Tag: lobster

  • Fennel in a Supporting Role

    Recently, Ed discovered that he actually likes fennel. We were sharing a lobster roll at Select Oyster Bar.

    IMG_0652

    (Yes, that is half of the lobster roll and salad.)

    He was digging into the salad that’s served with it and asked about the thin slices of some vegetable scattered among the lettuce leaves. When told it was fennel, he was surprised.

    His father loved to chomp on big hunks of raw fennel and tasting it that way had put him off this licorice flavored bulb. Ed didn't realize that he had been enjoying a milder version of fennel’s flavor in a supporting role in some of his favorite meals for years.

    IMG_3841

    Bulbs and Fronds

    Fennel is a staple in our vegetable bin. Thin slices of fresh fennel bulb are in many of our favorite fish recipes like fish chowder or fish baked in parchment packets. When we serve a fish topped with a breaded stuffing, there is fennel in that mixture. If there’s a piece of fennel that needs to be used, it may go in any soup from chicken to minestrone. Chopped fennel fronds often appear in his salads, stir fries, and stews.

    IMG_3506

    This salad of thinly sliced asparagus and shaved fennel with lemon juice, capers, and lemon olive oil became a spring favorite for both of us this year.

    IMG_0978

    Both fennel and fennel seeds are among the ingredients in one bolognese sauce recipe we love!

    Fennel Seed

    Fennel seeds are in our homemade chutneys, ground in the spice blend for our favorite grilled salmon, and we even make our own teabags for a spiced tea that contains fennel seed. Most of the time, we gently toast the seeds in a dry pan to bring out the maximum flavor before adding them, ground in a little coffee grinder or mortar and pestle or whole, to a recipe.

    You’ll often find fennel seeds coated with sugar as you leave Indian restaurants. In that culture they are considered an aid in digestion after a big meal.

    Do your own research and be very cautious when using concentrated forms of a spice like fennel seed. They have long been used for their therapeutic value. However, just like manufactured drugs, they may interact with other medications or have their own physical side effects.

    For example, fennel can have an impact on estrogen levels and may interact with any medication that is sensitive to estrogen levels such as birth control pills or tamoxifen. We rely on the Sloan Kettering database of "Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products" for solid information about this topic.

    In part 2, we pass on some fennel tips and tidbits.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018- 2019 Penny Cherubino 

    (Adapted for BostonZest from one of our Fresh & Local newspaper columns.)

  • Vacation from Cooking (Well Almost) with Tips for Planning Take-Out Meals

    In April, we took a two-week vacation to our favorite, little beach house on Provincetown Harbor. The tiny house has a complete kitchen and this particular unit at the Bayshore/Chandler complex is well equipped for a cook with good pans, solid cutting boards, and sharp knives. But this year I decided to take a break from cooking and enjoy the wonderful take-out options that are now available year-round in Ptown.

    IMG_6630 Scallops ©2016 Penny Cherubino

    I did sear off some scallops for Ed on a couple of evenings. Mac's Fish House Provincetown offers pristine seafood in the market adjacent to their restaurant.

    IMG_6637

    They would have been happy to cook a lobster for me, but past experience told me the lobster meat offered by the pound would make an excellent lobster roll without the work of cracking and cleaning the crustacean. 

    Food-case

    Take-Out options at Far Land Provisions change daily. (Photo courtesy of Far Land Provisions website)

    Casual Dining Options

    Having a full kitchen and comfortable indoor and outdoor dining areas opens up your food options. You don't have to dine out, but you are also not required to cook. Breakfast is pretty routine for us. We both prefer oatmeal and fruit. Once settled and unpacked, we make a supermarket run and stock up on breakfast food, drinks, salad ingredients, and snacks. After that, we try to add some prepared food each day from local shops like Angel Foods and Far Land Provisions. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c327c2d1a970b-800wi

    Shepherd's pie from Angel Foods with layers of meat, vegetables, and potatoes

    Tips For Vacation Take-Out

    After years of practice, we've come up with some recommendations for those who may decide to supplement dining out with some take-out food in a vacation rental. 

