Category Archives: Food

Celebrate

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Wishing one of my favorites Food52 a very happy birthday! For all of you who don’t know Food52, please allow me to make an introduction.

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Food52 was started by these two lovely ladies. Amanda Hesser, formerly of The New York Times and Merrill Stubbs, a former caterer {and Flour counter girl}. These two set out to create a community for chefs, both trained and novice, to exchange recipes, shares stories and support one another. And what a community they’ve created. From cookbooks to a podcast to an online store, Amanda and Merrill have reminded us the importance of food and sharing it with those we love.

Looking for inspiration? Look no further than Food52. But be warned, 10 minutes can easily turn into an hour… it’s just that good! And good news, they are offering free shipping on all orders placed today in honor of their big day. I just purchased these muffin molds and can’t wait for them to arrive.

I will leave you with their cooking manifesto:

  • If you cook, your family will eat dinner together.
  • If you cook, you will naturally have a more sustainable household.
  • If you cook, you’ll set a lifelong example for your children.
  • If you cook, you’ll understand what goes into food and will eat more healthily.
  • If you cook, you’ll make your home an important place in your life.
  • If you cook, you’ll make others happy.
  • If you cook, people will remember you.

*Photo credits: Food52

Opening Day

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It’s a very exciting day here in Boston as the much anticipated Boston Public Market officially opened its doors at 11 am. K and I are heading there after work {hours are 8 am to 8 pm, Wed-Sun I believe} and I can’t wait. Be sure to check out my Instagram feed this evening as I’m sure I won’t be able to control myself with the food photos!

I remember the first time I went to Chelsea Market {back in 2009} and wishing my beloved city had such an incredible space dedicated to all things food. Little did I know that the Boston Public Market has been in the works since 2001. According to the BPM website “In 2001, a group of food producers, restaurateurs, and food lovers gathered to form the Boston Public Market Association. After years of work advocating for the development of a public market in Boston, they gained the support of elected officials and helped identify a permanent site for the market.” But worth the wait it is as it’s the only locally sourced market of its kind in the United States. Everything sold at the Boston Public Market is produced or originates in New England.

The list of vendors is impressive too. Union Square Donuts, Mother Juice, Bon Me, Cellars at Jasper Farm, Sweet Lydia’s and Sienna Farms. My kitchen, tummy and fridge will be so pleased.

In the Kitchen

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#TacoTuesday has become a tradition at Melrose Place {our city abode}. At least twice a month, on Tuesday of course, I try a new taco recipe. I have about a 95% success rate, with one tragic night taking place a few weeks back with a Jamaican jerk chicken recipe. K’s favorite thus far was a honey-lime sweet potato, corn and black bean recipe.

Sometimes, though, I just crave a basic taco like the ones my mom use to make using the Ortega taco dinner kit. Since my mom doesn’t eat meat, she would use ground turkey. I have realized, though,  that those little seasoning packages just aren’t  a good idea. With a little research, and keeping my spice cabinet full of delicious blends from Ambrosia {an island must}, I developed my own taco seasoning. Mix 2 tablespoons of this with ground turkey, a can of garbanzo beans and some kale, and you have yourself a healthy and delicious taco.

May’s Taco Seasoning

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. black pepper

2 Tbs. chili powder

1 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 tsp. sea salt

1 Tbs. ground cumin

In my opinion, the key to a great taco are all the fixings. Soft corn tortillas, avocados, chopped tomato, shredded cabbage, cilanto and cotija cheese are terrific additions. Give this a try. I promise, you’ll be having a #tacotuesday tradition soon enough!

In the Kitchen

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Happy Friday, friends! First off, I just want to thank you for your beautiful words regarding yesterday’s post. I am truly humbled and feeling quite blessed for having all of you in my life. Now onto my other love, entertaining.

Today I wanted to share my menu from a recent sips + snacks party we held on the deck. In my 12 years of city living, I’ve never had a deck. And now, K and I have a deck the size of our bedroom, which makes outdoor entertaining a must {especially after the winter we had}!

For cocktail parties, I like to keep the menu simple* with items that can be served at room temperature and are easily replenishable. I have been on a mezze kick as of late and thus decided to do a spread of four different mezze/dips with crudité. Each and every time I am putting together a party menu, my first go-to is my collection of Ina cookbooks. I decided on her Tzatziki and baba ganoush but knew I needed to add one or two more. While perusing Pinterest for inspiration, I found a beet root hummus and Moroccan spiced roasted carrot dip, which both turned out to be my favorite. K said the carrot dip was a pleasant surprise.

