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Jammin’ Jamaican Patties from the Jamaica Mi Hungry Food Truck

Our search for great Jamaican Patties took a surprise detour when we spotted the Jamaica Mi Hungry Food Truck on the Greenway. This was our first encounter with this happy crew but we'll be following them around town after our first bite of their luscious Jamaican beef patties.

This patty made it home for its close-up with a camera. We wanted to be sure you could see the flaky layers of crust and the finely ground filling. You'll have to get one of your own to taste the blend of rich flavor and spice.

But our first taste was of this one, shared right out of the bag on a table on the Greenway. The aroma made it irresistible, despite the fact that we were walking back from a picnic on the waterfront when we spotted the truck.

When we see the word Jamaican on a restaurant or truck, we do an immediate search of the menu for our favorite, little, spicy turnovers. This one is among the best we've ever tried and we'll be stocking up each time we see the truck.

The menu offered both a beef and veggie patty and you can also order it with coco bread. Naturally we'll be trying the rest of the menu. It looks like the chef has created some great offerings. Right now they are on the Greenway three days a week. You can check for an updated schedule here.

Related Post:

Our Search Is on for the Best Jamaican Patties in Boston!

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

Details:

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

June 15, 2016
Pick a Park and Go Dog Watching! A Sunday Dog Lover Activity
Boston has a wonderful array of parks and a few of them are dog-friendly. These are the places we love to go to sit on a bench or spread out a blanket and spend a bit of time enjoying dog watching, one of our favorite pastimes.

Christopher Columbus Park on the waterfront is a great destination for this game. You'll see dog walkers with packs in tow.

People running with their dogs.

Frisky frolickers like this little bit of a dog who was the fastest pup in the park during our visit. Zoom! Zoom!

Dogs and people who disagree on the direction of their stroll.

Pauses for sniffs while the person on the other end of the leash enjoys the view.

This park gets lots of bonus points from us for:
- Nearby food trucks on the Greenway and take out in the North End
- Free WiFi
- Restrooms just outside the doors to the Marriott hotel
- Great people watching, boat watching, airplane watching
- Shady spots under the arbor
- Walls and steps as extra seating
- Great photo subject like dogs, boats, architecture, and skylines
This is a great activity for hot days when moving around is taxing on everyone. And remember that the trip to a cooler waterfront location can be made on the MBTA with your dog – outside of rush hour.

June is a great time to take a ride with your dog if this will be a new experience. As you can see in the photo above, off-peak hours often find the trains fairly empty.

Our Poppy has all the details about riding the T here:

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

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
June 12, 2016
Pick a Park and Go Dog Watching! A Sunday Dog Lover Activity
Boston has a wonderful array of parks and a few of them are dog-friendly. These are the places we love to go to sit on a bench or spread out a blanket and spend a bit of time enjoying dog watching, one of our favorite pastimes.

Christopher Columbus Park on the waterfront is a great destination for this game. You'll see dog walkers with packs in tow.

People running with their dogs.

Frisky frolickers like this little bit of a dog who was the fastest pup in the park during our visit. Zoom! Zoom!

Dogs and people who disagree on the direction of their stroll.

Pauses for sniffs while the person on the other end of the leash enjoys the view.

This park gets lots of bonus points from us for:
- Nearby food trucks on the Greenway and take out in the North End
- Free WiFi
- Restrooms just outside the doors to the Marriott hotel
- Great people watching, boat watching, airplane watching
- Shady spots under the arbor
- Walls and steps as extra seating
- Great photo subject like dogs, boats, architecture, and skylines
This is a great activity for hot days when moving around is taxing on everyone. And remember that the trip to a cooler waterfront location can be made on the MBTA with your dog – outside of rush hour.

June is a great time to take a ride with your dog if this will be a new experience. As you can see in the photo above, off-peak hours often find the trains fairly empty.

Our Poppy has all the details about riding the T here:

Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101

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
June 12, 2016
Where to Dine on Father’s Day In & Around Boston 2016

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Dad to a meal out on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, 2016.

