Alcohol

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

L’CHAIM

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As the issues in the Middle East continue to rile the world, many Jew and others are still looking to raise a glass in the traditional toast L’chaim– To life!

And while the deeds of a few are destroying the lives of the many, at least there is a way to help those in peril by drinking to their health and praying for their survival.

Through the end of the year, for every bottle of wine you buy that is made in Israel, the Israeli Wine Producers Association will donate proceeds to support Israeli organizations through their Sip for Solidarity program.

Though their grapes are rooted in the land that has been integral to the Jewish people for thousands of years, Israeli wines continue to keep up with if not inspire the industry (and international oenophiles) with new tastes and harvesting procedures that are already leading the world in environmental preservation. As they are now supporting people and the land on which they have lived for millennia, it is now a better time than ever to taste or enjoy more of your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) wines!

Closer to home, Israeli-friendly friends like Steve Peljovich of Michael’s Deli and Galit Grutman of Galit’s Treats (who is still offering her amazing challahs at Bill’s Pizzeria in Newton Center) are also donating proceeds and food to help family and friends in Israel and here. As always, I ask you to do all you can to support all our food friends who do so much for so many.

L’chaim! 

@IsraeliWine #drinkisrael

STRENGTHENING THE BONDE

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I was recently back on my old stomping grounds of Harvard Square to promote my book on the Ivy League (www.lionstigersbulldogs.com) and, after visiting my old friends at Grendel’s for a delicious meal, I dropped by my other friends at Bonde wines for an after-dinner drink and a bit of oenophilic education.

In addition to learning about some of the most expertly-curated, independently-crafted, ecologically-responsible wines, I also learned that Bonde has come up with even more fun and creative ways to share and pair their wines with some of my (and your) favorite foods!

On Wednesday, October 4, Bonde will be crafting complements to what they call Cuisine Manufacturielle d’America (a.k.a., American junk food) in a perky pairing event that will be perfect for anyone who is gearing up for late-season grilling sessions, football season wings and nachos, or even Halloween season candy. If you are not such a fan of frankfurters but love the food of Frankfurt, there will be an event dedicated to Oktoberfest fare (Might I suggest Eastern Standard Provisions‘ pretzels? Yes- I might!) on October 11. If a visit to French Canada is more convenient, a quartet of poutines will be on the menu on October 25, each with its own hand-picked pairing

Though the latest installment of Bonde’s Chef Series (which features Vietnamese master Vincenzo Le) is sold out there will surely be more amazing food makers lining up to have their fare paired with flair at Bonde, so be sure to keep an eye out on www.bondewines.com.

Each of these classes cost $89 per person and include not only delicious food and extraordinary wines (some of which are only available at Bonde) but also the comprehensive and collegial consultation of curator Bertil Jean-Chronberg (a native Frenchman who knows his way not only around a wine cellar but a stack of gravied frites as well!), making a vinicultured visit on these (or any other nights) well worth it! So keep checking bondewines.com to see what fruited fun is coming up next!

ROLL OUT THOSE LAZY CRAZY HAZY RAYS OF SUMMER

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While many people talk of beaches and barbecues, summer is, at its over-21 base, beer season! And while Bud Light and Modelo duke it out for world domination, we can take great pride in our locally-sourced legends!
From Harpoon and Sam Adams to your neighbor’s latest homebrew, it is the New England work ethic and ingenuity that have created so many sudsy stars.

Another such story is that of Lawson’s Finest Liquids.

Started in a University of VT dorm room by a savvy over-21 fan of Catamount and other 14thSate staples, Lawson’s now partners with other New England brewers (like Two Roads in CT) and even VT Public Radio to reach and support communities throughout the region with its foamy faves and Social Impact Program (cleverly known as “SIP”). 

Among my current go-to’s are the summer-perfect Sip of Sunshine IPA and the internationally-ranked Double Sunshine Ruby Red Grapefruit, a double IPA that adds the juicily slimming smack of grapefruit to up the refreshment even more! As fall approaches, I will look forward to more servings of Mad River Maple which includes pure syrup from Lawson’s tree-tapping neighbors. And as new versions are always in development and as all of them are made with the best ingredients Green Mountain greenbacks can buy, there is always more to look forward to regardless of the time of year or your personal tastes.With offerings such as these, it is small wonder that Lawson’s was named the best beverage made in VT (which is certainly saying something!) two years in a row by Vermont Business Magazine and 2022 Brewery of the Year by Beer Connoisseur (LOVE those connoisseurs!). In fact, the only thing I wonder is why you aren’t enjoying one right now! www.lawsonsfinest.com

ANOTHER ROUND AT THE WINERY

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In its never-ending quest to give area food, wine, and entertainment fans what they want, City Winery is offering a new program that will bring all of these and more to more people than ever by encouraging what some may say is the sadly lost art of of sharing.

As part of their new “Pairing is Sharing” dining experience, the food and beverage teams at City Winery have combined forces to combine small plates that show off their big-flavored wines through a dining experience that is guided by the diners but supported by the staff.

Tapping into top winemakers like North Coast, Sonoma Mountain, Windrem, and City Winery’s own wines from their hydroelectric-powered facility just north of New York City, the sharable selections options include charcuterie and oysters, charred octopus, Wagyu Sliders, triple cream brie, as well as a mushroom-pocked pizza known as the ”Fun-guy” flatbread. All of the wines are tapped fresh from stainless steel kegs and all the equally elegant edibles are prepared and delivered fresh to enhance the experience all the more!  

