If you are looking for legit, wood-fired Neapolitan pies without driving into Boston, de LaPosta pizzeria in Newton is a new pizzeria that might satisfy your craving. Opened in late November 2021 on Washington Street, it is owned and operated by Mario LaPosta, a former chef at Batali’s now shuttered Babbo in the Seaport.
After Thanksgiving, we kicked off the holiday season by checking out the Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Festival of Trees. This annual fundraiser/raffle showcases dozens of decorated trees along with an impressive model railroad display.
You really only need to know two things about Country Kitchen. They’ve been around for almost 50 years and they continue to thrive as a coffee and donut joint right next to a Dunkin’ Donuts. Their secret really isn’t hard to suss out, either: a small selection of products made by hand with quality ingredients. The friendly and efficient service doesn’t hurt either.
While the original location in Walpole has been around for half a century, there is now a new location in Millis right off 109 near Ryan Family Amusements and I’m happy to report that they’ve brought all the same qualities that made the original location a success to this new venture. This more convenient location might be bad news for my waistline but good news for breakfast fans.
I’ll start with a confession. We are regulars at the East Side diner. (As regulars, we reserve the right to call it by its original name!) All breakfast joints will be measured against it. The girls love the pancakes and love the fact the waitress knows their order. We all love the quick service, frequent coffee top-offs and dependable breakfast staples.
You likely won’t have a transcendent meal (though the homemade griddled muffins are great) there (c’mon it’s a diner) you will always get a solid one, never disappointing, for a fair price and as much coffee as you can handle. And likely some gossip. That seems like a fair measuring stick for a breakfast place.
We don’t eat out at restaurants very often. Both Michelle and I like to cook and, unless it’s a special occasion, we can often make something just as good and healthier (never mind cheaper) at home. We’ll sometimes cave to convenience, but I’d guess we only eat out as a family about 2-3 times a month.
When we do go to a restaurant, especially if it’s for lunch, we like to find something quick, tasty, and healthy-ish. Cava, a new fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant that recently opened in Dedham appeared to fit that bill.
My youngest daughter has an incorrigible sweet tooth, but even if your child is only lukewarm on sweets The Dessert Workshop is almost sure to put a smile on their face and a sugary jitter in their step. If kids were allowed to design the restaurant of their choice, I’m pretty sure it would like very similar to this almost 4-year old spot in Needham Center.
My girls really like arts and craft projects. Our basement (when we can limit it to the basement) is full of construction paper scraps, capless markers, crayons, play-doh, glue sticks and craft kits. I find glitter and beads in the strangest places. How did glitter get in the master bathroom shower? How?!
Once in awhile, typically when I don’t have the energy to open up the paints or face the prospect of a big cleanup, we will head out to a studio and let them do most of the work. Not the painting, decorating or other fun bits, but the set-up, clean up and generally messy parts. You know, the parts that get left to Mom or Dad. One of the girls’s favorite local places for projects is The Kids Place in nearby Needham.
