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SALUTE!

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There is not much better than an amazing meal at Prezza in Boston’s legendary North End. And there are a few better ways to wash down your favorite flavors than with a great Italian wine.

Perhaps that is why owner Anthony Cutarano has arranged a Great Wines of Italy dinner at Prezza on January 21 at 6:30.

At this specially-priced, five-course meal, guests will enjoy such creative delights as Mediterranean prawns with Calabrian chili, seared scallops with lobster butter, duck confit with mushrooms and a tomato veal stock, parmesan polenta, grilled sirloin and veal chops, and a pistachio sundae with mango sorbet. And while the delicious dessert will surely end the meal with a flourish, the fact that every other course is being paired with some of Italy’s most beloved wines will make this meal truly special!

From a 2023 Ca’Marcanda Vistamare to a 2020 Gaja Barolo and 2018 Sesti Brunello di Montalcino, Caturano is pulling out all the stops and a bunch of great corks to celebrate his Italian heritage and the flavors that have inspired him and his guests for so many years.

If you are not able to snag a table on the 21st, rest assured that any night at Prezza is a treat! From their trend setting antipasto board and ravioli di Uovo to their famed crispy shrimp with Italian slaw, wood-grilled venison, branzino, and their freshly-caught squid and octopus medley, lobster-loaded fish stew, and of course, handmade pastas topped with everything from duck to veal to saffron and shrimp, Prezza combines traditional, Italian favorites with creative combinations of fresh ingredients and flavors that make it a great place to bring family friends or just to drop by to see what’s new on the menu. 

And if you can’t decide on just one thing, Prezza recently brought back their petite portion menu, featuring oysters, tuna, tartare, and their famous gourmet meatballs, offering everyone plenty of options to make their own tasting menu or a lighter meal or snack.

Molto bene!         

WASSAIL YOU HAVE?

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As someone who primarily celebrates Hanukkah, I’ve always been fascinated with the traditions around Christmas, Kwanzaa, and other winter time festivals

One which has particularly perplexed me is the tradition of Wassailing.

I’ve thought about it since I was in elementary school chorus, but never quite knew what it was.

Fortunately, my friends at Champlain Orchards have offered an answer.

Not only that, they’ve even offered an invitation!

On Sunday, February 23 from 3 to 6 Champlain will be hosting a Wassail celebration at their Orchard in Shoreham, Vermont.

As it turns out, this is rather appropriate, as wassailing is an English tradition in which people sing to apple trees to scare off evil spirits and to bless them for the forthcoming season.

As a huge cider fan, I can tell you that few orchards have trees more blessed than Champlain!

Whether you enjoy their products in fruit form or pressed and fermented, Champlain offers flavors that are truly worth singing about, including such favorites as the dry- hopped Citra, unfiltered Kingston, single varietal Honeycrisp, Spanish-inspired Sidria, and Mac and Maple, which is like Vermont in a can.

And as they donate a quarter pound of apples for every four pack of cider that is purchased even more people are able to celebrate and look forward to another season.

Whether or not you can make it to the orchard, check out https://champlainorchards.com and find out what all the wassailing is about.

DIGGING A NEW EATING DESTINATION

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Though I have been hanging out at Cambridgeside since it was known as the Galleria and Lechmere was more than just a stop on the recently-expanded green line, I had never considered it a place to go to eat.

Recently, however, that has changed with the opening of CanalSide Food & Drink at CambridgeSide.

Anchored by a central bar that offers big-screen TVs, trivia and musical BINGO, its own DJ, and other fun reasons to take a break from shopping and gather with friends, the expansive upgrade on the traditional food court offers everything from Asian to Mediterranean to New Zealand-ish and plenty of space to enjoy it all.

At the bar (which also has waterfront views) you can enjoy beers and ciders from such regional faves as DownEast, Trillium, and Lawson’s, as well as an international selection of wines by the glass and such top-shelf tipples as the C-Side Sling with Don Juan tequila and Tomatillo and the Zima 2K – another callback to an earlier era made from Ketel One Grapefruit and Rosé.

