Author: Matt Robinson

FILL YOUR FEED BUCKET 

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While the end of September may not be prime time for island goers, there are still many reasons to escape to Nantucket during the so-called shoulder season.

In addition to having opportunity to find private hideaways and to get to know the people who truly make Nantucket what it is (i.e., the locals), the end of September is also the time for Nantucket’s Chamber of Commerce to host their popular Restaurant Week.

From September 24-28, local legends like The Beet, Ethos Nantucket, Galley Beach, Island Kitchen, Lemon Press, Millie’s, and or, the Whale will be offering specials and new menu items so even long-time visitors and locals can find new favorites. Thanks to the NantucketGrown collection of local producers that supply ingredients and items to restaurants, yacht clubs, and other venues around the island, diners can also feel free to try new things, knowing that their edible adventures are supporting area artisans. 

As many of these independent farms and entrepreneurial ventures run all year, the fall is an especially important time to support them especially because, unlike most producers, they not only have to deal with the vicissitudes of a New England winter, but also with a much lower population of supporters. Another unique element of the island environment is that it serves as a microcosm of what is often a much more expanded ecosystem of producers, distributors, and consumers, allowing those who participate in and partake of it to get a sense of what goes into the foods they are putting into their bodies and how much love and care go into each delicious bite.

Though days may be shorter and nights cooler, as long as the sand is soft and the sunsets beautiful (as they are pretty much all year), it is never a bad time to visit Nantucket and to see what all the buzz is about even when it is not so buzzy.

While there, be sure to check out the many other visit-worthy attractions the island and the Chamber have to offer.

www.nantucketchamber.org/restaurant-week/

OH, THE HOP-ANITY!

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Whoever said “Good things come in small packages” never tried beers from Dirigible Brewing!

From their fruity Little Zep New England IPA and Blue Sky Balloon Blueberry Sour to the floral bloom of Parasols Parading in the Park French Saison, the Steampunk-inspired Oamaru New Zealand Pilsner, and the deep and rich 24 Porter Porter that comes from their brewery and tap room on 24 Porter Road in Littleton, MA, these massive cans of love-packed brews are plenty to share but worth the time to enjoy alone as well. Dirigible also offers their own hard seltzer called Flexion Elixir that can be infused with a wide range of flavors to make the perfect match for any occasion.

No matter which Dirigible brew you try (or how much), you are sure to enjoy the fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and get that self-propelled, high-flying, and handcrafted vibe that, like the Kiwi Pilsner, is inspired by Steampunk – a mindset and movement that treasures the simpler pre-industrial era of steam power and the ingenuity it fostered.

Speaking of foster, the 25 oz cans that Dirigible fills and labels by hand remind many drinkers of the famed 32 oz. drums that the Aussie brewery uses. Instead of having Paul Hogan for a spokesperson, however, they would probably prefer Jules Verne!

With music and other live events at their taproom and off site at places like the Solomon Pond Mall (check the website for information), Dirigible is easy to access and enjoy and is sure to take you on a delicious flight of fancy whenever you try some. 

https://dirigiblebrewing.comhttps://dirigiblebrewing.com

DEDHAM COMES ALIVE

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While the popularity of organic and plant-based foods (thankfully) continues to grow, it is not always possible for people to access such privileged produce. 

Fortunately, a locally-based chain is adding links to new communities to help more people benefit from our abundant bounty.

With a mission of energizing the vitality of all living beings (including the planet), Life Alive has been bringing “positive eating” and sustainable and sustaining nutritious energy to Boston, the Merrimack Valley, and the North Shore for nearly 20 years. In September, they are scheduled to open at Legacy Place in Dedham, offering yet another great dining option in this popular shopping center.

At all of their locations, Life Alive offers organic, plant-based options that are made with lots of love but quickly enough that you can fuel up and go, knowing your fuel is all-natural and all-beneficial (not to mention delicious!).

If you do dine in, the surroundings are comfy and colorful, offering a sustainable and sustaining rest from a busy day. Life Alive also caters to guests who are as diverse as their seasonally-shifting food options.

No matter where you eat or what you are in the mood for, there are sure to be new favorites every visit, thanks to an all-meal menu that ranges from enormously enjoyable warm grain and acai-based bowls and wraps that feature felafel, tofu, and other protein-packed parts, and a mousse-y smooth bowl of chocolate overnight oats that can help start your day or finish any meal with sweet sustenance. There are also hand-shaken iced teas and handmade smoothies that are extra great on a hot day.

Food allows us to live. Food from LifeAlive makes it more enjoyable to do so! 

www.lifealive.com

REMEMBA THE FLAVA

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As someone who loves chocolate, I am already a HUGE fan of Flava Naturals- a MA-based company that makes some of the most delicious varieties around by adding such in-genius ingredients as fresh blueberries, roasted almonds, and Himalayan salt to their delicious dark chocolate bars. Not only do these additions up the flavor, they also add nutrition to the bars that studies have shown to be good for you to begin with!

