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National Cheese Lover’s Day – Tuesday, January 20, 2015

The Massachusetts Cheese Guild sent us a reminder that today is National Cheese Lover's Day. The BostonZest team is made up of cheese lovers, so today is a day for us! We even have a separate category, Food: Cheese for our cheese coverage.

Because we live a freelance lifestyle, we often eat our main meal of the day in the afternoon and enjoy a plate of cheese with a bit of something else and a glass of wine for our evening bites.

We also find ourselves shopping for great cheese in Boston's wonderful ethnic markets. Above is a collection of foods we purchased in Watertown's Middle Eastern neighborhood. A trip there will always include string cheese and feta.

Smith’s Country Cheese at the Brookline Farmers' Market

Crystal Brook Farm goat cheese lunches at the Copley Farmers' Market

We love supporting Massachusetts cheeses at area farmers' markets. Both of those above are members of the Massachusetts Cheese Guild. Here's a link to the other local cheese artisan producers who have joined to provide mutual support and education about our state's cheese products.

Artisan Cheese Trail

The guild also has created their Artisan Cheese Trail, a map for you to explore the possibilities in person. We highly recommend that you pop over and explore the guild's site. You'll find cheesemakers to visit from Westport to Williamstown and beyond.

Explore New Cheeses

One of the truly great things about cheese is that a good shop will let you taste a bit before you buy. If you avoid the precut and shrink wrapped, you will not have to be afraid to try a new cheese.

You might discover that there are some blue cheeses you love and some you don't. We had that happen with a friend who didn't think he'd like the blue cheese his partner adored. Until our cheese tasting adventures put one on his plate with a slightly different flavor note.

If this day speaks to your soul, set out from here to explore more Massachusetts Cheeses in particular, and different cheeses from your current favorites in general.

Here are other posts from our Cheese Collection!

What's on your Cheese shopping list? Here are some great books about cheese. These make wonderful gifts for a cheese lover. And, when you shop Amazon from here, they put some coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photography: © 2008-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino, Cabot Clothbound Cheddar photo courtesy of Cabot Cheese.

January 20, 2015
Look Who We Spotted, Bear the Great Pyrenees

In this cold weather, Poppy is not getting her daily dose of dog time, so even seeing Bear poking his head out of his car window was a treat. (The car was parked, not moving and there were people in the front seat.)

He was staring at our Westie Poppy. We think he was hoping she would invite him out to play.

Then, he noticed that I was taking pictures of him and went into his formal pose.

Finally, when he felt I had taken enough liberty with my camera, he stuck out his tongue as if to say, "Photo opportunity is over."

Great to meet you, Bear. You did the Great Pyrenees breed proud with your beautiful poses.

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 Cherubino

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January 18, 2015
Gordon Parks Exhibition & MFA Open House for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

A very special and timely exhibition, Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott, will open tomorrow at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (MFA). In addition, the MFA has announced a free open house on Monday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The MFA Says:

Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott (January 17–September 13, 2015) traces Parks’ return to his hometown of Fort Scott, Kansas and then to other Midwestern cities, to track down and photograph each of his childhood classmates. On view in the MFA’s Art of the Americas Wing, the exhibition’s 42 photographs were from a series originally meant to accompany a Life magazine photo essay—but for reasons unknown, the story was never published. The images depict the realities of life under segregation in 1950—presenting a rarely seen view of everyday lives of African-American citizens in the years before the Civil Rights movement began in earnest.

We Say:

This has been on our calendar since we first read about it. We have so much to learn from this multi-talented man.

Make this exhibition more enjoyable by doing your homework before attending.

The MFA gives you some tools for learning about an exhibition like this on it's website. We often rely on the press releases they send out to understand why a particular subject was selected and about the people and organizations that make an exhibition possible. Here's a link to the press release for Gordon Parks: Back to Fort Scott.

For each of its exhibitions, the MFA sets up a page that gives the details and often adds some resources that allow you to learn a bit about the topic before you attend. For this exhibition, they have a slideshow that lets you preview a few of the images and a short video by the curator, Karen Haas.

The museum has also announced the publication of the book Common Wealth: Art by African Americans in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

And, if you want to attend the exhibition at a time when there is something special scheduled around the topic, you'll find a "More Events" button near the top of that page.

We've also taken advantage of the Boston Public Library's resources on Gordon Parks and are reading some of his poetry and his memoir.

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, And screenshots courtesy of the MFA

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January 16, 2015
Do You Plan to Do More Cooking at Home in 2015?

