It’s no secret that Chowder bloggers are a little nutso about chocolate, whether it’s in bar, cookie, or even vegan cupcake form. So we all said a little “hallelujah!” when pastry chef Lee Napoli opened Chocolee in the South End. I shed more than a few tears of joy, and probably drooled a little, too.

And then Aroa opened. And then I kind of lost it. (more…)

I love bran muffins. I always have. But all bran muffins are not created equal. Many are too sugary, and most are too dense. So when I moved to the South End and adopted Flour Bakery as my cafeteria a year and a half ago, it was love at first bite between me and their seed-covered bran offerings. They were light but hearty, with raisins inside, and a mix of seeds on top, which lent additional earthiness to the recipe. Even when it was snowing, I woke up early and trekked the four blocks to Flour to get my hands on a lovely bran muffin before they sold out—yes, they were very hot items.

But one day, I arrived at the bakery before 9 a.m., and not a single muffin was in sight. The bran fell off the map, only to be replaced by a cheap, less healthy substitute that tasted more like carrot cake and was called the Morning Glory. For a full year, I asked, I begged, I pleaded to the staff to please bring back the bran.

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Keeping track of Boston’s dining scene can feel almost as daunting as nabbing a table at Miracle of Science. Chowder scours the internet for the latest news on what’s coming and the loss of a great innovator.

Opening
Old-school Italian favorite Cafe Marliave will be reopened by Grotto, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. Boston.com’s Dishing blog has the details.

“The Marliave will reopen this spring and will feature two dining rooms and an oyster bar. The menus will reflect the history of the establishment, which has operated as a French, Italian, and New England restaurant, and even as a speakeasy and illegal distillery (liquor and label print equipment was seized many times during Prohibition). . . .”

We love a restaurant with street cred.

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At Chowder, even we find ourselves in food ruts from time to time. And my rut usually involves the Whole Foods salad bar. What a surprise, then, to be greeted by a new, expanded spread at my favorite overpriced food purveyor today. Huzzah!

Instead of spending 10 bucks on my usual spinach salad, I could spend it on two kinds of chickpea salad! Couscous with mint! And several types of similar-looking Indian food!

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Ice cream fans are one step closer to rejoicing. Toscanini’s is getting closer to reopening. After launching a blog to solicit donations for its $167,000 tax bill, the owners report that they’ve received enough money to make a down payment to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue and will hopefully start scooping soon.

But the owners are still accepting donations if you want to help them out.

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This week’s cold snap has us craving warm, rich foods. While there’s nothing better than spending all day tending to a simmering pot of stew or soup, sometimes we want that flavor without investing all that time. When I get a craving for chili, one of my favorites is Trader Joe’s turkey chili.

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Some of the greatest food pleasures can also be the most inexpensive. There’s nothing better on a Sunday than reading the paper over at a diner for less than $10. But enjoying inexpensive quality food isn’t limited to eating out. One of our favorite places to buy groceries is the lowly Market Basket.

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