Finale Summer Cocktail Session

Last Tuesday I got my fix of sweet treats at yet another fantastic Finale Desserts tasting event. You may recall I attended the Craft Beer Tasting back in May and embraced the unique concept of pairing beer with pastries. This time around Nicole Cody - Finale's pastry chef extraordinaire paired five of her signature desserts with summer cocktails crafted by Tim Murphy of Horizon Beverage.Tonight I was joined by Mindy, Megan and Emily who were just as excited to have dessert for dinner as I was. The pairings flowed from cocktails and desserts that were light, fruity, creamy and custardy to ones that were rich and decadent with flavors of coffee and chocolate.

First up - the Tropical Sunset Cocktail blends X-Rated Fusion liqueur with pineapple juice, raspberry puree and a splash of soda water. This fruity libation was paired with a light fluffy crust free version of Cheesecake that I unexpectedly adored. If this were a competition, cocktail versus dessert, the dessert wins this round hands down. The Lemon Tart in a handmade sugar dough shell complimented a Wild Berry Mojito with sweet mixed berry puree, brut cava, peach schnapps and a splash of sprite. I wasn't the biggest fan of this mojito - perhaps because it strayed too far from a typical rum based version with muddled mint and sugar. But the tart was pretty good - I'm sensing a trend....The third paring of a St. Germain Sparkler with with a traditional Creme Brulee was one of my overall favorites. A super sweet sip of the ever popular elderflower liqueur mixed with Nivole Moscato was balanced by a similar level of sweetness in the caramelized vanilla custard. The Chocolate Bliss Cocktail tasted like a grown up version of chocolate milk! The decadent blend of Godiva Caramel, Godiva Dark, Creme de Cacao and Finale Chocolate Ganache went with a classic Tiramisu, layering coffee soaked ladyfingers, rich mascarpone mousse and a dusting of Valhorona cocoa powder. Lastly, the rich fudge like flourless Chocolate Decadence cake was paired off with a strong blend of Svedka Vodka shaken with Godiva Dark, Kahlua and espresso - none other than the Espresso Martini. Dessert for dinner? Definitely a good idea every once in awhile, especially when enjoyed with cocktails. This particular tasting will also take place on August 2nd and 9th from 6:30 - 8:00pm at Finale Coolidge Corner located at 1306 Beacon Street. My tasting was complimentary since I attended as a media guest, but at only $20 per person it's an inexpensive and fun way to switch up your summer after work routine!

A Quiet Afternoon at Temptations Cafe

Last week, I made a point to really find some time to relax as I geared up for my new job.  I had some time to kill before the craft beer and dessert tasting at Finale, so I decided to head out to Coolidge Corner a bit early.  I rarely make it out to that area so I wanted to find time to stop by the Meat House and also browse the used books section at Brookline Booksmith.  As I wandered around the neighborhood, I stumbled upon Temptations Cafe. 

I liked that they had a sign on the door with their Twitter handle and it made me curious enough to step inside.

I easily decided to have a chai latte but I wanted to try something sweet as well.  Their pastries were really huge so I settled on their smaller-sized baklava.

The chai latte was nice and foamy and I savored every sip.

The baklava had lovely flaky layers of phyllo dough and was wonderfully sweetened with honey and pistachios.

Temptations Cafe has a bright cheery aesthetic with plenty of tables to sip some coffee, read a book, use their free wi-fi, or just chat.   I came prepared to read the latest issue of Improper Bostonian and to tear our recipes from a few issues of last year's Everyday Food.  It was so relaxing and a perfect way to spend an hour or two.

Temptations Cafe is located at 1350 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA and also has two other Boston-area locations.

Finale Craft Beer Tasting

Ever since I returned home from New Orleans on Monday night I've had a slew of non-stop weekday events and dinners. Luckily, I took Tuesday off from work in advance so I could have a day to breath / unpack / upload photos before going at it again. On Tuesday evening I met my friend Michelle at Coolidge Corner in Brookline to attend a Craft Beer Tasting Event at Finale Desserterie & Bakery. Hosted by their pastry chef Nicole Cody and Craft Brewers beer expert Erika Soucy, these ladies did a fantastic job of planning the pairings and leading us through the tasting; which showcased five flavored craft beers each with a decadent pastry. They encouraged us to taste the dessert first, then sip beer and vise versa. Switching up the order surprises the palate and allows you to determine which order you like better with which pair. My favorite just so happened to be the first pairing of Lindeman’s Peche with a fresh Seasonal Fruit Tart. I love Lindeman's Framboise, but I had no idea they made a peach flavor! This light and fruity beer balanced nicely with the richness of the tahitian vanilla and bavarian cream in the tart. The next paring was an 8% alcohol, full bodied Bosteel’s Tripel Karmeliet which enhanced the very simple, cold and custardy Crème Brulee. The third pairing introduced me to a beer I can't wait to try again, a Wells Banana Bread which is a traditional ale from England. The bready mouthfeel and prevalent banana notes complimented the Bavarian cream, yellow cake and semi sweet chocolate icing in the Boston Cream Pie. The Schneider Aventinus Eisbock delivered a strong (12% alcohol) Germain ale with a hint of clove and spiciness. The Chocolate Symphony Squares offered three layers of sweet mousse to stand up to the beer with a Dark Chocolate first, followed by a white chocolate and finally a milk chocolate mousse. For the final round we tasted Atwater Vanilla Java Porter. It was lighter than I expected - a well rounded porter that was smooth and easy to drink. The pairing with the rich, flourless Dark Chocolate Decadence worked out well. I was actually pretty full at this point!

