bostonzest

Tag: South End

  • Where to Dine Valentine’s Day 2016 – Ideas for Romantic Dining in Boston

    Start early if you want to plan a Valentine's Day meal that your loved one will remember. 

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401a5110c5439970c-800wi

    This year, February 14th falls on a Sunday.

    Just as you could last year, you have 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 lovely Sunday brunch at a favorite spot is an option. You can follow that with a quiet dinner at home for two or a gathering of friends who are close to your heart.

    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.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401901bdf4a14970b-800wi   6a00e54fc42bb88834017eeadcdf63970d-800wi

    If brunch is on your list, we recommend Coppa Enoteca. They say, "Join us for Valentine’s Day at Coppa. We will be offering our regular menu and specials with additional by the glass and by the bottle wine features."

    Coppa is one of our favorite places to spend an afternoon nibbling and sharing plates of delicious offerings like the meatballs and asparagus above. 

    When a Valentine's Day Brunch 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. Fortunately, it looks like more places are going with their regular menu with some additions. 
    • Boston Chefs has a list with some information at this link.

    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:

     

    Related BostonZest Posts:

     

    Sophisticated Pink Sparklers for Valentine's Day

    Your Special Place, Free Romance for Valentine's Day

    Valentine's Day Live Performances at Half Price

     

    Eight Tips on Buying Jewelry for Valentine’s Day from an Expert

     

    Romance at the Gardner Museum – Valentine's Weekend Destination

     

    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, 

    Related articles
    How to Make a Silent 9-1-1 Call Using Your Keypad
    A Few of Our Favorite Kitchen Gifts
    Spread a Little Local Love for the Rest of Valentine's Month

  • Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve 2015 & New Year’s Day Brunch 2016

    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.

    IStock_000035340368Small

    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. 

    Everyone can begin at Open Table. They maintain a list of special New Year's Eve celebrations at area restaurants. 

    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.
    • Craigie on Main will present a five course tasting menu.
    • Grotto on Beacon Hill, Kitchen in the South End, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
    • La Morra in Brookline will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with a glass of Prosecco!
    • Myers + Chang will add special items to their regular menu and serve it all Dim Sum style.

    Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Eve in Boston.

     

    Where are you spending the evening? What's your favorite way to celebrate? Come back on January 1st and tell us about your New Year's Eve.

    New Year's Day Brunch

    Here is a list of brunches from the members of Boston Chefs. Our pick from this list would be Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel. 

    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. 
    • Eastern Standard will be open with their great brunch menu.
    • La Voile on Newbury serves a lovely meal and is a great way to start the year.

    Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Day in Boston

    To be notified of updates to this post, sign-on to the comment feed for this post or follow us on Twitter for updates. 

    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: Photo: iStockphoto.com

    Related articles
    SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

  • Where to Dine on New Year’s Eve 2015 & New Year’s Day Brunch 2016

    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.

    IStock_000035340368Small

    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. 

    Everyone can begin at Open Table. They maintain a list of special New Year's Eve celebrations at area restaurants. 

    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.
    • Craigie on Main will present a five course tasting menu.
    • Grotto on Beacon Hill, Kitchen in the South End, and Marliave downtown all join that list of places sticking with the food you love.
    • La Morra in Brookline will serve a three-course prix fixe menu with a glass of Prosecco!
    • Myers + Chang will add special items to their regular menu and serve it all Dim Sum style.

    Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Eve in Boston.

     

    Where are you spending the evening? What's your favorite way to celebrate? Come back on January 1st and tell us about your New Year's Eve.

    New Year's Day Brunch

    Here is a list of brunches from the members of Boston Chefs. Our pick from this list would be Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel. 

    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. 
    • Eastern Standard will be open with their great brunch menu.
    • La Voile on Newbury serves a lovely meal and is a great way to start the year.

    Update: 12/17/15 - From Eater Boston here's a list and map of Where to Eat on New Year's Day in Boston

    To be notified of updates to this post, sign-on to the comment feed for this post or follow us on Twitter for updates. 