    • Early in the vacation, if you have a larger group, a roasted chicken can be a good start on having a protein supply on hand.
    • To be sure we would use up our chicken (and because I wasn't planning to cook anything that might use a whole chicken), we opted for grilled chicken breasts. Sliced, they can be used for sandwiches or tossed in salads.
    • To ensure we kept up a fairly balanced diet, we tried to have a variety of fruits & vegetables on hand along with dairy, grains, and protein – which in our case meant lots of fresh seafood.
    • Prepared meals like the shepherd's pie from Angel Foods (shown in the photo above) offered an easy but healthy, balanced dinner.
    • Don't forget the soups. We always pick up a frozen soup from Angel Foods as a part of our first supply run. Then there's something for anyone who wants a lighter meal. And, if you don't use it, it will help keep the cooler chilled on the return trip.
    • Grilled salmon from Farland is another wonderful base for a meal. You can warm it, enjoy it cold, add it to salads, or mash it with some sour cream to top toast. 
    • Farmers markets, when they are open, can be great fun on vacation. In Provincetown, we enjoy seeing old friends like the folks from Silverbrook Farm in a different setting. 
    • Enjoy favorite foods from favorite places. They were not open for the season during our April trip, but this fall we'll be sure to have the clam chowder (photo below) from The Canteen.
    • Remember the full-service restaurants. Some of these will be happy to prepare a take-out meal for your enjoyment. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019aff691278970b-800wi

    Clam Chowder from The Canteen in Provincetown.

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

    Details:

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

  • Vacation from Cooking (Well Almost) with Tips for Planning Take-Out Meals

    In April, we took a two-week vacation to our favorite, little beach house on Provincetown Harbor. The tiny house has a complete kitchen and this particular unit at the Bayshore/Chandler complex is well equipped for a cook with good pans, solid cutting boards, and sharp knives. But this year I decided to take a break from cooking and enjoy the wonderful take-out options that are now available year-round in Ptown.

    IMG_6630 Scallops ©2016 Penny Cherubino

    I did sear off some scallops for Ed on a couple of evenings. Mac's Fish House Provincetown offers pristine seafood in the market adjacent to their restaurant.

    IMG_6637

    They would have been happy to cook a lobster for me, but past experience told me the lobster meat offered by the pound would make an excellent lobster roll without the work of cracking and cleaning the crustacean. 

    Food-case

    Take-Out options at Far Land Provisions change daily. (Photo courtesy of Far Land Provisions website)

    Casual Dining Options

    Having a full kitchen and comfortable indoor and outdoor dining areas opens up your food options. You don't have to dine out, but you are also not required to cook. Breakfast is pretty routine for us. We both prefer oatmeal and fruit. Once settled and unpacked, we make a supermarket run and stock up on breakfast food, drinks, salad ingredients, and snacks. After that, we try to add some prepared food each day from local shops like Angel Foods and Far Land Provisions. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c327c2d1a970b-800wi

    Shepherd's pie from Angel Foods with layers of meat, vegetables, and potatoes

    Tips For Vacation Take-Out

    After years of practice, we've come up with some recommendations for those who may decide to supplement dining out with some take-out food in a vacation rental. 

    • Early in the vacation, if you have a larger group, a roasted chicken can be a good start on having a protein supply on hand.
    • To be sure we would use up our chicken (and because I wasn't planning to cook anything that might use a whole chicken), we opted for grilled chicken breasts. Sliced, they can be used for sandwiches or tossed in salads.
    • To ensure we kept up a fairly balanced diet, we tried to have a variety of fruits & vegetables on hand along with dairy, grains, and protein – which in our case meant lots of fresh seafood.
    • Prepared meals like the shepherd's pie from Angel Foods (shown in the photo above) offered an easy but healthy, balanced dinner.
    • Don't forget the soups. We always pick up a frozen soup from Angel Foods as a part of our first supply run. Then there's something for anyone who wants a lighter meal. And, if you don't use it, it will help keep the cooler chilled on the return trip.
    • Grilled salmon from Farland is another wonderful base for a meal. You can warm it, enjoy it cold, add it to salads, or mash it with some sour cream to top toast. 
    • Farmers markets, when they are open, can be great fun on vacation. In Provincetown, we enjoy seeing old friends like the folks from Silverbrook Farm in a different setting. 
    • Enjoy favorite foods from favorite places. They were not open for the season during our April trip, but this fall we'll be sure to have the clam chowder (photo below) from The Canteen.
    • Remember the full-service restaurants. Some of these will be happy to prepare a take-out meal for your enjoyment. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834019aff691278970b-800wi

    Clam Chowder from The Canteen in Provincetown.