Dips always need a “vessel” (a term of endearment from my catering days) and thus I had plenty of pita on hand and a selection of crudité. I blanched the asparagus for 3 minutes in boiling water and then placed them immediately in an ice bath to stop the cooking. The result is a perfectly crisp and bright green asparagus spear. For the carrots, I did a simple peel and chop and then placed them in a plastic container with water. This helps to keep the carrots crisp. I quartered the radishes and did an ever so slight sprinkle of salt on top. And for the green beans and squash, a simple chop was all they needed. Next time around, I might omit the green beans and instead do some cucumber spears.

Another catering trick {which is oh so helpful for your guests}, label your food. I had these Moglea watercolor tags on hand and the colors matched our mezze spread perfectly. A little bakers twine around the jelly jars and voila!

I included my *asterisk above because although this spread of mezze was technically easy, it was a bit time consuming. In the end, though, well worth it. Looking to entertain this summer, I highly recommend this delicious and beautiful mezze spread.

Summer Bucket List

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Putting pen to paper to create my seasonal bucket list is how I like to greet each new season. I’ll admit I was 50/50 on last year’s list so hoping the below is a little more attainable. I’ll keep you posted!

1. Fly away in a hot air balloon.

2. Indulge my inner-child with the Harry Potter book series.

3. Fish

4. Explore the Boston Harbor Islands.

5. Master a ceviche recipe.

6. Rent a Hubway and explore all the wonderful new green spaces in my city, including The Green Way, Lawn on D, and The Arnold Arboretum.

7. Brave the Cape traffic and head to the iconic Wellfleet Drive-in for a night at the movies.

8. Explore the Catskills.

9. Work on my tennis game.

10. I am 33/50 in my dining experiences at the Top 50 Restaurants {according to Boston magazine}. I’d like to make it to 40. Thinking I will try No. 9 Park for lunch, Spoke Wine Bar one night after work, Bergamont for date night, Puritan & Company for brunch, Bistro du Midi for an early bite, Bronwyn for a long overdue dinner with my brother Travis and L’Espalier for afternoon tea. Anyone want to join me?

In the Kitchen

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In the Kitchen
Yesterday after a long day at the catering kitchen, I decided to do a little something for me. I made my way over to Bartlett’s Farm, purchased a little blue quart container and walked through the strawberry fields. Item #1 on Summer Bucket List… done!

I had originally planned to make strawberry jam but when I read all the fine print about canning sterilization, I thought to myself, not tonight. So instead, I braved the grocery store at 5:30 pm (to my surprise, the parking lot wasn’t complete chaos) and got myself a baguette, some goat cheese and organic baby spinach. My thought was this: a simple spinach salad with fresh strawberries, cottage cheese and a little balsamic vinaigrette for dinner followed by a sweet crostini with goat cheese and balsamic macerated strawberries. So easy, so delicious.

Crostini

Strawberry Crostini
Here is what you will need:
– 4 1/4 inch slices of a baguette
– 2 Tbs. goat cheese (or more if you like)
– 1/2 cup thinly sliced strawberries (about 6 strawberries)
– 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar (I recommend Ariston Balsamic. This stuff is amazing)

*Note: I made a very small batch. These measurements can certainly be doubled/tripled should you want to use the entire baguette.

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with tin foil.
2. Cut 1/4 inch slices of your baguette on an angel, which allows for more surface space.
3. Place bread slices on sheet pan and lightly brush with extra virgin olive oil.
4. Cook in the over for about 10 minutes, until lightly brown and crunchy.
5. While the bread is cooking, thinly slice strawberries and place in bowl with 1 tsp. balsamic vinegar and stir occasionally.
6. Remove the bread from the over, spread on a little goat cheese and arrange strawberries on top.
7. Enjoy!

And the good news, checked #2 off the Summer Bucket List as well. I’m on a roll!

Island Time

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Nantucket
Driving around my little island yesterday one thing was quite clear… summer is officially here! For all of you planning a getaway 30 miles out to sea, I wanted to provide a few updates to my Island Living guides.

First, a few things to note. Sadly, Trillium on Washington Street has closed up shop. But, you can find some of their product offerings, including my absolute favorite John Robshaw textiles at Bodega. And Sweet Little has moved from the wharf up to 40 Centre Street.

Now onto the new. Whenever planning a trip I always start with where I’m going to eat so let’s begin there.

