bostonzest

Tag: Boston

  • Local Corn? Native Corn? To Peel or Not to Peel? and Other Corn Questions

    Sweet Corn from local farms is the only kind that we buy around here. Over on Chowhound there has been an interesting "Native Corn" discussion going on all month. This was triggered by the early appearance of sweet corn in the Boston market.

     

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    For our take on the subject, we're updating some information we ran back in 2010. What was true then is even truer today.

    “Knee high by the Fourth of July” is a nice rhyme, but this year some farmers were actually able to bring their golden ears to market by Independence Day.

    Early hybrid corn varieties not only extend the corn season, but also stay sweeter longer     than the heirloom versions.

     

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    Great Varieties with Great Names
    Ask about the variety of sweet corn a farmer is selling. That way you’ll begin to develop your own "favorites list." Look for these in local markets: Honey & Cream, Silver Queen, Sugar & Butter, Sundance, Sugar Buns, and Early Sunglow.

    And, if you find one with “Mirai” in it’s name, grab it. It’s rare, but Penny says it’s one of the best she’s ever tasted.

     

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    To Tear or Not to Tear
    One Cape Cod farm where we buy corn has a sign that reads, “Sweet corn 50¢ an ear, tear the husk and it’s $2 an ear.”

    You don’t have to tear down the husk and make part of the farmer’s crop unsaleable to buy great sweet corn.

     

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    Look for corn that has moist, dark-brown, almost sticky silk and a husk that doesn’t feel dry. You can feel the kernels by pressing gently on the husk to determine if the ear is fully developed and plump.

    Corn should not be peeled down until just before you’re ready to drop it into a steaming cook pot.

     

    Do you have a sweet corn question? If so add your sweet corn thoughts or questions in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email. We'll talk to our favorite farmers and try to get an answer.

    Related Links:

    Cooking Sweet Corn: Microwave, Grilling, and Elote!
    Penny’s Corn & Potato Salad


    Penny’s weapon of choice for working with corn is her favorite Shun Santoku Knife. But, if you like gadgets, they make a lot of them for sweet corn.

       

    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2010 – 2015 Penny Cherubino

     

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  • Bun Thit Nuong: A Fresh, Cool Summer Dish from Vietnam

    Do you think cool, crisp, and refreshing when you think of Asian food? If not, it’s time to begin exploring the food of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. When dining out, we’ve even surprised some of our dedicated ethnic-food-loving friends when we add a selection of refreshing summer items to our table’s order.

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    Here's one of our favorite versions of Bun Thit Nuong from Pho Basil. We opted for grilled lemongrass chicken as our protein addition to this lovely noodle salad. 

     FullSizeRender

    Asian Salads

    In their treasure of a cookbook, Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia, authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid talk about the salads they found along the Mekong river. 

    “Salads are such a basic part of eating along the Mekong that they can almost be considered a staple food. They can be as simple as a wedge of parboiled cabbage and a plate of fresh cucumber slices or as elaborate as a mixed array of greens and herbs flavored with a dressing of succulent fried minced pork and a hot-sour-salty fresh dressing …”

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    Here's the take out version from Pho Basil. However, if you are not near their Back Bay/Symphony location, you can find a food truck take on this dish from Bon Me.

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    They call it noodle salad. Wikipedia says the name, “literally means ‘rice noodles [with] grilled meat.'" At Bon Me and local restaurants, you may have the choice of topping it with the pork, lemongrass chicken, tofu, or beef. 

    The next time you visit a great Vietnamese restaurant consider adding a salad to your order!

    Related Posts: 

    Discovering "Pho Basil"– Finally! 

    Dining-In vs Take-Out, Do You Order Differently?

    Bon Me Noodle Salads & Rice Bowls: Food Truck Tracking

     

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (adapted from one of her Fresh & Local newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2010- 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Related articles
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    Water Main Flushing May Mean Rusty Water…
    Meet Coco the Cafe Yogi

  • Bun Thit Nuong: A Fresh, Cool Summer Dish from Vietnam

    Do you think cool, crisp, and refreshing when you think of Asian food? If not, it’s time to begin exploring the food of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. When dining out, we’ve even surprised some of our dedicated ethnic-food-loving friends when we add a selection of refreshing summer items to our table’s order.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340133f0570b2c970b-800wi

    Here's one of our favorite versions of Bun Thit Nuong from Pho Basil. We opted for grilled lemongrass chicken as our protein addition to this lovely noodle salad. 

     FullSizeRender

    Asian Salads

    In their treasure of a cookbook, Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia, authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid talk about the salads they found along the Mekong river. 

