Food Find: Mochi by the Piece!

When I was in elementary school, one of the books they had us read took place in Japan.  And a character was longing for ice cream.  But what was presented looked nothing whatsoever like ice cream.  Yet ice cream it was!  This was my first introduction to mochi.

Mochi is generally a Japanese rice cake made out of pounded glutinous rice, sugar, and water.  It can be filled with sweet ingredients or be made savory.  The kind of which I speak, however, are small and filled with balls of flavored ice cream.

The first mass produced brand I became familiar with as an adult is Mikawaya, in its familiar yellow and black box.  Let it sit at room temperature for a bit so that the ice cream center softens up, and enjoy!

Imagine my surprise when I found out that there were actual Mikawaya stores out in California that sold a wide variety of flavors at ready to enjoy consistency!

Well, it turns out there are more brands out there!  Among them: Bubbies of Hawaii, Maeda-en of California (though a transplant from Texas), and Mochidoki of New Jersey.

A new mochi source has just entered the fray, however, although I do not yet know the manufacturer of their frozen dessert balls - Whole Foods!

I had recently read an article that mentioned that Whole Foods was in the process of adding self-serve mochi bars to their stores, starting with California and Chicago.  So I was excited when I happened upon one of these freezer cases already in the prepared foods section of a local Whole Foods in Boston, South End.

Self-Serve Mochi at Whole Foods

Pricing: 1 for $1.99, 6 for $9.99, or 13 for $20.

Flavors of the day were: Black Sesame, Vanilla Bean, Sweet Mango, Red Bean, Strawberry, Green Tea, Matcha Green Tea, Double Chocolate, and Kona Coffee.

Food Service: The Foodery Boston

While taking one of my infrequent walks around the Boston Public Market, I happened upon something new - The Foodery Boston.  A short chat with the fella stationed there revealed that they were only going to be there this week, if you stop by and give them your email you can get $20 off, and unlike services such as Blue Apron, this delivery service brings you meals fully cooked and refrigerated with Sunday only delivery.  No subscription required.

A quick online search pulled up a few similar services:

Send A Meal - food delivered frozen across the nation (all 50 states) though they are based in Austin, TX

Home Bistro - flash frozen and delivered within the contiguous United States, reheated within 10 minutes

Munchery - cooking kits are shipped nationwide, however their prepared meals are delivered chilled and only available in 4 membership areas at this time: San Francisco, Seattle, New York City, and LA.

Healthy Chef Creations - food delivered fresh either by the meal plan with free ship, or a la carte

Freshly - delivered in refrigerated boxes to a current count of 29 states, with a new kitchen facility opening in the East Coast sometime in the year 2017

Magic Kitchen - food delivered frozen, ordered a la carte or by meal program

22 Days Nutrition - a vegan meal delivery service, delivered fresh never frozen on Fridays nationwide

Fresh n' Lean - organic meals delivered fresh on Friday via UPS or FedEx

Metabolic Meals - healthy gluten-free meals prepared in St. Louis Missouri, shipped fresh to all 48 contiguous states

Local competitors however include:

Cuisine en Locale - 1 week = 4 meals for 2, available for pick up or local bike delivery for $20 on Friday

Cooking from the Heart - healthy meals delivered fresh in pyrex (unless single serve) with a $45 order minimum

Macro-Mediterranean Holistic Nutrition Ltd - Nationwide shipping of fresh and fresh-frozen foods

Food Find: Good Karmal

One of the many holiday treats to grace our palates at work was a lovely box filled with individually wrapped caramels by Good Karmal.  Each chewy treat was encircled by a white slip of paper with its own little quote.

Just a tip - don't stuff the whole thing into your mouth at once.  I guess I just had to learn that through experience... but you don't have to!

Food Fun: 2016 CDRC Gingerbread Design Competition, Exhibition, + Auction

Now in its fifth year, the 2016 CDRC Gingerbread Design Competition, Exhibition, + Auction is a fun and tasty way to highlight the extraordinary talents of some of Boston’s top architects, to challenge the designers to explore a new medium, and to raise funds for CDRC programs.

Architecture, landscape architecture, interior design, and urban planning firms, individuals, and students are invited to bake their interpretations of the 2016 theme:  “Boston, You’re My Home.”

Many cooks welcome.  Please join us!
Essential 2016 Dates:
November 4—Open call for participants issued
December 1—Registration deadline
December 7—Gingerbread creations dropped off at BSA Space by firms
December 12—Gingerbread exhibition opens at BSA Space; auction open
December 17—Family Design Day: Gingerbread
December 19—Reception
January 2—Exhibition closes at BSA Space; firms pick up their creations

The “rules.”
 All components must be edible.
Battery-powered LED lighting counts as edible.
The gingerbread house must arrive on a 18″x18″ base (tin foil-covered plywood preferred) — (This is the size of the gallery display stands).
That’s it!

Heights are limited only by your imagination, and the material limits of the medium.

Creative interpretations of the theme are enthusiastically encouraged.

For one mighty week, from December 12-19, this event will also serve as a fundraising AUCTION.  It works like a people’s choice:  the house that gathers the greatest grand total of donations ‘wins’ the competition and gets to take home the coveted Golden Spatula. The house that gathers the greatest number of bids — of any amount — is declared victorious.

ALL BIDS COUNT!  All bids directly benefit 2017 CDRC programs, and are tax-deductible.  Bids of any amount (in $5 increments) are welcome.  In advance — Thank you.

Source: CDRC

Uno Due Go's Chopped Salads

Stopped at UDG at lunch time and joined their salad line.  The Burrata Panzanella $10.49 UDG blend, burrata, roasted corn, tomatoes, red onion, crusty bread, fresh basil and balsamic vinaigrette looked simple, yet enticing.  It was surprisingly delicious with the crisp crunch of the fresh greens and croutons, and generous with two whole balls of burrata.  Yum!

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.