There’s a New Ice Cream Shop in Town!

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

I find it weird that I had to move from Florida to Boston to find good, local ice cream. Ever since Rancatore’s, and then Brigham’s, closed up shop near my house, it has been slim pickings. I love ice cream, but I am not really going to drive to it (except for this place). But, this past Saturday the ice cream powers that be smiled upon my neighborhood, and Moozy’s Ice Cream & Yogurt Emporium opened its doors!

Bright colored, cheery, and definitely a throw back to the 50′s, Moozy’s is a “malt shop”, if you will, with modern appeal. There is outdoor seating for sunny afternoons with a frothy float, booths for romantic dates over a banana split, and bar seats from which you can sip a lime rickey. It is quite a change from the Brigham’s, but still keeps the air of an old-time ice cream shop.

On my first visit, I decided to go for it and get the sundae . I did show restraint and get the small for Ryan and I to share….but small was apparently just a label. I guess getting 6 scoops of ice cream is a good thing when the small costs $6. The lady helping me told me I get as many toppings as I would like, but I went with the classic hot fudge, nuts and (real!!) whipped cream. The hot fudge was the extra thick kind, that actually tastes like real chocolate and not chocolate syrup. I am a fan.

Actual REAL fresh fruit toppings!

The ice cream is from local Attleboro, MA. company, Bliss Dairy, which has been a New England mainstay since the late 1800′s! I chose banana and snickers ice cream for our sundae. The banana was divine! It had a definite fresh banana flavor, and was thick and creamy. The snickers ice cream (which Ry preferred), was a chocolate base with nuts and chocolate chunks. It was different from what I was expecting, but still good. I cannot wait to try flavors like Coconut Almond Bar, Red Velvet and Carmel Chocolate Pretzel!

Sorry for the terrible sundae picture, especially after all this hype. I did risk loosing a finger just to get this one badly lit, blurry shot!

Moozy’s also had an interesting menu of salads, soups and paninis. I am not sure if they rotate, or if the menu is set. At the time of this post, Moozy’s website was not yet fully functional, but more information can be found on the Facebook and Twitter pages.
Moozy's on Urbanspoon

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An Open Letter to Watertown, MA – Please do not bring Walmart here.

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

Update: Mike Mandel is spelled with only one L on the end. Also, when writing him in, you must include his address of 124 Maplewood Street.

Please indulge me today as I get into local politics for a minute. Wal-Mart is trying to expand in the Boston area, and the town I live in is one of the considered location. While I am not going to lie and say I NEVER go to Wal-Mart (it’s the only place to get the plastic bins I like), I will outright say I do not want one near me. A small, local economy like Watertown’s will never survive if crushed by this box store giant. Keep Wal-Mart in Framingham, which has built itself as a big store shopping destination.

Below is my open letter to the town urging them to not go down this rabbit hole. At the end of the letter are some actions you can take if you are a resident of Watertown, MA.

Dear The Powers that Be in Watertown, MA,

I am writing to express my disappointment in the consideration of bringing Wal-Mart to Watertown. We first moved to Watertown six and a half years ago. Coming from Florida, I was thrilled to land in an area that had small town charm, but was still minutes from the city. It was the best of both worlds.

But then I looked even deeper into Watertown, and discovered that it is more than small town charm, it is a foodies paradise! With small local shops like Crown Cafe, Maximo’s, Demo’s, The Aegean, Matilda’s, Fordee’s, Arax Market, International Natural Bakery, Russo’s and so many more, it is so nice to know that I can get almost everything I need from a local vendor. And for the times when these shops can’t provide what I need, we have Target and the Arsenal Mall to take care of that.

So please tell me, why on earth do we need a Wal-Mart? What can this big box store possibly provide us that we don’t already have, and couldn’t have from a local shop?

The future of Watertown should be in our uniquely local, small business economy. Why do more people not know about our shops and eateries? Let’s spend our efforts in getting that word out there, not in bringing in a conglomerate that is so divisive. The movement in New England is to know exactly where your goods come from, and Watertown has been ahead of that movement for years, so lets let everyone know about it! We don’t need Wal-Mart to come in to our town and kill our most valued asset, that would be heartbreaking.

