Features

NUTS TO NIBS

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I was recently back at Boston Public Market for their annual Harvest Party and there is a lot of news to share!

In addition to hosting one of the largest pumpkins in the area, the carnival-themed fair offered guests opportunities to try their luck at various games and to enjoy free samples from many of the Market’s vaunted vendors.

In addition to such carb-y faves as pizzas from the Bagel Guild, popovers from The Popover Lady, and hot pretzels from Hearth & Hug that came with a mustard I wanted to bottle and take home, there were also fall-spiced popcorn from Curio Spice, mouth-watering sandwiches from Beantown Pastrami, and the widely-distributed but rarely bested ice cream from Crescent Ridge!

One of my favorite discoveries, however, was that Q’s Nuts (which has supplied many of my author talks and presentations of my book on the Ivy League with their delicious and nutritious snacks) was expanding their menu of offerings not just into more new creative flavors of fresh and healthy almonds, cashews, peanuts, and more, but into superfood-worthy cacao nibs!

While Q’s has been a favorite source of protein and energy (and also of gifts for family and friends), they are now adding addictively-delicious roasted nibs to their ever-expanding menu of tasty treats, making a visit to the Market or to qsnuts.com even more worthwhile!

The BPM Harvest Party means that winter and the holidays are around the corner. What better time to stock up on delicious nutritious snacks that CAN last through the season but that you will probably devour the day you get them?

Fortunately, Q’s always has new flavors and ideas coming so reordering is not only easy but required.

ONE LAST ROUND

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Even though COVID keeps hanging around, it’s finally getting cool enough to start thinking about heading inside to eat.

But before you hibernate, our friends at Harpoon are making a convincing argument for a few more hours al fresco.

At the Harpoon Beer Garden which is located just outside the Boylston T Stop doors on the skirt of Boston Common, hardy New Englanders and their visitors can enjoy fresh draft beer from Harpoon’s growing menu of faves (including their signature IPA as well as beers from Long Trail, Clown Shoes, and even the popular pairings with Dunkin’!), along with Polar seltzers, margaritas made with Harpoon-sourced alcohol, and (my favorite!) a warm and warming cider that you will want to mull over for some time.

If you need delicious food to absorb and complement your adult beverages, Harpoon has partnered with their Seaport neighbors at Rosa Mexicano to offer hearty and satisfying tacos and chips with freshly-made guac.

In addition to great food and drink, the Beer Garden (which is scheduled to be open through Halloween and to reopen in May) also offers curated culture on Emerson College’s UnCommon Stage that ranges from locally-sourced musicians and dancers (some of whom offer lessons to patrons!) to Harpoon’s famed Flannel Fridays which bestow a bespoke drink holder to anyone who continues to embrace the Grunge esthetic. If not, the Garden even sells Harpoon gear (including those made in partnership with Life is Good)!

Winter is coming but that doesn’t mean we can’t rage against the dying of the light with some delicious food and drink and plenty of friends!

See you in the Garden!

GET FRESH ON THE CAPE SEPTEMBER 19

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While most of your friends may packed up their vacation houses by Labor Day, there are still plenty of reasons to go to the Cape!

One of them is a tasting event at Expressions Gallery in Chatham that will be hosted by Farmers to You on September 19 starting at 6:30 PM.

As the name implies, Farmers to You is a collaborative that works with over 150 farms throughout the region to bring everything from award-winning cheese and humanely-raised meats to pasture-raised poultry and eggs, organic bread, and milk that still has the cream floating on top of the bottle, and even creative prepared foods to over 2,000 patrons and locations throughout MA, VT, and NY.  

Among the featured foods and farmers at the Chatham event (which is free but for which registration is requested) will be sweet sauces from Butterfly Bakery (which is also the home of our favorite Fat Toad Farm Caramel!), upcycled crackers from Brewers Foods, Long Wind Farm‘s grown-in-soil tomatoes, Aqua ViTea kombucha, and cheeses from Farmstead Cheese Co. and Sweet Rowen Farmstead. 

In addition to fresh and delicious food, the event in Chatham will also offer the opportunity to discuss with Farmers to You founder Greg Georgaklis and to enjoy the refreshing visual produce of artist Steve Koppel.

Whether or not you can make the event, Farmers to You is always ready to serve through its enticing website (https://farmerstoyou.com), which offers beautiful pictures of every product along with the stories behind the people behind each one. It even has meal suggestions for those who might need a little encouragement with expanding their dietary palette. They also offer their own CSA and pickup or delivery in certain areas and are constantly growing- just like their products!

SUIT UP FOR SCOTCH AND STEAK

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While they have long been known for some of the best food and most engaging and attentive servers around for years, Davio’s has lately begun to expand their already impressive offerings into a growing menu of special events that may soon include author talks featuring a certain radio food critic!

