Blog

  • Edible Boston’s Spring 2015 Issue Is Available

    Leave it to the team at Edible Boston to create a cover that perfectly describes our slow melt into spring.

    Edible-cover-spring-2015

    My first stop when my preview copy of this publication arrives in the mail is to read publisher Ilene Bezahler's letter to her readers or family as she considers the local food community.

    This month, she had something very important to say and I'm going to quote her message. It's something we've been writing about since the impact of this winter became apparent.

    "This spring I would like to extend my family by inviting the members of the local food community to join me at an imaginary table.

    Over the 9 years that I have been publishing the magazine I’ve enjoyed many a meal, a drink or just a relaxed conversation with these new family members. We’ve shared stories of our lives, daily events, troubles and accomplishments. And like families do, we have helped each out when help is needed.

    Well, now is the time that our family needs help. This past winter has been brutal and the economic impact on the local economy is huge. Think about how many days stores and restaurants had to close due to snow. A closed business means no revenue, revenue that cannot be made up.

    How can we help? Shop in your local store rather than online. Eat out a little more than usual. Pay full price for merchandise rather than waiting for a sale. Remember a little action on our part will have a big impact on our food family."

    Edible Boston is a local business, too.

    And, they can also use your support. Here's what I always say about that.

    How do you support a publisher like Ilene Bezahler and her remarkably talented team?

    Here's where you can pick up a copy.

    May I suggest that you let their sponsors know you saw them in the magazine and grab an extra copy and get it to someone else who cares about supporting the local food movement. Also, if you have a blog, twitter account, or facebook page, write about them, link to them, follow them, retweet their tweets, like them on Facebook, and in general, spread the word about this great asset to our community.

    And, to be sure you never miss an issue, you can subscribe over on their website!

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Artwork: Courtesy of Edible Boston

  • The Dog Humor of “Off The Leash” Is Our Honorary Sunday Dog

    You know we don't approve of dogs "Off the Leash" unless it happens to be in comic form from Rupert Fawcett.

    Off the leash

    I can't count the number of times I've forwarded a link to one of the cartoons by the artist who really understands dogs and the people who love them. Or, how many times I've recognized one of our dogs in his work, despite the fact that he calls them by other names. 

    Go take a look and subscribe to follow along for a steady diet of chuckles, smiles, and a few downright belly laughs. And, if you'd like a print copy for yourself or to give to a dog-lover, here is Rupert Fawcett's author page on Amazon. 

    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 Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

  • The Dog Humor of “Off The Leash” Is Our Honorary Sunday Dog

    You know we don't approve of dogs "Off the Leash" unless it happens to be in comic form from Rupert Fawcett.

    Off the leash

    I can't count the number of times I've forwarded a link to one of the cartoons by the artist who really understands dogs and the people who love them. Or, how many times I've recognized one of our dogs in his work, despite the fact that he calls them by other names. 

    Go take a look and subscribe to follow along for a steady diet of chuckles, smiles, and a few downright belly laughs. And, if you'd like a print copy for yourself or to give to a dog-lover, here is Rupert Fawcett's author page on Amazon. 

    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 Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

  • Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend

    UPDATE: Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend 2016

    Whether you're coming to run or watch the 2015 Boston Marathon or just want to log some miles, it's an exciting time to visit the city. And, we hope this piece will help all the runners who are new to the city, here for a vacation or business trip.

    DSC_6214 - Version 22011-04-18-runners-boston-marathon-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Right onto Hereford Street – Less Than a Mile to Go!

    I remember my first Boston Marathon as a spectator – I've yet to put in the training needed to actually compete. Penny and I booked a hotel room for the weekend and left the car parked. We took in the runners' expo, pasta supper, and other pre-race activities, then watched a spectacular Boylston Street finish.

    As an out-of-state runner staying near Faneuil Hall, I still wanted to get in a run or two, but wasn't sure where to head. 

    Now, as a Boston resident, I can recommend a couple of my favorite routes.

    Charles River Run …

    If you're a visiting runner staying anywhere near the finish line, you can't beat a daytime run along the Charles River. It offers great views and a more open course without having to constantly cross roadways. This multi-use path is shared by bikes, blades, skate boards, dogs, and walkers. It can get congested as the day wears on but, who knows, you may find yourself sharing the trail with some famous, elite runners. It's easy to make any number of loops between the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river by using the many bridges along the way. 

    From Back Bay, you can access the Charles River Esplanade from Massachusetts Avenue, Fairfield, Dartmouth, and Arlington Streets. If you head west from the Massachusetts Avenue ramp you can also use the parcourse workout station that's located just up-river. Click here for photos and details including a map to find it.

    CHE_0719 - Version 32013-01-09-runner-charles-river-misty-winter-morning-© 2011 Penny Cherubino2013-01-09-women-running-charles-Esplanade-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Morning Run Along the Esplanade

    Parks in the Heart of the City

    For a tree-lined route, try the Commonwealth Avenue Mall – not a shopping center, but a park – that runs down the center of this residential street. At Commonwealth and Arlington, you can enter the pristine Public Garden for a slower pace. Moving through the center of the Garden will lead you across Charles Street to the Boston Common.

