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Needham Bank, Wellesley
Write Ahead, Wellesley

Wellesley Heath Dept. kicking off programs to encourage family meals

January 24, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The Wellesley Health Department later this month is hosting an online program about the benefits of having family meals, and will follow that up with additional “Families Eat Together” programs.

Hear from Dr. Annel Fishel, a clinical psychologist at Mass General Hospital and co-founder of The Family Dinner Project,on Jan. 31 at 7pm by registering now. She’ll discuss the academic, mental health, and nutritional benefits associated with having family meals.

Maybe it even makes sense to plan a family meal around watching this online program.

Joyce Saret, the Wellesley Health Department’s senior community social worker, says the program can help families think about the obstacles to sitting down for meals together and better understand the benefits of eating together. Conversations sparked over meals can boost vocabulary, literacy skills, and overall self-esteem, she says.

Having meals together extends to the community’s elders, many of whom were isolated during the pandemic and have since experienced anxiety and depression.

The Health Department plans to hold more family meal-related programs, including workshops that might focus on how to talk to kids, meal prep that involves kids, and more.

While we know that busy schedules are common among families in town, the department currently doesn’t have data on how prevalent family meals are.


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Filed Under: Food, Health

Linden Square, Wellesley
Riverbend, Natick

Wellesley High School reimagined as a spectacular gingerbread house

January 4, 2023 by Bob Brown 5 Comments

When the current Wellesley High School opened 11 years ago, much thought was put into incorporating historical elements from the 1938 building, focusing on sustainability, and using an open design to accommodate different learning styles. However, there was precious little talk of including gum drops, candy canes, licorice, marshmallows, or other sweets in the design.

Wellesley resident Grant Brown, plus his family and friends, have addressed that oversight by creating a candy-adorned gingerbread replica of the building and displaying it in the school’s foyer—where staff can keep an eye on it.

Brown and crew, who have been building elaborate gingerbread models for some 20 years as a holiday tradition, decided on cloning Wellesley High this time in honor of Brown’s daughter Gwendolyn being a senior.

gingerbread high school
Gwendolyn and Grant Brown with their family & friends’ gingerbread replica of Wellesley High School

 

Grant and Gwendolyn delivered the replica to the school on Wednesday morning without fanfare. Initially it looked as though they might need to bring the hefty gingerbread creation, mounted on a 3 foot by 4 foot board, in through the loading dock. But the school’s quick-thinking team figured out a way to temporarily remove a vertical bar between the front doors to allow for safe passage.

Brown said the plan for the model began with great satellite images from Google Earth, and then he went around the school and took photos of his own.

Work on the project started before Thanksgiving. Brown said he makes gingerbread and rolls it out according to templates, which are fitted around an internal structure to keep the finished product sturdy. Seven bags of marshmallows were used for the roof and other elements. Much of the model’s decorative exterior is then the product of collaboration between family and friends, some of whom sign their work using candy. (We’ve been warned in the past that you shouldn’t succumb to the temptation to eat any of the house, as some candy may be well past its due date.)

“It always smells good in the house for a couple of weeks,” Gwendolyn said.

gingerbread high school

#Wellesley High School reimagined as a spectacular gingerbread house https://t.co/Gn3BzQMT7Q @WellesleyPS pic.twitter.com/KTMUtVByic

— swellesley (@swellesley) January 4, 2023

This was the first grand production in a couple of years due to the pandemic.

The Browns have built replicas in the past of both Sprague Elementary School and Wellesley Middle School to mark the passage of their kids through the school system. They’ve also chosen eye-catching structures, such as the Parthenon and Tower Bridge, seen on family trips.

Their creations have been displayed in the past at Wellesley Free Library, but the high school seemed a more appropriate location for this year’s work so that staff and students can enjoy it.

The new attraction immediately awed the first few people to see it on Wednesday morning. Principal Jamie Chisum’s assistant John Malone marveled: “Impressive! The more I look, the more details I find.”

