This week the American Veterinary Medical Association is sponsoring an official Check the Chip Day to remind all of us who are guardians for companion animals to be sure the microchips that would help return our furry friends to us, if lost, are working.
We have "Check the Microchip" at the top of our list of information and questions we bring to every visit with our veterinarian. Poppy is due for her annual check up and we'll have Courtney, her lovely vet tech, check to see that her chip is working at the start of the visit.
This is also an opportunity to write down that ID number in case you need it to update your contact information.
Think about anything else that may have changed over the past year that might require an update on the registration form for that chip and make the changes needed with your registry. If you can't remember which it is, your vet can tell you that from the ID number.
Here's a video that will help you understand how microchips are inserted into an animal, how they work, and why each animal that could escape from your home should have one. Did you know that your vet can even microchip your birds?
The Animal Rescue League of Boston is having an August special to encourage you to get those microchips in place. There is also more information about the topic at their link below.
As Pinot Noir lovers, we expected to like this grower Champagne. We didn’t anticipate wanting to buy a case after the first sip! Simply put, Moutard Grande Cuvée fits our taste, something Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits knows well.
Through the years, many of our Sparkling Resolution wines have come from his suggestions. For August we asked him to select this month’s sparkler and he came up with a new favorite that made us go back for more.
Our constant search for, and love of, grower Champagnes doesn’t surprise Rubin who compares the increased interest in this category of winemakers to the locavore farm-to-table movement. “People want to know where their food and libation come from,” he explains, “and consuming small grower champagne satisfies that curiosity.”
Look at this way, “Which would you rather consume,” says Rubin, “a big, juicy, ripe tomato right off the farm, or one of those colorless and flavorless tomatoes that shows up in your salad … in January?”
Similarly, “When deciding between a small grower champagne or a mass produced version of the same style of wine,” Rubin says the choice is obvious. “Champagnes that are bottled by growers will usually be from a specific village and will be their top choice of grapes, which obviously they won’t sell to the big houses.”
The Moutard Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne pedigree includes 100% Pinot Noir grown in clay-limestone soils. The hand harvested grapes undergo a gentle pressing and are vinified in stainless steel tanks. Moutard proudly describes its production as a blend of several of the best vintages.
Tasting Notes:
The winemaker points to a, “refined, rich nose which evokes notes of butter, almond and brioche. Lively, elegant and balanced palate with good mouthfill.”
Distributor Polaner Selections touts, “A rich and mineral-driven Blanc de Noirs at an exceptional value.”
Wine Spectator
Rating: 90
“Bright and fresh, with a honey-laced finish.”
Vinous
Rating: 89
“… 100% Pinot Noir is laced with sweet tobacco, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red stone fruits.”
“ … the Grande Cuvée from Moutard … showed its 100 percent pinot noir character in its rich, full-bodied texture and ripe fruit flavors.”
Howie Rubin (Bauer Wines)
“… aromas of fresh baked bread and wild strawberries … bright apple and quince flavors.”
We think what this wine doesn’t give up on the nose, it makes up on the palate. Perhaps Howie Rubin summed it up best, “Great champagnes are characterized by a long, persistent finish, and that’s where the Moutard shines. Compare it to one of the big names in champagne and you will see the difference.”
Here’s to August! And, here’s to Grower Champagnes!
We purchased our bottle of Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée at Bauer Wine & Spirits (price: $39.99).
As Pinot Noir lovers, we expected to like this grower Champagne. We didn’t anticipate wanting to buy a case after the first sip! Simply put, Moutard Grande Cuvée fits our taste, something Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits knows well.
Through the years, many of our Sparkling Resolution wines have come from his suggestions. For August we asked him to select this month’s sparkler and he came up with a new favorite that made us go back for more.
Our constant search for, and love of, grower Champagnes doesn’t surprise Rubin who compares the increased interest in this category of winemakers to the locavore farm-to-table movement. “People want to know where their food and libation come from,” he explains, “and consuming small grower champagne satisfies that curiosity.”
