Snacks

EASIER EASTERN ACCESS

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It’s October, and that means only one thing- Pretzels!

Well, okay, maybe football, school, raking, beer and pretzels, but let’s focus on the food side for now.

When it comes to pretzels, I consider myself a connoisseur who is still hoping that Winzer Stube will open a franchise for their Hudson, WI, hofbrauhaus in Greater Boston. Fortunately, we already have our neighbors at Eastern Standard Provisions to provide every twisted salty treat I could ever need.

I have been ordering party packs from Eastern Standard for years for my German-born neighbors’ famed Oktoberfest parties and they always meet with his Hamburg-honed approval, whether I bring their signature wheelhouse pretzels, bites or turnbuckle twists (or their whole Oktoberfest party pack). 

While their pretzels stand alone (at least outside of Wisconsin), they also offer a slew of sweet and savory toppings that go far beyond salt and that range from dark chocolate fudge and peanut butter caramel sauces and French toast sugar (which also go great on Eastern Standards’ authentic Belgian waffles) to a Maui onion mustard that could also be used these days as part of a fundraiser for the proud people of the America’s western Kingdom.

If cheese is your thing, ESP not only has a delicious white cheddar sauce but a three-cheese salt that bridges the gap between game time snack and soiree appetizer and is sure to please everyone at your party, regardless of size or season,

Speaking of parties, ESP also offers gift boxes that are perfect for birthdays, graduations, or to thank friends for inviting you over for pretzels.

While their website (esprovisions.com) has everything a twisted snack fan could want, if you just can’t wait for that pretzel package to arrive, there is a special variety pack available at Whole Foods and Costco.

No matter how you get them, ESP pretzels are wunderbar!
https://esprovisions.com

REMEMBA THE FLAVA

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As someone who loves chocolate, I am already a HUGE fan of Flava Naturals- a MA-based company that makes some of the most delicious varieties around by adding such in-genius ingredients as fresh blueberries, roasted almonds, and Himalayan salt to their delicious dark chocolate bars. Not only do these additions up the flavor, they also add nutrition to the bars that studies have shown to be good for you to begin with!

As I also have many personal ties to the memory loss community, I am also grateful to Flava Naturals as they offer five times more brain-supporting flavanols that other chocolates – even those with 100 cacao!

A recent study of 3,500 adults by Columbia University and our own Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that diets low in flavanols are often associated with age-related memory loss and that taking in 500mg of cocoa flavanols daily improved performance on memory tests by 10% and that 750-900mg can be even better. Especially for someone who makes their living with words, I will take every percent I can get! And as the 500 mg of flavanols in each FlavaNaturals bar or the 900mg in each serving of their FlavaMix drink power taste so good, I have never been happier to take my medicine!

Even if you do not have memory issues in the family, it can never hurt to have a diet that is under medical supervision, especially when the foods taste so good you want to hide them. With the Flava Naturals Flava Club, you can enjoy not only the health benefits but also savings that make it easier to share this latest (and most delicious!) medical breakthrough.

www.flavanaturals.com

A SWEET MESSAGE

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Especially around New England, Valentine’s Day is associated with boxes of tiny hearts with messages printed on them. And while the messages may reach the heart, the candies themselves may not make it to the stomach.

Fortunately, there is a new way to use food to send a personal message. 

Telegram Cookies our delicious buttery shortbread cookies that are stamped with custom messages. Offering pre-printed packages with messages that range from “Call me” to “Might as well,” Telegram can help you telegraph any message with just $36 and a few days’ notice.
As Founder and former tech guru Georges Duverger was born in France, he brings the proud baking traditions of his native land to each batch. Now a permanent MA resident, he recently partnered with Boston’s own Commonwealth Kitchen. So while Telegram Cookies  can be shipped all over the U.S. in eco-friendly packaging, it will now be even easier for Boston-area fans to get their messages out even faster and more deliciously!

At Commonwealth, Telegram and other companies will be participating in the Ready to Launch program that guides new food businesses through the steps needed to secure health permits in Boston and also teaches best practices in production, financial management, sales and marketing.

As such, you can be sure that their cookies are not only delicious but safe and healthy too! In fact, they are baked with only four simple ingredients- flour, butter, brown sugar, and salt. 

The way to. A person’s heart may be through their stomach, so why not take care of both with one sweet treat?

https://telegramcookies.com/

WOW- That’s a great chip!

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Now that our friends at the Spicy Shark have been featured on the hit (and HOT) show “Hot Ones,” I thought I would take a moment to seek other spicy stars before I head up to the second annual New England Hot Sauce Fest on July 29.

I quickly came upon Chipoys, a set of chips that packs in extra crunch, flavor, and…best of all…heat!

Instead of settling for such standard selections as sour cream and onion, BBQ, and cheeses of all categories, Chipoys combine the best of all worlds, mixing these and other flavors into newer, bolder ones. Plus, they come in a unique rolled format, which ensures added crunch and maximum flavor in each bite.

As with Shark’s long line of products, Chipoys come in multiple levels that range from spicy ranch to the aptly-named fire red hot, all of which are based on authentic Mexican recipes and most of which come with a twist of lime that brings tang to the tightly-rolled tortilla chips that also pack in more crunch per bunch. And with just 160 calories and one gram of sugar per serving and no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, you can enjoy a bunch pretty much whenever you want!

