Over the past week, we've been enjoying this jar of Mama Peter's Orange Marmalade.
This is not something you can buy in a store (at least not yet). It was a gift to us from our pal Peter when he visited recently.
Peter and David (since I know the other half of the team may have been part of the effort), thanks for bringing this to us. It is delicious and it's fun to think of you every time we spread some on toast.
Canning is not part of Penny's kitchen repertoire, so we're always grateful to friends who supply us with homemade jams, pickles, sauces, and other treats.
If you are fortunate in this way, we have a suggestion to help lower the cost of these treats for those who make them – return the jars! And, if you get a lot of treats from someone, consider buying them some lids and perhaps a few extra canning jars. They might say, "You didn't have to do that." But believe me, they will appreciate your return of the kindness.
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!
Over the past week, we've been enjoying this jar of Mama Peter's Orange Marmalade.
This is not something you can buy in a store (at least not yet). It was a gift to us from our pal Peter when he visited recently.
Peter and David (since I know the other half of the team may have been part of the effort), thanks for bringing this to us. It is delicious and it's fun to think of you every time we spread some on toast.
Canning is not part of Penny's kitchen repertoire, so we're always grateful to friends who supply us with homemade jams, pickles, sauces, and other treats.
If you are fortunate in this way, we have a suggestion to help lower the cost of these treats for those who make them – return the jars! And, if you get a lot of treats from someone, consider buying them some lids and perhaps a few extra canning jars. They might say, "You didn't have to do that." But believe me, they will appreciate your return of the kindness.
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!
"I-uh-I-uh-I (open up) hear music, let me in (music)
Oh I heard it just then
Let me in (let me in)
I wanna come in again
I thought you were my friend …"
Sophia works at Bauer Wine & Spirits and loves sitting in the sun, accepting pats and scratches from her fans. But when the music and dancing starts, she wants back in!
"I-uh-I-uh-I (open up) hear music, let me in (music)
Oh I heard it just then
Let me in (let me in)
I wanna come in again
I thought you were my friend …"
Sophia works at Bauer Wine & Spirits and loves sitting in the sun, accepting pats and scratches from her fans. But when the music and dancing starts, she wants back in!
As Pinot Noir lovers, we expected to like this grower Champagne. We didn’t anticipate wanting to buy a case after the first sip! Simply put, Moutard Grande Cuvée fits our taste, something Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits knows well.
Through the years, many of our Sparkling Resolution wines have come from his suggestions. For August we asked him to select this month’s sparkler and he came up with a new favorite that made us go back for more.
Our constant search for, and love of, grower Champagnes doesn’t surprise Rubin who compares the increased interest in this category of winemakers to the locavore farm-to-table movement. “People want to know where their food and libation come from,” he explains, “and consuming small grower champagne satisfies that curiosity.”
Look at this way, “Which would you rather consume,” says Rubin, “a big, juicy, ripe tomato right off the farm, or one of those colorless and flavorless tomatoes that shows up in your salad … in January?”
Similarly, “When deciding between a small grower champagne or a mass produced version of the same style of wine,” Rubin says the choice is obvious. “Champagnes that are bottled by growers will usually be from a specific village and will be their top choice of grapes, which obviously they won’t sell to the big houses.”
The Moutard Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne pedigree includes 100% Pinot Noir grown in clay-limestone soils. The hand harvested grapes undergo a gentle pressing and are vinified in stainless steel tanks. Moutard proudly describes its production as a blend of several of the best vintages.
Tasting Notes:
The winemaker points to a, “refined, rich nose which evokes notes of butter, almond and brioche. Lively, elegant and balanced palate with good mouthfill.”
Distributor Polaner Selections touts, “A rich and mineral-driven Blanc de Noirs at an exceptional value.”
Wine Spectator
Rating: 90
“Bright and fresh, with a honey-laced finish.”
Vinous
Rating: 89
“… 100% Pinot Noir is laced with sweet tobacco, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red stone fruits.”
