BostonZest

Bubbles for May!

And, the bubbles we selected for May... (trumpet flourish) ... Franciacorta Brut!



This sparkler, from the Lombardy region of Italy is produced by Quattro Mani. Their self-stated mission is to select Italian winemakers who reflect the essence of the region. They believe in sustainable agriculture and wines that are bottled at the source.

Imported by DSWE, this Franciacorta Brut is predominately Chardonnay with supporting roles by Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero.   

Help us celebrate the arrival of a new month by popping open a bottle of sparkling wine. You don’t need any other reason than it’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Here’s how we began Our Sparkling Resolution!       

And, for someone whose philosophy we support, check out Stephen Meuse’s piece in the Boston Globe, Everyday Sparklers Big on Bubbly Charm.


Keeping your sparkling wine perfectly chilled does not have to mean buckets full of ice and water. This time of year, when we like to enjoy a sip of sparkle on the roof deck, we rely on our trusty champagne chiller wrap to keep the bubbles cool. And, after we pop the cork, we use this champagne bottle stopper to prevent spills and sparkle escape!

 


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Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Emerald Necklace Visitor and Volunteer Center– Our Friday Link

This weekend (April 30 -May1, 2011) the Emerald Necklace Conservancy will celebrate the "Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening" of their new Visitor and Volunteer Center in the historic Back Bay Fens. Henry Hobson Richardson's Stony Brook Gatehouse was restored and repurposed to welcome visitors to the park and serve as a permanent home for the Emerald Necklace Conservancy.

Here's a full schedule of events.

Want to learn more about the men who created the wonder that is the Back Bay Fens. Here are some books that will help you do that.

Architecture after Richardson Henry Hobson Richardson and His Works

A Clearing In The Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the 19th Century

Civilizing American Cities: Writings On City Landscapes

      

Details:

 Emerald Necklace Conservancy

www.emeraldnecklace.org

125 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 (Map)

(617) 522-2700

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Screenshot courtesy of the Emerald Necklace Conservancy

 

Jazz Week– with “Eric in Two Evenings”

Music will be in the air between April 29th and May 8th as Boston celebrates our fifth Jazz Week.

This year the jazz community will honor Eric Jackson, who celebrates the 30th anniversary of his WGBH-FM jazz program in May. The festivities will take place over two evening. “For Eric, Evening I” is an all-star jazz jam and “For Eric, Evening II” is a night of rarely seen videos of jazz greats selected by Jackson. Click here for full details.

   Here's Zurca Circus Big Brass Band from last year's Jazz Week

This is just a jam-packed week featuring outstanding artists, that you'll be able to enjoy around town. And, there are many free and low cost events. 

For a complete schedule of Jazz Week events, click here.

And, for the latest on everything to do with jazz, check out JazzBoston.

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Writer: Penny Cherubino
Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

7 Easy Ways to Enjoy Truffle Butter!

What’s a simple, less expensive way to enjoy truffles? Truffle butter!

Scoop up a dab of truffle butter and let it ooze over an omelet.

 

After securing a fresh supply of our favorite D’Artagnan Black Truffle Butter at Bacco’s Wine + Cheese, we rushed home and began creating.

7 Easy Ways to Enjoy Truffle Butter! Think ...

• Omelets     
• Risotto   
• Popcorn
• Pasta
• Mashed Potatoes
• Deviled Eggs (mix a bit into the yolk filling)
• Truffled Beef Sandwiches - (Ina Garten's recipe here.) 

Or, on anything else you can dream up!

Tips:

We keep our supply in the freezer. Just make little crisscross cuts, before you freeze it, to make it easy to pop out a piece.

Simply replace some of the butter you’d normally use with Truffle Butter, but don’t cook it. Use it as flavoring, melted on top of the final dish.

Give it a try, and let us know what you discover!

You know we always try to think of our Bostonzest readers around the country. Thank you all for reading, commenting, and supporting us by shopping at Amazon. If you are not near Bacco's you can order truffle butter here.

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Related articles

Ina Garten Talks Favorite Food, Dream Dinner Party Guests

Mother's Day Dining 2011

Time to make reservations, if you plan to treat Mom to a meal out on Mother's Day, May 8, 2011.

This is an outdated post, click here for our Mother's Day Dining 2014, Reserve Now for May 11th

Keep in mind that in Boston, this "treat Mom to a great meal day" falls at the beginning of graduation season in Boston with Northeastern University and Berklee College of Music holding commencements that weekend. (Here's the full list of Spring 2011 commencement dates for planning purposes.)

