Business

After a year and a half of careful consideration, contemplation, and discussions, along with another year and a half of logistics and paperwork, I have sold our family funeral home (O’Brien Funeral Home) to John Reen of Brighton.  John owns and operates his family’s funeral home in Brighton.  He worked for Jack when he was here, and for me in South Boston for more than 20 years.     This was not an easy decision. Stepping away from the full-time operations of the O’Brien Funeral Home has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make – both personally and professionally.  However, I continue to struggle with ongoing issues with my sight and overall well-being; my children need me to be more available. So, it [...]

For Chef Erick Medrano, cooking has always been more than a career choice. It’s been an expression of love and gratitude, instilled in him since he was a young boy. Raised in Guatemala, Erick grew up watching his mother and grandmother cook in a wood fire arcilla (clay oven), filling the house with the sweet smell of fresh baked bread and unique family recipes. It would be those memories that would fuel his childhood dream of one day becoming a chef. Like countless others, Erick would venture to the U.S. with the hopes of a brighter future for himself and his family. Landing in Massachusetts, he would unwittingly a take a fateful stroll down a local street, taking notice of a spot called 224 Boston. [...]

Owner/chef of Fromage at 401 West Broadway for the past seven years, Tatyana Sukennik, originally from Ukraine, has both the delicacy and conviction well expressed in her fine European inspired menu of freshly made crepes, soups, and a distinguished wine bar. She is also someone who seized an opportunity after working at Mass. General Hospital as a medical technol-ogist in the transplant unit for almost twenty years. As with many natural cooks, it was common for her to be encouraged to start a restaurant, but quite another to convert a former pizza place into a sophisticated and unique bistro on one of the busiest and most restaurant saturated streets in South Boston. “My mother was an amazing cook. If you asked her for a recipe, [...]

By Carol Masshardt Healthcare is a challenging profession, and addiction services is among the most daunting. The nature of the issue thwarts patients and those who work with them in a process requiring enormous patience and determination with societal stigma present. Many providers stay clear from this work fearing endless frustration and the utter skill and understanding needed, but the Gavin Foundations Clinical Director, Evangelos “Lucky” Adamos-Nomikos, 37, isn’t one of them. He believes “anyone can recover” and that is what his guiding star every day. “I have been in recovery myself for ten years, and after getting a degree in Counseling Psychology and Mental Health Counseling, I worked in residential jobs and always heard about the “Gavin,” and knew it would offer opportunities. There [...]

By Carol Masshardt This is a story of an old bar with a decidedly South Boston history, now an updated pub by new owners, John and Anne Lydon, and a chef who saw an opportunity. The Shamrock Pub is on the corner of H. and Eighth, formerly Touchie’s, and is as close as it gets to a comfortable spot that knows familiar tastes while stretching into a more diverse neighborhood. First, John and Anne saw that the place was for sale, and it happened to be the location that John’s grandfather, John Clougher, owned in the early 80’s. They both still shake their heads about the leap but seem to smile easily with pleasure when talking about the decision. “I’m an attorney, said John, “I [...]

By Carol Masshardt  At one of the busiest four corner intersections in South Boston rests the lovely and peaceful coffee shop, Esthetic Bean. In a community loved by those from many generations to newcomers, Julia Kotlinska joined the ranks when she moved to Boston and then bought her special spot at 16 Prebble St. in September 2021. “I came from my home country of Ukraine eight years ago and lived in Key West, Florida, but I knew when I visited Boston that I had to be here. I loved it from the first moment. There is old architecture and history but also new. I like the weather, and the people have been especially great,” she said. The small space is filled with carefully arranged teas, [...]

By Carol Masshardt Filomena Lograsso, 75, of Sal’s Italian Ristorante and Pizzeria on L. St., looks back to her childhood in Abruzzi, Italy, and draws a quick connection to her lifelong skill and passion for cooking. She also looks ahead to a time when the third generation of her family with husband, Salvatore, continue the fine tradition. But, for now, she is in the kitchen most every day as she has been since 1986 when she and Sal turned a convenience store into the restaurant. “I came from Italy in 1965 at age 17,” she said. “I never studied cooking in the sense of going to school, but I watched my mother. She was a good cook, and I remember her making sauce, homemade pasta, [...]

By Carol Masshardt (This series focus is on the journey of area restaurant chefs) Joel Howard, 27, is a man of few words with a deep and clear passion for his work as Executive Chef at the popular Publico on 11 Dorchester St. This has earned him the respect of customers, his boss and team. Growing up in the central, Ma town of Spencer, his parents were in other kinds of work, but his older brother, Patrick, paved the way. That led to eventually working with Birch St. Bread Co. in Worcester with mentor Robert Fecteau among other chefs who inspired his French technique and work ethic. “My brother is a chef now in Worcester’s Lock 50 and watching him is what helped turn my [...]