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

    Details:

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

  • The Canteen in Provincetown Is Added to Our Favorites List

    DSC_8464 - Version 22013-09-12-hot-buttered-lobster-roll-asian-slaw-pickle-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Above is the lobster roll Penny saw advertised on the window at The Canteen in Provincetown. Like many Ptown businesses, they are not open every day this time of year. It was Thursday before we had an opportunity to try it. (Follow them on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with the fall hours.)

    CHE_0275 - Version 22013-09-12-Canteen-provincetown-menu-board-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    After a bad experience with fozen lobster in a roll elsewhere in town, Penny was going to ask if it was fresh but there it was on the wall. "Fresh • Local • Steamed In House Daily," said the menu board.

    And, that was exactly what The Canteen delivered. Our meal contained obviously fresh lobster on a toasty, grilled roll with a touch of butter and a sprinkle of freshly chopped chives. Plus, when we opened our take out boxes, we discovered each roll was served with a side of a snappy fresh Asian slaw and a puckery pickle.

    DSC_8477 - Version 22013-09-12--New-England-clam-chowder-leeks-bacon-potatoes-clams-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1)

    Another blackboard displayed the specials including a New England clam chowder with fresh clams, leeks, bacon, and fresh herbs. It was a great version and one we would order again.

    DSC_8457 - Version 22013-09-12-crispy-brussel-sprouts-fish-sauce-pepper-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The final item in this order was crispy Brussel sprouts with a fish sauce and peppers. They may not be a traditional lobster roll accompaniment but being Brussel sprout fans, we enjoyed them immensely.

    CHE_0258 - Version 22013-09-12-Canteen-provincetown-interior-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We're not the only ones who've made The Canteen a favorite. We had already read rave reviews on Chowhound, Trip Advisor, and in TheYearRounder's Guide to Provincetown.

    Here's what TheYearRounder wrote:

    What's New? – The Canteen Opens to Great Acclaim, Already a Best Bite

    What's New? More New Food to Taste in the Center of Provincetown at The Canteen

    1012993_571821212870571_1139745743_n (1)

    (This photo is from The Canteen's Facebook page.)

    For those of you who locate things in Provincetown by sight or by what used to be there, The Canteen is next to the Red Store on the West Side of the Pier. The space was Blondie's and before that Blue Light, a former favorite.

    If your fall plans include a trip to the tip of Cape Cod, put The Canteen early on your agenda. You will find a menu that keeps calling you back.  

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny Cherubino & one from The Canteen's Facebook page as noted

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

     

  • The Canteen in Provincetown Is Added to Our Favorites List

    DSC_8464 - Version 22013-09-12-hot-buttered-lobster-roll-asian-slaw-pickle-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Above is the lobster roll Penny saw advertised on the window at The Canteen in Provincetown. Like many Ptown businesses, they are not open every day this time of year. It was Thursday before we had an opportunity to try it. (Follow them on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with the fall hours.)

    CHE_0275 - Version 22013-09-12-Canteen-provincetown-menu-board-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    After a bad experience with fozen lobster in a roll elsewhere in town, Penny was going to ask if it was fresh but there it was on the wall. "Fresh • Local • Steamed In House Daily," said the menu board.

    And, that was exactly what The Canteen delivered. Our meal contained obviously fresh lobster on a toasty, grilled roll with a touch of butter and a sprinkle of freshly chopped chives. Plus, when we opened our take out boxes, we discovered each roll was served with a side of a snappy fresh Asian slaw and a puckery pickle.

    DSC_8477 - Version 22013-09-12--New-England-clam-chowder-leeks-bacon-potatoes-clams-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1)

    Another blackboard displayed the specials including a New England clam chowder with fresh clams, leeks, bacon, and fresh herbs. It was a great version and one we would order again.

