Author: Matt Robinson

BACK ON THE BOAT

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The last time I talked about going on a Classic Harbor Line ship, I raved about their Christmas sing-along party on Boston Harbor.
Recently, I celebrated an even more important holiday (my birthday) and again I was privileged enough to celebrate it with my friends at Classic Harbor Line.
In addition to taking in spectacular views of the Seaport Charlestown Navy Yard, the Boston Harbor Islands, and more!

I was also able to enjoy delicious charcuterie, great local wines and handcrafted cocktails, and even a customized birthday cake that had been ordered ahead of time and that I was able to share with a bunch of new friends who are also celebrating various special days on board, including weddings, anniversaries, graduations, and other birthdays.

If you want to enjoy some great local food while taking in beautiful local sights, the oyster sail aboard the schooner Adirondack is a perfect two-fer that also includes an educational narration about the history of oyster farming in the Harbor! The beautiful sailboat skims across the water as you down freshly-shucked oysters paired with mignonette, lemon, and hot sauce, and maybe even some wine or champagne to make any occasion special!

If you like to get your day moving with a hearty brunch, try the brunch cruise on the paddleboat Northern Lights. In addition to being a fun way to start the day or end the weekend, the two-hour tour is perfect for bridal parties and can be rented for private parties as well (as can most of Classic Harbor Line’s ships).

With ships setting sail from Newport, New York, and Key West, Classic Harbor Line can get you shipshape from stem to stern in style.

Anchors aweigh!

A SPICY CELEBRATION

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For those of you who were busy watching the Marathon that day or just enjoying the start of school vacation, we recently celebrated the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in Lexington and Concord.

Another important anniversary is that of Boston Spice, which recently reached its own special anniversary- nine years!

In addition to releasing a new spice that is made for – what else? – Boston baked beans and a meaty mouthwaterer recalling the Salem Witch Trials that is cleverly called Burnt at the Steak, Boston Spice offers such internationally-inspired options as What’s the Curry soup starter and marinade, the Bloody Mary mixer known as Bloody Rebellion, and a Berbere blend called Boston Common that is anything but!

As they grow older, Boston Spice has also grown into new spaces, thanks to an invitation from famous craft store Michael’s which is now selling select spices at their Makerplace website. Boston Spice has also partnered with Playa Bowl to spice up the popular chain’s smoothies and protein bites with their Muster Day variety. Speaking of variety, Boston Spice offers over 100 unique spice blends, each of which puts the lie to the premise that New England food has to be bland. 

They are also available at the Old North Church, the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, and other historic locations throughout the region and can always be ordered from https://bostonspice.com.

So whether you like fish or fowl, meat or potatoes, and sweet or savory, let Boston Spice put the spirit of the Revolution in your recipes. 

BEHIND THE BABKA

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I recently talked about the babka baking classes at my favorite bakery – Bakey – so I wanted to report that I have tried one and it was AMAZING!

Not only did I get to use the same ingredients that legendary baker Uri Scheft and his talented team use to make their delicious dough and delectable delights daily (and not overnight or ahead of time as most other bakeries do), I also got to watch some of those talented teammates craft sweet and savory babka right before my eyes before trying my own hands at it!

During the class, my new friends and I rolled, shmeared, and sliced Bakey’s famous handmade dough and specially-imported Callebaut chocolate and other impressive ingredients. In between our hands-on sessions, we got to enjoy some of Bakey’s many favorite flavors along with their expertly-expressed espresso and other barista-d beverages (including a hot cocoa that is made with the same chocolate as the babka!).

By the end of the night, everyone left with a babka they had made and one that Bakey had provided, as well as a smile on their face and a very happily full belly.

Even if you can’t make it to Bakey’s commissary in Downtown Boston, it is easier than ever to enjoy their amazing fresh flavors. In addition to stores in Newton, Brookline, and Cambridge (and more on the way!), Bakey is also appearing at farmers markets in Copley Square and SoWa Open Market, among other locations.

And especially as they support Bakes for Breast Cancer, cheating on your diet is more justifiable than ever!   

BE A DRIP

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After an amazing array of Augusta-inspired events at their suburban locations, the talented team behind Craft Food Halls is ready to switch from beer to coffee for their latest venture- the new Drip Café in the Seaport District of Boston.

At Drip Café, Seaport workers and visitors can take a break with any one (or two or three) of a wide selection of hand-crafted Counter Culture coffees, MEM teas, housemade lemonades, NOBL juices, and other reviving refreshers. 