    Inside tip: Local-isms

    Mass Ave = Massachusetts Avenue
    Comm Ave = Commonwealth Avenue
    And, it's Boston Common (singular) not Boston Commons

    Related Posts:   

    Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2015

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2015

    What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day 2015

    How to Get to the Esplanade from Boston

    Here are some Photos from past Boston Marathons

    The View from Hereford Street 

    Marathon Kisses 

    Other Resources:

    Here's a great site. You'll find dozens of local running routes, including along the Charles River.

    For more places to run, Bostinno has a post on this topic – How to Train For the Boston Marathon: Where the Runners Run.

    Details:
    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photos: (Top) 2011 Boston Marathon, (Bottom) Esplanade Run ©2013 Penny Cherubino

    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!

  • Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend

    UPDATE: Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend 2016

    Whether you're coming to run or watch the 2015 Boston Marathon or just want to log some miles, it's an exciting time to visit the city. And, we hope this piece will help all the runners who are new to the city, here for a vacation or business trip.

    DSC_6214 - Version 22011-04-18-runners-boston-marathon-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Right onto Hereford Street – Less Than a Mile to Go!

    I remember my first Boston Marathon as a spectator – I've yet to put in the training needed to actually compete. Penny and I booked a hotel room for the weekend and left the car parked. We took in the runners' expo, pasta supper, and other pre-race activities, then watched a spectacular Boylston Street finish.

    As an out-of-state runner staying near Faneuil Hall, I still wanted to get in a run or two, but wasn't sure where to head. 

    Now, as a Boston resident, I can recommend a couple of my favorite routes.

    Charles River Run …

    If you're a visiting runner staying anywhere near the finish line, you can't beat a daytime run along the Charles River. It offers great views and a more open course without having to constantly cross roadways. This multi-use path is shared by bikes, blades, skate boards, dogs, and walkers. It can get congested as the day wears on but, who knows, you may find yourself sharing the trail with some famous, elite runners. It's easy to make any number of loops between the Boston and Cambridge sides of the river by using the many bridges along the way. 

    From Back Bay, you can access the Charles River Esplanade from Massachusetts Avenue, Fairfield, Dartmouth, and Arlington Streets. If you head west from the Massachusetts Avenue ramp you can also use the parcourse workout station that's located just up-river. Click here for photos and details including a map to find it.

    CHE_0719 - Version 32013-01-09-runner-charles-river-misty-winter-morning-© 2011 Penny Cherubino2013-01-09-women-running-charles-Esplanade-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Morning Run Along the Esplanade

    Parks in the Heart of the City

    For a tree-lined route, try the Commonwealth Avenue Mall – not a shopping center, but a park – that runs down the center of this residential street. At Commonwealth and Arlington, you can enter the pristine Public Garden for a slower pace. Moving through the center of the Garden will lead you across Charles Street to the Boston Common.

    Inside tip: Local-isms

    Mass Ave = Massachusetts Avenue
    Comm Ave = Commonwealth Avenue
    And, it's Boston Common (singular) not Boston Commons

    Related Posts:   

    Tracking a Boston Marathon Runner 2015

    Parking Your Car for Boston Marathon Weekend 2015

    What’s Open in Boston on Patriots’ Day 2015

    How to Get to the Esplanade from Boston

    Here are some Photos from past Boston Marathons

    The View from Hereford Street 

    Marathon Kisses 

    Other Resources:

    Here's a great site. You'll find dozens of local running routes, including along the Charles River.

    For more places to run, Bostinno has a post on this topic – How to Train For the Boston Marathon: Where the Runners Run.

    Details:
    Words: Ed Cherubino
    Photos: (Top) 2011 Boston Marathon, (Bottom) Esplanade Run ©2013 Penny Cherubino

    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!

  • SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

    We've been walking by the windows of Select Oyster Bar all winter watching and waiting for signs of the opening of this restaurant from chef Michael Serpa who had served us so many spectacular meals during his years at Neptune Oyster.

    IMG_1945 - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-gloucester-street-boston-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Yesterday, we went in for lunch, to taste, to try it, and to enjoy a couple of hours off during a very busy week. Fortunately, we snapped a few photos with our phones to record our first meal in a place we hope will become a neighborhood hang out for us. 

    IMG_1921 - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-boston-pan-roasted-lobster-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Penny decided to splurge on the pan-roasted Maine lobster with Vidalia spring onion, brown butter, and lemon. With her first bite, it was clear that we were going to write about it. After a couple more bites she proclaimed, "Move over Jasper White, there's a new pan-roasted lobster champ in town and his name is Michael Serpa!"

