Author: Matt Robinson

UNITING THE KINGDOM

Posted by

Combining the famed food heritage and hospitality of Europe with seasonal local ingredients, Thistle and Leek also combines the culinary pedigree of the legendary Craigie Street Bistro (where chef/owners Kate and Trevor Smith first met) in a cozy and familial space that is (rightfully) winning awards and accolades all over.

The Smiths’ united heritages are not only reflected in the name (thistle and leek being the national symbols of their ancestral homelands of Scotland and Wales), but also in many of the handmade décor elements (including items made by Kate’s Scottish màthair)  The handcrafted menu features creative takes on traditional British, American, and more international favorites like toasted sesame focaccia, smoked maitake mushroom salad, bok choy or octopus a la plancha, Coronation chicken, pork schnitzel, whole wheat garganelli with braised rabbit, and, of course, housemade chips. The hand-selected wine list can be professionally paired or personally explored and Thistle & Leek’s own housemade ice creams end any meal off well!

As another nod to the Smiths’ heritage, Thistle & Leek offers Sunday suppers that feature hearty favorites like roasts and soups that will make a visit to Thistle & Leek even more inviting! There are also plans for special cook-at-home holiday meals as wellAs it is tucked right alongside the trolley tracks in Newton Centre, Thistle & Leek is a great place to take a break after a hectic day at work but is also worth hopping on the train or raking whatever means of transport you need (double-decker bus, perhaps?) to explore and enjoy! 

www.thistleandleek.com

The ORIGINAL Land of Milk and Honey

Posted by

The Israeli Wine Producers Association is donating proceeds to support Israeli organizations through their Sip for Solidarity program. And while many know that wines from Israel are some of the best and most popular in the world, there is apparently more to Israeli booze than just the fruit of the vine.

Named for the eternal benefits of the eternal homeland, Milk & Honey distillery is not only Israel’s first whisky distillery but one of the most award-winning distilleries, having recently been named the “world’s best single malt” at The World Drinks Awards!

With nearly 300 days of sun a year, Israeli grain soaks in plenty of holy light that expedites the aging process and enhances the unique flavor and feel of this spiritual spirit. Aged in American rye and bourbon barrels, tequila casks, and Israeli red, white, and pomegranate wine barrels (including some that undergo their unique shaved-toasted-recharred process), Milk & Honey offers an array of aromas and tastes from calming vanilla to rejuvenating oranges and healing Dead Sea salts. And while the Angel’s share is as high as 12%, as the angels are so close, Milk & Honey still has plenty to share!

Milk & Honey also uses custom-made copper stills and is overseen by hot-climate maturation expert and master distiller Dr. Jim Swan.

As it has done with so many ideas and industries, Israel has taken an ancient favorite and improved it by leaps and bounds. So while we all should be supporting Israel’s winemakers as they continue to support all residents of the Holy Land, if you need a break from wine, you could clearly do a lot worse (and not much better) than Milk & Honey 

 https://mh-distillery.com

L’CHAIM

Posted by

As the issues in the Middle East continue to rile the world, many Jew and others are still looking to raise a glass in the traditional toast L’chaim– To life!

And while the deeds of a few are destroying the lives of the many, at least there is a way to help those in peril by drinking to their health and praying for their survival.

Through the end of the year, for every bottle of wine you buy that is made in Israel, the Israeli Wine Producers Association will donate proceeds to support Israeli organizations through their Sip for Solidarity program.

Though their grapes are rooted in the land that has been integral to the Jewish people for thousands of years, Israeli wines continue to keep up with if not inspire the industry (and international oenophiles) with new tastes and harvesting procedures that are already leading the world in environmental preservation. As they are now supporting people and the land on which they have lived for millennia, it is now a better time than ever to taste or enjoy more of your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) wines!