He noted that there’s been a lot of gingerbread action at the school of late, with advisory classes each working on and displaying their creations recently.

gingerbread high school
Brown, equipped with a repair kit, did some touching up on site

 

wellesley high jan 2023 winter
Sugar-free exterior of the actual Wellesley High School building

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Filed Under: Food, Wellesley High School

Page Waterman, Wellesley
London Harness, Wellesley
Wellesley Lacrosse

Christmas dinner delivered to your door from Feast & Fettle

December 8, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED CONTENT: Ready to spend less time cooking for your annual holiday party? Local meal delivery service Feast & Fettle will give you (and your oven) a break this year. 

Feast & Fettle’s annual Holiday Menu is live and includes a curated selection of fully prepared classics for delivery on Friday, December 23rd.

Feast & Fettle, Wellesley
The order deadline for Feast & Fettle’s Holiday menu is Thursday, December 15th, at noon.

All dishes are prepped locally by professional chefs and delivered right to your doorstep via their team of drivers—all you have to do is reheat, serve and enjoy. The menu is designed to ensure there are options for all dietary preferences and party sizes.

Feast & Fettle has consistently been ranked a top-rated meal delivery service in Wellesley and was recently awarded “Beast Meal Delivery Service” by Boston Magazine. 

F&F currently services Greater Boston and most of New England (including Rhode Island and Connecticut), so if you’re traveling for the holidays, they can still bring your delicious dishes straight to you.

The order deadline for the Holiday menu is Thursday, December 15th, at noon. Check out the full menu here.

Filed Under: Food, Holidays

Sara Campbell, Wellesley

Karma restaurant sneak peek: We visit Burlington version of eatery coming to Wellesley

December 2, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

With Asian fusion restaurant Karma on its way to Wellesley’s Linden Square, we got a jump on things by visiting Karma at the Burlington Mall. The local chain has four locations. Wellesley will be the fifth jewel in restauranteur Iverson Guo’s crown of upscale, sophisticated eateries.

We were unfamiliar with the Burlington area, so it took a tour of the mall parking lot for us to find the distinctive red pagoda-style front entrance. Impressive, heavy doors welcomed us from the sidewalk into the dining room. The restaurant can’t be be accessed from the mall.

We were joined by Nicci Kadilak, who publishes the Burlington Buzz, an online news source that focuses on Burlington, Mass. She’d visited Karma before and was ready with her recommendations. Nicci insisted we try the scallion pancakes ($11), and indeed, they were so good that Mrs. Swellesley’s advice for those visiting Karma when it opens here is, “Don’t go without trying them.” The order of six came to the table hot, flavorful, crispy, and served with a savory sauce.

Karma burlington
Flavorful & crispy scallion pancakes

Karma has a classy, fine-dining experience feel to it that is comfortable and welcoming. Seating options include booths, tables, and bar seating. We hear the cocktails are a specialty, but since day drinking isn’t our vibe we stuck with sodas. We were there at Karma’s Friday opening time of 11:30am, and the place filled up quickly around us.

Karma’s extensive menu focuses on Japanese assertive cuisine juxtaposed with the delicate sauces and styles of France. What that means—the chefs will make your order as spicy as you want it, but spicy isn’t a default option. You have to ask for it. Fresh herbs with a distinctly French flavor to them are in use, such as tarragon in some of the sushi dishes. Then again, jalapeño peppers bring Central American flair to many choices. Russia puts in an appearance with caviar, lots and lots of it, lending its briny luxury to many of Karma’s sushi offerings. Familiar classics are on the menu such as General Gao’s Chicken, Pad Thai, Crab Rangoon, and more. A multi-course Omakase menu, all the rage right now at area eateries, is available by reservation only. There are gluten-free options including chicken, steak, seafood, fresh vegetables, and more.

One way to experience a wide variety of the chefs’ sushi creations is to is order either the Great ($19) or Grand ($25) sushi lunch option, which includes miso soup and a salad. But be sure to emphasize that you are ordering the lunch special not the $118 sushi and sashimi platter for two. (Unless you’re looking for a truly huge lunch.)

