Desserts

Expanding the Villa

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I know that I have said it before, but I LOVE Donut Villa.

And though the name may not do justice to the amazing and amazingly varied menu (all of which is, as I said, amazing!), the fact that the name has stuck for over 50 years and what started as one donut-forward store in Malden has since expanded to Cambridge, Newton, and now Arlington (what, no Needham?!) is reason enough to offer this amazing (did I say that?) place more press.

Though the sign may now say “Brunch Club and Bar,” this additional explanation still does not do the Villa justice. After all, what donut shop or brunch place has a full bar featuring local favorites and flavors from further afield and enough lunch and dinner items to come back multiple times a day? 

While the “donut” part of the name is dead-on, as they have some of the most amazing (sorry!) and creative flavors around and while they make some of the most creative and delicious meals out of them, including donut-based sandwiches, pizzas, and a maple donut bread pudding that is worth a trip on its own, the Brunch Club has plenty of bagels, Benedicts, and Boston cream pancakes, but also offers the VIlla chili bowl, chicken parmesan, steak tips, salads, subs, and a tuna sandwich that is also worth its own trip (especially when paired with their amazing pickle fries!). There is also a wide range of vegetarian and vegan options as well (including a vegan BLT, vegan grilled cheese, and a faux but fabulous chicken and waffles) so everyone can come again and again and perhaps even find themselves full before they pick up some donuts for the road (as if they will ever make it home!).

A well-known writer *(whose own name I cannot recall right now, but I surely Will soon) once asked “What’s in a name?” When it comes to Donut Villa Brunch Club and Bar, there is certainly a whole lot more!

www.DonutVila.com

The (Choc-)Allure of Valentine’s Day

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People say Valentine’s Day is just for lovers.

I say it’s just for chocolate!

As evidence, I submit the latest creations from one of my favorite Israeli imports (along with Galit’s and BonaPita) – my Needham neighbor Liron Pergament-Gal of ChocAllure.

Not only are her sweets some of the most artistically beautiful around (to the point that eating them seems almost wrong…until you do!), they are also some of the most delicious and satisfying, even if you are alone on this allegedly romantic day.

ChocAllure’s caramel kisses tasting experience is a sexy sleeve of lip-shaped bonbons that combine hand-made caramel with fabulous flavors that fly from French salted butter to mango and passion fruit and (for the older lovers out there) Glenfiddich 15-year-old Scotch! The chocolate pralines form a faceted feast for the eyes and mouth that includes 64% pure dark chocolate as well as flavors from fresh pecans, peanut butter, and pretzels (Yes, please!). 

If your partner likes things a bit bubbly, ChocAllure’s strawberry and champagne XL heart is a juicy jumbo-sized treat that offers three layers of fruity fizzy flavor.

And if you really have to spell it out, Liron makes a dark chocolate bar that literally spells “LOVE” with fresh and fruity Madagascar cacao.

Don’t get me wrong- I am happily married and have someone to take out to dinner, but that does not mean I will not open a box of these after she is asleep!

If February 14 is just a reminder that your taxes will be due soon, ChocAlure also has plenty for this or any other day that needs a little sweetness, including their famed (and well-named) chocolate jewels, gourmet bars with everything from toasted cereal to crème brulee, and a clever and creamy hot chocolate flight kit that will take you to the stratosphere of flavor! Liron can also prepare corporate gifts and custom items and also offers a chocolate-of-the-month club for those who may not be keen on ordering but still want the best chocolates around to be around them on a regular basis.

Happy Tuesday!

www.choc-allure.com

Follow the Trail to New City love

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Many moons ago, I sang the praises of a restaurant and ice cream shop in Hudson, MA, that offered everything from amazing pizzas to an authentic speakeasy (complete with a secret password!) to incredible ice cream…and MORE! 

Since last we lauded, a lot has been happening, so I wanted to catch you all up and tempt you all over again.

Rail Trail Flatbread is still a favorite destination that is always coming up with great new tastes and treats and that has devised some extra-special offerings for Valentine’s Day. The main room will offer a set of heart-shaped flatbreads that will feature poems by second graders at the nearby Farley School while the swanky Greater Than Less Than will host aromantic four-course meal featuring their craft kitchen and creative cocktails. And even if you have no interest in the so-called “big game,” a made-from-scratch party platter from Rail Trail can make any given Sunday better!