Closer to home, Israeli-friendly friends like Steve Peljovich of Michael’s Deli and Galit Grutman of Galit’s Treats (who is still offering her amazing challahs at Bill’s Pizzeria in Newton Center) are also donating proceeds and food to help family and friends in Israel and here. As always, I ask you to do all you can to support all our food friends who do so much for so many.

L’chaim! 

@IsraeliWine #drinkisrael

A MOTHER OF A SEQUEL

Posted by

While I recently raved about the long-lasting literarily-linked legend that is Harvard Square’s Grendel’s, I am just as excited to go back to the Square to check out its new sibling site, the Sea Hag.

Named for another character in the Olde English classic, this just-as-cozy and satisfying spot offers comfort food faves like fried pickles and calamari and Grendel’s legendary French dip along with scallop ceviche, a “messy” cobb salad topped with a fried egg, a grass-fed steak (available as a dinner or in a sub), and creative takes on arancini, Caesar salad, and other items that are sure to keep you coming back. 

While the broad but uniformly-delicious menu may make it difficult to decide among the many mouthwatering dishes, it may be even more difficult to pick between the sweet and savory sisters. That being said, as its name might imply, the Sea Hag seems to lend a bit toward fish and there are plans afoot for live music and other offerings that may help you decide, at least on some days.

From morning coffee and homemade muffins and scones to late-night snacks and all the vibe that Grendel’s has been delivering for decades, The Sea Hag is surely a great addition to the Harvard Square scene and one that will remind you of its glory days of yore.

Don’t hwaet to go! 

www.seahag02138.com / www.grendelsden.com

SELECT-ING THE BEST BERRIES

Posted by

Especially at this time of year, many people are thinking of what to make for their family that will keep the gratitude and enjoyment up and the arguing and bickering down. With all the political and dietary limitations people bring to the table these days, it can be harder than ever to please everyone!

Especially as traditional mains may be problematic, perhaps it is best to stick to sides for now.

When it comes to best sides, there is little that can beat fresh MA cranberries. 

But what to do if you want that fresh-from-the-bog taste at other times of year?

Cape Cod Select is a multi-generational, family-run, sustainable business that picks and provides locally-sourced cranberries in a wide array of delicious ways, including frozen berries and extra-nutritious smoothie kits that can be used anytime you want something to feel thankful for.

In addition to leaving out any extra sugar, Cape Cod Select also eschews a bunch of other unhealthy stuff that many other berry baggers and canners use, which has allowed them to become the first American cranberry grower to achieve GLOBAL G.A.P Certification which sets stringent compliance qualifications for farms around the world.

After starting your day with a tropical smoothie (which will be an especially welcome respite if a traditional New England winter ever comes back), try their chutney with anything from cheese to charcuterie (which they also offer) and their amazing cranberry mustard on pretty much anything and in many of the recipes that are on www.capecodselect.com.

With all the issues in the world, we do not need a special day to be thankful. But when we want to add a bit of healthy sweetness to any day, Cape Code Selects can surely help!

RUB IN THE SUPPORT

Posted by

As I continue to pour their low-sugar ketchup and amazing hot and barbecue sauces on pretty much anything I can find. I am very much looking forward to interviewing True Made Foods founder and proud Veteran Abe Kamarck as the first piece of my new radio series – Matt Robinson’s Vetrepreneurs© – which is scheduled to launch on Veterans Day on the Veterans Voice Network.

In the meantime, I’m still paging through their father-son team of Veteran pitmasters Ed and Ryan Mitchell’s amazing barbecue (or, actually, barbeQue) cookbook and coming up with my own ways to use their amazing sugar-free and low- sugar products wherever I can.

Among True Made’s latest releases are a trio of righteous rubs that are only available on their website – www.truemadefoods.com.

Handcrafted by the Mitchells for generations, this set of rubs for ribs, pork, and an all-purpose rub have already been seen on the famous food channel show beat Bobby Flay, where they were actually used to do with the title suggests! You can now bring this amazing flavor to your grill and your family and be the king of the ‘cue wherever you go.

