Snacks

JELLY THAT CAN GET YOU PICKLED

Posted by

We have used many words for food over the years, but here are two I have not heard together before- jelly and alcohol!

I have been a fan of PB&J since I was a kid, but now that I am…older, I sometimes seek a more sophisticated sweetener for my legumated lunch.

That is why I am so thrilled to have found Olde Haven Farm!

As it is a family-run farm in Maine, it may be no surprise that Olde Haven uses traditional and ethical techniques to process and distribute its many delicious products. What might be interesting, however, is that many of these products combine flavors and ingredients that are not usually combined.

In addition to their home-grown produce and meats, Olde Haven is known for their preserves and preservations. From authentic salsas from south of the (Canadian) border to mustard pickles that combine the two best hot dog toppers in one to dill-brined green beans and garlic honey carrots, the folks at Olde Haven know how to use old techniques to make new taste sensations. But what may be the most sensational are their fresh fruit jams that, as mentioned before, are often laced with liquor!

In addition to familiar faves like strawberry rhubarb and (of course) wild Maine blueberry, Olde Haven whips up boozy batches of cherry Amaretto, cinnamon apple Whiskey, pomegranate Rosé, and Bourbon peach (which is GREAT on ice cream!), and even a Christmas flavor that is perfect for mull-ing over a gift list. Speaking of gifts, Olde Haven’s products can be combined to fit any occasion and any recipient, regardless of age or tolerance.

From the famed Maine farmer’s markets to your local grocer (just ask!), Olde Haven is growing in popularity thanks to its combination of family tradition and creative ingenuity- Just like a farm in Maine should be!

www.oldehavenfarm.com

HAVE YOURSELF A BRAINY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

Posted by

Have we had enough of the headaches that come with the so-called “season of peace” yet?!

From getting assignments in on time (as I ALWAYS do!) and keeping track of who gave which twin what gift and whether they wrote “thank you” cards (as THEY always do!) to trying to deal with all the un-peace in the world that makes our issues insignificant, overwhelm does not begin to describe it!

Fortunately, our friends at IQBAR have come up with some seasonal selections to support our systems and our sanity.

The new chocolate peppermint IQBAR can easily pass for a brownie and goes perfectly with the peppermint mocha IQJOE coffee, both of which are made with premium dark chocolate and energizing peppermint. If you are not a chocolate fan (Huh?!), the warm and spicy gingerbread bars will take you back to the bucolic peace of your childhood kitchen.

All IQBARS have protein, fiber, and natural ingredients that help brain health and energy and IQJOE gives a jitter-free jolt of power to body and mind. So why do I love these latest IQBAR treats so much? Perhaps it is because they help my body and brain or it may just be that the bars taste so good that I actually put them up and put them out as a dessert tray at a recent holiday party and they not only raised the level of conversation in the room but also were a huge success!

While I have long loved their ever-growing menu of delicious bars, energy and electrolyte drinks and brain-boosting coffees, the latest batch has definitely of IQ treats has helped me stay in more of a traditional holiday mood and will surely be a gift to you too!  

www.eatiqbar.com

EASIER EASTERN ACCESS

Posted by

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

Posted by

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

Posted by

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!

Posted by

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

Posted by

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

Posted by

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

Posted by

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

Posted by

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!