    “Salads are such a basic part of eating along the Mekong that they can almost be considered a staple food. They can be as simple as a wedge of parboiled cabbage and a plate of fresh cucumber slices or as elaborate as a mixed array of greens and herbs flavored with a dressing of succulent fried minced pork and a hot-sour-salty fresh dressing …”

    NTOHgUUCm6u9x2-tOkdrE7_vV6SKg4XOuluFMl45FQw,UfSEcHsxaKUmLuFPOEYyicWizOD1V1VO7l6shhnuaUY

    Here's the take out version from Pho Basil. However, if you are not near their Back Bay/Symphony location, you can find a food truck take on this dish from Bon Me.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340162fbd610c5970d-800wi

    They call it noodle salad. Wikipedia says the name, “literally means ‘rice noodles [with] grilled meat.'" At Bon Me and local restaurants, you may have the choice of topping it with the pork, lemongrass chicken, tofu, or beef. 

    The next time you visit a great Vietnamese restaurant consider adding a salad to your order!

    Related Posts: 

    Discovering "Pho Basil"– Finally! 

    Dining-In vs Take-Out, Do You Order Differently?

    Bon Me Noodle Salads & Rice Bowls: Food Truck Tracking

     

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (adapted from one of her Fresh & Local newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2010- 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Related articles
    Boston Chowhounds Give Watertown Ethnic Markets Tips
    Water Main Flushing May Mean Rusty Water…
    Meet Coco the Cafe Yogi

  • Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

    Instead of thinking, “Time to walk the dog,” try turning it around by saying, “Time for my dog to take me outside.” Say it in a tone of appreciation, because being outside can be very good for both of you. 

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    Here are Leo (front) and Wolfgang (rear) taking their humans outside this past spring.

    Cameron Woo, co-founder and publisher of The Bark magazine, brought to my attention recently the importance of the time I spend outside with my dog. He wrote, “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 87% of their life indoors with another 6% spent in automobiles for a total of 93% habitating in enclosed spaces. That leaves only 7% of one’s entire life to spend outdoors. Translated to daily life, we average only about 100 minutes of our day outside”

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    Even with the cold and snow last winter, Poppy made sure we had some time outside each day. She likes the cold better than the heat and loved those high snowbanks.

    Living in one of the country’s most walkable cities (where 15% of us walk to work), Bostonians may do a bit better than average at spending time outdoors. But, Bostonians with dogs have the advantage of taking a few more trips a day to the streets and parks with their canine companions. 

    Where Do You Walk?

    Most days we walk the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That's our routine dog place. But, we also love to explore the city and discover other great dog neighborhoods. Where do you walk your dog? What places do you recommend that we explore? And, how much time do you spend outdoors each day?

    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. And, we highly recommend a subscription to The Bark. It is one of the few print publication subscriptions we still receive.

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (Adapted from one of her City Paws newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

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    Meet Coco the Cafe Yogi
    The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor
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  • Getting Us Outside: Another Way Dogs Are Good for Us

    Instead of thinking, “Time to walk the dog,” try turning it around by saying, “Time for my dog to take me outside.” Say it in a tone of appreciation, because being outside can be very good for both of you. 

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401bb082715b5970d-800wi

    Here are Leo (front) and Wolfgang (rear) taking their humans outside this past spring.

    Cameron Woo, co-founder and publisher of The Bark magazine, brought to my attention recently the importance of the time I spend outside with my dog. He wrote, “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends 87% of their life indoors with another 6% spent in automobiles for a total of 93% habitating in enclosed spaces. That leaves only 7% of one’s entire life to spend outdoors. Translated to daily life, we average only about 100 minutes of our day outside”

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401bb07f01033970d-800wi

    Even with the cold and snow last winter, Poppy made sure we had some time outside each day. She likes the cold better than the heat and loved those high snowbanks.

    Living in one of the country’s most walkable cities (where 15% of us walk to work), Bostonians may do a bit better than average at spending time outdoors. But, Bostonians with dogs have the advantage of taking a few more trips a day to the streets and parks with their canine companions. 

    Where Do You Walk?

    Most days we walk the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. That's our routine dog place. But, we also love to explore the city and discover other great dog neighborhoods. Where do you walk your dog? What places do you recommend that we explore? And, how much time do you spend outdoors each day?

    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. And, we highly recommend a subscription to The Bark. It is one of the few print publication subscriptions we still receive.

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (Adapted from one of her City Paws newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

    Related articles
    Meet Coco the Cafe Yogi
    The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor
    Sunday Dog Lucy Is Settling into the City

  • Great Restaurant List from Tiny Urban Kitchen: Our Friday Link

    Today's Friday Link is an updated list of restaurants from Jen over on Tiny Urban Kitchen. 

