Desserts

GREEK REVIVAL

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As it was once called the Athens of America, it makes sense that Boston is at the forefront of the Greek revival that appears to be running through the restaurant space like an Olympic (or Boston) marathoner.

And while many popular places have followed, the Farm Grille & Rotisserie in Newton and its sister store, Greek International Market in West Roxbury, have been leading the pack for over 25 years.

Whenever I want to get my Greek on in a fresh and friendly flash, a visit to the Grille always fits the bill(e). But when I want to get the authentic ingredients that make this family-run restaurant and caterer so great or to explore the larger realm of Hellenistic hunger helpers, the Market has all I need….and MORE!

In addition to freshly-imported Greek spices and wines (including Retsina) to imported meats and other prepared foods (including their famed octopus salad!), as well as hand-crafted cheeses and Greek yogurt, an olive bar and enough olive oils and Greek pastries for the Spartan army, the Market offers honey-based health and beauty aids, toys and gifts, and customized gift baskets that are perfect for any occasion. 

Speaking of occasions, the Market has an Aegean Sea-full of fish and a farm-full of plant-based options that are perfect for Lent or just for eating healthy! And Proprietor Katerina Iliades recently debuted a line of children’s clothing for communions and baptisms that will be on display at a VIP fashion show on March 23 at the Maliotis Center in Brookline!

Everyone seems set on catching the healthy and delicious Mediterranean diet train. As is true of so many other things, we in Boston are ahead of the curve, thanks in great part to the Iliades family and their great pair of places to eat.    

EFFIE-N GOOD!

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As I have been bringing my book on the Ivy League and my live author interview series to more venues (such as the Needham Library, where I will be interviewing everyone’s favorite radio host, Jordan Rich, on April 30), I have had to find more snacks to bring for my guests to enjoy as they linger to buy books and talk with the authors.

That is why I always have boxes of Effie’s Homemade on hand!

Based on the traditional Nova Scotian oatcake, these family recipe-based, hand-crafted cookies and crackers (ahem- “biscuits”) are made in Dorchester, MA and available all over (including at my book events!).

From their original Halifax-helped oatcake and European-inspired rye biscuits to their hearty and historically-accurate corn cakes and stone-ground wheat pecan biscuits, Effie’s are perfect for wine and cheese parties, mini PB&Js or just straight out of the box. There are also recipes at https://effieshomemade.com to inspire your next sensational snack!

For those with a taste for sophisticated sweetness, Effie’s also offers aromatic almond biscuits, bold and snappy ginger biscuits, brain-boosting walnut biscuits, and decadent cocoa biscuits.

No matter which you pick, all of their biscuits come in giftable boxes and samplers and many are also available in individually-wrapped two-biscuit servings that are just right for a satisfying snack or something special to share

While becoming a loyal customer is not hard, Effie’s even offers a reward program for those of us who enjoy their wonderful wares on a regular basis!

Come be a guest at my author events and you too will have that opportunity!

In the meantime, use MattsMeals20 to get 20% off at https://effieshomemade.com/

FA-SHIZZLE MY TWIZZLE

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During a recent trip to Scandinavia, I enjoyed visiting Hamlet’s castle and shopping at IKEA, but the best part was surely having my fill of authentic Scandinavian licorice.

I have been a fan of the sweet and chewy stuff for as long as I can remember and I always love trying new varieties and flavors. That is why I am such a fan of America’s own Wiley Wallaby!

Wiley Wallaby’s family-formed licorices are among my favorites. And as they have so many flavors – including classic red and black, as well as blueberry, pomegranate, huckleberry (whatever that is!), and their latest- lemonade – Wiley has a taste for every taste and even offer pre-mixed combo packs so you can get more fruit and fun in every fistful!

If you want big flavor in small packages, Wiley makes candy-coated licorice “drops” with sweet or super sour fruit-flavored shells. For those of you who prefer organic versions that may be closer to the flowering Fabaceae from which licorice comes, they have classic black, strawberry, mixed berry, and tropical flavors that are all made with organic cane sugar and real fruit juice and without artificial colors and flavors. And if sugar is the issue, they also offer treats with only one gram per serving! 

No matter which flavors you pick, Wiley Wallaby licorices are all filled with vegan flavor and easy on the teeth (especially as they have no high-fructose corn syrup). 

As they say in Sandanavia- Skål!

LET US EAT CAKE

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In the process of supporting Project Insulin in their efforts to develop a generic version of the life-saving medicine, I have had the privilege of meeting many other wonderful and community-minded people. Among these is Patrice Jean-Philippe, who also supports the health and well-being of her RI neighbors.

When not serving her community as an administrator, Jean-Philippe is serving cakes that she custom makes for clients and organizations as the head of P. Bon Bakery, a company that she operates with the help of her children, the eldest of whom is studying culinary arts.