For those who want to enhance their experience even further, the Winery recently rang in Ringo Starr’s birthday and will soon be hosting the legendary likes of Lisa Loeb, Dickey Betts, Holly Near, Bebel Gilberto, Lalah Hathaway, Cowboy Mouth, and Jon Cleary & His Absolute Monster Gentlemen, as well as bartending classes, comedy shows, and trivia nights.

Despite the name, City Winery has been offering much more than wine for many more years than some of the wine you drink has probably been around. If someone has not shared it with you yet, be sure to reserve a table for Pairing is Sharing and make it a night of wine, friends, and song!

https://citywinery.com/Boston

WINE-DING YOUR WAY THROUGH SUMMER

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As his recent Wednesday night wine pairings have proven so popular, Harvard Square’s resident hospitality guru and wine expert Bertil Jean-Chronberg (who also enjoys a following around the world) is again expanding the offerings at his food and wine emporium Bonde (again with an “e”). 

Having kicked off with a French food-filled Bastille Day party on July 14, Bonde will host special tastings for eight people every other Wednesday through September 27, from 7-8:30 PM that will feature flights from some of the world’s finest organic and biodynamic wineries paired with sushi, sausages, French baked goods, and, of course, fromage.

As a proud native Frenchman who has worked in hospitality for 40 years, Bertil knows a great deal about food and wine and even more about how to make guests comfortable and to share his vast knowledge in a comfortable, convivial way that edifies even the most experienced imbiber. That is surely why his events continue to prove so popular and why it would be wise to register soon at www.bondewines.com and to keep an eye not only on his event calendar but his legendary wine publication, Zero-Two-Wine-Three-Eight (which is a well-poured pun on Bonde’s zip code) and other community-serving programs like the Black Donkey project that helps children in need.

Speaking of events, Bonde will also be hosting weekly wine garden parties no Sundays from 11-5 where guests can take in the Tour de France and tours of Harvard while enjoying wines from various regions (including New England on August 6!).

No matter when you go, it is always wine o’clock at Bonde and that is a wine-derful thing! www.bondewines.com

Harpoon Serves Those Who Serve

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I have often spoken about how Harpoon beer supports other local food friends and the community by partnering with the legendary likes of Mike’s Pastry and Flour Bakery and has even offered new ways for their fans to relax with their no-alcohol Rec. series (which includes their premiere THC-infused beer known as Rec. Weed).

Thus summer, they have found even more ways to bring sunshine into the lives on many, including our brave Veterans.

Knowing how unpredictable weather in New England can be, Harpoon has recently released two new beers that are meant to capture the sunniest days of summer in a bottle (or can).

Together with their partners at UFO, Harpoon is now offering their Juicer Hazy IPA and UFO Florida Citrus, both of which feature fruity undertones, intense citrus aromas, and crisp, refreshing flavor that can brighten any day (or night). To celebrate, they recently sent a fan to Miami through their UFO Florida Citrus Spring Break Giveaway but, even if you didn’t win, you can still enjoy the taste of sunshine every time you pop open one of these new brews.

Looking ahead to Independence Day, Harpoon is also doing what it can to help those who fight for our independence by offering another pair of new beers called American Flyer Lager and American Flyer Light that will donate $1 from every case sold to Folds of Honor and the Fisher House Foundation. These worthy organizations help members of military families pay for their education and offer them a place to stay while their family members undergo medical treatment at VA hospitals. 

While many may think of our Veterans primarily on Veterans Day and Independence Day, Harpoon reminds all of their friends and fans that these people are fighting every day, even after their deployments, and that we owe them all a debt of gratitude for the freedoms that we all enjoy every day. What better way to celebrate and support them, then, and to bring more sunshine into every day, than by raising a delicious toast from our friends at Harpoon? 

www.harpoonbrewery.com

The Brothers are BACK ;)

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Many years ago, I sang the praises of a great restaurant just outside of Boston called Brothers. It not only offered great food made by – you guessed it – a set of brothers, but it also featured amazing music by two of the most talented brothers in the area – Bill and Bo Winiker. 

When COVID shut the restaurant down, I was worried that the music would be over too. Fortunately, not only have the restaurant and the band returned, but they are now even closer to where I live!

The talented team behind Brothers recently took over Cook in Needham center. While I had not been there basically since Covid started, my return to the restaurant was well worth the wait! 

Not only does the simple but ample menu feature such tempting treats as charred broccoli with chimichurri sauce, a pita and dip set with creamy whipped feta cheese and zingy za’atar sauce, and an intricately-flavored sesame, mandarin salad that can be topped with falafel, chicken, shrimp, or salmon, as well as great burgers, pizzas and specials, but also great drinks, like the tequila and Mezcal-based Cactus Cooler, a spicy pineapple Margarita, and the wicked fresh Cranberry Bog.

Though the kids menu is less ample than that meant for older eaters, all the options are spot on and well-made. Our girls loved the chicken fingers and pasta, but suggested that they may get burgers or mac and cheese next time.

And then, of course, there is the music! Not only have Bill and Bo played at the White House, the closing of the old Boston Garden, and the opening of the new one, and at Symphony Hall, they also played my wedding and are booked for a number of future family celebrations. They are, to put it mildly, the best of the best! So to be able to hear their music while enjoying delicious quality food in a comfortable neighborhood place (that just happens to be in my neighborhood) made for a great way to spend an evening and I look forward to doing it again soon and often.

www.cookneedham.com / http://www.winikermusic.com