For Father's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurant suggestions:

Open Table always does a great job guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list.

Boston Chefs has a special list from their members.

More ideas – last year Eater Boston prepared of list of places to consider.

Would your Dad love to get his hands on some great seafood offerings at Select Oyster Bar? (They do have a steak on the menu, if that would make it a good choice.)

Our Picks:

Select Oyster Bar is a great option this Father's Day. Here are a couple of links to some of the meals we've enjoyed there.

Blue Prawns on the Plancha at Select Oyster Bar

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

Row 34 in the Fort Point Neighborhood. Wouldn't Dad love to slurp a few Island Creeks or Row 34 oysters? And match those beauties with the perfect brew from one of the taps or the current cask beer?

Here's more on what we've enjoyed at Row 34 …

Sweet Cheeks Q in the Fenway may seem to be just for the meat lovers in the clan, but they put out some great veggies and a tray of hot and cold scoops (as they call them) with a remarkable farm salad that will put a smile on anyone with a preference for vegetarian fare. And remember to order the crazy-good biscuits. (You may want to treat Dad to a doggie bag of them for the rest of the week!) Check out our Sweet Cheeks posts:

Sweet Cheeks BBQ: A First Look

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Salt & Pepper Potatoes at Sweet Cheeks Q

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

How about simple Italian-American food in a very comfortable setting. We suggest Artu in the North End or on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. Here's one of our favorite menu items.

If you'd like to treat Dad to something really special, consider the ultimate hamburger at the Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Hotel. Lunch there for just the two of you, some quiet afternoon, could be a great IOU if you can't be together on the 21st. Here's what we wrote about that burger.

Another great spot to share a meal, any day of the week, is Coppa in the South End. You can even top off your meal with a quick shopping trip to Formaggio Kitchen South End across the street. We always do! And that will let you create a super take-home gift that Dad can help select. Need more convincing? Take a look at:

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Coppa Italian Grinder: A Best Bite

Coppa- A First Look

Photo of Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton, Rhode Island courtesy of that great resource for finding all the dining traditions Boston and beyond has to offer, Hidden Boston.

Our final suggestion is a trip down memory lane. Take Dad someplace where he used to take you if you have an old favorite that survives to this day. For Penny, this might be Evelyn's Drive-In. For Ed, The Bubbling Brook in Westwood. This day would be about remembering and laughing as much as about the food.

And, for the best gift, let Dad choose something from his Wish List. Get an Amazon gift card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card. And, if he doesn't shop online, offer to sit with your Dad and take him on an Amazon shopping trip.

Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino and Evelyn's courtesy of Hidden Boston.

Related articles

Patio & Picnic Season Means More Dining Out Options

Advent Artist on Beacon Hill

Where to Pick Up Great Food for Boston Summer 2014 Events

June 10, 2016
Where to Dine on Father’s Day In & Around Boston 2016

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Dad to a meal out on Father's Day, Sunday, June 19, 2016.

For Father's Day dining ideas, here are two excellent lists of restaurant suggestions:

Open Table always does a great job guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list.

Boston Chefs has a special list from their members.

More ideas – last year Eater Boston prepared of list of places to consider.

Would your Dad love to get his hands on some great seafood offerings at Select Oyster Bar? (They do have a steak on the menu, if that would make it a good choice.)

Our Picks:

Select Oyster Bar is a great option this Father's Day. Here are a couple of links to some of the meals we've enjoyed there.

Blue Prawns on the Plancha at Select Oyster Bar

SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

Row 34 in the Fort Point Neighborhood. Wouldn't Dad love to slurp a few Island Creeks or Row 34 oysters? And match those beauties with the perfect brew from one of the taps or the current cask beer?

