Author: Ed

  • Mother’s Day Dining 2014, Reserve Now for May 11th!

    Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Mom to a meal out on Mother's Day, May 11, 2014.

    Keep in mind that this "treat Mom to a great meal day" falls at the beginning of graduation season in Boston with Simmons College, Emmanuel College, Fisher College, Emerson College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and Berklee College of Music holding commencements that weekend. (Here's the full list of Spring 2014 Commencement Dates for planning purposes.)

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    If your budget is tight, take Mom out for breakfast or treat her to breakfast in bed and some lovely flowers.

    For Mother's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurants with special menus and hours for May 11, 2014.

    Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when people may book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can make the restaurant turn away other potential customers, so a guarantee may be needed to reserve.

    OpenTable always does a great job of guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list. 

    Boston Chefs has a list of specials for the day from their members. (That link is to the 2013 list and it will be updated closer to the date.)

    As more great Boston food sites publish their recommendations, we'll post updates here! Follow us on Twitter ( @BostonZest ) for notice of those additions! Right now, here are a few recommendations from last year.

    Update 05.07.13: from the North Shore Dish Team here are places to take Mom North of Boston.

    Update 05.10.13: From Grub Street Boston: Grub Guide: Where to Hang Out With Mom If You're Not Into Brunch Buffets

    Update 05.10.13: From Lisa DeCanio: Treat Mom to One of These 12 Mother's Day Brunches

    Our picks:

    For a gathering of family members with different food preferences, it's great to know about a place like Eastern Standard where they can please the cocktail lover, the meat-and-taters brother, and the family epicure.

    If you are meeting people from outside the city, you might consider La Morra in Brookline. They say, "Treat your mom for a 3-course brunch w/favorites such as fresh donuts with spiced sugar and cream, Tuscan toast and homemade frittatas."

    If Mom is a seafood lover, call now to secure a table at Island Creek Oyster Bar. This Kenmore Square restaurant has established itself as the best fine dining seafood restaurant in Boston. Your family will enjoy the best in seafood in a big, comfortable room with reservations and service that will make Mom feel spoiled. 

    And, this year, the Island Creek Team has added a new spot out in the Fort Point neighborhood, Row 34. Here's our first look at this great addition to the city's dining scene.  

    And, for the best gift, let her choose something from her Wish List. Get an Amazon Gift Card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card.

    Details:
    Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photo: istockphoto.com

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Tulips Reaching for the Light

    Like people in spring, these tulips are reaching for the light. Leaning toward the window to soak up the sunshine they have been missing during our long, cold winter.

    IMG_7314 - Version 22014-03-24tulips-reaching-for-the-light-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This and some of our other favorite photos are available in our galleries.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Tulips Reaching for the Light

    Like people in spring, these tulips are reaching for the light. Leaning toward the window to soak up the sunshine they have been missing during our long, cold winter.

    IMG_7314 - Version 22014-03-24tulips-reaching-for-the-light-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This and some of our other favorite photos are available in our galleries.

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

  • Poppy Thinks These Are Big Dogs

    How does your dog react when you meet up with Boston's Mounted Park Rangers?

    Pmc_9291 - version 32012-04-01mounted-ranger-walker-public-garden-© 2011 penny cherubino (1)

    And, what is it about these teams that makes us want to take photos of them every time they cross our paths?

    DSC_1643 - Version 22014-03-23mounted-rangers- commonwealth -avenue -mall-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This spring, we've been seeing more mounted patrols on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and we thank the rangers each time they clop by. Poppy hops up on a bench and watches with great interest as the big dogs go by.

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    The high perch afforded the mounted rangers gives them a long look around the park. And, they are about the best PR tool the Parks Department could have. We see them talking to people, posing for photos, and dealing with those who need to be reminded of park rules.

    Thank you to this great asset to the city.

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs (and other critters) at Boston Dogs.

    Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

  • Poppy Thinks These Are Big Dogs

    How does your dog react when you meet up with Boston's Mounted Park Rangers?

    Pmc_9291 - version 32012-04-01mounted-ranger-walker-public-garden-© 2011 penny cherubino (1)

    And, what is it about these teams that makes us want to take photos of them every time they cross our paths?

    DSC_1643 - Version 22014-03-23mounted-rangers- commonwealth -avenue -mall-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This spring, we've been seeing more mounted patrols on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and we thank the rangers each time they clop by. Poppy hops up on a bench and watches with great interest as the big dogs go by.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017d3f155458970c-800wi

    The high perch afforded the mounted rangers gives them a long look around the park. And, they are about the best PR tool the Parks Department could have. We see them talking to people, posing for photos, and dealing with those who need to be reminded of park rules.

    Thank you to this great asset to the city.

    Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs (and other critters) at Boston Dogs.

    Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

    Details:
    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

  • Fresh Paint Is This Sunday: Great Excuse for a Walk

    While we give most events a miss, the Annual Fresh Paint Sunday is one of our favorite walks of the year. This time, paint day is Sunday, April 27th.

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    From 9am to 4pm, artists will be scattered around the city creating art that will be auctioned off at the Fresh Paint Gala on Saturday, May 10th. Here's a link to all the details on the Copley Society website.

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    We usually head for the Public Garden, a popular spot for seeing a number of artists create works inspired by one of Boston's beauty spots.

    We get a map from one of the artists and stroll with our dog, chatting with those taking part in this wonderful day of meeting some of the creative folks in our midst.

    What's on your Artistic Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your arts & craft needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2011 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Fresh Paint Is This Sunday: Great Excuse for a Walk

    While we give most events a miss, the Annual Fresh Paint Sunday is one of our favorite walks of the year. This time, paint day is Sunday, April 27th.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834011570565a8b970b-800wi

    From 9am to 4pm, artists will be scattered around the city creating art that will be auctioned off at the Fresh Paint Gala on Saturday, May 10th. Here's a link to all the details on the Copley Society website.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834011570566136970b-800wi

    We usually head for the Public Garden, a popular spot for seeing a number of artists create works inspired by one of Boston's beauty spots.

