2025: Favorite Food-Related Items

What were some of my favorite food-related items of the past year?

Let me continue my lists of my best recommendations and favorite restaurants and food items of 2025, addressing my Favorite Food-Related Items. This is certainly not a complete list but it's more a sampling of memorable food items I've experienced and/or posted about over the past year. This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more food-related items, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.

Favorite Culinary School: NECAT is a local culinary school which trains people from challenging backgrounds, from ex-convicts to recovering addicts, from the homeless to the chronically unemployed. NECAT fills an important need for culinary help while helping numerous people achieve a better life. It is such a worthy school, helping to transform lives, and it really touches my heart. It helps individuals while also helping the community, and I continue, year after year, to try to raise awareness of NECAT so that its good work can continue and even expand. It's one of my favorite causes and is well worthy of your continued support.

Favorite Overall Bakery: This is a very tough category, as there are a number of worthy candidates, so besides this Favorite, I've had to add some Runner-Ups as well. My Favorite is Lulu's Bakery & Pantry, in Salem, which offers a wide variety of sweet and savory treats, including a number with a West Virginia connection. The owners, Nikki & Jim, have excellent culinary resumes, and evidence the passion I seek. Pepperoni rolls, corn bread, biscuits, chocolates, cupcakes, muffins, sandwiches, and so much more. Their large Whoopie Pies are some of the best I've ever eaten, with almost a chewy brownie-like cookie filled with a sweet, creamy filling. Any time I visit the Salem area, I try to stop here to pick up something to take home. 

Runner-Up Overall Bakery: Quebrada Bakery, with four locations including one in Arlington where I most often patronize, has my favorite Snickerdoodles cookies anywhere. You can even buy the frozen cookie dough to easily cook the Snickerdoodles at home. They have plenty of other delicious baked goods, from croissants to pecan rolls. Their Whoopie Pies are also excellent, with a soft chocolate cake sandwiching a very creamy filling. 

Runner-Up Overall Bakery: Sandpiper Bakery in Ipswich is another killer bakery. Their small Whoopie Pies are delicious, but they don't carry them on a regular basis. Their Croissants are superb, buttery and flaky, and I especially love the Ham & Cheese croissants. They have plenty of other fresh and delicious baked goods, from Scones to Banana Bread. The bakery is a bit hidden, but is well worth seeking out. 

Runner-Up Overall Bakery: New to me, Eva's Little Kitchen, with locations in Bedford and West Concord, was impressive. A wide range of excellent baked goods, from the Shakshuka Breakfast Danish to their Banana Bread. I need to return again soon to check out some of their other baked goods as well as their Sandwiches.  

Favorite Greek Bakery: Greek Habits by Eva, with locations in Arlington and Peabody, is an impressive spot. Their Handmade Greek Pies, such as Ham & Cheese and Spinach, have a tasty flaky crust, and plenty of fillings. The warm Bougatsa, a Greek custard pie (pictured above), is amazing! They also sell a variety of pastries, many Greek, but also other interesting ones, including plenty of chocolate treats. In addition, they have a number of appealing sandwiches, such as Bifteki, Smoked Salmon, and Caprese. 

Favorite New Hampshire Bakery: Agape Cakes and Confections, in Raymond, New Hampshire, is a bakery with Greek influences. They make excellent Greek pies, such as Ham & Cheese and Feta, and desserts like Baklava and Galaktoboureko. They make plenty of other tasty baked goods as well, such as Chocolate Banana Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls, Whoopie Pies, Pop Tarts, and much more. If you're in the area, this is a must stop destination. 

Favorite Donut Shop: Donuts With A Difference, in Medford, is an old-school donut shop that still makes their donuts in-house. They make more traditional donuts, and not the fancy ones available at some of the other donut shops. Their donuts are fresh and delicious, and frequently even still warm when you receive them. They are also very inexpensive, roughly half the price of many other donut shops. I especially love their Coffee Rolls! 

Favorite Cider Donuts: For me, the best Cider Donuts are found at Russell Orchards in Ipswich. They don't need a sugary coating, and impress with the fullness of their apple flavor. They are lighter than the more cakey cider donuts found at many other places. Their donuts are soft and moist, with a slightly crusty exterior, and the right balance of apple and spice flavors. Each bite is pure pleasure. And when they are warm or even hot, it's hard not to eat several on your way from the cash register to your car.  

Favorite Cream Pies: Nancy's Marshview Cafe & Bakery, in Salisbury, serves Breakfast and Lunch, and also has a Bakery. At the Bakery, you can find tasty donuts, cookies, turnovers, cupcakes, eclairs, and more. However, I'm most impressed with their Cream Pies, such as their Coconut Cream Pie pictured above. Reasonably priced, the amply-sized cream pies have plenty of delicious fillings, and are topped with a creamy and sweet whipped cream. 

Runner-Up Favorite Cream Pies: The Agawam Diner, in Rowley, also makes delicious, and quite large, Cream Pies, including Coconut, Banana, and Chocolate. They are pricier than the ones at Nancy's Marshview Cafe, but you won't go wrong with their taste. They also make a lengthy list of other types of pies, from Apple to Strawberry Rhubarb, Pecan to Custard. 

