Author: Matt Robinson

MY FAVORITE SCOOP!

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This is a scoop I have been longing to get my hands on for some time!

Van Leeuwen ice cream is coming to MA and you heard it here FIRST!

Having started as a single ice cream truck that featured “French style” ice cream that is still made with more than double the amount of egg yolks as almost everywhere else, Van Leeuwen now has 30 scoop shops in New York and over 40 more from California to Connecticut and DC to Philly.

Not one to take things easy (or to take the easy way to make ice cream, such as by using pre-mixed bases or fillers and ingredients you can’t pronounce and may not be able to digest), Van Leeuwen’s is climbing to Chestnut Hill (where we recently lost Odd Fellows), spending Summer in the Seaport, and hitting Harvard in time for Head of the Charles.

No matter which shop you visit, however, you will be amazed by the freshness of the ice cream and the fresh ideas of the flavors, including their legendary vegan ice creams (including my personal fave – Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb) and their mashups with the likes of Hidden Valley Ranch, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and BIGFACE Coffee. Ice cream purists can be confident ordering what The New York Times says is the best vanilla ice cream, but when you also know that the pistachios come all the way from Mt Etna in Sicily and the marionberries from Stahlbush Island in Oregon, their other flavors are surely worth a try!

If you just can’t wait, Van Leeuwen’s also ships nationwide and is probably somewhere you will be visiting soon. As for me, I plan to camp out on The Street in Chestnut Hill so I can be the first to enjoy my favorite ice cream a bit closer to home.    

BY THE LIGHT…

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While many people rush to Vermont in the fall to watch the leaves change, there may be an even better reason this April!

Apparently, the upcoming eclipse will be visible throughout the Northeast Kingdom and right in the middle of it will be our friends at Snow Farm Vineyards. In fact, the Vineyard (which recently added a distillery!) will be hosting an eclipse party April 6-8!

In addition to offering limited-edition wines, the Farm will host local artists and artisans who will be crafting everything from pizza to pebble art and leading guests in dancing, oracle readings, and other flights of lunacy.

Speaking of flights, the tasting room will be open for those who wish to try the latest creations.

As the first commercial grape vineyard in the Green Mountain State, Snow Farm has become an example for how to use land effectively. As any fan can tell you, it is also a great place to find creatively-crafted wines and spirits, like their award-winning Snow White blend and Vidal Blanc, the VT fave Marquette, and my favorites – Fortress Red, Fox Hill Maple and Island Apple.

As their gin, grappa, and locally-sourced maple liqueur are still only available at the distillery, there is all the more reason to visit! And if the sun is out when you get there, enjoy a beautiful stroll around the 140 acres while you enjoy live music and sips of their ever-expanding line of delicious drinks. No matter when you come, there is always plenty of natural wonder to take in at Snow Farm! 

BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME

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Though I grew up in the Merrimack Valley, my writing career first took root when I lived in Marblehead.

And when you consider that my family shopped at Shubie’s all the time, it may be no surprise that I now write about great independent food makers.

As they have been around for over 75 years, it is a safe bet that I am not the first person to fall in love with the wonderful wares of independent makers with help from the Shube family. 

From freshly-prepared foods, handcrafted salads and sandwiches, and customized cakes at their recently-renovated Foodbar to candies and treats from other local legends like Harbor Sweets and a wide selection of gifts that includes great books to wine and spirits from around the corner and around the world, Shubie’s has everything you need to feed your family, sparkle a party host, and find a new favorite every time you visit! 

If you need help finding new favorites, be sure to take suggestions from third-generation Shubie, Dougy. 

If you need help finding great food for more than just yourself, Shubie’s also carters and consults on menus that are perfect for any occasion. And while a visit to the store is always fun, Shubie’s also offers online consultation and ordering and can deliver even to far-flung festivities beyond the beaches and beauty of the North Shore so you can keep enjoying even if you do not live nearby anymore (though I hope to go back soon!).

HOLI PARTY!

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The ancient Indian festival of Holi is March 24. Especially in this time of trial and trouble, it will be good to celebrate color and hope.

And who better to lead the festivities than the community-minded team at Shanti?

On March 30th from 2-6 PM, Shanti will partner with Roslindale Village Main Streets to host a Holi celebration at Rozzy’s historic and beautiful Adams Park. In addition to marking the Hindu holiday, the event will be an opportunity for people to create interfaith community with the help of music, dance, activities, and Shanti’s amazing food.

