I've blogged about him before... and now it is time to put my money where my mouth is. Who am I talking about? Ron of course... of Ron's Gourmet Ice Cream (and 20th Century Bowling) in Hyde Park. Read Ron’s story here.
As I mentioned yesterday, Ron's has been nominated as one of ABC News’s "Best Scoops in America". Having never had his ice cream, I figured it was time to high tail it on over there to see what all this hoopla is all about.
Ron's doesn't look like much from the outside or the inside for that matter -- just an old school bowling alley and ice cream parlor. So why does Ron's gets such accolades from the ice cream eating community? I was about to find out…
Ron is a humble man who thinks he is the “luckiest guy in the world”. Between his loyal customers, the success and publicity of his business, the amazing homemade ice cream his son still churns and the management and marketing done by his daughter, what more could a guy ask for? I had the fortune of chatting with Ron and his daughter today and thoroughly enjoyed my visit – and the ice cream of course!
Looking over the menu, I struggled to make a decision… so Ron’s daughter gave me a taste of the Maple Walnut (no sugar added) – a seasonal flavor and I was immediately sold. I opted for the kiddie size ($2.75) – which was a heaping scoop (and a half). The ice cream is very creamy, dense (but not too hard), had a great maple flavor and huge chunks of walnut halves.
Ron’s has more than 25 standard flavors and a selection seasonal flavors that come and go with the weather. Ron seems to be very open to flavor suggestions as well. I'm thinking perhaps a weekly ice cream tasting... making my way through the menu? I mean, I owe it to my readers... don't I?
What I didn’t know is that Ron’s has a second location in Dedham (at 559 High Street) – where the menu is slight different and also offers hard yogurts.
Perhaps next time I'll try the bowling... it's been a few years though...
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
What's the hoopla all about?
"Make & Take" for Memorial Day
Having a BBQ this weekend but don't feel like dealing with cooking or prep work? The Make and Take Kitchen in Norwell is shaking up their menu for the summer and offering a special Memorial Day package. You need to call or email them by TODAY though and pick-up is Wednesday and Thursday.
According to their press release:
Memorial Day's special BBQ menu includes Sticky BBQ Chicken, Spicy Beef Kabobs, Honey BBQ Corn on the Cob, Red Bliss Potato Salad, Apple Baked Bean Casserole, Classic Coleslaw and Grilled Strawberry Croissants.
Starting in June, customers can choose from summer selections such as Buffalo Stampede Burgers, Grilled Shrimp Skewers, Tantalizing Tofu or Pork Chops, Chocolate Peanut Butter Icebox Cake, Kielbasa & Veggie Dinner, Sticky BBQ Chicken, and the monster of all party menus, Flank'n'Stein.
Coming in July and August, customers can choose from Firecracker Salmon, Chicken Souvlaki Pitas, Garden Gazpacho, Southwestern Chicken with Pineapple Salsa, Honey Mustard Chicken Salad, Asian Barbecue Chicken, and other burgers and flank steaks.
Also, The Make & Take's Ready-to-Go Freezer is also always on hand for extra or last minute additions. The Freezer includes many of the month's Make & Take selections, as well as an array of additional entrees, side dishes, pies and other desserts.
I have friends who have done this and LOVE it. I have heard the food is good and you avoid the mess and hassle of prepping at home.
The Make & Take Kitchen's flagship store is located at 433 Washington Street, Norwell, MA 02061. Contact them at 781-659-2440. The newest location can be found at 284 Monponsett Street, Halifax, MA 02338. Their phone number is 781-294-2014. Visit both locations online at www.makeandtakekitchen.com.
Speaking of EarthFest...
Boston.com's Green Living section and their Green Blog provide a wealth of information on living green locally. One thing inparticular that caught my eye? How some restaurants in Davis Square have begun composting! Bravo!
They also list out the following organizations for getting more information:
Conservation International
Conservation Law Foundation
Environmental Defense
European and Chicago Climate Exchanges
Friends of the Earth
Greenpeace
International Energy Agency
National Resources Defense Council
The Nature Conservancy
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change
The Sierra Club
United Nations Environment Agency
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
US Department of Energy
World Meteorological Association
WWF
Lastly, you have probably seen or heard the commercials... izzit green is making it's Boston debut at the 92.9 Earth Fest. Check out their site to see which things are good (and green) and which things aren't.
Mmmm... Cake...
