 Like so many, my friends and I were up before dawn to watch coverage of the Royal Wedding. Our gaggle of eight agreed that:
1. ABC’s Diane Sawyer did a terrific job (not so much, in our opinion, Barbara Walters — did she really have to mention Alexander MacQueen’s suicide as lovely Kate entered the church?).
2. The dress was indeed perfection (as were her mother’s and sister’s — we even gave Camilla a thumb’s up).
3. Thank God Fergie wasn’t there. Beatrice and Eugenie were horribly dressed as it was (didn’t Beatrice look like a reindeer?), who knows what the former Duchess could have conjured up.
4. The second kiss was the one.
5. The Queen left the balcony with a look on her face that expressed either: “Oh these bloody corns are killing me” or “Enough of the commoners, I say Philip, let’s skeedaddle.”
All in all, worth the early rise. We feted the new marrieds at my dear friend Sue’s house with two types of scones, fruit salad, tea sandwiches (salmon and cucumber), coffee cake, and biscuits. I brought the ham and cheese biscuits — which I realize are not British nor New England-y for that matter but my Charleston, SC pal Callie and her daughter make them and they are ridiculously delicious. Your knees will buckle.
Our friend Siobhan made one batch of scones (Irish-style and I promise I’ll get the recipe for them as well as her fantastic brown bread) and our host Sue, who is South African, made English-style ones from her dad’s favorite recipe.
“My dad, Oswald Treisman, would make these for afternoon tea whenever we had company. They would be served warm out of the oven with whipped cream, jam, and butter. I added sugar to his recipe and bake the scones with a touch of jam inside,” says Sue.
I’m guessing Will and Kate didn’t eat as well as we did this morning. How about you — any delicious breakfast for this morning’s festivities? Drop me a line and check out Sue’s recipe after the jump.
Continue reading “Eating to Cook: A Proper Breakfast” »
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Readers, it’s that time of year again: the snow is gone(ish), the tulip bulbs planted, and we’ve all become just a little more willing to crawl out from under our covers on weekend mornings. And that means brunch. To celebrate spring’s arrival, we’ve rounded up a list of our top picks for a no-fail Boston brunch. Our only caveat: do not try this in tight pants.
Click here to see the slideshow!
Extra: don’t miss the One Perfect Meal Brunch at Craigie on Main, as described in our April issue!
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 Photo by Kate Kelley. The dining industry is used to waiting on the hungover (and grumpy) set on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. (We’re sorry!). Sadly, our city’s hardworking chefs, bartenders, and servers rarely get to enjoy a brunch of their own.
But oh, how the tables have turned. We just got wind of a fun new weekly special: From noon to 4 p.m. on Mondays (which are like Saturdays for weekend-working chefs), Inman Square’s Trina’s Starlite Lounge is serving up its trademark biscuits and gravy, fried chicken and buttermilk waffles along with brunchy beverages. Of course, it wouldn’t be Trina’s without the griddled dogs, and for brunch, they serve ‘em with a fried egg and American cheese on Wonder bread. Continue reading “New: Brunch for the Brunch-Deprived” »
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Easter Brunch Picks
April 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
We rounded up some of our favorite places that are featuring special menus for Easter Brunch. 33 Restaurant & Lounge is also donating $3.33 from every brunch served to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Italy. Book your reservation today.
Passover Menu in the Soiree Room
April 10, 14, and 16, 5:30-10 p.m.
UpStairs on the Square
Chef Steven Brand calls upon the flavors and traditions of his years growing up among the great food traditions of a Jewish home. He’ll serve up his favorite Passover dishes for your pleasure.
Olives Throwback Friday Menu
Every Friday evening, 5:30-10 p.m.
Celebrate 20 years at Todd English’s flagship. Every Friday night through April 24, you can order off the original 1989 menu, which features the dishes that made Olives so popular in the first place. And, you’ll also pay 1989 prices, including beef carpaccio for $5.50, grilled octopus with chickpeas for $5.95, brick oven roasted half chicken for $12.95, and bouillabaise for $15.95. Read an article about Todd English’s success in the April issue of Boston magazine.
Continue reading “What’s the Dish?” »
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 Down:2:Earth’s Sustainable Living Expo
April 3, 5-9 p.m.
Hynes Convention Center
The event kicks off with a “Local Bites” Preview Party featuring chefs, food producers, and wineries from the Boston area that are making culinary steps in the right direction: sustainability. Chef Mary Dumont of Harvest, chef Jay Silva of Bambara, and chef Jeffrey Fournier of 51 Lincoln are just some of the guests throughout a weekend any informed foodie shouldn’t miss.
Shucking Lessons
April 4, 1 p.m.
