(bill polo/globe staff)
Short orders
Keltic Krust has been hidden in plain sight, on a busy street in West Newton, for more than a decade. It's now under new management, and co-owner Nathalie LaPierre can often be found behind the counter, doling out fantastic Irish soda bread, strong coffee, and a mighty selection of hand-made goodies. Chelsea Buns - tightly wound sweet breads drizzled with icing and scented with cardamom - are a hit, as are tiny, tender scones, and enormous, chocolate-chip studded meringues. Eccles cakes (below, $2 each) are a treat you can't find many places. The simple rounds are made of rustic layers of flaky, buttery puff pastry, liberally sprinkled with sugar, which melts and anchors the plump raisins in place. They're ideal for family breakfast while you tuck the bird into the oven. Keltic Krust Bakery, 1371 Washington St., West Newton; 617-332-9343; keltickrust.com. - LYLAH M. ALPHONSE
Good to go
Taking a break from holiday fare
The distinguishing characteristic of Hong Kong-style food, explains Hong Kong Eatery owner Johnny Chu, is the light hand with cooking methods and ingredients. Stir-fried dishes are light on the sauce, whole fish is steamed rather than fried, and vegetables like u-choi ($6.95) are poached, then drizzled with savory oyster sauce and sesame oil. The restaurant's two locations in Chinatown and Quincy Center specialize in roast duck and pork, and clean-tasting soups like sliced pork with watercress (above, $5.75 for a small). At this time of year, the restaurants are busy filling special orders for roast turkeys with five-spice and suckling pigs, but the clear, brothy soups and crisp green vegetables might be the break your palate needs after feasting. Hong Kong Eatery, 79 Harrison St., Boston, 617-423-0838; 1510 Hancock St., Quincy, 617-770-3330. - LEIGH BELANGER
The prince of beers
You might not be able to get Prince Charles to come to your Thanksgiving feast, but you can certainly serve your guests his beer. Give family and friends the royal treatment at the table by serving Duchy Originals Organic Ale ($4.95 for a 16-ounce bottle) to accompany the brined turkey and oyster stuffing. The ale is one of the products made by a company created by the Prince of Wales in 1992 to promote his belief in sustainable agriculture. (Proceeds go to the prince's charitable foundation.) The ingredients are organic and grown in Britain, and the ale is a bright, bubbly, amber-colored brew with slight malty caramel sweetness offset by the citrusy kick of First Gold hops. The beer is brewed for Duchy Originals at the Wychwood Brewery in Oxfordshire. If His Royal Highness approves, the aunts, uncles, and grandparents probably will too. Available at Formaggio Kitchen, 268 Shawmut Ave., 617-350-6996, South End Formaggio, 244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-4750, and
A little off the top
The season of stocks, soups, sauces, and gravy officially begins this week, so the Endurance Skimmer by R.S.V.P. International ($6) will come in handy for removing fat (or foam or scum) from the surface of any of these. Better than a spoon, which also removes some of the tasty liquid in the process, the Skimmer's 4-inch double-fine mesh circle allows you to lift off exactly what you don't want - and no more. With its perpendicular handle, there's no need to tilt or angle the implement, which is made of sturdy stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. Time to dig out the gravy boat. Available at Gadgets, 671 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, 617-524-6800; Duck Soup, 365 Boston Post Road, Sudbury, 978-443-3825; cheftools.com; or kitchenkapers.com. - LISA ZWIRN
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