Got mine to make homemade vanilla extract online here:

http://www.indrivanilla.com/

Fresh, plump, shipped in a vacuum pack, quickly. ~ $1.25 apiece if I recall correctly.

Gotta say I'm enjoying Senora Yanez’s Posole at lunch....

My local MB had the live ones for $5.99/lb yesterday, 12/7.

+1 for what everyone has said so far. I bought my first kit via an ad in Yankee Brew News years ago, and soon bought "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" (Papazian).
You will need ingredients - everyone has mentioned Modern Homebrew, etc, but for those outside the city, each of these stores is manned by a rabid homebrewer eager to share their experience with you.
I'm old, and did this before the internet, if one can imagine. Another great resource is Boston's oldest Homebrew Club, The Wort Processors.

www.wort.org

Go to a meeting, bring a beer, share it with the person next to you. :)

It is worth noting that like previous years, Strip T's is collecting new toys for donation. There's a Target on Arsenal St.

Good people, doing good things, making good food.

My $0.02

Don't wait too long. It was on the 86 board today (5, 4, 3 remaining). I think they only make X number of servings of noodles and broth.....

On the other end of the spectrum from what 99% of the world thinks of when they hear the word 'ramen'...

Is what came out of Strip-T's kitchen today.
Home made, hand cut noodles, Pork Belly, one of the richest broths I've ever tasted, and just an amazing 1/2 egg.

5th'ed

It appears that Indian Dhaba at 180 Brighton Ave in Allston, has been replaced with "Grill Station".

Also, give yourself time to get through the gate/ticket scan/patdown. The closer you get to gametime, the more mobbed that is. You'll also find the bathrooms mobbed inside - plan to go early, or in the middle of a quarter.

I heard they're looking for a cash infusion of upwards of $120k in order to keep the doors open. Personally, I wouldn't support them for the way they screwed over employees in order to buy planes, boats, and generally live a lavish lifestyle on the sweat of others. Seems like throwing good money away as long as the name remains the same.

Tis my choice as well, when I don't feel flush enough to buy Redbreast. I got some at Gary's in W. Roxbury last week.

http://www.garysliquors.com/liquor.asp

A call to Marty's in Newton might be worth it too - it's not far off the Pike.

I have had good luck just talking to the meat cutter at your local grocery store. Specify that you're looking for some beef fat to make Yorkies, and if he doesn't have some on the table at the moment, he'll usually have some by the time you've chosen your flour, eggs and milk.

"Chums" made me smile... :)

A little poking shows some activity w/ the city of Newton for signage and a liquor license and the name Eric Cormier - could it be the same as the writer, etc, from New Orleans? Fingers crossed, dreaming of a Domilise's half and half....

Bacardi1 -
I've a few years experience. A new england lobster that has passed in the refrigerator during the past couple hours (a sleeper) will still cook up fine, with it's tail curled tightly, and will be OK to eat.

If the tail is not curled after cooking, I wouldn't eat it. Jus sayin....

S&S in Foxborough had plenty, even among the hurricane ravaged shoppers!

Ummm, it was even on sale.

Oct 27th, $3.99/lb @ the new Market Basket, 352 West Center St, W. Bridgewater, MA. Take 24 South to exit 16 East (106), a couple hundred yards on your right.

I'm gonna feed it to my family until they hate it.

And so…
The smoked fish has worked itself onto the lunch menu as a smoked fish melt, on grilled 7 grain bread with swiss, tomato, cucumber, and a pickle. Generous serving, well executed.

They are having a 80’s hair band brunch II Sunday Oct 28th from 11am-2:30 pm in conjunction with High and Mighty Brewery. 3 courses, 3 beers, $33. Period dress is encouraged. (617) 923-4330

Their website http://www.aegeanrestaurants.com/aege...
hints at a new menu.

Do restaurants get another shot, or are they judged then dismissed?

"Berman's had the only Certified Cicerone in New England working there"

That may have been true once. But there are many, many Certified Cicerone in New England today.

Franklin County Cider Days are not far, and a wonderful time... Nov 3,4th 2012.

http://www.ciderday.org/

You can't imagine what you'll learn - and taste!

When I see kebab, I think meat on a skewer...

What happens here for lunch is ground chicken/pork are grilled on a skewer.... then combined with local tomato (isn't this the ONLY 8 weeks of the year worth eating tomatoes?)... Peach mustard.... touch of spicy mayo.... mixed greens (including the tiniest bit of fresh mint).... and served on a soft, in house baked milk bun...

That's why I come - to get my tastes awakened, and my perceptions of what I think I know, altered.

The latest Improper Bostonian (with Ming Tsai on the cover) has a full page ad... With the Andlemans and that self aggrandizing spoiled puke Ernie Boch Jr.... smearing Dunkin Donuts gooey glazed carb bombs all over their faces. It's not a pretty sight, and I couldn't turn the page fast enough. No idea what farce they were shilling.

And no bothersome October Red Sox playoff games next door :(

This is NOT to be confused with the Tryst in Arlington, right? (How / why are there two restaurants with the same name that close to each other)?

Start here...

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/467053

"I can't imagine a better example of Things To Be Wary Of in the food department than bargain sushi. "

A Bourdain

YMMV

Deep Ellum in Allston serves brunch Mon-Thurs 11-4

re: "mom&pop deli", if you're in Watertown... try Emilio's

http://www.yelp.com/biz/emilios-homem...

they just do the simple things right.