Connoisseurs’ Corner Broadcast Highlights, September 2014

As promised on the recent Connoisseurs’ Corner broadcast, here are excerpts of the spots...some may be abbreviated versions of the full reviews previously posted, some may be new and fresh.  I am nothing if not fresh!

1. Moonstones in Chelmsford

Chelmsford can add “gourmet destination” to its community resume.

Moonstones has an eclectic menu with appetizers, global tapas (small plates) and regular, full sized entrees.  At our table, we tried a number of things and we started with a few small plate appetizers.  We asked our knowledgeable waiter for some recommendations…how about froze grapes with candied pecans and feta cheese?  How about tuna tataki, served with 3 different sauces on a Himalayan salt plate?  The waiter bragged about the tataki being an award-winning appetizer, and he was not lying.  My mouth gives it an award for convincing me that raw fish can be delish!

We rounded out our meal with a variety of other selections.  I had “Fiery Sweet Korean Wings” and a “Asian BBQ Short Rib” braised with a five-spice rub.  Mrs. Palate had a tofu dish over bok choy, and another of our dining companions, Critical Lynn, had salmon and Critical David had Thai noodles.  Despite our general emphasis on Asian flavors, the menu is broad and varied.  All of us were impressed greatly, and satiated.  By the time we were done, we were already talking about our next time.  Certainly a success, especially in my eyes, where people don’t call me “critical” for nothing.

While I didn’t have dessert at Moonstones, the added benefit of being in Chelmsford is being next door to Westford, home of Kimball Farms ice cream, THE favored ice cream of the Critical Palate, and apparently everyone else on the Route 495 belt, considering the lines at 9:15pm at night.  For your gastronomic pleasure, I post this picture of a small cup of Peanut Butter Cup…literally, the smallest size they have!

A fine meal followed up with fine ice cream…a veritable party in your mouth!

2. MetroFest andFood Truck Festival

September 20 in Framingham, a celebration of arts, food and culture will take place at Bowditch Field, which will be fed by a food truck festival.

§  We’ve talked before about the food trucks…great options.  Some of the providers will be Bon Me (Vietnamese sandwiches), Captain Marden’s Cod Squad, Cupcake City, Evan’s NY Style Deli, Frozen Hoagies (ice cream and froyo sandwiches), Maine-ly Lobstah, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, The Happy Taco, Whoo(pie) Wagon

For $5.00 admission, you have access to all these food trucks, plus concerts and artisans selling their wares, all in celebration of the MW.  While each truck has their own charge, this is a great opportunity to try a variety of delicious items in one area.

3. Cheese guild:  Press release from the Cheese Guild reads in part as follows:

MASSACHUSETTS  CHEESE  GUILD

CELEBRATES  ITS  ONE  YEAR  ANNIVERSARY

WITH  AN  AL  FRESCO  CHEESE  TASTING

AT  VERRILL  FARM  IN  CONCORD, MA

SEPTEMBER 18 FROM 4-7 PM

The Public May Join as “Enthusiast” Members

Meet Cheesemakers from Cape Ann to South Coast and from Worcester to the Berkshires

Last fall, the Massachusetts Cheese Guild officially launched, with membership available in five categories:

*  Artisans: Commercial cheesemakers certifying use of Massachusetts-produced milk.

*  Enthusiasts: The artisan cheese-loving public can join at the September 18 event, at www.EventBrite.com or online at www.macheeseguild.com 

Cheesemakers appearing on September 18:

Appleton Farms                        Ipswich

Berkshire Blue                          Dalton        

Crystal Brook Farm                  Spencer

Foxboro Cheese Company       Foxboro

Great Hill Dairy                         Marion

Mozzarella House                     Peabody

Robinson Farm                         Hardwick

Ruggles Hill Creamery               Hardwick

Shy Brothers Farm                    Westport

Sidehill Farm                            Hawley

Valley View Farm                     Topsfield

Westfield Farm                         Hubbardston

Wolf Meadow Farm                  Amesbury

4. Boston Public Market:

From the market's website:  The Boston Public Market will be a permanent, year-round, self-sustaining market featuring fresh locally sourced food brought directly to and from the diverse people that make up Massachusetts and New England. At the BPM, local farmers, fishermen, and specialty ­food producers will come together with the residents of Boston and Massachusetts to create a new civic institution, a vibrant marketplace that will let people from all walks of life taste, buy, and understand their food, from how it is made and sourced, to its nutritional value, to its impact on our environment, and of course, how to prepare it to make delicious meals that bring their friends and families together.

Located at the Dewey Square Plaza along the Greenway, across from South Station.  They run twice a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and currently feature different vendors each day.  11:30am-630pm.

Construction will begin on a permanent 28,000 square foot building with 325 parking spaces, at 136 Blackstone Street, at the Haymarket T stop, giving Bostonians a great place for locally sourced fresh fish, meats and produce year-round.  This will be a great addition for foodies in the Boston area.