Look at this way, “Which would you rather consume,” says Rubin, “a big, juicy, ripe tomato right off the farm, or one of those colorless and flavorless tomatoes that shows up in your salad … in January?”
Similarly, “When deciding between a small grower champagne or a mass produced version of the same style of wine,” Rubin says the choice is obvious. “Champagnes that are bottled by growers will usually be from a specific village and will be their top choice of grapes, which obviously they won’t sell to the big houses.”
The Moutard Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne pedigree includes 100% Pinot Noir grown in clay-limestone soils. The hand harvested grapes undergo a gentle pressing and are vinified in stainless steel tanks. Moutard proudly describes its production as a blend of several of the best vintages.
Tasting Notes:
The winemaker points to a, “refined, rich nose which evokes notes of butter, almond and brioche. Lively, elegant and balanced palate with good mouthfill.”
Distributor Polaner Selections touts, “A rich and mineral-driven Blanc de Noirs at an exceptional value.”
Wine Spectator
Rating: 90
“Bright and fresh, with a honey-laced finish.”
Vinous
Rating: 89
“… 100% Pinot Noir is laced with sweet tobacco, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red stone fruits.”
“ … the Grande Cuvée from Moutard … showed its 100 percent pinot noir character in its rich, full-bodied texture and ripe fruit flavors.”
Howie Rubin (Bauer Wines)
“… aromas of fresh baked bread and wild strawberries … bright apple and quince flavors.”
We think what this wine doesn’t give up on the nose, it makes up on the palate. Perhaps Howie Rubin summed it up best, “Great champagnes are characterized by a long, persistent finish, and that’s where the Moutard shines. Compare it to one of the big names in champagne and you will see the difference.”
Here’s to August! And, here’s to Grower Champagnes!
We purchased our bottle of Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée at Bauer Wine & Spirits (price: $39.99).
Finally, Luke's Lobster has opened in Boston and we are both thrilled. Occasionally, we admit to becoming cheerleaders as well as fans when we discover a business doing things exactly the way we like them.
Luke's does lobster rolls the way we do lobster rolls. A pile of sweet cool lobster in a toasted bun with exactly the additions you want. Their standard comes with a swipe of mayo on the bun, a drizzle of butter, and a sprinkle of their seasoning. We order ours with no mayo and the staff is happy to give them to us just the way we like them.
And, we love walking just a few blocks to save ourselves the work of doing all the work ourselves.
We introduced you to Luke's Lobster back in 2013 when they came to town to do a charity pop-up to benefit the marathon bombing victims. And, for the past week, we've been sending friends and neighbors to their new Boston location at 75 Exeter Street. (Map)
We've also been sharing meals from Luke's with friends. This array shows one Noah's Ark sampler with a few extra lobster and crab rolls on the side. We shared this selection with our friends David & Peter on their visit from San Francisco.
Here's another shot of the Noah's Ark order with our selections for a perfect tray of roof food. This combo for two gives you two halves of lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls, 4 crab claws, 2 chips or 2 coleslaws, (we chose one of each), 2 pickles, and 2 sodas. If you want something similar for one, they have the Taste of Maine.
So, welcome to Boston Luke's! We have a clear path worn between our door and yours and can't wait to introduce more friends and neighbors to the perfect roof deck food or the perfect picnic for a concert at the Hatch Shell.
Oh, by the way, be sure to pick up one of their Lobsta Mobsta cards because we're pretty sure you'll be going back and filling it with lobster roll stamps on your way to a free lobster roll.
Finally, Luke's Lobster has opened in Boston and we are both thrilled. Occasionally, we admit to becoming cheerleaders as well as fans when we discover a business doing things exactly the way we like them.
Luke's does lobster rolls the way we do lobster rolls. A pile of sweet cool lobster in a toasted bun with exactly the additions you want. Their standard comes with a swipe of mayo on the bun, a drizzle of butter, and a sprinkle of their seasoning. We order ours with no mayo and the staff is happy to give them to us just the way we like them.
