BostonZest

Fennel Salad inspired by Tammy

Yesterday, Tammy over at Boston Food & Whine was reviewing her Boston Organics Order and said, "I am most excited about the fennel. I have definitely been craving a shaved fennel salad... perhaps with a little celery. We'll see..."

Naturally, that made ME crave a shaved fennel salad. Here is what Tammy inspired for my supper!

I laid down a bed of mixed greens, shaved a fennel bulb into a separate bowl, cut an orange into segments over the fennel so that all the extra juice could become part of the dressing.

I snipped a few of the fennel fronds into the mix for color, ground in some black pepper sprinkled with sea salt and mixed it up.

A taste told me the orange needed help to make a good dressing, so I added a dash of seasoned rice vinegar and then drizzled in some extra virgin olive oil.  Tossed it again and placed it over the greens.

Finally, I pitted and halved a few Moroccan dried olives and placed them around the salad. It was very good.

Thank you, Tammy!

Take a few minutes to explore Tammy's Blog. We share a lot of interests with Tammy but she also covers areas that we don't, like cocktails and kids. She also has another blog about her experience with braces.

Boston Food & Whine

 

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

A Magnolia Moment as April Comes to an End

Before all the petals are gone let's pause to remember how lovely Boston's magnolia trees are in April.  Here are the three main colors in the order in which they bloom– white, pink and then mauve.

Photos © 2008, Penny Cherubino -- for information on how to purchase prints or a license for these photos contact  Penny AT Bostonzest DOT com

Art in Bloom at the MFA

My friend Karen and I played hooky from our usual routine and turned this rainy Monday into a sunny visit to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) "Art In Bloom" exhibition.

The museum describes what you'll see if you attend this festival of art and flowers.  "Objects selected from the Museum’s collections are interpreted in flowers by sixty-three New England garden clubs. Professional floral designers contribute by creating grand arrangements for the Museum's public spaces."

Below is the Wellesley Garden Club's interpretation of Gustave Caillebotte's "Fruit Displayed on a Stand."

And, the entry of my local group, the Garden club of the Back Bay. They  created "a Riot of Flowers" to represent the Dutch "Cabinet-on-Stand" with floral design worked in marquetry.

 

We took a break for lunch, with a Spanish accent, in the Galleria. The current menu reflects the major special exhibit "El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III."

I had a Tortilla Española with a side salad. It was a generous portion,  two large wedges,  of the classic omelette with fried potatoes. The chef prepared it more like a torta, about three inches high, with layers of egg, potato, and red peppers.

Karen had a lovely plate of Serrano ham, goat cheese, eggplant, asparagus, roasted peppers and crusty bread. Both meals were a big step above what you think you might find in a busy museum cafe. Karen's a friend who is most willing to share so we both had a taste of everything.  My conclusion is that there's some artistry happening in the MFA kitchens.

If you missed this year's event, put a reminder on your calendar for next April. It's a wonderful way to wander through the whole museum, reacquainting yourself with favorite galleries and works and finding your way into areas you may not visit at other times of the year.

Incidentally, I think a MFA membership is one of the great values in Boston. Besides entry into this treasure trove of wondrous objects, you are also given discounts on special events, gift shop and dining purchases.

Here's the place to find more information on all these topics:

www.mfa.org

P.S. I always think that cameras are not allowed in the MFA until I get there and find everyone else taking photos. The actual rule is no flashes! I took the photos posted here with my iPhone. 

As a photographer, I hadn't used it to take photos for any purpose other than to make notes, send a quick photo by email or add a photo to a contact.

Last week I found myself without a camera, facing a wonderful shot of an artist painting, in afternoon light, on Commonwealth Avenue Mall. I used the iPhone, worked up the picture in Apple Aperture and sent it off to my editors at the Back Bay Sun.  They used it on the front page. I'll post it here next week after the paper's exclusive use period ends!

It's Jazz Week!

You might have noticed that the city has a bit of jazz in its step this week. That's appropriate because this is officially Jazz Week in Boston. 

Jazz Week is directed and promoted by JazzBoston  but produced independently by participating musicians, presenters, clubs, educational institutions, community centers, and other organizations. It is a collaborative effort by representatives of Boston’s entire jazz community, who have joined together to spread the word and help grow Boston's vital jazz scene. The venues range from performances at well-known jazz clubs like the Regattabar in Harvard Square to a series of free seminars at the Boston Public Library.

One highlight of the week for the young musicians of our community will be "A Kaleidoscopic View of Jazz in Boston" Benefit Concert on May 3 at Berklee Performance Center. This event will feature former U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky. He'll  share the stage with internationally-renowned percussionist Rakalam Bob Moses and young reedman Andrew Urbina.

Proceeds from this reasonably-priced event will support three outstanding jazz outreach programs in the Boston Public Schools— the John Coltrane Memorial Concert Educational Outreach Program, the New England Conservatory Community Performances and Partnerships Program, and the Berklee College of Music City Music Program. Complete details for the benefit concert and the whole schedule for Jazz Week can be found at the JazzBoston website.

www.JazzBoston.org

And, while you're there, click over to the membership page and  join JazzBoston.  You'll spend the next year enjoying the membership benefits and information that will come your way.

Matt Murphy's Pub Saves The Day

For lunch today we hopped the T to Brookline Village. The Daily Candy Weekend Planner said the new location for Orinoco on Harvard Avenue was open.

I checked the Orinoco's website ( www.orinocokitchen.com ) and found hours for lunch. It fit with our schedule so we headed out, only to find that they were having a "soft opening" and were not serving lunch.

Fortunately for our starving selves, Matt Murphy's Pub, right next door, was open and serving. We joined a few other couples having a late lunch and savored a rare, quiet time in this tiny and usually bustling place.

It was cool enough today for me to enjoy a pleasant helping of Shepherd's Pie. My favorite Irish Uncle Mike would have said it was a proper one -  made with braised lamb, carrots, turnips, and lots of good gravy and topped with mashed potatoes. Both hearty brown soda bread and a crusty white bread were available for soaking up that gravy.

Ed had what he declared to be the "very best pulled-pork sandwich ever!" This is listed as a combo of pulled pork, balsamic mustard, and sharp cheese. He also approved of his fries and pickled cabbage sides. (Some of those fries found their way into my gravy for a nice twist on an old favorite from my Rhode Island diner days.)

We would rate the service as friendly and the Murphy's Irish Stout as well-pulled. 

One reminder - this is a cash only restaurant so hit the ATM on the way. They also have a lot of entertainment so check the schedule to see what music is on offer to help you decide when to visit.

Here's Matt Murphy's Website and where you can open a larger copy of this menu.

www.mattmurphyspub.com

 

La Voile to open for lunch on April 30th

Back Bay residents have been thrilled to have La Voile on Newbury Street as a new neighbor. In an area filled with chains and assorted food factories, it is good to add another choice to the small group of places worth our dining dollars.

Now their patio is open. That and upcoming lunch hours may make it easier to win a table at this little gem.

Any night of the week you are likely to find many area residents enjoying the delicious food and the welcoming atmosphere of this French import. One of the most frequent questions fans have been asking one another is "When will La Voile open for lunch?" Now the answer is on the record or at least on their menu board.

April 30th - Tuesday through Saturday - Noon to 2:30 PM.