For Mother's Day dining ideas, here are three excellent lists of restaurants with special menus and hours for May 8, 2011.

Don't be surprised if some places require a credit card to secure the reservation. This is the type of holiday when people may book multiple restaurants and decide where to go at the last moment. That can make the restaurant turn away other potential customers, so a guarantee may be needed to reserve.

Open table always does a great job guiding you to the right reservation. What's more, you can just click through and reserve from this list. 

Boston Chef's has a shorter list from their members.

Gayot lists favorite brunches.

Our picks

With a gathering of family members with different food preferences, it's great to know about a place like the Blue Room where they can please both the meat and tater brother and the best cook in the gang.

Sometimes family meals can use a bit of entertainment mixed in with the food. The Top of the Hub is perfect for this. They'll have prix fixe, 4-course brunch and dinner menus on Mother's Day with live jazz in the lounge for both meals. You'll also receive complementary passes to the Skywalk Observatory above the restaurant on the 50th floor. That will give part of your day a 360 degree view of Boston and the surrounding area. 

If Mom is a seafood lover, call now to secure a table at Island Creek Oyster Bar. At long last Boston has a really excellent place to enjoy the best in seafood, in a big comfortable room, with reservations, and service that will make Mom feel spoiled. 

Speaking of spoiled, doesn't the Four Seasons define pampering. They will serve a buffet brunch in the Bristol Lounge from 11 am to 7 pm and open the Ballroom from 10 am to 2:30 pm for a grand buffet. That will include a special children's buffet and playroom. They are offering a bonus of complementary family photos.

And, for the best gift, let her choose something from her wish list. Get an Amazon gift card! You can send it by email or print it out to tuck into a greeting card.



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Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Eggs Overboard! A Rescue Plan

Even if you love eggs, it is possible to go overboard! This is the time of year when hard boiled eggs seem to multiply. No matter how many you eat, there’s always one more.  

 
Knowing that this growing problem has the very real potential of causing needless anxiety– and who needs that– we have selflessly volunteered to offer a rescue plan.

5 Ways to Enjoy Devouring All Those Hard Boiled Eggs!

1. Eggs for Breakfast - Of course! But hard boiled? Perfect when you or a family member is running late. Snatch a peeled hard boiled egg for a dose of protein as you fly out the door.
   
   
2. Eggs for Lunch - Sliced into a sandwich, slipped into your lunch kit (shell-on) for an afternoon snack, or as egg salad– try switching out the mayo for Créme fraiche and adding some mustard and tabasco, to taste.
   
   
3. Eggs for Dinner - Have a quick curried egg dish: heat a jarred Indian korma sauce, folding in sliced hard boiled eggs and steamed cauliflower. Serve it over some toasted naan flatbread.
   
   
4. Eggs Any Time - How about that famous egg recipe from Scotland– “Scotch Eggs.” The egg is wrapped in sausage and deep-fried.
   
   
5. Sides and Snacks - Just say, “Deviled Eggs” at a gathering and heads will turn. Pass a tray of them, and it will come back empty. 

And, if you’re still feeling some twinges of doubt as to whether this rescue plan will actually succeed, take a deep breath, and go straight to Penny’s newspaper article from which this was adapted. You'll find more hard boiled egg preparations. Click here for a pop up of the column.

Related Post: Egg and Cauliflower Curry

Our friends at Serious Eats have collected some recipes in one place for you.

Penny doesn't use a lot of gadgets, but here's one she loves– her egg slicer!  (It's not a uni-tasker, it also cuts berries and mushrooms.)

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Sunday Dog, Althea Jane– Lovin’ Life!

She’s gorgeous, healthy, loves to play, and has landed her dream job as a “Dog Treat Taster!” And, all this before her first birthday! No wonder Althea Jane is Lovin’ Life!



Penny photographed this Beacon Hill girl while she was out exercising her person– Althea Jane’s a great pace dog for a run. In the shot above, she had locked-on to the sound of a bird– one of her many fascinations.



This beauty takes pride in keeping her sense of smell sharp. After all, as the official taster for a new line of dog treats, including flavors like Matzo Ball Soup, she has to be precise.



Her person calls her, "my summer solstice rescue pup"– Althea Jane will turn one, on June 21st.
Well, here’s an early Happy Birthday! from the team at BostonZest.

You can find Althea Jane on twitter and facebook.

And, get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Even if your dog doesn't have a full-time job like Althea Jane, teaching a few tricks can be a great way to bond and solve behavior issues. Here's a very popular book on the topic: 101 Dog Tricks: Step by Step Activities to Engage, Challenge, and Bond with Your Dog.

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Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino