tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-366146772010-02-02T16:50:05.719-05:00Chiaccchiere (Gossip) -- Everything You Need to Know About Who's Who and What's What in the North EndMichele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-1869140839829930042010-02-02T16:40:00.003-05:002010-02-02T16:50:06.034-05:00

In mid February, the Chinatown community will be celebrating the Lunar New Year. 2010 (Year 4707 according to the lunar calendar) will usher in the Year of the Tiger. If you were born in 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, or 1998, you need to pay special attention.In Western cultures, the Lion is “King of the Jungle”, but to the Chinese, it’s the Tiger that deserves that particular honor. The regal stripes

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-37465953824228165542009-04-24T12:28:00.004-04:002009-04-24T12:44:05.551-04:00

It’s always so exciting to see the first of the spring vegetables. I’ve been hounding “Albie” for weeks to find out when the fresh fava beans will be available. We’ll they’re here! Both fave and dandelion greens are for me a harbinger of Spring.FAVE FRESCHELook for fuzzy bright green pods that look heavy and full. Serve them raw as an antipasto, piled high in a basket along side a chunk of

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-20396133873470919082009-04-23T14:47:00.003-04:002009-04-24T12:36:50.001-04:00

“Not for all the tea in China” was a common expression when I was growing up. To be sure, there is a plethora of tea in China, and it is considered to be the national drink. Moreover, world- wide, tea is consumed far more frequently than coffee.I am thrilled to announce that at last we have a shop in Chinatown where we can purchase top quality teas. The owners of Silky Way, Kenneth Dong, Larry

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-71599014649905870882009-01-13T11:26:00.004-05:002009-01-13T12:21:32.518-05:00

"Happy New Year Everyone!"In Chinatown, preparations are being made for the most important holiday of the year. Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, falls on a different date each year because it is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. This usually occurs sometime from mid-January to late February. This year, it falls on January 26th. This

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-52396449664736907902008-11-21T14:36:00.009-05:002008-11-21T14:53:40.225-05:00

At this time of year when we are in a feasting mode, one or two extra vegetable dishes are always welcome. Instead of falling back on the usual suspects of sweet potatoes and green beans why not experiment and have your friends and family sit down to a dinner of comforts and surprises. Here are a handful of recipes that just might become holiday favorites.TORTINO DI CARCIOFI E CARDICardoons

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-2012500005417480042008-10-29T21:53:00.001-04:002008-10-29T21:58:13.120-04:00

From time to time, we hear stories concerning remote areas of the globe where unusually large numbers of people live unusually long, healthy lives. This is often attributed to diet, and, in most instances, these stories turn out to be of little merit.Recently, I became aware of a colorful new vegetable being sold in the markets of Chinatown. A little investigation led me to yet another tale of

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-11621697283695366822008-10-17T12:04:00.002-04:002008-10-17T12:13:04.406-04:00

Ice cream is and always has been, more than just dessert. It came on trucks with ringing bells when we were little; it came on sticks and in cups and in cones and in frosted silver dishes at the local ice cream parlor. It was what you ate when your tonsils were removed, when you had a great day and when you had a bad day. It is also one of the first things you ate when you went to Italy. Who

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-34455210099273461162008-08-11T16:22:00.002-04:002008-08-11T16:28:01.813-04:00

Don’t miss the new fish store that opened in June at 99 Salem Street. I think it’s the prettiest store in the North End - Mercato del Mare. It’s been a couple of years since we have had the opportunity to buy really fresh fish in the neighborhood. Kudos to both Elizabeth Ventura and Keri Cassidy who after having worked in the restaurant industry decided to follow their dream of becoming

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-30078845621848174712008-08-11T15:16:00.001-04:002008-08-11T15:19:34.282-04:00

In Boston’s Chinatown the community is getting ready to celebrate one of the most important dates of the lunar calendar. August 17, 2008 is this year’s date for the August Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Mid Autumn Festival always falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. This is the Chinese harvest festival, and somewhat akin to our Thanksgiving Celebration

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-58575141048249829022008-08-07T21:24:00.002-04:002008-08-07T21:31:18.420-04:00

Yes, there’s more to figs than fig leaves and fig newtons. Figs epitomize the Mediterranean--its climate, its food, its way of life. Figs most likely originated in Asia Minor and are thought to be one of the few trees to survive the ice ages. There is said to have been a fig tree in the Garden of Eden, and in fact, the fig is one of the most talked-about fruits in the Bible. Whether or not it was

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-14374893569668220352008-06-13T15:35:00.002-04:002008-06-13T15:42:18.346-04:00

In a world in which there seems little time or social acceptance to permit ourselves small pleasures, one delight – coffee – remains accessible to most everyone and seldom fails to please. Unfortunately, Americans do not understand what people in Europe and the Middle East have always known: Drinking coffee is not about acquiring an energy jolt, but about pausing, reflecting, enjoying and

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-34501128179094340112008-04-24T10:59:00.002-04:002008-04-24T11:40:20.825-04:00

The winter season has brought a few changes to the neighborhood. Some old familiar places have closed and a few new shops have opened. Here's a quick rundown:(1) Martignetti Liquor Store has closed, now leased by Citizen's Bank. They are putting a few ATM machines on the Hanover St. corner and are leasing the remaining space to Cafe Graffiti (closed the Hanover St. location), Christina DeFalco -

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-38139169423904762302008-04-23T21:16:00.003-04:002008-04-23T21:31:13.662-04:00