Favorite Seafood Market: The Ipswich Shellfish Fish Market, which is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, is an excellent spot for seafood, both fresh and frozen. The fresh fish looks great, is reasonably priced, and tastes delicious. They have a good variety of seafood, all dependent on what's seasonally available. Their frozen seafood is also very good, such as their Swordfish steaks and Shrimp. Plus, their home-made corn bread is delicious! It's become a regular stop for me, and have always enjoyed everything I've bought. As I've said many times, you need to Eat More Seafood, and this is a great place to buy your fish.

Favorite Seafood Dinner: The Seafood didn't get any fresher than at a Bluefin Tuna dinner at Tonno in Wakefield. Chef/Owner Anthony Caturano butchered a large Bluefin Tuna in front of everyone, and then the tuna was prepared in various ways for our dining pleasure, from Tuna Tartare to Grilled Tuna Steak. The butchery demo was fascinating and the tuna dishes were amazing. It would be great to see more chefs do something similar, combining a butchery demo (whether seafood or some other protein) with a multi-course dinner. 

Favorite Japanese Food Market: Maruichi (with locations in Arlington, Brookline and Connecticut) is an excellent Japanese grocery store, and I usually go to their Arlington location. It offers a diverse selection of Japanese foods, fresh and frozen, as well as plenty of fresh vegetables, including some Asian varieties. Their meat selection is compelling and they have a superb selection of sushi-grade fish. You can get sushi meals, onigiri, and other dishes made in-house. Plus, there's a wide range of Japanese foods, from tea to sauces, candy to chips, breads and pastries, and much more. And their prices are generally very reasonable. 

Favorite New Spot For Lunch: This year, Karma Asian Fusion, in Winchester, started serving two multi-course Lunch Specials, including a Chinese Wok lunch ($22, with several different entree options) and a Sushi lunch ($28). You receive an ample portion of delicious and well-prepared food, all at a very reasonable price considering the quality and quantity. And their Sushi is amazing! Plus, they offer some reasonably priced and tasty appetizers as well, from Salmon Carpaccio to Crispy Wonton. 

Favorite Poutine: New this year, the Skinny Pancake opened in Peabody, a creperie which began in Vermont. They serve breakfast all day, and besides crepes, also offer burgers, burritos, salads, and more. One of their sides is Poutine, crispy French fries topped with Vermont Cheese Curds and Screamin' Ridge Farm Gravy. All of the elements are excellent, from the crisp fries (which hold up with to the gravy), the squeaky curds, and the flavorful gravy. You can also order the Poutine with a vegan vegetable gravy.

Favorite Pizza: The most impressive pizza I enjoyed this past year was the Roasted Garlic White Pizza at Posto, at Assembly Row in Somerville. They used to be in Davis Square but moved to Assembly Row this year. The pizza was made with bacon, mozzarella, roasted garlic, parmesan, oregano, and aleppo pepper. I've never seen more garlic on a pizza, large and plump cloves of roasted garlic. The thin-crusted pizza also had a nice char, and the crust was also both crisp and chewy. Superb! 

Favorite Sandwich: Anthony's Italian Specialties, in Stoneham, has long made some of my favorite sandwiches, which are always over-large and filled with quality ingredients. They are famous for their Italian Sandwiches, but they make plenty of other excellent sandwiches, from Pastrami to Chicken Parmigiana. And their sandwiches, which come in several different sizes, are reasonably priced. My current favorite is their Chicken Cutlet with Prosciutto & Fresh Mozzarella, topped by oil, seasonings and balsamic glaze. The above is on their braided roll, and you can see that it's large enough to feed two people, or one very hungry person. Such a delicious combination of flavors and textures. 

Favorite Unusual Meat: This year, I purchased some ground camel at Savenor's Butchery in Cambridge. I made some camel burgers with the meat, adding only some Berbere spices (an Ethiopian spice blend). The burger tasted much like a beef burger, and you probably wouldn't have tasted any difference, but the camel is lower in fat and cholesterol than beef. Many people might be wary of eating ground camel, but if they tasted it, they would have liked it, and wouldn't have tasted anything objectionable. And it's better for your health. 

Favorite Farm Stand: Tendercrop Farm, with locations in Wenham, Newbury and Dover, New Hampshire, has it all, from fresh produce to a bakery, a butcher shop to frozen foods. Their butcher shop, which uses animals they raise on their own farm, has delicious, tender and flavorful meats, from Filet Mignon to Boneless Pork Chops, as well as a variety of marinated meats. Prices are very reasonable, less than many other butcher shops in the area. They also carry a large assortment of fruits and vegetables, many locally grown. Whenever I'm in the area, I stop by the farm to stock up, and am never disappointed. 

Favorite Food & Drink Shopping Itinerary: This year, I posted an itinerary for a food & drink Road Trip to Ipswich and the surrounding towns and cities. The itinerary has about 14 locations for food & drink shopping and dining, from the Clam Box to the Sandpiper Bakery. And it will be updated in the near future, adding even more locations. On numerous Fridays this past year, I've visited the spots on this itinerary, often hitting 10 or more of them in a single day. I probably will create more Road Trips in 2026. 

