Category: We recommend!

Dining around Boston on Father’s Day, June 15, 2014

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Dad to a meal out on Father's Day, Sunday, June 15, 2014.

Would your Dad love to get his hands on some great Island Creek Oysters at Row 34?

For Father's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurant suggestions.

Open Table always does a great job guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list.

Boston Chef's has a special list from their members.

Updates:

06.05.14- Chowhound conversation: Outdoor lunch, Father's Day, Metro West

Our Picks:

Row 34 in the Fort Point Neighborhood. Wouldn't Dad love to slurp a few Island Creeks or Row 34 oysters? And, match those beauties with the perfect brew from one of the taps or the current cask beer?

Here's more on what we enjoyed at Row 34.

Sweet Cheeks Q in the Fenway may seem to be just for the meat lovers in the clan, but they put out some great veggies and a tray of hot and cold scoops (as they call them) with a remarkable farm salad that will put a smile on any one with a preference for vegetarian fare. And, remember to order the crazy-good biscuits. (You may want to treat Dad to a doggie bag of them for the rest of the week!) Check out our Sweet Cheeks posts:

Sweet Cheeks BBQ: A First Look

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Salt & Pepper Potatoes at Sweet Cheeks Q

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

How about simple Italian-American food in a very comfortable setting. We suggest Artu in the North End or on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. Here's one of our favorite menu items.

If you'd like to treat Dad to something really special, consider the ultimate hamburger at the Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Hotel. Lunch there for just the two of you, some quiet afternoon, could be a great IOU if you can't be together on the 15th. Here's what we wrote about that burger.

Another great spot to share a meal, any day of the week, is Coppa in the South End. You can even top off your meal with a quick shopping trip to South End Formaggio across the street. We always do! And, that will let you create a super take-home gift that Dad can help select. Need more convincing? Take a look at:

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Coppa Italian Grinder: A Best Bite

Coppa- A First Look

And, if you're thinking of an adventure in the South End, how about a guided tour of the food trucks gathered at the SOWA Open Market each Sunday. No resevations needed! Check out:

SOWA Market: Where to Find Food Trucks!

Photo of Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton Rhode Island courtesty of that great resouce for finding all the dining traditions Boston has to offer, Hidden Boston.

Our final suggestion is a trip down memory lane. Take Dad someplace where he used to take you if you have an old favorite that survives to this day. For Penny, this might be Evelyn's Drive-In. For Ed, The Bubbling Brook in Westwood. This day would be about remembering and laughing as much as about the food.

And, for the best gift, let Dad choose something from his Wish List. Get an Amazon gift card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card. And, if he doesn't shop online, offer to sit with your Dad and take him on an Amazon shopping trip.

Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino and Evelyn's courtesy of Hidden Boston.

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June 3, 2014
Brebis Pardou: One Sheepie Cheese

Ed and I both have a taste for Sheepie cheeses, so we both enjoyed a wedge of Brebis Pardou from the Pyrenees region of France that was recommended by a cheesemonger at South End Formaggio.

Ed was waiting outside the shop with our puppy Poppy. I loved my first taste so much that I had to share it with him and excused myself for a moment to bring him half of my sample slice. (The shop is smart enough to have a bench out there. Thanks!)

Ed approved the purchase with a happy nod and we enjoyed this piece over the next week.

Here's how Formaggio describes this cheese:

"Brebis Pardou
Country of Origin: France
Region: Pyrénées-Atlantiques
City / Village: Laruns
Type of Milk: Sheep
Flavor Profile: Medium
Wine Pairings: White: Full-bodied & Dry
Wine Pairings 2: Red: Lean Old World

A farmhouse sheep's milk cheese from the Vallee D'Ossau Iraty using the milk of the traditional breed of sheep: brebis béarnaise. Brebis Pardou has a wonderful smooth and supple texture with flavors and aromas of herbs, nuts, and sweet cream."

And, here are other items from our Cheese Tray!

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: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Vermont Shepherd Verano: Seasoned with Summer Grass

Mas Marcé El Set: Milk from a Rare Breed of Sheep

Basque Country Supper: Recreating Happy Memories

June 2, 2014
Brebis Pardou: One Sheepie Cheese

Ed and I both have a taste for Sheepie cheeses, so we both enjoyed a wedge of Brebis Pardou from the Pyrenees region of France that was recommended by a cheesemonger at South End Formaggio.