    DSC_8457 - Version 22013-09-12-crispy-brussel-sprouts-fish-sauce-pepper-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The final item in this order was crispy Brussel sprouts with a fish sauce and peppers. They may not be a traditional lobster roll accompaniment but being Brussel sprout fans, we enjoyed them immensely.

    CHE_0258 - Version 22013-09-12-Canteen-provincetown-interior-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We're not the only ones who've made The Canteen a favorite. We had already read rave reviews on Chowhound, Trip Advisor, and in TheYearRounder's Guide to Provincetown.

    Here's what TheYearRounder wrote:

    What's New? – The Canteen Opens to Great Acclaim, Already a Best Bite

    What's New? More New Food to Taste in the Center of Provincetown at The Canteen

    1012993_571821212870571_1139745743_n (1)

    (This photo is from The Canteen's Facebook page.)

    For those of you who locate things in Provincetown by sight or by what used to be there, The Canteen is next to the Red Store on the West Side of the Pier. The space was Blondie's and before that Blue Light, a former favorite.

    If your fall plans include a trip to the tip of Cape Cod, put The Canteen early on your agenda. You will find a menu that keeps calling you back.  

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny Cherubino & one from The Canteen's Facebook page as noted

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

     

  • The Canteen in Provincetown Is Added to Our Favorites List

    DSC_8464 - Version 22013-09-12-hot-buttered-lobster-roll-asian-slaw-pickle-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Above is the lobster roll Penny saw advertised on the window at The Canteen in Provincetown. Like many Ptown businesses, they are not open every day this time of year. It was Thursday before we had an opportunity to try it. (Follow them on Twitter or Facebook to keep up with the fall hours.)

    CHE_0275 - Version 22013-09-12-Canteen-provincetown-menu-board-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    After a bad experience with fozen lobster in a roll elsewhere in town, Penny was going to ask if it was fresh but there it was on the wall. "Fresh • Local • Steamed In House Daily," said the menu board.

    And, that was exactly what The Canteen delivered. Our meal contained obviously fresh lobster on a toasty, grilled roll with a touch of butter and a sprinkle of freshly chopped chives. Plus, when we opened our take out boxes, we discovered each roll was served with a side of a snappy fresh Asian slaw and a puckery pickle.

    DSC_8477 - Version 22013-09-12--New-England-clam-chowder-leeks-bacon-potatoes-clams-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino (1)

    Another blackboard displayed the specials including a New England clam chowder with fresh clams, leeks, bacon, and fresh herbs. It was a great version and one we would order again.

    DSC_8457 - Version 22013-09-12-crispy-brussel-sprouts-fish-sauce-pepper-Canteen-provincetown-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    The final item in this order was crispy Brussel sprouts with a fish sauce and peppers. They may not be a traditional lobster roll accompaniment but being Brussel sprout fans, we enjoyed them immensely.

    CHE_0258 - Version 22013-09-12-Canteen-provincetown-interior-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    We're not the only ones who've made The Canteen a favorite. We had already read rave reviews on Chowhound, Trip Advisor, and in TheYearRounder's Guide to Provincetown.

    Here's what TheYearRounder wrote:

    What's New? – The Canteen Opens to Great Acclaim, Already a Best Bite

    What's New? More New Food to Taste in the Center of Provincetown at The Canteen

    1012993_571821212870571_1139745743_n (1)

    (This photo is from The Canteen's Facebook page.)

    For those of you who locate things in Provincetown by sight or by what used to be there, The Canteen is next to the Red Store on the West Side of the Pier. The space was Blondie's and before that Blue Light, a former favorite.

    If your fall plans include a trip to the tip of Cape Cod, put The Canteen early on your agenda. You will find a menu that keeps calling you back.  

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

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2013 Penny Cherubino & one from The Canteen's Facebook page as noted

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

     

  • Belle Isle: Lobster Rolls at the Reservation

    We dedicated an afternoon and a few of our Zipcar credits to exploring Winthrop last week. Our dog Poppy enjoys an occasional ride in her car crate so we took her along and were happy to find so many public spaces where our whole family was welcome, as long as we obeyed the rules.