    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: Photo: iStockphoto.com

    Related articles
    SELECT Oyster Bar: Our First Taste

  • Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2015 Around Boston

    Where can you dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Boston area?

    There are a few great choices! But, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays, make a reservation! More than ever, family and friends are gathering in area restaurants on holidays like this, which means spots at your favorites may be gone if you wait too long.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e031dab7970b-800wi

    Don't be surprised if a deposit is required to hold your reservation or if there are special menus and seatings for these special holiday meals. Unfortunately, restaurants have been forced to do this because of people who make multiple reservations, so they can decide at the last minute where to go. This leaves other diners without choices and the restaurants with empty tables.

    What's Open on Christmas Eve?

    There are more choices on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. Some of our favorite, special places have wonderful holiday meals planned for those who reserve for the 24th.

    At the early date of this posting, some places have not announced their traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes events for Chistmas Eve. Check back or follow us on Twitter for updates on this fun, holiday dining option. 

    Update 12/17/15: Here's a link to Boston Eater's list of places to dine on Christmas Eve.

    What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?

    Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays.

    In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:



    Other places open on holidays would include chain restaurants and some places in Chinatown. We once asked a longtime Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.

    Here are some conversations on Eater, Chowhound.com and Trip Advisor about Christmas dining. We'll add more as we see them pop up this year and we'll link to lists from other Boston food sites.

    Update 12/17/15 Here's a link to Boston Eater's list of places to dine on Christmas Day.

    Trip Advisor on Christmas Dinner (2013)

     

     

    Other Resources:

    The reservation site Open Table has a feature list of its member restaurants with Christmas Eve Specials and Christmas Day Dining. 

    But, you can also input information on the reservation you want on Open Table and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change and some are not on the featured lists. It's a good place to start.

    The Boston Chefs site has posted a list of its participating member restaurants with special features for the holidays. Here's the Christmas Eve List & the Christmas Day list.

    From Last Year: Eater Boston has a list of What's Open in Boston Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We'll update with the new one when it's available.

    They have many good choices to add to your holiday options. We'd particularly like to recommend:

    Island Creek Oyster Bar for Christmas Eve. It's one of our favorite places, and I can just imagine what a happy scene it will be on that evening. 

    Eastern Standard: They will normally open Christmas Day for breakfast and then for a special 3-course prix fixe meal. 

    Follow us on Twitter for notice of updates to this post.

    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

    Photo: from iStockphoto.com

    Related articles
    Greeting November with a Special Treat: Champagne H. Billiot Fils Rosé
    You Never Know What's Under Boston Streets

  • Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2015 Around Boston

    Where can you dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the Boston area?

    There are a few great choices! But, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays, make a reservation! More than ever, family and friends are gathering in area restaurants on holidays like this, which means spots at your favorites may be gone if you wait too long.

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e031dab7970b-800wi

    Don't be surprised if a deposit is required to hold your reservation or if there are special menus and seatings for these special holiday meals. Unfortunately, restaurants have been forced to do this because of people who make multiple reservations, so they can decide at the last minute where to go. This leaves other diners without choices and the restaurants with empty tables.

    What's Open on Christmas Eve?

    There are more choices on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. Some of our favorite, special places have wonderful holiday meals planned for those who reserve for the 24th.

    At the early date of this posting, some places have not announced their traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes events for Chistmas Eve. Check back or follow us on Twitter for updates on this fun, holiday dining option. 

    Update 12/17/15: Here's a link to Boston Eater's list of places to dine on Christmas Eve.

    What Boston Area Restaurants Are Open on Christmas?

    Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on holidays.

    In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:



    Other places open on holidays would include chain restaurants and some places in Chinatown. We once asked a longtime Boston cabbie where we could get something we needed on Christmas, and he said Chinatown was the place to go.

