Beverages

Beverages, beer, wine, water, cider, etc.

ADDING NUTRITION TO NEEDHAM’S GREAT FOOD SCENE

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As I am such a fan of local food makers and also of doing what I can to help keep myself, my family, and my listeners and other friends healthy, I am psyched to have Needham Nutrition as a new neighbor!

Located right across the street from my friends at Abbott’s Frozen Custard (where I like to pack on the protein of their creamy egg-based treats while curling chocolate-covered bananas), Needham Nutrition has delicious drinks that can easily fill-in for meals and that pack a ton of nutrition into cups with not so many calories or sugar and no dairy.

The shakes include over 20 grams of protein each and come in over 20 flavors, including blueberry muffin, orange cream, the Green Monsta, and my favorites, chocolate peanut monkey, peanut butter banana, and peanut butter and greens (get a theme there?). There is also a kids menu with even more fun flavors and lots of nutrition. But with tea varieties like Blue Hawaiian (which could be a good fundraiser for our Kingdom to the west), Captain America and Wonder Woman (all of which have fewer than 5 grams of sugar and come “loaded” with aloe, ginseng, guarana, and a ton of vitamins.), there is plenty of fun flavor and nutrition for fans of all ages.

Despite having fewer than 300 calories, the delicious shakes can easily take the place of a meal and I have used them as such many times. If you want even more nutrition, you can add fiber and metabolism boosters to the shakes and collagen, probiotics, and immunity boosters to the teas.

While there is no shame in enjoying any of the great eateries in downtown Needham – from perfect pizzas at Hearth to South American delights at Latina to locally-sourced Farmhouse faves and a delicious dinner with the amazing Winiker Brothers at Cook (followed by creamy custard at Abbott’s, of course!), it is great to know that you can now enjoy so much healthy and delicious stuff in one place- thanks to Needham Nutrition!

www.NeedhamNutrition.info

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!

OH, THE HOP-ANITY!

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Whoever said “Good things come in small packages” never tried beers from Dirigible Brewing!

From their fruity Little Zep New England IPA and Blue Sky Balloon Blueberry Sour to the floral bloom of Parasols Parading in the Park French Saison, the Steampunk-inspired Oamaru New Zealand Pilsner, and the deep and rich 24 Porter Porter that comes from their brewery and tap room on 24 Porter Road in Littleton, MA, these massive cans of love-packed brews are plenty to share but worth the time to enjoy alone as well. Dirigible also offers their own hard seltzer called Flexion Elixir that can be infused with a wide range of flavors to make the perfect match for any occasion.

No matter which Dirigible brew you try (or how much), you are sure to enjoy the fresh, locally-sourced ingredients and get that self-propelled, high-flying, and handcrafted vibe that, like the Kiwi Pilsner, is inspired by Steampunk – a mindset and movement that treasures the simpler pre-industrial era of steam power and the ingenuity it fostered.

Speaking of foster, the 25 oz cans that Dirigible fills and labels by hand remind many drinkers of the famed 32 oz. drums that the Aussie brewery uses. Instead of having Paul Hogan for a spokesperson, however, they would probably prefer Jules Verne!

With music and other live events at their taproom and off site at places like the Solomon Pond Mall (check the website for information), Dirigible is easy to access and enjoy and is sure to take you on a delicious flight of fancy whenever you try some. 

https://dirigiblebrewing.comhttps://dirigiblebrewing.com

REMEMBA THE FLAVA

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As someone who loves chocolate, I am already a HUGE fan of Flava Naturals- a MA-based company that makes some of the most delicious varieties around by adding such in-genius ingredients as fresh blueberries, roasted almonds, and Himalayan salt to their delicious dark chocolate bars. Not only do these additions up the flavor, they also add nutrition to the bars that studies have shown to be good for you to begin with!

As I also have many personal ties to the memory loss community, I am also grateful to Flava Naturals as they offer five times more brain-supporting flavanols that other chocolates – even those with 100 cacao!

A recent study of 3,500 adults by Columbia University and our own Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that diets low in flavanols are often associated with age-related memory loss and that taking in 500mg of cocoa flavanols daily improved performance on memory tests by 10% and that 750-900mg can be even better. Especially for someone who makes their living with words, I will take every percent I can get! And as the 500 mg of flavanols in each FlavaNaturals bar or the 900mg in each serving of their FlavaMix drink power taste so good, I have never been happier to take my medicine!

Even if you do not have memory issues in the family, it can never hurt to have a diet that is under medical supervision, especially when the foods taste so good you want to hide them. With the Flava Naturals Flava Club, you can enjoy not only the health benefits but also savings that make it easier to share this latest (and most delicious!) medical breakthrough.

www.flavanaturals.com

HERE’S TO GOOD OL’ BROWN- DRINK IT DOWN! DRINK IT DOWN!

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I have talked about my book about the Ivy League (www.LionsTigersBulldogs.com) in which I discuss various fun facts (what I call “Tr-IVY-a”©) about these historic schools. Among the most striking of these is the fact that the Science Building at Brown is not only the highest building in Providence but also that its stairwells are color-coded to the pH scale.

Speaking of this measurement of the power of Hydrogen (pH) and resulting relative acidity in various liquids, I recently found a canned water that provides the purportedly perfect pH base of 9.5 that can help balance the typical acidity of most people (which, if you look around, is pretty evident these days!).