The rubs also go great with the Mitchell’s sets of Western- and Carolina-style barbecue sauces, which include such personal favorites and regular go-to’s as their sweet Memphis sauce and a tangy Carolina Gold. 

Even if barbecue was not your thing (or at least not tonight) True Made still has plenty to make every meal better, including their signature ketchup that beat the Pittsburgh pirates at the Brazilian-owned KraftHeinz to the punch by adding vegetables and no sugar so even the pickiest easter can get a little nutrition from their favorite condiment.

Speaking of favorite condiments, pretty much everyone with whom I share True Made comes to love it and looks forward to the latest releases. So please check out www.truemadefoods.com and watch for my interview with Abe Kamarck and for True Made in your favorite store.

ADDING NUTRITION TO NEEDHAM’S GREAT FOOD SCENE

Posted by

As I am such a fan of local food makers and also of doing what I can to help keep myself, my family, and my listeners and other friends healthy, I am psyched to have Needham Nutrition as a new neighbor!

Located right across the street from my friends at Abbott’s Frozen Custard (where I like to pack on the protein of their creamy egg-based treats while curling chocolate-covered bananas), Needham Nutrition has delicious drinks that can easily fill-in for meals and that pack a ton of nutrition into cups with not so many calories or sugar and no dairy.

The shakes include over 20 grams of protein each and come in over 20 flavors, including blueberry muffin, orange cream, the Green Monsta, and my favorites, chocolate peanut monkey, peanut butter banana, and peanut butter and greens (get a theme there?). There is also a kids menu with even more fun flavors and lots of nutrition. But with tea varieties like Blue Hawaiian (which could be a good fundraiser for our Kingdom to the west), Captain America and Wonder Woman (all of which have fewer than 5 grams of sugar and come “loaded” with aloe, ginseng, guarana, and a ton of vitamins.), there is plenty of fun flavor and nutrition for fans of all ages.

Despite having fewer than 300 calories, the delicious shakes can easily take the place of a meal and I have used them as such many times. If you want even more nutrition, you can add fiber and metabolism boosters to the shakes and collagen, probiotics, and immunity boosters to the teas.

While there is no shame in enjoying any of the great eateries in downtown Needham – from perfect pizzas at Hearth to South American delights at Latina to locally-sourced Farmhouse faves and a delicious dinner with the amazing Winiker Brothers at Cook (followed by creamy custard at Abbott’s, of course!), it is great to know that you can now enjoy so much healthy and delicious stuff in one place- thanks to Needham Nutrition!

www.NeedhamNutrition.info

STRENGTHENING THE BONDE

Posted by

I was recently back on my old stomping grounds of Harvard Square to promote my book on the Ivy League (www.lionstigersbulldogs.com) and, after visiting my old friends at Grendel’s for a delicious meal, I dropped by my other friends at Bonde wines for an after-dinner drink and a bit of oenophilic education.

In addition to learning about some of the most expertly-curated, independently-crafted, ecologically-responsible wines, I also learned that Bonde has come up with even more fun and creative ways to share and pair their wines with some of my (and your) favorite foods!

On Wednesday, October 4, Bonde will be crafting complements to what they call Cuisine Manufacturielle d’America (a.k.a., American junk food) in a perky pairing event that will be perfect for anyone who is gearing up for late-season grilling sessions, football season wings and nachos, or even Halloween season candy. If you are not such a fan of frankfurters but love the food of Frankfurt, there will be an event dedicated to Oktoberfest fare (Might I suggest Eastern Standard Provisions‘ pretzels? Yes- I might!) on October 11. If a visit to French Canada is more convenient, a quartet of poutines will be on the menu on October 25, each with its own hand-picked pairing

Though the latest installment of Bonde’s Chef Series (which features Vietnamese master Vincenzo Le) is sold out there will surely be more amazing food makers lining up to have their fare paired with flair at Bonde, so be sure to keep an eye out on www.bondewines.com.

