Tag: MA

Poured from On High, Txakoli Rose Is a Great Seaside or Seafood Wine

We are welcoming May with a slightly effervescent bottle of Txakoli Rosé. April was a rosy month for us. Txakoli Rosé returned to the wine list at Select Oyster Bar. We enjoyed it there, both before and after our vacation in Provincetown.

On our first day in Ptown, we asked our trusted, local wine merchants at Perry's Wine & Liquors if they had Txakoli. "It's coming in tomorrow," was the reply. We returned the next day to stock up for our own enjoyment and for any guests who happened to join us for a glass of wine and bit of cheese. (Some neighbors from Boston were in town during our stay and we may have added them to the list of fans of the Basque wines.)

Perry's was carrying the Txomin Etxaniz Txakoli Rose. We paired its casual sparkle with a variety of foods from Spanish cheese to lobster and scallops, throughout our days by the sea.

We loved and agree with the description of this wine from PJ Wine in NYC …

"Txakoli rose is like salted watermelon juice. It's like the ocean air drifting through a raspberry bush. It's like… well, it's like heaven. For summer drinking, for salty fried things, for any grilled thing from the sea with olive oil and salt, the straight Txomin Txakoli is one of our favorite drinks. In rose form, it's even better! Think of the refreshing San Sebastian elixir with cranberry tartness in place of the limes. Not sure who wouldn't like this wine, it's that good and refreshing. With just a tiny spritz of bubbles it's also an ideal aperitif, so go ahead and drink this all year long. – PJ"

Back in Boston, we slipped into a couple of bar seats at Select Oyster to enjoy Chef Michael Serpa's selection, UlaciaTxakolina Rose. On this visit, we matched it with shared plates of Gloucester Swordfish, Scallops Ceviche, and a side of Avocado Toast – another delicious combination.

Perhaps it's that the sea air is so close to where the grapes for this wine are grown. Or maybe it's the crisp flavor and low alcohol (11%) that make this gem a perfect match for spring, summer, and the best of living near the Atlantic Ocean. All we know is that we've become devoted Txakoli fans.

We've even purchased the special stoppers (traditional Spanish escanciadors) that aerate the wine as it's poured into a glass from on high. Above is Elisha behind the bar at Select doing the Basque high pour for us.

By the way, Elisha did ask if we preferred it served in wine glasses or in the traditional tumblers used in the Basque region for both the wines of Txakolina and the area's famous ciders. This is an easygoing, fun wine perfect for summer on the roof deck, patio, or a chair by the sea. Those places can be windy and have you clinging to your stemware. So relax, hold a Txakoli on high, pour it splashing into a tumbler, and join our Sparkling Resolution as we toast May and look forward to the warmer days of summer 2016!

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, today's post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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May 1, 2016
Sausages for Sunday Gravy from DePasquale’s Sausage Company in Newton

It's been awhile since I made a big pot of Sunday gravy. So when a friend gifted me with a package of sausages from DePasquale's Sausage Company in Newton, I knew exactly what to do with them.

This was a simplified version of the Sunday specialty enjoyed in Italian American homes throughout the years. I added a bit of beef to the pot but did not take the time to make my special meatballs. (My favorite recipe for meatballs is from the 1975 edition of the The All New All Purpose: Joy of Cooking.)

I couldn't wait to taste the sausage. As soon as it was cooked through, I sliced into one and found it had the texture and flavor of a great handmade, old-style, traditional sweet sausage. I had finally found a replacement for the sausages I've missed since DiPaolo & Rossi Meat Market on Salem Street in the North End closed last year.

Both Ed and I sampled and dipped bread into the sauce as it simmered away all afternoon. Eventually, we served it with penne pasta. A great sauce needs a great, flavorful pasta. We chose the Bionaturae organic 100% durum semolina organic penne rigate.

DePasquale Tip:

They are closed on Sunday and Monday. On a recent visit early on a Tuesday morning, they didn't have sausages ready yet. In fact, their meat order had not even arrived. When they say fresh, they mean fresh! My advice is to call ahead early in the week or later on Saturday to be sure they have what you want in the quantity you need.

Sunday Gravy Recipes

I've been making this for so long that I don't follow a recipe. I just ad lib with what I have on hand. While there are as many recipes for "Sunday Gravy" as there are families who make it, here are a couple if you would rather follow a recipe than play it by ear.