New City Creamery uses fresh local ingredients (including milk from Mapleline Farm in Hadley, MA) and liquid nitrogen to create a creamy ice cream that even hours of hand churning cannot replicate and tops it with such funky “funk” faves as repurposed waffle cone and chocolate chip cookie crumbs, shredded coconut toasted with cocoa powder, and even butter-baked Trix cereal coated in white chocolate!  As we wait for a new Rail Trail in Milford, New City has also expanded into Sudbury and is also being sold at Whole Foods and even in many All Town Fresh gas stations! In the meantime, their Central Square location continues to go toe-to-toe with local legend Toscanini’s…and often wins. Even better, they may be selling my book on the Ivy League soon to their many Harvard-affiliated fans!

So that’s the latest in what is clearly an ever-developing story. Rest assured, Matt’s Meals will keep you posted, but for now, I am off to Hudson and soon to Cambridge for a book event and some of the best ice cream around.

I hope to see you there!

https://railtrailflatbread.com / https://newcitymicrocreamery.com

Redder and Bedder than Edder

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By now, I have gone on and on about Valentine’s Day and chocolate and realize that it may be getting a little fattening even to listen to.

Still, there is one of our favorite makers that deserves yet another mention- RED Chocolate.

As the first (or at least best) no-sugar-added, palm oil-free, non-GMO chocolate, RED is already one of the best options for fans who want to enjoy their favorite sweet treat while staying healthy(-er). But Red has been doing even more of late!

Not only have they been donating chocolates to our friends at Project Insulin so that their blood sugar-sensitive friends can also enjoy, RED has recently released versions of their amazing offerings that are kosher, keto- and Weight Watchers-friendly, and…wait for it…100% vegan!!

Using healthy oats instead of dairy, the master chocolatiers at RED have figured out a way to take out even more of the stuff that can bother people while keeping all the great flavor and satisfaction in (and then some!).

As if that were not enough, the new vegan variety uses their signature orange and almond recipe. So not only are you not getting gluten, GMO, or palm oil, you are getting heart-healthy oats, immunity-supporting citrus, and even protein-packed nuts all in one sweet (and, some might say, sexy) package!

Speaking of packages, RED now comes in their standard-sized bars that have an average of 30% fewer calories than other brands and also in new grab-n-go bars that have only 80-100 calories each, so not only can you get more out of each bar, you can also get less- when you want it.

And let us not forget RED’s famous pralines with their combination of creamy milk chocolate and crunchy, satisfying, and, of course, nutritious hazelnut and macadamia-packed centers.

Chocolate may be for Valentine’s Day, but RED chocolate is for EVERY day!

https://red-chocolate.com

Grandma’s Cakes beat H.M.’s Crumpets ANYTIME

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During the recent Royal visit to Boston, many people wondered about who the Royals were wearing, where they were staying, with whom were they meeting, etc. Perhaps not as many pay attention to what they were eating. If this were the case, they would have missed out a one of our region’s greatest delicacies – cake from My Grandma’s of New England.

While sharing high tea with Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Prince William and Princess Kate put aside their scones and picked up delicious slices of My Grandma’s cake. In so doing, they were introduced to one of the greatest improvements upon their native ways since the Declaration of Independence first overshadowed the Magna Carta.

For Mayor Wu and her fellow revolutionaries, the fact that My Grandma’s cake kicks any crumpet’s rump is no surprise. Having started with a cinnamon walnut variety in 1990, Grandma has expanded her handmade menu to include cakes with New England blueberries, Cape Cod cranberries, locally-sourced pumpkins, tropical bananas and healthful walnuts, and even apples from her fellow foodie Granny Smith. In honor of another one of Boston’s best, Grandma also offers a Ted Williams cake that will surely score at the top of anyone’s top 10 list. 

Though she started baking just outside of Boston, Grandma has since spread her sweet sales internationally, winning awards in both Inc. and People magazines and on the Food Network and QVC. She was even added to the ”O” list by food expert (and American royalty) Oprah Winfrey!

