Author: Ed

Remembering Pol Roger– New Year’s Eve Tasting Update!

Though I hardly knew him, I feel like I’ve lost an old friend. Our bottle of Pol Roger Extra Cuvée de Réserve Brut Champagne Vintage 2000 was that good.

As promised, here’s an update to our Toasting a New Year with Pol Roger! post.

Opening the bottle and carefully splashing our glasses half full, it was the aroma that commanded our attention. I thought, toasty. Penny said it reminded her of almonds.

The first sip had us using words like: mellow, lush, citrus notes, smooth with a dry finish, and just enough fruit for balance.

While outstanding on its own, this champagne was equally impressive with food. Trying a perfectly ripe piece of Truffle Tremor from Cypress Grove Chevre and long-time favorite Ascutney Mountain we found each enhanced the taste of the other. Bites were improved by sips, sips were improved by bites!

Truffled pâté with Penny’s own spicy cranberry chutney, plus a Dijon and sweeter bourbon molasses mustard did not intimidate our Pol Roger. It all worked!

As with all high-end champagnes we’ve tried, this one drinks well as it warms– actually revealing more of its character. You’re quite a complex guy, Pol Roger. What a memorable way to begin 2012.

Here's how this story began: Toasting a New Year with Pol Roger!

For more about our wine adventures, check out:

Our Sparkling Resolution

Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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January 9, 2012
Sunday Dog, George Wants to Say Hi…

All together now, “Hi, George!” It’s the first thing I find myself saying anytime this friendly, good-natured, easy-going guy walks by. There’s no doubt in my mind that if he could have formed the words, he would have said it first. Just look at that face!

It’s easy to understand why George is such a popular figure in his Boston neighborhood– he never has a bad word to say about anyone. If you’re having an off day, he has the uncanny ability to sniff out that hidden smile. No doubt a quality that’s also helped him become a registered visiting therapy dog.

At seven-and-a-half, this handsome Golden Retriever stays in shape by walking to work with one of his very close human friends.

George has lived with his family ever since he was three. His people, who found him with the help of Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue in Hudson MA, say, “He’s like their poster dog. He’s such a great dog!”

We couldn’t agree more. See you soon, George. And, thanks for agreeing to star as this week’s Sunday Dog.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

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Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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 a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 8, 2012
The Incredible Shrinking Wreath

It would be wonderful if someone invented a holiday wreath that would begin large and gloriously full when put up in December, and right about now would begin to shrink. By Valentine's Day, instead of dry, brown, shedding Christmas decorations, we could watch as they go POOF and disappear!

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

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 7, 2012
Eater Boston Year End Survey of Friends, Industry types, Bloggers, etc.

Aaron Kagan, editor of Eater Boston, asked us to join a group of friends, industry types, bloggers, and readers to answer a few questions about our 2011 dining experiences in Boston. We are making the links to those questions our Friday Link.

And, we would love to hear your answers to any or all of them. Comment away!

Aaron gathered an interesting cross section from around the food community and the result is a great commentary on "the year that was" on the Boston restaurant scene.

See how this crew:

MC Slim JB, restaurant reviewer, Stuff Magazine, Boston Phoenix

Marc H., publisher of Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Tom O'Keefe from BostonTweet

Rachel Leah Blumenthal from Fork it over, Boston! & restaurant reviewer, CBS Boston

Damien S., community manager, Yelp Boston

Devra First, restaurant critic, food reporter for The Boston Globe

Answered these questions:

What were your top restaurant standbys in 2011?

Were there any restaurants that you broke up with in 2011?

What are your dining world headline predictions for 2012?

What was the best dining neighborhood in 2011?

What and where was your single best meal in 2011?

What was the biggest dining surprise of 2011?

How would you describe 2011 in one word?

What are the top restaurant newcomers of 2011?

Want to read them all? Go here.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Screenshot from Eater Boston

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 6, 2012
It’s Been That Kind of Winter….

See what happens when it doesn't snow!

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Words: Penny Cherubino

Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 5, 2012
Lunch at the Bristol Lounge is a Special Treat

Penny's Tale: I suggested lunch at the Four Seasons Bristol Lounge to treat Ed to one of his favorite Boston hamburgers.

To my delight, I was rewarded for my good deed with a great lobster roll prepared the way I can enjoy it. This is not the lobster roll on the menu. I can't have mayonnaise so our excellent waiter, Ricardo, was quick to assure me that he would check with the kitchen and see what alternative they could offer. He returned to say they would prepare a special version for me.