B-ACKyard BBQ
Bourbon, beers and BBQ near the water… sounds too good to be true! Lucky for us, B-ACKyard BBQ opened their doors last week in the former Captain Toby’s space. I haven’t had a moment to try the food yet but have plans to do so on Saturday night. Just look at their sides… ranchero baked beans, cole slaw, a mason jar of pickled vegetables, and Vermont cheddar cornbread. Counting down the hours till Saturday night!

The Nautilus
Every year there seems to be that one new restaurant that captures all the buzz. A venture between 3 alums of the Boarding House/Pearl empire, The Nauitlus on Cambridge Street is “the place” this summer. The concept is a mix of classic and modern, small plates and feast selections all focused around the joy of sharing a meal and libations together. While The Nautilus prides itself on being a New England restaurant with a coastal/seafood base, their menu inspiration is rooted in Asian flavors and ingredients of the haute street food variety, with a major nod to the tapas style of Spanish cuisine. Tempura east coast oyster tacos. Why yes! Clinton Terry is the mastermind behind the bar and I must say, seeing this man make a cocktail is something else.

Meursault
One thing that is a constant in the summer is meeting friends visiting my little island for a cocktail. This little gem will be my new spot for just that. A charming wine bar in the former Cordillera Imports space on Broad Street, brothers Ethan and Jed Dupree have created an intimate place to grab a delicious class of vino and indulge in a few light bits of delicious cheeses and charcuterie. If you haven’t been to their wine and cheese shop on the wharf, it’s a must. Their toffee covered almonds tossed in powdered sugar are to-die for.

Handlebar Cafe
Since moving back to the island two years ago, there is one thing I have missed greatly… a wonderful coffee shop. When I heard that Jason Bridges and Courtney Nemeth of Nantucket Bike Tours were moving into the former Trillium space on Washington Street, right next to The Lovely and Parchment, I jumped for joy (literally). Although they aren’t open just yet, rumor has it that it will be any day now. My fingers (and toes) are crossed.

I think I have said this time and time again but I really believe that Nantucket has some of the best shopping around. From housewares, to clothing, to vintage to beauty… our little downtown certainly does pack quite a bit in. And lucky for all of us, a few new shops have made island roots this year.

Follain
I stopped into this beauty shop last week as I have been desperate for a new face moisturizer and in a brief 5 minutes, the owner Tara taught me oh so much. I left with an amazing face oil by Shamanuti, a petite jar of simple butter, which I have been using religiously on my cuticles, and a bottle of Follain liquid soap. And the best part, I made a 1-time deposit on this beautiful bottle that once I finish, I can just pop in and refill for less than $10. And even better, their flagship store is in Boston on Dartmouth Street, blocks away from my new apartment. What a great idea. Love a company that makes it easy to be green! And her makeup selection is spot-on. I am obsessed with my RMS un-cover cover-up.

CJ Laing
Truth be told, I’m not really a Palm Beach girl but when I drove by the window of CJ Laing, based in Palm Beach,and saw their beautiful ikat jackets, I instantly fell in-love. This beautiful little shop has a wonderful collection of jackets, embroidered tops, shorts, dresses, Stubbs & Wootton shoes and a killer jewelry selection. Looking for that perfect top to go with your white jeans, this is the place to find it!

Grey Clothing
While technically not a shop, you must check out Grey Clothing’s online store. Her products are all designed and hand printed on island. Love. And the tried and true tee… I can guarantee this is what I’ll be wearing on the 4th.

Sconset Gallery
I have been collecting Nantucket art since 2006 so when I hear a new gallery is opening, I get very excited. When I heard that Chandra and her husband Carlin, who have impeccable taste, were opening a gallery in Sconset, I was even more excited. A crisp white backdrop in an old Sconset cottage at 1 New Street… breathtaking. Art openings will take place every Thursday night from 6-8 pm and the gallery will be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Just one more thing to add to your list while you are exploring Sconset.

So there you have it. The places to add to your summer list. Do let me know if you are planning a trip to the island. Would love to see you and answer any questions you may have!

Places

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One thing about island life is that I no longer have my finger on the pulse of the dining scene in Boston. And so I took full advantage when my dear friend Abby was in town for Wine Festival. I told her I was escaping the madness of Figawi weekend and heading to my old/new city for the long weekend. When I said, where should I eat, without hesitation, she said “Row 34“.

