Destination Blogging: The Beach Boys should write a song specifically about this place.

Madame Janette
http://www.madamejanette.info/joomla/
Cunucu Abao 37, in front of The Blue Village Apartments
Aruba, Dutch Caribbean
+297-587-0184
(Just tell the cabbie where you want to go.  They'll get you there.)

No matter where in Aruba you're staying, you need to get in a cab, drive through what looks like a 3rd world country, or the background for LaBama, and eat at Madame Janette's.  It is not part of any all-inclusive packages and you won't find discounts on Restaurant.com, but you'll be overwhelmed with the atmosphere and deliciousness.


Be sure to save up, as most people do when vacations are on the horizon.  Dinner at MJ's will run you about $400 for a party of 6 (including tip & drinks).  I can't stress enough that it is totally worth it.  While you're driving to  MJ's through dirt roads and dilapidated housing, with wild dogs roaming the street, you might want to turn back.  Don't.  Because before you know it, you're turning into a little lot with a fenced in, tree lined wonderland covered in twinkling lights and garlands.

As you walk under the archways, you see that the entire restaurant is seated outside with open air dining.  There is a dark bar inside, that looks like something you'd see in any major city.  The floor outside is made up of small rocks and gravel, so I would skip the stilettos this night.  Flats, sandals, wedges are fine.  Men, I'm talking to you. 


Grouper stuffed with crab meat w/ White asparagus



Pan seared grouper with White asparagus

The night that we dinned @ MJ's, they were featuring White Asparagus with all their specials.  Many of their specials are everyday menu items.

Fried White Asparagus App

Grouper is a very popular fish in Aruba.  It is very mild and really versatile.  You can do a lot with it.  The Stuffed Grouper and Pan Seared were too good to place one above the other. 

The Fried Asparagus was really interesting.  It worked as an appetizer.  The salad on top was a little weird for me.  I didn't like the dressing, which tasted like tarter sauce.  Best skipped.

Some of the other Delicious main courses were the Fillet and the Rack of Lamb.  Both were incredible.  My fillet came with a side of mushroom sauce that was out of this world.  I couldn't even attempt to finish the cut, as it was so filling.

Rack of Lamb took the cake





My delicious Filet

The Rack of Lamb was a winner just in presentation.  It was cooked simply and perfectly rare.  Everyone was trying the lamb.  It got the nod for the best meal of the night.

One item not showcased here was the Pear & Cheese Tortelloni that came in App & Entree sizes.  These were little bundles of pasta filled with a miraculous puree of tart cheeses and sweet pear, served in a cream sauce that you'd want to bathe in.  I am hoping that someday in life I can recreate these, or die trying. 

Fried Oreos

Chocolate Mousse

Let us not forget dessert.  Between the Fried Oreos and the Chocolate Mousse, you are going to be one happy eater.  The Mousse comes with a side of Pumpkin Seed ice cream, while the Oreos have an Oreo ice cream.  We loved both desserts.

And if you're interested in having a cocktail with your fine dining, your waitperson will most likely suggest the Mojito, as this is their speciality.  Every flavor from Original to Watermelon.  But steer clear of the Blueberry.  Ouff.

While Aruba is most affordably best when vacationing all-inclusive, it is absolutely worth your time and money to make an exception for MJ's.  It will really put the cherry on your vacation.

Welcome Back!!!

Hey 'buds & forks!  We're back.  Took a much needed all inclusive vacation to Aruba, aka PARADISE.  Holy crap.  Amazing trip.  Lots of fun, lots of drinks, lots of eats.  Revues will be coming in our Destination blogging in the very near future. 

While it was great to escape the chill of the North East, it is always great to come home, especially when you have lots of activities lined up.  Stay tuned for many blogs next week about my most recent Boston adventures!

Glad to be home, glad to be thawed, glad to be blogging!!!  Check back soon.

Brunch @ TICO

TICO
www.ticorestaurant.com
222 Berkely Strett | Boston MA
(Former location of Cottonwoods)
Sister restaurant to: Via Matta, Radius & Alta Strada

Another Sunday, another brunch.  This time I actually had a date: Roomie.  Roomie is usually a "debbie downer" about brunch.  To him, brunch = eggy casseroles, quiche, pastry, etc.  I don't know about that.  I see brunch as an infusion of the two.  TICO sees brunch as a fantastic spin on your typical breakfast and lunch items.