Food History Articles: During the pandemic, it was tough for many food and drink writers, as restaurants were closed and large scale food and drink events were canceled. Some writers simply wrote sporadically. However, for myself, I've devoted many hours to researching and writing numerous historical food articles, combing through thousands of newspapers and books. I've especially delved into the origins of numerous foods, trying to seek out their true origins, and not just accepting the unsubstantiated claims of others. I've continued to do so, finding great joy in the research and discoveries that I've found. Here are the historical food articles I completed this past year. 

• The Origin of the Steak Bomb
• The History of Sake Brewing in the U.S. (4 parts)
• The Origins of Moo Shu Pork in the U.S.
• A Brief History of Teriyaki 
• An Early History Of Boston's Italian Restaurants (2 parts)
• Chef Prince Ranji Smile: The First Indian Chef in the U.S
• The Origin of Scali Bread: A Fitchburg Original 
• Chinatown: A History of Henry Wong & Shanghai Printing
• A History of Bread & Butter at Chinese Restaurants    
• Origins of Anadama Bread, a New England Classic

Favorite Old Tradition (Which Needs a Revival): In 2022, while researching some other items, I stumbled upon a fascinating old Thanksgiving tradition, having donuts on your Thanksgiving table! This tradition extends back at least to the 1830s, and probably to the start of the 19th century. It apparently started in New England, but expanded across the entire country, even to Hawaii. Sometime in the later 1940s or early 1950s, the tradition largely died off, and the reasons are obscure. It's time to revive this tradition! For every Thanksgiving since my article, I've been having donuts as part of my Thanksgiving table and have been encouraging others to do the same, some who have also adopted this tradition. This year, I expanded my original article, adding even more fascinating information. Hopefully in 2026, even more people will embrace this old tradition. Who wouldn't love donuts on Thanksgiving? 

Unfortunate Restaurant News: Tambo 22, a Peruvian-Italian restaurant in Chelsea, will be closing its doors on December 20, 2024. They have stated, "The past few years have challenged the entire restaurant world. The pressure of rising costs, staffing obstacles, and the realities of our location made this one of the hardest decisions we’ve ever had to make." Chef Jose Duarte, Taylor & Brian Corcoran, and the rest of their team created an excellent restaurant, with a unique and delicious cuisine, and they should be very proud of their accomplishments. I've known Chef Duarte for 15 years, and he's one of the nicest and most talented chefs in the industry, passionate and compassionate. It will be a great loss to the local restaurant industry when this restaurant is gone. I wish them all the best of luck in the future and hope they will return soon with another culinary endeavor.

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What were some of your favorite food-related items this year?

Rant: Don't Forget The Less Fortunate!

Now that October has begun, you're probably already looking forward and thinking about the upcoming holidays, starting to make preliminary plans for the fine food & drinks that you'll enjoy and share with family and friends. You might be perusing cookbooks or websites to locate decadent recipes to thrill your guests. You might be planning which fine wine to uncork for your special friends. You might be pondering which pricey gifts to purchase for your family and friends. It can be a time of gluttony, hedonism and excess.

However, please stop and ponder another significant thought: Don't forget those less fortunate. Let's work together to help those who need some assistance, even if it requires a little sacrifice on our parts. Make this a meaningful holiday season, rather than a selfish one.

Though many of us love and enjoy the holiday season, it can be a very sad and disappointing time for those with little or nothing. Every community has some people who find it difficult merely to pay for basic essentials, let alone to buy holiday gifts or prepare a special holiday feast. We can help though, and try to bring some joy to the less fortunate. Share your largess with others, helping those who truly need it.

I understand that these are tough economic times for many of us, with higher prices for so many items, and we have often been tightening our belts while shopping, restricting our spending in some ways. However, we probably can still help out others, even if only in little ways. If you cannot spare money, then donate your time, maybe spending it at a food bank or shelter. Or make something to give to others, such as baking a pie, cookies or casserole. Donate old clothes or other durable items which you no longer use. There are many different ways to help out others besides just monetary donations.

Let us share with others during this upcoming holiday season, bringing together everyone in a more united community. There are enough divisions in our world right now and we need more unity, especially at this time. Don't just think of yourself but think of others, think about what you can do to make this world a better place.

During this season, there will be numerous restaurants, chefs, shops and others which will hold special charitable events. Talk about these events, promote them on social media, and spread the word far and wide. Attend those events, encouraging others to do the same. Give to your favorite charities, whatever they might be. Be creative in your efforts, even if your own finances are tight. 

Let us share with all during this upcoming holiday season.

2024: Favorite Food-Related Items

What were some of my favorite food-related items of the past year?

Let me continue my lists of my best recommendations and favorite restaurants and food items of 2024, addressing my Favorite Food-Related Items. This is certainly not a complete list but it's more a sampling of memorable food items I've experienced and/or posted about over the past year. This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more food-related items, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.

Favorite Culinary School: NECAT is a local culinary school which trains people from challenging backgrounds, from ex-convicts to recovering addicts, from the homeless to the chronically unemployed. NECAT fills an important need for culinary help while helping numerous people achieve a better life. It is such a worthy school, helping to transform lives, and it really touches my heart. It helps individuals while also helping the community, and I continue, year after year, to try to raise awareness of NECAT so that its good work can continue and even expand. It's one of my favorite causes and is well worthy of your continued support.

