There are always new things starting up in Kendall Square. What was once more true of the biotech field is now also true of the food scene. As more and more major players like Akamai and Google pack into the “Third Square” neighborhood, more and more places are popping up to please them.

One of the newest places to start is Catalyst Café (www.catalystcafecambridge.com). As its name implies, the Cafe intended to help people get things started in the morning or to replenish their creative stores at lunch. The name also reveals that it is related to Catalyst, the popular nearby home of brilliant chef William Kovel.

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After being buffeted by rave reviews for years as the chef at Harvest and other top-flight eateries across the country (including many in CA), long-time Medfield resident Josh Foley has come home to spruce up a booming food scene in this ever-more-snazzy suburb.

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The Boston area has long been known for starting revolutions. Form the American to the microbrewery, we have strong claim to the role of originator and best in show.

From Boston Beer Works to Harpoon and Jack’s Abby to Night Shift, the Boston area is literally drunk with great places for a pint and a bite. While it may be a bit off the titular trail, Battle Road Brewing Company in Maynard (www.battleroadbeer.com) is quickly laying claim to the pride of the pack.

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After bringing new ideas to new venues through a series of popular pop-up eateries, the dynamic duo behind the Whisk Pop-Up Team (i.e., Zagat 30 Under 30 honorees Phillip Kruta and Jeremy Kean) have finally found a place to call home (at least for the time being).

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As locals say goodbye to the Circle Cinema and continue to take selfies in front of Station Zero for the Chipotle debacle, it is clear that changes are afoot in Cleveland Circle. Fortunately, one of the most recent has been the addition of Jade Monkey (www.jademonkeyboston.com) to the menu.

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At five I went to Nutcracker

I saw it at the Wang

It is now at the Opera House

I hear it’s pretty

For many years, the holiday season in Boston has meant one thing- Getting the family gussied up and trucking into Boston to see the amazing Boston Ballet version of The Nutcrracker.

And while we at Matt’s Meals have nothing against Mikko Nissinen and his talented troupe (Full disclosure, one of our parents is on the Board), we would like to suggest an alternative- at least for 2016.

Just down the road (Storrow Drive, that is) in Watertown is the ever-evolving (and improving) commercial area that centers on the historic Arsenal. In addition to shopping dining, and the original scoreboard from the Boston Garden, visitors to this soon-to-be-even-better space can also enjoy one of the best theatre companies in the area- the New Repertory Theatre (www.newrep.org).*

Having presented some of the world’s best actors and productions for over 40 years to the area in a list of shows that includes over 70 local, regional, and world premieres, the New Rep has finally found the opportunity and a sparkling cast to mount the ever-provocative and perhaps ever-more-poignant “Fiddler on the Roof,” starring such rising stars as Abby Goldfarb, Alyssa Rae Surette, and Patrick Varner, as well as local legends like Bobbie Steinbach (who will return as Golda Meir from March 25-April 16, 2017) Amelia Broome, and Jeremiah Kissel as Tevye.

While the story by Sholom Aleichem centers on a milkman, regular readers may ask why this sustaining show is being feted in a food-related publication.

The answer has to do with what we are suggesting become another tradition for holiday time or any time- Strip T’s (http://stripts.com).

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The Framingham line on the Commuter Rail can be a long slog, especially in the winter!
That is why it is so comforting and encouraging to know that there is a place like the Deluxe Depot Diner (www.deluxedinerbrands.com/deluxe-depot-diner/) at the end of the trail.

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With its combination of high-end quality and neighborhood comfort, Michael Schlow’s Alta Strada (www.altastrada-wellesley.com) is the perfect spot for the high-end neighborhood of Wellesley Center.

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While Boston may be late to the dance (surprise!), the Hub of the universe became the hub of the food world for a moment when uber-chefs Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich came to town with their international retinue to open the latest Eataly restaurant/marketplace (www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/boston) in what used to be the entire Prudential Center food court.

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Before there was Todd and Lidia and Michael and Ken, and the rest of Boston’s “name” chefs, there was Jacky Robert.

Having moved from France to Boston to help his uncle open the world famous Maison Robert, the do-founder of the charitable organization On Board for Kids (www.onboardforkids.org) served everyone from Julia Child to the Kennedys with his signature combination of French class and Boston charm. After a stint in San Francisco, where he helped revive that city’s food scene, the 2010 “Chef the Year” of the Maitres Cuisine de France (one of only 200 of the group’s members in the world) returned to his adopted home to take Maison Robert to new heights before heading over the equally legendary Locke Ober where he served as Chef de Cuisine and then spreading throughout the Hub with his popular group of Petit Robert Bistros.

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