    DSC_7571 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Today, we'll tell you about the Belle Isle Marsh, one of the MDC reservations.

    Airplanes landing and taking off are a part of the scene here. Ed was having a great time photographing them. This is a great destination for a photowalk. We plan to gather a group of friends with cameras and come back in the fall. Marshland is often overlooked as a place to enjoy autumn's colorful show.

    CHE_9376 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Boston's last remaining salt marsh, this conservation area is right in the city and you can include houses in some of the views. You can also see the reservation's observation tower in the center of this photo.

    Belle Isle trail map

    Map courtesy of Friends of Belle Isle. Please visit their site for a larger view.

    We originally had not planned to include Belle Isle in our explorations but needed a place to have lunch. Our hopes that the new outdoor seating at Belle Isle Seafood might be dog friendly were dashed since you have to go through the restaurant to get to it. 

    CHE_9338 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-seafood-lobster-roll-no-mayo-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    So, we ordered our lobster rolls to go and drove to a lovely picnic table at the Belle Isle Reservation to enjoy all that lovely lobster and great onion rings.

    CHE_9342 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-seafood-lobster-roll-no-mayo-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There was so much lobster in our rolls that we had leftovers and took some home for supper!

    CHE_9348 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    After a big seafood lunch, you can walk off some of the calories on the winding trails. We saw lots of folks with their dogs enjoying the day.

     CHE_9366 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's the info to plan your visit!

    Belle Isle Marsh Reservation

    Bennington Street, East Boston, MA (Map)

    Open year-round, 9:00 a.m. to dusk.

    Belle Isle Seafood

    Has relocated across the bridge to 1 Main Street, Winthrop MA (Map)

    Phone: (617) 567-1619

    What do you know about Amazon Prime?

    We use it and love it. You pay once a year for free 2-day shipping delivery charges. Amazon throws in access to instant streaming movies and tv shows and they let you borrow a free ebook each month. They will even give you a one month, free trial. Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Join Amazon Prime – Watch Over 40,000 Movies

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Belle Isle: Lobster Rolls at the Reservation

    We dedicated an afternoon and a few of our Zipcar credits to exploring Winthrop last week. Our dog Poppy enjoys an occasional ride in her car crate so we took her along and were happy to find so many public spaces where our whole family was welcome, as long as we obeyed the rules.

    DSC_7571 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Today, we'll tell you about the Belle Isle Marsh, one of the MDC reservations.

    Airplanes landing and taking off are a part of the scene here. Ed was having a great time photographing them. This is a great destination for a photowalk. We plan to gather a group of friends with cameras and come back in the fall. Marshland is often overlooked as a place to enjoy autumn's colorful show.

    CHE_9376 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Boston's last remaining salt marsh, this conservation area is right in the city and you can include houses in some of the views. You can also see the reservation's observation tower in the center of this photo.

    Belle Isle trail map

    Map courtesy of Friends of Belle Isle. Please visit their site for a larger view.

    We originally had not planned to include Belle Isle in our explorations but needed a place to have lunch. Our hopes that the new outdoor seating at Belle Isle Seafood might be dog friendly were dashed since you have to go through the restaurant to get to it. 

    CHE_9338 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-seafood-lobster-roll-no-mayo-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    So, we ordered our lobster rolls to go and drove to a lovely picnic table at the Belle Isle Reservation to enjoy all that lovely lobster and great onion rings.

    CHE_9342 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-seafood-lobster-roll-no-mayo-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There was so much lobster in our rolls that we had leftovers and took some home for supper!

    CHE_9348 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    After a big seafood lunch, you can walk off some of the calories on the winding trails. We saw lots of folks with their dogs enjoying the day.

     CHE_9366 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's the info to plan your visit!

    Belle Isle Marsh Reservation

    Bennington Street, East Boston, MA (Map)

    Open year-round, 9:00 a.m. to dusk.

    Belle Isle Seafood

    Has relocated across the bridge to 1 Main Street, Winthrop MA (Map)

    Phone: (617) 567-1619

    What do you know about Amazon Prime?

