A couple weeks back, quite a few readers wrote to me about one of my columns, so I thought it would be interesting to post some of their comments here. The particular "Dish" they were referring to was written a few days after I'd gotten home from a trip to Italy. It was a plea … [Read more...]
Festa della Madonna della Luce
Last Sunday a small pine grove in Hingham erupted in picnic tables covered with food and hundreds of people. The little-known annual celebration was the 51st local Festa della Madonna della Luce – the Feast of the Mother of Light. It takes place every year on the late August … [Read more...]
A Plea for Good Panini
I've just returned from ten days in Italy and reentry is a little rough. We're taking the first couple days slowly and easing the longing for that beautiful place by eating the foods we had there. Cappuccino is required – and I can simulate a decent cup with my stovetop espresso … [Read more...]
Norwell’s hip spot for food
I can't believe Steven Tyler found Bo'-Tes Imports before I did. Which is a (name-dropping) understatement, since evidently he's been hip to the place for years and I only discovered it last week. Anyhow, now that I've found it, I figure I'm on an equal footing with our South … [Read more...]
"Something happened, you ate"
I can't think of anything more quintessentially sweet than a cookie. Not sweet as in sugar, although of course cookies are sweet in that way too. It's their personality that I'm referring to -- think about it: In the holy trinity of desserts, pie is good, friendly, filling, and … [Read more...]
Striped bass and other local favorites
If you're in the market for some uber local seafood get stripped bass now! "Fisherman bring them right in the backdoor," said Dennis Dudley at Mullaney's Harborside Fish Market in downtown Scituate. The state's commercial striped bass fishing season opened on July 12 this year … [Read more...]
Order in the Kitchen
One day last summer I'd had it with my refrigerator – totally had it. The crisper drawers were broken and although I'd put a wire rack in there to replace them, it wasn't working. So even though our plan was to wait on buying a new refrigerator until we could renovate the … [Read more...]
Handmade Pasta
Shopping at Whole Foods a few weeks ago, I glanced up from reading bread labels to find a woman staring at me. "It's really hard to decide, isn't it?" she said, shaking her head and smiling. Apparently, I looked as indecisive as I felt. It's not easy choosing what to buy and … [Read more...]
The Greatness of Greens
A long time ago I saw an episode of Julie Child's TV show that I never forgot although I don't remember it that well either. What I got from it, though, that I've never forgotten was that Julia put a lot of time and many ingredients into what ended up being about a half pint of … [Read more...]
Homemade Mediterranean, including cheeses
I'm in the kitchen at To Dine For, the new gourmet Mediterranean takeout shop in Hull, watching a large pot of scalded milk turn into cheese right before my eyes. I can't believe how quickly it happened. While a gallon of milk warmed on the stove, Rafca Cardoos, who co-owns the … [Read more...]
