Food Find: Seasonal Treats

Belgian Chocolate Biscuits are delicate wafer layers enrobed in milk chocolate.  They pop up at Costco at some point during the chilly months, just in time to be picked up for Christmas gifts.

Trader Joe's Jingle Jangle tins are new to me, but likely not to the Trader Joe regulars.  They were gone from the store shelves by late December, but are so easily consumed by the handful!  Before you know it, the bottom of the tin is shines through and your tummy is full of candy coated chocolate pieces, peanut butter cups, and chocolate covered pretzels, caramel corn, and Joe Joe's cookie pieces.  Yum!

Food Fun: Gingerbread House Design Competition & Auction

Gingerbread creations on display on the ground floor at BSA Space (290 Congress Street) and next door at Waterfront Square December 9 - 22.

Food Find: McDonald's Fried Apple Pie

In 1992, McDonald's replaced their hot crispy yummy apple pies with a baked version, and the world grew dim...

BUT, if you should find a McDonald's that is just too small to have an oven on site, you might just be fortunate enough to be able to order one of these tasty dinosaurs of the past with the crispy shell, and the hot gooey sweet filling.  I found this one at the Corner Mall food court in Downtown Boston, where they are sold 76 cents apiece (85 cents after tax), or two for $1.25 ($1.34).

Sure, they've become slimmer over the years, but they are still a tasty treat to enjoy now and again.

Food Find: Persimmon

I've been running into this new to me fruit lately - in a basket at a home hosted afternoon tea, in a friend's kitchen, being eaten skin and all during a class...

This fruit which looks sort of like a tomato, which has no seeds, which is sweet and meaty and tasty, is the persimmon!  And it is a new fruit that Vivian likes!

Persimmon with leaves already removed for easier washing

Food Fun: Kit Kat

I guess this is about as close as I'll get to the cute Kit Kat bar Android figure, Mr. Tall Dark & Yummy, for now, since I don't have any plans to travel out to the Google HQ in Mountain View.

The contest ends January 31, 2014.

Food for Others: Canstruction Boston 2013

"Canstruction is one competition where everyone wins, especially those who are hungry and most in need."

"All competitions are governed by a standardized set of rules and regulations.  Each city’s entries are judged in a number of amusing categories.  All the local winners travel (on slide photography) to a panel of celebrated jurors who choose the year’s top winner in each category at the AIA Convention in May of each year.  The public is invited to come and see the giant canned art exhibitions on display in each city.  The structures are dismantled at the close of every exhibition and the thousands of pounds of food generated from each event are donated to the local food bank."

"The exhibit is open to the public at the BSA | Space & the Atlantic Wharf Building located at 290 Congress Street in Boston."

Upon decanstruction on November 2, 2013, the food used in the structures will be donated to the Merrimack Valley Food Bank.

Source: Canstruction Boston

Cronuts in Boston!

Well, actually, they were advertised as Crumbnuts at Crumbs Bake Shop by Dewey Square, but either way, they are still a cross between the croissant and donut, as are the originals of the "cronuts" craze of New York City.  Available in powdered sugar, cinnamon and sugar, or stuffed with Bavarian cream for $2.95, I went with the cinnamon & sugar version.  Crunchy sugar crystals, buttery layers, it was yummy, and something different.

Crumbs' $2.95 Crumbnut

Sam LaGrassa's Potato Salad

In honor of their 45th anniversary, Sam LaGrassa's threw themselves a little party and gave everyone a 45% off discount on Monday, September 9th, 2013 from 11am - 3:30pm.

Happy Anniversary!

And thanks for the Chicken Roasted Vegetable on Ciabatta Platter with french fries and your most wonderful potato salad for $9.35 ($11.95 + $3.95, discounted, plus tax).

The french fries are the steak fries sort, but what I long for when I hear the name "Sam LaGrassa's" is their sweet, chunky potato salad; yellow tinged and lightly speckled with shredded carrots.  Yum!

Sam LaGrassa's yummy potato salad

Close to Home

Close to Home

Sunday, September 8, 2013, 6pm

Classic Gin Rickey Cocktail

Cold River Gin, Freeport, Maine with Ginger Beer and Fresh Lime

Pan-Seared Bay of Fundy Diver Scallops

Freitas Farm Heirloom Tomato with Herb Butter Sauce

Sakonnet Gewurztraminer

Little Compton, Rhode Island

Berkshire Roast Pork Tenderloin

with Garlic Confit and Bacon
Connors Farm Roasted Radishes
and Marble Potatoes, Charred Onion Vinaigrette

Bedell Merlot

North Fork, Long Island, New York

Silverbrook Farm Kale and Raw Vegetable Salad

with Vermont Creamery Goat Cheese Dressing

Walpole Sweet Cream Ice Cream

Walpole, New Hampshire
Topped with Sapling Maple Liqueur
Brattleboro, Vermont

Original and Whole Wheat Parker House Rolls
with Vermont Creamery Butter with Celtic Sea Salt

- $49 per person, plus tax and gratuity -
Reservations required 617-725-1600

Fair Trade - Ben & Jerry's

When I think of Fair Trade, I never would have guessed Ben & Jerry's!  But I attended a free Fair Trade BBQ held at Ten Thousand Villages on August 8th, and one of the handful of stations were manned by Ben & Jerry's, offering two flavors of ice cream for our enjoyment - Cherry Garcia, and something with coffee.