As I also have many personal ties to the memory loss community, I am also grateful to Flava Naturals as they offer five times more brain-supporting flavanols that other chocolates – even those with 100 cacao!

A recent study of 3,500 adults by Columbia University and our own Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that diets low in flavanols are often associated with age-related memory loss and that taking in 500mg of cocoa flavanols daily improved performance on memory tests by 10% and that 750-900mg can be even better. Especially for someone who makes their living with words, I will take every percent I can get! And as the 500 mg of flavanols in each FlavaNaturals bar or the 900mg in each serving of their FlavaMix drink power taste so good, I have never been happier to take my medicine!

Even if you do not have memory issues in the family, it can never hurt to have a diet that is under medical supervision, especially when the foods taste so good you want to hide them. With the Flava Naturals Flava Club, you can enjoy not only the health benefits but also savings that make it easier to share this latest (and most delicious!) medical breakthrough.

www.flavanaturals.com

HERE’S TO GOOD OL’ BROWN- DRINK IT DOWN! DRINK IT DOWN!

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I have talked about my book about the Ivy League (www.LionsTigersBulldogs.com) in which I discuss various fun facts (what I call “Tr-IVY-a”©) about these historic schools. Among the most striking of these is the fact that the Science Building at Brown is not only the highest building in Providence but also that its stairwells are color-coded to the pH scale.

Speaking of this measurement of the power of Hydrogen (pH) and resulting relative acidity in various liquids, I recently found a canned water that provides the purportedly perfect pH base of 9.5 that can help balance the typical acidity of most people (which, if you look around, is pretty evident these days!).

Locally-sourced and packaged, ultra-purified, and ionically-charged, with added electrolytes and no added chlorine or sodium, Perfect Hydration (PH- get it?!) comes in recycled and recyclable BPA-free PET-1 plastic bottles and aluminum cans that are crushable inside and out and that help sustain you while also sustaining the planet. 

As it also helps flush out lactic acid, reduce acid reflux, improve metabolism, and increase energy levels, PH water is great for athletes and people on the go. PH also donates proceeds to the Red Cross and other life-saving organizations. No wonder a Pro Bowl mensch like Julian Edelman swears by it!

And, as waters go, it tastes great too!

Life today is unstable in so many ways. At least your PH can be balanced!

www.perfect-hydration.com

A SWEET MESSAGE

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Especially around New England, Valentine’s Day is associated with boxes of tiny hearts with messages printed on them. And while the messages may reach the heart, the candies themselves may not make it to the stomach.

Fortunately, there is a new way to use food to send a personal message. 

Telegram Cookies our delicious buttery shortbread cookies that are stamped with custom messages. Offering pre-printed packages with messages that range from “Call me” to “Might as well,” Telegram can help you telegraph any message with just $36 and a few days’ notice.
As Founder and former tech guru Georges Duverger was born in France, he brings the proud baking traditions of his native land to each batch. Now a permanent MA resident, he recently partnered with Boston’s own Commonwealth Kitchen. So while Telegram Cookies  can be shipped all over the U.S. in eco-friendly packaging, it will now be even easier for Boston-area fans to get their messages out even faster and more deliciously!

At Commonwealth, Telegram and other companies will be participating in the Ready to Launch program that guides new food businesses through the steps needed to secure health permits in Boston and also teaches best practices in production, financial management, sales and marketing.

As such, you can be sure that their cookies are not only delicious but safe and healthy too! In fact, they are baked with only four simple ingredients- flour, butter, brown sugar, and salt. 

The way to. A person’s heart may be through their stomach, so why not take care of both with one sweet treat?

https://telegramcookies.com/

GET YOUR DAY ON TRACK

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As if working from home were not hectic enough, many of us are now responsible for children who no longer have the benefits of school to enjoy while they leave us in peace for a few precious hours.

That is why I am such a fan of our local friends at Atomic Coffee Roasters!

Starting as a café in Beverly, Atomic has expanded to a second generation and is now served at cafes and restaurants throughout Greater Boston and is blazing a trail to other areas with its locally-sourced, roasted, and packaged coffees.

Speaking of trails, Atomic has partnered with the New England Mountain Bike Association to celebrate another great thing to do with your family in the summer and all year ‘round. For each bag of their delicious Singletrack coffee (which combines small-farm beans from Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Honduras) sold, Atomic will contribute $2 to the Association to help them preserve open space that can then be enjoyed on wheels or by foot. 

As Atomic was founded by professional cyclists and as some of us need a little help getting off the couch and on our bikes, the percolating partnership is a perfect match!

In addition to finding this and other amazing coffees (like their seasonal Simple Summer, their out-of-this-world Space Cadet, their canned cold brew, and other blended and single-origin varieties) on their website (drinkatomic.com), visitors can find recipes and tips for ideal brewing conditions and more!

