Recent Episodes

 

Dwight Furrow, the author of American Foodie: Taste, Art, and the Cultural Revolution, talks about the philosophy of food. We discuss everything the impact of everything from automobile to Alice Waters to the Slow Food movement have shaped the way Americans think about food.
 
 
 
 

 

Inbal Baum, the Founder of Delicious Israel, joins us to talk about where foodies should eat when they travel to her country.

• Shakshouka is a popular dish in Israel
• Israeli Breakfast is a distinct and important meal
• The modern cherry tomato has roots in Israel
• Tel Aviv and Jerusalem top the list of cities you should visit
• Beach season runs from April to October
• Rosh Hashana is a great time to visit Israel
• When you visit Tel Aviv, go to the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market
• Try the date syrup, Silan

 

 

Food for Thought

• Q: After pita bread, what is the most common food used to “wipe” humus?
• A: Raw onion.

 
 

Out of the Frying Pan

• Favorite Spot for Outdoor Dining: Milgo & Milbar
• Favorite Place to Buy Spices: Cafe Arma in Levinsky Market
• Herbs to Try: Za’atar and Hawaij (in Yemenite Coffee)
• Favorite Winery: Sphera
• Favorite Place for Dessert: The Malabia
• Favorite Food Experience for Kids: Max Brenner
• Chef to Watch: Eyal Shani
• Dish to Try at Different Places: Shakshouka and sabich

Bennet Jacobstein, author of The Joy of Ballpark Food: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine, talks to us about what foodies can find at different baseball stadiums around the country.

• Hot dogs and sausages are not the same thing.
• The quality of ballpark food was elevated in the 90s as new stadiums were built and food television shows took off.
• Stadiums have highlighted regional foods.
• Gordon Biersch‘s founder Dan Gordon introduced garlic fries at Candlestick Park in 1994.
• The song “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” was written in 1908.
• The Yankees replaced Cracker Jacks at one point, but brought it back after a public outcry.
• 

  San Francisco Giant Gordon Biersch Garlic Fries

  Veggie Happy spearheaded the movement to get veggie dogs sold at ballpark stadiums.

• Andrew Zimmern has a stand in the Minnesota ballpark.
• Rocky Mountain Oysters are bull testicles.
• “The Big Six” are the food companies that service the major ballparks.
• As you go from ballpark to ballpark, try the hot dogs at each to see how they’re done differently.
• Proceeds from Bennett’s book go to Second Harvest Food Bank.

 

Food for Thought

• Q: In what year were Cracker Jacks first served at a baseball game?
• A: 1896 in Atlantic City.

 

Out of the Frying Pan

Here’s what Bennet recommends you try at each ballpark:

• Yankees Stadium in New York City: Chicken and Waffles.
• Fenway Park in Boston: Lobster Roll and a cuban sandwich.
• Wrigley Field in Chicago: Chicago-style hot dog with Vienna beef.
• Turner Field in Atlanta: Boiled peanuts.
• Marlins Park in Miami: Cuban dishes.
• Safeco Field in Seattle: The Ivar’s hot dog (with fish) and cream cheese hot dog.
• Nationals Park in Washington D.C.: A cauliflower hot dog and presidential cupcakes.
• 

  Chicago White Sox Chicago-Style Hot Dog

  Busch Stadium in St. Louis: The BBQ.

• Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles: Tommy Lasorda Spumoni ice cream.
• AT&T Park in San Francisco: Crab salad, lamb sausages, and Gordon Biersch garlic fries.

Try a Food Tour

Top 5 Lists

Whether I am skiing the sweet powder slopes or climbing a cliff face in the majestic Banff National Park I need my coffee shop hour to prepare the body and soul for the Albertan Rockies majesty. As an emigrant to North America from a rural Irish farming area, the mountains and Canadian coffee houses have enchanted my heart. These are the Albertan Rocky Coffee Shops that I recommend for a local and inexpensive culinary pleasure.
 
 

1. Harvest Cafe

If you have more than 15 minutes to spare and you want to eat and drink coffee where the local ski bum and climber eats, you need to visit Harvest Cafe. It is even located adjacent to a used mountain gear shop. Reservations are not required and it is a short walk from Canmore town center. It is best to park in Canmore town center. Word of month from another climber is what brought me to this hidden treasure. Casual dress is essential, the more mountain rugged you look the more you will fit in. The walls are ever painted with images of skiers, climbers and mountains. The staff dress as casual as the customers however they have the differential of being from the French speaking region in Canada that brings a rare French-Canadian culinary experience to the English speaking province of Alberta. Coffee in the cafe is sourced from Mountain Blend Coffee Roasters which is locally based in Canmore town. The breakfast menu and lunch menu are written on a large chalk board and center mainly on healthy options including the sunrise (scrambled egg, avocado, mango salsa and mozzarella) and cowboy (scrambled egg, bacon, salsa)breakfast wrap which my boyfriend and I chose on our most recent visit. Both were priced at about $7. The daily coffee special was a coconut latte and the pastry was a cinnamon bun with cream cheese.
 

$
2-718 10th Street, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
(403) 678-3747
https://harvestcafe.ca/

 
 

2. Beamer’s Coffee Shop

Are you looking for some local coffee shop history? Have you a desire to titillate your coffee taste buds? Are you time constrained for your coffee hit? If yes to any or all of these I would thoroughly recommend a visit to one of the two Beamer’s Coffee Bars in Canmore. The first Beamer’s Coffee Bar was established in 1994. Free parking is available adjacent to both locations. I love Beamer’s as it has amazing coffee blends with delicious breakfast/ lunch wraps, sandwiches and pastries. These are all available for a quick grab and go or to stay and all for a reasonable price. You can be in your ski gear or office clothes and you will fit in here. Foodies Top Tip: If you bring in your own travel mug your chosen brewed coffee is only $2 and they often have day old muffins for $1.
 

$
A – 1702 Bow Valley Trail/ 120, 737 – 7th Ave, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
(403) 609-0111
http://www.beamerscoffee.ca/

 

RELATED: Top 5 Bistros in Calgary

 
 

3. Rocky Mountain Bagel Co.

As the name strongly suggests if you want a freshly baked bagel with a brewed coffee this is the premier place to visit in the Albertan Rockies. Even if you didn’t read this review you would be able to understand from the crowds that queue at the weekend at the downtown location the appeal of these bagels. The cafe has two locations with the most popular being the downtown Canmore location, however if your goal is for a quick stop for quality coffee blends on the way to a mountain I strongly recommend the Bow Valley Trail Location in the town. Parking at the downtown location is limited so walking is best from a town parking lot whereas the Bow Valley Trail location as amble parking adjacent to the premises. The clientele range from mountain guides to wealthy Canadian retirees.
 

$
830 8 St #102/, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
http://www.thebagel.ca/

 
 

4. Whitebark Cafe

Do you want to go where the Banff Ski bum goes for coffee? Do you want to avoid the Banff tourist crowds? Do you want damn good coffee at a reasonable price then the WhiteBark Cafe is the place to go. The White Bark Cafe was recommended as a medicine to my Banff coffee woes by a friendly local who indicated that it was established by an ex-Olympic Ski Athlete who used to train in the area. The cafe is located at the edge of Banff town center in the Banff Aspen Lodge Hotel. Parking is very limited unless you are staying at the hotel so walking here is best. Please be aware the Banff Parking Officers are very active and the author has purchased a $50 parking ticket along with her 2 minute coffee stop. Staff are formally dressed but the customers range from people in their ski gear to higher end formally dressed visitors. It is best to grab a coffee and as the White Bark has limited space but if you have time to site at the bar facing the window you can admire beautiful views of the local Tunnel Mountain. Additionally if your belly is empty you can dine one homemade treats such as their homemade granola cereal and bars or savory dishes such as Foccacia bread which was the daily special on my most recent visit.

$
401 Banff Avenue, Banff, Alberta, Canada
(403) 760-7298
http://whitebarkcafe.com/

 
 

5. Wild Flour Bakery

Do you love art, photography and baking? Then a visit to Banff’s Wild Flour Bakery is essential. It is located one block off the main drag in Banff yet on a Saturday morning this bakery is a hive of activity due to famous bakery and the freshly baked smell emanating from within. On my first visit several years ago I even found my way here by following the aroma down Banff’s Bear Street. My recommendation for a visit is to grab a beverage and admire the art adorning the walls before purchasing food. The beautiful things in life need to be savored and there are too many good things at once. You need to appreciate the smooth coffee (coffee is sourced from fantastic Fratello roastery which is located in Calgary city) you need to appreciate the fantastic mountain art for sale on the walls and you need to savor the delicious food. Parking is limited though there is a parking lot across the street which as of 2016 is free, though it does fill up quickly. Walking here is best as you really need to follow the aroma. Foodie Tip: You can buy loaves of bread freshly baked in store. My favorite purchase was a Walnut and Cranberry bread loaf.
 

$$
101-211 Bear Street, Banff,  Alberta, Canada
(403) 760-5074
http://www.wildflourbakery.ca/

 
 

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About Aislinn Deenihan

Aislinn Deenihan loves the Rocky Mountains and the local cafes in the environs.

