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Notes on a New Year’s Eve Toast with Bollinger Rosé
We couldn’t let New Year’s Eve get too far out of sight without some quick notes on the spectacular bottle of Bollinger Rosé Champagne that helped us ring in 2015.

This champagne was even lovelier than we’d remembered from our December tasting. Here are some thoughts:
- nicely balanced with just enough Pinot to accompany our pâté mousse truffée …
- the wine matched well with aged cheddar, each enhancing the other …
- even chicken parmigiana bites couldn’t trip up this sparkler …
- we dared to pair these blushing bubbles with a moist chocolate cupcake … yes!
- for us, this Bollinger was at its best when not over-chilled …
- we allowed it to warm in our glasses …
- drank it through temperatures from chilled to room and found our sweet spot …
Speaking of sweet, we loved photographing this bottle. Bollinger gave it a label redesign recently, and we’re making it an early leader for our “Most Enchanting Empty Bottle Award of 2015.”

Are you ready to join our Sparkling Resolution movement?

More About Our Sparkling Resolution

Check Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List (It will include this one, so be sure to scroll down.)

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!

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

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January 6, 2015
Boston Dogs Could “Take a Bite Out of Crime” with Dog Walker Watch
This country has 75 million people who could easily become extra eyes and ears for local law enforcement in the fight against crime. These are the people who are out at all hours of the day and night, in all types of weather, walking their dogs.

Here's a little dog from Cologne, Germany ready to do his part in a crime watch. (Photo by Brian Snelson)

Dog Walker Watch

Just think of the crime prevention impact resulting from alerts by hundreds of people who know their neighborhood, notice when something doesn’t look right, and are trained to provide first responders with the information needed to react quickly and safely to the report.

This little guy popped up on the National Night out Facebook Page.

The National Association of Town Watch (the same people who sponsor the National Night Out event each year) has now organized a training program for crime prevention called Dog Walker Watch.

You and Your Dog Can Be Great Neighbors

Walk your dog along a familiar route and I’ll bet you notice a lot of little things that those engaged in other activities along the same path might overlook. You know the places where problems with drainage create standing pools of water on sidewalks and at intersections every time we have a heavy rain. You notice the trash cans that are always filled to overflowing. If a walk light doesn’t work or is missing, you spot it.

The Chicago Tribune interviewed Officer Adam Tabor from Morton Grove, a community that has implemented the program. “It's something we think is worth it, because there is so little effort from both the citizen standpoint and the law enforcement standpoint,” he explained.

The National Association of Town Watch provides materials for a training program that takes about 45 minutes. Tabor said, "Now, we can teach them to become more aware and less hesitant to report suspicious activity … so they become our extra eyes and ears in their neighborhood."

Training points out things to watch for like open gates or doors that are normally shut. It also teaches people what information to collect, how to report what they see, and to not get personally involved if they notice suspicious activity.

Here's Riley ready to give his professional skills to the training program. (Photo by Scott Miller)

Lets hope Boston and the surrounding communities opt to organize Dog Walker Watch programs. Contact your neighborhood association. They may already have a committee in place that can help organize a local group. Call Community Policing for your district and ask if there is an existing Neighborhood Watch Program that might expand to include this concept.

An Unoffical Start

Even without an official program, you can still call 9-1-1 and report what you see. Be as specific as possible.
- Give a street address or the nearest intersection.
- If you can get a license plate for something car related, try to do so. Even a partial plate, the make, model, and color of the car can be of great help to the police.
- Note and report the direction of flight if you saw someone leave a suspected crime scene.
- Notice what someone you suspect of wrongdoing is wearing.
- The person’s height, size, and description of clothing are what will be called out to responders.
- Stay on the line with the call-taker if asked to do so.
- Give your name and number so the responding officer can connect with you if needed.
- Don’t become physically involved.
- Call back to cancel the response if the situation changes.
- Here is much more detailed information on how to report a suspected crime.
Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs 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: As credited under each photo used under creative commons license.

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January 4, 2015
Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries: Our Friday Link

Most of us need legal information from time to time and the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries are a great resource. And, thanks to a recent improvement in their services, you can obtain an ecard without visiting a library branch.

Here's the message sent out on a recent blog entry:

"Massachusetts residents can now get Ecards for remote access to various legal databases without visiting one of our 17 locations. The new service started on November 19th, and to date we have had about 60 requests for cards. With your new card number, you can search RetrieveLaw for researching cases and statutes for Massachusetts and the federal government. You can also search HeinOnline for law reviews and a variety of other unique databases, as well as newspapers, self help law books from Nolo and more.

This page has the online form to apply for a card. You need to be a Massachusetts resident. Your card will be issued within one to two business days.

Databases are listed here.

What are you waiting for?"

For a running update on topical Massachusetts law information or changes as they take effect, follow the updates with an RSS feed of their blog or on Facebook or Twitter.

