Are you looking for something delicious and different to bring to your office holiday party? (Or just to have on your desk this week to offer to your officemates?)
They're always a hit around our office. Ed and I have a small table that sits between our work areas. We use it to share a plate of apple slices or a pile of clementine or tangerine wedges for an afternoon snack.
When Ed reported to the radio station each day, he came home once and told me he wanted to bring something in for the holiday office party. I added three boxes of clementines to our grocery order and he added those to the holiday spread. They were a hit.
We separate oranges, tangerines, clementines into sections for our office table. But, you can fill a basket, build a pyramid, or stack a few on paper plates with whole fruit and let everyone peel their own.
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Recently, Ed said, "I could have been dropped here from another planet and I'd know the time of year from the wine ads on TV …" Many of those ads try to convince you to buy a mass market, low cost wine for holiday gifts or serving at parties. Don't fall for it!
Here's our little Poppy girl guarding our solution to the question of what to serve and gift as a holiday wine. We had Brix Wine Shopdeliver a case of Nino Franco Rustico. We'll have it on hand for guests, last minute gifts, and if we enter January with a few left over, we'll enjoy it ourselves.
Last year, we posted this piece about Nino Franco and gifts of wine:
Our main message was, "Please don't give your clients, business associates, and friends most of the wines you see in TV ads as holiday gifts. A good wine shop can recommend a good wine value that you can give with pride. And, it will be one that will please both the occasional sipper and wine aficionado."
You may be looking for a special high-end wine for a special gift. Recently, one of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB sought opinions from other food and wine fans for a special purchase over on Chowhound. He asked for comments on: "Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?"
This turned into a wonderful conversation about styles of Champagne, shops that carry great bottles, and favorites among the group.
As I read, I added a couple of shopping stops to our New Year's Eve Wine shopping list and everyone learned a bit more about high-end bottles. Best of all, many of us were able to give a bit back to a forum member who has led so many of us to great food for so long.
Our motto for buying a gift of wine has always been, "Give a wine you will be happy to have in your own wine rack for a special moment." Or, buy an extra bottle or two and ensure there will be one when the time comes for you to celebrate.
Recently, Ed said, "I could have been dropped here from another planet and I'd know the time of year from the wine ads on TV …" Many of those ads try to convince you to buy a mass market, low cost wine for holiday gifts or serving at parties. Don't fall for it!
Here's our little Poppy girl guarding our solution to the question of what to serve and gift as a holiday wine. We had Brix Wine Shopdeliver a case of Nino Franco Rustico. We'll have it on hand for guests, last minute gifts, and if we enter January with a few left over, we'll enjoy it ourselves.
Last year, we posted this piece about Nino Franco and gifts of wine:
Our main message was, "Please don't give your clients, business associates, and friends most of the wines you see in TV ads as holiday gifts. A good wine shop can recommend a good wine value that you can give with pride. And, it will be one that will please both the occasional sipper and wine aficionado."
You may be looking for a special high-end wine for a special gift. Recently, one of our favorite food scouts MC Slim JB sought opinions from other food and wine fans for a special purchase over on Chowhound. He asked for comments on: "Favorite Boston-area wine shops for Champagne?"
This turned into a wonderful conversation about styles of Champagne, shops that carry great bottles, and favorites among the group.
As I read, I added a couple of shopping stops to our New Year's Eve Wine shopping list and everyone learned a bit more about high-end bottles. Best of all, many of us were able to give a bit back to a forum member who has led so many of us to great food for so long.
Our motto for buying a gift of wine has always been, "Give a wine you will be happy to have in your own wine rack for a special moment." Or, buy an extra bottle or two and ensure there will be one when the time comes for you to celebrate.
Our readers are already searching our past posts to figure out where to dine on New Year's Eve in Boston. It's time for you to grab a reservation at a special place!
And, since it was popular last year, we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2016 with friends and family around a brunch table.
We all have our ideas of the perfect New Year's Eve.
Are you looking for a place to ring in 2015 with a happy crowd?
Will you be out and about dropping in on events or house parties?
Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration?
Is a walk to view skating on the Frog Pond more your style?
We'll leave the New Year's Eve reservation for those of you who like to be part of a bigger celebration, while we spend the evening with some sparkling wine, good food, and great companions. However, we have gathered resources to help you find a place for any kind of New Year's Eve you'd like.
You can put a time into the reservation box on the main page and see what's available. Remember, many places have special prix fixe menus for occasions like this and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.
The site Boston Chefs always posts a listing of its member restaurants that have special plans for New Year's Eve. Here is their New Year's Eve list. And, here's the list for New Year's Day. We'll update this section as we spot new information from these sources.