Inspired (as so many of us were) by watching baking shows during the pandemic, Jean-Philippe quickly discovered that she had more than just a home-baker’s knack for crafting creative cakes that looked amazing and tasted even better. Since then, she has spent every moment she is not helping her family and her neighbors in the kitchen to make them happy in other ways.

Calling on her Haitian heritage, Jean-Philippe uses authentic island vanilla in a recipe that was handed down from her mother. She is also well known for her chocolate and carrot cakes. Each cake is made to order using her special buttercream recipe that gives each cake a unique flavor and texture and that will surely make any event or occasion at which they are served special as well!

As part of her effort to support others, Jean-Philippe recently launched Sweet Talkers, a program for young children with speech delays that encourages them to find their voice through baking. 

As with so many Matt’s Meals friends, Jean-Philippe is a dedicated foodmaker and family supporter who deserves our support as well!

LIKE A BOSS

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As I have been talking about food so long, I am comfortable saying again that, especially at this time of year, I often find myself drinking the amazing Maple products from Cochrane’s and UnTapped straight from the bottle, but I recently found another direct-to-mouth product of which I cannot get enough that I wanted to share with everyone!

In addition to being a maple maven, I am also a granola gourmand and I’ve talked a lot about favorites like Forij and Golden Girl and Humble Bones– all of which are great straight from the container yet some of which are not always easy to just scoop and savor.

Fortunately, I recently found a long line of delicious nut-free butters that work everywhere my beloved PB does but takes the taste even further!

Oat Boss butters were made for a little girl with nut allergies but are sure to drive any food fan nuts (in a GOOD way)!

Though they all start with wholesome oats, coconut oil, and honey, Oat Boss butters add such impressively authentic natural flavors as blueberry muffin, shortbread, chocolate chip cookie, chocolate fudge, and even a granola butter donut that deserves a call from Kane’s Donuts!

As the butters are packed with protein and fiber and still only free of nuts, gluten, and soy, they can serve not only as a sandwich starter but also – as I said – as a spoon-fed snack for anyone!

And as they come from a family-run business, I want to get behind them with as many spoonsful as I can…and you will too!

READY FOR ANYTHING (and I mean “ANYTHING”!)

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As the world continues to spiral into disarray, more people are abandoning the status quo and finding ways to survive out of the office and off the grid.

One of the best of these is Eric Christianson, a former Army Ranger who left the rat race of New York for the natural wonder of the American wilderness where he founded and runs Nutrient Survival.
Though many of their products offer nutrition that has served Special Operations soldiers and other well-prepped people, Nutrient Survival can also help everyday people prepare for every day. 

From ready-to-eat meals like oatmeal, egg scrambles, and even lasagna to powdered veggies that include all the taste and nutrition of the real thing (if not more!), to coffee and immune-boosting tea, Nutrient Survival has everything you need to survive in the canyons of the Sierras or the canyons of steel. They even offer a brain care line with a patented power pack of over 40 essential nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and other mental-stabilizing stuff that can keep you on your game and maybe get you off our meds and that can surely keep your mind as sharp and tuned as your body.

If all of this sounds a bit much, Nutrient Survival has a wide range of sampler sets that can help you prepare to be prepared at your own pace. Once you taste their delicious foods, however, you will surely be set to hunker in the bunker or just prep for your next boardroom battle.

As Matt’s Meals fans know, I LOVE to support Veteran-run businesses, but when the food is a great as this and as good for you, it is easy to enlist anyone to join me! 

SWEETENING LIFE ALL DOWN THE CHAIN

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As Matt’s Meals fans know, I am a chocolate fan and have had the pleasure of enjoying bars from around the world.

One of my foreign favorites is Tony’s Chocolonely from Amsterdam. In addition to offering a wide range of unique and customizable flavors, Tony also stays away from the slavery and child labor practices that plague so much of the industry and pays nearly twice as much as other companies in order to ensure that “fair trade” is not just a slogan.

Along those lines comes an African maker named Luji’s Chocolate who is also combining amazing unique flavor combinations with admirable practices and philosophies.

Based in West Africa, Luji’s not only sources their chocolate through a personal partnership with farmers from Nigeria but many of the other ingredients as well, including fresh ginger, plantains, and the chili and other spices that make authentic African Suya such an international taste sensation and that surely makes their chocolate stand out as well. 

In addition to allowing anyone from anywhere to experience these exciting flavors, buying Luji’s bars also supports the farmers who help craft them by paying for cocoa tree seedlings to replenish and expand their supplies and help the local economy and world environment, all while bringing more of the legendary flavors and of Africa to the rest of the world.

Each Luji’s sampler set includes one milk, one 70% dark, one ginger plantain, and one Suya bar, along with a tasting guide that can help make the delicious transition to authentic African chocolate even more enjoyable.