Mercato del Mare, 99 Salem St., Boston
Shucking oysters isn’t just a skill for brawny seamen, Head over to Mercato del Mare with your family and friends to master the art of shucking oysters and clams. Then learn how to wow people with recipes for oysters on a half shell, oyster shooters, oysters Rockefeller, clam dip, and fried clams.
Continue reading “What’s the Dish?” »
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Your Chowder hounds have sniffed down the best culinary events in town. Check back every Friday for your weekly prix-fixe of foodie festivals, cooking classes, wine tastings, and more.
 Extreme Beer Fest
Feb. 20, 6-9:30 p.m.; Feb. 21, Two sessions: 1-4:30 p.m. and 6-9:30 p.m.
Boston Center for the Arts
If you loved Beer Summit at the Castle, you’ll flip your cup for Extreme Beer Fest. It’s all about the American brewers this time, featuring more than 100 creative pours. Tickets are $40 and include entrance, a tasting cup, all 2 ounce pours, a fest guide, and an extreme beer education.
Throwback Friday Menu
Every Friday through April 24, 5:30-10 p.m.
Olives
Celebrate 20 successful years at Todd English‘s flagship restaurant in Charlestown. In light of the milestone, every Friday night, you’ll be able to order off the original 1989 menu, which features the dishes that made Olives so popular in the first place. And, you’ll also pay 1989 prices! Some of the traditional plates available include: beef carpaccio with Roquefort polenta for $5.50, grilled octopus with chickpeas for $5.95, brick oven roasted half chicken for $12.95, and Olives bouillabaisse for $15.95. We love you Todd. No really.
Continue reading “What’s the Dish?” »
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Your Chowder hounds have sniffed down the best culinary events in town. Check back every Friday for your weekly prix-fixe of foodie festivals, cooking classes, wine tastings, and more.
If you still haven’t booked those Valentine’s Day reservations, last minute planning never had such great odds. Click here to book now.
And now for our deals of the week:
 $4 Bloody Marys and Mimosas
Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Grafton Street Pub and Grill
They say laughter is the best medicine. We beg to differ. Grafton Street grants you a recession remedy that includes $4 veggie bloody marys and blood orange mimosas with the purchase of each weekend brunch entrée.
Continue reading “What’s the Dish?” »
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 As everyone around me knows, I’ll soon be leaving my current digs in JP and moving across the city. And it’s starting to stress me out a little—not just the idea of packing and hauling all my stuff, but the fact that I still have a lot of eating to do before I go.
While I won’t miss that chicken smell, I’ll be leaving behind plenty of Chowder faves: Canto 6, Ula Cafe, City Feed, Bella Luna (which has a newish chef, Jacob Zachow) the Behan pub, etc.
And, of course, there’s the Alchemist. Continue reading “Chowder Rave: Alchemist Brunch” »
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 Road trippers, rejoice! The next two months bring arguably the most pleasant driving conditions we get all year in New England (crisp, refreshing temps in the high 50s to low 70s) and, by mid-October, the most stunning visuals anywhere (brilliant-hued, leaf-shaped eye candy).
It’s also just about this time that once a year, every year, the brilliant-hued notion dawns on local foodies to take a gastronomic day trip to some farflung restaurant. Noble plan—if only the target weren’t the same tried-and-true restaurants every time.
To demonstrate that there are journey-worthy culinary destinations beyond the excellent Fore Street in Portland, ME, and Simon Pearce in Queechee, VT, Chowder put pedal to the metal to come up with new and exciting (and appetizing) alternatives that probably aren’t on your radar yet, but should be.
Every Thursday, for the next six weeks, Chowder counts down the best new foodie road trips, starting with No. 6 and working our way up to No. 1—which will be revealed in the November print edition of Boston.
Let the countdown begin. Continue reading “The Best New Foodie Road Trips! (No. 6 Goes to…)” »
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 While Boston editors hail from all over, a disproportionate number of us seem to reside in JP. Land of ridiculously cheap, absurdly good Latin food, sustainably cool vegetarian-ish eateries, the Sam Adams brewery, several legendary Irish pubs, mysterious chicken smells, and perhaps the coolest indie grocery store around: That JP. But few people realize that the neighborhood plays host to another little gem: Ula Cafe, located in the Brewery loft complex on Amory Street.
Working as a freelance writer, I spent the good part of 2007 using Ula as my office. (Thanks for the free WiFi, guys!). I’ve eaten practically every pastry they make (though they’re always coming up with seasonal additions, like fresh strawberry scones) and devoured every sandwich on the menu. Let’s just say that after a few months of this, I had to buy new clothes—and a scale.
So, when managing editor and fellow Chowder blogger Jenn Johnson mentioned last week that she’d dropped by for the first time, I just about screeched, “You’re just learning about this now??” Consider yourself informed. Continue reading “Chowder Loves: Ula Cafe” »
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Like so many, my friends and I were up before dawn to watch coverage of the Royal Wedding. Our gaggle of eight agreed that:
