Category: We recommend!

Toasting March with an Old Friend – Louis de Grenelle Saumur Brut Rosé

We’ve been enjoying Louis de Grenelle Saumur Brut Rosé for quite a few years. This old friend has been our go-to choice on restaurant wine lists (Bistro du Midi, Eastern Standard, Jean-Georges) for years. We’ve also treated ourselves to this wonderful rosé at home, but have never covered it, until now.

Like many rosés, this one always brings on a smile. As Penny points out, “It’s a very pretty pink, touched with just a little peach, with a light effervescence.”

We could detect a little almond on the nose, maybe some strawberry. It has a nice dry background. To really appreciate this sparkler, don’t over-chill it!

Importer Jon-David Headrick Selections calls this, “… a dry and rich sparkling rosé … bright, crisp, and delicious” … “produced from estate-grown fruit just outside of Saumur in France’s Loire Valley.”

We were surprised to learn that this lovely wine is 100% Cabernet Franc, a grape variety famous for its blending ability and one we haven’t always liked as a solo performer. In this case, it really steals the show with an admission price that’s hard to beat.

Here’s to March and to old friends. Santé!

Louis de Grenelle Saumur Brut Rosé

This time rom Gordon’s Fine Wines & Liquors

$15.19 (after case discount)

And, a regular purchase at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

Our Sparkling Resolution (Why We Toast Every Month)

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

March 1, 2014
Boston on Budget: Our Friday Link

This week, we want to introduce you to Boston On Budget. This is a great collection of ways to have some low cost fun in Boston. Face it, we all love a bargain!

We live in an expensive city and this site has dozens of ways to cut the cost of enjoying the good life in this wonderful place.

I've followed Kate, from Boston on Budget, on Twitter ( @bostononbudget ) and appreciate her contributions to help visitors on Trip Advisor's Boston forum. She recently answered a question over there with a link to this great page of discounts on Boston's attractions.

Here's how she describes her site:

"As you probably know, Boston is one of the most expensive in U.S. City to live and the third most expensive U.S. city to visit. Boston on Budget compiles the best budget-friendly events, discount attractions, cheap eats, and much more happening in the Greater Boston area (and beyond) to help stay on budget in an expensive area!"

While this site is a great gift to vistors to our city, Kate also supplies the locals with lots of ways to tuck a bit of change back into their wallets. Thanks Kate, for all the hard work you've done collecting this information for the rest of us!

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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February 21, 2014
Boston on Budget: Our Friday Link

This week, we want to introduce you to Boston On Budget. This is a great collection of ways to have some low cost fun in Boston. Face it, we all love a bargain!

We live in an expensive city and this site has dozens of ways to cut the cost of enjoying the good life in this wonderful place.

I've followed Kate, from Boston on Budget, on Twitter ( @bostononbudget ) and appreciate her contributions to help visitors on Trip Advisor's Boston forum. She recently answered a question over there with a link to this great page of discounts on Boston's attractions.

Here's how she describes her site:

"As you probably know, Boston is one of the most expensive in U.S. City to live and the third most expensive U.S. city to visit. Boston on Budget compiles the best budget-friendly events, discount attractions, cheap eats, and much more happening in the Greater Boston area (and beyond) to help stay on budget in an expensive area!"

While this site is a great gift to vistors to our city, Kate also supplies the locals with lots of ways to tuck a bit of change back into their wallets. Thanks Kate, for all the hard work you've done collecting this information for the rest of us!

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

Related articles

Paul Revere Maps among those "Made In Boston" BPL Map Center Exhibition

Another Kind of Parking Space Saver…

"Food Spot" Conversation Is Our Friday Link

February 21, 2014
Boston on Budget: Our Friday Link

This week, we want to introduce you to Boston On Budget. This is a great collection of ways to have some low cost fun in Boston. Face it, we all love a bargain!

We live in an expensive city and this site has dozens of ways to cut the cost of enjoying the good life in this wonderful place.

I've followed Kate, from Boston on Budget, on Twitter ( @bostononbudget ) and appreciate her contributions to help visitors on Trip Advisor's Boston forum. She recently answered a question over there with a link to this great page of discounts on Boston's attractions.

Here's how she describes her site:

"As you probably know, Boston is one of the most expensive in U.S. City to live and the third most expensive U.S. city to visit. Boston on Budget compiles the best budget-friendly events, discount attractions, cheap eats, and much more happening in the Greater Boston area (and beyond) to help stay on budget in an expensive area!"

While this site is a great gift to vistors to our city, Kate also supplies the locals with lots of ways to tuck a bit of change back into their wallets. Thanks Kate, for all the hard work you've done collecting this information for the rest of us!

