Local flavors
Send a taste of Massachusetts to those who miss home
Aweek before her birthday, my youngest daughter, now an adult living in Washington, D.C., had one request:
“I’m just so homesick, Mom. I want home.”
Not so easy when you’re living in a time of pandemic. With a job tied closely to the presidential election and living in a state that Massachusetts requires testing for visitors, she’s just not been able to dash home.
Of course she’s not alone. Homesickness may very well be one of the undocumented complications of this pandemic. And while there may not be a cure for homesickness for my daughter right now, I did come up with a treatment.
I’m sending Massachusetts to her. Or to be more exact: I’m sending a taste of Massachusetts to her.
Food delivery is often thought of locally. But distance delivery — even for fresh food — is very doable now. Like me, many folks are using shipping services to send someone missing our state a tasty bit of home on a plate.
For my daughter, there was no doubt what I was going to send: a full-on fresh lobster bake from Wood’s Seafood in Plymouth, her
first stop for a meal any time she comes home to visit.
There are so many options. Here are a few classic choices to help that homesick loved one at least taste the beauty of the Bay State.
Clambake, Wood’s Seafood,
Plymouth: What’s more New Englandy than a fresh clambake right from the source? Wood’s, located on the State Pier in Plymouth, has fishing and lobster boats literally offloading right at their door. Talk about fresh.
While they deliver just about anything you want to all 48 mainland U.S. states, it’s their Clambake that really amps up the “special” in that special delivery.
Packed and kept fresh for the surprise are a pint of housemade clam chowder, two pounds of steamers, a half pound of jumbo cooked shrimp, two live lobsters, cocktail sauce and, just for those Instagram photos you’ll be waiting to see: lobster bibs. The clambake is overnighted, arriving fresh and ready. For those who would rather, Wood’s will precook the lobsters. When I asked my daughter if she wanted them to cook her lobsters, she said, “Where’s the fun in that?” But then again, this is a Bay Stater who eats the tomalley, so there’s that. (woodsseafood.com)
Apple cider doughnuts and more, Red Apple Farm, Phillipston: Apple picking is a rite of passage around here, and so, too is scarfing down hot, fresh apple cider doughnuts. Red Apple Farm (located in Phillpston but also with a mini location at Boston Public Market as well as winter service at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area) has been running for 108 years (founded the same year as Fenway Park!). They are home to the oldest commercially planted McIntosh apple tree (which still produces fruit 100 years later) as well as 49 other types of apple trees.
And while you cannot teleport your homesick pal there, you can send along (they ship via two-day mail and promise all will taste super fresh) those amazing cider doughnuts they serve daily.
Crisp crust and soft inside, they have just the right amount of apple taste and are heavenly warm (pop them in the microwave upon arrival and they’ll be good as just cooked). Most of all, their taste brings you right to a crisp fall apple picking day (or a great run at Wachusett).
There’s more to send with those doughnuts too. Red Apple Farm makes their own amazing fresh fudge and their own honey roasted peanut butter. (redapplefarm.com)
Mike’s Pastry, Boston: Who hasn’t made a trip to the North End just to end up at Mike’s? Original owner Michael Mercogliano first created their famed cannoli back around 1946, and to this day, visitors to the city from around the world flock there.
Mike’s can deliver that deliciousness, sending the homesick a true taste of the North End. Their delivery options are plentiful. For me, one of the ricotta pies would be just about right. You can also send along kits to make your own lobster tails, can
noli and more. And a box of their cookies can never be wrong. Though your loved one will still yearn for a true visit to Mike’s, this treat while they wait for that will perk them up. Plus: no line. (mikespastry.com)
Omni Parker House, Boston:
There’s so much about the Parker House that’s classic Massachusetts. It has history, charm and flavor all rolled into one, and when said daughter was a kid, it was one of her favorite lunch spots. It’s also where the Boston Cream Pie was invented. You can ship an original recipe pie to that homesick pal and give them a taste of our history. Shipped frozen with ice packs, it will arrive in perfect, delicious shape. (omnihotels.com/hotels/bostonparker-house/dining/bostoncream-pie)
Fluffernutter basket: This one might take a little extra work from you, but it’s totally worth it. What’s more Massachusetts than a classic Fluffernutter sandwich? Fluff isn’t easy to find in other parts of the country, so send your homesick pal a Fluff care pack, including the Fluff itself (you can also send it to them directly from the company (marshmallowfluff.com), some great local peanut butter (see Red Apple Farm, above), some unique flavors of Polar soda or seltzer (polarbeverages.com) and some Cape Cod
Potato chips (capecodchips.com).
Now that’s a Massachusetts picnic no matter where you scarf it down.