With next Friday being so close to the Christmas holiday, I am going to do my annual “It’s a Wrap” post this week before things get crazy around here. As is my tradition, this year-end post includes links to just about every post of the past year, organized by category as you will see below. For anyone who is new to the blog, thank you for subscribing! This post will allow to you to take a look back at the entire year in review which can be difficult to do on my website. I have also included the wrap up posts from 2016, 2015 and 2014.
Speaking of my website, there are going to be some changes in 2018, fingers crossed. My web designer, Lorell and I have been scheming mostly visual changes to the home page. A few functional changes are in store as well we think. A little refreshing never hurt so stay tuned for those updates. In the meanwhile, there may be times over the next few weeks when you may find a temporary “under construction” message if you visit my website to find a recipe. Apologies in advance!
This year, my posts were a little fewer than usual as I took a 6 week hiatus from the blog back in February/March and have missed a few Fridays along the way (quelle horreur!). Despite that, I took an inventory and here’s how the year played out. Nineteen recipes, 7 official restaurant reviews with many others woven into posts about New York City visits, 2 “In Conversations” and 4 “other” types of posts including links to some of my favorite things, conversations about sun protection and a in-depth look at my friend’s decision to become a farmer.
Next year, I hope to do more of the same while continuing to seek out people to interview for the blog. Next up is someone who is in the fashion industry. Can’t wait to share that interview with you.
Before I go, I often have people ask me for my favorite Boston restaurant. That question usually stumps me because I don’t have a favorite per se, or even a place that I frequent. However, I can tell you there is a dish I recently enjoyed that I would RUN back for every few weeks if I could. It was not some over the top, preciously plated, intricate dish with ingredients that were unfamiliar to the average person.
No, it was the Tagliatelle con Sugo at Coppa in Boston’s South End. Pasta was bathed in just enough of the most luscious pork ragu I have ever tasted. The dish haunted me for days as I tried to dissect what made it just so remarkable. It got to the point where I wanted to contact the chef and ask for a lesson on how to make it (I didn’t). I made a decent attempt to recreate the dish, using a few recipes as my guides. But it didn’t live up to the inspiration dish. The trick to grabbing a seat at Coppa may be to dine early like we did as the place is small, but it was so worth it. Go there if you haven’t been. That is all.
So with that, The Kitchen Scout’s 4th year is officially in the bag.
Wishing you all the very happiest of holidays and best wishes for 2018!
Drinks
Salads and Vinaigrettes
Chopped Salad with Crunchy Tofu & Brown Rice
Blackened Salmon Nicoise Salad
Soups
Main Dishes
Slow Cooker Beef Ragu with Pappardelle
Scallops Au Poivre with Broccoli & Cauliflower Rice
Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Slivered Sugar Snap Peas & Zucchini
Fusilli with Eggplant, Fresh Tomatoes & Parsley
Grilled Turkey Tenderloins with Apricot Salsa
Quinoa, Spinach & Artichoke Casserole
Southwest King Ranch Casserole
Sweets
The Lost Kitchen Rhubarb Spoon Cake
Restaurant Reviews (Massachusetts)
Island Creek Oyster Bar in Burlington
Ledger Restaurant & Bar in Salem
The Rail Trail Flatbread Company in Hudson
New York
In Conversation
Other posts
Fun in the Sun (links to spf shirts and other items I use)
Happy Fourth of July (more links to things I love including my favorite organic coffee)
Two Coves Farm & Five Pine Farm (my friend, Kris is raising grass-fed cows on her land in Maine)
The Promise Movie (commemorating the Armenian Genocide)
Past Wrap Up’s
Ellen said it well. Thanks so much, Val — love reading your blog!! Merry Christmas. xox
Thanks Timm and Merry Christmas to all of you too!
Nice job on the blog 2017. It’s been fun to read no matter the number of posts per year. I love your new direction of mixing it up with recipes, restaurant reviews and interviews. Can’t wait to see who is next in 2018. Happy New Year to all of the Thayers. xo
Thank you so much, Ellen! Happy New Year to you and your family as well.