Coffee

A “SPECIAL” BREW

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As I recently hosted an episode of  “Belmont Business Report“ that was produced by Belmont Media Center about Art’s Specialties, I figured it would be appropriate to revisit them for Matt’s Meals as well!

In addition to opening his latest store in Cambridge with more on the way, Art has also been brewing his own coffee in his Maynard location and is making hand-distilled cold brew that is now available at all of is stores.

As is the based with so much of what Art does, he started selling other canned cold brew brands but figured that he could do it better!

Using the family coffee traditions of his Armenian roots, Arts cold brew is rich and refreshing and comes in handy 12-ounce glass bottles that can be enjoyed or their own or used to make your favorite coffee drinks and treats. They go especially well with ice cream from Art’s Creamery as a lower-caffeine and low-acid Affogato or to wash down any of the special culinary treats you pick up at his main stores.

While at Art’s, be sure to peruse his collection of over 100 local and international beers, as well as his shelves of non-alcoholic drinks, international snacks and prepared foods, and, of course, the wide selection of curated olive oils and vinegars and teas and cheeses that first made him famous. 

I find something new and delicious every time I visit and Art is always happy to honor special requests for new products, so even if he does not have exactly what I am looking for, he surely will soon!

Art already has locations in Belmont, Sherburne, Maynard, and Carlisle and is opening Cambridge and Everett, so a visit to Art’s Specialties (and Art’s Creamery) is more convenient from more places and more worth the trip from anywhere else.

See you there and see you on Belmont Media!

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.

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.

P!NG-ING LOWELL AGAIN

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A few weeks ago, I sang the praises of the delicious plant-based donuts from Planted Donuts which has roots in my ancestral hometown of Lowell, MA.

Today, I want to ping another Lowell legend in the making – p!ng Coffee.

While coffee takeout is nothing new and is a necessary stop along many people’s routes, p!ng represents a revolution in the rolling refreshment realm in that it is automated and autonomous and minimizes wait times while the assuring accuracy for every order!

And with a menu that already includes not just customized locally-sourced coffees but also lattes, teas, energy drinks, organic options and more (all of which are priced around $3-5 and many of which can be further customized with extra syrup, shots, and other flavorful faves), there will surely be demand for this new pioneering concept!

Using p!ng’s proprietary process, guests place their order ahead of time via the p!ng  app and then simply drive past the preparation pod to pick up their personal piece of percolated perfection. p!ng even uses advanced AI to measure the window height of the user’s car so even the hand-off is perfect and spill-proof (ignoring human error, of course!)

Created by a dynamic duo of Boston-based entrepreneurs that combines Veteran know-how, women’s intuition, and expertise in customer experience and robotics, p!ng is now open at 10 Technology Drive in Lowell and is already looking to expand!

So next time you need a drink made right and right quick, be sure to listen for the newest sound in beverage service- p!ng!

GEARING UP FOR SUCCESS

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As someone who was involved in the “gig” economy before it was “hip” and as a freelancer who wears many hats (maybe too many sometimes!), I have a special place in my heart for fellow hustlers who use their skills to help themselves and a lot of other people as well.

As an author who talks about my book on the Ivy League (www.lionstigersbulldogs.com) and interviews my literary on my show on The Needham Channel (https://www.needhamchannel.org/the-writers-block/) and at various other venues, and as a writer who profiles and promotes Veterans who run their own businesses and people in the food space who are making a difference, I was especially excited to be introduced to Patrick Greenwood!

Not only is Greenwood the host of the “Writers on Writers over a Triple Espresso” podcast (on which I was honored to be a guest!), he is also a veteran of the military and the tech space, the author of two books (so far!), a devoted cyclist, and the creator of Cyclewriter 3 Coffee – a delicious brand of blends that donates proceeds to children in Vietnam and other communities around the world.

As our listeners know, my gig economy life has made coffee a necessity. While I have been fortunate to find many great brands (many of which are also made by Veterans), Cyclewriter combines hand-selected beans from all my favorite growing regions with a growing respect for the farmers with whom Patrick works. And as it also supports a fellow writer, it has quickly pushed to the head of my morning energy peloton. 

Please check out all he does at https://cyclewriterllc.com and support him as he supports so many others.

POE-TRY IN A CUP

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Since lighting his first oven torch at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996, Chef Brian Poe has been lighting the way for food lovers and industry friends. 


In Boston, he has been the brains behind such celebrated sites as Seasons at the Millennium Boston Hotel, The Rattlesnake, and his current hit- The Tip Tap Room, which is a great take before or after a game or anytime you want creative, fun food and plenty to drink and enjoy.

In 2020, Poe took his love and understanding of cheese to market with Crane River Cheese Club (where you can actually join a club that includes special access to the best cheeses in the shop) and has since served hundreds of fellow fromaggio-philes and industry leaders. His microgreen farm also supplies his own eateries and many others as well.

Today, he is following another food passion by releasing his own coffee.

Appropriately named Chef Poe’s Coffee, the locally-roasted and fairly-traded coffee is available as whole beans, ground, or in single-serve pods at www.chefpoecoffee.com and also at the Cheese Club, where it makes for a perfect complement to Poe’s many delicious offerings of cheese, meats, sandwiches, and prepared meals and catering.

Combining Brazilian, Columbian, and Ethiopian beans, the brew is sure to please early morning risers and coffee afficionados alike.

Though it is a new venture for Poe, his consistent dedication to quality and craftsmanship shines through in every cup.

It’s another sure hit, Chef!