While the legendary George Carlin (who I quote openly and often) once poked fun at the questionable taste of charity events that offer free food as a way to encourage donations for the hungry, there was no question regarding the good taste of Boston Magazine’s latest Taste event, which raised funds for the Greater Boston Food Bank (www.gbfb.org) through an all-night smorgasbord of Boston’s best bites that took place November 14 at the Children’s Museum.

From apps to desserts to beverages, Taste offered charitably minded diners a little bit of everything and all they could eat of their favorites. Among the participating purveyors were such local legends as Michael’s Deli, Top of the Hub, Bistro Du Midi, Chris Coombs’ Boston Chops, Jason Santos’ Buttermilk and Bourbon (which will soon be paired with Citrus and Salt), Jeremy Sewell’s Les Sablons, and Andy Husbands’ The Smoke Shop (which will soon be opening its first satellite across the street from the Museum). There was also a wide array of rising stars, including Frenchie (the subterranean South End bistro which is helmed by part of the team from Jackie Robert’s well-established empire), Pabu Izikaya, Benedetto (which has more than filled the space left by Jody Adams’ Rialto at the Charles Hotel), and Mario Batali’s dynamic duo of Babbo Pizzeria and Terra at Eataly Boston. To ash it all down, there were offerings from Stella Artois, Bombay Sapphire, Ketel One, Dark Knight wine, Virginia Distillery, and a provocative pairing featuring our own Polar Beverages and Blue Fire Coffee, who released their new Holiday Blend at the event to rave reviews. And while many of these offerings were of the adult variety, the venue kept the kid inside alive as guests played with bubbles and dinosaur bones as they drank bubbly and dug into ribs.

As DJ Ryan Brown spun reminiscent tunes, generous ticket holders could also try on the latest releases from Cadillac, participating in an interactive display that encouraged them to envision themselves living the highlife even more completely while enjoying the best of what American labor can provide. Speaking of providing, the beneficiary of the night provides meals for millions in Eastern MA and is always looking for more support. That is why events like Taste are so important and why they remain so popular among the cooking and dining sets alike.

In her new book, Food Around the World (which is part of BookLIfe’s Around the World series for early readers and their families), British author Joanna Brundle takes readers on a delicious voyage to see how people in many other countries and cultures eat.

After explaining why we eat by likening an energy source like food to “petrol,” she presents a menu of traditional favorites that range from her native fish and chips to Asian noodles and sushi, Italian gelato, Russian borscht, and Indian curry before introducing the “Big Three” crops that make up most of the international diet- corn (“maize”), rice, and wheat. After setting the table, Brundle takes time to look at special times on the cultural calendar and the foods that are often related to them, such as Christmas pudding and post-Ramadan fast foods. She then shows how various peoples procure their foods, offering beautiful images of African fruit markets and Sri Lankan fishermen balancing on poles in the water while they attempt to spear fish with long poles.

Before saying “bon appetit,” Brundle takes a moment to note how many people do not have enough food and to encourage readers to participate at food banks and to do what they can to share their bounty. Such generosity is a message that is truly universal and nutritious.

(www.ipgbook.com)

As the Boston Seaport continues to be (over)developed, the range of available eateries continues to astound. And while many of these allow guests to enjoy seafood pulled right from the water while sitting by the water, none can offer the immersive experience of the recently-renovated Odyssey (www.odysseycruises.com/boston).

Continue reading →

While we wait the triumphant return of Boston-based Chef Rachel Klein, it is good to know that she has landed so well…and so close!

Only a 20-minute ride on the Commuter Rail (who wants to drive 95?), the dynamic duo of Red Stripe restaurants (http://redstriperestaurants.com) in Providence and East Greenwich are perfect places for a family meal (including Parents’ Weekend at Brown or RISD), a special night out, or anything else you can think of. Continue reading →

Living in the Boston area, I am more amazed (and frankly more spoiled) by the diversity and quality of the booming food scene. Many is the time when I have been enjoying a meal in my home state and felt there really could be nothing better.

It’s amazing what a $6 train ride can do to one’s perspective!

Recently, my mom asked to take our beloved twins for a weekend. Eager to get away but not keen of dealing with airports, etc., we hopped on the commuter rail and headed south to Providence. As a Brown kid born and bred and a perennial Newport Jazz goer, I had been to the smallest state before, but usually just for day trips that involved a quick bite and maybe a Del’s frozen lemonade. This time, we had the opportunity to take in all the great food and culture Providence had to offer, and we took full advantage of it!

While the Gondola Tour (www.gondolari.com) and the nostalgic visit to Dave & Busters (www.daveandbusters.com) were great, the highlight of the trip had to be the food! We started the weekend with dinner at Al Forno (www.alforno.com) and ended it with a visit to our neighbor Chef Rachel Klein at one of her appropriately-famed Red Stripe restaurants (www.redstriperestaurants.com), In the middle- like the delicious filling in a Boston Cream pie donut from Knead Donuts (www.kneaddoughnuts.com) was the Rhode Island Red Food Tour (www.rhodeislandredfoodtours.com).

Continue reading →

As part of Dine Out Boston 2017 (formerly known as Restaurant Week), Andy Husbands put down his smoking tongs and picked up his Nonna’s big wooden spoon for an inspiring Italian dinner (reservations for which can still be made at http://tremont647.com) that he says was inspired by The Sopranos. Continue reading →

This piece also appeared in The Homesteader

While it may take longer to say “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” (which is the state’s official name) than it is to drive through it. Rhode Island punches well above its weight class in many divisions. In addition to being the world HQ for such international juggernauts as CVS, GTECH, Hasbro (see sidebar), Narragansett Brewing Co. (and over a dozen other breweries), and Textron, it is also the home of Brown University, RI School of Design (aka, RISD) and the original campus of Johnson & Wales University, all of which add to the breadth and depth of intellectual, creative, and culinary clout of the first state to declare independence and still one of the most independent states in the union.

Continue reading →

When a place makes its mark in a neighborhood, it can be hard to say goodbye.

Fortunately, for those who loved Sonny’s in Dorchester’s Adams Village, the name and menu have changed, but the welcoming food and familial vibe have remained in the new incarnation known as The Industry (http://theindustryonadams.com).
Continue reading →

While Lizzie Borden may have used hers for matricide, perhaps the most famous ax in Boston is that of (in)famous Temperance leader Carrie Nation. Combining tight morals and loose-fitting clothes, Ms. Nation wielded a weapon that wrecked many a good time.

Perhaps ironically, it is her name that now appears on one of the most fun drinking and dining establishments in Boston!

Located steps away from the State House (the source of Prohibition in the Commonwealth), Carrie Nation Cocktail Club (www.carrienationcocktailclub.com) is a perfect place for legislators, lobbyists, lawyers, and even lovers (or those who want to be such) to linger and lounge while enjoying delicious food, delicious drinks, and perhaps a bit of delicious debauchery.

Continue reading →