Author: Matt Robinson

POE-TRY IN A CUP

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Since lighting his first oven torch at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Chef Brian Poe has been lighting the way for food lovers and industry friends. 


In Boston, he has been the brains behind such celebrated sites as Seasons at the Millennium Boston Hotel, The Rattlesnake, and his current hit- The Tip Tap Room, which is a great take before or after a game or anytime you want creative, fun food and plenty to drink and enjoy.

In 2020, Poe took his love and understanding of cheese to market with Crane River Cheese Club (where you can actually join a club that includes special access to the best cheeses in the shop) and has since served hundreds of fellow fromaggio-philes and industry leaders. His microgreen farm also supplies his own eateries and many others as well.

Today, he is following another food passion by releasing his own coffee.

Appropriately named Chef Poe’s Coffee, the locally-roasted and fairly-traded coffee is available as whole beans, ground, or in single-serve pods at www.chefpoecoffee.com and also at the Cheese Club, where it makes for a perfect complement to Poe’s many delicious offerings of cheese, meats, sandwiches, and prepared meals and catering.

Combining Brazilian, Columbian, and Ethiopian beans, the brew is sure to please early morning risers and coffee afficionados alike.

Though it is a new venture for Poe, his consistent dedication to quality and craftsmanship shines through in every cup.

It’s another sure hit, Chef! 

STEEPER STEEPED

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While I have sung the praises of many delicious and beneficial coffee brands, including explosively good Atomic, brain-builders like IQBAR and Kickstarter, and our Veteran friends at Fire Dept. and Military Java Group, I am still a fan of Steeped Coffee as their pre-measured, fully-compostable, teabag-inspired packets of craft-roasted, ethically-sourced, nitro-sealed coffee allow me to have fresh-brewed coffee flavor with just water and no mess.

And while I have often enjoyed waking up with Sunrise Blend or downing some Odyssey before an excursion, I am extra excited about the new partnerships that Steeped Coffee has entered with other industry-leading coffee makers!

Steeped Coffee recently brought its satisfying single-serve technology to the community-minded minority owners of BLK & BOLD and the oak wood-roasted Italian team at Mr. Espresso. So even if you do not know how great Steeped Coffee’s own coffee blends taste, you can be introduced by way of brands that are already established favorites and award winners.

The BLK & BOLD hearty medium roast introduces flavors of toffee to your morning coffee and Mr. Espresso’s famed Seven Bridges variety can help get you over any daytime challenge with a caress of caramel and a waft of smoke.

If you are still reticent, use code COFFEE15 for 15% off your first order! Once you are ready to go, their Barista Bundle gives you all you will need for great coffee any time of day or night.

Though the delivery system is new to many and admittedly unorthodox, it has never been a steep climb to come to love Steeped Coffee and, as they grow their menu of flavors and partners, it will be even easier to enjoy the easiest-to-make coffee around.

FA-SHIZZLE MY TWIZZLE

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During a recent trip to Scandinavia, I enjoyed visiting Hamlet’s castle and shopping at IKEA, but the best part was surely having my fill of authentic Scandinavian licorice.

I have been a fan of the sweet and chewy stuff for as long as I can remember and I always love trying new varieties and flavors. That is why I am such a fan of America’s own Wiley Wallaby!

Wiley Wallaby’s family-formed licorices are among my favorites. And as they have so many flavors – including classic red and black, as well as blueberry, pomegranate, huckleberry (whatever that is!), and their latest- lemonade – Wiley has a taste for every taste and even offer pre-mixed combo packs so you can get more fruit and fun in every fistful!

If you want big flavor in small packages, Wiley makes candy-coated licorice “drops” with sweet or super sour fruit-flavored shells. For those of you who prefer organic versions that may be closer to the flowering Fabaceae from which licorice comes, they have classic black, strawberry, mixed berry, and tropical flavors that are all made with organic cane sugar and real fruit juice and without artificial colors and flavors. And if sugar is the issue, they also offer treats with only one gram per serving! 

No matter which flavors you pick, Wiley Wallaby licorices are all filled with vegan flavor and easy on the teeth (especially as they have no high-fructose corn syrup). 

As they say in Sandanavia- Skål!

DIVERSELY DELICIOUS

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Variety is the spice of life, especially when that life includes spices and other ingredients from around the world.

While I would travel pretty far for a masterful meal or creative comestible, I recently found a company that brings many of the world’s favorite flavors not only to my door but to the palm of my hand!

Founded by one of the many ingenious and industrious immigrants who have made our country great, Unite Foods has created a multi-cultural menu of delicious protein bars that are inspired by flavors from all around the world and that can inspire anyone who enjoys them to expand their gastronomic and geographical repertoires while benefitting from a solid serving of gluten-free protein and other delicious benefits. 