If you want something to wash down with your drink du jour, Drip also offers freshly-baked bagels and pastries, yogurt parfaits, Taza chocolate treats, and egg-based or vegan breakfast sandwiches that will surely help get your day off to a great start!

If the Seaport is not on your daily route, Craft continues to open new venues, with their latest in Allston on 1234 Soldiers Field Road having celebrated its grand opening just days ago. The space (inside the swanky Studio Allston Hotel which is run by the same team as the Moxy downtown where our musical friends the Winiker Brothers occasionally perform) has the famous wall of beer and wine (featuring many local and international favorites, from Athletic and Castle Island to Maine Beer and more!) as well as delicious food for nearly any time of day (or night!), pool and ping pong and a beautiful courtyard patio. 

In addition to great food and fun, Craft Food Halls recently brought an entire plane to their Lexington location for a fundraising event for Camp Carefree, which offers kids with challenging medical situations a free week of summer camp.

Dr. Sanjiv Chopra is scheduled to talk about coffee on June 17 at noon, so we hope to see you there!

EXPANDING THE MARKET

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Whenever I am at a loss for food friends to celebrate (as if!), I can always turn to our friends at Boston Public Market for good food news.

I recently mentioned how Q’s Nuts has recently released a redesign of their popular packages and I never miss an opportunity to grab a Beantown Pastrami sandwich or a half-dozen Bagel Guild bagels when I am in the area. As the weather gets warmer, nothing bears Crescent Ridge ice cream or a healthy drink from Mother Juice. The main issue is that there are just too many great places to eat and shop under one roof to fully appreciate them all- at least not in one visit!

Adding to this happy problem is the arrival of two new vendors – Mr. Tamole and The Happy Cactus.

Mr. Tamole is a mother-son culinary venture that specializes in traditional Mexican fare. Launched (as so many successful BPM ventures are) in farmers markets, Andrés and Margarita Carreto were members of the  Market’s 2024 Entrepreneurship Forum and will be bringing their famed Puebla-style tamales, tacos, tortas, mole poblano, and green pipián, among other authentic tastes.

The Happy Cactus is a plant and gift shop that began in a college dorm room. In addition to curated plants, the Happy Cactus also offers crystals, and other naturally-inspired gifts that reflect founder Tucker Gaccione’s love for plants, creativity, and community.

By the way, the Market is celebrating 10 years this year and will host a special music festival that will feature RLETTO from The Voice on June 8. As our listeners know, their events are always great, so be sure to check it out!     

A NEW WAVELENGTH

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As I love to teach people about food and also love to teach people about fitness (especially boxing), I’m always on the hunt for products that satisfy both desires.

My latest di-fecta is Wavelength superfood protein powders.

As each delicious, satisfying serving contains 20 grams of protein, a complete amino acid profile, as well as adaptogens for my brain and honest-to-goodness organic ingredients like energy-boosting acai, anxiety- and inflammation-calming ashwaganda, stress-reducing astragalus, and blood pressure-lowering cacao powder, Wavelength is my new go-to for morning smoothies, post-workout shakes, and even snacks and dessert drinks that help me sleep and keep an eye on my sugar intake.

Speaking of sugar, Wavelength products have none added and are also free of fillers and additives, so you can enjoy them with your entire family. In fact, they even offer a complete line of what they call Little Ripples for kids that are sugar-free and also free of dairy, gluten, soy, and other things that seem to give so many kids troubles these days.

Despite the lack of sugar or fake flavors, Wavelength’s powders are delicious. And as the company is run by a savvy mom and sources their ingredients domestically, it is a win for everyone!
As Matt’s Meals fans know, protein delivery is a big part of my meal plan, so I cannot rave enough about Wavelength!

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SIBLING SMASH!

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As native Bostonians, the Wahlberg boys know what their friends and neighbors love and have always striven wicked hahd to give it to ‘em.

The latest example of this hometown heroism is Wahlburger’s pepperoni smash- a limited edition smashburger that features two 100% Angus beef patties, crispy julienne pepperoni, melted provolone cheese, and Chef Paul Wahlberg’s signature rosemary tomato jam. It’s like the best parts of a burger and a pizza all smashed together as only the Wahlbergs can make it.

As if they were not strong enough on their own, the Wahlbergs have partnered with The Boston Deli Boys to make this new Boston classic a home run hit. You can watch their first taste reactions on Instagram and look for more potential pairings in the future.

