Beverages

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

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

A Lone Star on the Cider Shelf

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As a fan of music and food, one of my favorite places to visit is Austin, TX. From beef ribs to fried chicken to donuts, Austin has some of my favorite places for some of my favorite foods. 

Though I miss the 6th Street scene sorely whenever I come home, I can take solace in the fact that I can always enjoy whatever food I am enjoying at home with a li’l taste of TinTin, thanks to the folks at Austin Eastciders.

Though I first fell in love with their fruit-forward flavors like pineapple and blackberry and their best-of-both-worlds hopped cider, I quickly expanded my repertoire (and my refrigerator) to include such sweet and satisfying southern sippers as the Sangria cider, the fresh and fruity light cider series (which ranges in tasty tastes from the spa-tastic cucumber agave and brunch-y mango mimosa to juicy strawberry lemonade and desert-dry Texas Brut) and the TX honey type (which has since been joined by a can that carries Mike’s hot honey as well!).

New this year (and for obvious reasons) is AEC’s limited-edition 10 Year Anniversary cider and a pair of powerful (as in 8.3&% ABV) “Imperial” ciders that are royally good! The Imperial Gold variety is surely worth more than a lone star and the Tropical Punch (which blends AEC’s Imperial Cider base with a passion fruit, orange, and guava juice) packs a punch as well!

As with so many of my favorite food-makers, AEC gives back to my second-favorite city that rhymes with “Coston” through their Austin Eastciders Cares programs that donates proceeds to nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Red River (and even helps keep the river itself clean!). As good as all that is, the best thing that AEC gives to the community is some of the most creative and refreshing ciders on either side of the Mississippi (but preferably the east side). Though the city may have limits, the deliciousness of Austin’s best ciders do not!

https://austineastciders.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!