Category: We recommend!

Ready for the Big First with Champagne Mouzon Leroux L’ineffable

We pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly at the start of every month of every year as part of our Sparkling Resolution. And while it always puts us in a festive mood, we have to admit that selecting a wine for New Year’s Eve does have an extra special feel (and often cost) to it.

But, we’re always confident that getting ready for the Big First is worth the price of admission. And, besides, the search is a fun part of the lead-up to such a momentous celebration.

Penny Tells How She Found Our Selection

I found this grower Champagne with the help of the community at Boston Chowhound. One of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB posted, “Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?”

A great discussion of Champagne followed and I was so pleased to be able to give back to the person who had found so much great food for us over the years. As often happens, when you give something out into the world, something good comes back to you. In this case, it was the recommendation of Federal Wine & Spirits as a source of great Champagne.

We’ve used and recommended this shop as a place to buy spirits for years but had not ventured downstairs to the wine section. Since I happened to be downtown running errands, I did just that and found another generous wine mentor, Len Rothenberg, to add to our continuing education on the topic.

He asked great questions. What type of Champagne do we enjoy? What are some of the grower Champagnes we've had? Price range?

He then consulted his computer inventory and came up with a short list of three grower Champagnes he had in stock. Next, he walked me through the choices to come up with Champagne Mouzon Leroux et Fils L'ineffable as the one he felt was ready to drink now and fit the taste profile I’d given him.

Finally, he gave me his card and asked if I would give him feedback on his choice. I call that getting to know the customer!

It was a great experience and I will be visiting more often to buy wines there.

We’ll update you on our bottle of Champagne L'ineffable after we’ve toasted 2016 with it!

Related Posts:

Here’s more about Our Sparkling Resolution

And, Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List (Since this is a category this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.)

A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

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 Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Bollinger Rosé Champagne Is Our Choice for Our New Year's Toast!

Sparkling Wine for New Year's Eve? We Have Suggestions!

Consult Our Wine Collection Before You Shop for Bottles of Bubbles!

December 29, 2015
Bring Clementines to the Office Party

Are you looking for something delicious and different to bring to your office holiday party? (Or just to have on your desk this week to offer to your officemates?)

How about some Clementines? This is their season and they play right into the holiday tradition of an orange in a Christmas stocking.

They're always a hit around our office. Ed and I have a small table that sits between our work areas. We use it to share a plate of apple slices or a pile of clementine or tangerine wedges for an afternoon snack.

When Ed reported to the radio station each day, he came home once and told me he wanted to bring something in for the holiday office party. I added three boxes of clementines to our grocery order and he added those to the holiday spread. They were a hit.

We separate oranges, tangerines, clementines into sections for our office table. But, you can fill a basket, build a pyramid, or stack a few on paper plates with whole fruit and let everyone peel their own.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Tangerine Tip: Don't Toss Those Peels!

Make it Easy to Eat Tangerines and You Will!

Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

December 21, 2015
Bring Clementines to the Office Party

Are you looking for something delicious and different to bring to your office holiday party? (Or just to have on your desk this week to offer to your officemates?)

How about some Clementines? This is their season and they play right into the holiday tradition of an orange in a Christmas stocking.

They're always a hit around our office. Ed and I have a small table that sits between our work areas. We use it to share a plate of apple slices or a pile of clementine or tangerine wedges for an afternoon snack.

When Ed reported to the radio station each day, he came home once and told me he wanted to bring something in for the holiday office party. I added three boxes of clementines to our grocery order and he added those to the holiday spread. They were a hit.

We separate oranges, tangerines, clementines into sections for our office table. But, you can fill a basket, build a pyramid, or stack a few on paper plates with whole fruit and let everyone peel their own.

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: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Tangerine Tip: Don't Toss Those Peels!

Make it Easy to Eat Tangerines and You Will!

Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

December 21, 2015
Gifting a Great Bottle of Wine

Recently, Ed said, "I could have been dropped here from another planet and I'd know the time of year from the wine ads on TV …" Many of those ads try to convince you to buy a mass market, low cost wine for holiday gifts or serving at parties. Don't fall for it!

Here's our little Poppy girl guarding our solution to the question of what to serve and gift as a holiday wine. We had Brix Wine Shop deliver a case of Nino Franco Rustico. We'll have it on hand for guests, last minute gifts, and if we enter January with a few left over, we'll enjoy it ourselves.

