Food for Others: Canstruction Boston 2016

The 21st Annual Canstruction Boston charity event is one where various architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the Greater Boston area compete in building sculptures made entirely of canned goods. These canned good sculptures were built in mid-October and are up for display at the BSA Space within Atlantic Wharf, the 2016 Canstruction Boston host, through the end of October. After the sculptures are dismantled, all the canned goods will be donated to a local food bank.

We’re happy to announce that the Merrimack Valley Food Bank based out of Lowell, Massachusetts will again be the recipient of our canned food donation.

Canstruction Boston Timeline

Build out:  Saturday, October 8, 2016
Judging and Official Opening:  Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Awards Gala:  Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Decanstruction:  Saturday, October 29, 2016

Canstruction Boston is family friendly and FREE to the public. It will be open from Sunday, October 9- Friday, October 28.

This year’s event can be found within the spaces at 280 and 290 Congress Street in Boston as well as within the South Station train terminal just around the corner from our main exhibit at the BSA | Space (280 Congress Street).

Source: Canstruction Boston

Luke's Lobster Opens in Downtown Boston!

The first inkling that Luke's Lobster was coming to Downtown Boston came in the form of a poster in the window of the storefront that once was Cakeology.  Before that, I had first come across Luke's Lobster as I researched ideas for my DC trip back in 2014.  We never did make it there to try their Noah's Ark sampler, but now Luke has come to me! 

Each time I walked by, I observed as the store came together, as the furniture was delivered, and wondered, just when will they be opening?  Perhaps on a Monday, for the start of a work week?

 And the surprise answer was - TODAY!  They were opening at noon on Friday, September 23, 2016.

Luke's Lobster Downtown - Grand Opening Staff

And in honor of the opening of their 21st location, they gave away 21 free lobster rolls.

The lobster roll tasted great, though the lobster meat was a bit light a portion.  Hopefully that will improve as their staffers become more experienced.  Photos of the lobster rolls at their Back Bay location seemed more generous.

Luke's Lobster Menu

I'm going to have to return sometime to sample their crab roll, stone crab calls, and ice cream cookie sandwich.

Taste of WGBH: Food and Wine Festival - Opening Chef’s Gala Reception

This year is the 5th season of the Taste of WGBH Food & Wine Festival, September 15-18, 2016.  It, however, was my first year participating.  Their Thursday evening Opening Chef’s Gala Reception took place right at their location at One Guest Street.  And if you had ever been there before, you would be amazed at the transformation the space had undergone for this event.

It was lovely, yet rustic, with the contrast of crystal chandeliers hanging up above while flowers, caged chicken (don't worry, they were fake), empty bottles, old meat grinders and rough wood were part of the decoration.

Restaurant and wine stations lined the space with food and drink alternating.  With one stemware per person, compostable utensils, and bins separating compost from recyclables from the landfill, this was a rather green event.

One guest later complained that there was just too much food, as she observed her tummy in the mirror.  After discussing, however, we came to the conclusion that we had agreed on the best tastes of the night: the new darling off Newbury Street - Saltie Girl Seafood Bar with her crispy freshly fried battered lobster perched on top of a bit of warm waffle with sweet syrup and creamy butter tucked between, and the stalwart elegant L'Espalier's Pate de Campagne with Wild Mushrooms and Fried Lentils.  In English, it was a slice of a meaty savory patty, with fresh frisee salad, and these lovely crisp lentils which popped and just made the plate.  She told me that she had learned that they had prepared the lentils by boiling them half way, drying them, baking them, then frying them (or was that in reverse?).  The results were not oily at all, but were lovely crisp crunchiness.

Tickets were priced at $125 for WGBH members, $150 for non-members, or $350 for the entire Food & Wine Festival activities.

Event: Bostoberfest 2016

I passed by Dewey Square today and the food trucks were MIA, displaced by wire fencing and the preparations for tomorrow's Bostoberfest on the Greenway.  According to a sign, tickets are still available at www.bostoberfest.com.

Have fun if you plan to join in!

Thai Ice Cream Rolls are Here!

I've seen videos and read articles about this fun ice cream treat called Thai Ice Cream Roll that is pretty manually intensive and results in long lines.  It looked fun, but I'm not big on waiting for food.

Then suddenly, I found out that not only is a source of this frozen confection opening up in nearby Allston, but there was an ice cream kiosk already open up north of me in the Square One Mall.  Now, I've never been to the Square One Mall, but for Thai Ice Cream Rolls, I was willing to... but my schedule did not allow...

So, instead, my first experience was at Hi B3ar, less than a week since it opened its doors.

We lucked out - by coming in the mid afternoon, there was but one party ahead of us, and after they were done, we had the counter all to ourselves for a bit.  We went blueberry and opted for the Evil Berry, which is much tastier than it sounds.  Each of 10 flavors is offered for $6.95 + tax, and all the toppings you should want on top.

If you aren't familiar with the Thai Ice Cream Roll, they basically take an ice cream base, pour it on a cold metal surface with your flavoring of choice (blueberries in our case), and the mix-master starts mixing and chopping it in.  Once it is good and ready, they start spreading it out thin, then scrape up rolls of it.  These rolls are carefully packed into a cup, and then are ready for the topping selection process.

Eat at Moyzilla for Jeremy

Admittedly, I don't go out for lunch that often.   And I surely do not visit the food trucks nearly as much as I would like.  But, I hope to stop by the Moyzilla food truck sometime between now and Tuesday the 2nd of August to order a Pineapple Chicken Teriyaki meal box with fried garlic aioli, currently called the Chiu-zilla meal box in honor of Jeremy Chiu - a member of the Moyzilla family who passed away recently.

According to the Moyzilla Facebook post:

"All the proceeds from the "Chiu-zilla" mealboxes (to get the full experience, ask for it with scallion rice and extra aioli, Jeremy wouldn't have it any other way) will go directly to Jeremy's family to help cover the cost of the funeral."

Now, if that isn't a good reason to go out for lunch, I don't know what is.

Reminiscing: Hoodsie Cup

 Ah, the Hoodsie cup, filled with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, eagerly gobbled up by children big and small.

I remember the short curvy tongue depressors that came individually wrapped in white paper, which are now sadly no longer included in the plastic sack encasing the double stack of paper cups of creamy brown and white. A plastic spoon just doesn't feel the same...

The Hoodsie was never something I would enjoy at home, as my parents tended to pick up a brick of neapolitan for such summertime treats.  Rather, the Hoodsie cup was the special prize of Color Day at the end of the academic year throughout my elementary career.

And so, when the Hoodsie cup made an appearance at the bbq I was at most recently, I of course had to have myself one.