Many 2015 New Year’s resolutions revolve around ways to get healthier, save money, or learn new things. Cooking more at home and eating out less can be a step to all those goals. In one of my recent Fresh & Local newspaper columns I shared a few kitchen tips and tricks to help you cut clean up time, waste less food, and make cooking more fun.

Do you plan to do more cooking in 2015 than you did in 2014? How is that resolution going so far?

Less Stress

I’ve been rereading Michael Ruhlman's books lately. In Ruhlman's Twenty: 20 Techniques 100 Recipes A Cook's Manifesto, the first technique he recommends you learn to be a good cook is THINK. He asks his readers to stop and think as they step into the kitchen. This is a great way to reduce the stress of meal preparation.

Run through what you want to do in your mind. Make sure you have all the ingredients for your recipe. Get your equipment out and prepare everything you’ll need for the actual cooking.

In professional kitchens, this is called “mise en place.” It’s the reason a restaurant can pump out hundreds of great meals in a few hours and why a great cook can coordinate a meal so that everything is ready at the same time.

Less Waste

If you don’t use the food you buy, let it spoil, and then throw it out, you won’t save money by cooking at home.

To cut food waste, take the THINK technique one more step backwards. Before you decide what to make or compile your shopping list, check your refrigerator and pantry. What do you already have on hand? What needs to be used before it becomes food waste? Do you have space in your refrigerator or freezer to store leftovers if you make a big batch of something?

I find cooking very relaxing. With a tiny kitchen, I have to do a lot of thinking and planning to get a meal together. And, the small space forces me to clean as I go so I don't have a ton of clean up at the end of a cooking session. I'm also blessed with a husband who actually says, "You cooked it, I'll clean up," after a meal.

So far, I'm doing just about as much cooking in 2015 as I did in 2014. Here's hoping you find yourself enjoying your time in the kitchen a bit more with this THINK tip and technique.

Oh, and about Ruhlman's Twenty: 20 Techniques 100 Recipes A Cook's Manifesto, I highly recommend it to cooks at all levels of experience.

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

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Words: Penny Cherubino from her Fresh & Local Newspaper column
Photos: ©2010-2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino

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January 15, 2015
Where to Dine Valentine’s Day 2015 – Ideas for Romantic Dining in Boston
Start early if you want to plan a Valentine's Day meal that your loved one will remember.

This year, February 14th falls on a Saturday.

That gives you the opportunity to plan a romantic weekend or one day with your true love and a couple more meals with friends close to your heart. A quiet dinner at home on the big night and a lovely Sunday brunch at a favorite spot is another option.

Some of you enjoy trying the special holiday menus at your favorite spots. Others avoid dining out on days like this unless they can order off the regular menu. And, this year, we noticed more places offering that alternative.

This is one of the busiest nights of the year for restaurants, so expect many special prix fixe menus. Also, don't be surprised if you have to leave a credit card to guarantee a reservation and a cancellation fee.

Have a Chocolate Lover to Impress?

Consider a visit to the Café Fleuri Chocolate bar where you can offer your love a choice of 25 different chocolate desserts.

A perfectly ordinary afternoon turned into a romantic memory when Ed and I shared this giant profiterole at Petit Robert in the South End.

When a Valentine's Day Lunch or Dinner Is on the Menu…
- Open Table has a list of restaurants, and note if they have a special menu or if their regular menu is available.
- Boston Chefs has a list with some information at this link.
- Most Romantic Tables In Town from UrbanDaddy
Reservations at wonderful, romantic restaurants go quickly. But, we have lots of ideas for all types of celebrations for budgets of all sizes. Today, we'll address where to dine. There are more ideas on some of our past Valentine posts. These are from other times, so check for details with the places mentioned.

Updates will appear here as we find lists of ideas from reliable resources:

From last year, here's The Cambridge Day guide to an Interesting Valentines Day

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Romantic Dining in Boston with a Foreign Travel Theme (Some of our favorite restaurants offer an authentic taste of the cuisine they serve. A place where the decor, music, and food all bring you to another land.)

Beacon Hill Hot Chocolate and Ice Skating on the Common (A Romantic but inexpensive date.) And, now you can also skate at the Boston Harbor Hotel and slip into the bar for a glass of champagne after that hand holding exercise.

Need some Valentine's Day gift ideas? Click over to Amazon and do some planning, and if you do buy something there, they'll put a few coins in our tip cup.

