I'm not a coffee drinker, though I know many who are. But Starbucks most recent deal peaks even my interest!
From May 5 - 14
From 3pm - 6pm
Half off any Frappaccino blended beverage
Yeah, Happy Hour Starbucks style!
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
App Find: GoPapaya
I was at a restaurant for dinner one evening several months ago and noticed that they were advertising this new-to-me app called GoPapaya. When I got home, I hopped online to check it out.
From the point of view of a diner, as a last minute reservation system, GoPapaya gives me the opportunity to see if there are any restaurants offering a discount to get me to eat there tonight. Within a half hour, to be precise. When I'm feeling rather flexible (or when I'm being a procrastinator), this is a terrific app to have!
On the other side of things, GoPapaya helps the restaurants that it partners with to offer potential customers a temporary special deal in the hopes of filling their seats during downtimes, when things just aren't at busy as they would like it.
I have since used GoPapaya a handful of times, most often in a neighborhood with several partner restaurants within walking distance. I pull up GoPapaya, take a look to see who is currently offering a discount, refer to the menus if necessary, make the reservation I prefer, and off I go to yet another discounted meal!
Last week, GoPapaya widened its repertoire with a newly launched take-out feature offering discounted takeout! And to celebrate, they are offering a free entree ($20 max) on our first GoPapaya takeout through May 8th.
Well, actually, I already got reimbursed for mine... I emailed them (rewards@gopapaya.mobi, subject: Free entree) a picture of my receipt from my first GoPapaya take out order (deadline for this action - May 8th), and they've already sent me a PayPal payment (alternatively you may opt for an Amazon gift card) for the full amount.
If the thought of free or discounted food has peaked your interest, if you like, when you register, you may also use my referral/invitation code (VIV5771) to get credited $10 in Rewards. In turn, this will also earn me $10 in Rewards.
Rewards may be redeemed for either Amazon gift cards or PayPal payments once you accrue a minimum of $10. Usage of the app will also earn you Rewards credit, so fear not if you don't want to invite anyone, or if you just want to keep this app to yourself.
Additional info:
GoPapaya is available for free both on GooglePlay and iTunes
Reservations for Parties of up to 6, depending on the restaurant
No Credit Card Needed
Discount does not apply on Alcohol - because we're in Massachusetts
Oh, only in vicinity of Boston currently
GoPapaya's website
Boston Globe Article about GoPapaya
On the other side of things, GoPapaya helps the restaurants that it partners with to offer potential customers a temporary special deal in the hopes of filling their seats during downtimes, when things just aren't at busy as they would like it.
I have since used GoPapaya a handful of times, most often in a neighborhood with several partner restaurants within walking distance. I pull up GoPapaya, take a look to see who is currently offering a discount, refer to the menus if necessary, make the reservation I prefer, and off I go to yet another discounted meal!
Last week, GoPapaya widened its repertoire with a newly launched take-out feature offering discounted takeout! And to celebrate, they are offering a free entree ($20 max) on our first GoPapaya takeout through May 8th.
Well, actually, I already got reimbursed for mine... I emailed them (rewards@gopapaya.mobi, subject: Free entree) a picture of my receipt from my first GoPapaya take out order (deadline for this action - May 8th), and they've already sent me a PayPal payment (alternatively you may opt for an Amazon gift card) for the full amount.
If the thought of free or discounted food has peaked your interest, if you like, when you register, you may also use my referral/invitation code (VIV5771) to get credited $10 in Rewards. In turn, this will also earn me $10 in Rewards.
Rewards may be redeemed for either Amazon gift cards or PayPal payments once you accrue a minimum of $10. Usage of the app will also earn you Rewards credit, so fear not if you don't want to invite anyone, or if you just want to keep this app to yourself.
Additional info:
GoPapaya is available for free both on GooglePlay and iTunes
Reservations for Parties of up to 6, depending on the restaurant
No Credit Card Needed
Discount does not apply on Alcohol - because we're in Massachusetts
Oh, only in vicinity of Boston currently
GoPapaya's website
Boston Globe Article about GoPapaya
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Free Cone Day 2017!
With April comes the much anticipated annual Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day!
This year, with it also came April Showers.
The shop at Boston Park Plaza shuttered last year, so the most feasible location was the store on Newbury Street. I figured that perhaps the rain would keep the crowds away, and decided that a run was in order during my lunch break.
Still, I was lucky. I scored my free scoop after but a 4 minute wait, and when I headed out, there was a line perhaps 25 people deep leading to the entrance.
Noon - 8pm, the first Tuesday in April
Thanks Ben & Jerry's!
This year, with it also came April Showers.
The shop at Boston Park Plaza shuttered last year, so the most feasible location was the store on Newbury Street. I figured that perhaps the rain would keep the crowds away, and decided that a run was in order during my lunch break.
Still, I was lucky. I scored my free scoop after but a 4 minute wait, and when I headed out, there was a line perhaps 25 people deep leading to the entrance.
Noon - 8pm, the first Tuesday in April
Thanks Ben & Jerry's!
Thursday, March 30, 2017
The Boston Public Market Kitchen
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| Chef Vanessa |
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| Chef Vanessa |
However, they also offer a free weekly cooking demo on Thursdays sponsored by Project Bread, which focuses on fast, fresh and delicious recipes. These demos are led by Chef Vanessa Labranche, who is happy to chat with the audience as she prepares the day's recipe, although Chef Guy Koppe was a capable substitute one week.
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| Chef Guy |
Through these demos, I found myself not only sampling, but enjoying, dishes such as West African Chicken Peanut Stew, Red Beans in Coconut Sauce, and Soba Noodles with Stir Fried Vegetables.
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| Red Beans in Coconut Sauce |
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| West African Chicken Peanut Stew |
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| Soba Noodles with Stir Fried Vegetables |
Monday, February 6, 2017
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.
Pricing: 1 for $1.99, 6 for $9.99, or 13 for $20.
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.
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| Self-Serve Mochi at Whole Foods |
Flavors of the day were: Black Sesame, Vanilla Bean, Sweet Mango, Red Bean, Strawberry, Green Tea, Matcha Green Tea, Double Chocolate, and Kona Coffee.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Food Service: The Foodery Boston
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
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
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!
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