BostonZest

Boston Public Library - Our Friday Link

The Boston Public Library system is more than people and materials held in library buildings. It's also home to a great online service center - www.bpl.org.

 

As a reader and researcher, I visit www.bpl.org often each week. My library card and pin number unlock services I would have to pay for elsewhere.

Our tiny city home means that I like to audition books before I buy them. When I hear about a new book, I log on and see whether the library has it available or has it on order. I can then stop in and take a look, reserve it for when it arrives, or ask that it be transferred to the library branch most convenient for me.

When I'm looking for an inexpensive venue to take a break or share with a friend, I'll check the site to see what exhibits and events are scheduled by the libraries.  Many of these are held at the Central Branch in Copley Square.

If I'm asked to pay for access to an archived newspaper article, I click over to the library site's collection of "Electronic Resources" and check if they can provide it for free. 

There is so much more and so many different types of information and services that I suggest you click over and explore the site to see how it fits your life and needs.

Details:

Boston Public Library

www.bpl.org

Spectacular Sandwiches from Tatte

Tatte Fine Cookies and Cakes is the source for one of my favorite lunches at the Copley Square Farmers' Market.

They've added a menu of "Hand Made Sandwiches" to their market offerings. My favorite is shown above. It is prosciutto, fig goat cheese, and arugula on a French ficelle. I'm adding that sandwich to our "Best Bite" list. 

 

I love it because it's perfectly balanced. You taste each element in each bite. I'm going to eat my way through the rest of the menu and will report back on the Mozzarella, Antipasti and Balkani.

Besides stands at the Copley and Prudential Farmers Markets, Tatte has a lovely shop at the St. Mary's T-Stop in Brookline. And those cookies and cake really are very, very fine!

Details:

Tatte Fine Cookies and Cakes

1003 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02446

www.tattecookies.com

When Pigs Fly - Baking with Good Taste and Humor

When Pigs Fly breads bring a smile to my face. They are delicious, creative, and the company has a sense of humor about what they do.

At the Prudential Farmers' Market, I came across this group of people (and birds) feasting on When Pigs Fly loaves. They made me realize that I had never shared this local gem with BostonZest readers.

When Pigs Fly is at the Pru Market on Thursdays. They come prepared with samples of their breads. After all, most people have never tasted yeasty loaves flavored with:

• Chocolate
• Blueberry Raspberry, Lemon
• Sicilian Green Olive with Hot and Sweet Cherry Peppers
• Mango, Pineapple, Raisin, with Toasted Sesame, and Ginger
• Banana, Pecan, Maple, and Brown Sugar.

They also offer some more typical varieties.

• Seeded Whole Grain
• Tuscan Wheat
• New York Rye
• Cinnamon Raisin
• Oat & Honey
• Six Grain & Pumpkin Seed
• Sourdough
• Pumpernickel

We also like their French loaf. It is not a typical baguette. It has a finer texture, nice yeasty flavor and it stays fresh for a couple of days. (Especially if you follow the link below to our special trick for keeping bread fresh)

When market season ends we'll have to visit their shops in Davis Square or Coolidge Corner to feed our When Pigs Fly habit. For readers in other areas, they also have a mail order service on their aptly named website SendBread.com.

We'd love to hear how you use these breads. The flavors beg for creative sandwiches. We'll tell you some of our favorite additions in future posts.

Here's our favorite bread knife. We've had it for many, many years and use it for many slicing jobs. It does a great job on bread and is wonderful for tomatoes too.

 

Shopping Amazon from here is a great way to support the work we do on BostonZest.

Related Posts:

Prudential Center Farmers' Market

How to keep bread fresh

Details:

When Pigs Fly

378b Highland Ave (Davis Square), Somerville, MA

1378A Beacon St, (Coolidge Corner) Brookline, MA

www.sendbread.com

Help for Baby Birds in Boston

A friend called today to ask whether I knew what she should do about baby birds on the ground in her front yard.

I suggested she call the Animal Rescue League of Boston or the Mass Audubon Society for advice. I'm happy to report that both organizations responded with good information and that she has done everything she can to protect the birds.

For the bird she described to the experts, she told me they said "...they are fledglings, and they haven't fallen from their nest; they're learning to fly. They could be on the ground for a few days. Their mother will feed them during this learning period, and we shouldn't disturb them."

I'm not suggesting that this is the answer for every "baby bird on the ground" situation, but I did want to make these two marvelous resources available to anyone who wants to be sure they are doing the right thing for a small creature.

Details:

(Photo: © 2008 Penny Cherubino)

Animal Rescue League of Boston

10 Chandler Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116

www.arlboston.org

Mass Audubon
208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773
781-259-9500
800-AUDUBON

www.massaudubon.org

Boston Cheese Cellar - Roslindale, MA

Boston Cheese Cellar in Roslindale Village is the result of a twenty-five-year dream for the husband and wife team of Kathy Lacher and John Pierce.  "I lived in Switzerland years and years ago... where I discovered that I really like cheese," said Kathy. In December 2006, they opened Boston Cheese Cellar and made their dream come true.
 

They're very happy they chose Roslindale Village for the location. "It's just the greatest place to have a business because the people are so nice." Kathy said.

They picked a store with a very European flavor. On Birch Street, you'll find small shops and restaurants surrounding a lovely interior courtyard that seems to be a portal to a slower time and place.

When you meet their neighbors and read the reviews on sites like Yelp, you learn that Boston Cheese Cellar is dreamy place for the area's cheese lovers too.

The shop carries 140-150 cheeses at any time. "We have a core group of about 80 that we have most of the time. And, then we rotate others in and out. What we've been doing recently is featuring a lot of local products," Kathy explained.

In addition to their great selection of cheeses, you'll find all the things that relate to cheese. And, they have crackers, pasta, coffee, tea, honey, and chocolate. They even sell bulk olive oil and vinegar. You buy the bottle once and bring it back to purchase refills.

Educating their customers and continuing their own cheese education is an important aspect of their business. They are quick to offer a taste of something that may be new to you. They tell you a bit about the cheese and seem to really know their stock. They also plan to hold more events that feature cheese makers.

We've become cheerleaders for Roslindale Village. It's really not that hard to get to by car or public transportation and it is worth the trip. Saturday is farmers' market day. You can plan a trip to the market followed by visits to wonderful shops like Boston Cheese Cellar.

Here's The BostonZest Amazon Selection of the Day

We are slowly eating our way through this book!

Other Opinions:

Here's the yelp!

Related Posts:

Roslindale Farmers' Market & Discovering the Village

Fornax Bread Company- RoslindaleRomano's - Tacos from a Pizzeria

Romano's - Tacos from a Pizzeria

Details:

(Photo credit: ©2009 Penny Cherubino)

Boston Cheese Cellars
18 Birch Street, Roslindale, MA

www.bostoncheesecellar.com

Stanley Loves Sitting on Benches

 

Stanley, a handsome young Bulldog from the Back Bay is our Sunday Dog this week.

You'll often find him hopping up and down from his favorite perch on a Commonwealth Avenue Mall bench. There's nothing like dozing in the shade on a balmy summer morning. Unless it's hopping down to socialize with dog pals and maybe having a bit of a wrestle with a close friend.

Want to know more about this great breed? Here's a highly rated book on Bulldogs.

Walter Cronkite, Sail on Skipper

"I can't imagine a person becoming a success who doesn't give this game of life everything he's got."  Walter Cronkite (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009)

Thank you for setting an example for us in so many aspects of your life.