Connoisseur’s Corner is a segment hosted by broadcasting legend Jordan Rich (www.jordanrich.com) that appears on weekend mornings (Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM) on WBZ (wbznewsradio.iheart.com), a 50,000-watt station in Boston that reaches 38 states and Canada in its terrestrial form and about 500,000 total listeners through its partnership with iHeart Radio.
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
While many have discovered their inner chefs during the pandemic, many others have thrown in the towel and gone back to packaged foods.
Fortunately, the folks at Edward & Sons Trading Co. have found a way to sneak organic, vegan, gluten-free, nutritious, and (most importantly) delicious vegetables in the form of pasta and to keep it shelf-stable in a can!
As a pioneer in the gluten-free space, it may not be a surprise that Edward & Sons is offering great alternative to grain-based pasta. What might be suprising, however, is what they have come up with as the alternative.
Following up on past triumphs like Miso-Cup® instant soup and gluten-free Brown Rice Snaps®, Edward and his descendants have recently released a pair of pastas that are made with – get this – hearts of palm!
Grown on Ecuadorian land that has been converted from cattle rasing to organic farming, Ecuadora’s trio of tasty offerings include no-sodium hearts of palm-based lasagna sheets and lnguiine noodles and (who woulda thunk?) hearts of palm themselves! All three make for a great side dish or out of the can and go great with such sauces as our veggie-packed faves from Otamot and True Made Foods. The hearts can also be blended with mayo to make a tasty alternative to hummus and work in many other recipes that might just respark your cooking creativity!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
In recent segments, we have been expounding on the benefits of chocolate and maple and so-called superfoods. We also sang the praises of Elements Truffles. That is why it makes sense to circle back to Elements as they have found ways to put together all of these delicious and nutritions elements in one product – or actually a few
Among Elements’ many healthful and happy-making products is a set of what they call Coco Fuels. One of these combines organic cacao nibs from Ecuador and a maple glaze from Vermont with Cardamom (an antibacterial antioxidant that has demonstrated the ability to minimize inflammation, help with digestion, and even fight cancer) and another adds a high-Vitamin C dose of essential lemon oil (which can help with weight loss and also reduce risks for heart diease, digestive issues, and cancer). Each has only 20 calories per serving, making them both a great way to get energy and extra nutrients in a small, delicious package!
As all of Elements’ products are both delicious and health-supporting, you really can’t go wrong. Whether you want some extra nutrients like turmeric, beet root, ginger, tulsi, and others in your coffee, cocoa, protein shake, or in the form of an amazing chocolate bar, Elements Truffles have all the elements you need!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
As the birds come out and the trees begin to blossom again, it is a great time to go hiking or even camping (especially as both of these activities can be done at great social distances).
Before you hit the trail, however, you will want to pack some good snacks to keep you powered up.
Fortunately, our old friends at Good Mix from Watisfield, VT, have recently come up with a set of super snack mixes that are perfect pack pieces!
In addition to their delicious original Blend 11 (which I eat on everything from cereal to fruit to yogurt and also by itself) and their paleo-friendly NeoBlend, GoodMix has come out with a nut-free blend and, most recently, a pair of organic, gluten-free, and vegan trail mixes that are full of nutrients and superfoods and that taste great!
Raw Trail includes fruits, nuts, and seeds with no added sugars or the other junk that many mixes add to make them taste better. Spice Trail adds cinnamon, cardamom, and a pinch of cayenne that is sure to get you up and moving when the trail seems long.
So as you prepare to venture out again, be sure to pack some GoodMix to help you make it through another pandemic day. And if you use the code GOODMIX20, you can get 20% off your first purchase!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
Had you asked me a few weeks ago what my favorite food from WI was, I would have enthusiastically said the AMAZING soft pretzel from the award-winning Winzer Stube in the historic border town of Hudson.
However, I have recently had my eyes and mouth opened to the facts that, not only does WI have a maple industry, but that some of their farms make AMAZING stuff as well!
Case in point is Anderson’s Maple Syrup, an award-winning, family-run, friend-employing, sustainable sugar shack that has been pumping out sweet liquid amber for over 90 years!
In addition to the Grade A syrup with which you may be familiar, Anderson’s Maple Syrup also offers organic syrup, apple syrup, maple cream and sugar, maple nut popcorn, and a specially-prepared pancake syrup that is a bit thinner but just as delicious! Sold across the country, Anderson’s Maple Syrup offers customized labels that make great gifts for any event. And as maple has a lower glycemic index and more vitamins and minerals that sugar, it is also a go-to ingredient for many chefs and health-conscious cooks. In fact, their website (https://andersonsmaplesyrup.com) has recipes not only for breakfast faves, but also for grilling, desserts, and holdays, so there is always a reason to try some!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
After months on the lees, Debevino Winery in Walpole, MA (which originally opened just before the pandemic began) is reopening its winery and its patio and will once again be hosting tastings, entertainment, and events!
Known for its hand-picked Napa Valley grapes and handmade, minimally-processed wines (including its locally-favored Walpole blend) the family-owned winery quickly established itself as a fave of football fans and concert goers, as it is just steps away from Gillette Stadium. However, as the wine is so good and the vibe so fun, many more wine lovers come from much farther away for their wines and wine-based slushies, as well as their hand-selected, locally-sourced charcutierie from Antonia’s Italian Cuisine, and occasional live entertainment.
