The Maltesers Holiday Hot Cocoa

Our favorite candy is a British candy called Maltesers, which I love to share and enjoy over the holidays. In the U. S. these would be known as malted milk balls but be of a far inferior quality, with a cheap, almost waxy, chocolate used in all the versions we have found and tried. Maltesers, on the other hand, are covered in a smooth, rich, creamy milk chocolate that melts in your mouth.

This year, we wondered if we could somehow use them to create a hot cocoa. We tried several approaches and finally hit upon the best.


Meanwhile, across the pond, we found this lad who was attempting the very same thing and immediately knew we would have to share it with our readers. Willy Wonka he is not. We found his potty-mouthed antics quite amusing, however. He basically does everything wrong, despite having all of the necessary equipment and ingredients. We knew we could learn from his mistakes and considered ourselves a step ahead in that we actually knew how to use an immersion blender. And people wonder why we attend those Cooking and Science lectures at Harvard!


We wonder if he knows about these? Maltesers does, indeed, make a cocoa mix packet for hot cocoa. It, however, is one of those cocoa mixes you blend with water. We did not like it at all. We did try the mix using half the hot water suggested then adding cream for the rest of the liquid once it was mixed. This provided a much creamier drink but still a bit gritty for our taste.

We used a chopper to pulverize the candy so finely that it was just about powder. We then whisked that, gradually, into a tall saucepan of water warming on the stove. We then used the very same model immersion blender (which we knew how to work) to froth the drink up. It turned out perfectly delicious, just like a liquid Malteser!


We also considered how to create the same flavor if absolutely no Maltesers were to be found. We finely chopped a Cadbury Milk Chocolate candy bar and, again, added that, gradually, to a second pan of warm milk. We then added Carnation Malted Milk powder, one level teaspoon at a time, until we achieved that rich, malty taste we were after. This actually worked surprisingly well and was much easier.



Happy Holidays Everybody! And, please, let us know about your own home cooking experiments.

Last Minute Gifts

Are you still looking for last-minute gift ideas? Well, cookbooks are always a standby and if you can find one with a local connection, all the better. The latest fave on our review desk is THE ROSIE'S BAKERY ALL-BUTTER, CREAM-FILLED, SUGAR-PACKED BAKING BOOK. We know that's quite a mouthful but if you've ever been to one of these Boston-area bakeries just about everything there is! With recipes, step-by-step instructions and helpful hints everything you need is here to start whipping up those Chocolate Peanut Butter Volcanoes and Pumpkin Whoopie Pies of your own.

Happy Holidays and happy eating!

State House For The Holidays

We were off to the State House for lunch recently and a viewing of the PBS TV special HEIRLOOM MEALS, which was entirely shot in Massachusetts.


It was festive being in the State House for the holidays. The grand staircase looked really beautiful, understated but elegant.


With Carole Murko of HEIRLOOM MEALS. You may have caught Carole's beautifully photographed PBS TV special over Thanksgiving week focusing on family holiday traditions and foods. She also hosts a weekly NPR Radio program of the same name.


The quiche served at lunch was made with Pete and Gerry's Eggs, both local and organic! If you have not tried these believe me you will see a real difference and support the local economy as well.


This custard was amazingly good.


Our lunch took place in The Great Hall, which was an open air courtyard until the Dukakis administration enclosed it for year-round enjoyment and events.

Thanks everyone for a great time! We're looking forward to that visit to Create TV!

Boston Wine Expo 2012 Preview

The Boston Wine Expo 2012 is shaping up to be an even bigger, more comprehensive event than in years past with some very exciting changes and additions. That may be hard to imagine for anyone who has attended this enormous, sprawling event but to kick things off we were invited to a special media preview recently and are ready to feature some of the new highlights for our readers.


As we sipped some of the wines that will be featured and snacked on amazing appetizers we learned, first of all, that the Expo will now include a full week of exciting events taking place from January 16-22, 2012 in the Seaport. The wines we tasted were organized into four regions: North America, Southern Hemisphere, Europe and Mediterranée. Our first sip was from North America, a 2008 Treana Red (Paso Robles). Excellent. The Expo will also be organized into these four regions.


Our Southern Hemisphere sip was a 2009 Catena Malbec, Catena Zapata, from Argentina. Also nice. Newly scheduled events for 2012 will include a Three-Day Education Series, Two-Day Grand Tastings and Special Tastings, Vintner Dinners and other special events. In addition, the Expo and the Seaport Hotel will also be the new home of TV Diner's Platinum Plate Gala, which features so many of our favorite Chefs and restaurants and will take place on Friday evening.


After sampling the European offering, 2009 Von Buhl "Maria Schneider Jazz Label" Reisling (Pfalz) we checked out the food offerings. Vintner dinners will be held throughout the week at lots of great restaurants: 606 Congress, BOKX 109, Sandrine's Bistro and Strega. The Celebrity Chef Stage will feature great friends such as Chef Patricia Yeo of OM, Chris Douglass of Ashmont Grill, Mary Ann Esposito, Andy Husbands of Tremont 647 as well as Chris Coombs of Deauxave and Vittorio Ettore of Bistro 5.


In addition to all of the new events Boston Wine Expo 2012 is stepping up the technology with a new mobile app that will be available, allowing you to track all of your wine tastings, selections, notes and even order your favorites online right away. QR codes will also be big this year. We noticed several bottles with QR codes last year and this is expanding tremendously for 2012. If you have a smartphone download any of the scanning apps now so you can scan away and get all of the information anyone could want, and more, on the vintages and wineries you want to learn more about.