    Here are some conversations on Eater, Chowhound.com and Trip Advisor about Christmas dining. We'll add more as we see them pop up this year and we'll link to lists from other Boston food sites.

    Update 12/17/15 Here's a link to Boston Eater's list of places to dine on Christmas Day.

    Trip Advisor on Christmas Dinner (2013)

     

     

    Other Resources:

    The reservation site Open Table has a feature list of its member restaurants with Christmas Eve Specials and Christmas Day Dining. 

    But, you can also input information on the reservation you want on Open Table and come up with a list of restaurants open at that hour. Change the hour and the list will change and some are not on the featured lists. It's a good place to start.

    The Boston Chefs site has posted a list of its participating member restaurants with special features for the holidays. Here's the Christmas Eve List & the Christmas Day list.

    From Last Year: Eater Boston has a list of What's Open in Boston Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We'll update with the new one when it's available.

    They have many good choices to add to your holiday options. We'd particularly like to recommend:

    Island Creek Oyster Bar for Christmas Eve. It's one of our favorite places, and I can just imagine what a happy scene it will be on that evening. 

    Eastern Standard: They will normally open Christmas Day for breakfast and then for a special 3-course prix fixe meal. 

    Follow us on Twitter for notice of updates to this post.

    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

    Photo: from iStockphoto.com

    Related articles
    Greeting November with a Special Treat: Champagne H. Billiot Fils Rosé
    You Never Know What's Under Boston Streets

  • Meet Alice “Tajad” Glera: Our October Sparkling Wine

    Our recommended sparkling wine for October 1st is Alice "Tajad" Glera. We met this delightful prosecco at Coppa Enoteca in the South End. It's been on the menu for a while and we've enjoyed it on our past few visits. Please join us as we toast a Happy New Month!

    \IMG_3914 - Version 22015-09-23-Alice -Tajad -Glera-prosecco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    It is the perfect sip for a lazy afternoon on the patio. And, it's a great selection to match the Coppa menu. 

    We enjoyed it with a variety of dishes from a plate of mixed crostini to the semolina pasta with Ligurian veal ragu and salsa verde.

    IMG_3924 - Version 22015-09-23-Alice -Tajad -Glera-prosecco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    A beautiful glass of bubbles adds a touch of festive to any meal.

    IMG_3932 - Version 22015-09-23-Alice -Tajad -Glera-prosecco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you are joining our Sparkling Resolution and have decided to start each month with a glass of sparkling wine, we highly recommend a trip to Coppa. You can toast the new month with a glass of Alice and some wonderful small plates. It's one of our favorite ways to spend any afternoon!

    Alice note from the importer:

    "Tajad means “blend” in local Veneto dialect, and this kind of blend of local varieties used to be the daily drinker in the Veneto. Tasting it makes one question the wisdom of abandoning those antique varieties for a single-minded, conformist focus on Glera. (Wine now must be at least 85% Glera to be labeled Prosecco.) Tajad shows a little spiciness, a touch of rusticity, and a lot of character. It makes you wish you could be standing at Nonna Alice’s bar, asking her for another glass."

    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, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover's Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny  Cherubino  

  • Meet Alice “Tajad” Glera: Our October Sparkling Wine

    Our recommended sparkling wine for October 1st is Alice "Tajad" Glera. We met this delightful prosecco at Coppa Enoteca in the South End. It's been on the menu for a while and we've enjoyed it on our past few visits. Please join us as we toast a Happy New Month!

    \IMG_3914 - Version 22015-09-23-Alice -Tajad -Glera-prosecco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    It is the perfect sip for a lazy afternoon on the patio. And, it's a great selection to match the Coppa menu. 

    We enjoyed it with a variety of dishes from a plate of mixed crostini to the semolina pasta with Ligurian veal ragu and salsa verde.

    IMG_3924 - Version 22015-09-23-Alice -Tajad -Glera-prosecco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    A beautiful glass of bubbles adds a touch of festive to any meal.