One of my favorite bands, which also happens to be one of my favorite foods, is playing at EarthFest this year -- which is this Saturday, May 24th. From the official website:
Presented by Whole Foods Market and free to the public, the 15th Annual Radio 92.9 EarthFest is a celebration for the Earth featuring great music, family-friendly activities and showcase a host of environmentally friendly products and non-profit organizations. Produced in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the event draws more than 100,000 along the banks of the Charles at The DCR Hatch Shell.
Click here for the main stage schedule, (which also includes The Help, The BoDeans, The English Beat, Cracker and then of course, Cake as the headliner).
There is also a Kid's Planet Stage this year and a Boston's Music Stage, featuring local bands. It should be a blast (like usual)... and it looks like the weather should be good!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Even more ice cream news...
It seems like there's been a lot of ice cream talk lately. I've posted a few times about ice cream (Haagan Dazs, National Geographic's "Ultimate Guide for Travelers", new ice cream shops, etc.).
I've also seen discussions on Universal Hub about even more new ice cream places coming to West Roxbury and a poll on Boston.com discussing the Hub's best ice cream.
Consistently, Ron's Gourmet Ice Cream (in Hyde Park) typically comes up in the conversation... and now they are making news again. ABC News to be exact.
ABC is asking viewers and readers to vote for the "Best Scoops in America" and yep, you guessed it.. Ron's appears on this list as well. Click here to read the article and to place your vote and to support a small business owner who has seemed to make it big with his homemade ice cream.
World Vegetarian Week
Begins today and runs through Sunday, 5/25.
Did you know?
- The average vegetarian saves the lives of 95 animals per year.
- The average vegetarian is 10 to 20 pounds lighter than a comprable meat-eater.
- Many vegetarians report that after cutting meat out, they feel better, have clearer skin and have more energy.
Peta's Top 10 Reasons to become a vegetarian.
Pledge to be a vegetarian for 7 days.
Boston Restaurants honoring WVW by offering veggie specials.
Get a free veggie burger from Johnny Rockets this week.
Watch a YouTube video on WVW.
Some reasons why it's better for the environment to eat vegetarian.
And lastly, some interesting statistics from REALITIES 1989, which are facts excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize nominated "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins.
PS - Don't forget about yesterday's beef recall!!!!
Hotdog Poll
Well, the results are in... and the general majority of folks (47%) who voted think...
Putting mayo on a hotdog is downright disgusting!
26% said "mmm... that sounds good!"
13% thought it was "thinking outside the box"
And 13% said "who doesn't???"
I guess I need to give the Husband some credit -- considering one quarter of you [who voted] thought the concoction sounded good. Sickos...
Friday, May 16, 2008
Tasting Sage
This past Friday night was DN (Date Night), so the Husband and I headed to Sage, at 1395 Washington Street in the South End. Sage has been a staple in the North End food scene for many years... and is a place I have always wanted to try, but never felt like dealing with the few tables and long lines. When I heard that they moved to the South End -- and to a larger space -- I got very excited and finally booked some ressies for us a few weeks ago.
It was a rainy nights, so we opted to valet it -- which we probably would have done anyway -- though, this part of the South End is not awful for parking. We were seated immediately and were offered a table in either the front window (in the bar area) or a table in the dining room. We opted for the interior, as the rain was sort of depressing.
I had looked at the menu on-line before we went out and took particular interest in the tasting menu; however, that said... past experience has taught me that restaurants do not do a very good job at keeping their websites current. I cannot tell you how often I run into outdated menus; it is very annoying. So, it was a nice surprise to see that "Today's Tasting Menu" was exactly the same menu that appeared on the Sage website.
After a little coaxing, I convinced the Husband to do the tasting as well... but he declared it my "Mother's Day Dinner" (from a cash-spending perspective). Which was fine by me... as long as I got the dishes I had been thinking about all day! The tasting menu is priced at $65 per person, with an additional $25 per person for wine pairing.
We both decided to start with a cocktail, despite the fact that we were doing the wine pairing with our meal. I went with the Ginger Rogers ($10), a concoction of Leblon Cachaca, house made ginger syrup, mint, fresh lime juice and sparkling rose. The Husband had a Tuscan Flare ($10), Bombay Sapphire Gin, muddled rosemary, orange bitters and fresh orange juice. Both drinks were interesting. I liked the flavor combinations, but thought mine was a bit light on the alcohol.