Now with a free ecard, we can research any topic we choose without the need to rent a car and go to a location outside of Boston. Thanks for the change!

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: Photo of law books by Woody Hibbard used under this creative commons license. Screenshot of Law Library page courtesy of Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

January 2, 2015
What’s Happening Around Boston in January 2015

Yes, January is a cold and wintry month in Boston but there is still a lot going on and many activities, both outdoor and indoor, to recommend.

New Year's Day

Weather permitting, Ed, Poppy, and I usually take a long walk on the first day of the year. We'll visit the Common and the Public Garden, and Copley Square. As a photographer, the Frog Pond skaters are always fun to watch and provide so many stories to capture in each photograph. If you have a new camera to play with, this is a great spot to add to your route for the day.

Here are some past posts from fun times photographing the Frog Pond skaters:

Beacon Hill Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating on the Common

Watching the Frog Pond Skaters …

Skating in Shirt Sleeves, Show This to That Groundhog!

Do You Have a New Year's Day Tradition?

Something you eat for good luck or an activity you enjoy with famiy or friends? Share with us and perhaps you'll inspire others to adopt your tradition. We'll enjoy a glass of sparkling wine either at home or in a restaurant.

Since 2007, we've resolved to start each month of the year with a toast over a glass of something bubbly. You're welcome to join our sparkling resolution and check out our monthly list of wines to try.

Dressed in Holiday Style

Homes around the city will have beautiful wreaths on the doors and lovely decorations for the holidays early in the month. Above and below are two of the many lush and creative wreaths designed and sold by volunteers from The Garden Club of the Back Bay to raise funds needed to care for trees along the streets and in the parks. Here is a link to more of their work that you might be able to spot around the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and in other parts of the city.

Conventions Bring Visitors

Big meetings impact hotel prices and restaurant reservations around the city. The ones in the Back Bay have more impact on locals and visitors to the city than the seaport. Here's the January list of meetings with more than 5,000 in attendance.

1/2/15/-1/5/15 – 12,000 social scientists will be meeting at the Hynes Convention Center in Back Bay.

And just in case anyone local or visiting has an interest in these two events, we've included them:

1/15/15-1/19/15 – New England Auto Show in the Seaport

1/17/15-1/19/15 – Boston RV and Camping Expo in the Seaport

More tips from locals and frequent visitors to Boston can be found over on the Boston Trip Advisor Forum. Penny started a conversation over there with some of this same information and others have chimed in to add their tips and favorites.

Share your own traditions and January information in the comments below or send them our way on our Twitter feed. Just include @BostonZest in your message.

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: © 2011-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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December 30, 2014
Bollinger Rosé Champagne Is Our Choice for Our New Year’s Toast!

This year, our choice of a wine to welcome in 2015 is Bollinger Rosé Champagne. This lovely pinot forward wine comes from one of our favorite Champagne houses. We’ve featured the Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut many times across the years. Thanks to a tasting at Brix Wine Shop, we were able to taste three wines from the Bollinger line: The Special Cuvee (to remind ourselves why we like it), the Rosé, and the 2004 Grande Annee.

While we don’t go to a lot of wine tastings, we are tempted when we can sample wines that are seldom available by the glass or when we can meet a great winemaker, importer, or another of our heros of the wine world. Thank you to Brix for the number of times they have delivered such an opportunity.

We start each month with a glass of bubbly and each year we search for a very special wine for the first sip of the new year. Since we are definitely part of the stay at home on New Year’s Eve contingent, we have been known to splurge on this annual tradition.

Without tasting the line, we might have selected the Grande Annee based on the wonderful tasting notes we’ve read and its reputation as one of the truly great Champagnes. It is! And we enjoyed every sip as this wine showed what careful aging can do to add je ne sais quoi to Chardonnay forward Champagne. Making it our sparkler for a new year was tempting.

But, the Rosé hit our sweet spot. With more pinot in the mix and just the right note of fresh fruit and acidity, it won our hearts.

Make no mistake, we loved all three Bollingers, but sitting here on New Year’s Eve, we know that the Rosé will keep us smiling from the first pop of the cork to the final drip as we hold the bottle upside down over a glass to slide out the last drop.

We’re posting this early so that you have time to buy a bottle if you are tempted by our choice this year.

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover’s Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino, 3rd photo courtesy of Bollinger
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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December 29, 2014
How to Make a Silent 9-1-1 Call Using Your Keypad

A recent Twitter message from @MassGov explained that Massachusetts, as a part of the enhanced 9-1-1 system, has a silent 9-1-1 procedure for you to use when you can't communicate verbally. When we read something important that we didn't know, we like to share that information with our readers.

Here's what the state tells you to do if you can't speak to the 9-1-1 call-taker for any reason.