Karma burlington
Karma in Burlington (we arrived as doors opened at 11:30am)

Gyoza is my must-order item at Asian restaurants, and Karma’s offering is tasty—the pork version has a sweetness to it and the covering is on the lighter side (less doughy than some dumplings I’ve had).

Karma burlington
Beautiful sushi and sashimi presentation, Karma, Burlington.

Look for Karma to open in Wellesley by Spring of 2023. Oath Pizza is another Linden Square place that will be coming soon.

karma
Future home of Karma in Linden Square

 

Wellesley Square has also experienced a restaurant rebirth, with La Toscano, Laughing Monk, and Lockheart as new additions to that area.


Where to Eat in Wellesley

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Filed Under: Business, Food, Restaurants

Thanksgiving dinner delivered to your door from Feast & Fettle

November 15, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

SPONSORED CONTENT: Ready to spend less time in the kitchen this Thanksgiving? Local meal delivery service Feast & Fettle will give you (and your oven) a break this year. 

Feast & Fettle’s annual Thanksgiving Menu is live and includes a curated selection of fully prepared classics for delivery on Wednesday, November 23rd.

All dishes are prepped locally by professional chefs and delivered right to your doorstep via their team of drivers—all you have to do is reheat, serve and enjoy. The menu is designed to ensure there are options for all dietary preferences and party sizes.

Feast & Fettle, Thanksgiving
Feast & Fettle’s fully prepared classics have been a Wellesley Thanksgiving tradition since 2019.

Feast & Fettle has consistently been ranked a top-rated meal delivery service in Wellesley and was recently awarded “Beast Meal Delivery Service” by Boston Magazine. 

F&F currently services Greater Boston and most of New England (including Rhode Island and Connecticut), so if you’re traveling for the holidays, they can still bring your delicious dishes straight to you.

The order deadline for the Thanksgiving menu is Thursday, November 17th, at noon. Check out the full menu here.

Filed Under: Food, Holidays

Deland, Gibson, Wellesley
Rick Cram, leader

Wellesley Rotary Club fundraiser—double your chances to win up to $3K in gift cards from local eateries

November 9, 2022 by admin Leave a Comment

Wellesley Rotary ClubSPONSORED CONTENT: The Rotary Club of Wellesley has secured a matching donor for its “Dinner on Us” Sweepstakes, and between Nov. 10, 12am through the end of the campaign on Friday, November 11, 11:59pm you can double your chances to win. That means for every dollar donated, you will double the number of chances purchased to win the prizes. No need to do anything special, all purchases in the time period above will receive double the number of chances listed on the web site for the dollar amount donated.

ABSURD GRAND PRIZE–$3,000!!!
Winner takes all $100 gift cards to 30 Wellesley restaurants

RIDICULOUS 2nd PRIZE–$1,500!!!
Winner takes all $50 gift cards to 30 Wellesley restaurants

INCREDIBLE 3rd THROUGH 6th PRIZES–$450!!
Winners get all $25 gift cards to enjoy Wellesley’s pizza and coffee shops!

AWESOME 7th AND 8th PRIZES–$100!!
Winners get 2 tickets to the 2023 Taste of Wellesley!

Enter at this link: https://go.rotary7910gives.org/wellesleyrotary/Campaign/Details

So many prizes, so little time! The Wellesley Rotary club has purchased gift cards from 50 Wellesley restaurants and many restaurants donated gift card prizes of $100, $50, and $25, so now it’s your turn to step up and win—Donate for chances to WIN BIG!!!

Why enter the Sweepstakes?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Entertainment, Food, Fundraising, Restaurants

10 ways to donate to the Wellesley Food Pantry this holiday season

November 8, 2022 by Deborah Brown 1 Comment

During the holiday season, please remember the Wellesley Food Pantry, which has seen a significant downturn in donations from this time in 2022. “We had about $70k in donated items last year, but are down quite a bit this year,” Pantry volunteer Peter Lull said. “Inflation has tightened people’s wallets a bit.”

