bostonzest

Blog

  • Poppy’s 4th Birthday Celebration in Provincetown

    Our dear Poppy turned 4 on April 20th and she celebrated her birthday with two weeks of walking on the beach and listening to the waves in Provincetown.

    IMG_6421

    Here is her official age four birthday portrait. She was sitting on the window ledge in a bay window keeping watch on the comings and goings of neighbors. The wonderful Provincetown light picked up the blue cast from the glorious sky and used it to outline her white fur.

    Her pose shows that she does have her serious and thoughtful moments … ("Aren't you supposed to be preparing my lunch?")

    She spent a lot of time in this window seat …

    IMG_6352

    Snoozing on the window ledge …

    IMG_6434

    Or curling up on Penny's lap since this was a favorite indoor reading spot. That's her waterproof Mambe throw that she's cuddled into.

    IMG_6256

    The dog-loving staff at Bayshore/Chandler House were on hand to wish her a Happy Birthday and her personal staff of human retainers (that would be us – Penny & Ed) took her for many walks on the beach at low tide.

    IMG_6378

    "Tell me again why we can't beach walk at High Tide!"

    Except for the pesky delivery trucks and the beep, beep, beep of construction vehicles, it was a quiet and happy two weeks for the little Westie girl. She had to be shown the water at the bottom of the access stairs to the beach at high tide because we all know that beach walking is much better than road walking. 

    So here's a belated happy birthday post for our favorite Sunday Dog. We hope all of you find a happy place with fun things to do for your special dog's birthday or Gotcha 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.

     

    Details:

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

    Related articles
    Happy Birthday to Poppy as She Turns Three
    A Sunday Beach Dog Playing on the Tidal Flats
    The Polite Wet Dogs of Provincetown Harbor

  • Market Report: Boston Area Spring to Fall Farmers Market Opening Dates 2016

    Pull out your calendars and mark the dates when you can go and see our Boston area farmers market friends at their outdoor spots. Our Friday Links today will take you to your favorite markets for the 2016 spring to fall season.

    Stillman's stand CHE_0151 copy

    On the day I took this photo, I learned that the Stillman stand at the Boston Public Market would be expanding around the corner!

    First, The News!

    This year there will be a second day for the South End/SoWa Farmers Market on Harrison Avenue. You can shop for local food at this popular venue on both Saturdays and Sundays this season.

    The Boston Public Market now serves Bostonians as their primary year-round farmers market. Beginning on July 18th, this local food marketplace will be open 7 days a week – an increase from the current 5 days.

    Here are the opening dates for some of our favorite markets. The links are to maps of the locations:

    May Markets

    June Markets

    July Markets

    September Market

    If you have confirmed dates for your favorite farmers market, please tell us in a comment or send us an email and we'll add it as an update to this post.

    We use and highly recommend a Rolser Shopping Trolley for your farmers market visits. It stands on its own and can haul your purchases over city sidewalks without a problem.

    See our review of The Boston Homegrown Cookbook: Local Food, Local Restaurants, Local Recipes. It's full of chefs, farmers, and food producers you know, and we highly recommend it. Remember, always click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     

        

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino  

  • Ripe and Ready – Another Blue Tape Tip!

    "Is this avocado ready?" If one person in your home is a better judge of when avocados or melons are ripe-and-ready, they can use blue painters tape to alert the rest of the family. 

    IMG_5848 copy

    It can also serve as a nudge for you. It's a reminder to use up that beauty before it becomes overripe. Around here we love our blue painter's tape and find all sorts of uses for it. This is one more we've recently added to our list.

    Related Posts:

    Blue Tape for Marking First-In First-Out Produce

    Keep Your Switches Clean: Another Use for Blue Tape

    Blue Cook's Tape

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Kitchen & Dining needs and support this site!

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photos: ©2016 Penny Cherubino 

  • Escape Your Cooking Rut with Inspiration from Mark Bittman’s Kitchen Matrix

    Mark Bittman's Kitchen Matrix is a wonderful addition to your cookbook collection whether you are an experienced cook or a just beginning to build your skills in the kitchen.