When you've got Vanilla French Toast w/ Strawberries and TICO's Bacon Cheese Burger on the menu, it's safe to say you wont find an egg casserole anywhere in sight.  Don't misunderstand me.  There are eggs on the menu.  But.  TICO takes their Spanish & Mexican influence out on American classics to create really fun Sunday meals.

We made a reservation for our brunch date a little before 1pm and were seated immediately.  The other patrons consisted of older couples, families straight from church, little boys in blazers playing on iPads kicking off their Sperry's under the table, young couples trying to eat away the morning hangover and tourists who were apart of the Boston Marathon frenzy. 

Our waitress was extremely wonderful. I loved her. She made fun and energetic suggestions, which included switching my Bloody Mary order to their signature Ghost Maria. This is their spin: Tequila, in place of vodka and Tomato Water in place of tomato juice. Refreshing. It was great. It pleased the bartender that I ordered this, as our waitress reported back. Apparently most people stick with the traditional Mary. But I liked the Maria. It's a lot smoother.

Ghost Maria, who won't rotate properly...

To praise our gal more, when it came time to order I just had to ask about the Spicy Duck Confit & Green Chile Hash (with 2 poached eggs & Chipotle Hollandaise).  Mentioning I never really order duck, I wanted her thoughts.  Immediately she was raving about it.  And I believed her.  I was sold.  Continuing on to some of her favorites, she subsequently influenced Roomie to order the Fried Shrimp Po'Boy with Fries.  And just for fun, we added a side order of the Potato Pancakes with sour cream and applesauce.

When the food came out, we were starving.  We'd made the usual exit at Park Street and enjoyed a sunny, but breezy stroll through the crowds of tourists and barricaded streets.  Just on presentation and aroma alone, I knew our brunch was going to be a success. 



Po'boy!  Oh boy!

Roomie was psyched with his Shrimp Po'Boy.  The bread it was served on looked and tasted so fresh and homemade.  The slaw inside was a coated with a spicy, chipotle remoulade and the fries were accompanied by a similar dipping sauce.  It was a knock out sandwich.

I was quick to snack on Roomie's fries while I had a little face off with my Spicy Duck Confit and Poached Egg hash.  The hunks of duck meat were plentiful and the poached eggs were really intriguing.  Roomie had the first bite and said, "Save me a few more bites of that, ok?". 

Spicy Duck Confit

So I finally dug in.  The duck was not so intimidating.  It tastes like dark meat chicken.  Together with the poached egg, hash and chilies, it all worked.  Every bite was creamy and spicy.  It was a very comforting dish.  The toast was delicious and added a nice option of scooping up the contests in the dish.  I really liked this and would definitely suggest it.

Our little side dish of Potato Pancakes was a nice rounding out to our meal.  They were very thin, so they cooled pretty quickly.  But they tasted great with the mixture of sour cream and applesauce.

Potato Pancakes

Having brunch is becoming a new excuse for me to get out and see the city and the people.  I really enjoyed our time at TICO and would suggest that you try it.  Next time, I will definitely look into those Vanilla Pancakes.  Or maybe even the Crunchy Chicken tacos.  Never can tell with me, 'buds.

Get out for brunch, people.  That's why God invented Sundays.

Get Fluff on This - Local 149, Chalkboard tables & Fried Fluffernutters

Local 149
149 P Street
South Boston, MA

Pulling up to Local is a site to behold.  The exterior is one that really impressed.  I definitely had a, "Wow, this place is nice." moment when arriving.  Walking in you see a large bar with seats all around.  To the right, the seats are high top.  To the left, the bar meets the elevated dining room so the seats are low to the ground and but you're sitting as high as the people across your way.  It's such a cool feature.  Everything else inside is impressive.  The artwork, the lighting fixtures, the booths and Chalkboard top tables...Yes, complete with a dish of chalk.  Fantastic detail.  You'll like the setting immediately here.  It's a lot different than the old Farragut House, which used to reside in this spot.

Everyone has their Thirsty Thursday spot.  No matter what age or lifestyle you're living, everyone calls it Thirsty Thursday.  Local 149 was packed to the gills last night.  And I don't think it was the Bruin's playoff game that dragged these patrons out.  The game was on every TV, but people seemed like they were there for the beer and the food and the chatter.