From cake decorating to flower arranging, Davio’s has been offering its friends and neighbors opportunities to learn new skills and get to know new people and products that can help them entertain and be entertained as well.

On September 18, Davio’s at 75 Arlington Street at the top of Boston’s Back Bay will host an exclusive evening of fashion and flavor when men’s haberdasher extraordinaire Milton’s and some of the most popular whiskey makers from around the world combine forces to present a night of Suits and Scotch.

While enjoying some of Davio’s most popular (and rightfully so!) hors d’oevres – including their fresh tuna tartare and cider bacon-wrapped scallops, as well as their legendary meatballs and internationally-known cheese steak spring rolls – guests will also be able to try bespoke cocktails made with Wyoming Whiskey, Highland Park, and The Macallan. 

As they enjoy their food and drink, guests will also be offered a special preview of the latest tailored looks from Boston’s favorite family-owned men’s store.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at https://davios.com/bos.

Another great event that has been bringing many people to Davio’s is its Power Lunch, which is served weekdays from 11:30-3 and includes an appetizer, entrée, and sweet treat for $32. It’s like Restaurant Week every week!

So whether you like your Whiskey neat or in an Old Fashioned, there is nothing old fashioned about the great food and fun events at Davio’s – other than the delicious family-inspired recipes and total dedication to the customer, that is!

GREAT FOR WHAT AILS YOU

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As I always try to keep up on the latest nutrition news, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Shawn Talbott of the amazing nutritional support company Amare Global on my author interview show, “The Writer’s Block” (http://needhamchannel.org/the-writers-block/), to discuss his latest supplements and his world-leading expertise on the vital connections between your brain and your gut.

A few weeks ago, I was even more excited to have the opportunity to stay with Shawn and his wife Julie at their bed-and-breakfast in Plymouth.

Located right across the street from the beach, the 3 Waves Wellness Bed and Breakfast not only offers opportunities for engaging actively with the beautiful surroundings via walks, bike rides, stand-up-paddleboards, or just a game of croquet or cornhole in the backyard, it also offers delicious, freshly-made foods (including the Talbotts’ signature granola) and the opportunity to try some of Amare’s most popular and beneficial products and even to discuss them with the team that helped create them!

The rooms are comfortable and well-appointed with temperature-controlling bedcovers, lavender-infused sleep masks, and nutritious bedtime chocolates. And if you need more health care, there is a full spa in the basement with an infrared sauna, massage chairs, virtual reality meditation pods, and an on-call massage therapist and reflexologist who can help you get your outer body into better shape while you work on the insides as well.

So if you have a trip planned to the South Shore or even the Cape, make sure to stop at 3 Waves. You may never want to leave but you will surely feel better when you do!

APPLE JAM

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Fall in New England can be a magical time!

And while many enjoy, cruising through the White and Green Mountains looking for a leaves in every other color or spending an afternoon family and friends, there is an alternative that may be a little bit more exciting.

On September 21st from 2-8 PM, our friends at Stowe Cider will host their fifth Jam for the Land Event, which has been rebranded as Jam for The Parks because it will help celebrate and support the centennial of Vermont State Parks! In addition to donating all ticket proceeds, Stowe Cider is also giving part of their cider sales proceeds to preserve the 55 state parks throughout the 18th state.

From members of The Rock & Roll Playhouse to a Dylan & The Dead set featuring members of moe. to a collection of other VT all-stars that is set to include Nick Cassarino from Nth Power, Rob Compa from Dopapod, Pappy from Cabinet, as well as Hayley Jane and Josh Dobbs, the Jam will keep Stowe Cider’s famed Shakedown Street rockin’.

As if that were not reason enough to check out apple-spiced party, the Jam will also feature local vendors, family-friendly activities (and beverages, including their Fresh Press sparkling cider), and their famous BBQ. Stowe has also released a limited-edition cider throughout Vermont during September that will also benefit the parks system too!

Speaking of September ciders, be on the lookout for Stowe’s cider donut and gingerbread varieties and keep an eye out for whatever they come up with next!

LENNNNNYYYYY!’

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Fans of a certain age will certainly remember the legendary television commercials featuring Anthony Martignetti running through the streets of Boston’s historic North End doing his best to get home to his mother’s traditional pasta dinner- a dinner that was on and made more delicious by the Prince Spaghetti Company.

These days, the Prince company is best represented by the replica leaning tower of Pisa along route, one in Saugus that stands as the marker of their famous Prince Pizzeria restaurant, which has served as the house-made home of the Castraberti family since 1961

While the ads claimed that, “Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day,” these days you can get that famous flavor any night of the week! And not just pasta- Prince also serves up freshly-made bruschetta, their famed Caesar salad, toasted ravioli and baked lasagna with their signature sauce, and even shrimp scampi and multiple parmigianas. As the name implies, Prince’s is also the prince of pizzas and offers combinations like the shish-kebab pizza (with their “Bianco famous” sausage, peppers, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms) and a “Green Monstah” (with broccoli and spinach) that is great when watching the game or anytime.

