Tag: organic

For November 2021 We’ll Raise a Glass of Cerdon, Renardat-Fâche and Have a Dessert Party

Our monthly toast for November 2021 will be a rare, slightly sweet sparkler- Cerdon, Renardat-Fâche 2019. A few factors influence this choice. This wine is organic. It's from, "The Bugey, halfway between Lyons and Geneva, is one of the tiniest and most obscure wine areas in France," according to importer Louis/Dressner. It is made with Gamay and Poulsard adding a new grape for sparkling wine to our life list. And finally, it's 8% Alcohol by Volume. That is a rare find. All these factors checked some boxes on our preference list.

Here's some fascinating information on this producer and this wine from the importer.

Aware that it was slightly outside our choice for drier wines, we have decided to use its ability to step in after a meal as an excuse for a dessert party! Today we'll wander the neighborhood and pick up a few desserts to sample with this month's selection. Perhaps some of the favorites from our memory photos above.

Trying wines from different places, made with other grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month!

We purchased our bottle at Gordon's for $23.99.

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.

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

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2017-2020 Penny & Ed Cherubino

November 1, 2021
Local, Fresh, Young Ginger Is Back in Season: At the Market Report

Tender, vibrant, local, young ginger from Old Friends Farm in Amherst, MA is back at the Copley Square Farmers Market.

This lovely pile of ginger was photographed at the Atlas Farm stand along St. James Avenue. The Atlas folks bring a few products from their neighboring farm, Old Friends, on Tuesdays and Fridays until Thanksgiving.

What is it about this ginger that makes it worth the price and makes me buy enough to freeze and use during the months when it is not available?

First, there is that love that is part of the sign at the market. I've known farmer Casey Steinberg for years and knowing him, I believe this ginger is grown with love and care. I know it's organic and fresh and grown with as light a footprint as his team can use.

I know that this young ginger is tender and bursting with ginger heat. I don't bother to peel it, no need. I just grab a microplane and grate what I need.

Unlike its supermarket counterpart, this ginger is highly perishable. Old Friends has a page of tips on how to store and use this special ginger product.

Stop by the market and pick up a hand to try this ginger in your favorite stir fry. You won't want to go back to the ordinary. You may even decide to use it in different ways. Then, like me, you'll set aside room in your freezer for a supply of your favorite, local, young, organic ginger.

Ginger Syrup, Too

We told you another aspect of this ginger story in our post: Old Friends Farm Organic Ginger Syrup. While you can make your own version with their ginger, it is so much easier to stock up on a few bottles to get you through the winter.

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

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2014-2015 Penny Cherubino

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Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée, Love at First Sip!

September 24, 2015
Local, Fresh, Young Ginger Is Back in Season: At the Market Report

Tender, vibrant, local, young ginger from Old Friends Farm in Amherst, MA is back at the Copley Square Farmers Market.

This lovely pile of ginger was photographed at the Atlas Farm stand along St. James Avenue. The Atlas folks bring a few products from their neighboring farm, Old Friends, on Tuesdays and Fridays until Thanksgiving.

What is it about this ginger that makes it worth the price and makes me buy enough to freeze and use during the months when it is not available?

First, there is that love that is part of the sign at the market. I've known farmer Casey Steinberg for years and knowing him, I believe this ginger is grown with love and care. I know it's organic and fresh and grown with as light a footprint as his team can use.

I know that this young ginger is tender and bursting with ginger heat. I don't bother to peel it, no need. I just grab a microplane and grate what I need.

Unlike its supermarket counterpart, this ginger is highly perishable. Old Friends has a page of tips on how to store and use this special ginger product.

Stop by the market and pick up a hand to try this ginger in your favorite stir fry. You won't want to go back to the ordinary. You may even decide to use it in different ways. Then, like me, you'll set aside room in your freezer for a supply of your favorite, local, young, organic ginger.

Ginger Syrup, Too

We told you another aspect of this ginger story in our post: Old Friends Farm Organic Ginger Syrup. While you can make your own version with their ginger, it is so much easier to stock up on a few bottles to get you through the winter.

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

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2014-2015 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Thanks to Friends Who Make Marmalade and Share!

Sunday Cat Sophia Says, "Let me in Whee-ooh …"

Champagne Moutard Brut Grande Cuvée, Love at First Sip!

September 24, 2015
At The Market: Central Square Cambridge Market Visit

With the Central Square Farmers' Market (Mondays, Noon to 6 pm, map to the location), we combine errands and fun. We can buy fresh, local food at the market and ethnic food elsewhere in the square. We also see some of the area's finest chef's shopping at this location.