    IMG_3932 - Version 22015-09-23-Alice -Tajad -Glera-prosecco-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    If you are joining our Sparkling Resolution and have decided to start each month with a glass of sparkling wine, we highly recommend a trip to Coppa. You can toast the new month with a glass of Alice and some wonderful small plates. It's one of our favorite ways to spend any afternoon!

    Alice note from the importer:

    "Tajad means “blend” in local Veneto dialect, and this kind of blend of local varieties used to be the daily drinker in the Veneto. Tasting it makes one question the wisdom of abandoning those antique varieties for a single-minded, conformist focus on Glera. (Wine now must be at least 85% Glera to be labeled Prosecco.) Tajad shows a little spiciness, a touch of rusticity, and a lot of character. It makes you wish you could be standing at Nonna Alice’s bar, asking her for another glass."

    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, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover's Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover's Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny  Cherubino  

  • Duchess Poppy Welcomes New Boston Dogs with What They Need to Know!

    Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

    Lately, I've been sniffing up with a lot of new members of the Boston Canine Court. So I thought I might let them, and the rest of the dogs who are new to Boston, know what they should put on the to-do list of their human servants.

    DSC_6727 - Version 32015-09-03duchess-poppy-westie-boston-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    License

    Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license. (If Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old.)

    You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done on line.

    Leash Laws

    Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

    Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, growl at them. 

    One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

    Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supplies if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019102df04cf970c-800wi

    Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

    Dog Parks

    I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

    But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester. 

    Screen Shot 2014-08-25 at Monday, August 25, 20145.15.32 PM

    Emergency Services 

    The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And, it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going in a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

    Questions?

    If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

    Get to know all of the wonderful 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!

     Details:

    Words: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
    Photography: © 2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert
    Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101
    Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

  • Duchess Poppy Welcomes New Boston Dogs with What They Need to Know!

    Duchess Poppy Whitehead here! (Once we're friends, you can call me Poppy.)

    Lately, I've been sniffing up with a lot of new members of the Boston Canine Court. So I thought I might let them, and the rest of the dogs who are new to Boston, know what they should put on the to-do list of their human servants.

    DSC_6727 - Version 32015-09-03duchess-poppy-westie-boston-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    License

    Just like you have to make sure your chauffeur has a valid driver's license, you have to be sure one of your human staff members gets you a Boston dog license. (If Boston is your main residence and you are more than six months old.)

    You can sit them down at a computer and send them to the Animal Care and Control page for more information. Here is the link for your secretary to get your license done on line.

    Leash Laws

    Please don't come running up to me on one of those long, thin, dangerous strings with a pulley. I'm a bit shy and I don't trust those things. You'll make me stamp my little paw down!

    Boston's leash law is clearly stated on the city’s site, “When your dog is off your property, it must be on a leash.” City ordinance calls for a leash of 10-feet or less. That makes most retractable leashes technically illegal in Boston. If a person tries to attach one to you, growl at them. 

    One more interesting aspect of Boston’s dog rules is that while out with you, your retainers, if asked, must be able to show that they are carrying something to pick up dog waste. This makes city dog walks a prime reason to attach a roll of pick-up bags to your leash.

    Even if your people use recycled bags to do the majority of clean ups, the roll will give them a back up supplies if you are stopped after your business is done, but the walk isn’t.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019102df04cf970c-800wi

    Sir Felix is one of my special knights. He prefers a leather leash or halter when he escorts me around the pond.

    Dog Parks

    I must admit, I'm not much of a dog park dog. I prefer a nice chat on a park bench or a picnic lunch under a shady tree.

    But, for those who like to romp, the legal exceptions to the leash law are: the “official off-leash hours” on the Boston Common, and inside the fences at dog parks like Peter’s Park in the South End, DeFilippo Park in the North End, and Ronan Park in Dorchester. 

