Alcohol

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

Ole Smoky keeps getting Smoky-er

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While I am admittedly a lightweight when it comes to adult beverages, (which is both ironic and difficult when you consider all the great drinks that I am asked to try…and then talk coherently about!), it is hard not to love the many great tastes from my favorite moonshiners at Ole Smoky Distillery. 

In the morning, there’s no better way to start your day than with a splash of Ole Smoky’s Mountain Java in your coffee. Their Peanut Butter Whiskey tastes like liquid lunch – mix it with their Blackberry Moonshine and you have the perfect PB&J! After a plate of Nashville hot chicken (or pretty much anything else delicious), one of my favorite ways to cool off and wind down is with a can of Ole Smoky’s Apple Pie Ginger moonshine cocktails (which I guess you could also throw in a lunchbox as long as you do not eat lunch in your car!).

Speaking of tossing some ‘shine into smaller spaces, many Ole Smoky faves like their flavored whiskeys and apple pie, white lightning, and hunch punch moonshines are available in 50ml mini bottles that make it easier to transport, try, and share flavors as well. If you can’t decide whether to taste or go big, there will soon be medium-sized 375ml bottles that are sure to be “just right.”

If you want another creative way to get some ‘shine in your life, Ole Smoky also offers a selection of cocktail-enhancing, moonshine-soaked fruits and veggies, including cherries, peaches, pineapples, and even pickles (which are AMAZING, I might add!). If you need to dip a toe in the tub before shining, they also offer a sour series that includes puckery apple and watermelon sips as well as creamier cuts like the aforementioned Mountain Java and a Nashville-authentic banana pudding cream that are great in coffee and other hot drinks, on ice cream, in recipes (such as those at olesmoky.com) or on the rocks.

The days of hiding moonshine in the hills are over, but if you want your shine to truly shine, Ole Smoky is still the best still around! 

Expanding the Villa

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I know that I have said it before, but I LOVE Donut Villa.

And though the name may not do justice to the amazing and amazingly varied menu (all of which is, as I said, amazing!), the fact that the name has stuck for over 50 years and what started as one donut-forward store in Malden has since expanded to Cambridge, Newton, and now Arlington (what, no Needham?!) is reason enough to offer this amazing (did I say that?) place more press.

Though the sign may now say “Brunch Club and Bar,” this additional explanation still does not do the Villa justice. After all, what donut shop or brunch place has a full bar featuring local favorites and flavors from further afield and enough lunch and dinner items to come back multiple times a day? 

While the “donut” part of the name is dead-on, as they have some of the most amazing (sorry!) and creative flavors around and while they make some of the most creative and delicious meals out of them, including donut-based sandwiches, pizzas, and a maple donut bread pudding that is worth a trip on its own, the Brunch Club has plenty of bagels, Benedicts, and Boston cream pancakes, but also offers the VIlla chili bowl, chicken parmesan, steak tips, salads, subs, and a tuna sandwich that is also worth its own trip (especially when paired with their amazing pickle fries!). There is also a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options as well (including a vegan BLT, vegan grilled cheese, and a faux but fabulous chicken and waffles) so everyone can come again and again and perhaps even find themselves full before they pick up some donuts for the road (as if they will ever make it home!).

A well-known writer *(whose own name I cannot recall right now, but I surely Will soon) once asked “What’s in a name?” When it comes to Donut Villa Brunch Club and Bar, there is certainly a whole lot more!

www.DonutVila.com

Great Greeks

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I have long been a fan of Farm Grill in Newton and its sister store, the Greek International Market in Boston. The only problem I have with them is that, no matter what I try when I visit either place, there is always something new and amazing that I have not tried before, so I have to go back again and again.

Some problem to have, right?!
Among the latest temptations have been the growing selection of Ambrosi-c Greek honeys (which are not called “the food of the gods” for nothing!). While most Greek honeys are particularly delicious and particularly important this time of year as a balm against bacteria, infections, and, of course, sore throats, the Market features one variety from another great Greek food family – the Fragiadakises – that comes from the pine forests of Crete and that retains much of that Retsina-like floral flavor. 

While the honeys are delicious on toast or even on a spoon, they pair particularly well with the Market’s mega-collection of Greek teas, including the chamomile that owner Katerina Iliades used to prepare with her grandmother back in the land of Helena and which she now ships (along with pretty much anything else) around the world through the Market’s website, https://greekintlmarket.com.