So the next time you have the future king and queen for tea or just need something that is fresh and delicious sure to do with so many other friends and neighbors in the Boston area and around the world do- Call Grandma!

www.mygrandma.com

Great Greeks

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I have long been a fan of Farm Grill in Newton and its sister store, the Greek International Market in Boston. The only problem I have with them is that, no matter what I try when I visit either place, there is always something new and amazing that I have not tried before, so I have to go back again and again.

Some problem to have, right?!
Among the latest temptations have been the growing selection of Ambrosi-c Greek honeys (which are not called “the food of the gods” for nothing!). While most Greek honeys are particularly delicious and particularly important this time of year as a balm against bacteria, infections, and, of course, sore throats, the Market features one variety from another great Greek food family – the Fragiadakises – that comes from the pine forests of Crete and that retains much of that Retsina-like floral flavor. 

While the honeys are delicious on toast or even on a spoon, they pair particularly well with the Market’s mega-collection of Greek teas, including the chamomile that owner Katerina Iliades used to prepare with her grandmother back in the land of Helena and which she now ships (along with pretty much anything else) around the world through the Market’s website, https://greekintlmarket.com.

Another recent great Greek find has been the vegan Greek-style kabobs from Mega Meatless that offer all the flavor and protein of a freshly-sliced gyro without all the GMOs, soy, or guilt that other meaty meals contain. They even include authentic Greek olive oil (which is some of the best in the world) and Greek herbs and spices for that authentic taste!

If you want more real Greek flavor, drop by Farm Grill in Newton for lunch or dinner (their traditional Greek salads, grape leaves and kabobs are always amazing, as is their sweet and flaky kataifi) or have them bring their homemade treats to your home or office. All you have to do is go to www.farm-grill.com to see (and almost taste) what amazing new stuff is on the menu- and enjoy!

EIGHT NIGHTS OF NOSH

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It’s Chanukah again and that can mean only one thing on Matt’s Meals- a mention of our favorite shmearing shamash- Steve Peljovich!

I know that we talk about Steve a ton, but when your food is so good and you do so much good for the community, you deserve all the support you can get (especially when your food is so good- did I mention that?).

As with all Jewish holidays Steve has pulled out all the stops and upped his creative level to new heights with his famed (and well-named) mishigas knishes. This year’s selection includes latke and apple knishes, holiday brisket knishes featuring his famous family recipe, and even a sufganiyot knish that will have even the most devoted Dunkin’ denizens converting.

If you want ein bissel to eat before the sweet treats, Steve has appetizer-sized latkes, blintzes, chopped liver, and the ever-popular dynamic duo of Auntie Bev’s noodle kugel and Auntie Gayle’s matzo ball soup. And no Peljovich family meal would be complete without brisket and fixin’s as composed by Steve’s culinarily adept wife!

Chanukah is a time to recall the strength and perseverance of the Jewish people and to share delicious traditions with friends of all faiths. Especially in these times of anti-everything, it is more important than ever to come together around the communal table. When that table is topped with tastes from Michael’s Deli, you’d have to be some kind of shmendrik to miss it!

If you ARE too busy lighting candles and spinning dreidels to make a holiday order, have no fear! The true miracle of Michael’s is that, no matter when you visit, there are sure to be lots of fun and fabulous choices, including Steve’s ever-growing menu of themed knishes, special offerings that raise funds for community organizations and, of course, the best corned beef around.

Give Michael’s a spin. You are sure to win!

www.michaelsdelibrookline.com

THE SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

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As my fans know, I love chocolate! At this time of year in particular, however, there is certainly such a thing as too much of a good thing (no matter how good it may be)!

That is why I am so grateful to have found a company called KLEIO who offer a sweet gift that is perfect for the holidays. 

Providing a sense of what they call “sensory history,” KLEIO focuses on the sense that really allows us to enjoy the taste of chocolate (or anything else we crave) – the sense smell.

Instead of offering rich, dark, edible amazement, KLEIO offers candles (which are often a popular holiday gift on their own) that are intended to take those who are fortunate enough to receive them to a particular time and place (such as the tour I took of the Callebaut chocolate factory during my honeymoon!). And while it may sound a bit odd, when you learn that KLEIO uses actual historical research to create their candles and recall that smell is the sense most closely attached to memory, the idea of a candle doing things that food may not (which also includes allowing you to keep your weight and sugar intake down) makes sweet sense indeed!