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

Related articles

Paul Revere Maps among those "Made In Boston" BPL Map Center Exhibition

Another Kind of Parking Space Saver…

"Food Spot" Conversation Is Our Friday Link

February 21, 2014
Pulled Pork with Tart, Tangy Cole Slaw

Pulled pork is something we've normally enjoyed in BBQ restaurants since Penny is not about to try preparing it in our tiny urban kitchen. But, she did spot a package of pulled pork among the fresh packaged meals, mains, and sides at our local Trader Joe's, recently.

We tried it and liked it. Since the sauce is a bit sweet and mayo is outlawed in our food, Penny's solution was to balance the sweetness of the pork with a tart, tangy cole slaw.

In addition to cabbage, carrots, celery, and scallions, we added a finely shredded hakurei turnip purchased from farmer Michael Docter of Winter Moon Farm at the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market. Those are his carrots too! And, below you see him offering samples of the carrots and turnips.

The dressing was malt vinegar, salt, pepper, a bit of honey, and a handful of yellow mustard seeds. This slaw is best made the day before you need it. Letting it sit and pickle mellows out the raw vegetable flavors and allows the mustard seeds work their zingy magic. Just give it a mix a couple of times as it sits in the refrigerator.

Shredding

In case you were wondering, the shredder Penny was using is a very old, now considered vintage, Borner Thin Julienne Slicer. This syle has long since been replaced by new versions. Here's the current one – Borner Thin Julienne Slicer. (It is fun to see things you use all the time listed on ebay as vintage goods.)

This tool cuts in both directions so it makes quick work of the slaw preparation and it's easy to clean under a stong spray of water. Make sure you use a guard. It doesn't come with one but we use one from another mandoline. The guard also makes it possible to shred almost all of the carrots or turnips with only a thin scrap left behind.

Assembly

As you see in the photo, we used the bread we had on hand. Softer bread is the usual choice for a pulled pork sandwich but our kitchen staple is crusty artisan bread. This was a ciabatta from Trader Joe's. And, because of that crusty texture, we opted for open faced sandwiches. Messy, but delicious!

Pulled Pork Tips

We did heat the pork in the microwave. Penny breaks it up a bit before she cooks it and removes the occasional piece of fat. (Yes, fat is flavor, but there's plenty of intramuscular fat in this product.) She also makes an effort to get all the sauce out of the bag, squeezing it like a pastry bag.

In this review of the product from SFGate, one of the testers thought it was dry. That could be because a lot of the sauce was left behind in the bag or that the meat was not fully shredded and mixed with the sauce. It was the winner in this taste-off of six prepared pulled pork products.

Have you tried some of these fresh Trader Joe's products? What did you like or not like?

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

February 18, 2014
Pulled Pork with Tart, Tangy Cole Slaw

Pulled pork is something we've normally enjoyed in BBQ restaurants since Penny is not about to try preparing it in our tiny urban kitchen. But, she did spot a package of pulled pork among the fresh packaged meals, mains, and sides at our local Trader Joe's, recently.

We tried it and liked it. Since the sauce is a bit sweet and mayo is outlawed in our food, Penny's solution was to balance the sweetness of the pork with a tart, tangy cole slaw.

In addition to cabbage, carrots, celery, and scallions, we added a finely shredded hakurei turnip purchased from farmer Michael Docter of Winter Moon Farm at the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market. Those are his carrots too! And, below you see him offering samples of the carrots and turnips.

The dressing was malt vinegar, salt, pepper, a bit of honey, and a handful of yellow mustard seeds. This slaw is best made the day before you need it. Letting it sit and pickle mellows out the raw vegetable flavors and allows the mustard seeds work their zingy magic. Just give it a mix a couple of times as it sits in the refrigerator.

Shredding

In case you were wondering, the shredder Penny was using is a very old, now considered vintage, Borner Thin Julienne Slicer. This syle has long since been replaced by new versions. Here's the current one – Borner Thin Julienne Slicer. (It is fun to see things you use all the time listed on ebay as vintage goods.)

This tool cuts in both directions so it makes quick work of the slaw preparation and it's easy to clean under a stong spray of water. Make sure you use a guard. It doesn't come with one but we use one from another mandoline. The guard also makes it possible to shred almost all of the carrots or turnips with only a thin scrap left behind.

Assembly

As you see in the photo, we used the bread we had on hand. Softer bread is the usual choice for a pulled pork sandwich but our kitchen staple is crusty artisan bread. This was a ciabatta from Trader Joe's. And, because of that crusty texture, we opted for open faced sandwiches. Messy, but delicious!