Locally-sourced and packaged, ultra-purified, and ionically-charged, with added electrolytes and no added chlorine or sodium, Perfect Hydration (PH- get it?!) comes in recycled and recyclable BPA-free PET-1 plastic bottles and aluminum cans that are crushable inside and out and that help sustain you while also sustaining the planet. 

As it also helps flush out lactic acid, reduce acid reflux, improve metabolism, and increase energy levels, PH water is great for athletes and people on the go. PH also donates proceeds to the Red Cross and other life-saving organizations. No wonder a Pro Bowl mensch like Julian Edelman swears by it!

And, as waters go, it tastes great too!

Life today is unstable in so many ways. At least your PH can be balanced!

www.perfect-hydration.com

GET YOUR DAY ON TRACK

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As if working from home were not hectic enough, many of us are now responsible for children who no longer have the benefits of school to enjoy while they leave us in peace for a few precious hours.

That is why I am such a fan of our local friends at Atomic Coffee Roasters!

Starting as a café in Beverly, Atomic has expanded to a second generation and is now served at cafes and restaurants throughout Greater Boston and is blazing a trail to other areas with its locally-sourced, roasted, and packaged coffees.

Speaking of trails, Atomic has partnered with the New England Mountain Bike Association to celebrate another great thing to do with your family in the summer and all year ‘round. For each bag of their delicious Singletrack coffee (which combines small-farm beans from Ethiopia, Guatemala, and Honduras) sold, Atomic will contribute $2 to the Association to help them preserve open space that can then be enjoyed on wheels or by foot. 

As Atomic was founded by professional cyclists and as some of us need a little help getting off the couch and on our bikes, the percolating partnership is a perfect match!

In addition to finding this and other amazing coffees (like their seasonal Simple Summer, their out-of-this-world Space Cadet, their canned cold brew, and other blended and single-origin varieties) on their website (drinkatomic.com), visitors can find recipes and tips for ideal brewing conditions and more!

Need to get your gears turning this summer (or anytime)? Go Atomic!

drinkatomic.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

Pharmaceu-TEA-cals 

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We have often touted the benefits of great tea and coffee.

Top among them is the whole-leaf, whole-earth set from Mighty Leaf, which has been a go-to for my family and fans for years. 

Now the sustainable and socially responsible Mighty Leaf team is helping enjoyers get even mightier with a new line of enhanced beverage packets that are extra nutritious and extra delicious!

The Good Pharma line may have a title that is a bit technical, but the ingredients and focus are simple and straightforward. Like our friends at Forij, HOP WTR, and IQ Bars, Good Pharma uses what they cleverly (and pharmaceutically) call “Rxtracts” like brain-boosting, non-hallucinogenic mushrooms, as well as rare seeds and roots, easily-digestible nutrients like calming Ashwaganda and stress-reducing L-theanine, freshly-ground coffee and, of course, Mighty Leaf’s already sustaining and satisfying teas to create a set of sips that satisfy the tongue and everything around it.

The Brain Gain variety supports mental function and creativity. Resilience supports immunity. No Worries alleviates stress and tension. Rest Assured helps ease you out of your day and into rejuvenating sleep. All four come in handy single-serve packets that rest on the side of your mug and slowly infuse whatever you are drinking with added flavor and health. I often steep them alongside some Mighty Leaf tea for a brand-loyal and always pleasurable experience. 

In an effort to serve their fans and introduce the new line to others, Good Pharma has been presenting a new variety called No Worries in hotels and other places where harried travelers need a tasty break from their hectic schedules. Even if you are still working from home, however, there is still plenty to enjoy from Good Pharma and their Mighty originators and many benefits to enjoy from all of their enjoyable drinks.

https://drinkgoodpharma.com / https://www.mighty-leaf.com/ (Love that hyphen!)

Sacré Brown!

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I am a big fan of maple and a BIG fan of Branon Family Maple Orchards’ organic maple products. From their organic maple-to-go packs (which have saved me from many gallons of high-fructose corn syrup at various restaurants) to their maple Buffalo sauce, Maple Barbeque Sauce, maple-based seasonings, and maple bourbon vinegar, everything they make helps make almost any food (and not just pancakes) even better!

That is why I was so delighted to find a delightful drink their family makes called Sacré!

Created by their son Justin and his husband Roger, Sacré combines the family’s famous maple syrup (which is fermented with a healthy heirloom vinegar “mother” and aged in bourbon barrels) with fair trade, shade-grown coffee to make a non-alcoholic beverage that is also surprisingly low in sugar and caffeine content. The intriguingly complex and easy-to-drink beverage goes as great as a morning coffee alternative (or additive) as it does for a night cap and works as well on its own as it does with many other favorite flavors (as can be seen in the recipe guide on the website- www.woodnosedrinks.com). 

Using ingredients that are organic and sustainably farmed (as is true of all Branon products) and approved by the National Audubon Society for being made in a bird-friendly area using solar energy, you can enjoy glass after glass (or even bottle after bottle) knowing you are supporting local farmers and your own health. And as Sacré is made by an LGBT- and Veteran-owned business, there is even more reason to be supportive and more good feeling to go around.

Speaking of “a round,” I think I’ll have another sip of Sacré!.

https://www.branonmaple.com / www.woodnosedrinks.com