I just returned from another fabulous trip to my favorite region of Italy - Sicily. Spring had arrived. The fruit trees cast a pink and white mantel over the hills, the borage flowers bloomed as blue as the sky above, masses of acacia and mimosa veiled the roadsides with sprays of yellow flowers and the countryside rolled green with a new crop of wheat. Situated just 3 miles off the Italian

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-90376146581982290552008-02-05T11:59:00.000-05:002008-02-05T12:11:58.178-05:00

The celebration of Chinese New Year is right around the corner. Prepare to say goodbye to the Year of the Pig, and to usher in the Year of the Rat. Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most important of the traditional holidays celebrated in countries with a large Chinese population, as well as in cities here in the States with sizable Chinatowns. The actual date of Chinese

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-24511020388814377532008-01-23T12:23:00.000-05:002008-01-23T12:26:37.207-05:00

January is all about fresh starts. Whose resolutions haven’t included eating better, exercising more, quitting smoking, or participating in more cultural activities? My resolution is to adopt Italy’s Mediterranean lifestyle. Italians have long been envied for their rich, celebratory lifestyle, but it’s the simple elements of well-being in lifestyle and diet that have made their culture one of the

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-165357627383188452007-11-01T12:40:00.000-04:002007-11-01T22:25:04.400-04:00

dal mercato ...HIGH GEARYes, I know that this is a jewelry store, but...they have a fabulous new line of baubles made from Tagua, a seed from a palm tree only found along the Pacific Coast of South America. It has acquired the name of "Vegetable Ivory" because when it dries it acquires the same properties as Ivory. Also part of fair-trade and eco-friendly!High Gear204 Hanover St.tel-617-523-

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-73074917884475354992007-11-01T12:34:00.000-04:002007-11-01T12:40:04.313-04:00

There’s no doubt that cooler days and autumn evenings signal the start to the apple season. Ever since Adam bit into the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, apples have been the world’s most favorite fruit. There is evidence to suggest that the Stone Age man was partial to the apple, and apples were the first fruits cultivated in the fertile valleys of Asia minor over 3,000 years ago. With over 7500

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-76921859877590820472007-10-01T22:14:00.000-04:002007-10-01T22:21:17.128-04:00

The tomato is probably the most symbolic of foods associated with Italian cuisine; more tomatoes are eaten in Italy than any other vegetable. In reality the tomato did not enter the Italian pantry until the late 16th century when the Spanish brought it into the country. It was then described as a magical and medicinal plant to be used as a cure for various ailments as well as in the preparation

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-19546333753481647062007-08-11T18:30:00.000-04:002007-08-11T18:43:09.538-04:00

I recently returned from the Fancy Food Show in New York City where more than 73 countries and territories from around the world displayed their best specialty foods and beverages in hopes of attracting the attention of the US retail buyers. Although I spend most of my time attending educational seminars and workshops to learn about Italian food products and trends, I can’t help but notice food

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-51782148382626002392007-06-11T10:17:00.000-04:002007-06-11T10:35:21.399-04:00

Mediterranean fish stewIt’s very often that too many topics come to mind when I sit down to write this column but I had help last week when I was approached by “Junior” as I walked down Salem Street - “I like your articles in the North End News but why don’t you write something about fish – I’d like to see a good recipe .” It then reminded me of great times at the table, sopping toasted bread

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-84713876073807442482007-05-17T16:34:00.000-04:002007-05-17T16:45:05.984-04:00

Risi e Bisi"Rice and Peas"- Venetian styleAs a rule, I’m a fairly punctual person. But for reasons that I will explain, I am devoting this column to one of the most famous of all Venetian dishes traditionally served on April 25 to celebrate the birthday of St. Mark, patron saint of Venice. Rice and peas, or “Risi e bisi” in Venetian dialect is a luxurious rice soup - minestra - celebrating

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-69758027752731411642007-05-07T13:36:00.000-04:002007-05-07T13:48:06.381-04:00

FAVA BEANSI love introducing people on tour to fresh broad fava beans – fave fresche. The culture of the fava bean is thought to have originated in the eastern Mediterranean in late Neolithic times and in the Middle Ages the fava bean was a staple food throughout the Mediterranean. Favas were the only bean known to Europe until the discovery of the New World. In Central and Southern Italy fava

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-19229250685791429582007-04-05T14:09:00.000-04:002007-04-05T14:52:03.641-04:00

"Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi," as the Italian proverb goes, "Christmas with your relatives, Easter with whomever you want". But spending time with family turns out to be the way most people choose to enjoy their Easter holiday.As with all Italian holidays, food plays a key part in the celebrations. Although the Italian Easter table varies regionally, there are some elements that can be

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-1174924309340046952007-03-26T12:47:00.000-04:002007-03-26T13:04:52.476-04:00

LA PICCOLA CUCINA Welcome to my “Little Kitchen”As I sit here and watch snowflakes dance outside my kitchen window I think of that prime example of rustic, simple winter food that I love – polenta. Although some think of it as cornmeal porridge, it has become as fashionable as all of the other foods of the poor. Still a specialty of Northern Italy, it is the ultimate comfort food; it soaks up

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36614677.post-1174923955194001412007-03-26T12:38:00.000-04:002007-03-26T12:46:37.713-04:00

LA PICCOLA CUCINA Welcome to my “Little Kitchen”Americans are crazy about Italian food! For years the western world was seduced by not only its appetizing medley of aromas, tastes, colors and textures but also by the “dolce vita” life style that it suggested. Now as the trend toward eating the Mediterranean diet escalates, Italian food is doubly appealing for its healthful use of olive oil,

Michele Toporhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01158349950501877694noreply@blogger.com