This Week's Food

Who doesn't love a snack pack?

Happy Friday All,

If you are a person of a certain age, the words "Snack Pack" harken back to a wonderful/questionably problematic scene from Billy Madison; " I thought I was your snack pack!". Though most films from the 1990s, including this one, age like egg salad in the hot sun, they are infinitely quotable. And while I appreciate the infinite deluge of content that we can consume at any given time across a million platforms I miss a time where we all swam in the same pool of bad trope-filled films that gave us quips like those. I miss times where, whether you liked it or not, you have seen the Big Lebowksi or the Royal Tenenbaums 3-4 times and were at least moderately fluent in their lexicon. Those were simpler times. ("There's a beverage here, man!")

Posted on September 04, 2026

Joe Grotto

Back to School

Happy Friday All,

Only Odysseus, at the end of his epic 10 year journey home, could understand the relief of parents of young children as September, and hence the start of the academic year, rises on the calendar.

Summer has been long, camp-ful and well... sticky. It will be good to hose the children off, throw them on the bus and actually enjoy a complete thought for what feels like the first time since our hero left the isle of Ithaca.

Posted on August 28, 2026

Joe Grotto

A Perfect Summer Salad

Morning friends,

I am going to be nuzzling up to this perfect summer salad this weekend, nothing fancy but totally riffable. The NYT's Sheela Prakash offers up the delightful Hot Smoked Salmon Salad in today's paper. (Yes, I said "paper" I was born before Adam and Eve ate that damn apple.)

Posted on August 14, 2026

Joe Grotto

In a pinch? Or a pickle?

Hello friends,

This week we have pickling cukes from our good pals at Kitchen Garden Farm and bunched pearl onions from Pete's Greens. Both are ripe and ready for your pickle jar.

Posted on July 31, 2026

Joe Grotto

Three Women Fighting the Fight

As it turns out, cancer is no fun. Like zero.

In June I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer after several months of mystery symptoms and various trips to the ER. I was sick, stubborn and frustrated. Luckily, I had wonderful loving people around me and received some excellent care and support. I had surgery in mid-June and it looks like I get to employ the past tense and say I "had" colon cancer. However, tests found it had taken up residence in one (just one!) of my lymph nodes so the standard is to treat with chemo which I start next week. The next 6 months should be a pure picnic.

Posted on July 24, 2026

Joe Grotto

Jonesing for Pie

Good Morning,

It's summer in New England. Have you noticed? Maybe we've mentioned it once or twice?

Near the top of my summertime "get it while the getting's good" list is always pie. Above, my nephews, now 15 years older, stare longingly at the treats our dear friend Cobrina made for my wife's and my wedding. No wedding cake. Wedding pie.

Posted on July 17, 2026

Joe Grotto

Some Light Reading

A reminder!

Joe has been busy building out the store for folks with fun seasonal add-ons.

Garlic scapes, tomatoes and mozz, a pickle kit (it's a really big dill!) and more.

Posted on July 10, 2026

Joe Grotto

Pedaling Petals

Hello friends,

Happy Almost 4th of July and Happy Birthday to Erin's Mom Sally MacDonald who has received the formal ecclesiastical status of sainthood for putting up with Erin all these years.

We know you have kids to slather in sunscreen, hot dogs to eat and cold beer to wash all your stresses away so we will get right to it:

Posted on July 03, 2026

Joe Grotto

Don’t Let the Weather Get You Down

But first! Reminder that our Independence Day preorders are live and that the deadline is Monday at midnight. Hop to it!

In other exciting news, FLOWERS ARE BACK! We've got beautiful field bunches and mixed bouquets ready to brighten up any room in your, or someone else's home.

Posted on June 26, 2026

Joe Grotto

Can't Escape...

Hi All,

First, a quick PSA: we're working diligently on our Independence Day offerings. Top of my list is going to be fresh, organic strawberries, whipping cream and frozen cream cheese biscuits for the ultimate strawberry shortcake. And then, of course, all the fixings you need for burgers, dogs and sausages. Stay tuned. Preorders will start next week.

Posted on June 19, 2026

Joe Grotto

Bobby Vs. the Stripahs

Hi everyone, it’s Em here with another newsletter! I hope you are enjoying your week, getting lots of sun, and eating all of the good early summer produce that is beginning to pop up for the season. I cannot wait until I am able to get my hands on some fresh strawberries! We are currently accepting our Father’s Day preorders and in that spirit I wanted to tell you about my dad this week!

Posted on June 12, 2026

Joe Grotto

Salt of the Earth

It’s Em back with another history filled newsletter. I hope your first week of Pride has been filled with nothing but sunshine and good vibes. Let’s get into it!

Have you ever looked at a single grain of salt? Something so simple but complex is important to sustaining everyday life. Looking at this unassuming pantry staple you never would think it had such a complex history, but in reality, this necessary seasoning was the foundation of many world economies. I had the pleasure of reading Mark Kurklansky’s Salt: A World History recently and wanted to share with you how this mighty stalactite influenced culture and today’s modern food production.

Posted on June 05, 2026

Joe Grotto

Cheese and Books

First, the cheese.
It's a wonderful week at Family Dinner, we have fresh mozzarella in all shares from Giuseppe at the Mozzarella House in Peabody. We get to take a trip over there this morning to watch him make this heavenly fromage.

I don't do a whole heck of a lot with it, I've been known to take down a ball of mozz like an apple plucked from a tree in the height of autumn. Enjoy it in its simplicity, there isn't a fresher fromage around.

Posted on May 30, 2026

Joe Grotto

464 results

This Week's Food

Previously on This Week's Food: