Product: Stir It Up!

You know how much I like it hot, right? And it's so rare that pepper jelly is actually spicy.

Stir It Up is something else entirely. Packs a punch!

Patricia Kiernan, the creator of the stuff, is a Jamaican native who has been using her family's recipes to offer deliciously spicy (or mild, there is also mild) catering. Their event planning is one aspect of Stir It Up, the retail side has this incredible pepper jelly, that even my Mom loved. The lime-zest may be for you if you like it a tad less hot. Great to try as a marinade, too.

I enjoyed it for breakfast one morning....

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Wellesley: Linden Square, The Cottage

I'm always up for brunch. Seriously. (Call me.)

So I was really excited when I was invited to join a media brunch at The Cottage at Linden Square.

The trek up to Wellesley was worth it, to say the least.

And it was nice to meet up with several other bloggers (Honest Mom, Boston Fashionista, Suzette from Wellesley Media and of course Beerhogger was also in attendance). We all met Caitlin who organized the brunch.

There was a bevy of magnificent dishes from fried calamari, "Cottage" nachos, ahi tuna nachos, fish tacos, crab melts, stuffed avacadoes to desserts of chocolate cakes, cheese cakes and fruity sorbets.

Afterward, with arms laden with The Cottage's famous granola (a must-try, the crunchy medley is madly addictive!), gift certificates to Sara Campbell, Belle Sante salon and side walk sales taking place all over Linden Square I knew where I was headed to, next!

Beerhogger's review of what we coined "breakfast" beers, is coming soon!

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Miami: Fontainbleau Hotel: Hakkasan

Location:

4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach

http://www.hakkasan.com/miami/

You know when you're sunburned and so relaxed, that even though you want to get dressed up and go out, you really don't want to go too far?

That's when dining in one of the hotel's restaurants is the best idea, ever.

Hakkasan fit the bill. Although they were fully booked, they were gracious and got us a table after a short wait.

The dumplings were the highlight for sure. Incredibly moist, and with abundant flavor and texture, we held that as the standard. Alas the fish dish was not up to par. Am not a fan of bland steamed fish with sauce poured over it. The eggplant didn't have too much oomph and the fried rice was forgettable.

Redemption came in the form of chocolate (naturally) and won us over again. If you're staying at the Fontainbleau Hotel, I highly recommend dining there. If you're not, I wouldn't bother with the trek.

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Cambridge: REI Camp Cooking Challenge

On July 28, 3 local area chefs battled it out on a grassy hill-top using only 1 local (and secret) ingredient.

The 3rd annual Camp Cooking Challenge was sponsered by REI and the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture, hosted by Dane Tullock, Outreach Specialist, REI Boston and videographed by Jeremy from Studio603films.

Using REI's camping gear and fresh produce from The Food Project the chefs were challenged to serve two dishes to the judges using the red fish as their master ingredient. The judges were DAR commissioner Greg Watson, Editor of Northeast Flavor Magazine, Jean Kerr (whose current issue features Julia Child), Founder and President of Chop-Chop Magazine, Sally Sampson and Director of Food Initiatives , Edith Murnane.

The winners were Chefs Chris Douglass and Nuno Alves from Tavalo for their seafood risotto (I tried it, it was delicious!)

Coming in second was Chef Jay Murray from Grill 23 with Chef Patricia Yeo (from tv's Top Chef Masters fame and Moksa) coming in third. (I'm a huge fan of Top Chef so it was a pleasure to meet Chef Patricia Yeo).

Here, some highlights (my interview by Dane made it to my Instagram feed!)

Happy Birthday Julia Child!

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Miami: 5 Napkin Burger

Location:

455 Lincoln Road

Miami , FL 33139

http://5napkinburger.com/locations-menus/

Have you been to a 5 Napkin Burger? New York has the most number of them, and there's one in Boston's Back Bay, which I haven't visited, yet.

The one in Miami is stellar especially when you're looking for fish tacos in Miami and you'd think it would be easy to find. Not on Lincoln Road, it's not. So who woulda thought a joint with 'burger' in the title would serve fish tacos?

Well they do, and they do it well!

The only thing they don't do as well is their brownie sundae. Athough exceptional in size, the brownie bits were hard and not as moist and gooey as should be in a sundae.

Overall, a good meal. And next time I'll go for a burger!

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