From the domestic bliss of PB&J to the spicy sweetness of South American churros and Mexican hot chocolate to a heavenly Hellenistic baklava and even a bubble tea bar that Is not overloaded with sugar and that will not get lodged in your throat, these gluten-free, almond butter-based bars use all-natural ingredients like real honey, dates, chilis, and all sorts of other nutritious nuts. In addition to at least 10 grams of protein, Unite bars also include superfoods like hemp seeds and prebiotic fiber and still come in at under 200 calories per bar!

Unlike many other protein and snack bars, Unite bars do not have a rubbery or crumbly texture or leave a chalky aftertaste, allowing you to enjoy each delicious bite without regret.

So even if you are not quite ready to get back on a plane (or are against doing so for environmental reasons, which is also valid!), Unite foods can at least take your tastebuds on a worldwide excursion that will leave you refreshed and energized. 

SMOKIN’ GOOD FISH

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I lived on the North Shore of Boston for many years and, though I have an ancient photo of my grandfather in front of the famed fisherman statue, the closest I ever came to Gloucester was a box of Gorton’s fish sticks.

These days, between the amazing fermented foods from Pigeon Cove Ferments and the great grub and grooves at The Cut, I am finding my way back more and more.

My latest find is Twin Light Smokehouse. As part of Cape Ann Fresh Catch, Twin Light takes fresh, ethically-caught fish from its experienced pescatarian parents and smokes it into its own set of salmon and shellfish sensations. From authentic Finnan Haddie and salmon-based “bacon” (the relative health benefits of which I need not go into) to savory smoked spreads, Twin Light has all you need for a shmear or a meal.

If salmon and mussels are not your thing, a visit to Cape Ann Fresh Catch will surely lure you in. In addition to offering the freshest fish from the nation’s oldest seaport, Cape Ann also offers a unique seafood CSA, the extras from which are either smoked by Twin Light or donated to area pantries so the unique flavors and nutrients that only fresh seafood can bring can be shared with those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy them. 
If you are new to Atlantic fish or want to expand your maritime menu, the Cape Ann website (www.capeannfreshcatch.org) has a handy guide to their various varieties as well as recipes that can encourage everyone to do more for their own health while supporting a healthy fishing industry.And when you can wash it all down with a Pigeon Cove kombucha- perfect!  / 

CRAZY POP

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As I do not need to tell anyone, the world is a bit nutty these days.

The Holy Land is being occupied by New York Times reporters, the Supreme Court is overseeing its own behavior, and we still haven’t even figured out a way to make a verb out of “X” (TweXting”?)

It is – in a word – chaos.

Fortunately, the secret to the solution is hidden in the problem.

All we need is a comfy couch, a favorite movie, and a big bag (or two) of Sweet Chaos popcorn!

Much like the cinematically-inspired flavors from ArcLight Cinema (z”l), the family behind Sweet Chaos combines premium gluten-free, non-GMO, whole grain corn kernels in small batches with healthy coconut oil, real cane sugar and sea salt, and mouth-melting drizzles of chocolate and peanut butter, black and white cookie flavors, and cake batter bits. If savory is more your thing, you can get Chaotic with real cheddar cheese, and wonderfully sticky gobs of butter topping. And as they know chaos does not stop when (or is that “if”?)  the temperatures drop, the Chaos creators recently released a seasonal set that includes peppermint, gingerbread, and – of course – pumpkin spice too!

No matter what you try, however, you may not even need the movie to get your best binge on! This stuff is AMAZING!

While the fun flavors are fabulous, Sweet Chaos also offers delicious options for the popcorn purist, including kernels topped with sea salt and traditional movie theater popcorn.

As a pickle freak, I am looking forward to their forthcoming dill variety.

Armageddon may not just be a movie much longer. Either way- be ready with Sweet Chaos popcorn.             

OUT OF SEASON? NOT IN PIGEON COVE!

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I have been talking a good deal about fermented foods of late and how good they are for you. Unfortunately, many people have been led to understand that fermented foods taste bad or that they fizz and tingle on your tongue in an unpleasant way.

Apparently, these people are not fortunate enough to have Gloucester’s Pigeon Cove Ferments nearby!

I mentioned Pigeon Cove before – introducing their amazing krauts and kimchis (all of which also act as great inroads to the fermented field). But as winter sets in and fresh fruit is harder to get, I wanted to focus on their kombuchas, which offer amazingly authentic fresh fruit taste even when the source ingredients may not be in season.