    Screen Shot 2014-08-25 at Monday, August 25, 20145.15.32 PM

    Emergency Services 

    The one bit of guidance you must be sure your humans note is that Angell Animal Medical Center Emergency Services are available, as they say, “… every day of the year, 24 hours each day.” My people have their number on all our cell phones in case of an emergency. And, it can't hurt to have your chauffeur practice a drive to the location so he or she will know where you are going in a stressful time. You don't want to be giving the driver directions if you have an upset tummy.

    Questions?

    If you have questions about living in Boston, have your people send them to my people and I'll try to dig out answers. (I do love to dig.) Add your thoughts in the comments below. Tweet them to @BostonZest or send us an email.

    Get to know all of the wonderful 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!

     Details:

    Words: The Most Noble Duchess Poppy of Whitehead. (Dictated to her humble servants Ed & Penny)
    Photography: © 2013-2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Related articles
    Elevator Etiquette & Safety: A Sunday Dog Alert
    Dogs on Public Transit, Boston: 101
    Spread the Word on The Yellow Dog Project & DINOS!

  • Mastering Hamersley’s Roast Chicken Recipe

    I’m sure Ed and I are not the only Hamersley’s fans missing that restaurant’s fantastic roast chicken. I plan to master that recipe over the next few months. I’ve made it once or twice. But, as long as I could just take a walk to Tremont Street to enjoy the finished product, I let the Hamersley’s kitchen do the work.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019aff867b6d970d-800wi

    Start with the Recipe

    First, of course, you need the recipe. It's in the cookbook Bistro Cooking at Home By Gordon Hamersley. And, while this is currently out of print, you can buy used or even a few treasured new copies on Amazon. You can also check local, used bookstores. I highly recommend having a copy of this book on your shelf and I look forward to the next publication from this great food champion. 

    If you just want a copy of the recipe, Boston University posted it online after one of Gordon Hamersley's cooking classes at the Seminars in Food and Wine. Here's a link to that posting.

    And, if you prefer visual instruction, here is a link to Gordon Hamersley's appearance with Julia Child as a part of her Master Chefs series.

     

    There are many steps to this signature dish. Fortunately, the process that Gordon Hamersley (and his first sous chef Jody Adams) developed to serve a perfectly roasted chicken with a crispy skin and moist interior also makes it a great party dish for a home cook. 

    The chicken is roasted ahead of time and popped under a broiler for heating and crisping before it is served. I love dishes like this that I can make a day ahead because they let me spend more time with my guests.

    Begin With Shopping

    Of course, to come out with a result like the dish served at Hamersley’s, you have to begin as the chef did with the finest ingredients you can find. In his tips for choosing chicken, the chef suggests trying chickens from smaller producers or kosher brands.

    In 2003, when Gordon Hamersley wrote “Bistro Cooking at Home,” he said what many locavores are saying now, “… getting a more flavorful bird that has also been raised free of antibiotics and hormone injections seems to me to be worth the price.”

    Stepping Along

    You begin this dish by preparing an herbed lemon pesto marinade. You rub this all over the clean and dried chicken and let it marinate 2-4 hours in the refrigerator.  

    Next, the chicken is roasted to an internal thigh temperature of 165-170 degrees and rested before cutting and deboning. The final step in this part of the preparation is to make the sauce from the pan drippings.  

    When it’s time to serve the chicken, you broil it with lemon slices on top and the sauce in the pan below until the skin is crisp and the meat is heated. 

    This dish requires many steps with a good bit of waiting time for some of them, but it is not a difficult recipe. Dozens of Hamersley’s cooks mastered it over the years. And, I can’t wait until I can make it without glancing at the cookbook just as they did.

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019aff867d46970d-500wi

    If I master the chicken, next up on my list will be the perfect duck confit that was so tempting on the Hamersley's menu and is often such a disappointment when I order it elsewhere. 

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

       

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino (adapted from one of her Fresh & Local newspaper columns)
    Photos: ©2008 Penny Cherubino