Best Brunch and Breakfast in Chelsea

Looking for a new brunch hotspots to try near you? We have picked some of our favorite places to try around you! No matter what your favorite breakfast food is, we are sure to have it covered in these suggestions. So grab the family and head out for a taste of your town in these yummy brunch spots!

Chelsea City Café

The Chelsea City Café is known for more than just its wide variety of coffee and couple owned restaurant. With a quaint bookshop feel, this place is waiting to be found for your next adventurous breakfast. Pop in on a random Sunday and you may even get to hear the local live jazz quartet with your cooked to order meal! Not a coffee drinker? Chelsea Café is a perfect place for tea drinkers as well, with tons of options to brew in your own pot! This is an experience you won’t want to miss!

Dempsey’s Breakfast and Lunch

Missing that local diner feel to a good brunch? Dempsey’s is sure to meet all of your expectations, especially when the check comes out! You are definitely getting more than you are paying for at this local favorite. From eggs benedict to waffles loaded with your favorite treats including their famous Reese’s and Oreo pancakes, the menu is bound to have any and all of your go-to breakfast items available. Dempsey’s is also known for their plethora of muffins baked fresh every morning. Even your pickiest eater will be satisfied after a visit here!

Weekly Recipe: Dirty P’s Garlic-Ginger Chicken Thighs

After a long day at work the last thing you want to do is prep your food and wait for it to cook! With this chicken dish you can prep the night before. All you have to do the night of it throw it on the grill by the pool and eat up. If you make this chicken dish share the final product or a picture of yourself grilling with us on Instagram or Facebook  with the hashtag #MakeItMonday and maybe you will see your cooking skills featured!

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds skin-on, boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup fresh tangerine or orange juice
• Freshly ground pepper
• Vegetable oil, for the grill

Directions: 
Combine the chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, juice and 1 teaspoon pepper in a large resealable plastic bag. 

Seal and shake to coat the chicken with the marinade. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.
Preheat a grill to medium high and oil the grate.

Grill the chicken skin-side down until marked, 5 to 6 minutes.

Flip and continue to grill until cooked through, about 5 more minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.

Easy-to-Grow Edible Plants

Now that spring is here, you finally have an inspiration to begin those decorative and productive home projects. So why not start with something that will give back to you in so many ways? Home gardens are easier than you think, and we are here to help you add some freshness to more than just your living space. Whether your taste runs to fruit plants or herb gardens, you don’t need a lot of earth to add a tasty element to your apartment. Spice up your meals with a selection of home-grown edibles that are so fresh, they’re dirty!

  

 Strawberry Plants

Strawberries are surprisingly easy to grow. If you are looking to start a garden, begin with a small pot of these luscious fruits, purchased with bare roots. The tendrils will start to leaf within a couple of weeks after putting them in the ground. Water them daily but make sure they don’t just sit in water. If you notice any decay or fungus, remove those branches immediately to prevent harmful spread. Once the berries are ripe, pick them, ripe and juicy, for your entire family.

Basil Plant

A basil plant is the perfect outdoor growing option. Easy to grow and care for, basil usually is watered every other day. Make sure not to water too much or too little. Monitor the bright green -- not yellow -- and the moist -- not limp -- leaves as the best indicator of correct watering. Planting environment should be fairly warm with lots of sunlight. For a growth spurt, pick off the big, top leaves, which never taste as good anyway. Basil is an easygoing plant  with fabulous flavor that will add lovely greenery to your apartment.

Grape Tomatoes 

This versatile fruit -- that’s right, not a vegetable, because it has seeds -- is the perfect addition to any summer meal. If you have hooks on your patio, the grape tomatoes make beautiful hanging plants. If not, you can always stick to a traditional ground pot. Take care the plant is well watered, saturated enough to reach the deep roots. Tomatoes love light so place them where they can bask in it most of the day. It will take a couple of weeks for your tomatoes to mature. Picking time is best once they turn red. Any earlier and they can tend to dry out while they mature, even if on a sunny windowsill.

Weekly Recipe: Marathon Monday Asparagus-Goat Cheese Pasta

It’s Marathon Monday and we’re celebrating here at Parkside Commons! Whether you’re cheering on the runners at the finish line in Boston or following the elite on television, it’s one of the most exciting days of the year. 

Since runners are loading up on carbs, we thought it would be appropriate for our weekly recipe to include a must-have pre marathon meal, PASTA! If you try this out, be sure to share a photo on our Facebook or our Instagram! 

Ingredients

• 1 pound asparagus
• 1/2 pound thin spaghetti
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 14 1/2-ounce can chicken broth
• 4 ounces goat cheese
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. Heat a large pan of lightly salted water to boiling over high heat. Peel the asparagus stalks and trim the ends. Cut the stalks into 2-inch pieces.
2. Blanch the asparagus in the boiling water for 3 minutes or until bright green and crisp-tender when tested with a small knife. Remove with a slotted spoon and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
3. Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the label directions until al dente. Drain.
4. Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour.
5. Add the broth and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Blend in the goat cheese and lemon peel.
6. Toss the spaghetti with the asparagus, sauce, and half the Parmesan. Serve with pepper to taste and the remaining Parmesan.

Run Boston!

The warm weather has finally arrived in Massachusetts! That means you are no longer stuck running in place on a treadmill at our gym! Spring is the perfect time to run outside with warm temperatures with a slight breeze that make your runs that much more enjoyable. With the upcoming Boston Marathon in five days, we know Massachusetts has running on the mind. 

For those of us who aren’t ready to take on 26.2 miles though there are smaller races around the Boston Area that you can participate in! So venture out of Parkside Commons and check out this list of races that’ll get you outside and maybe help you take on the Boston Marathon next year!

iChase the Cure 5K for Kids' Brain Tumors 2014

This 5K is Saturday, April 19, 2014 @ 12:00 PM on the DCR Charles River Esplanade. There will be balloons, prizes, music, food and more! All proceeds go to the PLGA Foundation, d.b.a. A Kid's Brain Tumor Cure. So enjoy the warm weather and run along the Esplanade for a great cause! 

Freedom Trail Run

The Freedom Trail Run is a unique and active way to tour Boston's historic Freedom Trail! This 5k running tour will show you the sites in an up-close and detailed way that's unlike any other running trail! The trail passes some of America's most important historical landmarks where you can stop by and explore. This 5k is like an educational run! What better way to celebrate the Boston Marathon by running through its history. You can register for any day before the Boston Marathon if you want to here.

Newtown Heartbreak Hill Road Race

For people looking for a shorter run check out the one mile race up and down historic Heartbreak Hill. It’s Saturday, April 19, 2013, 12:00 noon -3:30 pm with a free pasta/pizza party. Registration ends the 17^th so hop on this chance to run the historic Heartbreak Hill with friends and family before the Boston Marathon.

We hope you register for one of these races and get outside to run with this perfect spring weather. If you do end up running one of these races or even the Boston Marathon share your images with us! We would love to feature the awesome runners of Parkside Commons on our social media! 

Weekly Recipe: Spicy Pasta with Tilapia for a Twist on Dinner

Spring is here and that means your food pallet should match the weather.  Warm, light, and flavorful dishes are what you need as the temperatures rise. With this dish of Spicy Pasta with Tilapia you will experience a twist on spaghetti with lots flavors and a healthy twist. If you are interested in making it here’s what you need and how to make it:

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound tilapia fillets, cut into small chunks
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 28 -ounce can San Marzano tomatoes, crushed by hand
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, plus more for topping
• Kosher salt
• 10 ounces multigrain spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Directions

Toss the tilapia, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon of the garlic and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until the garlic starts to soften, about 30 seconds. 

Add the wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, 1/4 cup basil and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs.

When the pasta is almost done, add the tilapia to the skillet with the tomato sauce and simmer, stirring gently, until just cooked through, about 3 minutes. 

Stir in the parsley and the remaining 1/4 cup basil; season with salt. Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce. Divide among bowls and top with more basil and enjoy!

So next time you are thinking of making spaghetti consider taking it to the next level. With herbs and tilapia you can enjoy a healthy flavorful meal, even in the springtime. If you try making this dish share it with us on Instagram with the hashtag #MakeItMonday or on Facebook and maybe you will see your finish product shared!

Thank you to our friends at Food Network for this delicious recipe! 

Best Foodler Options for Delivery to You at Parkside Commons

Hard work weeks and lazy weekends can often add up to a lack of desire to cook. When you’re happier to keep your spacious kitchen clean and instead order takeout via Foodler. For those of you who don’t already know Foodler, here is how it works. The set-up allows you to order delivery or takeout online or through an app. You simply enter your address and Foodler will inform you of what pizza, Chinese, sushi, Indian and other nearby restaurants will bring food to your door. You can also earn points that accumulate for discounts, free food, gift cards and Foodler merchandise. Here are some of the best restaurants that offer Foodler service near Parkside Commons and some of the favorite dishes people order.

The Square Deli
The Square Deli in Everett is one of the city's best kept secrets. You can choose from classic submarine, delicatessen style, or specialty sandwiches and wraps. The Square Deli also offers a family-style menu, which allows you to relax while they do the cooking that will feed a family of five for under $25. One of the extra perks from the Square Deli is that you can get triple points every day you order and even get 10 percent off every order over $20. How can you say no to delicious sandwiches and those deals? 

Blue Fuji
Blue Fuji is one of the healthful restaurants in the area, preparing organic ingredients in specialty dishes at low prices. Blue Fuji, which focuses on Asian cuisine, also comes with a super deal of triple Foodler points Monday-Thursday and Sunday. Fan favorites include crabmeat rangoon, peking raviolis and Alaskan hand rolled sushi. So next time you have a craving for Chinese or Japanese dishes, use Blue Fuji through Foodler.

Restaurante Montecristo
Restaurante Montecristo offers Mexican food with a popular twist: breakfast. Best bets include the Mountain Dish, made with beef, egg, plantains, pork, rice, beans and salad, or the Pupusas, a Salvadoran stuffed flatbread. The Latin American restaurant also offers triple points when you order through Foodler and $5 off an order of $40 or more. The next time you are craving south of the border dishes or want breakfast in bed with a spicy flair, check out Restaurante Montecristo. 

Joti Palace
Joti Palace serves a variety of authentic Indian specialties, comprising a menu full of vegetarian, seafood and meat dishes. Plus FREE delivery. Enjoy a variety of house entrees such as the most popular order from Foodler, saag paneer, a spicy spinach prepared with homemade cheese. Joti Palace also serves flavored breads baked in-house. Indian cuisine confects vegetables in new, surprisingly delicious varieties, but, of course, specializes in mild to very hot lamb and beef as well. To top off the alluring menu, Joti Palace offers 25 percent off a $20 or more order. [MINIMUM?]

So next time you feel too tired to cook or crave a cuisine not in your pantry, order from one of these fine establishments. Also check out other eateries that deliver to Parkside Commons by going to Foodler.com. Tons of edible options await you with Foodler. And you can earn while you eat. Bon appetit!