    We use it and love it. You pay once a year for free 2-day shipping delivery charges. Amazon throws in access to instant streaming movies and tv shows and they let you borrow a free ebook each month. They will even give you a one month, free trial. Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Join Amazon Prime – Watch Over 40,000 Movies

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • Belle Isle: Lobster Rolls at the Reservation

    We dedicated an afternoon and a few of our Zipcar credits to exploring Winthrop last week. Our dog Poppy enjoys an occasional ride in her car crate so we took her along and were happy to find so many public spaces where our whole family was welcome, as long as we obeyed the rules.

    DSC_7571 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Today, we'll tell you about the Belle Isle Marsh, one of the MDC reservations.

    Airplanes landing and taking off are a part of the scene here. Ed was having a great time photographing them. This is a great destination for a photowalk. We plan to gather a group of friends with cameras and come back in the fall. Marshland is often overlooked as a place to enjoy autumn's colorful show.

    CHE_9376 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Boston's last remaining salt marsh, this conservation area is right in the city and you can include houses in some of the views. You can also see the reservation's observation tower in the center of this photo.

    Belle Isle trail map

    Map courtesy of Friends of Belle Isle. Please visit their site for a larger view.

    We originally had not planned to include Belle Isle in our explorations but needed a place to have lunch. Our hopes that the new outdoor seating at Belle Isle Seafood might be dog friendly were dashed since you have to go through the restaurant to get to it. 

    CHE_9338 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-seafood-lobster-roll-no-mayo-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    So, we ordered our lobster rolls to go and drove to a lovely picnic table at the Belle Isle Reservation to enjoy all that lovely lobster and great onion rings.

    CHE_9342 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-seafood-lobster-roll-no-mayo-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    There was so much lobster in our rolls that we had leftovers and took some home for supper!

    CHE_9348 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    After a big seafood lunch, you can walk off some of the calories on the winding trails. We saw lots of folks with their dogs enjoying the day.

     CHE_9366 - Version 22013-08-22-belle-isle-resevation-marsh-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Here's the info to plan your visit!

    Belle Isle Marsh Reservation

    Bennington Street, East Boston, MA (Map)

    Open year-round, 9:00 a.m. to dusk.

    Belle Isle Seafood

    Has relocated across the bridge to 1 Main Street, Winthrop MA (Map)

    Phone: (617) 567-1619

    What do you know about Amazon Prime?

    We use it and love it. You pay once a year for free 2-day shipping delivery charges. Amazon throws in access to instant streaming movies and tv shows and they let you borrow a free ebook each month. They will even give you a one month, free trial. Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

    Join Amazon Prime – Watch Over 40,000 Movies

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

  • At The Market: First up in Spring

    Today, we're introducing a new series of "At The Market" reports. As new crops arrive in the Greater Boston markets, we'll bring you photos of what is fresh, local, and delicious. We hope it will remind you to buy, cook, savor, and celebrate what is in season and at its best. 

    Our friends in the farming community will share details of what's available now, how long it will be around, and when to expect it as your next seasonal treat.

    And, we hope you'll share what you find with the rest of the BostonZest community.

    In Season This Week:

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    These plants are from the Herb Lyceum but we are see pots of fresh herbs all over, even at Trader Joe's.

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    Local, super fresh eggs have been at the winter farmers' markets all year round. Farmers with livestock have products to sell in every season! 

    Stillman's Farm is taking orders for their heirloom and specialty tomato plants.

    Boston Organics is putting "spring-dug parsnips" in their Dogma Boxes.

    Coming Soon:

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    Remember growing radishes as a kid? They were always the first fruit of our garden labor. Farmers will also be bringing rhubarb, fiddlehead ferns, and green garlic to some of the first summer markets.

    And, Nettles – Here's an NPR piece: Nettles Bring Spring to the Kitchen.

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    The Chatter Round Town:

    Over on Chowhound's Boston Board the comminity is discussing the sustainability of ramps.

    They're hunting for the best lobster rolls. And, we can never resist thinking about Neptune Oyster's hot butter lobster roll in the photo above. It gets our vote!

    Your Turn:

    Let us know when you spot something we should be out photographing!

    Leave a comment on a post.

    Send a tweet to @BostonZest

    Send us an email

    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: © 2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.