“ … the Grande Cuvée from Moutard … showed its 100 percent pinot noir character in its rich, full-bodied texture and ripe fruit flavors.”
Howie Rubin (Bauer Wines)
“… aromas of fresh baked bread and wild strawberries … bright apple and quince flavors.”
We think what this wine doesn’t give up on the nose, it makes up on the palate. Perhaps Howie Rubin summed it up best, “Great champagnes are characterized by a long, persistent finish, and that’s where the Moutard shines. Compare it to one of the big names in champagne and you will see the difference.”
Here’s to August! And, here’s to Grower Champagnes!
We purchased our bottle of Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée at Bauer Wine & Spirits (price: $39.99).
As Pinot Noir lovers, we expected to like this grower Champagne. We didn’t anticipate wanting to buy a case after the first sip! Simply put, Moutard Grande Cuvée fits our taste, something Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits knows well.
Through the years, many of our Sparkling Resolution wines have come from his suggestions. For August we asked him to select this month’s sparkler and he came up with a new favorite that made us go back for more.
Our constant search for, and love of, grower Champagnes doesn’t surprise Rubin who compares the increased interest in this category of winemakers to the locavore farm-to-table movement. “People want to know where their food and libation come from,” he explains, “and consuming small grower champagne satisfies that curiosity.”
Look at this way, “Which would you rather consume,” says Rubin, “a big, juicy, ripe tomato right off the farm, or one of those colorless and flavorless tomatoes that shows up in your salad … in January?”
Similarly, “When deciding between a small grower champagne or a mass produced version of the same style of wine,” Rubin says the choice is obvious. “Champagnes that are bottled by growers will usually be from a specific village and will be their top choice of grapes, which obviously they won’t sell to the big houses.”
The Moutard Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne pedigree includes 100% Pinot Noir grown in clay-limestone soils. The hand harvested grapes undergo a gentle pressing and are vinified in stainless steel tanks. Moutard proudly describes its production as a blend of several of the best vintages.
Tasting Notes:
The winemaker points to a, “refined, rich nose which evokes notes of butter, almond and brioche. Lively, elegant and balanced palate with good mouthfill.”
Distributor Polaner Selections touts, “A rich and mineral-driven Blanc de Noirs at an exceptional value.”
Wine Spectator
Rating: 90
“Bright and fresh, with a honey-laced finish.”
Vinous
Rating: 89
“… 100% Pinot Noir is laced with sweet tobacco, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red stone fruits.”
“ … the Grande Cuvée from Moutard … showed its 100 percent pinot noir character in its rich, full-bodied texture and ripe fruit flavors.”
Howie Rubin (Bauer Wines)
“… aromas of fresh baked bread and wild strawberries … bright apple and quince flavors.”
We think what this wine doesn’t give up on the nose, it makes up on the palate. Perhaps Howie Rubin summed it up best, “Great champagnes are characterized by a long, persistent finish, and that’s where the Moutard shines. Compare it to one of the big names in champagne and you will see the difference.”
Here’s to August! And, here’s to Grower Champagnes!
We purchased our bottle of Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée at Bauer Wine & Spirits (price: $39.99).
For years, we have been collecting the materials from the history of the Charles River Basin. This week we purchased a postcard showing the U.S. Navy gathered on Harvard's Weld Boathouse.
We love reading the back of old postcards. Sometimes the messages are funny, often terse, occasionally educational. This one called the building "… the U.S. Navy's boat club house."
The writer goes on to explain that the building, "… is on the Charles River, in this River we practice swimming & boat drilling, the sailors in this picture are waiting for their turn in boat drilling. This was taken on sat morning during one of our contests one regiment against the other. The boys to the left are on the bridge which crosses the river is 75 feet high & 600 feet long made of concrete. is very low on the edge."
For years, we have been collecting the materials from the history of the Charles River Basin. This week we purchased a postcard showing the U.S. Navy gathered on Harvard's Weld Boathouse.