At the festival, there will be a trio of food vendors offering Shanti’s incredibly authentic (and delicious!) momo and mithai, street snacks like samosa and pakora and various types of chaat, all of which are sure to satisfy! There will also be plenty of Shanti’s refreshing mango lassi and the traditional Holi spiced milk drink Bhang.

While guests can dance to Holi music provided by a local DJ, there will also be dance performances by a team from Westford Academy and Bollywood dancers. At around 4:45, the traditional color display will be presented, bringing brightness to the darkening day and encouraging everyone to seek Shanti, which means “peace.”

In other Shanti-related news, the Dudley Café (which is also run by the Chowdhury family) will be selling my book on the Ivy League at the Cambridge location! So if you are or know a Harvard student who needs to fill up with delicious food or life-sustaining coffee, encourage them to take a fun study break with the help of Lions, Tigers, and…Bulldogs.

 

A MOVING MEAL

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The W Boston has long been a place to see and be seen.

Recently, however, they introduced a new dining option that is hard to take your eyes off of!

In partnership with TableMation Studios, the W now offers a three-course dinner menu that comes with three dimensions of immersive experience.

Combining 3D animation and state-of-the-art 4K projectors above each table, each course is accompanied not just by the W’s impeccable service but also by characters that chat and interact with diners and dance to their own original score that should appeal to Swifties and seniors alike.

The 90-minute digital dinner theater follows Chef Nya on a culinary world tour that ends in spectacular fashion at the Eiffel Tower.

In real life, W’s Executive Chef Garrison Cossu offers such far-flung favorites as crispy Ahi tuna tempura, seared filet mignon with black garlic honey, braised beef sachetti with curried carrots, and a sweet sabayon with berries and macaron that will make diners feel as if there were really in France!

To up the Parisian panache, guests can add wine pairings for an additional fee. For many, however, the trip and the tastes are enough to make their head swim.

Younger travelers can enjoy fried mac & cheese and fried chicken and their own fun drinks like a raspberry and citrus Blue Lagoon.

Special diet substitutions are available with advanced notice, so it is a great trip for any age and appetite.

ANOTHER WINIKER WINNER

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As anyone who listens to our spots or who just knows me knows, I will travel pretty far to hear the Winiker Brothers.

They have been dear friends to both Jordan and myself for decades and are the go-to call not only when we want the best music for any event but when we want support for our lives in general or just for a meal.

That is why I hope to be at Neroli in Westwood on April 4, when the Brothers will make their delicious debut at their latest venue.

In addition to convincingly playing everything from Tony Bennett to Taylor Swift, Bill and Bo and their cohort of top bandmates have also played everywhere from the old and new Gardens to the White House, so you can always be sure of a great night of music when they are on the bill!

At Neroli, the Winiker’s music will complement an equally impressive bill of fare that includes their signature bruschetta with Stracciatella and roasted baby heirloom tomatoes, arancini with brain-healthy and satisfying saffron risotto, three-meat meatballs, salumi and cheese boards, freshly-layered lasagna, lobster ravioli, and other traditional Italian fare served with New England flair.

If you can’t make it that night, they are open Tuesday through Sunday with Sunday brunch and a special Sunday supperclub to help you get ready for the week ahead. If you can’t make it in at all but still want great food, Neroli also offers a take-out market and catering so they- like the Winikers- can get you exactly what you want for your next big event.

GRAZIE, SETH!

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Seth Greenberg has long been known as the man behind Mistral, Mooo, M80, and many more massive hits.
This spring, he will make his latest splash on the banks of the Charles River when he opens MonteVerdi at the Four Diamond Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge.

Turning the German into Italian, MonteVerdi pays tribute to the Greenberg’s family’s time near Venice, where Seth’s late father owned a clothing factory and where his mother was dubbed “Signora Monteverdi.” 

Combining views of the Charles with flavors of the Po and Tiber, MonteVerdi will also bring together the titanic (and locally-spourced) talents of former Ashmont Grill and Rendezvous Chef Christian Ellis, Serafina Back Bay and Verb Hotel manager Jared Hall, and Seth’s favorite designer, Petra Hausberger of Somerton Park Interiors.

Greenberg’s menu is apparently going for the “less is more” philosophy that is the mark of great Italian cooking. With flatbread pizzas and freshly-made pastas to locally-sourced seafood, a new edition of legendary chef Gordon Hammersley’s roast chicken, and an amazing homemade sauce, MonteVerdi will offer everything your Nonna did…and more! 
Opening just as the weather warms, Monteverdi will not only offer an al fresco raw bar but also one of the largest terraces in town, making it the perfect place for a beautiful brunch, a dreamy dinner, or an Italian-inspired evening. This is such a scoop that there is not even a website yet, but you can try www.sonesta.com.