Another recent great Greek find has been the vegan Greek-style kabobs from Mega Meatless that offer all the flavor and protein of a freshly-sliced gyro without all the GMOs, soy, or guilt that other meaty meals contain. They even include authentic Greek olive oil (which is some of the best in the world) and Greek herbs and spices for that authentic taste!

If you want more real Greek flavor, drop by Farm Grill in Newton for lunch or dinner (their traditional Greek salads, grape leaves and kabobs are always amazing, as is their sweet and flaky kataifi) or have them bring their homemade treats to your home or office. All you have to do is go to www.farm-grill.com to see (and almost taste) what amazing new stuff is on the menu- and enjoy!

Take your pick from Champlain Orchards

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Though apple picking season may be a bit behind us, that does not mean it is too late for great cider (as if it were ever!).

That is why I was so excited to hear all that is going on in one of my favorite cider sources- Champlain Orchards!

While they are celebrating 25 years under the same name and family ownership, Champlain is far from resting on their laurels. These days they are growing over 150 different kinds of apples (did you know there WERE so many?!) as well as a massive mix of pears, plums, cherries, and more! After every harvest, the Champlain team sell some of this premiere produce directly and making amazing ciders and other tasty treats out of the rest.

Recently, the Orchard started tapping into their sugar maple trees in order to add organic maple products to the mix to make such sweet stuff as a a maple cider syrup that is truly the best of both worlds!

Among my favorites of their ecologically-processed products are such Good Food and other award-winners like their Mac & Maple (which is reminiscent of their amazing new cider syrup), their cider-Sangria mashup called Sidria, the Honeycrisp ice cider, and their sugar-free selections like their top-selling Kingston Dry that are great refreshers after a day of shoveling (or not).

Though Champlain distributes throughout the region, a visit to their Shoreham, VT, mothership will be made all the sweeter with the opening of their new Cider Garden, which offers full pours, small bites, fire pits, lawn games, and plenty of pick-your-own pleasure!

Champlain Orchards has long been a favorite, but as they continue to expand their offerings, I hope that I do not fall behind trying them all. 

I will surely enjoy the effort!

www.champlainorchards.com

MEET ME AT THE CLUB CLUB

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Though I firmly believe that most golf courses should be used for low-income housing, I am a fan of the miniature edition.

Unfortunately, around New England, the “putt-putt” season is relatively short.

That is why I was psyched to find a place where I can play regardless of the weather and even enjoy an adult beverage while enjoying what some may say is a child’s edition of a pastime that otherwise takes up far too much space, time, and money.

Combining great food and even greater beverages with some of the most creative and electrifying (or at least electrified) miniature golf holes around, Puttshack in the Boston Seaport is a great place to combine the 19th hole with the rest of the front nine!

Using country club technology that keeps track of your game for you and offers bonus points for especially chic shots, Puttshack not only allows you to drink while you play and not have to worry about keeping score but encourages it with such swing-saving swillers as the porn star martini (with passion fruit liquer and a smoke-filled side of Sofia Coppola’s sparkling rosé), the umami bomb bloody Mary (with umami ice, pecan wood bacon, and pepperoni), and the peach tea on a peachtree (featuring Tennessee whiskey from our old friends at Ole Smoky).

If you need something to absorb the liquid fun, Puttshack has such savory stroke savers as wood-fired Thai octopus, Korean BBQ bao buns, Puttshack poutine with red wine bacon gravy, and lobster mac n’ cheese rolls known as Boston tailpipes, proceeds from which are donated to Wonderfund to bring joy to the thousands of Commonwealth kids who are involved with the Department of Children and Families.

No matter what you eat or drink (and drink…and drink), the soul of the Shack are the holes, some of which replicate such other party-themed faves as beer pong and others of which involve trivia questions about Boston (though you might want to tackle that one early before your beverages bogey your bid).

And did I mention the TVs and DJs all around? Well, there’s that too!
So grab a club and head to the club that lets even duffers have a ball!

www.puttshack.com

HOLDAYS AT HAYMARKET

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Now that we are (hopefully) visiting others for the holidays it is time once again to get gifts for them all!

As usual, our friends at Boston Public Market have everything we (and everyone we know) could ask for…and more!

From gifts to groceries and treats to trimming, BPM makes holiday prep easy. And not only will you be helping the Market’s marvelous makers, you will also be supporting area entrepreneurs through the “Market on a Mission” non-profit program as well.