Last year, we posted this piece about Nino Franco and gifts of wine:

Nino Franco Rustico: A Wine for Holiday Gifts & Celebrations

Our main message was, "Please don't give your clients, business associates, and friends most of the wines you see in TV ads as holiday gifts. A good wine shop can recommend a good wine value that you can give with pride. And, it will be one that will please both the occasional sipper and wine aficionado."

Nino Franco Rustico is one of many great value wines we've covered as we toast the 1st of each month with a glass of bubbles.

That Special Gift

You may be looking for a special high-end wine for a special gift. Recently, one of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB sought opinions from other food and wine fans for a special purchase over on Chowhound. He asked for comments on: "Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?"

This turned into a wonderful conversation about styles of Champagne, shops that carry great bottles, and favorites among the group.

As I read, I added a couple of shopping stops to our New Year's Eve Wine shopping list and everyone learned a bit more about high-end bottles. Best of all, many of us were able to give a bit back to a forum member who has led so many of us to great food for so long.

Our motto for buying a gift of wine has always been, "Give a wine you will be happy to have in your own wine rack for a special moment." Or, buy an extra bottle or two and ensure there will be one when the time comes for you to celebrate.

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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 18, 2015
Gifting a Great Bottle of Wine

Recently, Ed said, "I could have been dropped here from another planet and I'd know the time of year from the wine ads on TV …" Many of those ads try to convince you to buy a mass market, low cost wine for holiday gifts or serving at parties. Don't fall for it!

Here's our little Poppy girl guarding our solution to the question of what to serve and gift as a holiday wine. We had Brix Wine Shop deliver a case of Nino Franco Rustico. We'll have it on hand for guests, last minute gifts, and if we enter January with a few left over, we'll enjoy it ourselves.

Last year, we posted this piece about Nino Franco and gifts of wine:

Nino Franco Rustico: A Wine for Holiday Gifts & Celebrations

Our main message was, "Please don't give your clients, business associates, and friends most of the wines you see in TV ads as holiday gifts. A good wine shop can recommend a good wine value that you can give with pride. And, it will be one that will please both the occasional sipper and wine aficionado."

Nino Franco Rustico is one of many great value wines we've covered as we toast the 1st of each month with a glass of bubbles.

That Special Gift

You may be looking for a special high-end wine for a special gift. Recently, one of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB sought opinions from other food and wine fans for a special purchase over on Chowhound. He asked for comments on: "Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?"

This turned into a wonderful conversation about styles of Champagne, shops that carry great bottles, and favorites among the group.

As I read, I added a couple of shopping stops to our New Year's Eve Wine shopping list and everyone learned a bit more about high-end bottles. Best of all, many of us were able to give a bit back to a forum member who has led so many of us to great food for so long.

Our motto for buying a gift of wine has always been, "Give a wine you will be happy to have in your own wine rack for a special moment." Or, buy an extra bottle or two and ensure there will be one when the time comes for you to celebrate.

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 Cherubino
Photography: © 2012-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

December 18, 2015
Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve 2015 & New Year’s Day Brunch 2016
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!

And, since it was popular last year, we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2016 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 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 Eve 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 reputations on high quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.
- Select Oyster Bar will serve a 7-course tasting menu. There are still a few seats left for a 6pm and 9pm seating.
- Island Creek Oyster Bar is serving its regular menu and that kindness puts them high on our list.
- Row 34 will serve their regular menu with a special addition: "Caviar and Champagne are the name of the game this New Year's Eve. Ossetra caviar and NV Krug Grand Cuvee are available for enjoying at cost …"
- Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
- Craigie on Main will present a five course tasting menu.
- Grotto on Beacon Hill, Kitchen in the South End, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
- La Morra in Brookline will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with a glass of Prosecco!
- Myers + Chang will add special items to their regular menu and serve it all Dim Sum style.
Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Eve in Boston.

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.
- Eastern Standard will be open with their great brunch menu.
- La Voile on Newbury serves a lovely meal and is a great way to start the year.
Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Day in Boston

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

Related articles

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste
December 17, 2015
Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve 2015 & New Year’s Day Brunch 2016
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!