    Penny's Take on Her Lunch

    I know that I will always remember my first bite of food at Select. Just as years after Jasper's closed, in my mind, I could still taste that wonderful pan-roasted lobster that Jasper White made famous.

    Michael Serpa has put his special spin on this classic preparation with just a few ingredients and a great deal of skill with the pan. Smoky, sweet, slightly grilled onion flavor, balanced with nutty brown butter and lemon, bathed every cranny of a beautiful hard-shelled lobster.

    The lobster meat was so tender that I was not afraid to offer Ed a piece of the tail meat early on my way to devouring everything but the shells. (Ed is very fussy about how his lobster tails are cooked.)

    I did share a bit of claw and a piece of onion, but for this lunch, he was on his own. He would not be eating part of my meal. I told him I would be awhile and that he should order more food if he was still hungry. So, he did.

    Ed's Lunch Notes

    First of all, the lobster – the tiny bit that I managed to salvage from Penny’s grip – was, as she said, so tender (including the tail) that it reached applause-worthy perfection! 

    Photo copy 4 - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-island-creek-oysters-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    The mignonette sauce for my oysters (with the onion element chopped so fine it remained in suspension) was served in a easy-to-squirt bottle and added a nice accent to my Island Creeks.  

    IMG_1902 - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-island-creek-oysters-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    The Icelandic Arctic Char, cooked just enough and combined with crispy skin, was a perfect intro dish.

    Photo copy 5 - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-oysters-Arctic-char-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    While Penny was still busy with her lobster, I tried the Blackboard Crudo of the Day: Tender chunks of Yellowfin Tuna with bright accents. 

     Photo copy 6 - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-oysters-yellow-tail-crudo-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

     Wines Were a Hit, Too

    Photo - Version 22015-04-08Select-oyster-bar-boston-wine-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Penny was looking for something a bit lighter for an afternoon wine and picked Jean-Francois Merieau "Bulles" Touraine Sparkler. She borrowed the bottle to add a photograph of the label to our wine app. It is now on our wishlist next time we go wine shopping.

    Ed enjoyed the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc which paired well with his oysters and char. Txakoli (Arregi), aerated with a pour from on-high, was a fitting match for the tuna and allowed us to linger at the end of the meal.

    Service Charge Memo

    We do want to put readers on notice that there is a service charge of 20% added to the pre-tax portion of the bill at Select. We don't mind, since we normally tip that or more. We took advantage of the extra tip line on our first bill to round up a bit, the way we would have if we were filling in the tip. 

    There are a number of conversations going on in the Boston food world about this decision to make certain the wait staff is properly rewarded for their efforts. We see a number of positive aspects and will write about that later.

    All we'll say for now is that we know where we'll suggest going with anyone who quibbles about tips or embarrasses us by leaving too little. At Select, we won't have to sneak back to the table to slip a bit extra to the staff or make it up to them the next time we dine. 

    And that's a good thing, because we'll be looking for any excuse to go back to Select Oyster Bar, soon and often.

    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  

  • Spring Cleaning, Ho! Ho! Ho!

    CHE_6599 - Version 22015-04-06April-Chistmas-Tree-South Russel-Beacon Hill-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Street cleaning inspired a little spring cleaning on South Russell Street.

    Yes, it's time to let go of your Christmas tree.

    Or, maybe it's yard waste, which you can put out on recycling days.

    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 Cherubino  

  • Spring Cleaning, Ho! Ho! Ho!

    CHE_6599 - Version 22015-04-06April-Chistmas-Tree-South Russel-Beacon Hill-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Street cleaning inspired a little spring cleaning on South Russell Street.

    Yes, it's time to let go of your Christmas tree.

    Or, maybe it's yard waste, which you can put out on recycling days.

    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 Cherubino  

  • The Witch Hazel Thinks It’s Spring!

    Around the edges of the Boston Public Garden, a few witch hazel bushes have sprung into bloom. At least these plants believe there will be spring and warmth this year.

    CHE_6421 - Version 22015-04-02-spring-boston-witchhazel-public-garden-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you would like to give yourself a photography challenge, spend some time photographing a witch hazel plant. 

    CHE_6431 - Version 32015-04-02-spring-boston-witchhazel-public-garden-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you have a macro lens or a close-up setting on your camera give that a try. I didn't have my macro with me and used a telephoto to show the details of these fuzzy buds. 

    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 

  • The Witch Hazel Thinks It’s Spring!

    Around the edges of the Boston Public Garden, a few witch hazel bushes have sprung into bloom. At least these plants believe there will be spring and warmth this year.

    CHE_6421 - Version 22015-04-02-spring-boston-witchhazel-public-garden-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you would like to give yourself a photography challenge, spend some time photographing a witch hazel plant. 

    CHE_6431 - Version 32015-04-02-spring-boston-witchhazel-public-garden-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you have a macro lens or a close-up setting on your camera give that a try. I didn't have my macro with me and used a telephoto to show the details of these fuzzy buds. 

    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