And, we love walking just a few blocks to save ourselves the work of doing all the work ourselves.
We introduced you to Luke's Lobster back in 2013 when they came to town to do a charity pop-up to benefit the marathon bombing victims. And, for the past week, we've been sending friends and neighbors to their new Boston location at 75 Exeter Street. (Map)
We've also been sharing meals from Luke's with friends. This array shows one Noah's Ark sampler with a few extra lobster and crab rolls on the side. We shared this selection with our friends David & Peter on their visit from San Francisco.
Here's another shot of the Noah's Ark order with our selections for a perfect tray of roof food. This combo for two gives you two halves of lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls, 4 crab claws, 2 chips or 2 coleslaws, (we chose one of each), 2 pickles, and 2 sodas. If you want something similar for one, they have the Taste of Maine.
So, welcome to Boston Luke's! We have a clear path worn between our door and yours and can't wait to introduce more friends and neighbors to the perfect roof deck food or the perfect picnic for a concert at the Hatch Shell.
Oh, by the way, be sure to pick up one of their Lobsta Mobsta cards because we're pretty sure you'll be going back and filling it with lobster roll stamps on your way to a free lobster roll.
Next Thursday, July 30th, the long-awaited Boston Public Market will open. We're making their new website our "Friday Link" so you can click over and prepare for your first visit.
Here's an entry from their blog that will keep you in touch with what's happening at the market.
The market hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Boston Public Market is located near the Haymarket MBTA Station across from the Greenway North End Parks at the corner of Hanover and Blackstone Streets. (map)
We plan to be regular visitors and look forward to seeing our many local food producer friends all year-round.
Next Thursday, July 30th, the long-awaited Boston Public Market will open. We're making their new website our "Friday Link" so you can click over and prepare for your first visit.
Here's an entry from their blog that will keep you in touch with what's happening at the market.
The market hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00am to 8:00pm.
Boston Public Market is located near the Haymarket MBTA Station across from the Greenway North End Parks at the corner of Hanover and Blackstone Streets. (map)
We plan to be regular visitors and look forward to seeing our many local food producer friends all year-round.
Do you think cool, crisp, and refreshing when you think of Asian food? If not, it’s time to begin exploring the food of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. When dining out, we’ve even surprised some of our dedicated ethnic-food-loving friends when we add a selection of refreshing summer items to our table’s order.
Here's one of our favorite versions of Bun Thit Nuong from Pho Basil. We opted for grilled lemongrass chicken as our protein addition to this lovely noodle salad.
“Salads are such a basic part of eating along the Mekong that they can almost be considered a staple food. They can be as simple as a wedge of parboiled cabbage and a plate of fresh cucumber slices or as elaborate as a mixed array of greens and herbs flavored with a dressing of succulent fried minced pork and a hot-sour-salty fresh dressing …”
Here's the take out version from Pho Basil. However, if you are not near their Back Bay/Symphony location, you can find a food truck take on this dish from Bon Me.
Do you think cool, crisp, and refreshing when you think of Asian food? If not, it’s time to begin exploring the food of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. When dining out, we’ve even surprised some of our dedicated ethnic-food-loving friends when we add a selection of refreshing summer items to our table’s order.
Here's one of our favorite versions of Bun Thit Nuong from Pho Basil. We opted for grilled lemongrass chicken as our protein addition to this lovely noodle salad.
“Salads are such a basic part of eating along the Mekong that they can almost be considered a staple food. They can be as simple as a wedge of parboiled cabbage and a plate of fresh cucumber slices or as elaborate as a mixed array of greens and herbs flavored with a dressing of succulent fried minced pork and a hot-sour-salty fresh dressing …”
Here's the take out version from Pho Basil. However, if you are not near their Back Bay/Symphony location, you can find a food truck take on this dish from Bon Me.
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