Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

As the world continues to try to dig out of Covid, many metropolitan areas appear to be among the hardest hit, especially when it comes to the restaurant sector. Though delivery services and pop-ups kept some afloat, many other legendary spaces shuttered and few have reopened.

That is just one of the reasons why it is so exciting to announce that Café Sauvage recently opened in Boston’s Back Bay!

Led by the spectacular spousal team of Parisian imports Anais and Antoine Lambert(who have experience at such vaunted venues as Sandrine Rossi’s Frenchie and Colette Wine Bistro) and with a kitchen helmed by former Bastille Kitchen and Four Seasons Chef Kendall DaCosta, Café Sauvage is bringing modern French to a neighborhood that also includes the French Cultural Center of Greater Boston.

With a cozy 38 seats that look out on Massachusetts Avenue near Marlborough Street, Café Sauvage is sure to become a French-inspired fave for savvy Back Bay shoppers, Fenway fans, and MIT mega-minds, among others. And while the décor may be comfortable, the café earns its name with a “wild” menu that includes such French fixtures as a stunning selection of charcuterie and fromage, fresh and flavorful croissantand French fries, as well as such immigrant-inspired, tradition-trashing (yet still magnifique) tastes as a French onion quiche, jambon beurre made with goat butter, bahn mi with vadouvan dijoinanaise, an acai bowl with orange blossom honey, and a Nutella crepe and latte that are worth the voyage on their own! Speaking of drinks, a liquor license is in the works as are many other menu makers, but be sure to get on the list early as people are sure to get Sauvage about Café Sauvage!

www.cafesauvage.com

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

As cider fan, I am always on the lookout for new flavors and ideas.

Among my recent finds have been the foraged favorites at Left Bank in Hudson, NY, the strawberry rhubarb cider from Hudson North (which, as the name implies, is a bit north of Hudson and to the right of Left Bank) and the authentic apple pie can from Nine Pin in Albany. I have also found great ciders from Spain, Seattle, the Texas twosome of Locust and Austin Eastciders, and of course, the great VT varieties from Shacksbury, Stowe, and Champlain.

Closer to home, I have always found cidered satisfaction in Sam Adams’ Angry Orchard. With a menu of over 10 hand-crafred styles, they seem to have something for every taste and mood. Having started with their signature Crisp Apple, Angry Orchard has grown in recent years by introducing an unfiltered option and also by using green and rose apples and even pears. Just recently, the Orchard contined to add to the fruits of its labors by adding ginger, peach mango and strawberry to the luscious line.

Despite all this great variety and the high quality of every AO offering, the one I am most excited about this season is the limited edition cinnamon cider called Cinnful Cider. Combining the familiar flavors of apples with the sharp bite of cinnamon and hints of hot cocoa, Cinnful has a warming flavor that is perfect for days that can start out comfortable but then bite in a way that lets you know you’re alive. And if Angry Orchard is available, consider yourself lucky!

www.AngryOrchard.com

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

While ths kiddies may still be happy with lollipops, gummy bears (other than Scrummy Bears, of course!), and even candy corn (ugh!), those of us with more discerning tastes often turn to the one sweet that we know will satisfy- chocolate!

Fortunately, many of our old chocolate friends are coming out with new offerings to help any fan find Fall faves and get new ideas for Holiday giving.

Though their Cubze® make great gifts at any time for anyone (including you!), The Happy Chocolatier has added holiday-themed colors and flavors to their box set that can take any holiday party or gift to the next level! From a Halloween mix of milk chocolates that will be a treat for anyone lucky enough to receive them to a pair of fall-themed collections that everyone will be thankful for, the Happy Chocolatier’s chocolatiers will surely keep us all happy with their supportive sayings and creative creations.

After wowing us with their Taste of the South set, Austin’s Delyisa Chocolatier is back with a nine-piece Autumn Harvest collection of chocolate truffles that will bring warmth to any location. Inspired by the colors and flavors of fall, the set includes pumpkin (of course!), cranberry sauce (naturally!), and also turkey dinner (really!), all of which are melt-in-your-mouth amazing! They are also offer interactive events such as their upcoming chocolate and tea pairings that can make a party in and of themselves.

With the holidays coming, it is also good to know that Chocolate Pizza’s snowflake pizzas (and hopefully soon their AMAZING chocolate and peanut butter “wings”) are now available at Wegman’s and in every Paper Store across New England. From November 1-7, they are bringing back their famous annual (and ONLY annual!) Holiday Sale, during which customers can save 20% on all online orders using the coupon code OPENHOUSE.