Working with experts at the Fine Cacao and Chocolate Institute, KLEIO developed a Sweet Cacao candle that recreates and recalls fragrances associated with pure of Mesoamerican cacao.

If chocolate is somehow not your thing, KLEIO also offers the sensory-pleasing scents of famous scientist (and apparently botanist) Leonard DaVinci’s garden and (another personal favorite) a Midsummer Night’s Dream candle that can be accompanied by more Shakespearean wonder as part of KLEIO’s Time Traveler collection.

In addition to smelling historically accurate and just plain amazing, Kleio candles also come in lavish packaging that make the admittedly last-minute holiday gift of a candle into an unboxing experience that makes for its own memories to be savored as you enjoy the new smells and the sensations they elicit.

www.kleio.global/home

OH HOLE-Y NIGHT

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As so many people in the world seem to be more interested in dissention and division than unity these days, it is more important than ever for those who are so inclined (which is hopefully most of us!) to come together, especially in this season of giving and spiritual renewal.

And what better means of coming together and what better things to give (and get) than donuts?

Thanks to our friends at Kane’s, this sweet sense of unity is easier to enjoy than ever!

Through December 26, Kane’s is offering donuts that are friend and flavored like the traditional Chanukah treat of sufganiyot. These dreidel-worthy donuts are filled with black raspberry jelly that oozes with sweetness for eight nosh-y nights and topped with an extra bit of powdered sugar and jelly on top to make them shine even for donut-y devotees like me!

For those who came to the Jewish party later, Kane’s is decking their halls (and hopefully yours too!) with a red velvet candy cane donuts that is dipped in their signature honey glaze, eggnog donuts made with Lawley’s dark rum and real eggnog and a molasses-kissedgingerbread donut that will surely make you run run as fast as you can to get some. In Kane’s ongoing effort to include everyone, they are also offering a gluten-free chocolate candy cane edition and, as part of the miracle of the holidays, Kane’s has even created their first vegan donut – a  festively-decorated cake-style donut that is made with fresh ground nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove and rolled in snowy powdered sugar. All of these are available until New Year’s Eve so you can use them for thoughtful after-last-minute gifts and sweet starters to 2023.

No matter what (if anything) you celebrate and with whom (if anyone), Kane’s donuts are always a great gift for everyone, including yourself! 

So be sure to pick up a dozen (or two) and make your holiday nights hole-y ones.

www.kanesdonuts.com

BLISSFULLY MISNAMED

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A few months ago, I thanked the gods of food that the Donut Villa Diner had doubled in size from its original location in Malden to a new spot in Cambridge.

Apparently, the gods heard me because the donut-forward eatery recently added a third Villa in Newton!

And while the donuts are among the best I have ever had (which is saying something!) and come in such amazing flavors as double-chocolate toasted almond and white Belgian chocolate and Oreo (not to mention their ridiculously fresh apple fritters!) and variations as donut pizza, donut cheeseburger, donut breakfast sandwich (of course!), donut French toast, and a maple donut bread pudding that is worth another trip on its own, the restaurants seem to be greatly misnamed.

Though it started as the Donut Villa Diner over 50 years ago and is now called (at least around Newton) the Donut Villa Brunch Club and Bar, the fact that the diner-like menu is so lacked with so many amazing items that have no donuts in them. Among my favorites (which is admittedly a difficult decision) are and an Ahi tuna burger that is so good it should be il-Legal (especially when paired with the pickle fries, as every meal should be!). For those who need more choices (as they will surely come back again and again), there are also such creative offerings as lobster-packed and waffle-based Benedicts, corned beef hash-burger, a chicken parm sub, crab cakes, tofu scrambles, a banana split waffle, and what is appropriately named the Bonkers Breakfast, as well as healthy sets of gluten-free and vegan options as well.

Oh and did I mention that, as the new name implies, the latest Villa has a both a full coffee bar and a full bar bar that features tons of taps of local and international beers and customizable creative cocktails? Well yes and yes!

It has been said that you can’t judge a book by its cover and asked what’s in a name. In that spirit, I urge you to go for the donuts but stay for everything else!

www.donutvilladiner.com