A SHELL OF ITS FORMER HEALTH

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As is true of so many of our fans, I love chocolate and do what I can to get varieties that are not only delicious but nutritious enough that it justifies the copious amounts I ingest.

While my friend Alan Frost does his best to keep the delicious flavor and nutritious flavonoids high in his FlavaNaturals bars and drink powder, many other bars do not deliver as effectively. Even if they claim a high percentage of chocolate, that number actually represents the percentage of cocoa and cocoa butter and may not deliver the nutrition that so many chocoholics tout.

What may be worse is that, in the process of making most chocolate, the healthiest parts are often thrown out!

While our friends at Blue Stripes Cacao save and even sell the entire cacao fruit, the squishy pulp is not to everyone’s liking.

Fortunately, I have found a tea that is made with the husks of cacao beans that allows me to enjoy the nutrition and flavor of chocolate with maximal benefit and without arousing suspicion that I am bingeing on bars.

MiCacao uses ethically-grown organic cacao from sustainable (and well-sustained) farmers to make a tea that is free of caffeine and full of cacao flavor and all of the health benefits that so many other cacao crafters claim.

With 40 times the antioxidant load of blueberries and far less risk of staining teeth and clothing), MiCacao tea is a great way to promote health and mood and even lose weight. Yes- I said LOSE weight from enjoying chocolate!

So when you want to wash down a FlavaNaturals bar or chase a Blue Stripes cacao fruit, MiCacao is the perfect cacao complement!

A NEW GEO-SPACE FOR JAZZ

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With the passing of local lions like Fred Taylor and Eric Jackson, the Boston Jazz scene has not been what it once was.

Even though the great rooms like the Savoy and Pauls’ Mall are long gone, there are still holdouts like Sculler’s and Wally’s keeping the Berklee-fed Boston sound alive.

Recently, a new space opened in the offices of a company that knows space!

Feldman Geospatial has been supporting the physical structure of cities and towns for over 75 years.

Now, with the opening of the Jazz Nights series at Long Live Beerworks (which is housed at 152 Hampden Street in Boston), the Feldman team will bring more soul to their structures than ever.

Long Live has made its own mark with its Black Cat double IPA, Rox Pils Italian Pilsner, Coffee Cake Bites Imperial Stout, and new varieties coming on all the time. With their locally-crafted brews inside and locally-sourced murals and food trucks, the Feldman series is homegrown through and through. And throughout the new music series, the music will be as well!

From Alex Alvera and Mango Blue to Gonzalo Grau and Plural to the core Boston Jazz trio known as The Fringe, Jazz Nights will bring Grammy winners and garage band heroes together in open-ended nights of music, beer, food, and local culture.

The Boston Jazz scene may have changed, but if new offerings like Jazz Nights at Long Live presented by Feldman Geospatial are any indication, it is alive and well!       

GREEK REVIVAL

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As it was once called the Athens of America, it makes sense that Boston is at the forefront of the Greek revival that appears to be running through the restaurant space like an Olympic (or Boston) marathoner.

And while many popular places have followed, the Farm Grille & Rotisserie in Newton and its sister store, Greek International Market in West Roxbury, have been leading the pack for over 25 years.

Whenever I want to get my Greek on in a fresh and friendly flash, a visit to the Grille always fits the bill(e). But when I want to get the authentic ingredients that make this family-run restaurant and caterer so great or to explore the larger realm of Hellenistic hunger helpers, the Market has all I need….and MORE!

In addition to freshly-imported Greek spices and wines (including Retsina) to imported meats and other prepared foods (including their famed octopus salad!), as well as hand-crafted cheeses and Greek yogurt, an olive bar and enough olive oils and Greek pastries for the Spartan army, the Market offers honey-based health and beauty aids, toys and gifts, and customized gift baskets that are perfect for any occasion. 

Speaking of occasions, the Market has an Aegean Sea-full of fish and a farm-full of plant-based options that are perfect for Lent or just for eating healthy! And Proprietor Katerina Iliades recently debuted a line of children’s clothing for communions and baptisms that will be on display at a VIP fashion show on March 23 at the Maliotis Center in Brookline!

Everyone seems set on catching the healthy and delicious Mediterranean diet train. As is true of so many other things, we in Boston are ahead of the curve, thanks in great part to the Iliades family and their great pair of places to eat.