From one of my most trusted recipe developers, Kenji Lopez-Alt (Author of The Food Lab): Meet Ragù Napoletano, Neapolitan-Style Italian Meat Sauce With Pork, Beef, and Sausage.

Here's one titled Sunday Sauce with step-by-step photos and the feeling of a family member teaching you how to make it.

Finally, here's a great piece from Bon Appetit that tells you how to avoid the most common Sunday Gravy mistakes.

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

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Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny Cherubino and a screen shot from DePasquale's website to show the sausage in all their whole glory.

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April 27, 2016
Time in Natural Settings: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

Dogs give us an excuse to seek out natural spaces. Walk the Esplanade early in the morning and you’ll see individuals and groups of friends walking their dogs in this closer-to-nature setting.

We ran into our pal Ainsley on the Esplanade.

In an 1896 letter to the Boston Metropolitan Park Commission, Charles Eliot, landscape architect and champion of this park along the Charles River wrote, “Reservations of scenery are the cathedrals of the modern world.” While the beautiful, bucolic settings that were the original purpose of our parks have been sacrificed over the years, you can still find a few spots where you can feel the healthful effects of nature.

Learn from Your Dog

Watch your dog the next time the two of you visit a beautiful, leafy spot. Notice how he takes in the scene. Follow her lead as she explores the trees, listens to the sounds, and uses all her senses to fully experience the space.

I’m not suggesting you get down and sniff the ground, but rather that you try to pay attention to the sensory setting the way your dog does. Try to find a quiet place in the park, away from modern day distractions, and imagine our city’s natural spaces as they were when created by men like Frederick Law Olmsted, Charles Eliot, or Arthur Shurcliff.

What does the sun feel like on your back? What does the wind in the trees sound like? Try to pick up the slight difference in scent as you near a body of water. These were meant to be places where the city population could escape the crowded city and enjoy the benefits of nature.

Science Confirms

Today, study after study has proven that these men were wise in their instinct to provide spaces where dogs can take their people back to nature.

The University of Rochester reported this conclusion after reviewing a series of studies on the topic including one by Professor Richard Ryan who reported, “… people are more caring and generous when exposed to nature.” And, "The findings were particularly robust, being outside in nature for just 20 minutes in a day was enough to significantly boost vitality levels.”

“We have a natural connection with living things," said Ryan. "Nature is something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built environments."

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.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino adapted for BostonZest from one of our City Paws newspaper columns.
Photos: ©2011-2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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April 24, 2016
Where to Dine in Boston on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, 2016

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Mom to a meal out on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 8, 2016.

Keep in mind that this "treat Mom to a great meal day" falls at the beginning of graduation season in Boston with Northeastern, Emmanuel College, Fisher College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, and Berklee College of Music holding commencements that weekend. (Here's the full list of Spring 2016 Commencement Dates for planning purposes.)

For Mother's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurants with special menus and hours for May 8, 2016

Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure your reservation. This is the type of holiday when people may book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can make the restaurant turn away other potential customers, so a guarantee may be needed to reserve.

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

Boston Chefs has a list of specials for the day from their members.

As more great Boston food sites publish their recommendations, we'll post updates here! Follow us on Twitter ( @BostonZest ) for notice of those additions!

Our picks and, for us, al la carte Menus Get Our Nod

Bistro du Midi has a prix fixe menu in their formal dining room but they're also offering an al la carte menu in the Cafe. With the Swan Boats and Public Garden across the street, this can be a wonderful choice for lunch and a stroll and family photos in a beautiful setting.

Lineage in Brookline is also on the a la carte option plan. Boston Chefs says, "Lineage will be open early for brunch and dinner this Mother's Day, offering up a special a la carte brunch menu, as well as, their regular dinner menu."

The Red Dory in Tiverton, RI: Like many Bostonians, we are long-time fans of chef Steve Johnson and miss his food and smiling face at Rendezvous in Central Square. If a road trip to a waterfront destination would make your Mother's day perfect, head to his new place, The Red Dory. We asked about his Mother's Day plans and he wrote, "Open M'sDay/no special menu except many recent seasonal updates + including Sunday Tapas supplemental menu – Cheers!"

