Author: Ed

“Food Spot” Conversation Is Our Friday Link

One of the best area food conversations this week is over on the Chowhound Boston Board. It's titled, "Best non-restaurant food spots in Boston (or other "foodie" recommendations)" and includes a few of our favorite spots.

James Hook & Company was on the list. This place has been our traditional source for holiday lobsters and the Dungeness crabs we love for our occasional crab feasts.

No list of great Boston area food purveyors would be complete without mentioning Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge and the South End Formaggio. A visit to our cheese corner will give you a sampling of the cheeses we've enjoyed from these shops.

And, Formaggio is also a starting point when we're inspired to explore the food of a specific region with friends.

A Chowhound regular, 9lives, added Polcari's in the North End to the list and reminded me how long it's been since I've spent an afternoon popping in and out of shops in that neighborhood.

Hop over to this conversation and read the growing list of places you may love or may not have explored lately. Add your own two cents if you wish or just see what others have to say.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 10, 2014
What’s Open in Boston & MBTA Schedules Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20, 2014. We try to publish this information ahead of the holiday so you can make your plans.

This is an outdated post. You'll find the information for 2016 at this link.

Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman Some rights reserved

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience Stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail Stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose

Liquor Stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

Boston Trash and Recycling:

The City website says,

"Martin Luther King Week-Monday, January 20, 6am – Saturday, January 25, 2014, 5pm
- No delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End
- Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day
- *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay. Report Missed Pickup"
Street Cleaning: The city says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2014:

For a few days before and after the holiday, the MBTA Schedule is posted at this link.
- Subway: Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver lines will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and Trackless Trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule with a list of routes posted here that will not operate.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Boat service – Hingham, Charlestown – will operate on regular weekday schedules.
- The RIDE will operate on a Saturday schedule.
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or log on to the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman used under creative commons license Some rights reserved
January 8, 2014
What’s Open in Boston & MBTA Schedules Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2014
Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 20, 2014. We try to publish this information ahead of the holiday so you can make your plans.

This is an outdated post. You'll find the information for 2016 at this link.

Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman Some rights reserved

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience Stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail Stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose

Liquor Stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

Boston Trash and Recycling:

The City website says,

"Martin Luther King Week-Monday, January 20, 6am – Saturday, January 25, 2014, 5pm
- No delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End
- Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day
- *If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay. Report Missed Pickup"
Street Cleaning: The city says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, 2014:

For a few days before and after the holiday, the MBTA Schedule is posted at this link.
- Subway: Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver lines will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and Trackless Trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule with a list of routes posted here that will not operate.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Boat service – Hingham, Charlestown – will operate on regular weekday schedules.
- The RIDE will operate on a Saturday schedule.
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or log on to the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman used under creative commons license Some rights reserved
January 8, 2014
How Warm Was It Yesterday?

Warm enough to sit in the park without a jacket.

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

Details:

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

January 7, 2014
How Warm Was It Yesterday?

Warm enough to sit in the park without a jacket.

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

Details:

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

January 7, 2014
Storm Shopping Beyond French Toast Ingredients

We know that Boston goes into an instant French Toast frenzy when a winter storm is forecast. While we may need to pick up our daily supply of bread and milk, our storm supplies often include a whole chicken.

As temperatures dipped and our heat pump and humidifier were running non-stop trying to keep us warm and comfortable, Penny took to the the kitchen and started cooking a plump chicken in chicken stock and aromatics.

As soon as the chicken was poached, she removed it from the pot, let it cool enough to handle, and stripped the meat. The bones, skin, and everything else went back into the pot to simmer for a couple of hours.

Not only did our home smell wonderful, but the simmering broth also added warmth and humidity helping our heating system keep us comfortable.

When the stock was rich and densely flavored, she froze some for future soups, made a pot of chicken soup and a curried chicken salad.

For the salad she used a chicken breast, an apple, a carrot, a stalk of celery, a scallion, some raisins and a big spoonful of curry powder. (You can add curry power a bit at a time, but it does take a healthy dose to add zip to that chicken and apple.

