Co-owner Liza talking about Palettes

"Nibbles" in convenient containers for palette trays

My very own "palette" - cute, huh?

Resident artist Ben also doubles as a mixologist at the Palettes bar

The evening's project: field of flowers

Boston Parent Bloggers getting some paint

Ben showing us the first step to creating our masterpieces

photo courtesy of Charlene Chronicles

>> Palettes is offering one lucky umommy reader a chance to win a gift certificate for a class for two people ($70 value). To enter, leave a comment on what inspires you by Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. A winner will be selected at random by random.org. Good luck! <<

If this first week of summer vacation is any indication of what the rest of the summer will be like, then it it going to be a fun, fabulous and boozy one. I was able to join several fellow Boston Parent Bloggers for a Mom's Night Out at The Cottage Chestnut Hill. Here's a quick recap:

The Cottage Overview
I've heard great things about The Cottage in Wellesley so was excited to hear a second MA location opened five weeks ago in Chestnut Hill. Owners John and Laura Wolfe brings their upscale, casual, SoCal dining concept to the East Coast, focused on light, fresh and local ingredients.

The Location

After some confusion as to the restaurant's location (we were told they were at the Chestnut Hill Mall, only to find out they are down the street next to Legal Seafood on Route 9), we were greeted by  friendly staff and brought to a private dining room.  The place just exudes atmosphere, transporting you to a sophisticated beach side house. And the place was slammed on a Monday night. Off to a good start.

The Booze

(left to right) Rosemary infused pomegranate margarita, Thai basil sangria, spa drinks (non-alcoholic), summer ale by Pretty Things Beer

Amazing summer cocktails served with charm by the bar manager and servers. All the drinks went down way too easy. *Hiccup*

The Food

Servers brought samples of their signature bites:

Sesame Ahi Tuna Nachos

I'm a sucker for seared ahi tuna so practically stalked the server to get a taste of the Sesame Ahi Tuna Nachos. The tuna was prepared perfectly. Not sure how I feel about the "nacho" chip. I don't like my raw fish to be too busy with other flavors and textures.

Fried California Avocado

The Cottage's take on potato skins, the Fried California Avocado is breaded and fried, served with Vermont jack and cheddar cheese, spiced sour cream, applewood bacon, and pico de gallo. It was pretty tasty, but was on the rich side for me to go back for more.

Fried Calamari

Aloha Chicken Tenders with pineapple salsa

Cheese platter

Pretty local cheese platter served a selection of local cheeses, fruits and honey, toasted pistachios, artisan bread.

Raspberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding

The evening ended a sweet note with some signature desserts. I went with the highly recommended Raspberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding. It was dense but not too sweet.


Family-Friendly
The Cottage is touted as being family-friendly, offering a kids menu, crayons and wikisticks to keep small fingers busy. Lunch/dinner options for kids are the expected fare - Hot dog, grilled cheese, PB&J, chicken fingers, mac and cheese. I was disappointed (but not surprised) to see such items as I would have loved to have seen smaller portions of some of their popular entrees on the kids menu (my kids would love Ale Battered Haddock + Chips). But chef Todd assured us parent bloggers that offering kids healthy, balanced sides, along with consideration for allergies, was a high priority. 

Overall, it was a great night and fun to catch up with fellow Boston Parent Bloggers. Everyone at The Cottage was friendly and attentive. I'll be taking the family sometime soon and hope to see the same attention to service, food presentation, and addictive cocktails when we go!

I have never had fondue up until last week. Hard to believe, right? I did not grow up in the 60s when it was in vogue. Nor did I register for a fondue set when it was in vogue again when we got married. My preconception of fondues was of dipping fruit in melted chocolate. When I saw that The Boston Parent Bloggers was hosting an event at The Melting Pot, I jumped at the chance to join fellow bloggers and discover the art of dipping for myself.

With over 140 locations, including three in Massachusetts, The Melting Pot is America's premier fondue restaurant franchise. More than a dozen other fellow parent bloggers were treated to a sampling of cheese and chocolate fondues. Bowls of bubbling cheese and chocolate are heated on induction cooktops - keeping the fondues warm without the worry of anyone burning themselves.

The cheese fondues came with bread, apples, and veggies.


Strawberries, bananas, cheesecake, Rice Krispies Treats, marshmallows, pound cake and brownies were available for dipping in the chocolate goodness.


Everything was pretty tasty and there was more than enough food and dipping to go around. The Melting Pot was the perfect backdrop for a group outing. It is hard to not have a good time when you are with a bunch of funny and smart people, cocktails and oh yeah, melted cheese and chocolate.

Boston Parent Bloggers Night Out (photo by Ben Spark www.benspark.com)

I don't know if our family will be dipping anytime soon. Sure, I think the boys would love to dip stuff in gooey cheese and chocolate. But unless you get the 4-course meal that comes with the Big Night Out, its not easy to get a complete meal without throwing down some serious cash.

