Category: We recommend!

Pecorino di Pienza Gran Riserva from Formaggio Kitchen South End

We always try to put out the alert when one of the area's great cheesemongers is cutting a great wheel of a favorite cheese. This time, it's Pecorino di Pienza Gran Riserva from Formaggio Kitchen South End.

Penny stopped in to ask Julie Cappellano, the General Manager and Wine Buyer, for some information about a champagne we are seeking for an upcoming sparkler of the month.

After Julie gave her the happy news that it would be arriving soon, she helped Penny select a sheepy cheese and then recommended a wine to match with it.

The Formaggio sign says it all. We are fans of ewe's milk cheeses. We even love the stronger ones that offer a punch of flavor. This cheese is one we can happily share with friends who would shy away from some of the more pungent pecorinos. It is a happy balance of sheep's milk flavor without being overpowering.

Get over to the shop while they have this lovely cheese in stock. It's worth the price.

And, here are other posts from our Cheese Collection!

What's on your Cheese shopping list? Here are some great books about cheese. These make wonderful gifts for a cheese lover. And, when you shop Amazon from here, they put some coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: ©2015 Penny Cherubino

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October 7, 2015
Meet Alice “Tajad” Glera: Our October Sparkling Wine

Our recommended sparkling wine for October 1st is Alice "Tajad" Glera. We met this delightful prosecco at Coppa Enoteca in the South End. It's been on the menu for a while and we've enjoyed it on our past few visits. Please join us as we toast a Happy New Month!

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It is the perfect sip for a lazy afternoon on the patio. And, it's a great selection to match the Coppa menu.

We enjoyed it with a variety of dishes from a plate of mixed crostini to the semolina pasta with Ligurian veal ragu and salsa verde.

A beautiful glass of bubbles adds a touch of festive to any meal.

If you are joining our Sparkling Resolution and have decided to start each month with a glass of sparkling wine, we highly recommend a trip to Coppa. You can toast the new month with a glass of Alice and some wonderful small plates. It's one of our favorite ways to spend any afternoon!

Alice note from the importer:

"Tajad means “blend” in local Veneto dialect, and this kind of blend of local varieties used to be the daily drinker in the Veneto. Tasting it makes one question the wisdom of abandoning those antique varieties for a single-minded, conformist focus on Glera. (Wine now must be at least 85% Glera to be labeled Prosecco.) Tajad shows a little spiciness, a touch of rusticity, and a lot of character. It makes you wish you could be standing at Nonna Alice’s bar, asking her for another glass."

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

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: © 2015 Penny Cherubino

October 1, 2015
Meet Alice “Tajad” Glera: Our October Sparkling Wine

Our recommended sparkling wine for October 1st is Alice "Tajad" Glera. We met this delightful prosecco at Coppa Enoteca in the South End. It's been on the menu for a while and we've enjoyed it on our past few visits. Please join us as we toast a Happy New Month!

\

It is the perfect sip for a lazy afternoon on the patio. And, it's a great selection to match the Coppa menu.

We enjoyed it with a variety of dishes from a plate of mixed crostini to the semolina pasta with Ligurian veal ragu and salsa verde.

A beautiful glass of bubbles adds a touch of festive to any meal.

If you are joining our Sparkling Resolution and have decided to start each month with a glass of sparkling wine, we highly recommend a trip to Coppa. You can toast the new month with a glass of Alice and some wonderful small plates. It's one of our favorite ways to spend any afternoon!

Alice note from the importer:

"Tajad means “blend” in local Veneto dialect, and this kind of blend of local varieties used to be the daily drinker in the Veneto. Tasting it makes one question the wisdom of abandoning those antique varieties for a single-minded, conformist focus on Glera. (Wine now must be at least 85% Glera to be labeled Prosecco.) Tajad shows a little spiciness, a touch of rusticity, and a lot of character. It makes you wish you could be standing at Nonna Alice’s bar, asking her for another glass."

Related Posts:

Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast …

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

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: © 2015 Penny Cherubino

October 1, 2015
Boston Public Library’s Digital Magazine Service
These days, I'm spending more time reading magazines because I discovered the Boston Public Library’s digital magazine service.