Here's more on what we've enjoyed at Row 34 …

Sweet Cheeks Q in the Fenway may seem to be just for the meat lovers in the clan, but they put out some great veggies and a tray of hot and cold scoops (as they call them) with a remarkable farm salad that will put a smile on anyone with a preference for vegetarian fare. And remember to order the crazy-good biscuits. (You may want to treat Dad to a doggie bag of them for the rest of the week!) Check out our Sweet Cheeks posts:

Sweet Cheeks BBQ: A First Look

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

Salt & Pepper Potatoes at Sweet Cheeks Q

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

How about simple Italian-American food in a very comfortable setting. We suggest Artu in the North End or on Charles Street in Beacon Hill. Here's one of our favorite menu items.

If you'd like to treat Dad to something really special, consider the ultimate hamburger at the Bristol Lounge at the Four Season's Hotel. Lunch there for just the two of you, some quiet afternoon, could be a great IOU if you can't be together on the 21st. Here's what we wrote about that burger.

Another great spot to share a meal, any day of the week, is Coppa in the South End. You can even top off your meal with a quick shopping trip to Formaggio Kitchen South End across the street. We always do! And that will let you create a super take-home gift that Dad can help select. Need more convincing? Take a look at:

Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

Coppa Italian Grinder: A Best Bite

Coppa- A First Look

Photo of Evelyn's Drive-In, Tiverton, Rhode Island courtesy of that great resource for finding all the dining traditions Boston and beyond has to offer, Hidden Boston.

Our final suggestion is a trip down memory lane. Take Dad someplace where he used to take you if you have an old favorite that survives to this day. For Penny, this might be Evelyn's Drive-In. For Ed, The Bubbling Brook in Westwood. This day would be about remembering and laughing as much as about the food.

And, for the best gift, let Dad choose something from his Wish List. Get an Amazon gift card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card. And, if he doesn't shop online, offer to sit with your Dad and take him on an Amazon shopping trip.

Details:
Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2014 Penny Cherubino and Evelyn's courtesy of Hidden Boston.

Related articles

Patio & Picnic Season Means More Dining Out Options

Advent Artist on Beacon Hill

Where to Pick Up Great Food for Boston Summer 2014 Events

June 10, 2016
Will You Get Your Galleria Umberto Fix Before or After Their July Vacation?

On a beautiful day in June, you'll want to pick up a box full of goodies from Galleria Umberto Rosticceria and have a delicious picnic on a bench overlooking the harbor.

Fans of this Boston treasure know that their official hours are short (Mon-Sat: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) and get even shorter as ingredients begin to run out. When the dough is gone, they shut down.

And, when we had our picnic last week, we confirmed that, as always, they are taking the month of July off. That means you need to get there in the next couple of weeks or wait until August.

Our box of take-out always has at least one slice of pizza. Here the pizza slice is a Square of Sicilian-style with a thick crust, crispy bottom, and an abundance of sauce and cheese. It's filling but surprisingly lighter than it would seem.

The calzone in the box is spinach and cheese and next to it you see a panzerotti or more specifically a panzerotti di patate which is a mashed potato croquette. As Ed said, "What could be better than mashed potatoes stuffed with cheese that you can pick up and eat out of your hand?"

This can be a lines-out-the-door place, but take a breath! Great aromas fill the air and tell you it's worth the wait.

Calzones in the warming case never stay there long. Everything is in a constant flow as food moves from the cooks in the back room into boxes for takeout, or trays for dining-in that are handed to customers.

Worth Repeating

We have told our readers about this before, but there are some things that are worth repeating.

There is a really great piece of writing over on Serious Eats about Galleria Umberto's pizza. Carey Jones wrote, "Pizza flies out from the kitchen, enormous pans appearing every three or four minutes, smacked down on the counter, slices scooped up so quickly the cheese hardly has time to ooze over the side."

Simple, old world, fresh, ready, hearty, warm describes the food and the people. If you're a regular, you may get a hug or a conversation in Italian with your order. Regulars also have cash-in-hand because this is a "cash only" establishment.