Pulled Pork Tips

We did heat the pork in the microwave. Penny breaks it up a bit before she cooks it and removes the occasional piece of fat. (Yes, fat is flavor, but there's plenty of intramuscular fat in this product.) She also makes an effort to get all the sauce out of the bag, squeezing it like a pastry bag.

In this review of the product from SFGate, one of the testers thought it was dry. That could be because a lot of the sauce was left behind in the bag or that the meat was not fully shredded and mixed with the sauce. It was the winner in this taste-off of six prepared pulled pork products.

Have you tried some of these fresh Trader Joe's products? What did you like or not like?

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

February 18, 2014
Pulled Pork with Tart, Tangy Cole Slaw

Pulled pork is something we've normally enjoyed in BBQ restaurants since Penny is not about to try preparing it in our tiny urban kitchen. But, she did spot a package of pulled pork among the fresh packaged meals, mains, and sides at our local Trader Joe's, recently.

We tried it and liked it. Since the sauce is a bit sweet and mayo is outlawed in our food, Penny's solution was to balance the sweetness of the pork with a tart, tangy cole slaw.

In addition to cabbage, carrots, celery, and scallions, we added a finely shredded hakurei turnip purchased from farmer Michael Docter of Winter Moon Farm at the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market. Those are his carrots too! And, below you see him offering samples of the carrots and turnips.

The dressing was malt vinegar, salt, pepper, a bit of honey, and a handful of yellow mustard seeds. This slaw is best made the day before you need it. Letting it sit and pickle mellows out the raw vegetable flavors and allows the mustard seeds work their zingy magic. Just give it a mix a couple of times as it sits in the refrigerator.

Shredding

In case you were wondering, the shredder Penny was using is a very old, now considered vintage, Borner Thin Julienne Slicer. This syle has long since been replaced by new versions. Here's the current one – Borner Thin Julienne Slicer. (It is fun to see things you use all the time listed on ebay as vintage goods.)

This tool cuts in both directions so it makes quick work of the slaw preparation and it's easy to clean under a stong spray of water. Make sure you use a guard. It doesn't come with one but we use one from another mandoline. The guard also makes it possible to shred almost all of the carrots or turnips with only a thin scrap left behind.

Assembly

As you see in the photo, we used the bread we had on hand. Softer bread is the usual choice for a pulled pork sandwich but our kitchen staple is crusty artisan bread. This was a ciabatta from Trader Joe's. And, because of that crusty texture, we opted for open faced sandwiches. Messy, but delicious!

Pulled Pork Tips

We did heat the pork in the microwave. Penny breaks it up a bit before she cooks it and removes the occasional piece of fat. (Yes, fat is flavor, but there's plenty of intramuscular fat in this product.) She also makes an effort to get all the sauce out of the bag, squeezing it like a pastry bag.

In this review of the product from SFGate, one of the testers thought it was dry. That could be because a lot of the sauce was left behind in the bag or that the meat was not fully shredded and mixed with the sauce. It was the winner in this taste-off of six prepared pulled pork products.

Have you tried some of these fresh Trader Joe's products? What did you like or not like?

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

February 18, 2014
Paul Revere Maps among those “Made In Boston” BPL Map Center Exhibition

You only have until March 10th to visit the exhibition "Made in Boston" at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."

Boston Harbor in New England, [Cyprian Southack, 1769]

Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere

Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.

As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.

If you are one of our readers from other places, you can see the exhibition on line 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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino, Southack image courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

February 14, 2014
Paul Revere Maps among those “Made In Boston” BPL Map Center Exhibition

You only have until March 10th to visit the exhibition "Made in Boston" at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."

Boston Harbor in New England, [Cyprian Southack, 1769]

Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere

Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.

As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.

If you are one of our readers from other places, you can see the exhibition on line 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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino, Southack image courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

February 14, 2014
Paul Revere Maps among those “Made In Boston” BPL Map Center Exhibition

You only have until March 10th to visit the exhibition "Made in Boston" at the Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of walking through this collection with Assistant Curator Stephanie Cyr while photographing it for a newspaper feature. She was excited to have this gathering of materials brought together, "…for the first time in decades, a majority of maps made in Boston in the century before the American Revolution."

Boston Harbor in New England, [Cyprian Southack, 1769]

Before chatting with Stephanie, I had not thought of Boston as a center for map making. But, it was. And, this is your opportunity to see some of the early work of men like John Bonner, William Burgis, and Paul Revere

Yes, as an engraver, Revere was a map maker and two of his views (above) are on display.

As they always do, the Map Center and Library staff have created an interesting, thought provoking, and educational opportunity with this presentation.

If you are one of our readers from other places, you can see the exhibition on line 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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino, Southack image courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center at the Boston Public Library.

February 14, 2014