food4dogs's Profile
Continuing the search for my beer white whales...
I know the Kappy's in Medford had the Founder's - not sure about the other 2. If you go to their Facebook page you can ask to be certain (beer manager does most of the FB stuff)
help in or near The Villages?
Boston-hound visiting in-laws in March and trying to find someplace to eat out a couple times. I know its going to be chain-city which is making me lose sleep already. Bit of a foodie, vegetarian, but will eat any type of cuisine. Everybody else eating out with me will be a carnosaur and not too adventurous (very Yankee stock palettes). The Villages seems to be smack dab in the middle of nowhere (other nearby cities are Lady Lake and Oxford).
Any suggestions I can start to research/map out would be much appreciated!
ISO cookie decorating supplies
iParty also carries a big selection of the Wilton tips if that's easier for you to get to. I was recently at Sur La Table in Burlington and saw a big selection of baking pans but not a ton of tips FYI.
Mixed Beer Six packs
Both Blanchard's (I shop at Revere location) and Kappy's (I shop at Medford location) have special areas / signs to encourage you to do this. Also Blanchard's Revere does Friday night tastings of different microbrews every week, think its 5-7. Tried some great new beers this way (new passion for Berkshire Brewing) and I'm sure other big packies do this as well on some sort of regular-ish basis.
Fresh Feta?
Can't say I've ever had 'fresh' fresh but I'm Greek so pretty particular about store-bought stuff. I like the Dodonis best - you can get it at Kiki's in Brighton (little convenience shop owned by Greeks), Sophia's in Belmont or at most Market Baskets.
Noteworthy items at the Boston area farmers' markets
Not a 'find' just yet - but in a few hours I hope ;) Wanted to let folks know that the fish guy is returning to the Revere farmer's market today (12-6 at beach, Shirley Ave. cross-street). I know there were discussions about when he would return so hoping for some good stuff later today. This is a small market (Hereford Valley, Farmer Dave's, Big Sky Bread and couple other vendors) but has been growing each week. Next week is 'Taste of Revere Beach' with local restaurants like Kelly's providing samples at the market. Hoping next week's find is fried clams ;)
Am I Nuts to go to Clam Box tomorrow (Labor Day Sat)?
As I recall (it was about a year ago and not a holiday though so YMMV) you can call your order in on the way and go to the pick-up window. There's also Woodman's of course but line situation will be the same (again you can probably call order in ahead of time though).
Good luck either way!
Hazelnut flour?
FYI the Chelsea MB does not have the hazelnut flour. For future reference the Bob's section is 4', 5 shelves. I know I recently saw a bag of hazelnut flour (can see it clearly in my mind - for what that's worth) so I think it must have been at the Medford Whole Foods (formerly Wild Oats). Its the only other market I've been to in past 45 days or so if you can't get at Burdick's give them a buzz.
Hazelnut flour?
Not sure if you've ordered the flour or no, but I'm near certain MB in Chelsea has it (Bob's Red Mill brand). I'll be there tomorrow and can double-check (you can call them but its so crazy in there on weekends not sure how effective phone call would be). I'll post back tomorrow if somebody doesn't beat me to it (FYI the new MB has pretty much all the Bob's stuff - bigger selection than I've seen anywhere).
CSA Surpise
I can't remember the name of it (its in threads here) but I've been told its like a Brazilian cucumber...quite tasty. Nieciwicz Farms in Bolton had them last year as a trial item and it looked like an alien mini-melon thing, Alan would dare folks to try it at farmer's markets. Search recent farmer's market threads, think someone referred to it in the one for August.
Sel de La Terre- report and $1 oysters
For folks in Boston, SDLT participates in the Thursday farmer's market on Pru plaza (about 100 feet from their Boylston St. location). Over the course of the day the chefs bring fresh sandwiches, salads, baked goods and some other stuff. No oysters I'm guessing LOL - but yummy lunch fixin's.
Where to buy Pigs Blood?
Just saw that there's a pork farmer vendor at the Waltham farmer's market this year - Burnshirt Family Farm (http://www.burnshirtvalleyfarm.com/). You might give them a buzz and see if they can help you out. The market is Sat, 9:30-2:30 in Waltham Ctr. (accessible via 70 bus from Cambridge/Watertown if you're w/o car on market day).
Discounted Pellegrino
Market Basket has the best price, $0.99/big glass bottle, not much more for the plastic bottle. You can also get cases cheap at a paper supply place on Washington St. (they have a bunch of restaurant supplies/party supplies). Just googled and its BMS Paper Supply @ 3390 Washington (last time I bought a case same price as MB). Not far from Forest Hills if you're T-ing it.
Tasty Chelsea spots
On 2nd Street across from the side entrance to the new MB is the 'mini Bella Isla"...they had a big sign out on Saturday afternoon with lots of lunch plates aroud $6/$7. I haven't eaten at the mini but have eaten at the full-size in Chelsea Ctr. and was happy. Also on Broadway just around the corner from MB (near intersection with Williams St.) is Tijuana. Food is fairly good, sangria is excellent. I find that a little sangria (or other alcohol) in my system makes Saturday shopping at MB all the easier ;)
Just opened -Chelsea Market Basket
Its now safe to shop at the new MB, as long as you go during the week before 11:30 or so. The sushi bar is very good quality for supermarket sushi (and they make a veggie caterpillar roll which I'm addicted to). The fresh bakery is bigger than the other stores I've shopped at (Woburn mostly) and the produce section seems much larger as well. As a Chelsea resident, who's also a relatively health-conscious vegetarian, I can give up side trips to Bread & Circus as this newer MB has everything I'd get at B&C previously.
Any outdoor clambake experiences in Charlestown?
I did a corporate event a while back with Rebecca's Cafe for catering (it was a casual clambake for 75+ salespeople) and they had the Constitution Museum as a location - it was a while back so they may not still have that as a location. We had stuff inside and outside and got a private tour which was pretty sweet. I mean its not Woodman's - but it was still pretty good.