Ed was waiting outside the shop with our puppy Poppy. I loved my first taste so much that I had to share it with him and excused myself for a moment to bring him half of my sample slice. (The shop is smart enough to have a bench out there. Thanks!)

Ed approved the purchase with a happy nod and we enjoyed this piece over the next week.

Here's how Formaggio describes this cheese:

"Brebis Pardou
Country of Origin: France
Region: Pyrénées-Atlantiques
City / Village: Laruns
Type of Milk: Sheep
Flavor Profile: Medium
Wine Pairings: White: Full-bodied & Dry
Wine Pairings 2: Red: Lean Old World

A farmhouse sheep's milk cheese from the Vallee D'Ossau Iraty using the milk of the traditional breed of sheep: brebis béarnaise. Brebis Pardou has a wonderful smooth and supple texture with flavors and aromas of herbs, nuts, and sweet cream."

And, here are other items from our Cheese Tray!

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: © 2014 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Vermont Shepherd Verano: Seasoned with Summer Grass

Mas Marcé El Set: Milk from a Rare Breed of Sheep

Basque Country Supper: Recreating Happy Memories

June 2, 2014
Toasting June with Raventos i Blanc de Nit

Raventos i Blanc de Nit is one of our finds from Perry’s in Provincetown. We were happy to see more of this wonderful Spanish sparkler in the cooler on a recent visit.

This wine comes from a Spanish estate that has been owned by the same family of winegrowers since 1497. And, they have been making sparkling wine by the traditional method since 1872.

We enjoyed one bottle on a rainy afternoon by the sea. And, we are welcoming June, the month that brings us summer, with another.

Our scribbled notes from our last two tastings contain words like smooth, round, balanced, and sophisticated. We both found ourselves enjoying the lingering bouquet and the rose gold color in our glasses.

We can’t wait to pop the cork on another bottle of this beauty!

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

By the way, Sunday Dog will return next week. Meanwhile, here are a few past hounds for you to visit.

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 Cherubino

June 1, 2014
Toasting June with Raventos i Blanc de Nit

Raventos i Blanc de Nit is one of our finds from Perry’s in Provincetown. We were happy to see more of this wonderful Spanish sparkler in the cooler on a recent visit.

This wine comes from a Spanish estate that has been owned by the same family of winegrowers since 1497. And, they have been making sparkling wine by the traditional method since 1872.

We enjoyed one bottle on a rainy afternoon by the sea. And, we are welcoming June, the month that brings us summer, with another.

Our scribbled notes from our last two tastings contain words like smooth, round, balanced, and sophisticated. We both found ourselves enjoying the lingering bouquet and the rose gold color in our glasses.

We can’t wait to pop the cork on another bottle of this beauty!

Here’s More About Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

By the way, Sunday Dog will return next week. Meanwhile, here are a few past hounds for you to visit.

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 Cherubino

June 1, 2014
Courtyard Concerts Return to Copley Square BPL
One of our favorite entertainment programs of the year, the Boston Public Library's (BPL) Courtyard Concert Series returns on June 4, 2014 at 6pm. Notice the day and date.

As, the BPL announced, "In addition to Friday lunchtime concerts at 12:30 p.m., this season the library now offers evening concerts on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. All the concerts are free and last approximately one hour."

The Fernando Holz Band delighted audiences last year and is scheduled to appear again this summer.

Here are the rest of the details the library provided for the series.