Bread arrived to the table shortly after. It was a savory, salty and slightly oily (in a good way) foccacia bread.... served with a fresh tomato and basil dipping chutney. It was very good. I LOVE salty bread.
The first course arrived and we were both pleased. The Husband selected the Kobe Carpaccio with arugula, shaved Parmesan and a truffle vinaigrette. He tried like crazy, but I just wouldn't agree to taste it! He said the beef melted in his mouth, with almost a sushi-like texture. He loved it. I had the Puree Sun Choke Soup, served on top of a crab salad. The bowl was placed in front of me, with the pile of crab salad in the center. The server then poured the soup, from a teapot-like vessel, in a circular fashion around the salad. It was a nice way to present the soup. The soup itself was tasty. It didn't blow me away, but it was very good. The overall course was served with a [very light pour] of 2006 Fournier Sauvignon Blanc, from the Loire Valley.
My biggest complaint of the evening was the wine pairing. The wines were paired well and I enjoyed each one... however, the pours were minuscule at best. A 'typical' glass of wine is 4 to 6 oz... and most pairings give you at least 2 oz glasses (just as flights of wine do). However, our pours didn't even seem to be a full two ounces... it was quite disappointing.
For the second course, I went with the Lobster & Truffle Tortellini, which was served in a basil butter. I thought these were good, but not great. I know that Sage is known for their homemade pastas... so I was a little bummed that I didn't love the tortellini. It didn't seem fully cooked... it was a bit tough. The flavor of the lobster and the basil butter were great, but I also didn't detect a strong truffle flavor.
The Husband had the Hand Rolled Potato Gnocchi, served with favas, tomato concasse and a ramp pesto. The gnocchi were AWESOME. Tender, delicious and the ramp pesto was a unique touch. Both the Husband and I loved his dish. For a pairing, we were served the 2005 Fillipo Galliano Barbera d'Alba, from Piemonte. This was a nice wine, which went well with both dishes.
For the main course, I had the Seared Sea Scallops, served with roasted mushrooms and pea tendrils. The scallops were very good, but I didn't see any pea tendrils -- which is what I was looking most forward to. I don't mind if a restaurant runs out of an item and has to supply a substitution... I just wish they told the diner ahead of time. It's all about expectations...
The Husband had the Rice-smoked Duck Breast, with sautéed spinach and a fennel Spuma. The duck was served medium-rare, as it should be. The Husband said it was a bit fatty for his liking, but that overall flavor was nice. The pairing was a 2004 Feudi di San Gregoriao, Aglianico "Rubrato", from Campania... which paired well with my scallops, but didn't quite work with the duck.
After our meal, the forth course was a Formaggi Tasting, served with a Warres Nimrod Porto. I didn't take notes, so I don't remember what the three cheese were... but each was paired with some type of 'sweet accompaniament'... such as honey, prune puree and another fruit puree. All the cheese and fruit worked very nicely together and the entire course worked well with the porto.
Lastly, both the husband and I went with the Lemon Sunburst Cake, served with a citrus consomme and basil ice cream. The other option, which we passed on, was a Chocolate-Hazelnut Timbale, served with apricot jelly. The cake was nice; moist, not too sweet and it worked well with the consommé. The basil ice cream was good... but I really wanted a burst of basil flavor, which it did not have. It was a very subtle basil undertone.
Overall, a good meal. The service was only so-so and like I said earlier, we were quite disappointed with the bar servings. The space is nicely done, with exposed brick, translucent cream-colored curtains adorning the wall and some beautiful color photographs. I think it is definitely date-night worthy, but most-likely not kid-friendly. Would I go back? Probably one more time... just to see if the bartender was a bit better. 
How sweet it is!
As you all know, I am a big fan of both the Real Deal and Sugar Bakery. And, until recently, the Sugar Bakery website has been under construction. Well I found out today that they just unveiled the new website -- and it looks AWESOME!
Designed and built by Watershed Media -- who also just did a rehash on Parkway Boston's new site -- the Sugar site is sweet... pun intended.
Definitely check it out, or better yet, swing on by and treat yourself to some goodies. Personally, I love the Brambles (a West Roxbury specialty), and according to Fox News this morning -- these babies are also a favorite of the Mayor's. Though, I am also a sucker for their chocolate cake with white icing... mmmm....