Wellesley Food Pantry
Wellesley Food Pantry, west entrance of Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.

Other reasons donations are down is because two very important annual drives were placed on hold—the USPS Stamp Out Hunger food drive did not happen in May, and for the third year in a row the Scouting for Food Drive (typically the first Saturday in Nov.) has been canceled. (The scouts are, however, conducting mini-food drives—see #7.)

The Food Pantry spends $10K-$14K per month to stock its shelves with the nutritious food options volunteers make available to its current list of 175 clients. To tighten up the bottom line, “We are looking at the best ways for substituting in some cheaper options and cutting some other offerings like personal care items or laundry detergent,” Lull said.

Maybe with a reminder that there is very real need in Wellesley, it doesn’t have to come to that. Here are 10 ways you can help your Wellesley neighbors this holiday season:

1) Drop off donations at the Food Pantry

You can do a curbside drop-off on Mondays, 2pm-3pm, at the west entrance of Wellesley Hills Congregational Church, 207 Washington St.

2) Donate money to the Food Pantry

Visit  www.wellesleyfoodpantry.org and click on the “donate” button at the bottom of the page. Or you can write a check to Wellesley Food Pantry and mail it to 207 Washington Street, Wellesley MA 02481.

3) Have a Wellesley Middle Schooler? Step right up for the Turkey Promenade

The Turkey Promenade is a WMS pre-Thanksgiving tradition that promotes health, fitness and giving. In the past, the students have lapped the school a couple of times during a fun run/walk. If the weather is bad, they trot up and down the halls instead. Some students take the Promenade seriously and are in it to win it (cross-country team?). Others dress up in their best turkey wattles or Puritan attire and stroll the route, enjoying a respite from class. Homerooms collect donations during the week before the Nov. 23 and the day of the event. Parents and guardians take on the enormous task of sorting all the goods in the gym (expired food—no!). After the Promenade,  students walk through the gym and marvel at the piles of donations and what can happen when teamwork kicks in. The Food Pantry is one of the organizations that receives Turkey Promenade donations.

4) Drop off donations at your house of worship

Some of Wellesley’s religious organizations maintain a drop-off point for food items, which volunteers then run over to the Pantry.

5) Drop off donations at Roche Bros., Whole Foods, or Linden Square

Both grocery stores have a convenient drop box—the Whole Foods drop box is located as you exit the store, and the Roche Bros. box is located after the registers.

Pantry volunteers also do occasional pop-up drives in front of Roche Bros., setting up a table in front of the store and passing out a checklist of top needs. Shoppers are encouraged to shop off the list during their grocery run, or pick up gift card to donate to the Pantry. Scheduled so far is a drive on Sat., Nov. 19, in partnership with the National Charity League.

Businesses in Linden Square will host collection boxes from Monday, Dec. 5- 12.

6) Donate vegetable garden largesse from your cold-weather crops

Residents can drop fresh produce donations on Tuesdays, 8am-11:30am, in the Wellesley Hills Church kitchen. From the west entrance, go down the stairs and to the right before entering the assembly room.

7) Participate in your neighborhood’s mini-food drive

The Food Pantry is planning some mini-food drives that will target specific neighborhoods for donation pick-ups by local scout troops. Look for flyers in your mailbox. The scouts are determined to get as many donations to the Pantry as possible, so please respond generously to their collection efforts.

8) Organize your own mini-drive at your holiday party

Ask your guests to forgo the customary host/ess gift and instead bring items to be donated to the Food Pantry.

9) Donate in someone’s honor

Last year a long-time Pantry volunteer passed away, and donations poured in in his honor. The Pantry has really felt the pinch since that stream of generosity ended. So whether you’re looking for a meaningful way to remember a passed loved one, or you want to donate in the name of someone alive and well, please do so.

10) Give what’s most needed

Certain items are in demand right now at the Pantry:
Mac & cheese
Canned salmon
Canned sardines
Canned chicken
Dinty Moore Beef Stew
Canned pineapple
Canned beets
Canned green beans

Filed Under: Food, Fundraising

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