When it comes to food, its hard to go wrong, but among my most recent faves have been the baked felafel wrap from Anoush’ella, the arugula-topped bianco verde pizza from Lala’s, the miso ramen from Sapporo, and a steaming cup of cacio e pepe from DalMoros pasta. No matter what I get, I always leave room for either some chocolate kookaberry ice cream from Far Out or a cream puff from Beard Papa’s (or maybe both!). 

If I am in a rush to grab a gift elsewhere in the mall, I can always stop by Caffe Nero, Juicygreens, or Teazzi for a liquid pick-me-up, but the food has been so consistently good and the activities so fun that I have often found myself going for a meal and maybe picking up something in the shops between courses.

To see what is new in and around Cambridgeside, go to www.cambridgeside.com.

A GREAT PLACE TO GET “HAMMERED”

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While Chanukah is officially “late” this year (starting on December 25), the folks at The Charles Hotel are already getting into the spirit with the return of the Maccabee Bar pop-up at Noir. 

Through New Years Day, the street-level bar and nosherie will get totally lit (with safety-conscious digital candles, of course) and offering sufganiyot (basically jelly donuts) and other special treats that will have you spinning your dreidel even if you also decorate a tree, light the world with Kwanzaa, or dance around the Festivus Pole.

For seven years, Maccabee Bar maker Naomi Levy has been bringing holiday fun and food to chosen places in New York and MA. And while she still hopes to land in NYC in time to recall the ancient miracles, the Charles Hotel is offering a special package for those who need to get their spin on in style.

In addition to the already great Noir menu, the pop-up features non-traditional traditional Chanukah foods from Executive Chef Sean Lizotte and Pastry Chef Daniel Angelopolus like left-of-center latkes, an authentic smoked salmon plate, and a different donut flavor each day. On the bev side, the illuminating cocktail list includes the sufganiyot sour, the Aperol Schvitz (made with real Manischewitz), the Hebrew Hammer (Maccabee means “hammer”), and a deliciously dark dreidel-inspired drink that comes with chocolate gelt garnish.

Of course, while you are in the hotel, be sure to drift upstairs to try the latest in farm-to-table excellence at Henreietta’s Table or live Jazz at Regattabar to find more holiday surprises.

So whether you feel lonely on Chanukah or just want to see how the 2% live, take a spin by Harvard Square to light up every night this month.

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The ART of Great Food (and Ice Cream)

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In my constant search to find great places to find great food made by great people from our great community (and beyond), I recently came upon a place – actually a series of places – that not only sells some of my favorite brands that I’ve talked about before (some MANY times!), but also a huge selection of soon-to-be-favorites!

Run by the husband-and-wife team of Art and Jen Negaryan, Art’s Specialties has everything from chocolate, coffee, and cookies to cheese and crackers to oils and spices to international foods that are hard to find ‘round here, as well as a wide array of local and international beverages that ranges from beer and wine to cider and sake. They even have an entire set of flavored olive oils and vinegars that are delicious to taste and perfect for any recipe or gift package.

Speaking of gift packages, Art and his talented team are more than happy to help you pick out the perfect presents for any friend or colleague.

And while many suppliers have been raising their prices, Art and Jen do all they can to make it easy and affordable to try new things so you too can find new favorites.

When you want to reward your great taste, head across the street from the Belmont store to Art’s Creamery or to the Sherborn store or soon to a new location near the Cambridge/Arlington line, where flash-frozen flavors from New City Microcreamery, Nightingale Ice Cream, and Van Leeuwen and their own Ice Cream Bike Sandwiches, all of which have proven so popular that they are staying open all year!

With locations in Belmont, Carlisle, Maynard, and Sherborn, there is probably a store near you. And if not, go to www.artsspecialties.com and www.artscreamery.com to see what is new and what you will be enjoying next.

FRE TO INDULGE

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While I started my writing career as a music critic, as I got older and less able to function after staying for the last encore, I started to review dinner and the opening act, which eventually led me to my focus on food.

Another change has been the amount of alcohol I can handle.