    Here's her headline and a link to the post: UPDATED! JEN’S TOP RESTAURANTS IN BOSTON.

    Screen Shot 2015-07-10 at Friday, July 10, 201510.51.08 AM

    When the list was published last week, I shared it on social media and had friends comment on how great it was and send me thank you notes for linking to it.  

    Later in the week, I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch when I came across a park bench filled with friends. One of them mentioned it and another asked if I could email a link to her. I did, but realized that it was a perfect Friday Link post for BostonZest.

    This type of great resource, whether it's a site you should follow or a particular post on a site we've already recommended, is one of the reasons we started BostonZest back in May of 2004. 

    Jen, thanks for making my friends and neighbors happy with your great list of restaurants and wonderful photos of the food they serve.

     

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    When the Table Wobbles …
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    What's on your Food Lover's shopping list?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Great Restaurant List from Tiny Urban Kitchen: Our Friday Link

    Today's Friday Link is an updated list of restaurants from Jen over on Tiny Urban Kitchen. 

    Here's her headline and a link to the post: UPDATED! JEN’S TOP RESTAURANTS IN BOSTON.

    Screen Shot 2015-07-10 at Friday, July 10, 201510.51.08 AM

    When the list was published last week, I shared it on social media and had friends comment on how great it was and send me thank you notes for linking to it.  

    Later in the week, I was on my way to meet a friend for lunch when I came across a park bench filled with friends. One of them mentioned it and another asked if I could email a link to her. I did, but realized that it was a perfect Friday Link post for BostonZest.

    This type of great resource, whether it's a site you should follow or a particular post on a site we've already recommended, is one of the reasons we started BostonZest back in May of 2004. 

    Jen, thanks for making my friends and neighbors happy with your great list of restaurants and wonderful photos of the food they serve.

     

    Related articles
    When the Table Wobbles …
    Boston Chefs: New Look for a Reliable Resource
    What's Happening Around Boston in Summer 2015 (July & August)

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • Canoe Racing on the Charles: 1930s Marathon Style

    Paddling on the Charles has been popular for many years. Back in the 1930s, regular reports on the results of canoe races were included in the Boston Globe. Most of the races covered were five or eight miles. But in one 1931 report, paddlers were challenged with a marathon course of 26 miles. 

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    Photographer Leslie Jones covered one of these events along the way. Both of his photos are titled, "Canoe race, Charles River." Here are links to the one above and the one below. The records say they were taken in June of 1931.

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    The Boston Globe reported on a Canoe Marathon on June 22, 1931. It was won by Howard Chapin in a time of 3 hours, 56 minutes, and 20 seconds. While this was the only race on the Charles River that the newspaper covered, we have no way of knowing if this was the race that Leslie Jones photographed since he worked for a rival news organization.

    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: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

  • Canoe Racing on the Charles: 1930s Marathon Style

    Paddling on the Charles has been popular for many years. Back in the 1930s, regular reports on the results of canoe races were included in the Boston Globe. Most of the races covered were five or eight miles. But in one 1931 report, paddlers were challenged with a marathon course of 26 miles. 

    6323863750_9ebfc92737_z

    Photographer Leslie Jones covered one of these events along the way. Both of his photos are titled, "Canoe race, Charles River." Here are links to the one above and the one below. The records say they were taken in June of 1931.

    6323336685_fac3ac4141_z

    The Boston Globe reported on a Canoe Marathon on June 22, 1931. It was won by Howard Chapin in a time of 3 hours, 56 minutes, and 20 seconds. While this was the only race on the Charles River that the newspaper covered, we have no way of knowing if this was the race that Leslie Jones photographed since he worked for a rival news organization.

    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: Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

  • William Lloyd Garrison Looks Concerned, Wouldn’t You?

    As workers with respirators wait on the scaffolding for cleaning products to be passed up to them, Mr. Garrison seems a bit concerned.

    DSC_6346 - Version 22015-07-07-Art-conservators-Erickson-Commonwealth-mall-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Rest assured sir, they mean you no harm. This is a crew of conservators from Rika Smith McNally & Associates hired by the Friends of the Public Garden to give the statue a check-up and perform and annual cleaning and maintenance.

    Earlier in the week, Rika spotted the potential for damage on the top of Mr. Garrison's head and perhaps that called for stronger cleaning materials than the mild ones this group normally uses. 

    Related Post:

    Tidbits About William Lloyd Garrison & His Statue on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall

    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 Ed Cherubino  

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