Cjhpoys currently come in both 2- and 4-ounce packages and will soon be available in a more sharable 10 ounce size, so no matter what your favorite flavor or how many mouths you need to fill, Chipoys has enough spice to fit the bill 

https://chipoys.com

An Easier Way to Forij

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As a writer who makes my living with my vocabulary, I am very aware of my brain and how to take care of it. 

That is why I am such a fan of brands like IQBar, HOP WTR and our tent-living, brain-loving pal Parker Olson, founder of Forij.

Many has been the day when I prepare to create with a big bowl of Forij’s delicious, protein-packed, and (perhaps most importantly) brain-boosting granolas. With no GMOs or gluten and not that much sugar (especially for a granola product), Forij leaves more room for vitamins and nutrients. And with ingredients like pure maple syrup, English walnuts, flax and chai seeds, fresh cinnamon, cacao, nootropic Lions’ mane and other cognitive-caring (and non-hallugenogenic) mushroom types, the functional foods are as good for your tongue and tummy as they are for your body and brain!

As it is admittedly not always easy to carry a bowl of cereal to work (even when you work from home), I was happy to learn that Parker recently released a set of chewy and satisfying bars that allow you to take the brain and body-benefits on your bike or in your briefcase. The first pair of flavors includes a convincingly cookie-esque oatmeal raisin and a rosemary walnut that is earthy, floral, nutty, and yummy! 

Apparently, a lemon blueberry and coconut-based flavor are on the way, but the debut two are terrific on their own (or when purchased in a combo pack)!

If you want support with supporting your brain, go to www.forij.co and sign up for the 30-day brain challenge and to receive daily doctor-designed brain games and other tasteful tips for better health.  While there, design your own cute and colorful Forijer friend to keep you motivated as you deliciously develop body and brain.

Whether you need to clear the cognitive cobwebs out in the morning or keep the mind moving midday, Forij has the forms and flavors to give you all you need whenever and wherever you need it.

https://www.forij.co

Mucho Biena

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I have been a fan of the stoic chickpea for some time, long before it began to have its “moment.” And yet, I must say that even I have been impressed with the ways in which various foodmakers are using the legendary legume.

Among my favorites has been Biena Foods- the Boston-based, mom-founded, substantially healthy snack food brand that has been packing the perky pea’s powerful protein in surprising places for over 10 years.

Though they were inspired by Founder Poorvi Patodia’s favorite snack from her childhood home of Mumbai, India, Biena snacks are named for the Spanish word for “good.” And appropriately so, for they are as good tasting as they are good for you (and that is saying a lot!).

While many know Biena (as they should) for their roasted chickpeas that come in such satisfying flavors as Habanero, honey roasted, ranch, and the appropriately-entitled lil’ bit of everything, Biena has recently expanded their line of dairy- gluten-, GMO-, grain-, and both pea- AND tree nut-free vegan treats to include two new tasty and healthy options 

The first is a set of super crunch mixes that add such tasty treats as pretzels, almonds, dark chocolate gems, and fava beans (which go great with or without a nice Chianti) to Biena’s famed roasted chickpeas and that offer great taste and protein-packed energy without cavities or crashes. 

The second is a trio of tasty thins that offer all the satisfaction of chips with much more nutrition (thanks to the inclusion of other veggies that your kids don’t have to know about) and a fraction of the calories, making even mindless snacking mindful! In fact, you can eat twice as many Biena thins for the same guilt index as other equally-dip-worthy tortilla chips and nearly four times as many as popular wheat crackers. And with such delicious options as Hawaiian BBQ, Tuscan herb, and sea salt, it will be easy to put down a bag in one sitting- but who cares?Watch for Biena Snacks at CVS, Roche Bros. and at www.bienasnacks.com

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

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!

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

HOLDAYS AT HAYMARKET

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Now that we are (hopefully) visiting others for the holidays it is time once again to get gifts for them all!

As usual, our friends at Boston Public Market have everything we (and everyone we know) could ask for…and more!

From gifts to groceries and treats to trimming, BPM makes holiday prep easy. And not only will you be helping the Market’s marvelous makers, you will also be supporting area entrepreneurs through the “Market on a Mission” non-profit program as well.

As part of its December Happenings series, the Market is hosting such special events as Pine Bar tap takeover featuring Shelburne, VT’s Fiddlehead Beer on December 22, a visit from Frosty the Snowman December 18, and a Holiday CrEATor Market (with an emphasis on the “E A T”) every weekend right up until Christmas Eve! There will also be a sleigh-full of tours, tastings, and classes, including pasta ornament making with Seven Hills Pasta December 17, ornament decorating with Laurel Greenfield Art December 20, and a coffee tasting with George Howell on the 23rd that will help you power through the final shopping days and get ready for what is sure to be a great holiday (or at least better than last year)!

No matter when you visit, there are always plenty of pretty and practical pieces from the enviro-conscious crafters of Peterman’s Board and Bowls, American Stonecraft, and the ever-able artists at HOPe Unlimited. If you have already finished your holiday shopping (as if!), you can still enjoy local legends like Beantown Pastrami, Crescent Ridge ice cream, Red’s Best seafood, and the ever-popular gift-makers at Q’s Nuts (as well as bagels from Bagel Guild for those who prefer to shmear through the snow).

Whether you need gifts for others or a well-deserved treat for yourself, Boston Public Market is always ready to deliver. And as we prepare to give to others we love, a visit to the Market is a great opportunity to also give to some of our most creative our friends and neighbors as well!

www.bostonpublicmarket.org