Boston Herald - Boston Herald

Boston’s best cool coffee treats

Jill Radsken, Jed Gottlieb, Sara Gaynes, Tenley Woodman — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

As the weather warms up, the caffeine chills out. Iced coffee is one of the sippable pleasures of spring and summer, and Boston has heaps of places to indulge (maybe that’s why it’s called Beantown). But which cup of frosty joe (with milk) stands out from the crowd? We hit the streets, fueled up, and cast our votes for best cold brew — rated from one to five cups.

Pavement Coffee

pavementcoffeehouse.com  for locations

Price: $2.41 for a small

Chefs cook, raise money for Boston bombing victims

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:41:46 -0400

BOSTON — Boston Marathon bombing victims joined hundreds of first responders and well-wishers at Fenway Park as dozens of top chefs served fine food and drinks from concession stands in a project intended to raise money for those killed and wounded in the twin explosions.

Boston Bites Back benefit scores big for victims

Sara Gaynes — Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Last night’s Fenway Park sliders had nothing to do with home plate. More than 100 chefs packed the concession stands for Boston Bites Back, a $200-a-ticket benefit for The One Fund held on the one-month anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. “It’s so cool to see all of our friends that are chefs — it’s almost like a high school reunion,” said Tiffani Faison, whose restaurant Sweet Cheeks is just down the street. “I don’t know if it’s really ever happened before.”

Chefs raise money for Boston Marathon bomb victims

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 21:07:31 -0400

BOSTON — Dozens of top chefs left their kitchens on Wednesday to offer fine food and drinks at Fenway Park concession stands in a project intended to raise money for Boston Marathon bombing victims.

The Boston Bites Back event at the Boston Red Sox's home, the oldest baseball park in the major leagues, was held a month after the April 15 attack, in which two pressure cookers filled with explosives and shrapnel exploded near the marathon's finish line, killing three people and injuring more than 260 others.

Hellmann's whips up campaign for centennial

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:58:10 -0400

NEW YORK — A lot changes in 100 years, but the key to Hellmann's success may be that not much has changed for the mayonnaise.

To celebrate Hellmann's centennial birthday, owner Unilever is launching a marketing campaign to drum up attention for the country's top-selling mayonnaise, whose formula remains almost the same as it was a century ago. Media spending is undisclosed, but it's the largest ever campaign for the brand.

Fast Slow Food by Mary Ann Esposito

Mary Ann Esposito — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Having just returned from the Piedmont region of Italy, home to fantastic wines like Barolo and Barbera and carefully crafted mountain cheeses, white truffles and outstanding pasta, I must say that it was hard to face the supermarket. The city of Bra in Piedmont is also the home of Slow Food, the champion of dirt to table cuisine. Walking through the farmers markets is a reassurance that pride in home grown is alive and well and in demand. Want the freshest artichokes, eggs, asparagus? How about certified honeys, wood oven fired baked breads and leeks as long as a walking stick?

A British Delight by Roger Berkowitz

Roger Berkowitz — Wed, 15 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Years ago I spent a semester abroad in Europe. After I finished the term, I wanted to travel as much as possible before returning home. (In those days, hitch-hiking was a relatively safe endeavor, and a great way to explore different countries on a tight budget.)

Fast Food

Kerry J. Byrne — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:55:00 -0400

Do the RumBa

‘Flour’ power

Jill Radsken — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

Joanne Chang earned celebrity chef status for her pastries, but devoted fans of her four Flour bakeries and Myers + Chang restaurant eat more than sticky buns and banana bread.

Which is why dinner and party fare — crab cakes, braised short ribs, celery and edamame salad — get equal time in her new cookbook “Flour, Too” (Chronicle Books, $35).

“It’s not a coffee-table book or a celebrity chef book. I hope they take it and that night cook with it,” said Chang, in an interview last week at her South End bakery.

Ten Second Tip: When Life Gives You Lemons by Carole Lee de Jong

Carole de Jong — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:15:00 -0400

To get more juice out of your lemon, try this:

First of all, when selecting a lemon, choose one with a thin skin.

Before you juice it, either roll it in on the counter or put the entire lemon in the microwave for about 15 seconds and you will get more juice. If you don't own a microwave, just immerse the lemon in very warm water for about 15 minutes.