Need to get your gears turning this summer (or anytime)? Go Atomic!

drinkatomic.com

VINYL IS BACK!

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Though I am a HUGE fan of the award-winning North Street Grille and South Street Diner in Boston (both of which were recently chosen as Boston’s best breakfast places by Good Morning America), it is good to know that there is an great place to start the day in the ‘burbs as well.

The 50’s Diner in Dedham is tucked behind Whole Foods in Legacy Place. And while the outdoor mall includes many other notable eateries (including Friendly Toast, Shake Shack, Life Alive, Legal Sea Foods, and Capital Grille), it is still worth the visit on its own.

The wait can be long, but as soon as your tush hits the vinyl seats, you will definitely know it was worth it!

Tastefully decorated with art and furnishings that evoke a simpler time (including the phone booth that houses the ATM for this cash-only establishment), the Diner has been offering non-greasy traditional diner food and much more for 30 years, including huge freshly-made omelets, cinnamon rolls that serve as meal and dessert, hand-spun shakes and floats (including the orange-y Dreamsicle) and a 50’s Special that includes so much delicious food for so little you may think the Diner has not changed its prices since it opened!

As the kids menu includes not only the obligatory mac and cheese and chicken fingers but also fresh cold cut and salad sandwiches, and a “good ol’” PB&J that is better and newer than any I had ever made, the Diner is a great place to bring the family, either during a day of shopping or just for its own sake. And as there are no TV’s, you may actually be able to talk to your family between moan-inducing bites! 

When you do have to leave, be sure to pick up their great diner mugs and customized soda bottles and a bottle of their delicious honey mustard and take the good vibes of a simpler time home with you to enjoy between visits.

www.facebook.com/50sdiner/

A STEAK IN A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

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Capital Grille coming to Dedham August 11

I have been a fan of Capital Grille for many years. In fact, my family and I have been marking my father’s birthday there for over a decade, And while we have no problem traveling to Chestnut Hill or Burlington for such special occasions, it is nice to know that a new location will be opening in Dedham at Legacy Place later this summer.

Known as much for their personalized service as their perfectly-cut and cooked meat, poultry, fish, and more, the Capital Grille is a great place for a date, business meeting, or just to take a self-treating break from an aggressive shopping excursion.

From their wide selection of succulent steaks, each of which is dry aged in-house for 18-24 days and hand cut daily by the Grille’s resident butcher. While the Grille may be best known for such curated cuts of beef, many also come to enjoy its lobster mac n cheese, seared salmon, or double-cut lamb chops (all with a side of Sam’s mashed potatoes, of course) and some even come just for a slice of decadent cheesecake and the famous Stoli Doli cocktails that are always ready to refresh!

Speaking of refreshing, summer is a great time to visit as many other locations are offering the Grille’s famous Generous Pour wine event through September 3, during which guests can enjoy a wide range of wines from the world’s top winemakers all for $35 with the purchase of a dinner entrée! 

In addition to bringing new flavors and people to Dedham the opening of the Grille is also set to create nearly 100 new jobs in the area!

As any foodie knows, a good meal wis worth travelling, but it is nice when the good meal comes closer to you too.

See you there!

www.thecapitalgrille.com/

ROLL OUT THOSE LAZY CRAZY HAZY RAYS OF SUMMER

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While many people talk of beaches and barbecues, summer is, at its over-21 base, beer season! And while Bud Light and Modelo duke it out for world domination, we can take great pride in our locally-sourced legends!
From Harpoon and Sam Adams to your neighbor’s latest homebrew, it is the New England work ethic and ingenuity that have created so many sudsy stars.

Another such story is that of Lawson’s Finest Liquids.

Started in a University of VT dorm room by a savvy over-21 fan of Catamount and other 14thSate staples, Lawson’s now partners with other New England brewers (like Two Roads in CT) and even VT Public Radio to reach and support communities throughout the region with its foamy faves and Social Impact Program (cleverly known as “SIP”). 

Among my current go-to’s are the summer-perfect Sip of Sunshine IPA and the internationally-ranked Double Sunshine Ruby Red Grapefruit, a double IPA that adds the juicily slimming smack of grapefruit to up the refreshment even more! As fall approaches, I will look forward to more servings of Mad River Maple which includes pure syrup from Lawson’s tree-tapping neighbors. And as new versions are always in development and as all of them are made with the best ingredients Green Mountain greenbacks can buy, there is always more to look forward to regardless of the time of year or your personal tastes.With offerings such as these, it is small wonder that Lawson’s was named the best beverage made in VT (which is certainly saying something!) two years in a row by Vermont Business Magazine and 2022 Brewery of the Year by Beer Connoisseur (LOVE those connoisseurs!). In fact, the only thing I wonder is why you aren’t enjoying one right now! www.lawsonsfinest.com