The month of June features Berklee College of Music students and alumni performing everything from jazz, pop, and funk to works with Arab, Latin American, and Scottish influences:
- Daniel Rotem Trio, Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The Trio performs original compositions that integrate world influences with improvisation and the jazz tradition.
- KeL, Friday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. KeL combines elements of jazz and pop with Brazilian melodies.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The artist’s eclectic music blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop as well as sounds inspired by her African background.
- Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul, Friday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. Rooted in traditional Scottish and Appalachian old-time music, Moynihan and Chaimbeul developed a sound which celebrates and explores beautiful melodies.
- The Western Den, Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Deni Hlavinka and Chris West blend folk harmonies with ambient textures to produce unique sounds and songs.
- Ahmad El Haggar, Friday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. The Egyptian singer-songwriter and oud player performs original songs and rearranges music from the Arab world to create modern sounds.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Performers at the 2014 Latin Grammys with Alejandro Sanz, the group plays both traditional and unique compositions arranged for voice, percussion, mandolin, guitar, and bass.
- Miriam Elhajli, Friday, June 27, at 12:30 p.m. The folk singer-songwriter combines the sounds of Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the crudeness of Delta Blues.
The complete Concerts in the Courtyard schedule, which is generously sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation (www.bplf.com), can be viewed at www.bpl.org/concerts. The concerts continue in July and August with the following schedule:
- Kendall Ramseur, Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
- Cruzamente Quintet, Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
- Erika Van Pelt, Friday, July 11, 12:30 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
- Lindsay Straw, Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m.
- Patrick Coman, Wednesday, July 23, 6 p.m.
- Cardamom Quartet, Friday, July 25, 12:30 p.m.
- Susan Cattaneo, Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.
- Darlingside, Wednesday, August 6, 6 p.m.
- Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 8, 12:30 p.m.
- Caitlin Canty, Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m.
- The Jason Palmer Quartet, Friday, August 15, 12:30 p.m.
- Fernando Holz Band, Wednesday, August 20, 6 p.m.
- Bill Lowe, Friday, August 22, 12 p.m.
- The Ron Murphy Band, Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m.
- American Century Music, Friday, August 29, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2013 Penny Cherubino
May 30, 2014
Courtyard Concerts Return to Copley Square BPL
One of our favorite entertainment programs of the year, the Boston Public Library's (BPL) Courtyard Concert Series returns on June 4, 2014 at 6pm. Notice the day and date.

As, the BPL announced, "In addition to Friday lunchtime concerts at 12:30 p.m., this season the library now offers evening concerts on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. All the concerts are free and last approximately one hour."

The Fernando Holz Band delighted audiences last year and is scheduled to appear again this summer.

Here are the rest of the details the library provided for the series.

The month of June features Berklee College of Music students and alumni performing everything from jazz, pop, and funk to works with Arab, Latin American, and Scottish influences:
- Daniel Rotem Trio, Wednesday, June 4, at 6 p.m. The Trio performs original compositions that integrate world influences with improvisation and the jazz tradition.
- KeL, Friday, June 6, at 12:30 p.m. KeL combines elements of jazz and pop with Brazilian melodies.
- Wambura Mitaru, Wednesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. The artist’s eclectic music blends funk, soul, R&B, jazz, and hip-hop as well as sounds inspired by her African background.
- Jenna Moynihan and Mairi Chaimbeul, Friday, June 13, at 12:30 p.m. Rooted in traditional Scottish and Appalachian old-time music, Moynihan and Chaimbeul developed a sound which celebrates and explores beautiful melodies.
- The Western Den, Wednesday, June 18, at 6 p.m. Deni Hlavinka and Chris West blend folk harmonies with ambient textures to produce unique sounds and songs.
- Ahmad El Haggar, Friday, June 20, at 12:30 p.m. The Egyptian singer-songwriter and oud player performs original songs and rearranges music from the Arab world to create modern sounds.
- 3 Sudacas, Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. Performers at the 2014 Latin Grammys with Alejandro Sanz, the group plays both traditional and unique compositions arranged for voice, percussion, mandolin, guitar, and bass.
- Miriam Elhajli, Friday, June 27, at 12:30 p.m. The folk singer-songwriter combines the sounds of Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie with the crudeness of Delta Blues.
The complete Concerts in the Courtyard schedule, which is generously sponsored by the Boston Public Library Foundation (www.bplf.com), can be viewed at www.bpl.org/concerts. The concerts continue in July and August with the following schedule:
- Kendall Ramseur, Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
- Cruzamente Quintet, Wednesday, July 9, 6 p.m.
- Erika Van Pelt, Friday, July 11, 12:30 p.m.
- Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, Wednesday, July 16, 6 p.m.
- Lindsay Straw, Friday, July 18, 12:30 p.m.
- Patrick Coman, Wednesday, July 23, 6 p.m.
- Cardamom Quartet, Friday, July 25, 12:30 p.m.
- Susan Cattaneo, Wednesday, July 30, 6 p.m.
- Properly Unprepared, Friday, August 1, 12:30 p.m.
- Darlingside, Wednesday, August 6, 6 p.m.
- Boston Lyric Opera, Friday, August 8, 12:30 p.m.
- Caitlin Canty, Wednesday, August 13, 6 p.m.
- The Jason Palmer Quartet, Friday, August 15, 12:30 p.m.
- Fernando Holz Band, Wednesday, August 20, 6 p.m.
- Bill Lowe, Friday, August 22, 12 p.m.
- The Ron Murphy Band, Wednesday, August 27, 6 p.m.
- American Century Music, Friday, August 29, 12:30 p.m.
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: © 2013 Penny Cherubino
May 30, 2014
Tenoch Mexican Restaurants & Food Truck

Tenoch Mexican is adding a bit of south of the border flair to the food options in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood with their new 3 Lewis Street, Boston location. (map)

The menu lets you build your own meal with options for platos, tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas all with your choice of fillings including a vegetable option. Plus more wonderful choices from enchiladas to tamale. A sample menu is here. But, there was much more on offer at the North End location.