Details:
Words: Penny Cherubino
Photo: top photo from iStockphoto.com, Chocolate Bar photo from Cafe Fleuri.

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January 13, 2015
Snowing Shiny Colored Ornaments

While out shooting the snow for an assignment on Friday, I noticed how the ornaments on the sidewalk arch we showed you last week seemed to be disconnected and coming down with the snow.

It was one of those times when my camera captured the same thing I thought I was seeing with my eyes – colored baubles floating down amid the snowflakes.

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 PennyCherubino

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January 12, 2015
Sleeping Dogs & Cats – What You May Be Surprised to Learn

Recently, I’ve been reading research on sleeping dogs and cats. Do dogs dream? Are cats really nocturnal animals? Just how much sleep does a dog or cat need? When should a change in sleep habits send you to the phone to make an appointment with your veterinarian?

Poppy sleeps best when she is curled up using one of her human companions as a pillow

Researching Animal Sleep

Scientists are exploring the sleep patterns and circadian rhythms in companion animals. These are two traits dogs and cats share with humans. And, while they share the traits, their versions may not adapt well to the typical human cycle of sleep and activity.

The US Government’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences says, “Circadian rhythms can influence sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature and other important bodily functions.” Thus, it is important that we understand how we might help our dogs and cats conform to a 24-hour schedule that will help keep the human family members happy and healthy.

Copper is the picture purrrfect snoozing cat. (photo by Jacqueline Church)

Cats Are Crepuscular

Rather than nocturnal or most active at night, cats are crepuscular or most active at dawn and dusk. While they do have better night vision than humans, they are designed to hunt for food in those marginal periods between the heat of the day and the dark of the night.

Copper (shown above) lives and works with food writer and private cooking coach Jacqueline Church. I couldn't resist asking if I could use this photo when she posted it.

If your cat tries to get you up before you’re due to wake, the experts recommend a very active play period at dusk each day to tire the hunter and a strict adherence to no rewards (like attention or food) when the cat tries to become a 5:00 a.m. alarm clock.

If you are away during the day, you could have a pet sitter drop in to wake a cat who might just be sleeping the day away. A bit of mid-day activity or even an alarm or wake up call might help you both sleep through the night.

If she can't find a human pillow, Poppy will settle for one from the sofa.

Do Dogs Dream?

Most dog guardians have seen their dog’s paws twitch while appearing to be sound asleep or have heard low woofs and garbled sounds and wondered if the dog is dreaming.

While we have no way to really know if the animals are dreaming, some researchers speculate that the same type of sorting and storing of daytime activities that seem to occur in humans might be happening with dogs and cats.

Dogs and Cats Nap a Lot

Our companion animals sleep much more than we do. Dogs and cats are nappers with both species clocking in at about 14 hours a day of sleep in their middle years. Puppies, kittens, and elder dogs and cats require more sleep. Interestingly, dogs in active settings, like farms, seem to require less.

Keeping track of how much sleep your dog or cat gets each day will help you notice when that amount increases or decreases. Excessive sleeping or an unusual change in activity level can be a sign that something is wrong. And, if your dog or cat wakes suddenly when they were sound asleep without any outside stimuli to trigger it, it could be a sign of pain when they move in their sleep.

We all joke about how perfectly behaved and adorable our cats and dogs are when they are asleep. However, there may be much more than entertainment value in watching your critter doze. If you can help direct the four-legged sleep cycle, the whole family may be better rested.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

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!

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Words: Penny Cherubino from her City Paws column that appears in papers of the Independent Newspaper Group.
Photography: © Poppy's photos 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, Copper's photo by Jacqueline Church

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January 11, 2015
What’s Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2015 in Boston Plus Trash, Parking & MBTA Schedule Changes
UPDATE: What's Open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2016 in Boston Plus Trash, Parking & MBTA Schedule Changes

Here's a rundown of what's open in Boston, plus Boston trash collection, parking, and MBTA schedules for Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 19, 2015. We try to publish this information ahead of the holiday so you can make your plans.

Once again, we've selected a Photo of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman Some rights reserved

Restaurants, Bars: Open

Convenience Stores: Open

Supermarkets: Open

Retail Stores: Are allowed to open, if the owners choose

Liquor Stores: Open

City, Town, State and Federal offices and facilities are closed: This includes Schools, Libraries, and the Postal Service (express mail will be delivered). Only emergency services are available.

Financial Services: As the British would say, this is a Bank Holiday with both Banks and the Stock Markets in the United States closed. International markets are open.

