Pickle fanatics look no further and prepare to rejoice! I've officially discovered
the best pickles you will ever taste.
Presenting
MoonBrine All Natural Pickles. Better late than never - these bad boys were handcrafted and sold in Boston for seven years before owner and Pickle fanatic Stew Golomb transplanted the company headquarters to Portland, Oregon. I scored a jar of the Pretty Hot! (they also make a Super Dill!) variety thanks to
DeMane who is a good friend of Stew's.
There is no turning back now.
Meaning, once you taste pickles this good; delightfully crisp, bright and crunchy, amazingly spicy and sour at the same time, you will only want to eat these pickles forever more.
Moonbrine Pickles are fermented and brewed in small batches with no preservatives and are gluten free, fat free and trans fat free.
The Pretty Hots pack a kick that's bold yet bearable and balance it out with all natural briny goodness. So good is the brine in fact, that it's highly encouraged to prepare anything from cocktails to salad dressing, short of drinking it straight from the jar.
I personally prefer to add a little vodka to mine for the ultimate Dirty Martini -
The Pickletini.
Simply combine one parts Moonbrine with two parts vodka. Shake over ice and serve straight up garnished with a Moonbrine pickle slice.
Nothing takes the edge off a Monday night quite like this fabulous concoction. You know, those blah Monday's where you wish it were still the beginning of a wonderful weekend ahead? I spent mine celebrating the birth of new a baby to come with friends at Delux. (We're a tight knit group with interesting senses of humor...who like to drink.)
Exhibit A:
Exhibit B:
I spent the latter half with some of my favorite extended family as this weekend marks the
annual trip my sister and I make to Granby, Connecticut.
My cousin Meg owns a
Dance and Theater Company and the performance this year featured choreographed dances and musical theater inspired by cities across the world!
I didn't take pictures to do our time there justice but let's just say I still wish I was sipping mimosas on this lawn in the sunshine.
P.S. Don't forget the
pickles.
P.P.S
Happy National Hamburger Month!
The Daisy Burger graces the menu at
The Four Seasons today - for one day only. Looking forward to seeing some of you there tonight!
The latest to open its Brownstone framed doors, serving affordable American cuisine in an atmosphere evoking classic old world elegance is The Brahmin. I joined Meghan, Emily, Megan and Amy two Sunday evenings ago where we took full advantage of the nice weather, opting to dine on the patio. 
Our waitress possessed a good grasp of the menu offerings and delivered timely service throughout. We ordered a number of small plates which she had expedited in stages, setting a relaxed pace for the meal instead of an overwhelming rapid fire of dishes. We were elated to see Fried Pickles ($5) on the menu, these crave-able discs were delicately fried and accompanied by a sweet pepper sauce. 
Akin to the fried pickles, a menu listing of Tater Tots ($6) always warrant attention. 
What this batch lacked in seasoning they made up for with a trio of dipping sauces including truffled ketchup, garlic aioli, and grainy mustard. 
We balanced the hot crispy bites with a light Arugula Salad ($6) consisting of goat cheese, fresh apples and prosciutto in a zesty lemon vinaigrette. 
Peppery, creamy, sweet and salty, this simple salad was a delight. Even more delightful was the Potato and Roasted Onion Fritatta ($3.50) for the combined facts that we ordered it whim, it only cost three dollars and fifty cents and its deliciousness took us by complete surprise.
A thick wedge of fluffy eggs loaded with potatoes and onions was reminiscent of the Tortilla de Patatas I ate in Spain! The Brahmin's version was elevated by fresh scallions and a diced red and yellow pepper salsa that embodied a remarkably refreshing sweetness.
From the sea, an order of Grilled Prawns ($8) were nicely prepared in a smokey chipoltle rub, and the Tuna Two Ways ($10) presented an ordinary tartare and seared slices of the fish atop rectangles of juicy watermelon. 
I almost wished this dish was tuna one way, the latter preparation impressed far more than the former, but I suppose it's all what you are in the mood for. 
Sometimes, two is more exciting than one, so I appreciate the concept and thought behind the fresh tuna duo. 
A beautiful platter of Seasonal Tomatoes ($7) with baby mozzarella, cold press oil, smoked sea salt and micro greens clung to summer while a hearty Beef Short Rib ($11) with cauliflower parsnip puree and pickled shallots marched towards fall. 
I thoroughly enjoyed both. 
Rounding out the dishes was a plate of nicely charred Grilled White Asparagus ($5) wrapped in serrano ham with a luscious lemon sauce and another one of those too-good-to-pass-up elevated comforts, Truffle Mac & Cheese ($7). 
Admittedly the consensus was that the use of truffle oil throughout was inconsistent, but when you got that luxurious truffle infused cheesy bite, especially one coated with baked breadcrumbs, all was forgiven. 
I briefly wandered inside at the end of our meal. The swanky interior evokes a turn-of-the-century vibe. Flickering candles and ornate chandeliers illuminate the deep maroon and brown toned decor. Tufted leather couches are set against exposed brick walls displaying canvas portraits.
It feels destined to become a Back Bay hot spot. Next time, I'd venture in to enjoy a creative (or a classic) cocktail at the wrap around copper top bar. This time around I was content to sip on a glass of Sparkling Pinot Noir and soak up the Indian summer weather on the patio. 
Dining al fresco and sharing dishes is a common theme when these ladies and I step out together, The Brahmin's well rounded menu provided a tasty experience that was all too easy on our wallets.