    We get a map from one of the artists and stroll with our dog, chatting with those taking part in this wonderful day of meeting some of the creative folks in our midst.

    What's on your Artistic Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your arts & craft needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2011 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Will There Be a Boston Restaurant Shakeout?

    How many restaurants can the Boston area support before we have a serious shakeout that might result in some old favorites being lost in the deluge of new places?

    Eater Boston has compiled The Colossal 2014 Restaurant Openings Guide. At the time this post was composed, the list included more than 40 more restaurants with scheduled opening dates in 2014.

    Eater

    Rachel Leah Blumenthal is doing yeoman work keeping it up to date. She has also included all those rumored openings that don't have dates attached.

    Over on Chowhound's Boston board, members keep track of openings and closings setting up a new converstion each month. They often mourn the loss of a favorite place.

    Problems Finding Talented Staff

    In this Boston Magazine piece, Chef Will Gilson admited he's having trouble finding top quality workers to staff his kitchen. “It becomes this race against other restaurants, and you try to figure out how to get good people in,” he said.

    Converstations among food lovers seem to indicate that the quality of the front of the house staff in some places is also declining as competition for top waitstaff, bartenders, and managers increases.

    You Decide Which Restaurants Will Survive

    Each of us will have a vote in deciding which restaurants will be here next year and the year after that.

    I have my list of restaurants that I will be supporting with my dining dollars over the next year. I may occasionally try a new place – often from an owner, chef, or team that I already know. But, I will encourage my friends to meet me at the places I want to be around after the deluge of new spots divides dining dollars into smaller pots for all.

    I’m sure a few restaurants that you love have slipped out of your regular dining out rotation. If you would hate to see any of those old favorites disappear, make a point of going there for a fresh reminder of how good they are.

    We make decisions each day about who will or will not remain in business by spending our dollars. Please, make those decisions a bit more consciously over the next year.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Will There Be a Boston Restaurant Shakeout?

    How many restaurants can the Boston area support before we have a serious shakeout that might result in some old favorites being lost in the deluge of new places?

    Eater Boston has compiled The Colossal 2014 Restaurant Openings Guide. At the time this post was composed, the list included more than 40 more restaurants with scheduled opening dates in 2014.

    Eater

    Rachel Leah Blumenthal is doing yeoman work keeping it up to date. She has also included all those rumored openings that don't have dates attached.

    Over on Chowhound's Boston board, members keep track of openings and closings setting up a new converstion each month. They often mourn the loss of a favorite place.

    Problems Finding Talented Staff

    In this Boston Magazine piece, Chef Will Gilson admited he's having trouble finding top quality workers to staff his kitchen. “It becomes this race against other restaurants, and you try to figure out how to get good people in,” he said.

    Converstations among food lovers seem to indicate that the quality of the front of the house staff in some places is also declining as competition for top waitstaff, bartenders, and managers increases.

    You Decide Which Restaurants Will Survive

    Each of us will have a vote in deciding which restaurants will be here next year and the year after that.

    I have my list of restaurants that I will be supporting with my dining dollars over the next year. I may occasionally try a new place – often from an owner, chef, or team that I already know. But, I will encourage my friends to meet me at the places I want to be around after the deluge of new spots divides dining dollars into smaller pots for all.

    I’m sure a few restaurants that you love have slipped out of your regular dining out rotation. If you would hate to see any of those old favorites disappear, make a point of going there for a fresh reminder of how good they are.

    We make decisions each day about who will or will not remain in business by spending our dollars. Please, make those decisions a bit more consciously over the next year.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Trader Joe’s Pane Guttiau (Sardinian Parchment Crackers) Are a Hit!

    We are enjoying Trader Joe’s Pane Guttiau so much that we’re afraid they might discontinue them. This often seems to happen to our favorite items at the tiny TJs on Boylston Street.

    DSC_1680 - Version 22014-03-26trader-joes-parchment-crackers-sardinian-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The staff tells us these are a big hit so maybe our evening snack of a few crackers with a bit of soft cheese will be safe for a while.

    DSC_1534 - Version 22014-03-21trader-joes-sardinian-parchment-crackers-pan-guttiau-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This is TJs version of the traditional Sardinian parchment bread called pane carasau or carta di musica we sometimes find in North End shops.

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    Those shown here in a photo for Wikipedia are large and round and often wrapped in paper packages.

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    Trader Joe’s version is cut into squares, packed in a box, and a bit easier to get home and serve. We find ourselves buying three or four boxes at a time, just in case …

    These simple, light crackers are made in Italy with wheat, yeast, water, salt, and olive oil. They are wonderful by themselves with a glass of wine.

    DSC_1532 - Version 22014-03-21trader-joes-sardinian-parchment-crackers-pan-guttiau-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Some nights, we let a bit of soft cheese come to room temperature and spead the thinnest possible layer on the cracker. Remember, these are very thin and brittle, so warm cheese and gentle spreading does the trick.

    This may be our favorite roof deck snack this summer. Can’t wait for a bottle of bubbles and a tray of cheese and crackers overlooking the Charles.

    Our readers outside the Boston area, who don’t have access to a Trader Joe’s, might want to make their own version. Here’s a recipe along with a video that shows how much work it takes to handmake these delights.

    Sardinian Flatbread from Italian Food Forever

    A video version without measurements from Delicious Italy (Just the way a nonna would teach it.) Imagine the work when women hand rolled this bread in each step!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino and Center photo from this page of Wikipedia.