With Massachusetts being one of the top ice cream consuming states in the country, it’s no surprise that Boston is home to a plethora of ice cream shops. However, as any ice cream lover knows, not all frozen treats are created equal. New England is known for the ultra-dense consistency of its ice cream. Thick and almost chewy in texture, New England style ice cream tends to veer in the direction of adding in lots of extra cookie crumbles, sauces, and other sweet bits.

1. Toscanini’s

Named “the world’s best ice cream” by the New York Times, Toscanini’s was first opened in 1981 by co-founder Gus Rancatore. Known for their expansive selection of over 40 unique flavors, customer favorites include the Burnt Caramel, the B3 (brown sugar, brown butter, and brownies) and the Kenyan Khulfee, a unique flavor that includes cardamom, almonds and pistachios. Toscanini’s also has an entire line of ice creams devoted to chocolate lovers, including flavors such as Belgian Chocolate, Cocoa Pudding, Black Bottom and Rather Dark Chocolate. If you’re having trouble deciding on a flavor, staff are happy to offer up to two free samples. Additionally, Toscanini’s menu also includes a variety of homemade toppings, including their fresh whipped cream, made daily. For those with smaller appetites, Toscanini’s has their micro sundae, a small scoop of ice cream with any toppings, packed in a special espresso sized cup. Toscanini’s also sells pints of their ice cream for those looking to enjoy this premium ice cream at home. If you’re not quite in the mood for ice cream, Toscanini’s also serves a variety of other cool treats including ice cream sandwiches. If you’re looking to indulge in a less chilling sweet treat, consider some of Boston’s top dessert places. From cloud-like pastries to decadent chocolate cakes, these top dessert spots will satisfy any sweet tooth.

$$$
899 Main St., Cambridge,
(617) 491-5877
https://www.tosci.com/

 

2. Cabot’s

Cabot’s Ice Cream & Restaurant has been serving up scoops of decadent ice cream for over 35 years. This family owned ice cream parlor is known for its ultra-decadent sundaes. From building your own to the traditional hot fudge sundae, Cabot’s is a favorite amongst Boston locals. In recent years, Cabot’s has also expanded its selection to include a wide selection of non-dairy options. Cabot’s hosts birthday parties with a unique selection of Party Sundaes to choose from. Cabot’s also prides itself on its community involvement and fundraising events. For example, they even made pink whipping cream for their participation in the Boston Bakes Breast Cancer Fundraiser.

$$$
743 Washington St, Newton, Massachusetts
(617) 964-9200
http://www.cabots.com/

 

3. Honeycomb Creamery

A newer addition to the Boston ice cream scene, Honeycomb Creamery was founded in 2015 by husband and wife team, Rory Hanlon and Kristen Rummel. This humble pair prides itself on making all of their ice cream and waffle cones from scratch, using simple and natural, locally sourced ingredients. For example, their milk and cream come from Mapleline Farm in Hadley, MA. Honeycomb Creamery is serious when it comes to making their ice cream. For this artisanal ice cream shop, ice cream isn’t just for a cool treat; it’s an entire experience. The shop pasteurizes their own ice cream base, which means that they can create each unique flavor exactly the way they want. Their menu includes classic favorites, but with a sophisticated twist, like the double chocolate swirl and burnt vanilla bean. Some of their popular seasonal picks include the brown butter oatmeal cookie and the sweet corn with blackberry jam. For non-dairy ice cream aficionados, Honeycomb Creamery also offers several vegan options.

$$$
1702 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, Massachusettshttp://www.honeycombcreamery.com/

 

4. FoMu

This completely plant-based ice cream shop is 100 percent dairy, egg and animal product free. Their signature blend of ice cream is made with coconut milk and a blend of natural sweeteners. FoMu strives to use seasonal and locally sourced, organic ingredients. Recently, FoMu also paired up with a variety of top chefs in Boston, for their local chef collaboration series. This series included a variety of limited edition flavors such as sugar pumpkin sesame by chef Douglass Williams of MIDA. For those who enjoy the seasonal flavors, FoMu also has a “seasonal pint club.” This annual subscription includes four seasonal pints, delivered straight to your door.

$$$
655 Tremont St, Boston, Massachusetts
(617) 982-7955
http://www.fomuicecream.com/

 

5. Amorino Boston

Founded in 2002, Amorino Boston was created by two childhood friends, Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi. These two chefs are adamant about using only the finest quality ingredients, which also means that customers won’t find any artificial flavorings or coloring agents in their dessert. Amorino Boston’s signature item is their gelato. This European style gelateria isn’t just known for the taste of their gelato, however. The presentation is equally as important at Amorino Boston. Their signature gourmet gelatos scoops are served shaped into flowers, making both a delicious and beautiful dessert. Customers can also have multiple flavors combined into a single flower scoop. The gelato also comes served topped with a macaron adding an extra decadent touch.

$$$
249 Newbury St, Boston, Massachusetts
(617) 585-3185
http://www.amorino.com/us/

 

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About Mike Jones

Mike Jones writes about food, traveling, and reviews ice makers. You can read his articles on IceMakerExperts.

