I am reliably informed that Asta will have them. So will I, as far as the recent simmerings on my stove suggest. Who else?
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I don’t know if they are good luck, here but I soak my dry Pinto beans overnight and slow cook them in a crock pot all day.
I’ve been using pinto beans to make refried beans as a “starch” side dish for meals. I think everyone has been getting a bit bored with potatoes or rice as a side, so I’ve been trying refried beans – for variety.
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No beans are bad luck. Bad emanations perhaps, but not bad luck.
Love how you phrased. “Beans, beans. Good for your heart. The more you eat them, the more you…” Then I leave you to internet to complete a childhood funny. Southern in US tradition includes black eye peas/beans for New Year season.
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Are beans considered lucky in the Boston area and is it related to being nicknamed Beantown? I know black eyed peas are considered lucky prepared on New Year’s Day.
Whoever set up New Years to be only one week post Christmas just wasn’t thinking clearly. I still have the Christmas ham bone in my fridge to deal with, and am only one day rid of my guests, and not ready for much of anything, so for us it will be split pea soup with ham tomorrow. I will probably slow-cooker it all day, as our New Year’s Day commitment is shoveling stalls at the barn. One can toot to one’s heart’s content and no one will know amidst the manure.
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I have never encountered anyone who lives in Boston who calls it Beantown.
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In the olden days, a fish called Cod fed slaves in the Caribbean, the molasses produced by slaves was shipped to Boston to produce drinking alcohol.
Boston residents used the molasses to make beans.
Do you know of the Boston molasses flood, slave trade, salt cod..based in Boston, aka Beantown?
Black eyed peas are a lucky custom in the American South for New Years. I have never seen black-eyed peas served anywhere in the Boston area except in my own kitchen. The Black eyed peas are a symbol for coins and collard greens for paper money, hence, luck for prosperity in the New Year.. I love the earthy taste and high protein content of black-eyed peas. They are also a major ingredient in “Texas Caviar”, a bean vegan salad with herbs, sweet peppers, onions, hot peppers, and viniagrette.
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Among Japanese people, kuromane beans are often served Jan 1, as a wish for good luck.
Happy New Year!
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The Triangle Slave Trade, a prominent historical feature of New England. Bristol, RI, was a center of it and it enriched New England greatly. Yes, the Molasses Flood in the North End is well known. And baked beans are not commonly served in restaurants much any more but are a traditional home dish served with Brown Bread (baked in coffee cans) and also Andama Bread. Not just in Boston but throughout New England. In some old-style diners, it’s possible to get baked beans for breakfast and I always order them when they are available. Sometimes baked beans are served with hot dogs in old style restaurants.
But I have never heard of beans considered “lucky” in New England. American South, yes, black-eyed peas. I grew up in North Carolina and that was a lucky tradition on New Year’s there.
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My wife and have been going to a New Year’s day party in Cambridge for 20 years ,and counting, where black-eyed peas are the lucky centerpiece. And, as I said, I was reliably informed (by some one who works there) that Asta has them on the menu.
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I guess the Southern tradition of black eyed peas has taken over beantown. Say that with a Baastan accent. Wicked good.
In any case type beantown into google and you get this….
Good to know Asta has them on their menu (I can’t afford tasting menus and I can’t eat that much, so I won’t be trying it myself). And that they are served in households in the area! They are available at local grocers and I’m making Texas Caviar myself tomorrow. Rancho Gordo has them for sell and several more New England sources as well.
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I’m well aware that many people who don’t live in Boston call it Beantown. It’s all over the internet. Granted, I’ve only lived here since 1989 (and before that, 4 years for college in the mid 1970s), so my experience may not hold up. I’ve never heard anyone that lives here call it Beantown. And when someone does, you know right away they aren’t a local and are likely a tourist. Nothing wrong with that. And I also hate Dunkin, so I’m not a true Bostonian.
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Lentils are eaten for good luck at the New Year by some Italians. We have adopted that at our house because I find lentils easy to prepare.
The husband gave me some Rancho Gordo beans as part of my Xmas gift, though. I’ll probably choose a variety from my new stash to cook tomorrow, which would be good fortune in itself. Hey, close enough for me.
Happy New Year, friends!
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Definite support of Rancho Gordo for beans- their project of the company if still possible is wonderful.
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Thanks to this mention of black eyed peas, I just discovered that Sweet Cheeks in Fenway has Hoppin’ John black eyed pea salad as a side! I recall their fried okra as one of the few places were American Southern fried okra is available and their biscuits are also superb! So I’ll be going soon.
I’d welcome hearing about other restaurants Boston area that serve black eyed peas and southern fried okra. I love the okra at Sumiao Hunan in Kendall but it’s not American southern.
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I have a pound of Rancho Gordo black eyed peas which I’ll cook tomorrow with ham hocks, greens, etc.
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These guys, the Beantown Buckaroos unabashedly embrace the Beantown moniker. I’m tongue-in-cheek cheesy/campy that way, too. If you ever see them on a bill, I urge you to see them. They are awesome. (Disclaimer, we are friends with one of the musicians.)
Happy New Year, GBA Onions!
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