For a gathering of family members with different food preferences, it's great to know about a place like Eastern Standard where they can please the cocktail lover, the meat-and-taters brother, and the family epicure.

If you are meeting people from outside the city, you might consider La Morra in Brookline.

If Mom is a seafood lover, call now to secure a table at Island Creek Oyster Bar. This Kenmore Square restaurant has established itself as the best fine dining seafood restaurant in Boston. Your family will enjoy the best in seafood in a big, comfortable room with reservations and service that will make Mom feel spoiled.

We also love the Island Creek Team spot in the Fort Point neighborhood, Row 34. Here's our post on this great addition to the city's dining scene.

And, for the best gift, let Mom choose something from her Wish List. Get an Amazon Gift Card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: istockphoto.com

April 22, 2016
Planting Bulbs in the Public Garden: Then and Now

With our minds thirsting for color, we watch for the first leaves of what will soon be a display of tulips to poke through the ground. But we give little thought to the people who worked in the fall to plant those bulbs. In the Boston Public Garden that tradition of planting in the fall to give us beauty in the spring has gone on for years.

Here from photographer Leslie Jones is his picture titled, Public Garden Signs of Spring. (Date created: 1917 – 1934 approximate) (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.)

Notice the skyline with just the Custom House Tower showing on George Washington's right.

For the now version, here's a photo Penny took in November of 2012 for a newspaper assignment. Her caption was, "Bob Denn and Danny Mullins from the Boston Parks Department plant the bulbs that will burst into colorful beds next spring near the Public Garden’s Arlington Street entrance."

Of course city workers aren't the only ones who toil to bring us beauty. Here's another shot that was featured on the front page of the Back Bay Sun with the caption, "As temperatures dipped, gardener Susan Juretschke (right) and Violet Byrd spent their days planting bulbs in Back Bay gardens. A few months from now, their work will deliver the first sign of spring as snowdrops, crocus, tulips, daffodils, and more push their way through the earth and snow."

As the sprouts shoot up and the flowers pop, we say thanks to all those who labor to plant bulbs in the fall for us to enjoy in the spring.

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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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April 21, 2016
The Boston Puppy Class of 2016 Adds Joy to Our Walks

There is nothing like watching a puppy bound through the park discovering the world and the people and dogs around him or her.

We keep running into these two little pups on our walks on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Their antics are sure to make you smile.

They circle and sniff one another and then take notice of all their human admirers and dash away to get some smiles and pats from their fans.

This youngster jumped for joy when he saw our friend Greer. She is very tolerant of puppy play and will only give a silly little growl when the kids get out of hand.

Lilly, the Westie pup, was visiting Boston. Her person stopped us near the Public Garden to ask suggestions for a great place to buy a hostess gift. (We sent her to Blackstone's Beacon Hill on Charles Street where we knew the well-mannered Lily would be welcomed and the selection would result in a perfect gift.)

You met Guinness in a post last month but he is such a cutie and was quickly surrounded by a gathering of fans as he walked down Columbus Avenue in the South End that we had to include him in this post too.

Thanks to all the people who allow us to enjoy their new pups. But, just one reminder, if someone is keeping that puppy away, it may be because he or she is not ready for the meet-and-greet scene. The little dog might be in the "window of susceptibility." More about that in this post about another adorable puppy.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs. (This post will be first in the group, so scroll down to meet more of our canine pals.)

Thanks to everyone who Hops over to Amazon from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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April 3, 2016
Time to Get Your Dog a License

March is dog license season in Massachusetts. Dogs in the Commonwealth are required to have a 2016 dog license by April 1st.

When we met this adorable Boston newcomer "Guinness" recently, he already had his license.

How to Apply

I put a reminder on my calendar and usually apply for a Boston dog license online. You can also download an application to mail at that page.

If your dog, like my Poppy, is already registered, enter the current license number and all your information should be filled in by the system. Next, you upload photos of a spay certificate and current rabies record. Then, you enter your credit card information and complete the transaction.

If you prefer the snail mail option, you should receive a package in the mail if your dog is currently licensed. If not, and you want to get a license in person, visit the Animal Care and Control Department at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue. Bring a current rabies certificate and a spay/neuter certificate if you have one. A prepared check or money order will save time.

You can also get your license at the City Hall To Go truck at one of its scheduled spots around town. Just bring the same documents and a check with you.