We'll add updates with other lists, as they become available, from trusted sources around town. Please remember that when we provide a link to a list, we are just giving you a resource. It doesn't mean we are recommending the restaurants on that list. These summaries often include places we love, but since other publishers have different standards, their list may include restaurants we would never recommend.
We Do Recommend!
There are restaurants that have planned a special New Year's Eve menu but have built their reputations on high quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.
Select Oyster Bar will serve a 7-course tasting menu. There are still a few seats left for a 6pm and 9pm seating.
Island Creek Oyster Bar is serving its regular menu and that kindness puts them high on our list.
Row 34 will serve their regular menu with a special addition: "Caviar and Champagne are the name of the game this New Year's Eve. Ossetra caviar and NV Krug Grand Cuvee are available for enjoying at cost …"
Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
Open Table did not have a New Year's Day Brunch list when we prepared this post. We put a request in for a table at 11:30 AM to come up with our recommendations.
Craigie on Main decided to do away with their regular Sunday brunch, but they will have brunch on a few selected holidays like New Year's Day.
Petit Robert Bistro would be a great place to enjoy the beginning of a new year with a gang.
Our readers are already searching our past posts to figure out where to dine on New Year's Eve in Boston. It's time for you to grab a reservation at a special place!
And, since it was popular last year, we're adding a few places we think might be great for starting off 2016 with friends and family around a brunch table.
We all have our ideas of the perfect New Year's Eve.
Are you looking for a place to ring in 2015 with a happy crowd?
Will you be out and about dropping in on events or house parties?
Or will you make a reservation for a quiet dinner before popping a cork for a private celebration?
Is a walk to view skating on the Frog Pond more your style?
We'll leave the New Year's Eve reservation for those of you who like to be part of a bigger celebration, while we spend the evening with some sparkling wine, good food, and great companions. However, we have gathered resources to help you find a place for any kind of New Year's Eve you'd like.
You can put a time into the reservation box on the main page and see what's available. Remember, many places have special prix fixe menus for occasions like this and some may require a credit card to hold a reservation.
The site Boston Chefs always posts a listing of its member restaurants that have special plans for New Year's Eve. Here is their New Year's Eve list. And, here's the list for New Year's Day. We'll update this section as we spot new information from these sources.
We'll add updates with other lists, as they become available, from trusted sources around town. Please remember that when we provide a link to a list, we are just giving you a resource. It doesn't mean we are recommending the restaurants on that list. These summaries often include places we love, but since other publishers have different standards, their list may include restaurants we would never recommend.
We Do Recommend!
There are restaurants that have planned a special New Year's Eve menu but have built their reputations on high quality food. These are places where you can expect to have a wonderful meal any day of the year.
Select Oyster Bar will serve a 7-course tasting menu. There are still a few seats left for a 6pm and 9pm seating.
Island Creek Oyster Bar is serving its regular menu and that kindness puts them high on our list.
Row 34 will serve their regular menu with a special addition: "Caviar and Champagne are the name of the game this New Year's Eve. Ossetra caviar and NV Krug Grand Cuvee are available for enjoying at cost …"
Bistro du Midi is offering two seatings at two prices with two prix fixe menus.
Open Table did not have a New Year's Day Brunch list when we prepared this post. We put a request in for a table at 11:30 AM to come up with our recommendations.
Craigie on Main decided to do away with their regular Sunday brunch, but they will have brunch on a few selected holidays like New Year's Day.
Petit Robert Bistro would be a great place to enjoy the beginning of a new year with a gang.
Yesterday there was a birthday party at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel for their lovely canine ambassadors Catie, who turned 14, and Carly, who is now 5. While you may have missed the party, the girls will be happy to see you anytime you stop by.
You'll often find them assisting the doormen at the St. James Avenue entrance right across from Copley Square Park. Since they get so many treats and so much love each day, the girls asked the hotel to make the following announcement for those who want to wish them a happy birthday.
"In lieu of gifts for the hotel’s pampered pooches, we invite guests to bring a donation of towels, blankets or toys for the dogs and cats at the Animal Rescue League’s Boston Shelter." You'll find a wishlist at that link and the shelter address where you can drop the gifts or you can even send the gifts directly from Amazon.
And, if you are looking for a gift for someone who adores dogs, may we suggest Catie Copley's Books.
Thanks to Adam Castiglioni and his Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog for bringing this milestone to our attention with his announcement of the party. You'll find more photos of these beautiful Labs at this link.
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.
from here to do their shopping. We appreciate your support.
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