Hearty New Englanders Don’t Turn On The Heat Until…WHEN?
Ok, brrr. Did you wake up to see your own breath this morning? It was a chilly one as most of us dipped into the 30s over night. A stark…
Ok, brrr. Did you wake up to see your own breath this morning? It was a chilly one as most of us dipped into the 30s over night. A stark contrast from Saturday's 80 degree weather. So, here we go... The yearly debate continues. Hearty New Englanders don't turn on the heat until...WHEN?
You told me when, last year. After an informal Facebook poll. The results showed that most of us are conservative and wait until we can't take it anymore. Truth be told. I couldn't take it this morning, so yeah, I wussed out and turned on a mini-split. Wait, does that even count? I mean, I'm not heating the whole house, just a room. At any rate, our gas and electric bill are what help to make us conservative. We are going to squeeze every last minute out of not horribly unreasonable temps before flipping the heat switch.
Back to the poll. Overwhelmingly, my poll results from last year showed the average New England won't give into their thermostat until November 1st. That's when they typically turn on the heat. There could be some very chilly mornings and nights in our very near future. So, yeah, that's toughing it out. That's so New England.

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Here are some of your comments from the informal Facebook poll:
Here are some of the comments:
"November 1st is typically our goal"
"Not on yet!! That is why they make sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks and blankets!"
"Can't do it till November 1st at least!"
" I try to wait till my place feels like a hockey school hockey rink."
"60 in my house right now. Not doing it yet. Lol"
"I was waiting but my husband caved and turned it on last night"
"November 1 if needed"
"I was born during a blizzard in January so I love the cold...I can usually hold out till after Halloween....."
"I'm a waiter also. When I get out the shower and I'm freezing the heat will go on"
"November, but hopefully later. Gonna be very expensive to heat this year"-
As masslive points out, "technically, the heating season in Massachusetts starts on Sept. 15, when landlords are required by law to heat their residential properties to at least 68 degrees during the day and 64 degrees at night, according to the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code." But for many of us homeowners, we wait. We cold. We need more hoodies!
And we need more soup! Bring on the soup. Check out these hot spots:
It's soup weather here in New England! Frankly, I could eat soup every day, all year long. It's my absolute favorite mea.. And let's face it, soup is the perfect food. It's warm, nutritious and comes in so many varieties. Let's celebrate this hot meal in a bowl. Get those spoons up. Here are 11 of the hottest spots for soup in Boston, for you to check out.
One of the many things I love about soup is that you can usually pull it together at home, last minute. Most of us have bouillon cubes, some protein, and vegetables at reach in our kitchens. Add some herbs and spices and your meal is made.
Of course, some homemade soups can be a bit labor intensive. Or at least, time consuming. All the chopping of veggies, sauteing garlic,and often using a food processor can be a lot after a long day at work. Even if you just use a crock pot and let it simmer all day, much thought and prep has to be done.
Soup Research
Go easy on yourself. Next time you want a nice hot bowl of soup, or even a cool soup in summer, go out! There are so many awesome restaurants in the Boston area that offer excellent soups. I've done the research for you. Using sites like FourSquare, Yelp, Eater Boston, and including some personal choice based on my own experience, here's a list to help you out.
So let's head out the door in search of some of the best places to get soup in the Bay State. You'll find all kinds of options here, from flavorful Asian choices to comfort soups, and even a New England staple. Treat yourself to a hot bowl and leave the cooking and cleaning to someone else. Spoons up! Here are 11 of the Hottest spots for soup in Boston and the Boston area.
1. Cafe Sauvage
25 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
Eater Boston claims this fairly new kid in town is getting rave reviews for it's French onion soup. Cafe Sauvage serves "a hearty Gruyere-topped soup." French onion soup is my absolute favorite, and I'm very picky, so I will be venturing to this spot soon. I mean, look at that cheese!
2. Neptune Oyster
63 Salem Street, Boston
Yelp and Foursquare agree on Neptune Oyster's soups selections. Famous for their Italian style clam chowder, you will also find other delicious options served hot in a bowl, like their Maine Lobster Bisque.
3. Branch Line
321 Arsenal Street, Watertown
Eater Boston advises that we not to miss out on Branch Line's chicken rotisserie soup. They also mention the recipe changes occasionally, but any version is delicious. And chicken soup truly is good for the soul, and all that ails you. Oh, and you can buy their famous soup by the quart, to bring home.
4. Pho Basil
177 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
Foursquare readers like the Veggie pho with chicken broth and an "egg to taste -- delicious!" (according to one reviewer). Their Tom Yum and Duck Noodle soup are other popular options, according to Yelp reviewers. I have had their spicy noodle soup and it's really good.
5. Soup Shack JP
779 Centre Street, Boston (Jamaica Plain)
This popular JP spot, according to a Yelp reviewer, serves up "some of the best ramen and pho in the area." By the way, they also have locations in Cambridge and Brookline.
6. Union Oyster House
41 Union Street, Boston
Boston's oldest restaurant is still filling bellies and warming hearts with their famous clam chowder. One Foursquare reviewer delcared that when you get more clams than potatoes, you know you're in Boston. And when you've been doing it as long as UOH, it's got to be good.
7. Muqueca
1008 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
This Inman Square spots serves up Brazilian food. They are well-known for their a flavorful seafood stew, Moqueca, which is cooked in a clay pot. An Eater Boston review notes the stew is made from a coconut milk-based broth and flavor -heightened with is cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and more, and you can choose your seafood combo for the soup. But they also serve soups like black bean with bacon and collard greens soup with potato and sausage. Pass me a spoon, now, please!
8. Warren Tavern
2 Pleasant Street, Charlestown
This famous eatery was established in 1780 and claims to have been a favorite spot by many patriots of the Revolutionary War, including George Washington and Paul Revere. Yelpers love the New England clam chowder here, and the Tavern onion soup. Sounds like a win win to me.
9. Sportello
348 Congress Street, Boston
World famous chef Barbara Lynch's restaurant has been warming bellies with it's classic spicy tomato soup for years. Eater Boston notes it's topped with a taleggio and a caraway crostini. Yum!
10. Seoul Soulongtang
1245 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Another Eater Boston favorite here. This Allston Korean restaurant's website simply states: Beef soup for the soul. They go on to say, "We pride ourselves in serving the best Korean traditional Beef Soup (Seollongtang) in Boston Area. Stop by for Seollongtag to heat up Boston's brutal winter and breeze out Boston's stuffy summer."
11. All Star Sandwich Bar
1245 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
Yelp reviewers love the Texas Style chili with brisket, no beans and some real heat.