Many locals also know that you can phone ahead with your order and go to the left of the main line, pull out your cash, and pick up your order. You'll see lots of locals picking up boxes of 10, 15, or 20 slices of pizza and a stash of other goodies.

You can dine in, if you choose, and have beer or wine in a paper cup with your food. But our crowd often has dogs in tow so we do this on really nice days and we eat in the park. Part of the clan finds a bench along the harbor or a table on the Greenway or at least they stand ready to pounce on a table the moment one is free.

We keep a photo of the menu on our phones to put together our order. With decisions made and cash gathered, we make the call and tell them, "Yes we do need napkins, forks, knives, and plates." They generously add those to your order. (And they do supply ample napkins – they know their food.)

Then, one or two of you can walk down Hanover Street, pick up your feast in the much shorter pick-up line to the left of the longer line, and return to the park for an outstanding picnic by the fountains.

Galleria Umberto

289 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113 (map)

617-227-5709

Cash Only!

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: © 2014-2016 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Otto Pizza, Coolidge Corner: Our First Look (At This Location)

Sicilian Slices at Boston's Galleria Umberto

Sicilian Slice Crawl in Boston

June 9, 2016
Will You Get Your Galleria Umberto Fix Before or After Their July Vacation?

On a beautiful day in June, you'll want to pick up a box full of goodies from Galleria Umberto Rosticceria and have a delicious picnic on a bench overlooking the harbor.

Fans of this Boston treasure know that their official hours are short (Mon-Sat: 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.) and get even shorter as ingredients begin to run out. When the dough is gone, they shut down.

And, when we had our picnic last week, we confirmed that, as always, they are taking the month of July off. That means you need to get there in the next couple of weeks or wait until August.

Our box of take-out always has at least one slice of pizza. Here the pizza slice is a Square of Sicilian-style with a thick crust, crispy bottom, and an abundance of sauce and cheese. It's filling but surprisingly lighter than it would seem.

The calzone in the box is spinach and cheese and next to it you see a panzerotti or more specifically a panzerotti di patate which is a mashed potato croquette. As Ed said, "What could be better than mashed potatoes stuffed with cheese that you can pick up and eat out of your hand?"

This can be a lines-out-the-door place, but take a breath! Great aromas fill the air and tell you it's worth the wait.

Calzones in the warming case never stay there long. Everything is in a constant flow as food moves from the cooks in the back room into boxes for takeout, or trays for dining-in that are handed to customers.

Worth Repeating

We have told our readers about this before, but there are some things that are worth repeating.

There is a really great piece of writing over on Serious Eats about Galleria Umberto's pizza. Carey Jones wrote, "Pizza flies out from the kitchen, enormous pans appearing every three or four minutes, smacked down on the counter, slices scooped up so quickly the cheese hardly has time to ooze over the side."

Simple, old world, fresh, ready, hearty, warm describes the food and the people. If you're a regular, you may get a hug or a conversation in Italian with your order. Regulars also have cash-in-hand because this is a "cash only" establishment.

Many locals also know that you can phone ahead with your order and go to the left of the main line, pull out your cash, and pick up your order. You'll see lots of locals picking up boxes of 10, 15, or 20 slices of pizza and a stash of other goodies.

You can dine in, if you choose, and have beer or wine in a paper cup with your food. But our crowd often has dogs in tow so we do this on really nice days and we eat in the park. Part of the clan finds a bench along the harbor or a table on the Greenway or at least they stand ready to pounce on a table the moment one is free.

We keep a photo of the menu on our phones to put together our order. With decisions made and cash gathered, we make the call and tell them, "Yes we do need napkins, forks, knives, and plates." They generously add those to your order. (And they do supply ample napkins – they know their food.)

Then, one or two of you can walk down Hanover Street, pick up your feast in the much shorter pick-up line to the left of the longer line, and return to the park for an outstanding picnic by the fountains.

Galleria Umberto

289 Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113 (map)

617-227-5709

Cash Only!