Fortunately, I have found suitable substitutions like Sober Carpenter ciders, non-alcoholic beers from Partake and hop-infused beverages from HOP WTR, and wines from Fre (that’s “free” but with only one “e,” as the other was apparently removed with the alcohol).

Using a revolutionary centrifuge technology, Fre removes the alcohol from fully-fermented wine. In the process, a lot of the calories drop out too, making it even easier to enjoy multiple glasses. And as they offer such popular varietals as cabernet, chardonnay, merlot, rosé, sauvignon blanc, and even blends, there are multiple reasons to do so!

While you still need to acknowledge that you are of legal drinking age when you visit frewines.com (as it technically has less than .5% alcohol in it, which is the same as in most kombucha), once you are there, it is easy to find out more about their wines and to find your next favorite. In addition to a link to their Napa-born Luminara line, the site also has recipes by Liquid Muse founder Natalie Bovis-Nelsen and seasonal suggestions for celebrations that give you more reasons to enjoy. As I have been taking my book on the Ivy League and my author interview series to various venues, Fre is great because most bookstores, libraries and senior center allow it and my guests love it!

You will too!

HAR-WOO-N

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Though the Boston Red Sox can be a Wild Card (if they are lucky!), a good time is nearly guaranteed at beautiful Polar Park when you catch a Worcester Red Sox game.

This, year, that is even a safer bet as our other friends at Harpoon Brewery have partnered with Pawtucket’s greatest import to craft WooSox Lager – a flavorful and full-bodied golden lager with an ABV of 4% that makes it great for game day or any day.

In addition to being on tap at Polar Park (where other local legends like Table Talk Pies, lobster rolls, and, of course, Polar Beverages are always available as well), WooSox Lager is also available on draft or in 16oz cans at select retailers and restaurants. To find it (or any favorite Harpoon creation), go to www.harpoonbrewery.com/beer-finder/.

While any day at Polar Park is sure to be fun, gastronomically speaking, there will be extra joy in the hometown of the smiley face on July 30, when the famed Food Truck, Beer & Bev Fest returns with over 20 trucks, as well as 70 craft beers and other beverages, live music, games, and other family fun that will fit the bill even if you don’t like baseball.

If you can’t make it for the Fest, there are still plenty of beverage options at the Park, including a wide range of Harpoon-crafted faves like their classic IPA, low-alcohol Rec League, and unfiltered white and blueberry beers, as well as products made in partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts and the new Harpoon Summer Style which brings the bright and sunny vibes of Life Is Good.

Play ball? Maybe.

Love life. Drink beer? YES!

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!).

AS COMMONWEALTH-IAN AS APPLE PIE

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As Matt’s Meals fans know, I am a BIG cider fan who has been fortunate enough to find favorites far and wide- from Austin Eastciders in TX to Champlain Orchards and Stowe Cider in VT to Angry Orchard, Nine Pin, Hudson North, and Left Bank in upstate NY (not to mention Canada’s Sober Carpenter for when I want the flavor without the fuzzy feeling), I am blessed with an international menu of apple-based awesomeness!

While these brands are all worth reaching out for, living in MA, I am all the more blessed to be able to reach just a bit past my front door to find great ciders as well. While I have long sung the praises of Harpoon’s offerings, I am also a fan of my cider-savvy neighbors at Downeast and Stormalong.

As our area has so many great apple varieties, it is great to see how Downeast avoids filtering their ciders and adds instead of taking away. While I often enjoy their blackberry and strawberry ciders, as someone who still drinks syrup straight, I have been especially enamored with their maple waffle cider, but always look forward to the next addition to their offerings.

As they are just a few towns away in Sherborn, Stormalong is another recurrent go-to- And with good reason! From their Boston Heirloom and Blue Hill unfiltered option to their Mass Appeal and Massive Appeal imperial, the Stormalong team knows how to pay tribute to their Nor-easter roots. And their Berry Perry and Light of the Sun varieties introduce other fruit flavors without stepping on any apples.

So the next time you want locally-sourced refreshment, raise a cider to your Commonwealth and common health and enjoy the local bounty in a can. 

https://downeastcider.com / https://www.stormalong.com/

The ORIGINAL Land of Milk and Honey

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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