Turns out that over a period of 4-5 years, they have transitioned the primary ingredients of their products to Fair Trade sources:
>Cocoa
>Vanilla
>Coffee
>Bananas
>Sugar

Now they are working on the "chunks" in their ice cream.

How admirable!

Work Food Rule #1

Work Food Rule #1 - when a co-worker offers you sweets that her grandmother made, accept with great enthusiasm!

Morracan (I think) sweets

Fork Lift Food Fest 2013

I think I hit the jackpot at the Fork Lift Food Fest, a sub-component of the (hopefully, first annual) Outside the Box Music & Performing Arts Festival sponsored in large part by founder and philanthropist Ted Cutler. According to the participating restaurants list on the official website, Scampo was scheduled for Friday. Now, I like Scampo – I had a very good Restaurant Week experience there just this prior March. But with the current heat wave forecasting Friday to be the hotter of the two weekdays of the food fest, I thought I’d play smart and check it out today instead. 

I braved the overhead sun and muggy weather with my shade hat firmly tied on… and found the tented area on City Hall Plaza to be rather sparsely populated.  Good for me.  Bad for them.  The heat must have kept the crowds away as it did my friend who told me “I don’t plan on going to City Hall to roast.” 

Chart House Boston

Since I thought I had read somewhere that the food tickets ($1 each) were sold in increments of 5 and that each taste was priced at 1-5 food tickets, I did a quick walk through of the tents first, so I wouldn’t over-convert my dollars for tickets.  Turns out I was wrong though, as the ladies at my first  Food, Soda & Water Tickets stand was more than willing to sell me as many or as few food tickets my heart desired.

Avocado Crab Mango Stack 4 tix

During my grand tour, the station with the longest line (5 people deep) was Scampo at the Liberty Hotel.  I checked out the menu – Chef Lydia Shire’s Lobster Sausage with Crispy Pork Cracklin’s 4 Tickets – ding, ding, ding!  The aroma of warm melted butter filled the air…  A quick run to the ticket stand, a short wait in line, and one of those big, fat, glistening sausages threatening to jump out of the beautifully toasted bun was mine!

Lydia and her Lobster Sausage 4 tix

I hid myself in the shade of one of several umbrella-ed tables, and bit.  Juices flowed and chunks of crustacean were proudly exposed.  (And my plate blew away – oops!)  Yup, the winner was here.

Having overheard Lydia tell another diner that this was the only day they’d be at the festival, I was tempted to buy a second and to stick it in the freezer for later… but instead, I bought another and took it to a friend who worked close by.  There is joy in sharing delicious food, you know!

Jasper White's cooking demo is about to begin

FYI -

Hours:
Thursday, July 18th – 11am – 9pm
Friday, July 19th – 11am – 9pm
Saturday, July 20th – 11am – 9pm
Sunday, July 21st (grand finale!) – 11am – 5pm

Cost:
Entrance – free
Food – Tasting tickets are sold for $1 each – I think they had a credit card machine… but I paid cash, so I’m not 100% sure

Facilities:
Portapotties were set up against the side of the Government Center T station

To give you some ideas of the prices here –
Shake Shack’s Shack Burger (aka Cheeseburger) 5 tickets
State Room’s Spicy Chinese Chicken Salad, Crispy Wonton Chip, Hoisin Ginger Sauce 3 tickets
Isabelle’s Curly Cakes cupcakes ranged from 3-5 tickets

And I think the cheapest drink option at 1 ticket was at Olde Thyme Franks, in case you aren’t carrying your water bottle.

Tips:
Bring a hat
Bring water
Bring money/credit card
Bring your appetite
Bring wet naps – great for cleaning those fingers!

I bet it is going to be busier this weekend, despite the heat, since most folk won’t be stuck at work.

What would you do-oo-oo... for a Harvey Bar?

Today was day #1 of 3 straight days of Hood Harvey Bar giveaways!  Perfect for the current Boston heatwave!

There's two more days of this, supposedly from 11am - 3pm, although the pedal pusher I interacted with had told me that at 1:40pm I was fortunate to have come by on their last trip of the day!

If you're up for a cool treat, keep an eye out for the bow-tie wearing cyclists or the red-Hood-shirted ladies lugging large cooler packs around the City Hall Plaza.