As kombucha involves fermenting which involves aging, the fresh ingredients that come in summer are ready to be enjoyed in their new fermented forms right about this time of year. This is apparently why Pigeon Cove’s recently-released batches of spiced pear and orange cranberry Hibiscus are so darn refreshing and can not only make your tummy feel better but help overcome seasonal doldrums with a tasty reminder of brighter days ahead (or at least behind).

Another great way Pigeon Cove can brighten your day is with their lion’s mane coffee kombucha, which adds brain-boosting nootropics to delicious coffee flavor. I have a few a week and love the tasty tingle!

Fermented foods are good for you, but that does not mean they have to taste bad. You just need to know where to look. I suggest Gloucester!

PUT SOME “PEP” IN YOUR STEP

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When I first saw a product called “Pep” that claimed to offer clean energy and helpful probiotics, it seemed like something out of a movie that did not want to use a brand name.

However, after I interviewed health expert Dr. Shawn Talbott from Pep’s producer, Amare Global, I was convinced to give the vegan, dairy-, gluten-, and soy-free beverage a try.

I must say that my body, my brain, and my bowels felt pretty peppy indeed!

In addition to offering its titular burst of energy (thanks to organic green coffee), Pep also supports alertness and concentration through a proprietary ingredient called Suntheanine® AND supports a healthy gut microbiome which ALSO helps your brain and body function better! According to Dr. Talbott, it can even help with digestion issues thanks to its combination of pro- and prebiotics, organic live kombucha, and another proprietary ingredient called Sunfiber®.

Unlike most other so-called “energy drinks,” the special blend in Pep delivers its natural energy in a way that strikes an attractive and sustaining balance between energy and relaxation, allowing you to be alert without feeling wired so you can continue to do what you need and want to do efficiently for a long period of time.

Now you may be thinking- “Can a drink that does all this taste good?”
And I am here to answer- YES!


Despite having no sugar, Pep is as sweet and refreshing as strawberry soda and offers a bubbly burst that tickles your tongue and keeps the party going all the way through your gut.  

Go to Amare.com/g10/442395 or amare.com and use promo code 442395 for $10 off your first purchase!

LET US EAT CAKE

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In the process of supporting Project Insulin in their efforts to develop a generic version of the life-saving medicine, I have had the privilege of meeting many other wonderful and community-minded people. Among these is Patrice Jean-Philippe, who also supports the health and well-being of her RI neighbors.

When not serving her community as an administrator, Jean-Philippe is serving cakes that she custom makes for clients and organizations as the head of P. Bon Bakery, a company that she operates with the help of her children, the eldest of whom is studying culinary arts.

Inspired (as so many of us were) by watching baking shows during the pandemic, Jean-Philippe quickly discovered that she had more than just a home-baker’s knack for crafting creative cakes that looked amazing and tasted even better. Since then, she has spent every moment she is not helping her family and her neighbors in the kitchen to make them happy in other ways.

Calling on her Haitian heritage, Jean-Philippe uses authentic island vanilla in a recipe that was handed down from her mother. She is also well known for her chocolate and carrot cakes. Each cake is made to order using her special buttercream recipe that gives each cake a unique flavor and texture and that will surely make any event or occasion at which they are served special as well!

As part of her effort to support others, Jean-Philippe recently launched Sweet Talkers, a program for young children with speech delays that encourages them to find their voice through baking. 

As with so many Matt’s Meals friends, Jean-Philippe is a dedicated foodmaker and family supporter who deserves our support as well!

THE GREATEST BREW ON EARTH

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I was recently privileged enough to spend some time in the beautiful environs of Utah. While the skiing was good (at least compared to out east) and the new flag inspiring, one of my favorite finds came as I was headed back to the airport to come home.

Just off the highway between Park City and Salt Lake City is Park City Brewing, a comfortable place to eat, drink, and recuperate from a hard day on the slopes or at the office.

With mylar igloos out front to facilitate dining al fresco even in a champagne blizzard and a small but complete brewing set in the back to facilitate the venue’s delicious malt-based creations, Park City Brewing offers locally-inspired and made beers, hard seltzers and other refreshing treats along with great comfort food. From malty and slightly sweet beer-infused pretzel mounds to Silvercreek bratwurst and chicken sandos that fill your mouth with flavor and just call out for a frosty following of one of the venue’s well-crafted brews to hand-crafted caramel corn with nuts, Park City Brew has far more than beer but the beers are worth the trip on their own! The Mexican lager is muy auténtico and their famed Powder Buoy pilsner pays tribute to the local weather patterns that have made the area so famous among skiers. They also offer their own root beer and a rotating raft of seasonal and experimental flavors- many of which get demanded again and again by regulars and visitors alike. 

Utah may claim the greatest snow on earth, but the beer is not so bad either, especially at Park City Brewing.     

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