Please take note of our voice as citizens of Watertown. We have signed this petition (if you would like to gather signatures, please email info@sustainablewatertown.com), we will be writing in Mike Mandel for Town Councilor at Large based on his anti-Walmart platform on November 8th, and we have come together in opposition of even the thought of Wal-Mart in our town. Please do not let our cries fall on deaf ears.

Thank you for your time, and here’s hoping you do the right thing,

Renee Hirschberg, Watertown, MA.

If you are interested in following these issues, please visit http://sustainablewatertown.com.

What do you love the most about the town you live in?

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The Best Chicken Kabobs for My Money…In 500 Words or Less

Posted on March 13, 2011 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

Boston Food Bloggers issued us a “homework” assignment in their last newsletter. The assignment challenged us to write a restaurant review in 500 words or less….with no pictures! If you have seen what food bloggers look like when they go out to eat, you know that asking us to put away our cameras is a pretty ballsy request. So, last Wednesday night after a late night in class, I decided to pick up dinner from my favorite local hole, Demo’s. I wanted something cheap, healthy, and scintillating to my taste buds (we aren’t allowed to use words like “tasty”, “delicious” or “yummy” for this “assignment”. They did not say we couldn’t use “parentheses” however). Now healthy, cheap and scintillating are not words that can generally be lumped together in fast food. But lucky, Demo’s is not a restaurant that is fond of being just a generalization.

Demo’s is, for all intents and purposes, a hole in the wall on the main strip of Mt Auburn Street in Watertown, MA. You walk in and instantly know that they have not redecorated the place since they initially opened gosh-knows-when. The blue diner booths and the linoleum floors do NOT give you the illusion that you are in for a five star meal, neither is the fact that you order at the counter. The locals sitting with their families, co-workers, or by themselves, DO tell you that this is a reliable restaurant with straight-forward, reliable fare.

So what about the food you ask? Well, as you can guess from the name, Demo’s is Greek in ethnicity. The menu is small and true to the most basic of Greek offerings. The kabobs are why the locals are really here. Available in either chicken, beef or lamb, the kabobs are delicately marinated to bring out their natural flavors, not mask them, and are fire grilled with onions and peppers. For just about $6 you can get the “Kabob Sandwich”, a meal consisting of one kabob, traditional greek salad, and pita bread. Dig in that wallet, and for a whopping $12 you can get a kabob dinner (2 kabobs, rice, greek salad and pita).

While the kabobs are healthy and pure, the greek salad is why I keep coming back. You know about my greek salad bias. Well, Demo’s is one of the only Greek joints in the Boston area that gets it right. A plate of nothing but iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, feta and REAL greek dressing (aka: white vinegar, oil and a few seasonings). That is it. Nothing froo, froo, nothing creamy. Just real greek goodness.

If I hadn’t ended up in Watertown, I may have never found Demo’s. That would have been sad because it would mean I only would get GOOD greek food when I went home to Florida. Thank goodness for the small things in life…thank goodness for Demo’s!

And that, my friends, is my review in 500 words or less, and with no pictures! How’d I do?

Demo’s is located at 64 Mount Auburn Street, Watertown, MA 02472 617-924-9660

Demos on Urbanspoon
See my favorite dishes at this restaurant on Tasted Menu

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Our Favorite Hidden Gem Breakfast Joint

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

I love a family run joint. You may or may not know, my family is in the business ourselves. Knowing all the blood, sweat and tears that goes behind these types of restaurants makes me appreciate them even more.

When we moved to New England, we quickly discovered it is the land of infinite diners. Everywhere you look there is another greasy spoon, and each one seems to be just as delicious as the next. It didn’t take us long to find Crown Cafe in Watertown, since that is our neck of the woods. This breakfast stop changed hands more times than I can remember during our first year here. But it finally landed in the hands of the nicest Armenian family. Any time you would go in the shop, the owner and his son would great you with a smile, and just enough polite conversation that you wouldn’t get irritated. Then they would serve you one of the best cups of coffee in town, and a home cooked meal, all for under $10.