We are also big fans of Hi-Rise Bread Company. Their presence at this market saves a trip across the city to their Concord Avenue or Harvard Square locations.

Friends shopping with us indulged in a tasting of a full range of maple syrup grades from Nutting Farm and bought a jar of maple cream. That cream has also made a hit with Ed's sweet tooth.

Hutchins Farm is certified organic and had lettuce on their stand that looked like a work of art.

Parker Farm is proud to give shoppers the details of their growing practices. They had a nice selection of greens including Asian favorites like: pea tendrils, bok choy, and pac choy.

These turnips from Parker Farm make a great raw addition to seasonal salads.

More bread (Ed's favorite farmers' market shopping) was available from Hearth Artisan Bread from Plymouth.

Tomorrow we'll tell you about our the lobster roll supper we had with lobster from Chis Manning from C & C Lobster & Fish.

Make sure you stop by the manager's tent and say hello to Market Manager Peter Ward. He's always on top of what's in the market, what's coming up next, and what you should get before it's gone for the season.

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 & 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.

June 5, 2013
At The Market: Central Square Cambridge Market Visit

With the Central Square Farmers' Market (Mondays, Noon to 6 pm, map to the location), we combine errands and fun. We can buy fresh, local food at the market and ethnic food elsewhere in the square. We also see some of the area's finest chef's shopping at this location.

We are also big fans of Hi-Rise Bread Company. Their presence at this market saves a trip across the city to their Concord Avenue or Harvard Square locations.

Friends shopping with us indulged in a tasting of a full range of maple syrup grades from Nutting Farm and bought a jar of maple cream. That cream has also made a hit with Ed's sweet tooth.

Hutchins Farm is certified organic and had lettuce on their stand that looked like a work of art.

Parker Farm is proud to give shoppers the details of their growing practices. They had a nice selection of greens including Asian favorites like: pea tendrils, bok choy, and pac choy.

These turnips from Parker Farm make a great raw addition to seasonal salads.

More bread (Ed's favorite farmers' market shopping) was available from Hearth Artisan Bread from Plymouth.

Tomorrow we'll tell you about our the lobster roll supper we had with lobster from Chis Manning from C & C Lobster & Fish.

Make sure you stop by the manager's tent and say hello to Market Manager Peter Ward. He's always on top of what's in the market, what's coming up next, and what you should get before it's gone for the season.

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 & 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.

June 5, 2013
At The Market: Central Square Cambridge Market Visit

With the Central Square Farmers' Market (Mondays, Noon to 6 pm, map to the location), we combine errands and fun. We can buy fresh, local food at the market and ethnic food elsewhere in the square. We also see some of the area's finest chef's shopping at this location.

We are also big fans of Hi-Rise Bread Company. Their presence at this market saves a trip across the city to their Concord Avenue or Harvard Square locations.

Friends shopping with us indulged in a tasting of a full range of maple syrup grades from Nutting Farm and bought a jar of maple cream. That cream has also made a hit with Ed's sweet tooth.

Hutchins Farm is certified organic and had lettuce on their stand that looked like a work of art.

Parker Farm is proud to give shoppers the details of their growing practices. They had a nice selection of greens including Asian favorites like: pea tendrils, bok choy, and pac choy.

These turnips from Parker Farm make a great raw addition to seasonal salads.

More bread (Ed's favorite farmers' market shopping) was available from Hearth Artisan Bread from Plymouth.

Tomorrow we'll tell you about our the lobster roll supper we had with lobster from Chis Manning from C & C Lobster & Fish.

Make sure you stop by the manager's tent and say hello to Market Manager Peter Ward. He's always on top of what's in the market, what's coming up next, and what you should get before it's gone for the season.

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 & 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.

June 5, 2013
5 Reasons to Have Cider on Your Holiday Menu

There are many reasons to add cider to your holiday menu – for meals, for cocktail hour, or mulled and warm on a chilly evening. And, there are many types of cider to serve to your family and guests.

1. Artisanal ciders will be a hit with fans of microbrews and fine wines. Our wine guru, Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits, recently recommended Bantam Wunderkind, a new local cider from Cambridge, MA. He knows our taste and this crisp, clean, dry creation was perfect with a supper of salad with buttery croutons and goat cheese.

2. At farmers' markets and farm stands you'll find sweet, fresh cider for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks. You can even find single source ciders like this one made from honeycrisp apples. And, most cider is gluten-free. Just be sure to check that the one you're choosing really is safe for those who restrict gluten. You never know what some producers might add to the mix.

