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 and look for my latest food-related writing on Beyondish and in Food & Beverage Magazine.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

Bon appétit!

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 and look for my latest food-related writing on Beyondish and in Food & Beverage Magazine.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

Bon appétit!

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 and look for my latest food-related writing on Beyondish and in Food & Beverage Magazine.

Thanks for listening and thanks for supporting our friends and neighbors in the food-service industry!

Bon appétit!

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!

Bon appétit!

While the focus of Matt’s Meals is food, most of our November favorites come with a story that is as fulfilling and satisfying as the foods themselves.

Mona Ahmad, a resident of Saugus, MA is a diplomat’s daughter who was lucky to travel the globe and migrated from Pakistan when she was two years old.  As a hard-working mother of three she often found herself facing the same dilemma of many parents- how can I feed my family healthy foods in the limited time I have?  She also wanted some of the dishes to be the traditional foods she grew up with. Her response? Start her own food company!

These days, Mona is the founder and chief executive officer of Mona’s Curryations, a Pakistani and Indian-inspired collection of delicious and Halal-certified foods that offer a broad menu of pre-mixed meals that come frozen yet taste as fresh as if your own mother made them when you cook them. Maybe that’s because Mona uses recipes her mother passed down to her and because she also uses only the freshest and finest ingredients, including such healthful spices, such as turmeric and cumin.  Her concept is simple- just defrost the entree, cook on the stovetop or instapot for a few minutes and enjoy! 

Among the authentic options are such curried crowd pleasers as Tandoori Chicken and Tikka Masala in both chicken and plant-based chickpea, a vegetarian Palak Paneer, and, of course, freshly-baked sides of Naan bread that come with every meal and are perfect for sopping up every last delicious bite.

Select varieties of Mona’s creations are available in the freezer aisle at most Stop & Shop stores and also available via instacart.  You can learn more at www.monascurryations.com.  As each bag serves two and costs less than $15, you will not find a better deal here or anywhere else Mona has traveled!

Aish Karna! 

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!

Bon appétit!

There has been a lot of talk lately about all the products that are suddenly being made with alcohol. While many may have heard of hard seltzers, Matt’s Meals recently talked about hard coffee and even hard pickles!

At the same time, there has also been a movement to take alcohol out of things like beer and wine, where it traditionally goes.

Also, as more and more is discovered about the brain, many food and drink companies have been putting brain-supporting nootropic ingredients in their products (another trend that we have long discussed).

Somewhere along the intersection of all of these developments is HOP WTR (spelled “HOP WTR”).

Made with real Centennial and Columbus hops, sparkling water, and other natural and mood-boosting ingredients, HOP WTR has the taste of your favorite IPA without any gluten, sugar, or calories and with immunity-supporting vitamin C, the stress-fighting adaptogen Ashwagandha root powder, and the serotonin and dopamine-boosting nootropic L-Theanine. All of these natural ingredients and enhancements will not only help you be sure that you are making a good decision that will allow you to enjoy the taste of beer while keeping your head clear but actually improve the state of your body and mind after you drink it!

In addition to the “Classic” IPA favor. HOP WTR also comes with natural blood orange, mango, and lime essences that lean into the realms of unfiltered, fruit-enhanced, and even Mexican beers. My wife is an IPA fan and I am a fruit beer and cider lover and we both are crazy about this stuff!

Whether you are a beer lover or just someone who likes refreshment of body and mind without any lingering after effects (other than feeling great), HOP WTR is something to hop to right now!

HOPWTR.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!

Bon appétit!

I recently talked about Ole Smoky moonshine and have also been talking a lot about pickles and products that have alcohol in them that you might at first think shouldn’t but are often actually all the better for it.

Put that all together (along with a TON of Tennessee flavor), and you get Ole Smoky moonshine pickles!

Combining New York deli pickle flavor with Ole Smoky’s signature ’shine, these firm and crunchy alcohol delivery systems are perfect for Bloody Marys and bloody well great on their own. And while the famous Pickle Dickel (a shot of George Dickel Whisky with a back of pickle brine) may be an acquired taste, it is one that I recommend you acquire!

If pickles are a bit dilly for you, Ole Smoky also offers moonshine-washed cherries and peaches and will soon be adding pineapple to their shine-soaked selection. They also have a bunch of fruit-forward flavors that include canned blackberry lemonade, bottled strawberry lemonade whisky, and Mason jarred sour watermelon and apple. Once you try the pickles, however, you are sure to be puckering up for more!

If you are stil a bit wary to explore the historic ‘shine, go to olesmoky.com to see all the flavors (including the bright and flashy white lightnin’, the all-American apple pie, and the butter pecan and mountain java, both of which can be as good for breakfast as they are to unwind at the end of the day) and also to check out recipes that will help ease you into the tub.

No matter which you choose, however, be sure to ‘shine responsibly.

https://olesmoky.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!

Bon appétit!

During a recent escape to Nashville, I came upon an old Southern favorite that used to git a lotta folks in hot water, even tho that was jest what they used ter make it with!

I am talkin’ about- of course, moonshine.

And while the popular drink may have come out of and mountain creeks and into the main-stream, there is one place that I found mixes the old traditions with new flavors in a way that is both authentic and, to use an overused word, awesome!

