Author: Matt Robinson

A FOOD FEST FOR THE VEGGIE SET

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It is harvest season in New England and that means it is time for some AMAZING food festivals!

In addition to the Commonwealth Kitchen Food Show October 5 and the Harvest Party at Boston Public Market October 12, there is also the Boston Vegetarian Society’s Veg Food Fest on October 14 and 15 at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston (which is right across from the Roxbury Crossing stop on the MBTA Orange Line).

While the Market and the Kitchen have plenty of plant-based options, this volunteer-run free event is of and by vegetarians and vegans but also intended for anyone who wants to get more healthy, plant-based foods into their diets or just to learn about all that plants can provide for our insides and outsides.

Among the Matt’s Meals-approved vendors who are scheduled to participate are American Vinegar Works, Cedar’s Foods, The Donut Shack in my native Lowell, FoMu Ice Cream, Hot Date Kitchen, Maple & Maine Pastry Kitchen, Pigeon Cove Ferments, Red Lentil Restaurant, and Wise Mouth Tea, as well as representatives from Extinction Rebellion, Gabriele Publishing House, Massachusetts for Elephants, Save The Buns, and many more.

In addition to opportunities to meet and mingle with other like-minded eaters and to taste and learn about the latest in plant-based cuisine from plant-based premium cheezes (that’s with a “z,” like Liza) to vegan tamales, lasagna, and crepes, and even sweets and treats, the Veg Fest will also offer health and beauty aids and even fashion that support your health and that of the planet. There will also be cooking demos and educational presentations featuring leaders in the food industry like bestselling author and humorous health expert Dr. Michael Greger. A kids’ activity room will provide fun activities for you and your little sprouts to enjoy together!

The vegetarian lifestyle is more than just avoiding animals. It is a new way to look at and engage the world and the Boston Vegetarian Society’s Veg Food Fest is a great way to engage the vegetarian community!

https://bostonveg.org/

IT’S HAYMARKET HARVEST TIME

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It’s been a while since I talked about Boston Public Market, but that doesn’t mean that I’ve forgotten of my favorite food makers.

For those of you who know, it’s an amazing place to see what is new and best about our local bounty.

But those of you who still may not have been there’s a great opportunity coming up!

On Thursday, October 12, Boston Public Market’s famous Harvest Party will be returning

In addition to showcasing such great local makers as the Bagel Guild, Beantown Pastrami Company, Crescent Ridge ice cream, Farmhouse Meats, Q’s Nuts, Red Apple Farm, and the folks at Reds Best seafood who supply other favorite eateries like Johnny’s Luncheonette in Newton, the Party will also be the debut for the Market’s brand-new bakery!

As part of an event that many in the food space consider the social star of the season, the Market’s Harvest Party will not only offer food and drink from Market vendors, but will also feature live music and dancing, a silent auction and raffles, and photo opps with the “Official Pumpkin of Boston.”

Tickets start at $50 and proceeds from the event will support Market’s Community Engagement Fund that will help the Market’s mission to help independent artisans and entrepreneurs across the Commonwealth by subsidizing rents and developing educational opportunities for vendors and community members alike.

Massachusetts has some of the most diverse and talented creators and cooks around. The Boston Public Market Harvest Fair is a Great opportunity to get to know and support whole bunch of them at the same time. 

Come hungry and enjoy!
https://bostonpublicmarket.org/harvestparty

DO NOT TRADE THIS SHOW FOR ANYTHING!

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SCOOP ALERT!

SCOOP ALERT!

While I look forward to the Harvest Party at Boston Public Market October 12, I am also anticipating a delicious time with our creative friends at Commonwealth Kitchen when they host their 2023 Food Show on October 5.

As the creative center for such local legends as AMG Snacks, Crooked Stick Pops, Hillside Harvest, Humble Bones granolas, Mona’s Curryations, Off Our Rocker cookies, Sweet Tahini, Telegram Cookies, Wise Mouth Tea, and even Clover Food Lab, Commonwealth Kitchen has been a hub for kitchen creators for decades. At this annual event, food fans and industry insiders get a special glimpse into the facilities where their mouthfuls of magic happen and get to meet the makers and see what might be coming from the kitchen next.

Whether you are a distributor, event planner, retailer, or consumer, there will be plenty to enjoy at the Commonwealth Kitchen’s event. 

From 12 to 3 PM, industry professionals will be invited to see what is cookin’ in the Commonwealth and decide (if they can even begin to choose!) which people and products to support most. Then, from 3-7, the general public will be let into taste the wonderful wares their friends and neighbors have to offer and hopefully to get inspired to bring new foods to their friends and families and maybe even back to the Kitchen as a member!

Since 2009, Commonwealth Kitchen has offered commissary space, business advise, mentoring, and other supports to underserved and underfunded food entrepreneurs, many of which have gone on to be counted among the region’s most popular venues and creations! Though they have already launched hundreds of businesses and created hundreds of jobs and millions in revenues, there are always new stars waiting for their chance to shine. By taking part in their Food Show, you can not only see what will surely be the next big things in Boston’s food scene but get behind them as well!

https://commonwealthkitchen.org/foodshow/

FALL IS ON THE RISE @ HARPOON

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Though there is little pleasure to be taken in the high temperatures of what is traditionally a time of cooling and slowing down (especially when you consider the source of the scorch), we in New England are especially privileged to have the bounty of fall produce and people who know what to do with it all to help people cool down even when that should not be an issue.

In addition to being the home of the king of coffee – Dunkin’ – Massachusetts is also the base for Harpoon Brewery and its affiliates – all of whom have once again come up with a great slate of ways to slake thirst whether it is supposed to be hot or not.

In addition to bringing back Harpoon Dunkin’ Pumpkin, which combines one of the best beers around with the coffee that keeps the entire country moving along with the fresh flavors of pumpkin and authentic seasonal spice, Harpoon has also brought back a perennial fall favorite called Flannel Friday, which is a golden great way to end the week or get ready for the big game. On September 29 and 30, they will also host their popular Octoberfest party at the brewery in Boston’s Seaport district, complete with “oompah” bands and stein-holding contests (and of course their AMAZING pretzels!). 

Over at UFO, the fall flavor craze in full effect as the unfiltered team releases its own pumpkin-flavored Hefeweizen, and an apple-infused beer that combines the best of beer and cider and all that is good with our part of the world at this time of year. While the apple beer is currently available only as part of UFO’s popular Fresh Pick’d mix pack, you are sure to not be disappointed in any of the other offerings.

For those who prefer to head down the Long Trail, the VT-based brewery is also getting in on the apple-infused game day beverage game with their apple wheat beer.

No matter which you pick, you are sure to love the fresh-picked flavor and hand-crafted beer expertise that goes into every pint, no matter whether you use it to cool off after a hot day on the gridiron, to enjoy by the firepit after what may be the last barbecue of the season, or after your latest effort to support environmental causes and help stem the steam.

www.harpoonbrewery.com / https://ufobeer.com / https://longtrail.com/

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/