If you need to call 9-1-1 and you are unable to speak for any reason, such as a physical disability, domestic violence, or home invasion, follow these simple steps using a touch tone wireline telephone or a cell phone:

FIRST DIAL 9-1-1

Once the call is answered, indicate your need by pressing the appropriate number on your telephone.

IF YOU NEED POLICE
PRESS 1
IF YOU NEED FIRE
PRESS 2
IF YOU NEED AN AMBULANCE
PRESS 3

The 9-1-1 Dispatcher may ask questions that require yes or no answers.

PRESS 4 FOR YES

PRESS 5 FOR NO

You can find the complete post from the state here.

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: Courtesy of the Boston Public Health Commission.

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December 26, 2014
Consult Our Wine Collection Before You Shop for Bottles of Bubbles!

Our Sparkling Resolution gives us an advantage when it comes to choosing a bottle of bubbles for New Year's Eve. We start each month with a glass of sparkling wine.

We share those wine selections with you in our wine collection.

You'll find Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Crémant, plus bubbles from places including Portugal, California, Oregon, and Massachusetts on our wine list.

We find something to toast each time the 1st comes around. Maybe it's a good thing that happened in the past month or something we're looking forward to in the month ahead. Or, perhaps the 1st of the month finds us in a special place where we've discovered a special bottle.

Most of the time, our choice is a great value we've bought on sale or a moderately priced treat.

Occasionally, we'll indulge in a special wine for a special occasion or celebration.

If you're looking for something to serve to a crowd or a special bottle to share with a special person, we have made our list and you can check it twice, three times, or as often as you'd like.

As you toast 2015, consider joining the Sparkling Resolution we made back in 2007 and begin each month with a glass of lively bubbles.

Cheers!

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

The New Wine Lover's Companion

The Wine Bible

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2001-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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December 22, 2014
A Few of Our Favorite Kitchen Gifts

Here are some holiday gift ideas from inexpensive stocking stuffers to luxuries for a special person's kitchen. A couple of years ago, we posted a piece about a few things we use everyday and are happy to have. That was so well received that we are adding to that collection of great gifts every holiday season.

We still love, and put to daily use, our Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Maker and Capresso Burr Coffee Grinder. You can read about why we love them in this post –

Gift Ideas: 5 Little Kitchen Luxuries We're Glad We Bought

This year, we added a simplehuman Slim Canister (we use the small size) as a waste can for our coffee grounds. Unlike the open knock boxes, it looks neater and our kitchen doesn't smell like coffee grounds all day.

Also, we love using this Tovolo Scoop & Spread Multi-purpose Spreader to clean the spent grounds out of the portafilter after we pull an espresso.

And, Penny still adores her little Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Multi – Pot. Here are a few posts featuring that hard working kitchen favorite –

Loving This Odd Little Cooking Pot

My Silly, Little 4th Burner Multi – Pot Scores Again!

Another Trick from My Favorite, Little Cooking Pot

Ed continues to love our Sodastream even though he doesn't drink seltzer. He explains here –

How Sodastream Set Me Free!

Stocking Stuffers & Small Gifts

Sometimes it's the little things that make life easier and that make you smile when you use them.

If you have a smooth cooktop, you want a way to scrape up cooked-on spills without damage. Our answer is a Fantastic Ice Scraper with Brass Blade. It was originally meant for windshields but works great on a smooth top stove. Notice that you can buy these by the dozen if you choose. That's because you may want to give one to every friend who has a car or a smooth top!

You'll see two of these Cuisipro Foam Pump Soap Dispensers side-by-side at our kitchen sink – one for hand soap, one for dish soap. We have another in the bathroom. They are the best we've found. The suction cup holds it in place and it leans out over the sink so you are not cleaning up soap drips on the counter.

We have two sets of flexible cutting mats that we use for many purposes. The thicker set is Tovolo Flexible Cutting Mats and the lightweight set is Norpro Cut-N-Slice Flexible Cutting Mats. We plan to do an upcoming post on all the ways we use these. But, we don't really cut on them at all. We use them to contain messes. We'll peel vegetables, sweep off counters, and put them under the porta-filter for our espresso machine as we fill it. And, we even use them as placemats to protect our furniture and the large cutting board that sits on our kitchen counter.

Another great item, Chobs 2-Inch Board Protectors are on that big wood cutting board. They make it non-slip and easy to dry while sitting on the counter.

Do you have favorite kitchen items we should add to this list?

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: ©2011-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, SodaStream photo Used under this creative commons license, Some rights reserved by kenworker

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December 15, 2014
Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve 2014 & New Year’s Day Brunch 2015
Our readers are already searching our past posts to figure out where to dine on New Year's Eve in Boston. It's time for you to grab a reservation at a special place!

This is an outdated post. Click below for the link to:

Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2015 & New Year's Day Brunch 2016

And, this year we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2015 with friends and family around a brunch table.