We love reading the back of old postcards. Sometimes the messages are funny, often terse, occasionally educational. This one called the building "… the U.S. Navy's boat club house."
The writer goes on to explain that the building, "… is on the Charles River, in this River we practice swimming & boat drilling, the sailors in this picture are waiting for their turn in boat drilling. This was taken on sat morning during one of our contests one regiment against the other. The boys to the left are on the bridge which crosses the river is 75 feet high & 600 feet long made of concrete. is very low on the edge."
Finally, Luke's Lobster has opened in Boston and we are both thrilled. Occasionally, we admit to becoming cheerleaders as well as fans when we discover a business doing things exactly the way we like them.
Luke's does lobster rolls the way we do lobster rolls. A pile of sweet cool lobster in a toasted bun with exactly the additions you want. Their standard comes with a swipe of mayo on the bun, a drizzle of butter, and a sprinkle of their seasoning. We order ours with no mayo and the staff is happy to give them to us just the way we like them.
And, we love walking just a few blocks to save ourselves the work of doing all the work ourselves.
We introduced you to Luke's Lobster back in 2013 when they came to town to do a charity pop-up to benefit the marathon bombing victims. And, for the past week, we've been sending friends and neighbors to their new Boston location at 75 Exeter Street. (Map)
We've also been sharing meals from Luke's with friends. This array shows one Noah's Ark sampler with a few extra lobster and crab rolls on the side. We shared this selection with our friends David & Peter on their visit from San Francisco.
Here's another shot of the Noah's Ark order with our selections for a perfect tray of roof food. This combo for two gives you two halves of lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls, 4 crab claws, 2 chips or 2 coleslaws, (we chose one of each), 2 pickles, and 2 sodas. If you want something similar for one, they have the Taste of Maine.
So, welcome to Boston Luke's! We have a clear path worn between our door and yours and can't wait to introduce more friends and neighbors to the perfect roof deck food or the perfect picnic for a concert at the Hatch Shell.
Oh, by the way, be sure to pick up one of their Lobsta Mobsta cards because we're pretty sure you'll be going back and filling it with lobster roll stamps on your way to a free lobster roll.
Finally, Luke's Lobster has opened in Boston and we are both thrilled. Occasionally, we admit to becoming cheerleaders as well as fans when we discover a business doing things exactly the way we like them.
Luke's does lobster rolls the way we do lobster rolls. A pile of sweet cool lobster in a toasted bun with exactly the additions you want. Their standard comes with a swipe of mayo on the bun, a drizzle of butter, and a sprinkle of their seasoning. We order ours with no mayo and the staff is happy to give them to us just the way we like them.
And, we love walking just a few blocks to save ourselves the work of doing all the work ourselves.
We introduced you to Luke's Lobster back in 2013 when they came to town to do a charity pop-up to benefit the marathon bombing victims. And, for the past week, we've been sending friends and neighbors to their new Boston location at 75 Exeter Street. (Map)
We've also been sharing meals from Luke's with friends. This array shows one Noah's Ark sampler with a few extra lobster and crab rolls on the side. We shared this selection with our friends David & Peter on their visit from San Francisco.
Here's another shot of the Noah's Ark order with our selections for a perfect tray of roof food. This combo for two gives you two halves of lobster, crab, and shrimp rolls, 4 crab claws, 2 chips or 2 coleslaws, (we chose one of each), 2 pickles, and 2 sodas. If you want something similar for one, they have the Taste of Maine.
So, welcome to Boston Luke's! We have a clear path worn between our door and yours and can't wait to introduce more friends and neighbors to the perfect roof deck food or the perfect picnic for a concert at the Hatch Shell.
Oh, by the way, be sure to pick up one of their Lobsta Mobsta cards because we're pretty sure you'll be going back and filling it with lobster roll stamps on your way to a free lobster roll.