Study questions how sharply US should cut the salt

Associated Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:06:51 -0400

WASHINGTON — A surprising new report questions public health efforts to get Americans to sharply cut back on salt, saying it's not clear whether eating super-low levels is worth the struggle.

Make no mistake: Most Americans eat way too much salt, not just from salt shakers but because of sodium hidden inside processed foods and restaurant meals. Tuesday's report stresses that, overall, the nation needs to ease back on the sodium for better heart health.

Boston Bites Back releases half-price "After 8" tickets

Kerry J. Byrne — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:30:00 -0400

Boston Bites Back looks to raise $1 million Wednesday night for One Fund Boston with a star-studded 100-chef-strong event at Fenway Park.

It just released a new round of general admission "After 8" tickets for $100, which allows entry at 8 p.m. or later. That's half the price of a general admission ticket for half the time at the event (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.). VIP tickets cost $1,000.

Chefs will cook at various concession areas throughout the ballpark.

McDonald's adding 3 new Quarter Pounders to menu

Associated Press — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:24:29 -0400

NEW YORK — McDonald's is adding three new Quarter Pounders to its menu as the fast-food chain looks to offer cheaper premium burgers while capitalizing on one of its most popular brands.

The company, based in Oak Brook, Ill., says the new burgers will replace its meatier Angus Third Pounders, which were among the most expensive items on its menu at around $4 to $5. The Quarter Pounders will come in two of the same varieties as the Angus burgers — Bacon and Cheese and Deluxe. The third option will be Habanero Ranch.

UN: Eat more insects; good for you, good for world

Associated Press — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:12:14 -0400

ROME — The latest weapon in the U.N.'s fight against hunger, global warming and pollution might be flying by you right now.

Edible insects are being promoted as a low-fat, high-protein food for people, pets and livestock. According to the U.N., they come with appetizing side benefits: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and livestock pollution, creating jobs in developing countries and feeding the millions of hungry people in the world.

Some edible insect information in bite-sized form:

WHO EATS INSECTS NOW?

Food At Boston Calling

Sara Gaynes — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:30:00 -0400

Just in: the food options for hungry concert-goers at Boston's first music festival, Boston Calling. Those in need of sustenance will be happy to find:

Roxy’s Grilled Cheese (Saturday only)

Chipotle

American Flatbread Pizza Co.

The Shuckin' Truck

The Chicken & Rice Guys

Grillo's Pickle Cart

Kickass Cupcakes

The Sausage Guy

Chefs, restaurants (and Gronk, too) rally for Marathon victims

Kerry J. Byrne — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:45:00 -0400

Local chefs and restaurants have been at the forefront of efforts to aid victims of the Marathon, perhaps most notably with Boston Bites Back – the 100-chef fundraiser next week at Fenway Park.

But plenty of other efforts continue all around town. Here are some of them:

Ten Second Tip: Poaching Eggs by Carole Lee de Jong

Carole de Jong — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Spring fever hits Boston dining scene

Kerry J. Byrne — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:00:00 -0400

The local dining and drinking scene blossoms each spring, not only with the arrival of warm weather but also of locally sourced meats and produce that make every dish taste a little better this time of year.

Here’s a quick look at some of the top seasonal events around Boston and across New England in the week ahead. You can always find the latest events online at Fork Lift, the Boston Herald food blog.

New Spots Opening This Month

Sara Gaynes — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:30:00 -0400

Two Boston food heavyweights are branching out this month.

Pastry queen Lee Napoli, who has done stints at Sandrine's, Anago, Metro and Maison Robert, is opening her own spot in the North End. Bread + Butter (corner of Cross & Salem Streets) will traffic in sandwiches, salads, coffee, cookies, eclairs and other sweets. It's going to be delicious. Doors open May 22.

Cheesy Garlic Bread wins Lay's flavor contest

Associated Press — Tue, 07 May 2013 14:56:03 -0400

NEW YORK — Lay's potato chips are getting cheesier.

Fans voted to keep the potato chip maker's Cheesy Garlic Bread flavor on store shelves for at least the end of the year as part of the company's nearly yearlong promotion that solicited customers' flavor ideas.

Cheesy Garlic Bread beat out two other fan-submitted flavors: a maple-syrup tasting Chicken & Waffles and Sriracha, which tastes like the hot sauce often used in Thai dishes.