Have fun trick or treating, but be sure to give yourself and those you love treats that will have them knocking at your door time and again.

www.ChocolatePizza.com, www.delysia.com, www.thehappychocolatier.com

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

With Halloween near, parents around the country (and beyond) are decrying the sugar and crazy chemicals their kids will be ingesting for the next few weeks (if not longer).

Fortunately, there is a new option that can at least mitigate the dental (and mental) damage.

Made by a mother and grandmother of four (each) with a long-term health condition that insisted she control her own intake of various foods, Scrummy bears have far less toxins and other nasty stuff than other gummy candies and even than many other foods! In fact, Scrummy bears are organically flavored and colored, sugar- and chemical-free, and have 19 grams of soluble fiber but only 60 calories in each serving (which is about 25 yummy gummy bears!). They also have the just one gram of net carbs per heaping handful, making them perfect for your budding Keto fans.

While there have been other so-called “sugar-free” gummy bears, it turns out that they are either way high in carbs or packed with chemicals that replicate sugar in every way, including blood sugar spikes. By navigating the“dark side” of the food space, the creators of Scrummy bears were able to emerge with a much brighter and, dare we say, healthier candy! 

When you visit www.ScrummySweets.com, you can get rewards for referring friends (all of whom will surely be grateful) and even try your digital hand at Scrummy’s prize wheel to win more prizes. Even if you just buy some bags, however, you are sure to make even the pickiest trick or treaters and candy fans happy (and healthy)!

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

While I love talking about what is new in the food world, I also love checking in with old friends to make sure they stay on everyone’s lips, as it were.

Our friends at Waku have come out with new flavors, including a passion fruit variety that is sure to inspire love and an unsweetened floral blend that puts the many nutritious herbs that give all Waku flavors their taste and health benefits front and center.

For those of you looking for a healthy treat, Forij has expanded their line of  brain-boosting & energy-inducing granola and is also offering a discount for those who use the code “Fall20” when picking up what will surely be a new favorite. Among the new flavors (all of which are gluten- and GMO-free, keto-friendly, and vegan) are cinnamon, sunflower seed mixed with cacao, and vanilla almond. All of which can start your day or hike or afternoon with wholesome nutrition aand great taste!

Just in time for the holidays, Sara Lane of Sara Ran Away with the Spoon is offering online baking classes and a vacation week’s worth of teen-themed classes so you can wow your friends and family with homemade baked goods that are far sweeter (and better!) than sourdough. 

And what holiday treat spot would be complete without a mention of Q’s nuts, which has released a new line of exclusive gift-boxed flavors that are healthy and delicious and also available nationwide? For these special sets, founding father Brian “Q” Quinn has hand-selected what he considers to be the best of the over 100 flavors he has devised in his 25 years in the nut game and while his many flavors are all great, he is pretty sure that you wil too!

While Matt’s Meals will continue to bring you sweet and savory scoops from around the world, it is important (and gratifying) to keep track of our friends closer to home as well.

Enjoy them all! 

www.LiveWaku.com, www.forij.co, www.SaraRanAwaywiththeSpoon.com, www.QsNuts.com

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

During the pandemic, many people moved out of the crowded cities and sought refuge in the suburbs.

Apparently, a number of notable chefs were among them.
Case in point is the recent migration of Tom Borgia to Weymouth!

Though Borgia may be best known for his stellar work at Legal harborside, Mistral, and (in a bit of a step outside the city) Harvard Square’s famed Harvest, he has recently been lured to Grille 151. Apparently, owner Chris DiMambro (who is himself known for helming Back Bay’s legendary Daisy Buchanan’s) is intent on making Grille 151 a main point not only in the suburuban scene but on the entire Commonwealth’s culinary compass.

Using the finest ingredients around, Borgia has been making such early faves as dry-rubbed wings, fried oysters, a filet worthy of any downtown steakhouse, and the Grille’s signature 151 Burger, and DiMambro has made sure to support his star chef with a drink program that can keep up course for course. While the wine list and martini menu are sure people pleasers, stand-out sippers include a mission fig Manhattan, seasonal Sangria, and 151 punch (which is made, as might be expected, with the Grille’s titular rum). The Grille also has a special relationship with their Weymouth neighbors at Barrel House Z, so watch for great beer options as well!

In addition to the tempting dinner menu, Grille 151 also offers tavern and brunch menus on weekends that include everything from Nutella French toast to fried chicken and a Townie Breakfast plate that has tons of local pride!

While Weymouth may seem like light years away, the Grille is actually just off Route 3 on the edge of town, so people from far and wide can access it easily and apparently already are!

www.grille151.com

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.

Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.

If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.

Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!