As part of its December Happenings series, the Market is hosting such special events as Pine Bar tap takeover featuring Shelburne, VT’s Fiddlehead Beer on December 22, a visit from Frosty the Snowman December 18, and a Holiday CrEATor Market (with an emphasis on the “E A T”) every weekend right up until Christmas Eve! There will also be a sleigh-full of tours, tastings, and classes, including pasta ornament making with Seven Hills Pasta December 17, ornament decorating with Laurel Greenfield Art December 20, and a coffee tasting with George Howell on the 23rd that will help you power through the final shopping days and get ready for what is sure to be a great holiday (or at least better than last year)!

No matter when you visit, there are always plenty of pretty and practical pieces from the enviro-conscious crafters of Peterman’s Board and Bowls, American Stonecraft, and the ever-able artists at HOPe Unlimited. If you have already finished your holiday shopping (as if!), you can still enjoy local legends like Beantown Pastrami, Crescent Ridge ice cream, Red’s Best seafood, and the ever-popular gift-makers at Q’s Nuts (as well as bagels from Bagel Guild for those who prefer to shmear through the snow).

Whether you need gifts for others or a well-deserved treat for yourself, Boston Public Market is always ready to deliver. And as we prepare to give to others we love, a visit to the Market is a great opportunity to also give to some of our most creative our friends and neighbors as well!

www.bostonpublicmarket.org

Generally Great

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As kids go back to school and holidays lurk just around the corner many are looking for places to stock up on supplies and other good stuff.

In my town of Needham, we are fortunate enough to have most of it taken care of at the Needham General Store!

Located just across the street from the Hersey stop on the Commuter Rail, the General Store offers not only a full Dunkin’ Donuts but also great food and gifts from other local makers. They even have books from folks who have been on my TV show “The Writer’s Block” (including my book, Lions, Tigers, and…Bulldogs? An unofficial guide to the legends and lore of the Ivy League)!

One of their latest offerings is a weekly meat pick-up from Bianco’s in Medford that allows participants to trim their weekly shopping list by a few delicious pounds.

They also offer all-natural salts from Saltire Brands, a woman-owned business that took inspiration from Paris markets and now hand-harvests sea salts from Duxbury.

If you need a quick gift (or yummy snack), bags of small-batch Minute Man kettle corn are always a hit! This Worcester-based company takes inspiration and recipes from the American Revolution and is sure to change how you see (and taste) popcorn.

Another great snack that is especially popular in my house is the GIANT peanut butter cup from Swampscott’s CB Stuffers. They apparently make the largest peanut butter cups available, as well amazing bars and other sweet treats, including items with the Red Sox logo that can let you end a sour season on a sweet note.

If you need a bit of a bridge from your typical store to one that offers as much as this specifically-situated “general” store does, remember that it also has a full Dunkin’ counter so you can enjoy a “regular” while finding unique gifts.

Keep track of wine tastings, author talks, and other events by following www.facebook.com/NeedhamGeneralStore or visiting https://the-needham-general-store.business.site and have a General-ly better shopping experience!

Harpoon Swindles up some (more) fun

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There is nothing like hanging out at Harpoon’s tap room enjoying their amazing pretzels and ever-growing menu of malty favorites or chillin’ and cornholin’ in their outdoor beer garden, and their festivals (such as Octoberfest, which takes place this year September 30 through October 1) are the stuff of legend!

From October 12 through November 16, Harpoon will try to raise the fun bar once again with a premiere production of the award-winning Mr. Swindle’s Traveling Peculiarium which will be hosted at the Harpoon brewery in a custom-made and climate-controlled tent with cushioned seats that combines the ancient arts of P.T. Barnum with the modern convenience of A/C and heat.

This 90-minute Vaudeville-inspired narrative variety show for grown-ups combines live acrobats, comedy, and more. Featuring such world-class artists as the sensational whirlwind known as The Spinologist, a high-flying duo rightfully called Suspended Passion, a mind-bending mechanic known as The Contorted, Mr. Swindle’s recalls the days of travelling medicine shows, but this time the “medicine” is beer!

Speaking of beer, before each show, guests will be invited to prepare in Harpoon’s Drink-Ory Garden where they can enjoy tasty treats and try exclusive brews including “The Swindler” and special line of red, white and prosecco-style fizzes that were also created just for the show.

The tent is being raised, so grab a Harpoon and join in!

www.Harpoon.com / www.MrSwindles.com