6.  Pickling:

Its that time of year when many of the backyard gardeners are pulling in the last of their crop, and wondering what do we do with this.  While some hearty New Englanders are in to canning, you can “pickle” the veggies without ever boiling mason jars.

You can quickly turn garden cukes, green beans, cauliflower or any vegetable into a nice pickle in 48 hours.  Here’s a simple recipe, cultivated from several websites:

2 pounds baby cucumbers
1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar, if you prefer a bite)
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons kosher salt
6 garlic cloves, peeled (2 per jar/container)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper per jar (3/4 teaspoons total)
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns per jar (1 1/2 teaspoons total)

Wash and slice the cucumbers.

In a large saucepot, combine vinegar, water and salt. Bring to a simmer.

Arrange jars (or other container with a re-sealable lid) on counter and dole out the spices to each. Pack the cucumber slices firmly into the jars. You want them packed tight.

Pour the brine into the jar, leaving approximately ½ inch headspace.

Apply lids and let jars cool. When they've returned to room temperature, place jars in refrigerator. Let them sit for at least 48 hours before eating.

7.  No knead bread:

 This is the time of year when we start thinking of cooler temps and a chance to enhance the smell of our homes with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread.  But who really has the time in our busy lives to mix, knead and beat down?  Jim Lahey from the Sullivan Street Bakery in NYC has come up with a seriously simple recipe, and has become an internet sensation.  Here is the basic method (from the Sullivan Street Bakery website):

3 cups flour
1½ cups water
¼ teaspoon yeast
1¼ teaspoon salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour or cornmeal

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).

Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.”

I say, take it out, put on a cooling rack, and enjoy after cooling, if you can wait that long.  Make sure to have some butter handy, because nothing tastes better than a hot piece of bread with melted butter soaked into it

8.  Orchards

Massachusetts is blessed with one of the greatest gifts on earth…apple orchards.  Not only do I have fond memories of apple picking when I was a kid, but we’ve enjoyed family apple picking for many years.  One of my favorite places on earth is Honey Pot Hill in Stow, Massachusetts. 

Honey Pot isn’t just an orchard, it’s New England!  In addition to “pick your own” (and you can check their web site for what is available), they have pigs and goats and bunnies and ducks, a hedge maze, hay rides and a great shop where you can buy pre-picked apples, as well as their other produce, and cider and cider donuts.  With plenty of parking, you can’t get much more New England that a trip to Honey Pot, or any of the other great local orchards here in Massachusetts.

9.  Port City Sandwich Co. 

I’ve been spending more time on the North Shore lately, discovering all the delicious offerings I can.  After visiting my friends at Chococoa Bakery in Newburyport a few weeks back, my wife and I walked along the water, and after being shut-out of most of the sit-down restaurants, we found the most delightful sandwich shop, the Port City Sandwich Co., winner of the “Best of North Shore” for sandwiches 2 years in a row! 

I was very impressed.  This is a small, clean, efficient and courteously run shop.  They gentleman taking orders was very accommodating with my wife’s food allergies, and the service down the line was prompt.  We dined al fresco at some picnic tables on the water, watching the ships and kayakers.  With a variety of made to order salads and sandwiches, some gourmet choices like Grilled jerk spiced chicken strips with red peppers, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing;
Southwestern Chicken-Grilled Cajun spiced chicken strips with lettuce, tomato and sour cream
The Mediterranean-Grilled chicken strips, crisp romaine lettuce, feta cheese, black olives, tomatoes and Greek dressing

I was really pleased to return to dining on well-prepared and deliciously simple, and simply delicious foods.

10.  Grilled Cheese

As we’ve spoken about before, the classic comfort food, grilled cheese, is experiencing a renaissance.  With food trucks (Roxy’s) and kiosks (Cheeseboy at South Station and malls), now you can get funked-up grilled cheese in Providence and Kingston, RI, with UMelt.  With these two locations, and the Providence location serving beer and wine, they are serving some very funky, and delicious grilled cheese combinations, like the Vermonster-Cheddar Cheese, Maple Glazed Bacon, Caramelized Onions, on Marble Rye Bread and The Veggie-Havarti Cheese, Hummus, Roasted Peppers, Zucchini, Avocado, on Multi Grain Bread, you get the idea that these are not your mother’s grilled cheese.  As Emmajean Holley of the Brown Daily Herald says, “UMelt might be the greatest thing since sliced bread.”

 

 

11. Penny Candy!

Nothing harkens me back to my youth quicker than penny candy.  Unfortuantely, most are not just a penny anymore, but seeing the apothecary jars filled with small, sugary treats takes me right back to the General Store in Centerville, MA, where I spent many a summer day.

So it was with great delight that I found myself at the Wayside General Store in Marlborough, MA (on Route 20, on the Sudbury line). 

Not only do they have a great selection of all the penny candy we remember, but fudge and hand-dipped chocolates, and it also has a great history.  Founded, owned and operated by Henry Ford in 1929.  For great, fresh penny candy, and to step back in time a little, visit the Wayside General Store, and check out their website.