Each of these classes cost $89 per person and include not only delicious food and extraordinary wines (some of which are only available at Bonde) but also the comprehensive and collegial consultation of curator Bertil Jean-Chronberg (a native Frenchman who knows his way not only around a wine cellar but a stack of gravied frites as well!), making a vinicultured visit on these (or any other nights) well worth it! So keep checking bondewines.com to see what fruited fun is coming up next!

AN IVY-CLAD CLASSIC

Posted by

When I lived in Harvard Square many moons ago, I basically lived in the cozy confines of the legendary, literarily-themed eatery known as Grendel’s Den.

When I recently visited the Square to promote my book on the Ivy League (www.lionstigersbulldogs.com), I had the chance to return to Grendel’s and to remind myself of all that I’ve been missing since I left Cambridge.

From its bustling bar to its cozy corners, Grendel’s is a comfortable place to eat, drink, study, meet and catch up with friends, all while enjoying some of the best food and drink around. 

From customizable sandwiches to a raft of vegetarian and vegan options and from the famed French dip and Greek spinach pie (both of which have been on the menu for 50 years), PEI mussels, Guinness Irish stew and Faroe Island salmon, to authentic paella, quesadillas with everything from chicken to brisket, and Salvadoran veggies, the Grendel’s menu is an international feast of new and old favorites and dishes that are sure to become favorites soon. In addition to express lunches and other daily specials that make repeat visits even more of a pleasure, Grendel’s also offers great cocktails, including Margaritas, Sangrias, a proper Pimm’s cup, a wilder Whiskey flower, their famous big cucumber energy drink, homemade sangrias, and a monthly wheel of horoscope-inspired beverages. In addition to the Cambridge Amber that has been served for nearly four decades, the underground gem also offers cellar’s worth wines, meads, and Madeiras, and even some non-alcoholic options that are as tasty and slaking as anything around.

Harvard Square has changed a great deal in the past decades and has frankly lost a lot of its indie charm. That is why it was all the more satisfying to see one of the OG Square spots still serving super stuff to students and civilians alike!

Be sure to visit www.GrendelsDen.com and check out their podcast about their 40-year view of the Square and its people.

EASIER EASTERN ACCESS

Posted by

It’s October, and that means only one thing- Pretzels!

Well, okay, maybe football, school, raking, beer and pretzels, but let’s focus on the food side for now.

When it comes to pretzels, I consider myself a connoisseur who is still hoping that Winzer Stube will open a franchise for their Hudson, WI, hofbrauhaus in Greater Boston. Fortunately, we already have our neighbors at Eastern Standard Provisions to provide every twisted salty treat I could ever need.

I have been ordering party packs from Eastern Standard for years for my German-born neighbors’ famed Oktoberfest parties and they always meet with his Hamburg-honed approval, whether I bring their signature wheelhouse pretzels, bites or turnbuckle twists (or their whole Oktoberfest party pack). 

While their pretzels stand alone (at least outside of Wisconsin), they also offer a slew of sweet and savory toppings that go far beyond salt and that range from dark chocolate fudge and peanut butter caramel sauces and French toast sugar (which also go great on Eastern Standards’ authentic Belgian waffles) to a Maui onion mustard that could also be used these days as part of a fundraiser for the proud people of the America’s western Kingdom.

If cheese is your thing, ESP not only has a delicious white cheddar sauce but a three-cheese salt that bridges the gap between game time snack and soiree appetizer and is sure to please everyone at your party, regardless of size or season,

Speaking of parties, ESP also offers gift boxes that are perfect for birthdays, graduations, or to thank friends for inviting you over for pretzels.

While their website (esprovisions.com) has everything a twisted snack fan could want, if you just can’t wait for that pretzel package to arrive, there is a special variety pack available at Whole Foods and Costco.

No matter how you get them, ESP pretzels are wunderbar!
https://esprovisions.com