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Zipping to West Roxbury
While watching Fox News this morning, they announced their weekly "Zip Trip" (done every Friday during the warmer months) is heading to West Roxbury (my home town) tomorrow. Gonna be home tomorrow morning? Then head over to Billings Field -- starting at 5am, to catch the Fox news crew. I'm curious to see what "facts and figures" they've dug up... and if they have any info I am not aware of.
Not sure if I'll show up... but I'll be sure to watch the converage on Fox.
UPDATE: I've been watching the show on and off this morning and wanted to mention a few things of note. In some of the opening shots, around 6:30am... they showed some 'historic sites' in West Roxbury. One of which was a shot of Havey Beach, but they said it was Brook Farm. Two very different things...
The second, was a short piece with the Mayor... where he took one of the anchors to Samia's Bakery for lunch. Samia's is a Middle Eastern eatery that I have been wanting to frequent for some time, but it always looks empty and closed. Not so... it seems as if the owner cooks to order and based on the news staff's feedback and the shots of the dishes, the food looks and sounds delicious. Guess I have to add a new place to my Wish List!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
This week's box
Boston Organics was waiting for me on the porch yesterday when I got home. I think it's time I invested in a cooler, as the produce was pretty warm inside and it's only May.
This week's box included:
- 3 Fuji Apples
- 1 Pink Lady Apple
- 1 Avocado
- 6 Bananas
- 1 bunch of Broccoli
- 1 Cucumber
- 1 Mango
- 3 Oranges
- 4 Asian Pears (my favorites!)
- 3 Green Pears
- 1 pint of Strawberries
- 1 head of Green Leaf Lettuce
- 1 Zucchini
- 1 bag of Spinach
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Who the hell puts mayo on hotdogs???
The Husband, that's who. I walked into the kitchen tonight to find two lavash laid on on the counter. One had mayo and ketchup smeared on it, the other had mayo and mustard. I looked at him... gagging... and said, "please don't tell me those are for hot dogs".
The Husband turned to the toaster oven (who the hell cooks hot dogs in a toaster oven???), pulled out two dogs and started walking toward the lavash. I yelled "wait, I want to take some pictures!" I ran to get my phone -- but as I came back and tried to take a picture, he did everything humanly possible to prevent me. He said he didn't want me to make fun of him on my blog. I think he realized just how disgusting the combo was and was too embarrassed!
In either case... there's no way in hell I'm not making fun of him now!!!! Jackass...
Not too bad if I do say so myself (the photo that is)... especially with all the moving around he was doing!
Terra Blues My Arse
I made my own blue potato chips last night and they came out quite good... and low fat. I think they would be better if higher in fat (read: fried) but mine came out pretty tasty none the less.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place cookie sheet in oven to warm.
- Slice blue potatoes very thin, preferably using a mandolin for uniform thickness.
- Lay out on paper towels and pat dry to remove all moisture.
- Remove warm cookie sheet and coat with non-stick cooking spray, (I like the PAM Professional High Heat).
- Place potato slices in single layer on sheet.
- Lightly spray top of slices with a little more PAM.
- Sprinkle with fresh ground sea salt and finely chopped fresh sage.
- Bake on lower rack for 10 minutes or until light brown (may be less time depending on how thin your slices are... be careful).
- Turn slices over, sprinkle with more salt and bake for another 5 minutes (again, watch for done-ness).
- EAT!
Monday, May 12, 2008
When a signifcant other's hobby crosses the line....
We've all been there. Our SO's come up with these "really great ideas"... whether it be a new hobby, a 'risk free' financial venture, a 'cool' house project or a 'must buy' -- electronics, grown up toys, gadgets or vehicles. We listen patiently... all the while rolling our eyes in our heads. We are supportive none the less, trying to protect their fragile egos.
Recently, a good friend was dealing with one of these 'hobbies'. Her husband, a Foodie in his own right, decided that he wanted to take his love of micro-brewed beers to the next level -- by home brewing his own beer.
A week ago, we went over for a visit and were the lucky recipients of his second batch (a wheat beer)... which was quite good! Another batch had begun and was happily fermenting away in the living room.... behind a chair.
As innocuous as this hobby began, it came to a head (pun intended) on Mother's Day. I got an email message from my friend this morning.
After asking me how my Mother's Day was and commenting on how nice the weather was... she wrote:
"Not that I enjoyed it really....it all started when the Husband's beer exploded in the living room...and it got worse from there......we are going to have to paint the living room, because the beer stains aren't coming off the ceiling..... "
Needless to say, I almost peed my pants with laughter. Good stuff...