Speaking of perfect pairings, the pepperoni smash can be paired with Wahlburger’s famed tater tots for just two bucks more and finished with a homemade milkshake or (for those of age) a fiery Wahl-A-Rita that combines 1800 cucumber jalapeño tequila, Monin agave, Cointreau, blackberry puree and lime juice for a flavor-full meal that will be perfect until June, when the smash is set to be retired.

If you want to get more advanced news about your favorite hometown heroes and can’t be following Matt’s Meals all the time, join the Wahlclub for exclusive rewards and special offers that will help you hang tough with your favorite Wahlberg brothers.

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IF ONLY IT WERE THIS EASY (AND DELICIOUS)!

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With the way of the world today, people are looking for options that can bring them peace of mind and maybe a little more peace on earth.

And if there could be a little sweetness too- all the better!

That is why I’m such a fan of Sweet Diplomacy – the gluten-free and special diet-friendly treats and gift boxes that feature authentic flavors from all over the world.

With a menu that offers items that are not only appropriate for such special diets as nut-free, sugar-free, paleo, and vegan but that are good enough to convince people to try out these diets and improve their health, Sweet Diplomacy’s most popular offering is the monthly bread campaign that includes such artisanal flavors as everything bagel, chocolate babka, and parmesan thyme.

For those who want to explore other culinary cultures, the Diplomatic Box set that features an ever-expanding menu of favorites that can be shipped to nearly any nation as a token of peace, friendship, and wishes for good health and happiness. From a Japanese-sourced set of cherry blossom cookies and matcha marble cakes to the Parisian collection of chocolate-covered strawberry cookies and decadent lava cakes to an internationally-inspired (and I mean “inspired”!) collection of cookies, cakes, and cocoa mix that will mix well at any party or event and give the most sensitive eater plenty to chew on and enjoy.

If more people shared these delicious treats, the world would surely be a better place, so do your part and establish some Sweet Diplomacy in your community.   

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Q’S NEWS

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It has been said that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Well- when the “book” is a product as fresh and delicious as Q’s Nuts, the cover does not really matter.

Q’s Nuts has been around for 25 years and is constantly adding new flavors to their delicious menu of sweet and savory snacks.

 In an effort to keep up with the latest trends Q’s will soon be appearing in new packaging. But rest assured it’s what’s inside that counts and that every package of Q’s Nuts will still include the freshest, most creatively-flavored nuts and snacks around!

With fabulous flavors like rosemary sea salt, cayenne mango, maple bourbon, and Mexican chocolate (as well as their recently-released cacao nibs), Q’s has flavors for every taste and are perfect for lunchbox treats, traffic jam meltdown diffusers, housewarming gifts, or just to nibble on for a punch of flavor, protein, and energy any time of day.

A regular at Boston Public Market for years, Q’s can also be found at farmers markets and other special locations and has long been a sponsor of my nationally-syndicated author interview series, “The Writer’s Block,” where they are quickly gobbled up by literary and snack fans of all ages. They are available for wholesale purchase and their website offers a wide range of giftable packages that are perfect for every occasion, so whenever you want to treat yourself or someone else, make sure you start your quest with “Q.”

https://qsnuts.com
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PURE COLD PESACH

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The following message is only for people who observe Passover and for people who want delicious healthy food every day in April.

The vegetarian eatery Pure Cold Press is celebrating 10 years by serving food that is kosher for Passover on April 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, and 18.

As anyone who makes their house ready for this most observed of Jewish holidays knows, there is a lot involved in getting ready for the seders and other observances, so to do it for an entire restaurant is quite an undertaking! However, the folks at Pure Cold Press have always prided themselves on doing their best to serve their devoted customers. Perhaps that is why their first 10 years have been such a success, despite the pandemic and all the challenges that most restaurants face.

On most other nights, Pure Cold Press offers such popular offerings as their signature shakshuka, fresh fruit-topped pancakes, seitan-based mucha lucha salad, spicy protein bowl with soy chicken shwarma, and popular pizzas, and the freshly-pressed juices that originally gave them their name.

Thanks to their dedicated ingenuity, not all that much will change for Passover. Using potato flour, Pure Cold Press will have pizzas, paninis, and even bagels, as well as Passover editions of their famous Date Night smoothie and Liquid Gold and Namaste juices.

Passover is known as a time of questions and a celebration of liberation. If the question is where to eat, Pure Cold Press is the answer as it is a great place to try something new and break free from the everyday (or to find new everyday favorites).

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