Source: http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2013/07/17/free-ice-cream-city-hall-plaza-hood-harvey-bars/#ss__357717__5__ss

Coconut Rice Treats

From what I’ve read about coconut oil, it is a relatively healthy fat despite the fact that it contains a large quantity of saturated fats.  It should be stored at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator.  As it has a rather melting point at 76-78 F, it may melt in the summer months and re-solidify during the other seasons.  But whether solid white or clear liquid, it is fine.  To use it as a liquid, it may be easily melted in a warm water bath.

My interest in this new-to-me fat is due to the bottle of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil that sits in my cupboard.  We picked it up for a smoothie recipe several months ago and there it remains.  But then I ran across a recipe for Coconut Rice Treats, and so I thought, why not?

I’ve made a few changes to the recipe.  I nixed the toasted shredded coconut since I didn’t have any and the recipe had neglected to include it in the instructions, so I didn’t know whether it should be mixed in with the Rice Krispies or sprinkled on top.  And I didn’t have any cardamom, which turns out to be a pretty pricey spice (about $16 for a little jar at my local Shaw’s) so I replaced it with half cinnamon and half ginger.  I also sprinkled in a little more cereal, but not enough to make a real difference.

The results looked just like your basic Rice Krispy Treats, but to one taster, it was like “a taste of heaven!”  It also helped that I had taken it to a picnic on a warm summer day, as another commented that it was like it had just been “freshly made.”

So, if you want to make Rice Krispy Treats that are just a little special, this is a good recipe to have in your repertoire.

Coconut Rice Treats
by Chef Ann Moynihan

Serves 8

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil
4 cups mini marshmallows
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
pinch salt
5 cups rice cereal
1 cup shredded coconut, toasted

Directions

1.Grease a 13 x 9 pan.
2.In a large pot, over low heat, melt the coconut oil. Add the marshmallows and stir to melt. Add the cardamom and salt, then stir to incorporate.
3.Remove from the heat and add the cereal. Stir to coat and then press into the prepared pan. Cool, cut and serve.

Source:  http://bostonchefs.com/recipe/coconut-rice-treats/

Vivian's Notes:
1) Tasted just great without the shredded coconut
2) In place of the 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom, I used 1/16 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/16 teaspoon ground ginger

ROLO Pretzel Delights

I was introduced to this yummy and easy candy recipe by a co-worker who made some for her boss' birthday; fortunately he offered me one as he passed by my cubicle.

They are sweet with a bit of saltiness, chewy with a bit of crisp and crunch.  Basically, they are yummy!  Serve at room temperature.

I made mine in the toaster oven with almonds since that's what I happen to have around the house.

ROLO Pretzel Delights

Ingredients:
Small pretzels
ROLO Chewy Caramels in Milk Chocolate
Pecan halves

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
Place one pretzel for each pretzel treat desired on prepared sheet. Top each pretzel with one unwrapped ROLO Chewy Caramel in Milk Chocolate.
Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until caramel piece begins to soften, but not melt. Remove from oven; top with either pecan half or additional pretzel. Cool completely.

Microwave directions:
Line microwave-safe plate with wax paper.
Place up to 6 pretzels on plate and top each pretzel with one unwrapped ROLO Chewy Caramel in Milk Chocolate.
Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 30 seconds or until caramel has softened slightly. If necessary, microwave at MEDIUM an additional 10 seconds.* Carefully slide parchment paper and pretzels onto countertop. Top with either a pecan half or additional pretzel. Cool completely.

*Some caramels are a bit firmer and require additional heating.

SOURCE: http://www.hersheys.com/rolo/recipes.aspx?id=8631&name=ROLO-Pretzel-Delights

Food Truck Recognition

Given that the common consensus of the Boston dining scene is that it is typically rated behind that of other larger metropolitan cities such as New York City, consider my pride and amazement at running across a list where Boston was not only the first of the 7 listed in "These Gourmet Food Trucks Are Worth Following" but the last!  Yes, Boston was well represented with 2 of our terrific food trucks making Reader's Digest's list, despite the relative newness of the whole Food Truck scene in our fair city.

Clover Food Lab, with their yummy Chickpea fritter sandwich

The Chicken and Rice Guys, with their short to the point menu

Cakeology

"People respond most to food."

Uh, yeah.  That's why I stopped when I spotted a sign that said "Free cake pops when you say 'I love Cakeology'."

I was indeed presented with a cute Bruins decorated cakepop when I read that note out loud.  I also discovered that the Washington Street shop neighboring the newest of the Cheeseboy nation is going to be the new storefront of Cakeology as there is way more foot traffic there, while the original nearby Province Street location will be the source of all its fresh baked goods.

Wise move, Cakeology, wise move...