Boston Parking: You don't have to feed the meters. Other parking rules apply.

Free Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston

If you're looking for something to do on this holiday, the MFA has a full schedule of special events and invites the community to visit for free that day.

Boston Trash and Recycling: The City website says,

Martin Luther King Week 2015: Monday, January 19 – Saturday, January 24, 2015

"No delay of trash or recycling pick up in Back Bay, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Chinatown, Fenway, Leather District, Mission Hill, North End, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End

Allston/Brighton, Dorchester, East Boston, Jamaica Plain*, Mattapan, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park, delayed a day

*If you live in Jamaica Plain and your trash is picked up 2 times per week, do not delay."

Street Cleaning: The city says, "Daytime street sweeping is suspended on city holidays, but nighttime sweeping schedules remain in effect. Constituents are advised to call 617-635-4500 for exact details."

MBTA Schedule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, 2015:

For a few days before and after the holiday, the MBTA Schedule is posted at this link. At this time the MBTA has not posted the 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Schedule. To help you plan:

Here is what they did last year:
- Subway: Blue, Orange, Red, Green, and Silver lines will operate on a Saturday schedule.
- Buses and Trackless Trolleys will operate on a Saturday schedule with a list of routes posted here that will not operate.
- Commuter rail trains will operate on a regular weekday schedule.
- Boat service – Hingham, Charlestown – will operate on regular weekday schedules.
- The RIDE will operate on a Saturday schedule.
For more information about MBTA services, routes, schedules, and fares, please call the T’s Customer Information Center at 617-222-3200 (TTY 617-222-5146) or log on to the MBTA’s website www.mbta.com

Keeping warm is on the top of everyone's agenda. Amazon has excellent underlayers to keep you toasty.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: Photo of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial by Scott Ableman used under creative commons license Some rights reserved

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January 9, 2015
Loving that Landaff Cheese: Welsh Style Flavor from New Hampshire

You know how we love to discover a local cheese that is in wonderful condition at a local store.

We've recently enjoyed a piece of Landaff Cheese produced at Landaff Creamery in Landaff, New Hampshire and aged at The Cellars at Jasper Hill in Greensboro, Vermont.

The Cheesemaker says:

"Made from our own high quality raw cow's milk, Landaff Cheese is a mild, semi-firm cheese with a delicious combination of flavors, tangy with a clean finish. The open and buttery texture comes with a natural, cave-aged rind. It melts beautifully for cooking, and makes a wonderful addition to any cheese plate."

The experts at Murray's Cheese say:

"Taking a cue from the Welsh history of New Hampshire, cheesemaker Doug Erb has based his Landaff on Caerphilly. The Erbs' herd of registered Holsteins is renowned for milk quality, another reason to leave the milk unpasteurized; that, and Doug spent two years training before bringing this cheese to market."

We say:

"We'll add Landaff to our cheese order often when we find it at our local shops. Many times, we prefer sheep and goat cheeses to cows milk, but this is one that has won our hearts."

And, here are other posts from our Cheese Collection!

What's on your Cheese shopping list? Here are some great books about cheese. These make wonderful gifts for a cheese lover. And, when you shop Amazon from here, they put some coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny & Ed Cherubino, top photo courtesy of the Cellars at Jasper Hill Farm.

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January 8, 2015
Notes on a New Year’s Eve Toast with Bollinger Rosé
We couldn’t let New Year’s Eve get too far out of sight without some quick notes on the spectacular bottle of Bollinger Rosé Champagne that helped us ring in 2015.

This champagne was even lovelier than we’d remembered from our December tasting. Here are some thoughts:
- nicely balanced with just enough Pinot to accompany our pâté mousse truffée …
- the wine matched well with aged cheddar, each enhancing the other …
- even chicken parmigiana bites couldn’t trip up this sparkler …
- we dared to pair these blushing bubbles with a moist chocolate cupcake … yes!
- for us, this Bollinger was at its best when not over-chilled …
- we allowed it to warm in our glasses …
- drank it through temperatures from chilled to room and found our sweet spot …
Speaking of sweet, we loved photographing this bottle. Bollinger gave it a label redesign recently, and we’re making it an early leader for our “Most Enchanting Empty Bottle Award of 2015.”

Are you ready to join our Sparkling Resolution movement?

More About Our Sparkling Resolution

Check Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List (It will include this one, so be sure to scroll down.)

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: © 2014 Ed Cherubino

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January 6, 2015