Ole Smoky makes moonshine like Grandpappy used ter. However, in addition to a pure ‘shine that tastes a lot better than turpentine, they also offer a range of flavors and proofs that can suit any taste and tolerance. From the “barely legal” original and the 128-proof Blue Flame to Tennessee’s famed banana cream pudding flavors and a coffee companion called Mountain Java, they got sip for every lip and can take you from the bar to the birthday party to the boardroom with all the sweet snap of White Lightnin’.

If you are still a but wary to dip a toe in the still, Ole Smoky also has a raft of wonderful whiskeys that come straight-up or blended with caramel, habanero, peanut butter, and even another hip beverage- cold brew! They also make their own Amaretto and a bunch of liquers and canned cocktails that take their sweet southern satisfaction to new places and new levels.

Moonshine has been around at least since Prohibition and may now be more popular than ever. That is why it is important to remember that, when it comes to shine, nobody is on top of Ole Smoky!

https://olesmoky.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!

Bon appétit!

As Matt’s Meals fans know, I am a pickle fan. In fact, one of my favorite recent discoveries has been Ma & Pa’s Pickles from right here in MA!

While I have long loved pickles for their flavor, I have recently been reading about the health benefits of pickles as well! As a fermented food, pickles add probiotic bacteria. As they are most often cucumber-based, they also have the antioxidant beta-carotene.

The only downside to using pickles for improved health, it seems, is that it can be awkward to carry a glass jar wherever you go.

Fortunately, I recently found another product that offers most of the benefits without the potential drawbacks!

Pickle Juice Sport (made by Pickle Juice Company, LLC) is an organic, sugar-free shot of pure dill-iciousness that offers 10-15x the electrolytes of most sports drinks, along with a proprietary blend of vitamins and minerals that offers all of power of pickles in easy-to-carry plastic bottles. In addition to upping your energy and protecting your gut, Pickle Juice also helps stop cramps almost immediately, making it a fast favorite of many athletes and others who deal with pain.

It may sound silly (or is that “dilly”?), but pickle juice can do a lot more than just float around the cucumbers until a pickle fan like me has gobbled them all up. From your brain to yout gut, these little green beauties have what it takes to take your health to the next level!

www.picklepower.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!

Bon appétit!

Though many have heard that almonds are a great choice for a snack as they have so many nutrients and are so flexible and delicious to use in everything from smoothies to milk alternatives, not as many know that it is in their sprouted form that the almond’s nutrient density and ease of digestion both go up while the flavor and crunch remain.

In fact, if the snacks from Daily Crunch are any example, the crunch and flavor of soaked and sprouted snacks may rise the most!

Inspired by a trip to India, Daily Crunch snacks now inspire many to take their health more seriously while enjoying fun flavors that come in snack-friendly mini bags and larger sacks that you can crunch by the happy handful.

In addition to sprouted almonds, Daily Crunch snacks also feature such delicious health helpers as turmeric and other spices, as well as other superfoods like cacao, blueberries, cherries, and even coffee, all of which help ensure that you are getting good nutrition, great taste, and a massive crunch! As all of the flavors are great, it can be difficult to decide which one to try (at least try first). Fortunately, Daily Crunch also offers variety packs so you can crunch differently every day.

While the flavor is enough to take you away to a happier place, co-founder (and Columbia Business grad) Laurel Orley also suggests letting the Daily Crunch block out anxieties about everything else that can make up the rest of your daily crunch. In order to help make other’s days even brighter, Laurel donates proceeds to The Support Network to help people dealing with mental health issues, so you can also get the good feeling that comes from helping others while you help yourself to a sproutful and flavorful daily crunch.

Their message of hope and help is as loud and clear as their snacks, so crunch daily with Daily Crunch and you will surely feel better!

http://www.dailycrunchsnacks.com

www.dailycrunchsnacks.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!

Bon appétit!

Though many have agreed to laud those who lost so much when a certain misguided sailor allegedly “discovered” this land, the Indigenous peoples of America have so much more to celebrate and honor!

In addition to having a sense of and relationship with the earth that would have clearly prevented the destruction we have foisted upon her (and that she is now revisiting upon us), many Native Americans still hold true to the traditions that made them so great and powerful and that continue to inspire so many.

While all tribes and nations have reasons for pride, the Chippewa of Red Lake, MN, are doing what they can to share their wisdom and wealth through sustenance.

And the results are delicious!

Red Lake Nation Foods offers a wide range of Indigneously-inspired foods and gifts that include their signature rices and rice-based batters, as well as soups, coffees and teas, syrups, jams and jellies, and even popcorn, as well as customizable gift boxes and handcrafted birch bark baskets and bowls in which to present and enjoy them. 

With unique flavors that feature chokecherries, wild plums, and highbush cranberries, Red Lake offers flavors that you may not be able to find elsewhere, all made with the pride and tradition of one of the nation’s longest-lived and most storied peoples.

While some may honor the most honorable people of this land for one day, enjoying items from Red Lake Nation Foods allows and encourages paying respect and giving thanks for the people without whom we would not be here today.

www.redlakenationfoods.com