, seafood
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June 11, 2015 Good Ones: Barcelona
Last weekend, the Good Ones met on Sunday for tapas at Barcelona in the South End. I hadn’t been here since Sibling Rivalry occupied the space, boy has it been transformed! The space is open and bright, which makes the dark wood accents pop.
The large bar as you walk in is the focal point of the restaurant – a great place to gather with friends or make some new ones.
The tapas selection was impressive, with a variety of meats and cheeses, veggies and small sandwiches. You can get all of these if you come in for dinner, meats are $5.50 each and cheeses are $6.50 each.
Guests really enjoyed the make your own Bloody Mary bar, complete with olives, jalapeños, picked veggies, celery, anchovies and sriracha. How do you like your Bloody Mary?
Check out some of the people that you could meet at the next Good Ones event:
Kaitlyn Rhodes, Immigration Paralegal.
Marco Ferrara, Senior Director, Business Analytics at 24M Technologies.
Rahul Desai, Analyst.
Kennedy Elsey, from the Karson & Kennedy on Mix 104.1. To read more about Kennedy, check out this Bostinno article.
April Jenkins, Consulting Analyst at Fidelity Investments.
Christy Hinchey, Banking.
Jennifer Chan, Business Analyst at Deloitte.
Chris Cleveland Chief People Officer, Educatrium Ventures.
Want to come to a Good Ones party? Check out the website and get on the waitlist! Each membership comes with access to three events per month and you can bring along a guest for free!
Have you met the Good Ones mascot, Dylan? Follow his adventures on his Instagram account.
Barcelona Wine Bar
525 Tremont Street, Boston, MA
http://www.barcelonawinebar.com/southend.htm
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June 11, 2015 Seasons 52
Seasons 52 is a chain restaurant that came to Chestnut Hill after opening its first Massachusetts location in Burlington. They focus on fresh ingredients that are seasonally inspired and every item is 475 calories or less. There is a bar/lounge area in the front with booths surrounding the large bar in the center of the room, and a main dining room at the rear of the restaurant. We sat in the lounge and to our surprise, there was live music – a gal with a great voice who played the piano.
We start with the warm roasted tomato caprese salad ($9.25). Tomatoes are healthier when you roast them, so we were excited about this option. It came with fresh mozzarella, basil pesto and bruschetta. I loved the presentation and the rosemary was a nice addition. The flavors were bold and the “salad” was excellent – I love the new take on a caprese.
For my entree I had the shrimp cavatapi ($18.95), broccolini, roasted roma tomatoes, mushrooms, fire roasted peppers in an herb tomato broth. The sauce didn’t taste a whole lot like tomato – it had a warm cajun spice that felt a little out of place with the rest of the dish.
They offer mini desserts (and the price is right) and with these single serve options, it feels ok to get more than one (don’t worry we shared!) L-R: Toasted almond amaretto ($2.95), Key Lime Pie ($2.95), S’mores ($2.95). Super cute presentation, especially on the amaretto dessert! All we delicious, ending the meal with just the right amount of sweetness.
Seasons 52
220 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
Tags: casual dining, chestnut hill, live music, restaurant
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June 8, 2015 Posto Mobile
It was a beautiful, albeit windy, day on the Greenway. I met Kat out for an early lunch before the food trucks got swarmed with the lunchtime crowd. I was trying out Posto Mobile for the first time! Posto Mobile is a food truck out of Davis Square – they have a brick and mortar location on Elm Street in Somerville.
The food truck cooks pizza in 90 seconds in their 900 degree oven. They are camped out on the Greenway on Wednesdays and Fridays. Can’t get enough of them at lunch time? You can have them cater your event – I’m thinking this would be an awesome idea to have them come and do a summer outing for my office.
The truck had so many delicious sounding pizzas, it was hard to choose. Oh, and they have baked pastas as well (next time!!). I had the sausage pizza, with (not too) spicy sausage, mozzarella (they make it fresh every day), and oregano. The pizza is thin crust but it is soft and chewy – the sign on a great pizza is always the cough. The pizza was a generous size, I took a half of it home with me! Great experience, great pizza and great company. Looking forward to trying out the restaurant in the near future.
Posto Mobile
Tuesday – Innovation & Design Center
Wednesday – High Street/ Rowes Wharf Plaza (High St. & Atlantic Ave) on Greenway
Thursday – West End (Blossom Street at Emerson Place behind Mass General Hospital)
Friday – High Street/ Rowes Wharf Plaza (High St. & Atlantic Ave) on Greenway
Disclaimer: Marlo Marketing invited me for lunch as their guest and provided me with a complimentary lunch. All opinions are my own.
Tags: casual dining, food truck, pizza
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- Posted under Food Trucks, Restaurants