Favorite Overall Bakery: Lulu's Bakery & Pantry, in Salem, offers a wide variety of sweet and savory treats, including a number with a West Virginia connection. The owners, Nikki & Jim, have excellent culinary resumes, and evidence the passion I seek. Pepperoni rolls, corn bread, biscuits, chocolates, cupcakes, muffins, sandwiches, and so much more. Their large Whoopie Pies are some of the best I've ever eaten, with almost a chewy brownie-like cookie filled with a sweet, creamy filling. Any time I visit the Salem area, I try to stop here to pick up something to take home. Highly recommended!

Runner-Up Overall Bakery: Quebrada Bakery, with four locations including one in Arlington where I most often patronize, has my favorite Snickerdoodles cookies anywhere. You can even buy the frozen cookie dough to easily cook the Snickerdoodles at home. They have plenty of other delicious baked goods, from croissants to pecan rolls. And on one of my most recent trips, I tried their Whoopie Pie, which was excellent, with a soft chocolate cake sandwiching a very creamy filling. 

Runner-Up Overall Bakery: Sandpiper Bakery in Ipswich was a new find to me this year. Their small Whoopie Pies were also delicious, but they don't seem to have them on a regular basis. Their Croissants are superb, buttery and flaky, and I especially love the Ham & Cheese croissants. They have plenty of other fresh and delicious baked goods. The bakery is a bit hidden, but is well worth seeking out. 

Favorite Greek Bakery: Greek Habits by Eva, with locations in Arlington (which just opened in 2024) and Peabody, is an impressive spot. Their Handmade Greek Pies, such as Ham & Cheese and Spinach, have a tasty flaky crust, and plenty of fillings. The warm Bougatsa, a Greek custard pie (pictured above), is amazing! They also sell a variety of pastries, many Greek, but also other interesting ones, including plenty of chocolate treats. In addition, they have a number of appealing sandwiches, such as Bifteki, Smoked Salmon, and Caprese. 

Favorite Bread Bakery: Mamadou's Artisan Bakery, in Winchester, is my favorite spot for fresh, delicious breads, especially their Sesame Semolina. They also produce excellent Croissants and Chocolate Chip cookies. It's a small take-out spot, open Wednesday to Sunday, and run by very nice people. Get there early each day for the best selection.

Favorite Donut Shop: Donuts With A Difference, in Medford, is an old-school donut shop that still makes their donuts in-house. They make more traditional donuts, and not the fancy ones available at some of the newer donut shops. Their donuts are fresh and delicious, and frequently even still warm. They are also very inexpensive, roughly half the price of many other donut shops. I especially love their Coffee Rolls! 

Favorite Seafood Market: The Ipswich Shellfish Fish Market, which is only open on Fridays and Saturdays, is an excellent spot for seafood, both fresh and frozen. The fresh fish looks great, is reasonably priced, and tastes delicious. They have a good variety of seafood, all dependent on what's seasonally available. Their frozen seafood is also very good, such as their Swordfish steaks and Shrimp. Plus, their home-made corn bread is delicious! I've shopped there numerous times this year, and have always enjoyed everything I've bought. As I've said many times, you need to Eat More Seafood, and this is a great place to buy your fish.

Favorite Japanese Food Market: Maruichi (with locations in Arlington, Brookline and Connecticut) is an excellent Japanese grocery store, and I usually go to their Arlington location. It offers a diverse selection of Japanese foods, fresh and frozen, as well as plenty of fresh vegetables, including some Asian varieties. Their meat selection is compelling and they have a superb selection of sushi-grade fish. You can get sushi meals, onigiri, and other dishes made in-house. Plus, there's a wide range of Japanese foods, from tea to sauces, candy to chips, breads and pastries, and much more. And their prices are generally very reasonable. 

Favorite Restaurant Recovery: In July, two days after enjoying lunch at the Jana Grill & Bakery in Watertown, a truck slammed into the restaurant, forcing it to shut down. The restaurant serves delicious Armenian, Georgian, Slavic and Mediterranean cuisine. One of my favorite dishes there is the Ajarian Khachapuri, a Georgian cheese bread (pictured above). Fortunately, the restaurant has made repairs and reopened this month. I look forward to dining there again. 

Most Anticipated New Restaurant: The Xenia Hospitality Group, which is behind Krasi, Bar Vlaha, Greco and Hecate (some of my favorite spots), has recently opened Kaia, in the South End, a Greek restaurant centered on the cuisine of the Aegean. I attended an opening preview but haven't dined there yet. However, based on their prior restaurants, I expect great things from Kaia, and will be making it one of my first restaurants visits in 2025.  

Favorite Barbecue Sauce: Last Spring, A Tavola held a Bourbon & BBQ dinner, and Sous Chef David Paige created a BBQ sauce for some of the dishes. The recipe is about seven-years old, and David has been tweaking it over the years, improving it with time. The dishes were delicious, and I enjoyed the tang and complexity of the sauce. Fortunately, they also sold bottles of the BBQ sauce and I bought a couple to take home. I've since used the sauce for a few different dishes, such as steak tips, and it has been a great addition. The restaurant has continued to sell this sauce by the bottle and I highly recommend you purchase some. It would make a great holiday gift.  