It's another one of the free services included in your Boston Public Library Card. Once you finish the steps to get started with the service, you can browse the newsstand and read the latest issue and a few of the back issues right on your desktop or laptop.

If you want to read on your mobile device, you can download the appropriate app and have reading material on hand wherever you are.

I love the option to be notified when a new issue of a favorite magazine is available. I'm using that service for the New Yorker and Saveur right now. This week I enjoyed all the cartoons and a few of the articles in the New Yorker.

When they announced this service, the Library said,

"Boston Public Library now provides library cardholders free access to popular magazines via a digital magazine service, making more than 100 popular English and Spanish language magazines instantly available. The online resource Zinio offers the ability to check out and download titles like National Geographic, ESPN the Magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Newsweek, and is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and computers. Zinio features complete, full-color magazines with intuitive navigation, keyword article search, and interactive audio and video elements.

“Boston Public Library is pleased to offer this new resource,” said Michael Colford, Director of Library Services. “It is a convenient, free, no-waiting option that appeals to avid magazine readers as well as those who prefer to consume their news and information in digital form.”

Cardholders can reach the service via the “collections” section of the Boston Public Library website. Library users log in with their Boston Public Library card and then create a library collection account and a Zinio.com reader account. In addition, users have the option of downloading a Zinio app."

If you don't have a Boston Public Library Card, get one. You might not know that you qualify for a BPL card.

Here's the official word on who is eligible:

"You are eligible for a library card if you are:
- a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- a Massachusetts property owner
- commute to Massachusetts for work
- residing in Massachusetts while attending school
- a resident of temporary housing in Massachusetts
- Library users from outside Massachusetts may apply for a research card for the purpose of using Research Library materials (in-library use only)."
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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino, Screen shot from the Boston Public Library website.
September 25, 2015
Boston Public Library’s Digital Magazine Service
These days, I'm spending more time reading magazines because I discovered the Boston Public Library’s digital magazine service.

It's another one of the free services included in your Boston Public Library Card. Once you finish the steps to get started with the service, you can browse the newsstand and read the latest issue and a few of the back issues right on your desktop or laptop.

If you want to read on your mobile device, you can download the appropriate app and have reading material on hand wherever you are.

I love the option to be notified when a new issue of a favorite magazine is available. I'm using that service for the New Yorker and Saveur right now. This week I enjoyed all the cartoons and a few of the articles in the New Yorker.

When they announced this service, the Library said,

"Boston Public Library now provides library cardholders free access to popular magazines via a digital magazine service, making more than 100 popular English and Spanish language magazines instantly available. The online resource Zinio offers the ability to check out and download titles like National Geographic, ESPN the Magazine, Good Housekeeping, and Newsweek, and is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and computers. Zinio features complete, full-color magazines with intuitive navigation, keyword article search, and interactive audio and video elements.

“Boston Public Library is pleased to offer this new resource,” said Michael Colford, Director of Library Services. “It is a convenient, free, no-waiting option that appeals to avid magazine readers as well as those who prefer to consume their news and information in digital form.”

Cardholders can reach the service via the “collections” section of the Boston Public Library website. Library users log in with their Boston Public Library card and then create a library collection account and a Zinio.com reader account. In addition, users have the option of downloading a Zinio app."

If you don't have a Boston Public Library Card, get one. You might not know that you qualify for a BPL card.

Here's the official word on who is eligible:

"You are eligible for a library card if you are:
- a resident of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- a Massachusetts property owner
- commute to Massachusetts for work
- residing in Massachusetts while attending school
- a resident of temporary housing in Massachusetts
- Library users from outside Massachusetts may apply for a research card for the purpose of using Research Library materials (in-library use only)."
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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny Cherubino, Screen shot from the Boston Public Library website.
September 25, 2015
These Vizslas Hunt Graffiti: Say Hello to Sasha & Finn!

Sasha and Finn have a mission when they go out for a walk. These proud Vizslas help their person Michael Fenter hunt down and remove graffiti from their neighborhood.

This trio work with the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay's Graffiti Busters. Actually, the dogs offered companionship and moral support while Michael did the hard work of cleaning black paint off this utility box.