I highly suggest you visit the website for full information on tickets, events, hotel offers, dinners, maps, participants and Celebrity Chef demonstration schedules. Here is the link: Boston Wine Expo 2012. Keep in mind that in the past the event has completely sold out.

We'll see you there!!!!

Dinner At Tavolo

The colorful Antipasti Plate was filled with as many flavors. Everything here was top quality.

We were dinner guests at Tavolo recently where we joined a group of friends and greeted by Chef Nuno Alves to taste a number of appetizers and sides with our main course and dessert. If you've never been, as a few of the guests had not, you'll find it very easy to get to. It's just a few steps from the Ashmont station on the red line. I often recommend Tavolo (and Ashmont Grill) to those visiting Boston as it's really a great way to get off the beaten tourist path and both represent some of the best dining values in the city with quality food at affordable prices.


The delicious, and beautiful, Pumpkin Soup.


Polenta Alla Icarus. A nod to owner Chris Douglass' former South End eatery and served with rich mushrooms and cheese. This was a standout.


Grilled Artichoke appetizer. Very nice.


The Ravioli were filled with sweet, house-made pumpkin ricotta.


My dish was the Lasagna. Made with a salsa Besciamella, house-made pasta and a pork/beef/veal ragu. Excellent. In fact, all of the pastas at Tavolo are house-made which makes all the difference in the world.


A dining companion across the table enjoyed the Shrimp Scampi, which looked mouth-watering and was reported to be excellent.


Garganelli Carbonara. This looked gorgeous and was reported as being very good.


Max's Meatballs. We had tried these a few years back and were very happy to still see them on the menu as they really are the best we've had. So, we just had to try a side of them and, of course, they are still great.


For dessert we enjoyed the rich Chocolate Torte with whipped cream and dusted with crushed pistachios.

Tavolo
1918 Dorchester Avenue
Dorchester Ctr, MA 02124-3765
Telephone: 617.822.1918

Thank You Panorama!

Thanks to Samantha House and Paul Adler of Panorama Boston for such a fun afternoon! Hope to see you at La Cage Aux Folles!

Thanks to everyone else for your fun messages, including those about my "sparkly" buttons and Armani shades. :)

Maharaja: Feasting Like Royalty

We were the guests of Sajal Latka, co-owner of Maharaja, recently for a luncheon feast of Indian cuisine. The setting is an elegant room floating above Harvard Square with all of the amenities of a perfect dining experience. We tasted some tried-and-true Indian classics and some inventive new dishes and captured these gorgeous food pics.


The long tables so beautifully set really does remind one of what royal feasts must have been like.


We were given the perfect window seat, overlooking Winthrop Park on a crystal clear day.


We arrived early. The lunch buffet was set out and most of the diners were there to take advantage of it.


Although the buffet looked very inviting we would be ordering from the main menu.


We immediately ordered a fruity, fresh, cold and colorful mocktail.




Americans are so used to the bread and butter. These colorful crisps with chutneys and sauces were a refreshing welcome.


The unexpected Amuse Bouche, a creamy soup featuring mustard seed was sweet with just a hint of mustard.


We started with a Samosa of potatoes and green peas with Chicken Pakora.


Scallops are unheard of in India so this dish was a complete surprise and an inventive new take you won't find in other Indian restaurants. The Jeera Scallops feature cumin seed and a creamy saffron sauce.


Meanwhile, below us a group gathers to take the "Hahvahd" tour.


Without asking, a taste is brought out to cleanse the palate between courses. Quality is always in the small details, not what you ask for but what you don't have to ask for.


The Garlic Naan, when perfectly thrown in the tandoori. The mild garlic taste sets the Maharaja apart from others. Too much garlic and it's ruined but not here.


A bowl of rice is not a bowl of rice when it is served like this.


Saag Paneer is always my litmus test for classic Indian cuisine. Look at those perfectly cubed chunks of cheese. I could seriously become a vegetarian. Very nicely done.


Khatta Dhvandar Gosht. Lamb cubes and ground lamb with pomegranate seed in a piquant sauce. Our amazing taste of the day.


What food writers leave in their wake. I should note that the service at Maharaja was impeccable.


Kulfi Faluda. Have you had a dessert this colorful recently? Despite the brilliant orange color these ice cream chunks are actually pistachio flavored and served over a nest of fruit gelee. Light, not too sweet and satisfying. This was the perfect end to a masterful meal.

Maharaja
57 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Telephone:617.547.2757

Ogunquit: Christmas By The Sea

We zipped out of the city last weekend for a relaxing few days far away from the maddening shopping mall crowds, up to the country house to help kick off the 25th Annual Christmas By The Sea in Ogunquit. The biggest festivities are actually next weekend and it's a chance to experience the holiday season in a quiet New England village filled with history and the kind of people who actually say hello as you stroll in the early morning hours.

Among the highlights: the best coffee and finely-crafted pastries served up by our friend Mary Breen at Bread and Roses Bakery, in the center of the village. We dropped by to deliver a gift box to Sara at Beachmere Inn, where they boast hot chocolate and the best ocean views. We wandered and photographed, dined out and took long, snoozy naps in the afternoon. We roasted chicken with lemon and just enjoyed the slow pace. If you go visit Abacus on Maine Street for some amazing finds. Hope you like the pics.