Africa was long known as the “dark” continent. Who knew they were talking about chocolate! 

EXPANDING THE LAKE

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As Matt’s Meals fans know, I Lovermont and especially love the food friends I have made there. As you also know, I m a big chocolate fan. It is no surprise, then, that one of my favorite chocolate spots in Lake Champlain Chocolates in Burlington.

No matter where else in the Green Mountain State I am traveling, I always make an effort to stop by their store to taste their latest mouth-watering wares.

And now they are rewarding my efforts and making it slightly easier to reach their store by expanding it!

LCC’s flagship store on Pine Street in Burlington recently added about 50% more space and have also expanded their menu of olfactory offerings with the addition a cocoa bar and a bakery that serves freshly made croissants, muffins, cookies, brownies, locally-sourced apple cider donuts, and their legendary Burlington Blackout Cake. Visitors can even look into their Innovation Kitchen to get an early glimpse of what is sure to be their next sweet favorite.

With so many chocolatey choices, the build-your-own-box station is a great place to start, as it allows and encourages guests to mix and match from among Lake Champlain’s amazing assortment of handmade truffles, caramels, and even their Five-Star bars and 40th anniversary cocktail confection collection. If you need a more curated gift, special orders can also be placed right in the store!

As they are all handmade, mistakes are occasionally made, but buying the so-called “seconds” at the expanded store only means you are saving money on something you were going to eat before getting back in the car anyway!

So whether or not your travel plans call for Vermont, be sure to at least check out www.lakechamplainchocolates.com anytime you want to make your day and those of others a bit sweeter.

JELLY THAT CAN GET YOU PICKLED

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We have used many words for food over the years, but here are two I have not heard together before- jelly and alcohol!

I have been a fan of PB&J since I was a kid, but now that I am…older, I sometimes seek a more sophisticated sweetener for my legumated lunch.

That is why I am so thrilled to have found Olde Haven Farm!

As it is a family-run farm in Maine, it may be no surprise that Olde Haven uses traditional and ethical techniques to process and distribute its many delicious products. What might be interesting, however, is that many of these products combine flavors and ingredients that are not usually combined.

In addition to their home-grown produce and meats, Olde Haven is known for their preserves and preservations. From authentic salsas from south of the (Canadian) border to mustard pickles that combine the two best hot dog toppers in one to dill-brined green beans and garlic honey carrots, the folks at Olde Haven know how to use old techniques to make new taste sensations. But what may be the most sensational are their fresh fruit jams that, as mentioned before, are often laced with liquor!

In addition to familiar faves like strawberry rhubarb and (of course) wild Maine blueberry, Olde Haven whips up boozy batches of cherry Amaretto, cinnamon apple Whiskey, pomegranate Rosé, and Bourbon peach (which is GREAT on ice cream!), and even a Christmas flavor that is perfect for mull-ing over a gift list. Speaking of gifts, Olde Haven’s products can be combined to fit any occasion and any recipient, regardless of age or tolerance.

From the famed Maine farmer’s markets to your local grocer (just ask!), Olde Haven is growing in popularity thanks to its combination of family tradition and creative ingenuity- Just like a farm in Maine should be!

www.oldehavenfarm.com

BAKING UP SUPPORT

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I have long loved promoted a company called Colletty’s Cookies that is run by a young woman with Down syndrome named Collette Divitto. Since I last sang her praises, she has not only expanded her delicious line of tasty treats, she has also made many strides that other entrepreneurs can only dream of!

In addition to getting her cookies into Stop & Shop, Shaw’s and the TD Garden (and hopes to get to Gillette), Collette has recently inked a deal that will land her cookies on all overseas military bases. As the founder of a charitable organization that provides training and empowerment for people with or without disabilities, Collette has been named to MA Governor Maura Healy’s Disability Board and has spoken on the issues of work discrimination and entrepreneurship around the world.

In addition to being featured on everything from Matt’s Meals to Good Morning America and QVC, Collette has recently published another book in her ongoing series on growing up with developmental challenges and is working on producing a documentary about her life in which she hopes to build on her books by showing in her own way what it is like to deal with and flourish despite challenges.

If it were not for her books and the documentary (which she is crowd-funding on her website, www.colletteys.com), you might never know that this dynamo had any challenges, as she continues to achieve goal after goal, inspiring other women, entrepreneurs, and more at every step!

But back to the cookies- In addition to her incredibly (and innovatively) yummy cinnamon chocolate chip and crunchy oatmeal cookies, Collette is about to release a plant-based variety. And as it is so easy to devour an entire bag of her cookies, the savvy chef is graciously coming out with bite-sized bags as well.

I’ll say it again- Collette is one “smaht” cookie!

www.colletteys.com