Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely, tips well and are nice to their servers.
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1) Kyuramen, a Ramen restaurant with locations in Brookline and Winchester, is now offering a Holiday and New Year Prix-Fixe Menu, available from December 18 to January 1, 2025. This festive menu offers an affordable way to celebrate with friends and family over the holidays.

For just $32.99 (regularly priced at $40+), diners can create their own three-course meal, choosing one option from each of these four categories:
Appetizers: Takoyaki Balls, Fried Gyoza Dumplings, Popcorn Chicken, or Spicy Bamboo Shoots
Ramen: Signature bowls such as Tokyo Tonkotsu Shouyu, Sapporo Miso, Japanese Curry, or Chicken Ramen
Desserts: Matcha Pudding with Red Beans or Japanese Cherry Blossom Jelly
Drinks: Thai Iced Tea or Amazing Lemonade

I may try to check out the new Winchester location soon.

2) Eggnog has a lengthy history, and its connection to the holidays is at least a couple hundred years old, if not longer. You'll find plenty of commercially produced eggnogs on the market, but they just don't compete with homemade version. Want to make your own Eggnog this season? Then check out the recipe from Chef Joe Carli of A Tavola in Winchester. His special Eggnog Recipe was featured on Lexington Living. You can keep it nonalcoholic, or add your alcohol of choice. Chef Carli prefers some Bourbon, and I'd agree with him that it's an excellent choice. 

Boston Wine School: Wine Festival at the Stone Zoo

Next year, on March 8, 2025, the Boston Wine School will be holding a Wine Festival at the Stone Zoo in Stoneham. You'll be able to taste 80+ wines from around the globe, along with food from a number of  gourmet food partners. Plus, there will a number of wine classes offered, led by Boston Wine School founder Jonathon Alsop. offering an array of flavors to elevate your tasting experience. In addition, you get the chance to wander around the zoo, perusing the various animal exhibits.  

The Wine Festival will be divided into two separate 2.5 hour sessions, one from 3pm-5:30pm and the other from 6pm-8:30pm. Tickets, which are purchased online, cost $65 per person. You can also purchase a VIP Ticket, for $99 per person, which allows you access to the special VIP line, so you can be one of the first to enter the event. VIP tickets also include a free entry to the "Come to Cheeses" wine class. 

There's even a Pride of Lions VIP Ticket, for $249 per person, which includes: Wine pairing dinner at Angelo's Ristorante in Stoneham on Friday, March 7, from 6-9pm; a VIP wine class on Saturday, March 8, from 2-3pm; a 3-5:30pm Festival ticket and Festival logo wine glass; Welcome bag from vendors with special discounts, samples, 2-for-1 wine tastings & classes, and more; Insulated logo grocery tote; Wine tasting journal; and a Free VIP raffle ticket. 

There will be four Wine Tasting classes, each which costs $29 per person. The classes include Come To Cheeses and The Best New Wines, and each class is held twice. 

Tickets to this Wine Festival would make for excellent holiday gifts.

Notes: All Guests must be at least 21 years of age. Parking is Free and the Zoo’s parking lot is directly in front of the entrance and there is also an overflow parking across Pond Street. The Wine Festival tickets are non-refundable and all sales are final.

The Boston Wine School was founded in 2000 by wine writer and author Jonathon Alsop, and its mission is to "make wine fun, inclusive, and accessible." The "school serves as a snob-free zone for wine lovers at all levels, from curious beginners to seasoned aficionados. The school’s guiding principle is that wine is not just for connoisseurs—it is for everyone." 

I've attended a number of classes here in the past, and Jonathan is a knowledgeable, personable, and fun person. I believe this will be a very good event in a cool setting. What wine pairs with watching monkeys at play? 

The Boston Wine Expo: Once Again In April 2025

The Boston Wine Expo is returning in 2025, back at the Park Plaza Hotel, on Saturday, April 5 and Sunday, April 6. The 2-day event will feature over 100 participating wineries from all over the U.S. and select international ones as well. The new Expo is organized by Raffaele Scalzi, the Boston Wine Expo Show Director and Founder of Scalzi Hospitality Corporation.  

There will be two Grand Tastings on both Saturday and Sunday from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. At each Grand Tasting, you will be able to taste many different wines, to expand your palate and experience wines that are new to you. Please note that tickets to one Grand Tasting do not allow you access to any of the other Grand Tasting events. Tickets are now available HERE and cost $95 per person (the same price as last year). 

There are also currently 4 Tasting Class events scheduled, including The Grand Crus of Spain, History/Evolution/Revolution--Australian Wine Today, Champagne-Beyond the Bubbles, and French Wine Essentials. Each class lasts 90 minutes, and tickets cost $75 per person. I'm sure that additional Tasting Classes will likely be added in the near future. So, just keep an eye on their website to learn what new Tasting Classes get added.  

A list of the participating wineries and distributors has not yet been released. When that information becomes available, I will post an article with my own recommendations for the wine and spirit booths that Expo attendees should visit. 

I've attended the last two Boston Wine Expos, and overall, I've been very pleased to see its return. It's a smaller, and more intimate event than what the Expo used to be when it was at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center. I have tasted numerous excellent wines at these events during the last two years. In the near future, I'll also post my advice and suggestions for making the most of your Boston Wine Expo experience.  

For additional information, sponsorship + exhibitor opportunities, and to purchase tickets, please visit Boston Wine Expo. 

The Final Monday Rant?

For over fifteen years, since June 2009, I've been posting my "Monday Morning Rants." When I began this regular column, I initially wrote: "Mondays often seem the most difficult day of the week, the start of the work week after the weekend. I hear more complaints from people about Monday than any other day of the week. And I too sometimes dread Mondays, especially after a particularly fun and relaxing weekend. So, maybe Mondays are the best day for a rant."

I also previously wrote, "There are issues about food, wine and spirits which sometimes irritate me, which irk me with their inanity. I get upset when soundbites are promoted over logic and analysis. Sometimes I get annoyed by rampant ignorance. Someone needs to step forward to speak out about those matters, to oppose these problems. And I am going to try to do just that, every Monday."

My Rants range from very important issues, such as Rant: DON'T DRINK & DRIVE.....OR ELSE! to relatively inconsequential matters, such as Rant: I Want Iced Tea In The Winter! Some Monday Rants are inspired by events or thoughts that occurred over the prior weekend, while others have percolated over time, finally getting turned into written thoughts.

As 2025 approaches, I've been pondering over my blog, assessing it, considering possible changes. Thus, I have been thinking about my Monday Rants. Are they still necessary? Do they still serve a purpose? Do my readers still want to read the rants? Can these rants still spark interesting conversations and debate?

I understand my own thoughts on this matter but want to hear from my readers. How do you feel about the Rants? Would you like to see them continue? Do you have suggestions for their improvement? Are there topics you would like to see me Rant about in 2025? 

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?