The event was well organized; with the pairings evenly paced and passionately spoken about. I enjoyed the exposure to some unconventional craft beers and who can argue with dessert for dinner?! Finale Coolidge Corner holds different tasting events on certain Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. If you are interested, check out the schedule for details about upcoming happenings.

Special thanks to Mindy Valone at CM Communications for the warm welcome and of course Michelle for inviting me as her guest!

Orangette & A Homemade Life

Orangette is a food blog that was on the scene long before I knew how to cook and years before I discovered that I had any sort of true passion for food. Molly Wizenberg created this blog six years ago. Yes, the year was 2004 and I was a Sophomore in college. I drank Keystone 30 racks, Bacardi Limon by the handle, and the only thing I knew how to cook was Ramen Noodles and Kraft Easy Mac. (You can't even call that cooking, I realize this.) I found out through one of Molly's latest posts titled "Ours Now" that her book which came out last year was just released in paperback. After having read only a few blog posts and her FAQs, I determined she was a pretty incredible writer and so I decided to purchase: A Homemade Life - Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. A New York Times Bestseller and quoted on the cover as "A mouthwatering memoir", I had a feeling I was in for a good read.

I also learned from the Ours Now post, Molly would be appearing for a book talk and signing at one of my favorite local bookstores, The Brookline Booksmith.
I used to shop here often when I lived in Brookline. A Monday night at 7pm was do-able so I decided I was going make the trek out to my old neighborhood to hear what Ms. Wizenberg had to say.

P.S. How cute is this bookstore?
In addition to books they sell handmade jewelry, gifts and other quirky household decor items.

They hold the book talks and signings in the used book cellar. I've been taking my time reading the book, really enjoying letting it all sink in slowly. A Homemade Life is developed so that each chapter is more like a short essay independent of one another, yet they do have a flow to them. It's a coming of age journey detailing Molly's intimate relationships with family and food, maybe not in exact chronological order, but more or less so. I never thought I could enjoy reading recipes as much as I am. Literally, I'll read every ingredient on the list, while attempting not to drool on the pages. I didn't grow up reading cook books for fun, this is new to me. I didn't used to think that cooking or trying out recipes was fun, at all. But a young girl named Molly in Oklahoma City did. You quickly learn that sitting down to meals are very poignant memories for Molly. Watching the reactions of those who eat what she's created, is just as important as the cooking itself. That is what "ties it all together" and brings Molly a huge sense of satisfaction. I loved listening to her talk about the moments when she realized that her families obsession with food was just that - her families obsession. This is not what every kids life is like?! What do you mean your family doesn't cook breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch?!

For me, it is easy to relate to the realizations Molly speaks of. I grew up with a Mother who was a talented cook, baker, grill-master, hostess, all of the above. My parents threw dinner parties, and BBQs, and drank lots of good beer and wine. Heck, they were even certified scuba divers and literally brought lobsters caught that afternoon from the Cape Cod Bay or Nantucket Sound floor to our dinner table that evening. Same thing went for fishing - fresh caught stripped bass for dinner? Yes please. As year-round Cape Coders our summer weeks were booked out from the Fourth of July thru Labor Day with cousins, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents visiting from all over the map. Hosting and cooking is definitely in my parents blood and Cape Cod was the place everyone wanted to be. I didn't realize it until this post started flowing, that Molly recounting her childhood through food, has inspired me to want to do the same. I could totally (maybe) write a memoir about the giant Igloo coolers my parents packed for the Crows Pasture four-wheel drive beach excursions or perhaps for Wellfleet Beachcomber days where we adorned wetsuits and boogie boarded for hours. Or the kids gathered after sunset 'round the bonfire-in-the-sand roasting marshmellows and making a mess of ourselves eating smores. The lazy days spent boating on Bass River, the Old Camp weekends with trips to the penny candy store and eating breakfast in the graveyard....oh.my.gosh. Molly, seriously, look what you started. Who wants to know more about Old Camp? What - you and your family didn't have a summer tradition of eating breakfast in a graveyard? I digress (for now.) Back to the book talk already. Did I mention I lucked out with a front row seat? 

Molly was engaging and very well-spoken, with her wavy strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail and her pale skin flushing pink at times.
After she finished speaking, she read Chapter One titled A Place To Start. She had a calm intensity about her. You can tell she is humbled by all this fame, and is genuinely pleased to meet her fans and followers. She has no qualms that we all know so much about her life through the blog. And there is so much to know about her - her father died from Cancer too young, she writes a monthly column for Bon Appetit Magazine, her and her husband opened a restaurant in Seattle 7 months ago, her and a good friend recently started a podcast to name a few poignant points. She is a girl with a past known to us all, and a woman of many talents. She responds thoughtfully to all questions. "That is such a good question" she would state a few times while clearly pondering her answer.
Her passion and enthusiasm in person and in her writing are both really really powerful. I was so happy to have been able to meet her, and of course, have her sign my book.
I highly recommend you purchase yourself a copy of A Homemade Life. You could borrow mine but I'd make you give it back. And then you wouldn't have all the recipes on hand.