And, since it was popular last year, we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2016 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 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 Eve 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 reputations on high quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.
- Select Oyster Bar will serve a 7-course tasting menu. There are still a few seats left for a 6pm and 9pm seating.
- Island Creek Oyster Bar is serving its regular menu and that kindness puts them high on our list.
- Row 34 will serve their regular menu with a special addition: "Caviar and Champagne are the name of the game this New Year's Eve. Ossetra caviar and NV Krug Grand Cuvee are available for enjoying at cost …"
- Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
- Craigie on Main will present a five course tasting menu.
- Grotto on Beacon Hill, Kitchen in the South End, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
- La Morra in Brookline will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with a glass of Prosecco!
- Myers + Chang will add special items to their regular menu and serve it all Dim Sum style.
Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Eve in Boston.

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.
- Eastern Standard will be open with their great brunch menu.
- La Voile on Newbury serves a lovely meal and is a great way to start the year.
Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Day in Boston

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

Related articles

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste
December 17, 2015
Island Creek Oysters Has a Newbury Street Pop Up Shop for the Holidays

Attention Back Bay neighbors! We have a temporary source of shellfish at 142 Newbury Street (map.) Ed's favorite Island Creek Oysters are available to take home or ship to a lucky gift recipient through January 2nd.

Just a few steps East of Dartmouth Street, you'll find this cheerful store front.

Down the stairs is an icy display of fresh shellfish. On my visit, there were razor clams, oysters, and more.

I was on the hunt for littleneck clams to make Clams Al Forno and they had them. There is a recipe at that link, but I use the one in the cookbook from Al Forno restaurant in Providence: Cucina Simpatica: Robust Trattoria Cooking From Al Forno.

In addition to giving live seafood, you might also find a gift for your oyster lover from their display of shellfish and Island Creek related products.

Here's hoping these good folks have a successful season and pave the way for more food shops in the neighborhood.

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

Related articles

Best Bite: Blue Prawns on the Plancha at Select Oyster Bar

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

December 10, 2015
Island Creek Oysters Has a Newbury Street Pop Up Shop for the Holidays

Attention Back Bay neighbors! We have a temporary source of shellfish at 142 Newbury Street (map.) Ed's favorite Island Creek Oysters are available to take home or ship to a lucky gift recipient through January 2nd.

Just a few steps East of Dartmouth Street, you'll find this cheerful store front.

Down the stairs is an icy display of fresh shellfish. On my visit, there were razor clams, oysters, and more.

I was on the hunt for littleneck clams to make Clams Al Forno and they had them. There is a recipe at that link, but I use the one in the cookbook from Al Forno restaurant in Providence: Cucina Simpatica: Robust Trattoria Cooking From Al Forno.

In addition to giving live seafood, you might also find a gift for your oyster lover from their display of shellfish and Island Creek related products.

Here's hoping these good folks have a successful season and pave the way for more food shops in the neighborhood.

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

Related articles

Best Bite: Blue Prawns on the Plancha at Select Oyster Bar

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

December 10, 2015
Stop and Smell the Beans – the Gorgeous Coffee Beans

What’s so great about coffee? Besides the fact that many of us can’t start or survive the day without it, there has to be more to this all but magical drink than just the caffeine.

There’s the unmistakable aroma of fresh brewed coffee in the morning. The close your eyes, “mmm …” after that first sip. And, the shameless excuse it provides to take a much needed break anytime of day.

While all of that works for me, there’s also “the look” of coffee, especially as it’s being prepared. Tearing open a package of freshly roasted beans and watching those glistening nuggets of goodness cascade into the grinder bin is not to be dismissed lightly. I should explain.

In our home, we’ve been ordering coffee beans from the same company, Beanstock Coffee, for years. These guys roast their coffee, “… locally, in small batches and always to order.” Because we love robust, dark roast coffee, our favorite is the Black Fish Creek Blend that they describe best as, “… “Very dark and smooth without being burnt and finishing with subtle berry notes.”

After grinding, and before brewing, there’s another beauty shot moment of a fresh mound of tiny ground granules that’s quickly upstaged by its intoxicating fragrance.

Gorgeous coffee beans – that shouldn’t be overlooked – on their way to becoming an outstanding cup of joe.

Warm up the espresso machine!

And, before we get emails asking, we use a Breville Cafe Roma Espresso Maker and a Capresso Burr Coffee Grinder.

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!

<br /> <br />

Details:

Words: Ed Cherubino

Photography: © 2015 Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Mastering Hamersley's Roast Chicken Recipe

Rich and Luscious Lamb Shank Chili

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

December 9, 2015