Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SETH OLENICK (COOKIES); LEISE JONES (STEAK) LOCAL FLAVOR Holiday sugar cookies Sweet debut. make their FRENCH TOAST Celebrate the holidays with a glass of Charles Heidsieck's new anniversary brut. sugar rush SWEET DEBUTS ITS NEW SUGAR COOKIES IN TIME FOR SANTA'S SNACKS (OR YOURS). I t's no secret that Sweet's cupcakes are a local favorite, and now the Boston-based brand is tempting us again with its hand-frosted holiday sugar cookies. The homemade cookies will be fashioned into festive ornaments, gifts, snowmen, and tree designs for the holidays. You can also sink your sweet tooth into gingerbread men and sugar-cookie elves. One large and one small cookie are wrapped in a clear bag and finished with a grosgrain ribbon for $6. Holiday designs will run until December 24, and custom orders are also available upon request. 49 Massachusetts Ave., 617-247-2253; 225 Newbury St., 617-267-2253; 11 School St., 617-227-2253; Zero Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-547-2253; sweetcupcakes.com BC Mandarin Oriental ups the ante on steak and eggs with a crispy poached truffled duck egg. a bite of something new THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE CHEF RACHEL KLEIN. EXECUTIVE CHEF RACHEL KLEIN has made the move from one hotel to another; the Needham resident traded Aura and Tamo at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center for Asana and the M Bar & Lounge. "I'd like to continue to create dishes that are global, excit- ing, and surprising while remaining approachable, such as steak and eggs," says Klein, who raises the caliber of the dish with a crispy poached duck egg. In addition to revamping Asana's menu, she has also unveiled new gourmet snacks at M Bar & Lounge, such as Chili Caramel Popcorn, mulled wine, and hot tod- dies. A graduate of The New York Restaurant School, Klein references New England in her food by using 76 BOSTONCOMMON-MAGAZINE.COM local staples (including vegetables from Sparrow Arc Farm) and adding a worldly touch, such as diced mango on a lobster roll. Klein and Asana will be serving Christmas Eve and Christmas tasting menus. After warming up next to the fire in the lobby lounge, guests can enjoy Klein's holiday fare such as loin of venison with sun- choke purée, sweet and sour pear, cocoa, and tender aru- gula; or whipped sweet potatoes with rice caramel and pecans. 776 Boylston St., 617-535-8800; mandarinoriental.com/boston Americans have a Frenchman, naturally, to thank for their introduction to Champagne nearly 200 years ago— Charles-Camille Heidsieck first introduced Champagne to the US in 1852 at galas in New York and throughout New England. Now Champagne house Charles Heidsieck celebrates 160 years in the US with the release of a new expression of its brut and rosé wines. The brut is blended from equal portions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. While the Champagne remains as delicious as ever, a new bottle design pays respect to the bubbly's heritage, inspired by a distinctive shape carved into one of the brand's original chalk cellars at Reims. Bauer Wine & Spirits, 330 Newbury St., 617-262- 0363; bauerwines.com