Whether or not the game is on, another great draw at Prince’s is Giggle’s Comedy Club, which hosts such local and national faves as Tony V, Jackie Martling, Steve Sweeney and Lenny Clarke (who I recently had the honor of interviewing for Fifty-Plus Advocate)!

So whether Anthony’s ads used to make you smile or you want a reason to laugh while enjoying great locally-sourced food from a locally-sourced family, Prince is still the king!

COOKING IS CARING

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As I also teach at the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office. I have a special place in my heart for individuals who face challenges in their lives and figure out ways to overcome them and for organizations that help them do it.

That is why I was so gratified to be invited to the second annual Bubbles and Beats event at the culinary school at New England Center for Arts and Technology (NECAT).

NECAT offers job training and employment support to people who have been involved with the justice system, new immigrants, and others for whom getting and keeping a job may be a challenge, and if this event was any indication, they do a great job at it!

At the event, staff and students showed off their beautiful facilities (which include a fully-stocked auditorium/demonstration kitchen and art gallery that will soon be available to rent) and showed how they both offer and deserve community support.

While the food, drink, and music were terrific, the highlight was an impressive cooking demonstration, during which Boston Jerk Fest champ Chef Chris Faison threw together a sauce that I insisted he throw in bottles and sell while Chef Niurka LeBron decimated an onion in mere seconds with her superior knife skills.

Before and after the sushi-grade showcase, program supporters were invited to mingle, dance, and enjoy some of their students and alumni’s most creative creations, including community-minded oysters and freshly-baked s’mores cookies.

Many NECAT alumni have gone on to great culinary careers, including NECAT Instructor Michelene Desmoreau, who has her own catering business and line of spices and is about to open a restaurant in Quincy!

It’s a great way to help people who are motivated to help themselves while supporting the community.

AROUND THE WORLD IN ONE VENUE

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Formula One racing is one of the most popular entertainments in the world.

Unfortunately, not everyone can access it as easily as the privileged few who line the courses and drive the cars.

And while Boston may not have a racecourse design coming anytime soon (Heck- We even bungled an Olympic bid!), area fans can now feel as if they’re in Pit Row and enjoy delicious food while there.

F1® Arcade is the world’s first F1® experience restaurant and it is debuting in the U.S. (as so many great ideas have) in Boston!

With 16,000 square feet across two floors, F1® Arcade offers guests opportunities to get behind the wheels of nearly 70 full-motion simulators. They can also create personal driver profiles and earn prizes like exclusive merchandise!

When you need a break from zipping around the track, grab a position at the nearly-40-foot-long bar to enjoy foods that have been inspired by F1’s international venues and that will surely inspire multiple visits as well! From Wagyu beef sliders and Ahi tuna tostadas to a set of unique burger, taco, and flatbread options, and (in honor of the Seaport location) a raw bar menu that includes an impressive seafood tower, the dining at F1 Arcade lives up to the legend and even includes ‘Designated Drivers’ mocktails that work great for kids or those who want to take on the track with the full focus that F1 demands.

If you want to design your own course, F1 Arcade also offers a 2,400-square foot private room for up to 200 guests. Of course, there are also plenty of screens for everyone to take in the real F1 action from around the world and many races will feature exclusive events with VIP packages and more special surprises!

With plans already in the works for Washington, DC, F1 Arcade in Boston could set off another revolution, so be sure to get in soon!  

GETTING CURIO WITH THE CULINARY GUILD

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I recently mentioned how Curio Spice has opened a new space at Boston Public Market and what a wonderful and fitting edition, it is to this constantly-expanding constellation of culinary and cultural champions.

On Monday, September 9, Curio Spice Founder Claire Cheney will bring her piquant products to Verrill Farm in Concord as part of the kickoff event for the Culinary Guild of New England’s 46th year.

As Cheney has made her mark on the local and international food scene, she is welcome addition to the Guild. As she also gathers her single-origin spices from small, sustainable farms around the world, it makes sense that Cheney has been invited to one of New England’s most historic sustainable farms. After all, Verrill has been around for over 100 years and offers not only fresh produce, baked goods, and prepared foods, but also protected wetlands and the latest environmentally-friendly agricultural practices available.

At the event, Cheney will guide guests through a sampling of her acclaimed spices and talk about how she came to create and grow her fragrant business.

The Culinary Guild’s event will begin at 7 PM with a reception during which Cheney’s blends will be featured and will wind down around 9”:30 with desserts that have been crafted by Guild members.

Tickets must be purchased by September 4 and more information can be found at www.culinaryguild.org. Discounts are available for Guild members and membership also includes further discounts on goods and services from the Guild’s many members and partners as well as invitations to other special events.

Whether or not you are member, this event will surely be a great place to spice up your culinary curiosities and meet people of similar good taste.