    Sm Kitchen Matrix cover copy

    Let's face it, we all find ourselves making and serving our family and guests the same list of favorites. It can be even more of a problem for new cooks who may be afraid to venture beyond the recipes they have made that were big hits. 

    IMG_9528 - Version 22016-03-22bittman-kitchen-matrix© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Summer is coming and you may have a basic gazpacho recipe you've been making for years. Or you could be hoping to surprise those around your table by coming up with a new twist on this chilled soup. Kitchen Matrix comes to the rescue with a chapter on gazpacho 12 ways!

    You'll find other sections that cover chicken wings, soups, asparagus, stir fries, and other ways we look at food and feeding our friends and family.

    The Publisher Says…

    Related articles
    Healthy Alternatives for July 4th Cookouts, Pot Lucks, or Picnics
    A Busy Season Resource: Our Poached Chicken Links

  • 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.

    CHE_0470

    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.)

    IMG_9615

    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.

     IMG_6452

    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"

    IMG_6734

    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.

    IMG_6740   IMG_6737

    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. 

    IMG_6169

    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.

    CHE_0473

    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. 

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

       

    Details:

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

    Related articles
    Michael Serpa Selects Champagne Jacquesson Cuvée 736 as Our Sparkler for June 2015
    Sherry, A Trending Drink and a Great Book

  • Some of MIT Returned to Boston After They Moved to Cambridge 100 Years Ago Today

    We know because we have enjoyed learning about our neighbors from MIT who reside in, and care for, the John Andrews House on Hereford Street in the Back Bay. The brothers of the MIT Chi Phi Beta Chapter have been in residence in Boston since 1950 according to the website Back Bay Houses. (You'll find more about the history of this property at that link.

    5456184792_3b4c766eb9_z

    Here is a photo of the house from the Boston Public Library Print Department. Their records show that it was taken in 1884.

    PMC_2352 - Version 22012-04-30-john-andrews-house-hereford-street-chi-phi-mit-© 2011 Penny Cherubino copy

    Above and below, photos that Penny took of the house after a major restoration of the exterior of the building a couple of years ago.

    PMC_2340 - Version 22012-04-30-john-andrews-house-hereford-street-chi-phi-mit-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    This is the Hereford Street view of the property.

    DSC_3733 - Version 22014-08-28chi-phi-faux-painter-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    The house manager even hired Glenn Gillespie of VIRTU Art & Design to restore the original look of the breccia stone columns around the entrance.

    Along with other neighbors, we were guests of the Chi Phi Fraternity at a dinner a few years ago. That evening we enjoyed a tour of the home led by one of the resident brothers.

    It's good to see that the brothers and alumni are taking such good care of this important, historic property.

    This is not the only MIT fraternity on this side of the river. Here's a map showing where the others are located.

    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 Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Then & Now: Snow Shoveling in Boston
    Boston Fireworks from Another Time …
    Then & Now: Icicles in Boston Plus How & When They Form

  • 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.

    IMG_6040

    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?

    Details:

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

    Related articles
    Mussels Are Sustainable, Easy to Cook, and Fun to Flavor
    Trader Joe's Pane Guttiau (Sardinian Parchment Crackers) Are a Hit!
    Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

  • 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. 

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401bb086407b4970d-800wi

    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.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019b016327ac970c-800wi

    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. 

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a3fd331cf9970b-800wi

    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.

    Details:

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

    Related articles
    A Tow up the Charles River Cost $4 in 1886
    The Trustees of Reservations Announce Historic Preservation Milestone at Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, a National Historic Landmark
    Routes for Visiting Runners – Boston Marathon Weekend

  • 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.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340115701be305970b-800wi

    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! 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017d42be88f8970c-800wi

    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.

     

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino  
    Photo: istockphoto.com

  • 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.

    6500449805_dd35371120_o copy

    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.

    IMG_6096 - Version 22012-11-29-PUBLCI-GARDEN-BULB-PLANTING-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    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."

      PC2_1045 - Version 22013-11-11-Bear-waiting -for- Poppy-© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1) copy

    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!

    Details:

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

    Related articles
    Growing Fond of the Boston Public Garden Fence
    The Dogs of the Boston Public Library Collections