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: © 2014-2016 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Otto Pizza, Coolidge Corner: Our First Look (At This Location)

Sicilian Slices at Boston's Galleria Umberto

Sicilian Slice Crawl in Boston

June 9, 2016
Cole Slaw and Portuguese Muffins Make for a Great Ham Sandwich

Portuguese muffins, also called Bolos Levedos, are always on the list for my monthly food shopping loop through Somerville and Cambridge. I've recently noticed more and more chef using these light, slightly sweet flatbreads as a base for burgers.

They recently became part of this very delicious ham sandwich from our kitchen.

If you read the ingredients on many of the local products you won't find preservatives. Because of that, I cut most of a package of 6 muffins in half, wrap them in wax paper and freeze them. Then when we need something for a snack, or as a sandwich base, we reach for one and pop it in the toaster.

I spread each side with a swipe of Stonewall Kitchen's Bourbon Molasses Mustard. It's one of my favorite condiments. I stock up on it on visits to Russo's.

A bowl of my tangy cole slaw was in the refrigerator so I piled that on one muffin half and stacked some slices of ham on the other. (How I make my no-mayo coleslaw is covered in an earlier post.)

Now, when I think about a sandwich with a lot of filling, I'm going to think Portuguese muffins. It holds up under the contents and is much easier to eat than many alternatives.

If you want to make your own Bolos Levedos here's a recipe with nice clear instructions. It's from Maria Dias author of Taste Portugal. Since the cook in a hot skillet, you won't have to fire the oven to enjoy these as a homemade bread.

You can also make them from this King Arthur Flour Portuguese Sweet Bread Mix.

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

Details:

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

June 8, 2016
Cole Slaw and Portuguese Muffins Make for a Great Ham Sandwich

Portuguese muffins, also called Bolos Levedos, are always on the list for my monthly food shopping loop through Somerville and Cambridge. I've recently noticed more and more chef using these light, slightly sweet flatbreads as a base for burgers.

They recently became part of this very delicious ham sandwich from our kitchen.

If you read the ingredients on many of the local products you won't find preservatives. Because of that, I cut most of a package of 6 muffins in half, wrap them in wax paper and freeze them. Then when we need something for a snack, or as a sandwich base, we reach for one and pop it in the toaster.

I spread each side with a swipe of Stonewall Kitchen's Bourbon Molasses Mustard. It's one of my favorite condiments. I stock up on it on visits to Russo's.

A bowl of my tangy cole slaw was in the refrigerator so I piled that on one muffin half and stacked some slices of ham on the other. (How I make my no-mayo coleslaw is covered in an earlier post.)

Now, when I think about a sandwich with a lot of filling, I'm going to think Portuguese muffins. It holds up under the contents and is much easier to eat than many alternatives.

If you want to make your own Bolos Levedos here's a recipe with nice clear instructions. It's from Maria Dias author of Taste Portugal. Since the cook in a hot skillet, you won't have to fire the oven to enjoy these as a homemade bread.

You can also make them from this King Arthur Flour Portuguese Sweet Bread Mix.

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

Details:

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

June 8, 2016
Dog Friendly Places from the Trustees of Resevations

Looking for a place to go for a great walk with your dog? Click over to this page on the Trustees of Reservations site. Choose "Dog walking" as your activity and select the other options that are right for you. The result will be a list of very special places that welcome responsible dog folks and well-mannered pups.

From our files of wonderful memories, here are four of my favorite males heading into Halibut Point Reservation back in 2008. We had a wonderful day there and it's good to look back at the photos and remember a fine dog with a big heart.

Westies love climbing on rocks!

Here's a piece they prepared on Tail Wagging Destinations.

Dog-friendly places alone are a reason for Sunday Dog readers to head straight for The Trustees site to join or renew their memberships. We did and now will not only have all these places to visit, but also will be the first to know about the events at the Boston Public Market that are managed by this same group.

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: ©2008 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

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June 5, 2016