As a food blogger I love all types of food, but sushi just might be my favorite. I usually prefer sashimi to rolls, and appreciate the clean and delicate flavors of the freshest most, high quietly raw fish. My favorites tend to be places that do sashimi really well, so after trying just about every spot in Boston here are my picks!
 

1. O Ya

This tiny sushi bar has won awards for best restaurant in Boston and has received national attention. O Ya sushi is about as gourmet as it gets, with lots of truffles, caviar, wagyu beef, and fois gras. The menu includes a la carte options, as well as a small and large tasting menu.
 
The small tasting menu is the chef’s whim (although you can provide input), while the large is determined each night and includes many dishes not available on the regular menu. I’ve tried both tasting menus, and would definitely recommend going this route rather than a la carte (it’s a better value and you get to try more dishes). No matter which you order, in the in house sommelier will provide expert wine and sake pairing to complement your meal.
 
As one of the most expensive restaurants in the city- this is definitely a special occasion kind of place, but I make it a point to go at least once a year and always order the fois gras and chocolate.
 

(617) 654-9900
9 East Street Place Boston, MA 02111
Chef Proprietor: Tim Cushman
Proprietor & Sake Sommelier: Nancy Cushman

 

 

2. Oishii

Oishii is my regular sushi spot, and though its very high end it somehow manages to feel very accessible. The menu includes a good mix of gourmet items like Kobe and truffles, and basic maki, nigiri, and sashimi. I’ve ordered the omakase a couple of times, but usually prefer to order a few of the specialty appetizers and finish with a sashimi plate.
 
The presentation on some of the dishes really stands out, like the Kobe beef you cook on a hot stone at your table, the salmon on fire that literally comes out over a bed of flames, or any of the beautiful desserts like my favorites the coconut sphere with coffee mousse or frozen melon with gold flakes.
 

(617) 482-8868
1166 Washington Street, 
Boston, MA 02118
Chef Owner: Ting Yen

 

 

3. Uni

Uni is a swanky sashimi bar inside one of Boston’s best French restaurants. Naturally the dishes have a bit of a French fusion feel; the presentation and flavors are both exquisite with a hint of the molecular gastronomy Uni is known for.
 
Uni offers an a la carte menu or two chefs tasting menus, often with a supplemental A5 Wagyu beef. The most exclusive Wagyu in the world comes from the Japanese city Kobe, and the beef is graded according to the quality and amount of marbling. A5 is the highest grade, which makes it literally the best beef in the world. Uni is one of only a couple of restaurants in Boston to offer A5 at all, and at $25 an ounce it’s definitely the lowest price I’ve ever seen.
 

(617) 536-7200
370 Commonwealth Ave Boston, MA 02215
Owner: Ken Oringer
Executive Chef: Tony Messina

 

 

4. Oga

Oga in Natick is the best sushi in the Boston suburbs and a bit of a hidden gem, located in a strip mall just past the Natick Collection. Most of the sushi is traditional – no frills just really fresh, good quality fish. My favorite dish, Oga’s sushi dinner is the exception.
 
The selection changes daily and comes with eight or ten specially selected pieces of sushi. These fish are more unusual and often flown in from all over the world. I’ve ordered it, and had Seared O’Toro, Blue Fin Tuna, Golden Eye Salmon, Marinated Salmon, and House Eel among others.The Chef’s special also includes Miso Soup and a House Salad, which makes it plenty of food for a light dinner.
 

(508) 653-4338
915 Worcester Street (Route 9) Natick, MA 01760
Sushi Master: Toru Oga

 

 

5. Fugakyu

Fugakyu is probably the most traditional Japanese restaurant I’ve tried in Boston. The place is huge, with a koi pond in the lobby and private dining rooms with sliding rice paper doors where you can sit traditionally on the floor (although there are also plenty of American style tables and chairs).
 
The menu is also large, with a wide variety of nigiri, sashimi, and plenty of specialty rolls. My favorite is to order a few of the appetizers like the beef or tuna Carpaccio and tuna tartare, then finish with a sashimi plate. If you sit at the sushi bar Sun – Tues night, you can grab small plates off boats floating by for $3-$4 a piece, which is a great value.
 

(617) 734-1268
1280 Beacon St Brookline, Massachusetts 02446

 

 
What’s your favorite local spot for sushi?
 

Kerrie has blogged about food and wine at Urban Foodie Finds for almost four years; check her out and follow her progress toward trying every Michelin starred restaurant in the US! She is also is co-founder of Blog and Tweet Boston, a group dedicated to networking and connecting bloggers with local businesses.