When the graffiti kit on wheels stays home, you can be sure that their 5 daily walks will result in shopping bags of litter picked up along the way. Whenever they are out and about, they take care of their own business and do their share of volunteer work.

What you can do!

If this crew makes you wish you were doing more to help your neighbors on your dog walks, here are some of the things that you can do.

Join your neighborhood association or park group and volunteer a bit of your time. There are many things you can do while walking with dogs. (We didn't find a great list of Boston's neighborhood associations and park groups so we are working on one for a future post. If you belong to one please add a link in the comments below, Tweet it to @BostonZest ,or send us an email.)

Report graffiti (and other problems the city needs to correct) with a call to the 311 line, at tweet to @bos311, or by using the 311 app. Details at that link.

Grab an extra pick-up bag and use it to pick-up litter along the your route. (Remember last week we told you about Zeus and his person who is also a litter buster!)

Learn what you need to know to keep watch for Dutch Elm Disease or Asian Longhorned Beetles.

Report damage to statues or park fixtures to the Parks Department. In the case of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Public Garden, or the Boston Common, you can also report those issues to the Friends of the Public Garden.

Stop and say thank you to volunteers like these when you see them doing good work around your area.

By the time we returned from our walk, the graffiti team was gone, the area was clean, and the utility box was ready for repainting the next day. We wanted to give the tip of our Sunday Dog hat to these great neighbors.

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 & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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September 20, 2015
These Vizslas Hunt Graffiti: Say Hello to Sasha & Finn!

Sasha and Finn have a mission when they go out for a walk. These proud Vizslas help their person Michael Fenter hunt down and remove graffiti from their neighborhood.

This trio work with the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay's Graffiti Busters. Actually, the dogs offered companionship and moral support while Michael did the hard work of cleaning black paint off this utility box.

When the graffiti kit on wheels stays home, you can be sure that their 5 daily walks will result in shopping bags of litter picked up along the way. Whenever they are out and about, they take care of their own business and do their share of volunteer work.

What you can do!

If this crew makes you wish you were doing more to help your neighbors on your dog walks, here are some of the things that you can do.

Join your neighborhood association or park group and volunteer a bit of your time. There are many things you can do while walking with dogs. (We didn't find a great list of Boston's neighborhood associations and park groups so we are working on one for a future post. If you belong to one please add a link in the comments below, Tweet it to @BostonZest ,or send us an email.)

Report graffiti (and other problems the city needs to correct) with a call to the 311 line, at tweet to @bos311, or by using the 311 app. Details at that link.

Grab an extra pick-up bag and use it to pick-up litter along the your route. (Remember last week we told you about Zeus and his person who is also a litter buster!)

Learn what you need to know to keep watch for Dutch Elm Disease or Asian Longhorned Beetles.

Report damage to statues or park fixtures to the Parks Department. In the case of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, the Public Garden, or the Boston Common, you can also report those issues to the Friends of the Public Garden.

Stop and say thank you to volunteers like these when you see them doing good work around your area.

By the time we returned from our walk, the graffiti team was gone, the area was clean, and the utility box was ready for repainting the next day. We wanted to give the tip of our Sunday Dog hat to these great neighbors.

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 & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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September 20, 2015
Time to Pick Up Your Edible Boston Autumn 2015 Issue

My preview copy of Edible Boston's Autumn 2015 issue arrived this week. It is another issue filled with great writing and photography.

Look for this cover when you visit shops and restaurants that support the local, sustainable food movement. Many of those places are advertisers and distribution spots for this publication.

Sharing Food Stories

This is one publication where the Letter from the Editor near the front is the place to start. Ilene Bezahler always makes me think, resolve, or remember. This time she shared memories of the food scene on Martha's Vineyard where Ed and I vacationed for many years.

She also recommended staying in a house or apartment on vacation rather than a hotel so that you can experience a place more like a local. That's something we've always preferred. She and I will have to sit down over a cup of tea or glass of wine one of these days and compare notes in person.

The Field of Grain

There are a couple of articles in this issue about grains – growing grains and turning them into great artisan breads. Living with a confessed bread-a-holic, these were two of my first reads this time around.

