Saturday, February 9, 2013
Just because you're snowed in doesn't mean you can't enjoy a delicious meal.
- PATCH'S HOUSE & HOME
- Bob Leo
-
Saturday, February 9
With the Blizzard of '13 on the way, I stopped in to visit my parents who live in Lynn, fairly close to the Atlantic Ocean. Anybody who has ever lived near the coast knows how powerful and devastating coastal surges can be. Therefore, Nor’easters are a little more worrisome near the beach as opposed to other land locked areas. My Mom was on her way to the market so I volunteered to give her a lift. Keep in mind my Mom and Dad are in their seventies and well into their empty nest years. As I bagged up her groceries I had to chuckle at her selections. Two cases of water , two loaves of bread, a super jumbo pack of toilet tissue, a twelve pack of batteries, enough cold cuts to feed the NE Patriots offensive line and enough milk to keep …
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Columnist Bob Leo examines some fun facts about the noble (and tasty) bird.
- HOLIDAY GUIDE
- Bob Leo
-
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Last week I attempted to expound a little Thanksgiving history for your reading pleasure. I'm sure most of you know by now I am a bit of a history buff. This week I would like to share some little known " turkey trivia ", so pay attention all you toms and hens. Did you know Ben Franklin actually nominated the turkey as America's symbol. Ben had a disdain for the eagles aggressive nature, scavenger tendencies, and violent disposition toward weaker, smaller species. Ben lost out and in 1863 after Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a National Holiday, Alexander Hamilton stated, "no person shall refrain from turkey on Thanksgiving Day." So seeing how the Native Americans be gifted the Pilgrims five deer on the first Thanksgiving and the …
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Remember the people you never see when you have a great meal.
- OPINION
- Bob Leo
-
Saturday, August 20, 2011
I had a day off Wednesday and was kind of just being a slug. It was a long grueling weekend and I had just worked a barrel of hours. I was just chilling on the couch watching a movie with my daughter when then phone rang. It was Rich the kitchen manager from work. I'm thinking, "Oh no, this isn't good, Rich NEVER calls me." After some minor pleasantries Rich says, "Do me a favor, in your next article shed some light on the life of a line cook." I figure OK, at least the guy is reading my stuff, it's the least I can do. The fact of the matter is cooking for a living takes a special breed. Now there are a lot of people that pass through this business because they need a job and it seems like restaurants are always looking for help. Those …
Saturday, May 28, 2011
The North Shore has several great restaurants to try.
- OPINION
- Bob Leo
-
Saturday, May 28, 2011
I am not sure yet, but it looks like summer is finally around the corner. I am sure, most of you are sick and tired of me pining for those hazy, lazy, crazy days of summer, but it’s so close I can taste it. The smoked meat, the garden fresh veggies, the fried smelts, the key lime pie, (yes, those were all past columns) come to Papa! I pretty much have a list of all my favorite summer pastimes all laid out and ready to go. In fact as soon as the kids get out of school I’m heading up to the North Shore for some of the best seafood in the world, seriously, the world. Steeped in a heritage of sea food tradition (no pun intended) the North Shore, Cape Ann, Plum Island and the New Hampshire coast have some of the freshest samplings you will ever…
Saturday, May 21, 2011
On the next sunny day, give it a shot.
- OPINION
- Bob Leo
-
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Another rainy weekend and I’m sitting inside watching an old Beverly Hillbillies episode. The Clampetts were visiting New York when Jethro stumbled upon a group of hippies in Central Park. He invited his far out friends for vittles stating “Granny's gonna smoke some crawdads but first I need to find a little pot." Needless to say it was pretty funny. Now I don’t know a whole lot about smoking crawdads or smoking pot but I definitely have the smoking meat thing down. Any quality meat can be smoked. Sausage, brisket, pork roast, turkey, chicken, ribs, you name I’ll smoke it. All you need is a charcoal grill or smoker, a thermometer, and some charcoal and/or wood. I’ve used box smokers, side smokers and a plain old Weber grill with a cover. …
Coppertopper
7:06 pm on Sunday, November 13, 2011
Could I make a slight correction of what I'm sure is a typo? Alexander Hamilton had to have made his turkey quote long before Lincoln proclaimed the national holiday. Hamilton died in 1804. more ›