In addition to the eponymous blend, Debevino also offers such standout and signature selections as their Sangiovese, Malbec, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon, all of which are available by the glass, bottle, or case or as part of a customized tasting. As the wines are dependent upon the growing seasons, new varietals are rotated in all the time, making the winery a great palce to visit again and again!
For those who want to know about new offerings before the general public, Debevino also offers exclusive memberships that include special discounts and promotions as well as the capacity to host private events on the expansive patio that can accommodate up to 55 in socially-distanced comfort. The patio is currently open from 12-6 Saturdays and 1-6 Sundays, but almost anytime is a great time to drop by!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
Here’s another Connoissuer’s Corner two-fer-
Our old friends at ReGrained (who have recently switched from bars to bagged snacks) have paired up with our new friends at Doughp (an AMAZING unbaked cookie dough) to come up with a Beast Mode Brownie flavor that is packed not only with flavor (as all Doughp doughs are) but also with the fiber and protein that comes frm ReGrained’s grains.
Combining the forces of two Forbes 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs, ReGrained and Doughp have brought together the satisfying sweetness of a fudgy brownie with the nutrition of whole wheat bread, opening up the possibilities of Doughp products beyond a decision between baking or eating out of the cup to one of dessert or – dare we say – main course?
Even if it is only used as a sweet snack, the newest Doughp flavor will be a sure family favorite and one that you will need to reorder again and again. Fortunately, first-time orderers can get $5 off at www.doughp.com, which is also where you can join the Spoonlicker Club and earn more discounts or just salivate at a Doughp menu that also includes flavors like cookies and cream, s’mores and strawberry cheesecake, as well as doughs that are sprinkled with green M&Ms or “fairiy dust” (a.k.a., sprinkles). Even if you do not take advantage of a coupon, part of your sale will go to helpreduce stigmas associated with mental health and addiction recovery just like some other local clinics you can learn about at https://www.best-companies.co.uk/inpatient-rehabilitation-centre/.
Available individually or in customizable packs, Doughp has a flavor for every taste and now has one flavor that packs some nutrition as well!
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
For generations, people have been told that, when it comes to nutrition, there is nothing better than milk.
Oh, how times have changed!
As people become more aware of the environmental impacts of the dairy industry and as food-related allergies continue to grow, many are seeking alternatives that emulate the udder-ly satisfying taste of milk.
In the past, we have talked about options that range from the Coconut Collaborative’s coconut milk and Ayo’s almond milk to Nutty Lifes’ cashew-baed milk and even Banana Wave’s non-dairy banana milk. We have also enjoyed Schmilk Chocolate’s milk-free milk chocolate and Vegan Rob’s dairy-free cheese puffs. And while these and other organizations offer amazing alternatives, none of them have been bold enough to make the claim of being better than milk.
Today, however, one is being so bold!
Better Than Milk offers not just one alternative, but an entire menu that includes almond, oat, and rice drinks, all of which are made with Italian spring water and all of which are organic, vegan, Parve, gluten-free and impressively delicious! There is even a rice drink with added calcium and another with sustainably-harvested hazelnut that is great in coffee or cereal.
While the taste may be most important, the environmental impact (or lack thereof) is important to many people these days as well (especially with the 50thanniversary of Earth Day coming up April 22). Better Than Milk uses less water than traditional milk and does not release methane into the atmosphere. Even the shelf-stable recyclable packaging is better for the earth and can be recycled again into birdhouse and other environment-supporting projects that make each box fun and functiional.
While there are many great milk aletrnatives out there, few offer as wide a range and as international a set of sustainable sources as Better Than Milk.
www.drinkbetterthanmilk.com
ww.ayoyogurt.com
www.coconutcollaborative.com
www.bananwave.love
www.nutty-life.com
www.schmilkchocolate.com
www.veganrobs.com
Matt’s segments for “Connoisseur’s Corner” usually air on WBZ (1030 AM) Saturdays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25, and 11:55 AM and Sundays at 7:25, 8:25, 9:25 AM.
Recent samples can be found at https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1002-Connoisseurs-Corner-28654273/.
If you have ideas for future segments, please send them to Matt@Matts-Meals.com.
Also, please follow me on Twitter @MattsMeals73.
Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!
It’s spring and that can mean only one thing- It is time to get in line for a yummy cool treat from Abbott’s Frozen Custard!
While this has long been a special place for people in places as far apart as Rochester, NY, Needham and Lexington, MA, North and South Carolina, Florida and even New Orleans, every location consistenly draws folks from neighboring areas and have even inspired dedicated road trips from the stores’ devoted followers.
And no wonder! The creamy frozen custard is a special treat for any occasion and Abbott’s hand-made cakes make special occasions all the moreso.
While their vanilla and chocolate almond flavors remain atop the favorites board, new flavors like coffee, black raspberry and even cotton candy are always rotating in, rewarding repeat visits. And when you add the hand-made cookie sandwiches, shakes, frozen bananas, their Spainish peanut-loaded turtles, and other creative creations, there is always something new and delicious at Abbott’s, which may be why people come from so far away to reward themselves with their favorite warm weather treat.
In addition to providing a well-deserved break from staying inside all the time, Abbott’s has also been supporting our brave Veterans by collecting cards and care package items that have been sent to various bases so give our troops a treat as well.
For fans in the Boston area, look for the Needham Abbott’s team at the Dewey Square and Brighton Farmers markets and be sure to get in your licks!