Food History Articles: During the pandemic, it was tough for many food and drink writers, as restaurants were closed and large scale food and drink events were canceled. Some writers simply wrote sporadically. However, for myself, I've devoted many hours to researching and writing numerous historical food articles, combing through thousands of newspapers and books. I've especially delved into the origins of numerous foods, trying to seek out their true origins, and not just accepting the unsubstantiated claims of others. I've continued to do so, finding great joy in the research and discoveries that I've found. Here are the historical food articles I completed this past year. And I have been working on a few more articles which will see light in early 2025.

• The Origins of Spaghetti Alla Carbonara
• Hot Dog Joe: From Simple Hot Dog Vendor to National Celebrity
• George Clemmons: Hot Dogs & Murder Accusations
• The Origins of Chicken Fingers: Traditional & Chinese
• The Origins of Chicken Fried Steak
• Hummingbird Muffins: Some History 
• The History of Cashew Chicken & Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken
• The Origins of the Frozen Drumstick & Nutty Buddy
• The Origins of the Orange Julius: Who Actually Invented It?

Favorite Old Tradition (Which Needs a Revival): In 2022, while researching some other items, I stumbled upon a fascinating old Thanksgiving tradition, having donuts on your Thanksgiving table! This tradition extends back at least to the 1830s, and lasted for over 100 years, until the 1940s. It apparently started in New England, but expanded across the entire country, even to Hawaii. It's time to revive this tradition! For the last two Thanksgivings, I've been having donuts as part of my Thanksgiving table and have been encouraging others to do the same, some who have also adopted this tradition. Hopefully in 2025, even more people will embrace this old tradition. Who wouldn't love donuts on Thanksgiving? 

Unfortunate Restaurant News: The Moldova Restaurant, which has been one of my favorite restaurants, will be closing its doors on December 29, 2024. They have stated, "Business conditions in 2024 have made it unfeasible to continue operating the restaurant as a business, and as a result we have lost our lease." This was such a unique and delicious restaurant, the only restaurant I know in the area which presented Moldovan cuisine. They will be surely missed. I wish the owners, Artur & Sandra Andronic, the best of luck in the future and hope they will return soon with another culinary endeavor.

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What were some of your favorite food-related items this year?

Rant: Don't Be A Selfish, Greedy Glutton

With the holiday season upon us, food and drink blogs are ramping up their holiday coverage. You'll soon read epic tales of sumptuous feasts, accompanied by expensive and rare bottles of wine. You'll find plenty of holiday recipes, describing how to prepare some of the most decadent dishes. You'll be regaled with tales of pricey gifts received, from costly electronics to tropical vacations. Colorful photos will display all of these hedonistic pleasures in their luxuriant glory.

However, I want to see something else, something more meaningful. Are you up to the challenge?

I don't want to be regaled by selfish, greedy gluttons. Instead, I want to hear about charitable efforts to help those less fortunate. This should be a time of generosity and charity, of giving to others rather than feeding our own gluttony. Though many love the holiday season, it can be a very sad time for those with little or nothing. Every community has some people who find it difficult merely to pay for basic essentials. Share your largess with others, helping those who truly need it.

Even for those of us who are having tough economic times, we all probably can help out others, even if only in little ways. If you cannot spare money, then donate your time or make something to give to others, maybe bake a pie, cookies or casserole. Donate old clothes or other durable items which you no longer use. There are many different ways to help out others besides just monetary donations. All it takes is a little creativity and thought.

During this season, there are numerous restaurants, chefs, stores and others which are holding special charitable events. Promote those events on your blogs, spreading the word far and wide. Attend those events, encouraging others to do the same. Give to your favorite charities, whatever they might be. Just don't revel in selfish, greedy gluttony, ignoring the plight of others.

This applies to our readers as well and I encourage all of you to be charitable as well, in whatever way that you can. Be creative in your efforts, even if your own finances are tight. That would be the best gift I could receive from my readers, the knowledge that you have all helped out those less fortunate.

Let us share with all during this joyous holiday season.

2023: Favorite Food-Related Items

What were some of my favorite food-related items of the past year?

Let me continue my lists of my best recommendations and favorite restaurants and food items of 2023, addressing my Favorite Food-Related Items of the past year. This is certainly not a complete list but it's more a sampling of memorable food items I've experienced and/or posted about over the past year. This is also a purely subjective list, based on my own preferences, and makes no claims about being the "best" of anything. But all of the items here have earned my strong recommendations and I hope you will enjoy them as well. For more food-related items, you can just search my blog posts for the past year.

Favorite Culinary School: NECAT is a local culinary school which trains people from challenging backgrounds, from ex-convicts to recovering addicts, from the homeless to the chronically unemployed. NECAT fills an important need for culinary help while helping numerous people achieve a better life. It is such a worthy school, helping to transform lives, and it really touches my heart. It helps individuals while also helping the community, and I continue, year after year, to try to raise awareness of NECAT so that its good work can continue and even expand. It's one of my favorite causes and is well worthy of your continued support.

Favorite Overall Bakery: Lulu's Bakery & Pantry, in Salem, offers a wide variety of sweet and savory treats, including a number with a West Virginia connection. The owners, Nikki & Jim, have excellent culinary resumes, and evidence the passion I seek. Pepperoni rolls, corn bread, biscuits, chocolates, cupcakes, muffins, sandwiches, and so much more. Their large Whoopie Pies are some of the best I've ever eaten, with almost a chewy brownie-like cookie filled with a sweet, creamy filling. Any time I visit the Salem area, I try to stop here to pick up something to take home. Highly recommended!