Taste of Fort Point Channel 2013

While last year's event was rather hot, yet otherwise ideal weatherwise, this year's Taste on June 13th was cloudy and damp the whole time through.  But Bostonians are a hardy bunch, and we like free food.  So, the crowd was significant and peppered with those who were up for the challenge of juggling an umbrella in one hand and samples in the other.

Me, I decided to keep my hands free with a rain jacket on my back and a wide brim head keeping my glasses dry.  Smart move, I thought, especially when the the table with the longest and slowest moving line yielded two plates of tasty treats after a wait of 15 minutes... thanks MCCA, for being the last to close up shop despite the intensifying rain!

Goodies from the MCCA station

Line for the MCCA table as I was leaving the festival

Chocolate Dipped

I recently went on a hunt for an elusive treat - the chocolate dipped fruit - and here are my findings!

Easy to come to mind for anyone who has been at the receiving end of a bouquet of fruit cut-outs and chocolate dipped strawberries is Edible Arrangement.  In addition to delivery, they have actual storefronts where they offer Grab & Go options such as their Gourmet Chocolate Dipped Fruit -

Per Piece
$2.50 for fruit dipped in chocolate
(Apple wedges, banana slices, pineapple daisy, orange slices, strawberries)
$3.00 when decorated with additional toppings
(crushed almonds, sliced almonds, shaved coconut, chocolate chips)

6 for $16 chocolate/ $20 dipped
12 for $29/$39

When wandering the Quincy Market food court, you're sure to notice Berry Twist, with their eye catching scoops of ice cream and decorated caramel apples.  They also have chocolate dipped strawberries, enrobed in either milk chocolate or white chocolate and drizzled with the alternative.

$2.80 for one
$9.35 for a kabob (5 ct)

As you pass by a Godiva Chocolatier, you may per chance happen upon someone freshly dipping strawberries.  Theirs are extra large - they weigh them to make sure they qualify for such a title - but there's a range for what they consider extra large, so if possible, I'd pick my precise berry, particularly since they are each $7 apiece.  Yes... whoa!

The most affordable optionthat I've spied thus far is available via Catering at Boston Kebab House.  They, however, require a 24 hour advance notice, and the smallest order is 12.

$1.25 each long-stem California strawberry covered with semi-sweet belgian chocolate.

A Taste of Faneuil Hall

Just saying...

Scooper Bowl 2013's Coming!

Lately I've been seeing signs of the coming of the Jimmy Fund's annual Scooper Bowl fundraiser.

Can't wait!

First, the nitty gritty -

June 4 — 6, 2013

Noon — 8 p.m.

City Hall Plaza, Boston

Second, the price:

$10 for adults

$5 for ice cream eaters ages 3-9

Third, the discount option I spotted:

Text SUN to 56512
for $1 off admission and event alerts

Enjoy!

Welcome Walgreens!

Walgreens opened a new flagship store in Downtown today in the old Borders Bookstore spot by the Boston Irish Famine Memorial.  If you are familiar with that location, you know that it is rather spacious.

The new store has used the space well.  The little second floor space to the left of the entrance that once offered additional seating for the cafe located within Borders now houses a separate liquor retail area, which puts this place ahead of its competitors.  Not that there is anyone on equal footing with this new shop. It is in fact a Walgreens on steroids, as in addition to the normal convenience items, cosmetics, and pharmacy, they want to be our one stop shop where we can easily pick up lunch in the same fell swoop as our tissue, office snacks, and Boston souvenir t-shirt.

For food options, they not only have the ubiquitous pre-prepared sandwiches and pre-packed pasta and fruit salads, they also have an inhouse sushi bar, bakery, and you can pick up a froyo or a smoothie in your choice of two sizes for the set price of $3.99/$4.99.

One non-food item that perked my interest was that they have flatbed scanners available at the photo gift kiosks.  Cool!

Food Trucks Spring 2013

The food trucks are back in town!  Or more precisely, at the island at the intersection of Milk Street and Kilby Street.

Mondays:

Mondays: Sweet Tomatoes Pizza and Bone Daddy Burgers

Sweet Tomatoes Pizza

Bone Daddy Burgers

Monday Evening Snack - The Cookie Monstah

Tuesdays:

Tuesdays: Fugu Foods and Shuckin' Truck

Fugu Foods

Shuckin' Truck

Shuckin' Truck

Wednesdays:

Wednesdays - Benny's Crepe Cafe

Benny's Crepe Cafe

Wednesdays - SNS BiryaniPark

SNS BiryaniPark

Thursdays:

Thursdays: Momogoose3 and Redbones Barbeque

(Unfortunately Redbones BBQ had run out of food by the time of my visit, and had thus removed their menu from view.)

Momogoose3

Momogoose3

Momogoose3

Momogoose3

Momogoose3

Fridays:

Fridays: Chubby Chickpea and The Taco Truck

Chubby Chickpea

The Taco Truck