3. Cider's history makes it a perfect fit in this season of traditions. We wrote more about cider's past in our post, You Only Think You Know Cider.

4. Cider gives you a new world to explore! Try an imported, sparkling cider from someplace like Normandy where there is a long tradition of turning apples into a companion for food. One of the most respected producers is Etienne Dupont. Penny loves the barnyard funk of their organic version. It has that same mysterious quality of some of our favorite Italian wines. We wrote more about it here.

5. If you want to keep up with the conversation among food lovers, you should add some cider knowledge to your repertoire. Everyone is starting to rediscover this once lost beverage. Here'a a primer from NPR, Americans Rediscover The Kick Of Hard Cider. And, remember, don't judge ciders by the mass produced versions. Try a small scale, local producer recommended by someone you trust.

Beer glasses, like the one below, are perfect for serving cider. Or, you can pour it into the same glass that other guests will use for wine or serve it in a brandy snifter
as we did in the top photo.

And, thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it puts a few coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010-2012 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.

Related articles

8 Single Varietal Ciders You Should Try

Tips for brewing your own hard cider

Focaccia Croutons Are Tops

Thanksgiving 2012 Dining Out in Boston

November 19, 2012
5 Reasons to Have Cider on Your Holiday Menu

There are many reasons to add cider to your holiday menu – for meals, for cocktail hour, or mulled and warm on a chilly evening. And, there are many types of cider to serve to your family and guests.

1. Artisanal ciders will be a hit with fans of microbrews and fine wines. Our wine guru, Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits, recently recommended Bantam Wunderkind, a new local cider from Cambridge, MA. He knows our taste and this crisp, clean, dry creation was perfect with a supper of salad with buttery croutons and goat cheese.

2. At farmers' markets and farm stands you'll find sweet, fresh cider for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks. You can even find single source ciders like this one made from honeycrisp apples. And, most cider is gluten-free. Just be sure to check that the one you're choosing really is safe for those who restrict gluten. You never know what some producers might add to the mix.

3. Cider's history makes it a perfect fit in this season of traditions. We wrote more about cider's past in our post, You Only Think You Know Cider.

4. Cider gives you a new world to explore! Try an imported, sparkling cider from someplace like Normandy where there is a long tradition of turning apples into a companion for food. One of the most respected producers is Etienne Dupont. Penny loves the barnyard funk of their organic version. It has that same mysterious quality of some of our favorite Italian wines. We wrote more about it here.

5. If you want to keep up with the conversation among food lovers, you should add some cider knowledge to your repertoire. Everyone is starting to rediscover this once lost beverage. Here'a a primer from NPR, Americans Rediscover The Kick Of Hard Cider. And, remember, don't judge ciders by the mass produced versions. Try a small scale, local producer recommended by someone you trust.

Beer glasses, like the one below, are perfect for serving cider. Or, you can pour it into the same glass that other guests will use for wine or serve it in a brandy snifter
as we did in the top photo.

And, thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it puts a few coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010-2012 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.

Related articles

8 Single Varietal Ciders You Should Try

Tips for brewing your own hard cider

Focaccia Croutons Are Tops

Thanksgiving 2012 Dining Out in Boston

November 19, 2012
5 Reasons to Have Cider on Your Holiday Menu

There are many reasons to add cider to your holiday menu – for meals, for cocktail hour, or mulled and warm on a chilly evening. And, there are many types of cider to serve to your family and guests.

1. Artisanal ciders will be a hit with fans of microbrews and fine wines. Our wine guru, Howie Rubin of Bauer Wine & Spirits, recently recommended Bantam Wunderkind, a new local cider from Cambridge, MA. He knows our taste and this crisp, clean, dry creation was perfect with a supper of salad with buttery croutons and goat cheese.

2. At farmers' markets and farm stands you'll find sweet, fresh cider for those who prefer non-alcoholic drinks. You can even find single source ciders like this one made from honeycrisp apples. And, most cider is gluten-free. Just be sure to check that the one you're choosing really is safe for those who restrict gluten. You never know what some producers might add to the mix.

3. Cider's history makes it a perfect fit in this season of traditions. We wrote more about cider's past in our post, You Only Think You Know Cider.

4. Cider gives you a new world to explore! Try an imported, sparkling cider from someplace like Normandy where there is a long tradition of turning apples into a companion for food. One of the most respected producers is Etienne Dupont. Penny loves the barnyard funk of their organic version. It has that same mysterious quality of some of our favorite Italian wines. We wrote more about it here.