Favorite Bread Bakery: Mamadou's Artisan Bakery, in Winchester, is my favorite spot for fresh, delicious breads, especially their Sesame Semolina. They also produce excellent Croissants and Chocolate Chip cookies. It's a small take-out spot, open Wednesday to Sunday, and run by very nice people. Get there early each day for the best selection.

Favorite Donut Shop: Donuts With A Difference, in Medford, is an old-school donut shop that still makes their donuts in-house. They make more traditional donuts, and not the fancy ones available at some of the newer donut shops. Their donuts are fresh and delicious, and frequently even still warm. They are also very inexpensive. I also love their Coffee Rolls! 

Favorite Japanese Food Market: Maruichi (with locations in Arlington, Brookline and Connecticut) is an excellent Japanese grocery store, and I usually go to their Arlington location. It offers a diverse selection of Japanese foods, fresh and frozen, as well as plenty of fresh vegetables, including some Asian varieties. Their meat selection is compelling and they have a superb selection of sushi-grade fish. You can get sushi meals, onigiri, and other dishes made in-house. Plus, there's a wide range of Japanese foods, from tea to sauces, candy to chips, breads and pastries, and much more. And their prices are generally very reasonable. 

Most Anticipated New Restaurant: From the Xenia Hospitality Group, which is behind Krasi, Bar Vlaha, Greco and Hecate, will be opening a new location of Greco at the Burlington Mall in 2024. Greco is a fast casual restaurant, specializing in gyros and loukoumades (Greek donut holes). I love their food and it will be great to have this option north of Boston. 

Restaurants I Want To Visit in 2024: At the top of my list is Simcha, located in Sharon, which serves modern Israeli cuisine. The menu intrigues me, and I've heard much positive press about the restaurant. I was supposed to dine there recently, but unforeseen circumstances made me have to cancel the reservation. But, I hope to dine there soon. I also want to dine at Bar Vlaha, in Brookline, which serves Greek Vlach cuisine with Greek wines. I attended their opening, which was excellent, but still haven't made it in for dinner. It's also a very popular restaurant, so reservations are highly recommended. And based on some recent comments from friends, I'm intrigued to visit Mahaniyom, in Brookline, a Thai Tapas Bar. Their Drinks and Food menus have made intriguing options. 

Food History Articles: Since the start of the pandemic, it's been tough for many food writers and some have simply written sporadically, especially those who concentrated on restaurant reviews. For myself, I've continued to devote many hours to researching and writing numerous historical food articles, combing through thousands of newspapers and books. I've especially delved into the origins of numerous foods, trying to seek out their true origins, and not just accepting the unsubstantiated claims of others. Here are the historical food articles I completed this past year. 

The Origins of American Goulash

The Origins of Spam, the "Miracle Meat"

The True Origins of Hawaiian Pizza

The Chinese Shoe Makers of North Adams

Hot-Dogs & Ketchup: A Historical Look

The Origins of Frappes & Milk Shakes

Favorite Old Tradition (Which Needs a Revival): In 2022, while researching some other items, I stumbled upon a fascinating old Thanksgiving tradition, having donuts on your Thanksgiving table! This tradition extends back at least to the 1830s, and lasted for over 100 years, until the 1940s. It apparently started in New England, but expanded across the entire country, even to Hawaii. It's time to revive this tradition! For the last two Thanksgivings, I've been having donuts as part of my Thanksgiving table and have been encouraging others to do the same, some who have also adopted this tradition. Hopefully in 2024, even more people will embrace this old tradition. Who wouldn't love donuts on Thanksgiving? 

Saddest Restaurant News: The Tasting Counter, which was one of my Top Three Favorite Restaurants, had to close this summer, due to issues with their landlord. As I've said before, Chef Peter Ungár is one of the best chefs in the Boston-area and I eagerly hope that he will open a new endeavor in the near future. The Boston restaurant scene is lesser without his talents. I know he has been considering his options, and it will be great to see what he eventually decides to do.  

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Maine Trip: This past year, I traveled to Maine, to the Biddeford/Portland region, for a weekend vacation, and there were a number of culinary highlights, including:

• Breakfast at the Palace Diner in Biddeford. Love those Smashed Potatoes.
• Potato-based Donuts from Holy Donut.
• The Cheese Iron in Scarborough, a fun food and wine market.
• Brown Trading Company, a food and wine shop with intriguing Soy Sauces, Fish Jerky, and a great wine selection. 
• Delicious seafood dinner at Street & Co.
• Burgers & cocktails at the Black Cow.
• Tasty Thai dinner at Boda.

Favorite Croatian Dishes: In the Spring of 2022, I spent two weeks in Croatia, traveling across the country, enjoying its food, wine, spirits, culture, history, and more. I ended up writing about 50 articles about my experiences, and some of those articles were posted in 2023. That included my Top Ten Dishes From My Croatian Journey. Fiš paprikaš (pictured above), Mali Ston Oysters, Truffle Risotto, Samoborska kremšnita, and more. Croatia should be on your short list of countries to visit in 2024. 