For lunch, we decided on a plato of carnitas, salsas, beans, and rice along with …

three tacos filled with lamb in barbacoa sauce. (Ours were sans cilantro. You can have them add as much as you like.)

With Christopher Columbus Park so close, we opted for a bit of waterfront dining on a gorgeous spring day. You might choose a table on the Greenway or a seat along the Boston HarborWalk.

There's a Tenoch Food Truck, Too!

Photo by Matt Conti from the most wonderful hyperlocal resource NorthEndWaterfront.com

Tenoch Móvil is on the road around Boston, Cambridge, and Burlington as of this date. You can get updates on the current schedule on twitter @TenochMexican.

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: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, and Matt Conti for the Tenoch Móvil with permission of NorthEndWaterfron.com.

May 29, 2014
Tenoch Mexican Restaurants & Food Truck

Tenoch Mexican is adding a bit of south of the border flair to the food options in the North End/Waterfront neighborhood with their new 3 Lewis Street, Boston location. (map)

The menu lets you build your own meal with options for platos, tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas all with your choice of fillings including a vegetable option. Plus more wonderful choices from enchiladas to tamale. A sample menu is here. But, there was much more on offer at the North End location.

For lunch, we decided on a plato of carnitas, salsas, beans, and rice along with …

three tacos filled with lamb in barbacoa sauce. (Ours were sans cilantro. You can have them add as much as you like.)

With Christopher Columbus Park so close, we opted for a bit of waterfront dining on a gorgeous spring day. You might choose a table on the Greenway or a seat along the Boston HarborWalk.

There's a Tenoch Food Truck, Too!

Photo by Matt Conti from the most wonderful hyperlocal resource NorthEndWaterfront.com

Tenoch Móvil is on the road around Boston, Cambridge, and Burlington as of this date. You can get updates on the current schedule on twitter @TenochMexican.

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: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, and Matt Conti for the Tenoch Móvil with permission of NorthEndWaterfron.com.

May 29, 2014
At the Market Report: What’s for Sale at Early Spring Farmers’ Markets

Thanks to winter markets, wholesale customers, farm stands, and CSA's, we are seeing more ready to eat produce at early spring farmers' market. Here are some of what we saw at the Copley Farmers' Market during the past two weeks.

Organic asparagus and scallions from Siena Farms.

Rhubarb (above) and potatoes (below) from Foppema's Farm.

And, there were some new vendors this year.

RI Mushroom Company had gorgeous, golden oyster and shiitake mushrooms. (Click on any photo for a larger view.)

River Rock Beef was on hand with their Grass Fed beef cuts. We bought a hanger steak.

And, of course, the specialty food folks were on hand with their wonderful products. From Crystal Brook Farm's goat cheese …

… to Fastachi's selection of artisan roasted nuts and nut products. We're addicted to their roasted almonds.

Here's what we bought on opening day at Copley this year. On Friday, we arrived too late for tomatoes and cucumbers from Atlas Farm. They were sold out before we arrived. With early spring markets, it's good to arrive at opening if you're hoping for scare crops like those.

Starters, Annuals, and Herb Plants, too!

Mint plants from Foppema's.

Many sage varieties from the Herb Lyceum at Gilson's.

Boston Public Market on the Greenway (North End)

We stopped by opening day of the new location for the former City Hall Farmers' Market. It is now called the The Boston Public Market on the Greenway and is located a few steps from the MBTA Haymarket Station in front of the building that will become The Boston Public Market. (Map)

We may have missed out on tomatoes at Friday's Copley Square Market, but Freitas Farm had both medium salad tomatoes and the lovely baskets of cherry tomatoes shown above.

Updates from Other Food Lovers:

Here's a great photo report on the opening of the Union Square Market in Somerville from that great resource Somerville Beat.

Here's a Boston Chowhound Conversation on Late May Farmers' Markets, Farm Stands, and CSAs

Our Related Posts:

Summer Farmers' Markets Opening Dates 2014

Here are more of our Local Food/Farmers' Market posts.

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: ©2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

May 27, 2014