Toss it with a bit of oil and vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. That gave us healthy bowls of food with a hot and cold option throughout the storm.

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

Details:

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

January 6, 2014
Storm Shopping Beyond French Toast Ingredients

We know that Boston goes into an instant French Toast frenzy when a winter storm is forecast. While we may need to pick up our daily supply of bread and milk, our storm supplies often include a whole chicken.

As temperatures dipped and our heat pump and humidifier were running non-stop trying to keep us warm and comfortable, Penny took to the the kitchen and started cooking a plump chicken in chicken stock and aromatics.

As soon as the chicken was poached, she removed it from the pot, let it cool enough to handle, and stripped the meat. The bones, skin, and everything else went back into the pot to simmer for a couple of hours.

Not only did our home smell wonderful, but the simmering broth also added warmth and humidity helping our heating system keep us comfortable.

When the stock was rich and densely flavored, she froze some for future soups, made a pot of chicken soup and a curried chicken salad.

For the salad she used a chicken breast, an apple, a carrot, a stalk of celery, a scallion, some raisins and a big spoonful of curry powder. (You can add curry power a bit at a time, but it does take a healthy dose to add zip to that chicken and apple.

Toss it with a bit of oil and vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. That gave us healthy bowls of food with a hot and cold option throughout the storm.

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

Details:

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

January 6, 2014
Is Your Dog a Snow Lover? Ours Is!

While the first big snow of the new year may have you reaching for the shovel, a lot of Sunday Dogs can only think of one thing, PLAYTIME! So, in the true spirit of fun, we'd like to take your mind off of the druggery of winter with a reminder of just how much fun all that white stuff can be!

Here's one of our favorite posts – Is Your Dog a Snow Lover?

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: © 2013 – 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 5, 2014
Is Your Dog a Snow Lover? Ours Is!

While the first big snow of the new year may have you reaching for the shovel, a lot of Sunday Dogs can only think of one thing, PLAYTIME! So, in the true spirit of fun, we'd like to take your mind off of the druggery of winter with a reminder of just how much fun all that white stuff can be!

Here's one of our favorite posts – Is Your Dog a Snow Lover?

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: © 2013 – 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

January 5, 2014
Champagne Paul Bara Grand Rosé – Our Memorable New Year’s Eve Guest!

We had been storing our bottle of Paul Bara Grand Rosé Champagne at the top of our wine rack for nearly a year awaiting an extra special occasion to pop its cork. Through the months, we took care to properly store this $60 bubbly – always on its side, never subjecting it to extreme temperatures, occasionally turning and, yes, even dusting it – but couldn’t quite commit to opening it.

Finally, with the eve of 2014 closing in, we had to act. The day before the big night, we began chilling the Paul Bara but, just to be on the safe side, iced down a back-up bottle of Bollinger as a sort of new year’s celebration insurance.

Soon after dark on New Year’s Eve, we put together a cheese plate and sat down to try our much anticipated rosé champagne. The clink of glasses, a toast, that first sip, and … Lovely fruit balanced by a crisp backbone, not heavy at all. And, the wine’s copper hue, that Penny described as an Italian rose gold color, is amazing!

The perfectly ripe (but not over-ripe) brie and Bara were excellent together! There was no problem with the black peppered cheese and a liver paté with truffles. The fruit of this rosé was like the taste of early season Atlas Farm strawberries from the Copley Square Market.

Despite being 70% pinot noir, it’s a Champagne that’s not overpowering. It has finesse. It reminded Penny of “… people who deliver on what they say they’re going to do versus those who just talk a good show.” And, what a show it was! We couldn’t have been happier with our selection.

By the way, as you’ve probably guessed, there was no need for our rescue bottle of Bollinger. But, since it was prepped and ready to go, we invited this irresistible French charmer to join us at our New Year’s day table. Happy 2014!

For more about this special Champagne, see: Here's Our Wine Pick for New Year's Eve 2013

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution

Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

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

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January 3, 2014