5. If you want to keep up with the conversation among food lovers, you should add some cider knowledge to your repertoire. Everyone is starting to rediscover this once lost beverage. Here'a a primer from NPR, Americans Rediscover The Kick Of Hard Cider. And, remember, don't judge ciders by the mass produced versions. Try a small scale, local producer recommended by someone you trust.

Beer glasses, like the one below, are perfect for serving cider. Or, you can pour it into the same glass that other guests will use for wine or serve it in a brandy snifter
as we did in the top photo.

And, thanks to everyone who clicks over to Amazon from here. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it puts a few coins in our tip jar.

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2010-2012 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.

Related articles

8 Single Varietal Ciders You Should Try

Tips for brewing your own hard cider

Focaccia Croutons Are Tops

Thanksgiving 2012 Dining Out in Boston

November 19, 2012
TerraVino Wines: Places We Shop

We live a city lifestyle. Our shopping trips are more likely to take us to three or four small shops than to one big box store. Here in Boston, and on the road, we'll share our great shop finds with you. -The BostonZest Team!

Update: Alas we can't shop here any longer because the store closed a few months later.

Name: TerraVino Wines

Address: 234 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02446 (Map & Reviews)

Phone: 617-232-1180

Do you have a roster of small, well-curated shops where you find the best selections? Let us know in the comments below or send us an email. We're always ready to add new resources to our list.

(Click on any photo for a larger image)

Shop Description: Calm and soothing. You can see the thought that was put into designing the shop. What you may not see is that it is also very green– environmentally responsible that is! Here are the details about that aspect of this store.

People: Christopher and Rayna Carbone are the owners. Christopher (above) is a Certified Specialist of Wine. But, more important than the letters after his name is his ability to communicate his love of the wines he stocks to customers with any level of wine knowledge. He asks the right questions, tries to figure out what you like, what food you are matching, offers tastes, and refines his recommendations from there.

What makes this shop special: A very warm welcome. Great wine knowledge. A carefully curated selection. Plus, a great location right off the Green Line in Coolidge Corner. You know you'll be going there soon, for something, so stop by and explore this new shop while you're there.

They say: "We believe in wines that are Real, honestly made, in the most Natural way. We offer wines that we truly believe in, allowing them to express their origins, the talent and commitment of the producers, and the inherent quality of the vintage. We put our dedication to work through our commitment only offering exceptional Natural wines that are sustainable, organic and biodynamic. "

We Say: Our first visit was like walking into a room filled with old friends. As we circled the selection, we took turns saying, "Look they carry…." followed by the name of a longtime favorite wine, producer, or importer.

Nice Touch: They have four reds and four whites available for tasting. This allows you to try wines that might be a bit out of your comfort zone and helps guide the staff to offer better recommendations for you.

Regulars say: Richard Auffrey, The Passionate Foodie said, "This is very much a hand sell store where customer service is key. Many of these wines will be unfamiliar to the average consumer, and even the avid wine lover is likely to find plenty of wines they have not tasted before. It is a very intriguing selection of wines, and there were plenty of wines which interested me."

Gretchen (@MoralBeast) and Urban Wine Dweller wrote: "The brilliant Thierry Triolet Champagne Brut from @terravinowines. Really great stuff. Perfect with sushi." Our thanks go to Gretchen for recommending TerraVino Wines.

Did you know? Another part of this couple's green and natural lifestyle is a gluten-free, vegetarian diet.

Don't Miss: Their sparkling wine selection on the center table. Here's a Grower Champagne we bought from TerraVino. You know how we love sparkling wines!

Phone: 617-232-1180

Website: www.terravinowines.com

Twitter: @TerraVinoWines

Facebook: Terra Vino Wines

While you're in the neighborhood: Coolidge Corner is home to many great, local businesses, and a fabulous farmers' market on Thursday afternoons from mid-June to late October.

Here are reports on a few of our favorite places in the area:

Michael's Deli

When Pigs Fly Bakery

Party Favors

Brookline Farmers' Market

While we love to support local shops, we also hope you'll support us when you shop on Amazon. When you click over to Amazon from one of our links, they put some change in our tip cup. It doesn't cost you anymore, but it helps keep BostonZest coming your way.

Fine wine glasses that are dishwasher safe? While Ed insists on washing our stems, I can't swear to it but the manufacture says that, the Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Forte Collection can go in the dishwasher. We do put our barware from the same line through the dishwaser all the time. How about this Stemless Snifter?

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 a 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.

May 10, 2012