My recent talk with Jordan Rich at the Needham Free Public Library was a HUGE success and I want to thank all of our food friends who donated treats for our guests. We had chocolate from Red and Flava Naturals, crackers from Effie’s Homemade and Mary’s Gone Crackers, cheeses from Vermont Creamery, Jasper Hill Farm, and Birdie’s, and delicious nuts from Q’s Nuts and I hope to offer more when my author interview series reopens in September.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to hosting a game night at the library on June 20 featuring award-winning designer Gene Mackles.

In addition to introducing me to his amazingly fun games, Gene also introduced me to Brelundi – an Italian-inspired (and I mean “inspired”!) eatery that has locations in Waltham, Tewksbury, and Billerica.

Helmed by native Sicilian Michael Colomba, who left a career building air traffic control towers around the world to go back to his familial farm roots and open his popular places, Brelundi offers next-level editions of such familiar favorites as pasta and eggplant parm, as well as over 60 types of arancini (some of which you have probably enjoyed at other restaurants), and many items that are apparently unique to Michael’s native region, including selections from his famed line of Italian Ready Meals. 

Once you start a day with a cast-iron padella, snack on fried chickpea panelle with Michael’s vinegar-soaked caponata (which is great by the spoonful as well), dig into his prosciutto rollatini (which has been called “Italian sushi”), or sweeten any meal with made-in-house (right down to the ricotta) cannoli and his signature eye-popping Iris desert, you will be sure to spread the word and hope that he continues to spread his locations.