Tag: Cambridge

Farmers’ Markets Are Brimming with Goodness

Just when our farmers' markets are brimming with fresh, ripe, abundant products, some customers forget about them. It's as if Labor Day and the changes we make in our schedules after that holiday take them off our agenda.

This abundant table at the Copley Market is just a hint of what's on offer.

We are here to tell you that that would be a big mistake. Some of the best fruit and vegetables of the year are showing up now at your local markets and farm stands. Right now, we're getting the best of the summer and the early fall crops.

We see lots of you clicking on our spring post with the weekly market schedule. As the markets begin to close for the season, we'll prepare an update. But remember, most markets are open into October. Some markets like Copley, Dewey Square, City Hall Plaza, and Central Square Cambridge are open until Thanksgiving week.

You can find the closing dates for your favorite market over at the MassFarmersMarkets site. Click on the Find tab, select "market" and enter your information in the boxes.

What's your favorite fall crop? We love winter squash and new potatoes! We make big trays of roasted, root vegetables and use them as an ingredient in hash, soup, and salads. Here's more about that trick!

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

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Screengrab courtesy of Alimentum

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

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September 12, 2012
Basque Country Supper: Recreating Happy Memories

Sometimes we gather food to recreate a happy memory. A recent Basque themed supper did just that.

We fell in love with Basque food in Philadelphia back in 2007. Preparing for the trip, Penny had scoured the area’s Chowhound boards and booked a table at a new restaurant called Tinto. As we’ve said so many times since then, “If we’d had a week in Philadelphia, we would have eaten at Tinto every night.”

Wine, cheese, ham, olives, and bread combine for supper with terroir!

We love grazing on small plates. At Tinto, those small plates were perfect gems. When we want to bring back some of those memories, we stop at a place like Formaggio Kitchen and tell the staff we want a Basque experience. They will then lead us to the flavors of the region.

The rosey Jamón Serrano seems to call out for a Txakolina Rosé like the one above from Ameztoi. We like both their rosé and their crisp, thirst-quenching white. If you haven’t discovered Txakolina, summer is the time to introduce it to your personal wine list.

The cheese is from the French Basque side of the Pyreness, Ardi-Gasna Pardou. It’s a rich, aged sheep’s milk variety with an edible rind and proper, sheepy punch.

Some good bread and olives filled out our tray. The flavors share the terrior of the region. You might want to return to a different region of Spain, to Turkey, or to Paris. Gather the best of what Boston has to offer from your favorite place and make yourself a supper filled with memorable flavor.

What’s on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

A Rosé Amongst the Thorns

Food Tips for Shakespeare on the Common

Happy Summer: We Declare Rosé Wine Season Open!

August 7, 2012
Basque Country Supper: Recreating Happy Memories

Sometimes we gather food to recreate a happy memory. A recent Basque themed supper did just that.

We fell in love with Basque food in Philadelphia back in 2007. Preparing for the trip, Penny had scoured the area’s Chowhound boards and booked a table at a new restaurant called Tinto. As we’ve said so many times since then, “If we’d had a week in Philadelphia, we would have eaten at Tinto every night.”

Wine, cheese, ham, olives, and bread combine for supper with terroir!

We love grazing on small plates. At Tinto, those small plates were perfect gems. When we want to bring back some of those memories, we stop at a place like Formaggio Kitchen and tell the staff we want a Basque experience. They will then lead us to the flavors of the region.

The rosey Jamón Serrano seems to call out for a Txakolina Rosé like the one above from Ameztoi. We like both their rosé and their crisp, thirst-quenching white. If you haven’t discovered Txakolina, summer is the time to introduce it to your personal wine list.

The cheese is from the French Basque side of the Pyreness, Ardi-Gasna Pardou. It’s a rich, aged sheep’s milk variety with an edible rind and proper, sheepy punch.

Some good bread and olives filled out our tray. The flavors share the terrior of the region. You might want to return to a different region of Spain, to Turkey, or to Paris. Gather the best of what Boston has to offer from your favorite place and make yourself a supper filled with memorable flavor.

What’s on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

A Rosé Amongst the Thorns

Food Tips for Shakespeare on the Common

Happy Summer: We Declare Rosé Wine Season Open!

August 7, 2012
Here’s How to Do the “Kobe Krawl”

Of all the Sunday Dogs we’ve featured, Kobe is the first (as far as we know) who can crawl on command! Now we realize that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very bright, but this little one is only four months old!

It’s also worth mentioning that despite his tender age, Kobe holds down a full-time job! This inspiring overachiever works locally at Google– a company that obviously values a canine point of view. When Kobe’s at the office, he mostly assists when needed which often means there’s a lot of downtime to fill.

Kobe Assisting Jenny at the Office

Besides his superior learning skills, Kobe also excels in other ways. This happy, inquisitive ball of energy is already building quite a reputation for himself as an all-around friendly guy.

Getting to know the neighbors his high on his to-do list. Kobe loves all dogs and their four-legged companions too!

As tongues go, we were fascinated by Kobe’s– has to be great for scooping up water!