Then one day, there was a new family behind the counter! We panicked, questioning the young girl serving us. Was the menu going to change? Would the prices change? How about the portion sizes? And the chicken salad? The chicken salad club is SO delicious it would be an actual crime to change it! But the sweet girl assured us that her family planned to keep EVERYthing the same. They are actually family friends of the old owners, and they understand that the secret to Crown Cafe’s success is consistency.

Chicken Salad Sandwich, Egg Sandwich, French Fries and Home Fries

So, we ordered, we over-ate, and we conceded. We were sad to see the old ownership go, but happy that the new owners understand the neighborhood. If you are ever in Watertown before 2pm, and looking for a delicious, hot meal for a low price, give Crown Cafe a try. Trust me, it will feel good to support a nice, locally owned establishment!

Recommendations:

  • Coffee – It is ALWAYS good!
  • Chicken Salad – See above
  • Grilled Chicken Dinner – For under $10 you get a HUGE portion of deliciously marinated and perfectly grilled chicken over rice. This usually is good for 3 meals for me!
  • Fries & Home Fries – Both are perfectly cooked and seasoned
  • Egg Sandwich- Ryan swears by their egg sandwich on english muffin with bacon

Honestly, I have never been disappointed with anything I have ordered!

What is your favorite neighborhood eating joint?

Crown Cafe is located at 106 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472. They are open for breakfast and lunch and accessible via the Watertown Yard Bus Stop.
Crown Cafe on Urbanspoon

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Snow Day Fun and Eats!

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Renee {Eat.Live.Blog.}

When we finally got the word that we would be able to stay home for the snow day Wednesday, visions of crockpot meals, baked goods, and slow cooked chili danced in my head. Then Wednesday morning rolled around, and the only thing that danced in my head was: “How long can I physically stay in bed?”

We opened the blinds, and as soon as I peaked the snow blanket covering outside, we were up and out of bed and in our snow gear! The best part of a snow day is opening the door, watching our pup Reise run out, not expecting what is ahead. Lets just say that today’s discovery may have been a little much for her.

After some shoveling and snow blowing, we wandered around the neighborhood, awed by the scenery that the snow created. Across the street we found the perfect spot for my very first (successful) snow angel!

By this time I was starving, and plans of slow cooking turned into dreams of junky convenience food! First up a thing crust spinach white pizza (of the frozen variety). A little tip, the thin crust frozen pizza are delicious and have about a quarter of the fat and calories of regular frozen pizza!

A couple of hours later, and 3 episodes of Dexter – Season 2, and it was time for lunch. I had left over bacon from my potato soup toppings, so lunch was framed around bacon…always a good idea! For Ryan: Grilled Cheese and Bacon. For Me: A Jenny-O Turkey Burger topped with Chavrie, bacon, homemade bread and butter pickles, and onion slices. Now, I was not expecting a culinary delight for lunch, but this burger SERIOUSLY surpassed all of my expectations, and has easily made it to the top of my favorite burger list.

Next up was some of the delicious strawberry tea my sister brought me from the Camellia Rose Tea Room in Plant City, FL. I have this tea every time I am in Florida, and it is so delicious! When she came up for my birthday this year, she bought me a tin to enjoy in my new tea room!

And then it was time for more shoveling of snow and to clean the cars off. And then I was sad because it meant the snow day was almost over. BUT, there was more fun to be had! A quick trip to the store for milk and snacks (read: chocolate) found us in a half plowed CVS parking lot. It was time to take the new Highlander for a spin! That baby handled the snow piles like a dream, and we left the lot happy to make our next car payment!

By the time we got home, any preconceived ideas of cooking a healthy dinner were out the window! Orchard Park Grill Wings here we come! Buffalo wings are one of my greatest weaknesses. OPG is not the kind of place I want to go in, sit down and unwind at. It is definitely a “local bar”. However, the secret of this watering hole is there insanely delicious, perfectly cooked OPG wings. We found out that one of the secrets of these wings are that they are fried and then broiled, which gives them a perfect texture. The next secret is the sauce, a flavor burst of honey, buffalo and a touch of bbq, the sauce is pretty darn perfect!

And with that, our snow day came to an end. But it was a much-needed respite in the week, and some great time spent with my family…plus, calories totally don’t count on snow days!

Did you enter to win prizes from Pretzel Crisps and Tribe Hummus yet?

Orchard Park Grill on Urbanspoon

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