You'll meet another issue full of food makers, food growers, and food curators. And, the ads will give you lots of great ideas, things to do, places to visit, and items to add to your shopping list. Of course, a gift subscription to Edible Boston itself is a perfect gift for anyone who is a lover of fresh, local food, and the people who bring it our way.

Support publisher Ilene Bezahler and her talented team

First, pick up a copy of Edible Boston at one of these locations. In fact, pick up two copies and share one with a food-loving friend or leave it where someone might discover it among lesser publications and become a new fan.

May I suggest that you let their sponsors know you saw them in the magazine and grab an extra copy and get it to someone else who cares about supporting the local food movement. Also, if you have a blog, twitter account, or facebook page, write about them, link to them, follow them, retweet their tweets, like them on facebook, and in general, spread the word about this great asset to our community.

And, to be sure you never miss an issue, you can subscribe over on their website!

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

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Covershot: Courtesy of Edible Boston

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September 18, 2015
Time to Pick Up Your Edible Boston Autumn 2015 Issue

My preview copy of Edible Boston's Autumn 2015 issue arrived this week. It is another issue filled with great writing and photography.

Look for this cover when you visit shops and restaurants that support the local, sustainable food movement. Many of those places are advertisers and distribution spots for this publication.

Sharing Food Stories

This is one publication where the Letter from the Editor near the front is the place to start. Ilene Bezahler always makes me think, resolve, or remember. This time she shared memories of the food scene on Martha's Vineyard where Ed and I vacationed for many years.

She also recommended staying in a house or apartment on vacation rather than a hotel so that you can experience a place more like a local. That's something we've always preferred. She and I will have to sit down over a cup of tea or glass of wine one of these days and compare notes in person.

The Field of Grain

There are a couple of articles in this issue about grains – growing grains and turning them into great artisan breads. Living with a confessed bread-a-holic, these were two of my first reads this time around.

You'll meet another issue full of food makers, food growers, and food curators. And, the ads will give you lots of great ideas, things to do, places to visit, and items to add to your shopping list. Of course, a gift subscription to Edible Boston itself is a perfect gift for anyone who is a lover of fresh, local food, and the people who bring it our way.

Support publisher Ilene Bezahler and her talented team

First, pick up a copy of Edible Boston at one of these locations. In fact, pick up two copies and share one with a food-loving friend or leave it where someone might discover it among lesser publications and become a new fan.

May I suggest that you let their sponsors know you saw them in the magazine and grab an extra copy and get it to someone else who cares about supporting the local food movement. Also, if you have a blog, twitter account, or facebook page, write about them, link to them, follow them, retweet their tweets, like them on facebook, and in general, spread the word about this great asset to our community.

And, to be sure you never miss an issue, you can subscribe over on their website!

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

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Covershot: Courtesy of Edible Boston

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Sunday Cat Sophia Says, "Let me in Whee-ooh …"

Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

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How Martha's Vineyard Has Become a Local Food Haven

September 18, 2015
Discovered Pickled Celery Via the Ploughman’s Lunch at Eastern Standard

Who knew that I would love pickled celery? Isn't it wonderful when you discover a new taste that thrills you?

On a recent visit to Eastern Standard, I order the Ploughman's Lunch to go with my Gin & Tonic. The menu description said, "decade cheddar, pickles, pate maison." When my board arrived, it also had olives, radishes, grilled bread, and some greens. It was a perfect selection for my mood that day.

Then, I tasted the pickles. Cucumber, "very nice." Onion, "tasty." Celery, "who knew pickled celery was this good? Is pickled celery a new thing I had not yet discovered?"

Back at my desk, I researched and found it is not new. I discovered new and old recipes for it in very old cookbooks and in some of the newest books, like Fermented Vegetables: Creative Recipes for Fermenting 64 Vegetables & Herbs in Krauts, Kimchis, Brined Pickles, Chutneys, Relishes & Pastes. This one was recommended by my friend Bob Oppenheim when I asked him about pickled celery.

Bob has been having fun fermenting this season. But, I think I'm going to stick to quick pickles. I did find a good, quick pickled celery recipe over at Food52, Spicy Celery Quick Pickle Sticks. And a simple quick pickle at Food.com.

Have you pickled celery? If you join me in experimenting with this new pickle, how will you use it?

What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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September 9, 2015