We learned that Kobe can’t get enough soft, squeaky toys and who can blame him! He also likes to gnaw on bully sticks.

Puppies don’t come any cuter than Kobe and we’re looking forward to watching him grow. And, we can’t wait to see what trick he masters next!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino
Kobe & Jenny at the Office: courtesy of Jenny Kelemen

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dogs

Sunday Dog, Rose – Her Search Is Over!

August 5, 2012
Here’s How to Do the “Kobe Krawl”

Of all the Sunday Dogs we’ve featured, Kobe is the first (as far as we know) who can crawl on command! Now we realize that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very bright, but this little one is only four months old!

It’s also worth mentioning that despite his tender age, Kobe holds down a full-time job! This inspiring overachiever works locally at Google– a company that obviously values a canine point of view. When Kobe’s at the office, he mostly assists when needed which often means there’s a lot of downtime to fill.

Kobe Assisting Jenny at the Office

Besides his superior learning skills, Kobe also excels in other ways. This happy, inquisitive ball of energy is already building quite a reputation for himself as an all-around friendly guy.

Getting to know the neighbors his high on his to-do list. Kobe loves all dogs and their four-legged companions too!

As tongues go, we were fascinated by Kobe’s– has to be great for scooping up water!

We learned that Kobe can’t get enough soft, squeaky toys and who can blame him! He also likes to gnaw on bully sticks.

Puppies don’t come any cuter than Kobe and we’re looking forward to watching him grow. And, we can’t wait to see what trick he masters next!

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon Everything You Need for Summer Fun and support this site!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino
Kobe & Jenny at the Office: courtesy of Jenny Kelemen

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

Related articles

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dogs

Sunday Dog, Rose – Her Search Is Over!

August 5, 2012
Twig Farm Square Cheese Is Back!

If I were really pressed to name my favorite cheese, I'd still have a list. But near the top of that list would be Twig Farm Square. It's near the top of the list for other cheese lovers too. The small supply sometimes disappears quickly and you have to wait until the next batch is ready.

It's ready!

And, it's now available in a few of my favorite cheese shops. The piece above came from South End Formaggio. But, it's also at Central Bottle in Central Square and Formaggio Kitchen.

We've already provided you with a full post on this cheese so I won't go into all the delicious details here, except to say that the current batch is great with a dab of honey.

Ed and I usually have a cheese for a few days and often have a small cheese plate with three or four selections. But one taste of this Twig Farm Square, and we decided it was an evening for "one perfect cheese."

Related Posts: Here's more about Cheese from BostonZest

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 16, 2012
Bon Chon Chicken: Add a Favorite to the List

Our friend Mick was the first one to recommend Bon Chon chicken in Allston. With his descripiton, we added it to the "must try list." Then, praise for this spicy version of fried chicken began popping up over on Chowhound's Boston Board and Bon Chon moved to the top of our minds.

Bon Chon spicy chicken! (There's a soy/garlic version too.)

During a recent hot spell, we decided to try and make a Packard's Corner triple play. Lunch at Bon Chon, then a quick move to the Super 88 to resupply our Asian staples, and finally a slow stroll to Clear Flour to satisfy our bread lovers' souls. And, the Green Line home.

We began with a basic order: a bit of each style of chicken with sides of pickled radish, fries, rice, and coleslaw. We have since refined our orders, especially for take-out or delivery, to the chicken and radishes. The fries are very good if you're eating in, but they distract from the chicken and are not great take out.

Tiny bottles of a good cava were perfect with the chicken. Beer is highly recommended.

We should warn you that Bon Chon Chicken is an addictive substance. Two days after a visit to Allston, you'll find yourself ordering a big box of spicy hot wings and drumsticks delivered to your hungry hands!

It would also make perfect party food the next time you want to have friends over without the work. The folks at Bon Chon are ready for that with 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 piece selections of wings or drumsticks all prepriced on their site.

A second franchise has opened in Harvard Square. We haven't tried this one yet, but we'll update when we do.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

Details:

Bon Chon

123 Brighton Avenue #300‬, ‪Allston, MA 02134‬ (map & reviews)

‪(617) 254-8888‬

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 10, 2012
Where to Pick up Great Food for Boston Summer Events

This is going to be a big week for events around Boston with both the July 4th Celebration on the Esplanade and the Tall Ships in the Harbor. If you want to pick up a picnic to enjoy at a summer event, we have some great links.

Along the Charles on July 4th, both sides of the river and all the bridges will be filled with fireworks fans. Here are some of the places where you can pick up a meal near an entrance to the Esplanade or close to Memorial Drive on the Cambridge side. You do need food while you stake out your spot for the big show.

The fireworks barges on the river.

Back Bay

Marlboro Market (map & reviews) has a deli counter where they make some of the best sandwich values in the area. Simple, hearty fare made to your specifications by the friendly crew behind the counter. Bonus, you can fill your cooler with soft drinks, chips, and anything else you need here. They even sell the coolers!