We all have our ideas of the perfect New Year's Eve.
- Are you looking for a place to ring in 2015 with a happy crowd?
- Will you be out and about dropping in on events or house parties?
- Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration?
- Is a walk to view the ice sculptures and skating on the Frog Pond more your style?
We'll leave the New Year's Eve reservation for those of you who like to be part of a bigger celebration, while we spend the evening with some sparkling wine, good food, and great companions. However, we have gathered resources to help you find a place for any kind of New Year's Eve you'd like.

Everyone can begin at Open Table. They maintain a list of special New Year's celebrations at area restaurants.

You can put a time into the reservation box on the main page and see what's available. Remember, many places have special prix fixe menus for occasions like this and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.

The site Boston Chefs always posts a listing of its member restaurants that have special plans for New Year's Eve. Here is their New Year's Eve list. And, here's the list for New Year's Day. We'll update this section as we spot new information from these sources.

We'll add updates with other lists, as they become available, from trusted sources around town. Please remember that when we provide a link to a list, we are just giving you a resource. It doesn't mean we are recommending the restaurants on that list. These summaries often include places we love, but since other publishers have different standards, their list may include restaurants we would never recommend.

We Do Recommend!

There are restaurants that have planned a special New Year's Eve menu but have built their reputation on high quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.
- Island Creek Oyster Bar is serving its regular menu and, for that kindness, we've put them at the top of this list.
- Eastern Standard, next door, is doing the same. Regular menu, great wine list, craft cocktails.
- Coppa Enoteca will close from 3-5 on the 31st to prepare for a three-course Chef's menu – $55 per person.
- Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
- Grotto on Beacon Hill, Kitchen in the South End, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
- Brasserie JO has a special menu but alway provides great food in a relaxed atmosphere, and their desserts are a party in themselves.
Where are you spending the evening? What's your favorite way to celebrate? Come back on January 1st and tell us about your New Year's Eve.

New Year's Day Brunch

Here is a list of brunches from the members of Boston Chefs. Our pick from this list would be Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Open Table did not have a New Year's Day Brunch list when we prepared this post. We put a request in for a table at 11:30 AM to come up with our recommendations.
- Craigie on Main decided to do away with their regular Sunday brunch, but they will have brunch on a few selected holidays like New Year's Day.
- Petit Robert Bistro would be a great place to enjoy the beginning of a new year with a gang.
- Island Creek Oyster Bar will be open with their great brunch menu.
To be notified of updates to this post, sign-on to the comment feed for this post or follow us on Twitter for updates.

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: Photo: iStockphoto.com

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December 12, 2014
Book List: Morning Glory’s Farm Food: Stories from the Fields, Recipes from the Kitchen

My review copy of Morning Glory's Farm Food: Stories from the Fields, Recipes from the Kitchen by Gabrielle Redner was a pleasure to have had around during the summer farmers' market season. And, as the days grow colder, I'm thrilled to have this book to remind me of the warm September days we have spent on Martha's Vineyard.

Right about now, my favorite chapters are Pumpkins and Winter Squash: Late Harvest Great Food, and Root Vegetables: Treasure Hunting.

Most food lovers who have spent time on Martha's Vineyard have been enchanted by Morning Glory Farm. This book contains not only recipes straight from the farm's own chef Robert Lionette, but also from some of the great island home cooks who rely on local farms like Morning Glory for inspiring ingredients.

Here's a bit of the Publisher's Description of the Book:

"Morning Glory’s Farm Food brings you stories about how the local foods you love are grown and gives you 102 recipes straight from the farm kitchen overseen by Chef Robert Lionette. Morning Glory owner Jim Athearn also updates you on the local farm scene – and how it has changed in the forty years he’s been a farmer, including the most recent renewal of interest in growing food on small, sustainable farms."

Alison Shaw Photography

Beyond the wonderful memories and great recipes, the photographs by Alison Shaw will inspire any photographer.

Most of the photographs on the walls of our home are my own. But, I can glance over my shoulder from my desk and see one of Alison Shaw's early color photos. Also, Ed and I own and love one of her black and white prints of Squibnocket Beach.

Ed and I have followed her work from the days when we had a year-round subscription to the Vineyard Gazette where her photos were a highlight of each issue for us.

Obviously, I recommend this book for your own collection or as a gift for someone who loves great food, this wonderful farm, fabulous photography, and the magical Island of Martha's Vineyard.

Another Opinon from Megan

How do those recipes work out? Megan over at Delicious Dishings made the Roasted Winter Squash with Cranberry Sage Butter and had great results.

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site! We think you would also enjoy two other cookbooks from this publisher: Morning Glory Farm, and the Family that Feeds an Island and Delish! The J.W. Jackson Recipes; A Martha's Vineyard Cookbook.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: Alison Shaw photography, Courtesy of Vineyard Stories

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