Portugal Trip: I traveled to Portugal this past October, spending a week exploring the regions of the Vinho Verde and the Douro, as well as Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Although I'm still writing about my experiences on this trip, I'll highlight here some of my favorite culinary experiences which I have already covered.

• Delicious Arroz de Sarrabulho at Restaurante Açude
• Savoring the iconic Francesinha sandwich in Porto.
• Pork cheeks and Veal for lunch at Zé da Calçada.
• Confeitaria Da Ponte, a historic bakery.
• Tasty Cod Tongues and Duck Rice at Quinta da Pacheca.
• DOC: Amazing Tasting Menus in the Douro

What were some of your favorite food-related items this year?

Rant: Please Consider The Less Fortunate

It's mid-November and many of us are probably thinking about our upcoming plans for Thanksgiving. Where will you dine? What foods and drinks will be on your table? Plus, you might also be thinking about Christmas, Hanukkah, or other upcoming holiday celebrations. You might already be considering about what gifts to present to your family, friends, and loved ones. Your thoughts will likely be directed to how you can maximize your own enjoyment of these upcoming holidays.

However, stop and ponder another significant thought: Please consider the less fortunate.

These are tough economic times, and we're all aware that prices for everything have risen. Most of us have been tightening our belts while shopping, restricting our spending in some ways. However, these times are especially difficult for some people, and helping them could make a significant impact.

Let us work together to help those who need some assistance this holiday season, even if it requires a little sacrifice on our part. Make this a meaningful holiday season, rather than a selfish one. Though many of us love and enjoy the holiday season, it can be a very sad and disappointing time for those with little or nothing.

Every community has some people who find it difficult merely to pay for basic essentials, especially now, let alone to buy holiday gifts or prepare a special holiday feast. We can help though, and try to bring some joy to the less fortunate. Share your largess with others, helping those who truly need it.

Even though these are tough economic times for many of us, we all probably can help out others, even if only in little ways. If you cannot spare money, then donate your time, maybe spending it at a food bank or shelter. Or make something to give to others, such as baking a pie, cookies or casserole. Donate old clothes or other durable items which you no longer use. There are many different ways to help out others besides just monetary donations. Be creative in your efforts, even if your own finances are tight.

During this season, there are also numerous restaurants, chefs, stores and others which are holding special charitable events. Promote those events on your social media, tell your family and friends, spreading the word far and wide. Attend those events, encouraging others to do the same. 

Let us share with all during this upcoming holiday season, bringing together everyone in a more united community. There are enough divisions in our world right now and we need more unity, especially at this time. Don't just think of yourself but think of others, think about what you can do to make this world a better place.

Rant: Consider The Less Fortunate

It's mid-November and many of us are probably thinking about our upcoming plans for Thanksgiving. Plus, you might also be thinking about Christmas, Hanukkah, or other holiday celebrations. You might already be considering which food and drink you'll enjoy, or thinking about what gifts to present to your loved ones. Your thoughts will likely be directed to how you can maximize your own enjoyment of these upcoming holidays.

However, stop and ponder another significant thought: Please consider the less fortunate.

With inflation, we all are aware that prices for everything have risen. Most of us have been tightening our belts a bit while shopping, restricting our spending in some ways. However, these times are especially difficult for some people, and helping them would make a significant impact.

Let us work together to help those who need some assistance this holiday season, even if it requires a little sacrifice on our part. Make this a meaningful holiday season, rather than a selfish one. Though many of us love and enjoy the holiday season, it can be a very sad and disappointing time for those with little or nothing. Every community has some people who find it difficult merely to pay for basic essentials, especially now, let alone to buy holiday gifts or prepare a special holiday feast. We can help though, and try to bring some joy to the less fortunate. Share your largess with others, helping those who truly need it.

Even though these are tough economic times for many of us, we all probably can help out others, even if only in little ways. If you cannot spare money, then donate your time, maybe spending it at a food bank or shelter. Or make something to give to others, such as baking a pie, cookies or casserole. Donate old clothes or other durable items which you no longer use. There are many different ways to help out others besides just monetary donations. Be creative in your efforts, even if your own finances are tight.

Let us share with all during this upcoming holiday season, bringing together everyone in a more united community. There are enough divisions in our world right now and we need more unity, especially at this time. Don't just think of yourself but think of others, think about what you can do to make this world a better place.

Rant: Wander & Discover

The city of Boston has easily over 3,000 eating and drinking establishments, but how many of those places do you know? Even if you live in Boston, you probably still don't know all of the existing spots just in your own neighborhood. You probably know even less about the other Boston neighborhoods. If you live in Cambridge or Somerville, or even a suburb, you also probably don't know all of the eating and drinking spots near you. 

That should change!

There are likely numerous excellent restaurants, bakeries, markets, and bars you've never visited, or even know. Some may have received many accolades but you've never actually stopped there. Others are more hidden treasures, which rarely, if ever, get media attention, but are worthy spots anyway. You can return time and again to your favorite places, but it's probably better to also take some time to explore what else exists. You never know when or where you might discover a new favorite. 

So, during the rest of the summer as well as through the fall, why not revel in a sense of discovery. Be an explorer of your own neighborhood, and surrounding areas, and check out some of the interesting spots which you've never visited before. Expand your palate and try something different. Spend your time walking the streets, finding new places, getting to know the area much better. 