For an Indian feast stop into India Samraat and choose a selection from their menu that will add an exotic note to your picnic.

Update: Both India Samraat and L'Aroma Cafe have closed.

L'Aroma Cafe on Newbury Street is between the Arlington and Dartmouth Street footbridges to the park and offers a great selection of take-out.

A recent picnic from Bacco's

Bacco's Wine and Cheese is on St. James right off Arlington making it the perfect place to pick up a meal for either the Esplanade or The Boston Common. We love to scan the case, pick a salumi, a couple of cheeses, some rolls, and enjoy a meal on a shady bench.

Cambridge Central Square

This is becoming a true food destination and not just for all the great restaurants located there.

Central Bottle + Provisions will be open on the 4th and is great for those who'll be coming to the river from the North. They have a great selection of cheese, salumi, and an ever changing daily food selection.

On days other than this holdiay, you can add a great dessert to your basket from Flour Bakery next door. (We called and confirmed that Flour is closed on the 4th.)

Beacon Hill

Savenor's Market built its reputation on excellent meat but they have always offered a fine selection of other food. Now the Cambridge Market has a deli, and they are delivering "Grab & Go" sandwiches to the Charles Street store, so that you can pop in on your way to an event and walk out with everything you want.

Other favorite picnic pick-up locations for us from Charles Street are: The Paramount , Cafe Vanille, and Panificio.

Boston Common

There is now some good food right on the Common. You'll find a Clover Food Lab truck stationed by the newly restored Brewer Plaza for long hours each day. There is also The Frog Pond Cafe in-season with some very nice options.

Across from the Common is the Thinking Cup. This cafe has built a solid reputation on its outstanding coffee service but it also has great sandwiches and pastry.

Keep these in mind when you plan your Shakespeare on the Common evening this year.

Waterfront & North End

Gathering food in the North End is a regular habit of ours. We love Salumeria Italiana and will often pick up a quick meal from their offerings.

If we want prepared foods, we head for J. Pace & Son where they can fill your cooler with sandwiches, salads, calzones, and other Italian favorites. And, they also have shops in the West End and Seaport.

Along the Greenway, there is an ever changing collection of food trucks and carts for meals and snacks. They have a schedule posted here. You can consult our food truck tab to learn more about some of the rolling restaurants.

We've given you a start and told you about the places we go and enjoy. Tell us about your favorite places to enjoy an event or a meal, and where you love to go to pick up your food.

What's on your Summer Fun shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 3, 2012
Sunday Dog, Harvey– a Poodle Not a Pooka!

Sunday Dog, Harvey is a Poodle not a pooka! But, he was named after the title character in the movie “Harvey” who was, supposedly, a pooka playing the part of a 6 foot 3 ½ inch invisible rabbit. And, since Harvey the poodle’s person, not the pooka, had an imaginary childhood friend who was a poodle and also wanted a “person name” for her puppy, it all just came together. Phew!

Our Harvey, who’ll turn 8 years old on the 4th of July, is (as it happens) a very independent guy! While a happy and friendly Standard Poodle, we’re told, “He likes his space” and “likes to cuddle when he wants to cuddle.”

Harvey also likes to stay cool. His person says, “He won’t sleep on my bed except when I have the window fan on, when he can put his head right in front of the fan. I call it, ‘the all night car ride.’”

Even though Harvey’s a Poodle, “He doesn’t like swimming– he never got that memo!” But, he is very athletic and energetic.

Harvey plays hard with a whole bunch of his buddies twice a day at their Cambridge dog park, and also manages to squeeze in some quality, off-leash time with his walker and 8 other dogs in his spare time. That’s 3 hours of exercise a day! No wonder he’s in such great shape!

Amiable, social, with a lot of acquaintances, h-m-m. So, while Harvey is definitely a Poodle, he might have a little imaginary, shape-shifting Harvey the pooka in him, after all.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

What's your creative outlet this summer? Amazon has Art, Craft, and Sewing Supplies to inspire you to follow your dreams.

Details:
Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

July 1, 2012
Our Collection of 7 Cooling Tips for Hot Days!

With years of posts behind us, we sometimes forget how many tips we have for something like a heat wave. Here's what you need to know for the temperatures they're forecasting for the next few days.

Bonus tip: go find a cool place to sit and relax like a dock along the Charles!

Cool Summer Sips – A couple of cool drink ideas to welcome summer to Boston

Someplace Cool to Walk… If you still want to get some exercise, we have some air-conditioned paths to follow.

Surviving a Heat Wave – What You Need to Know – Tips from everyone from the city to the CDC.

Cool Food for a Hot Day - One of our favorite hot day suppers

Miss lilibeth and Gisselle are Issuing a Hot Car Alert – Be sure to protect your pets inside and out!

Poached Chicken Becomes Curried Chicken Salad – Another cool supper and you can make it with take-out chicken too!

Maggie says, “Drink Up!” – Tips on giving your dog a drink when you're out and about.

What's on your Summer heat shopping list? Shop Amazon – Get Ready for Summer – Everything You Need and support this site!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

June 19, 2012