So of course I raced home and took to my trusty computer for a little research. I was thrilled to see that Row 34, which opened last November in Fort Point (one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city, in my humble opinion), is the latest collaboration from the Island Creek Oyster Bar team: Skip Bennett and Shore Gregory, restaurateur Garrett Harker, and chef Jeremy Sewall. For my frequent readers, you know Island Creek is one of my all-stars. Their vision was to make Row 34 a working man’s oyster bar. And the name, a kind of oyster raised at the Island Creek Farm. I like it already.

I wasn’t the only one looking for a reservation for Saturday night… the only openings were 9:00 pm and 10:15 pm. Boston is the new New York! When we arrived at 9 pm, the restaurant was abuzz. The bar packed and the open kitchen and oyster bar instantly caught my eye. While Row 34 is known for their beer program, I opted for a glass of rose… the Gobelsburger Cistercien to be exact. Delicious.

Now onto the important stuff… what did we eat. We started with a sampling of oysters (the Chatham’s were my favorite) and then moved onto bluefish pate with toast, white wine mussels in scallion butter, striped bass ceviche and the highlight of the meal… the lettuce cups with a crispy oyster and pickled vegetables. Our waitress was a doll and was attentive but not overly so. And she made our meal by sending over the butterscotch pudding, which I must admit I was a bit hesitant to try as I’m not a butterscotch fan but it was simply divine.

Row 34 has certainly joined my all-star list. Thanks, Abby for the wonderful recommendation!

Found

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Found
When it comes to kitchen essentials, I don’t have a very lengthy list: a great skillet, a dutch oven, Emile Henry baking dishes, and my kitchen aid. I still remember the Christmas I opened my pistachio mixer. My reaction was almost as good as when I got a Nintendo the Christmas I was 9. I literally freaked out and was on top of the world for days.

One item that I have been on the hunt for as of late is a great pairing knife. I purchased this chef’s knife last summer but it’s just a bit too big for julienning my produce. Last week while perusing the new arrivals over at Provisions at Food52, I came across this beauty. The wood will compliment my chef’s knife and has a lovely story too: the manufacturer uses reclaimed metal from the bandsaw blades of local Georgia lumber mills to forge the blade, and reclaimed walnut wood from Florida to shape the curved handle. Think I will use the tip money from my first catering gig to add this to my kitchen.

Places

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Alden & Harlow
As we know, I love food and nothing brings me more pleasure that reading a recent issue of Food & Wine and planning my next getaway around where I’m dining. I’m one for the details and thus love to find a place that has it all – great food, great décor, great vibe. I love sitting down at a table and instantly noticing how much attention went into every detail of the place setting… the weight of the water-glass, the curve of the knife, the napkin itself. And let’s not even get started on menu design. My all-star list of places that just nail it include: Island Creek Oyster Bar, ABC Kitchen, Gjelina and Founding Farmers. I can now add Alden & Harlow in Cambridge to this list, and you should too. I went on a Saturday night a few weeks back and had a 9:30 reservations. Coming from island life, dining after 8 pm made me feel very hip! The space is subterranean (in the former Casablanca space on Brattle Street) with beautiful exposed brick, great lighting, an open kitchen, a killer wrap-around bar, vintage signs adorning the walls and shelves filled with things you would have in your home kitchen.

This is the first solo project for chef Michael Scelfo, who wanted Alden & Harlow to be representative of the food he would serve at home. And what food it is. Since opening earlier this year, this Harvard Square gem has become what many refer to as a “food-industry darling.” My friend and I started with the ubiquitous kale salad, featuring thin slices of fennel and an ever-so-delicious creamy pistachio dressing. The menu is meant to be shared so we decided on four plates: the golden corn pancakes drizzled with maple syrup and pop corn (interesting indeed); the rye pasta with confit chicken thigh and fig-liver butter and topped with crispy skin; the crispy Berkshire pork belly with grits, roasted kumquat and bergamot cure; and the highlight of the evening… the beef neck that was slow roasted and served with a parsnip puree, radishes and vinegar. For a selectarian (I try to stick to a mostly vegetarian diet), I must say it was to die for and worth every bite. Did we keep it to the basics, most certainly not but wow, what a meal.

The cocktail list was impressive and a bit overwhelming so we both decided on a great craft beer. Unfortunately dessert was not an option (my friend gave up sweets for Lent… who does this?) but I can tell you, the next time I’m in Boston, I’m heading back to Alden & Harlow for cocktails and dessert. Let me know if you want to join.