If you'd like some inspiration, then check out the example of my friend, Patrick Maguire of Server Not Servant, who has started a walking exploration of all of the neighborhoods of Boston. Check out his initial post about this endeavor, which explains his mission, as well as an article & video from CBS Boston. Patrick's post states that his primary objective is to: "Explore and showcase Boston’s neighborhoods by walking deep into every one of them, discovering hidden gems and the real ‘heart and soul’ of each hood." In addition, he will be raising money for two local charities, Make-A-Wish MA & RI and Stride for Stride. 

His endeavor will begin tomorrow, Tuesday, September 16, as he walks the streets of East Boston, planning to cover over 13 miles. He'll be writing about his experiences on his blog with plenty of photos, so nee an eye out for everything he finds on his walks.

And make plans for your own walking explorations, to wander & discover everything in your own neighborhood, as well as the surrounding ones.

Best of luck to Patrick!

Chester, Vermont: Helping Hands & Wine, Cheese, Pies, Candy, Donuts, and More

Have you ever visited the small town of Chester, Vermont? 

While in Vermont, I visited my good friend, Christopher Meyer, who founded, with Jason Tostrup of the Free Range restaurant, a charitable, non-profit organization called Chester Helping Hands. It was established during the pandemic to provide food assistance for the local community, such a worthy cause. They currently offer free meals on Wednesdays, provided by local restaurants. They are also supporting local farmers who have provided foods for this program as well. All of these meals are financed through donations, and the workers who help disseminate the meals are volunteers.

On the Wednesday I was in Vermont, Chris and Chester Helping Hands set up their table on The Common in Chester, a street with a number of small businesses, from an antiques shop to a book store. A line of cars queued up to receive their free mails, and about 700 meals were ultimately disseminated. The process ran smoothly and it was inspiring to see how this community has come together to help each other during these tough times. Not only do local residents receive free food, but restaurants and farms receive support as well, helping them as they too are hurting because of the pandemic. 

If you would like to support Chester Helping Hands, you can Venmo them a donation to @ChesterHelpingHands. As they are a 501c3 organization; your donations should be tax-deductible. I'm proud of my friend Chris for having developed such an admirable program.

In the vicinity of The Common in Chester, there's a number of cool food and drink shops too. I made brief stops to a few of these places, although I would like to explore them in more depth in a future trip. Chester is a small town, of only about 3,000 people, but its worth your while to explore this interesting community. Here's a few spots I'd highly recommend you check out.

The Meditrina Wine & Cheese shop is an excellent place with a very compelling beer and wine selection, and some gourmet foods. It's a small store, but there's plenty of food and drink available, filling the shelves floor to ceiling, and I bet you find plenty to tantalize you. The shop also conducts regular wine tastings. I spoke briefly with Amy Anderson, the owner of the shop, and she evidenced the passion for wine I seek from such shop owners. I probably could have sat down with her and spoke about wine for hours.

There is a section of Vermont cheese and gourmet foods, including Torres Potato Chips, one of my favorites. If you're going to drink wine or beer, it's always pleasant to have some snacks too.

There's also a section of local beers and ciders, and this is where I bought the Shacksbury Whistlepig Lo-Ball. Vermont is well known for its craft beers, and there certainly was a wide variety of local offerings for sale. 

These photos are just a small section of the wine shop, and as I skimmed the wine shelves, I found much that appealed to me, including plenty of natural wines, small production wines, and some other intriguing wines, including a Red Vinho Verde (which I bought). They have wine at all price points and any wine lover will find much of interest. This well-curated selection would be impressive wherever it was located. Finding it in the small town of Chester was intriguing and all wine lovers need to make this a stop while they are in southern Vermont.

These "bears" stand outside the Chester Candy Company, a small spot that concentrates primarily on sweet treats made in Vermont and New England. There's plenty of decadent chocolates, fudge, retro-candies, gummies, sours, hard candies, and much more. I enjoyed their Dark Chocolate Bourbon Caramels, which certainly had a prominent bourbon taste. 

Another cool spot is the Southern Pie Company (of which I sadly didn't get any pics), which specializes in pie, especially with a southern flair. Bourbon Pecan Pie, Chess Pie, Buttermilk Pie, Sur Cream Peach Pie, and so much more. The pies looked awesome, and I was very tempted to pick up a pecan pie, but I already had too many treats at the moment. However, they also make some other baked goods, and I got some of their tasty, fudgy brownies. I will get some pie on my next visit. In addition, you'll find a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and have a variety of drinks, including various coffees. 

Less than a mile away, you should visit Smitty's Chester Market, a small grocery store with plenty of the usual items, as well as a meat counter, beer & wine, and a deli. I visited the deli a couple times, which sells a variety of customizable sandwiches, as well as salads, soups, mac n' cheese, and other dishes. Every day, there is something different offered on the menu.

Their sandwiches are ample, fresh, tasty, and reasonably pricesd. They are also made for take-out only as they don't have a dining area. In addition, they sell a variety of baked goods, made in-house, including amazing Apple Cider Donuts, dipped in cinnamon/sugar, and a hearty Cinnamon Bread. Get there early as those baked goods disappear quickly. 

And you can ever buy worms and nightcrawlers at Smitty's if you want to do some fishing in Vermont lakes and rivers.

So, when will you take your next trip to southern Vermont?