It was lovely, moist lobster with that toothsome bite that only comes fresh from the pot. There was a tiny bit of lively mixed pickle added for zest, and crunchy fresh lettuce all wrapped in a very nice bun flavored with garlic butter.

But, I'm certain those without a sensitivity-to-raw-egg issue will enjoy the original version as offered on the menu– "Bristol Lobster Roll, Lemon 'Sabayon,' Sweet Potato Fries, Garlic Toasted Bun."

I ate far more of those sweet potato fries than was my intent. And, I admit to filching some of the truffle French fries from Ed's plate.

About that Burger

I'll turn this tale over to Ed to tell you why the "The Famous Bristol Burger, Aged Vermont Cheddar Cheese, House-Made Pickles, Truffle French Fries, with or without a Toasted Bun" has always had high marks from him.

Ed's Burger: It had been a while since I'd ordered the burger at Bristol Lounge– there is a lot of competition out there. Although having recently had a burger I've since proclaimed as the best, I was anxious to revisit an old favorite.

First of all, this "before photo," while quite fetching, only shows the Bristol Burger's potential, but it'll have to do. From the instant I took my first bite, this masterpiece never again came in contact with the plate– even Penny's brilliant camera skills couldn't stop the action. Simply put, if you're lewered by a perfectly done, medium-rare burger that reminds you of a great steak, you'll covet this award-winner!

The Four Seasons Experience

We Both Say: A meal at the Four Seasons is always about more than the food. The welcome is warm, the room is beautiful, and service is what this organization is all about. We love to visit places like the Bristol Lounge to remind ourselves of what the standards should be. Highly civilized dining still exists in this corner of Boston.

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

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 4, 2012
Out With the Old… Christmas Tree!

Photo : by Charley Lhasa used under creative commons license Some rights reserved

It’s time to ring in the new and ring out the old Christmas tree!

For 11 days, beginning January 3rd, 2012, you can take that dried-up old Christmas tree and put it out with your recycling. While the City of Boston doesn’t want you to leave it by the curb in a bag, you may want to take it out of your home and building wrapped, so you don’t leave a trail of pine needles and pine pitch behind.

The City of Boston Waste Reduction Division wants you to know that, “Public Works will collect Christmas trees for composting from January 3 to January 13. Remove all ornaments, decorations, and stands from trees and place trees at the curb by 7AM on your recycling day. Do not put trees in plastic bags.”

Link: Here’s where you can look up your recycling day.

Hop over to Amazon and look at Christmas Ornament Storage Options. We'd like to thank everyone who remembers to stop here on their way to Amazon. If you go to Amazon from one of our links or items, they put coins in our tip jar.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo by: Charley Lhasa used under creative commons license, Some rights reserved

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 3, 2012
Maine Shrimp Season Opens Today

Today is the scheduled opening of the Maine Shrimp season. Other years we've been eating those little, fresh beauties by now, but in November the The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's Northern Shrimp Section set January 2, 2012 as opening day.

This may be a short season with higher prices. If you choose to enjoy this winter treat, do it early and cook them simply so you really taste the sweet, salty shimp. We like them "peel & eat" style made with Penny's Margarita Shrimp recipe.

Here is a recent article on the season from the Boston Globe

Here's a converation over on Chowhound's Boston Board with tips on where to buy and how to cook this wonderful New England treat.

Did you get a new computer, smartphone, or tablet as a holiday gIft? Get FREE Apps from Amazon to go with each of them.

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

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 2, 2012
Happy New Year 2012!

"We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for flaws, but for potential." Ellen Goodman (Pulitzer prize winning columnist, author, speaker)

What did you do last year that really makes you happy when you think about it? What Bucket List items are on your schedule for 2012?

Here's a link to some of Ellen Goodman's books. We hope she makes more of her earlier work available on Kindle.

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Ellen Goodman's site is www.ellengoodman.com

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

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

January 1, 2012
Watching Birds, Counting Birds

Some of our favorite city wildlife are the birds that live in Boston's wonderful street and front yard trees. As you walk along the sidewalks, they call out and fly from perch to perch. This little one decided to sit still and let us add an image to our personal Christmas Bird Count.

The Audubon Society says, "From December 14 through January 5 tens of thousands of volunteers throughout the Americas take part in an adventure that has become a family tradition among generations."

Our best guess is that this is a Northern Mockingbird based on one of the photos here. If you have an alternative ID, let us know!

Do you have an up-to-date bird guide in your house? We highly recommend the one from a great local author, David Allen Sibley– The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America.

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

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 comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 31, 2011