Low-Cost Clinics

The city has a series of Dog Licensing & Low-Cost Rabies Vaccine Clinics each year. Here's a link to a copy of this year's events. It was in the right-hand sidebar at the time of this writing.

Should Dogs or People Be Licensed?

Over the years, the group of dog lovers that walks with us has often discussed an option of having people licensed as legal caretakers of animals rather than attaching the license to the dog. Then the responsible caregivers could register the animals they have under that license and receive tags for each.

The legislature has a task force looking at a possible statewide Animal Abuse Registry. But, beyond outright abuse, a caregiver’s registry might deny licenses to those who are constant scofflaws or who have a history of dangerous dog offenses.

Of course some enforcement of the current rules and regulations for picking up after your dog and keeping dogs on a leash would have to be a part of any program like this.

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: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

March 20, 2016
Time to Get Your Dog a License

March is dog license season in Massachusetts. Dogs in the Commonwealth are required to have a 2016 dog license by April 1st.

When we met this adorable Boston newcomer "Guinness" recently, he already had his license.

How to Apply

I put a reminder on my calendar and usually apply for a Boston dog license online. You can also download an application to mail at that page.

If your dog, like my Poppy, is already registered, enter the current license number and all your information should be filled in by the system. Next, you upload photos of a spay certificate and current rabies record. Then, you enter your credit card information and complete the transaction.

If you prefer the snail mail option, you should receive a package in the mail if your dog is currently licensed. If not, and you want to get a license in person, visit the Animal Care and Control Department at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue. Bring a current rabies certificate and a spay/neuter certificate if you have one. A prepared check or money order will save time.

You can also get your license at the City Hall To Go truck at one of its scheduled spots around town. Just bring the same documents and a check with you.

Low-Cost Clinics

The city has a series of Dog Licensing & Low-Cost Rabies Vaccine Clinics each year. Here's a link to a copy of this year's events. It was in the right-hand sidebar at the time of this writing.

Should Dogs or People Be Licensed?

Over the years, the group of dog lovers that walks with us has often discussed an option of having people licensed as legal caretakers of animals rather than attaching the license to the dog. Then the responsible caregivers could register the animals they have under that license and receive tags for each.

The legislature has a task force looking at a possible statewide Animal Abuse Registry. But, beyond outright abuse, a caregiver’s registry might deny licenses to those who are constant scofflaws or who have a history of dangerous dog offenses.

Of course some enforcement of the current rules and regulations for picking up after your dog and keeping dogs on a leash would have to be a part of any program like this.

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: ©2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

March 20, 2016
Update on the Esplanade Parcourse

A few years ago we told you about the Shiny New Parcourse on the Esplanade. Recently, we were out shooting photos for an assignment and as we passed the parcourse, we decided to take a look at how it's doing seven years later.

We're happy to report the equipment seems to be in good shape and getting use by a wide range of fitness buffs.

After watching a series of younger people using the facility, we were happy to see two older women arrive, choose an open space, and hang up a jacket like they were regulars.

They proceeded with a routine of stretching and flexing that would certainly improve their physical well-being.

This parcourse is located on the Esplanade Boston side between the BU and Mass Ave Bridges, near the Sherborn Street pedestrian crossover. This map will put you near the spot. (map)

You can't beat the view you'll have if you enjoy a workout here. It's one of the best Boston skyline vistas.

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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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March 17, 2016
Update on the Esplanade Parcourse

A few years ago we told you about the Shiny New Parcourse on the Esplanade. Recently, we were out shooting photos for an assignment and as we passed the parcourse, we decided to take a look at how it's doing seven years later.

We're happy to report the equipment seems to be in good shape and getting use by a wide range of fitness buffs.

After watching a series of younger people using the facility, we were happy to see two older women arrive, choose an open space, and hang up a jacket like they were regulars.

They proceeded with a routine of stretching and flexing that would certainly improve their physical well-being.

This parcourse is located on the Esplanade Boston side between the BU and Mass Ave Bridges, near the Sherborn Street pedestrian crossover. This map will put you near the spot. (map)

You can't beat the view you'll have if you enjoy a workout here. It's one of the best Boston skyline vistas.

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: © 2016 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Related articles

Steamers Leaving for Bass Point and Nahant from Lincoln Wharf

March 17, 2016