I think The Melting Pot is a great night out with friends or a romantic night out (Valentine's Day has gotta be one of their busiest nights), but will probably wait until a special occasion and/or the boys are a bit older before bringing my family there.

I can now say I tried fondue. I even felt I could have been a good judge in last week's quick fire challenge on Top Chef All-Stars. But I still have some ways to go before I *really* know fondue. Until then, I'll stick to dipping strawberries in melted chocolate with my boys for Valentine's Day!



Thanks to The Boston Parent Bloggers for putting the event together and The Melting Pot for providing the fondues and venue!

I started this blog over a year ago as a way to write about some food I cooked for my family or restaurants we dined in. I barely knew what wordpress was, nevermind the fact that a mommy and foodie blogosphere existed. I looked to several mommy and food blogs for inspiration, but it is only recently have I discovered the distinct circles these two blogging worlds exist in.

So here I am, a year later, asking myself "am I a food blogger or mommy blogger?" Do I chronicle the trials and tribulations of potty training a toddler? Or photograph step-by-step instructions on how to braise fennel? I needed to figure out where I fit in and what better way to do that than to immerse myself in both worlds. So I joined a parent blogger and food blogger network, hoping to find bloggers like me. The Boston Food Bloggers and the Boston Parent Bloggers both held launch parties last week and two months ago respectively. It was my chance to meet local bloggers and hopefully figure out what defined me as a blogger.

Boston Food Bloggers Launch Party

Boston Food Bloggers Launch Party at The Gallows

The Boston Food Bloggers held their launch party at The Gallows in the South End last week. The brain child of Rachel Leah Blumenthal of Fork it over, Boston!, Boston Food Bloggers is an online resource for food and drink bloggers in and around Boston, Massachusetts. Its mission: To help local bloggers network and grow. If Monday's launch party is any indication of progress toward realizing its mission, BFB is off to fabulous start.

The place was mobbed with local food and drink bloggers, enjoying snacks provided by The Gallows, SoCo Creamery, Pretty Things, and Geoff & Drew's. My only regret that night was not trying all the goodies that were passed around (d'oh - it was a food blogging event!). I was so intent on chatting it up with fellow bloggers, I did not have a moment to eat - even the Bacon Caramel Chex Mix. That's right. Bacon. Caramel. Chex. Mix. I did "force" myself to the back of the room to try the insanely good dirty chocolate ice cream by SoCo Creamery.

I had the chance to meet food bloggers that have been blogging about food for years and others that were only at it for a few months. Everywhere I looked I saw people happy to see old friends and new. I met the nicest people that night (it was so packed, it was hard to get around to everyone). I even got some positive feedback on the name of my blog. I would describe the Boston food blog scene as a young, fun, supportive community. Yeah, this was my kind of scene.
 
Boston Parent Bloggers Launch Party

Boston Parent Bloggers Launch Party at Barefoot Books

The Boston Parent Bloggers held their launch event back in November at the Barefoot Books flagship store in Concord, MA. Founded by Christy Matte of More than Mommy and Jodi Grundig of Multitasking Mommy, Boston Parent Bloggers is a resource for local bloggers interested in networking with others who focus on issues of importance to parents and families.

If you haven't been to the Barefoot Books Store in Concord, go now. It is the most enchanting, fun, colorful, children's bookstore this side of Lilliput. There was a spread of cold cuts and fruit and veggies provided by Peapod. Wine was free-flowing, and so was the conversation. Over 50+ members gathered to meet with fellow bloggers and sponsors, including Stonyfield Farm, Isis Parenting, Barefoot Books and more.

I finally had the chance to meet some bloggers I have been following for a while. Laughed with some newbies on finding time to shower, nevermind time to blog. The giveaways were insane and the ideas for Christmas gifts were never-ending thanks to the venue. Everyone was super friendly, relaxed and supportive of each other. I could get used to this.

Foodie or Mommy?
I realize it will take more than a couple of parties to define who I am as a blogger. But here are a few things I do know two launch parties later:

• I do not need to explain the meaning (or pronunciation) of umommy with food bloggers
• I need to explain what umommy means and how to pronounce it with most parent bloggers
• I can complain about having to get back home to the sitter and not get blank stares with parent bloggers
• I will probably be too tired to attend any after parties with food bloggers
• I am equally as giddy to receive a swag bag full of snacks and coupons to local restaurants as I am to get swag bags full of books, games, and coupons for packaged goods
• Most bloggers (food or 'mommy') are funny, nice, creative, and supportive 

I've come to realize I am not your typical mommy or foodie blogger. I'm somewhere in the middle. Sure I might write about the ups and downs of parenting or find joy in photographing the perfect roast chicken.  I know I will try to keep being true to me. And as long as I get the chance to meet engaging people and have fun along the way, then maybe it really doesn't matter what kind of blogger I am.