YES, the chatter.  I am just now getting my hearing back and talking in my indoor voice.  Whew!  It's worth mentioning that Local is really loud.  You're going to notice it right away, so might as well take the bull by the horns.  The music isn't too loud and the TVs aren't blaring.  It's simply the wide opened floor plan that allows your voice to pull a Till' Tuesday and carry...Speaking of which, the music you could hear was kick ass.  Church, the Cure, Blondie, The Smiths.  I've never heard the Smith's "Ask" on at ... anywhere.  I've never heard that song anywhere except in my car.  Great music.

I know you want me to get around to the main event, the Fluffernutter.  But we've got to slow it down, 'buds. 

While we were drinking our draft Pretty Things out of snifters & supposed to be looking over the menu, we decided it would be more fun to do arts 'n crafts on the table.  We, being me and my date, Ash.  Bubble letters, flowers, comics, graffiti.  We tagged that table up before we even put in our order.  I am a huge fan of Chalkboard tables.  I might have to redo the top of my kitchen table...

We decided to share a cheese plate. the Seaweed and Salt fries and 2 salads before our dessert.  I mean, it was after 9pm, so we weren't looking to pack away heavy entrees like the Braised Short Ribs or the Chicken & Waffles.

Ash's Salt 'n Peppa art

We opted to start with the Champlaign cheese plate, which was delish.  The portion of cheese presented was small, but it went a long way because it was so creamy and spreadable.  It was much like a goat cheese.  Tangy and addicting.  I actually wish I had some right now.  Order this.

Next we had the Taco Salad and the Beet Salad.  The taco salad was not your run of the mill tortilla shell with ground beef and diced tomatoes.  This was a beautifully purple cabbage shell stuffed with lettuce, duck ragu bologonese, avocado and Frito's.  A bit of high end with some guilty pleasure snacks as garnish.  So inventive.

The beet salad was very aromatic.  The moment it was put down in front of us, I couldn't help but grimace.  What was the smell?  It was familiar and strong.  Truffle oil.  To the extreme.  The salad of diced red and yellow beets, garnished with pork cracklings and candied beet florets was bathing in truffle oil.  Now I love me some truffle oil.  Hooo-wee!  It was eye watering.  But really delicious.  The prettiest part of the salad?  The beautiful, tiny fried quail eggs.  Beets and fried eggs is a winning combination.  I felt really fancy eating these salads.  They were definitely both kicked up to 11.

The fries were good, too.  I didn't catch the Seaweed element.  I've eaten seaweed plenty of times.  They were really just salted fries that were cooked perfectly.  So, really, I guess I can't complain.  They tasted good...but again, I didn't get the seaweed factor.

For our next act, we ordered a round of Leather Lips (great craft beers on tap) and the Fried Fluffernutter.  And then we may have also ordered some Prosecco.  Thirsty. 

We were totally amped for the arrival of our fried dessert.  We couldn't wait to dig in.  And when it came out of the kitchen, I swear it saw glowing. 

The Fried Fluffernutter was a peanutbutter, banana and fluff sandwich that was fried, covered in powered sugar and a Raspberry Foam.  Sounded just crazy enough to work...but it didn't.  Not for us.  We found the peanutbutter to make your mouth very dry and foam was really sour and off putting.  The edges of the sandwich, where most of the fluff was hiding, was the best part.  Other than that, it was really dry and disappointing.

That being said, Southie really has a great new spot on P Street.  The beer selection is amazing.  Seriously. Don't go in there and order a Mich Ultra (like I normally would.).  Order the Pretty Thing's St. Boltoph Brown.  That was my fav of the night.  And true, the dessert wasn't what we'd hoped, the food is definitely worth checking out.  Go, enjoy the faire, the art, the atmosphere.  Just avoid anything fluff and maybe bring some ear plugs.

Boston Revue's Guide to Outdoor Dinner & Drinks - We need you!

Boston Revue's Guide to Outdoor Dinner & Drinks - Interactive blogging.

Hey 'buds.  Want to think happy thoughts?  I sure do.  This miserable, down-pour day has encouraged this post.  I was going to wait a bit, but we need a little sunshine in our lives.  And if Mutha Nature won't give it up, let's rely on our memories.  Those fond, fond memories of sitting outside on Newbury St or up high on the Roof Deck at the Atlantic Beer Garden, cold beverage in hand, flip flops on your feet and a nice tan on your arms.  You need sunglasses, not umbrellas.  Bring these warm memories to the forefront and lend me your hands.

Now, I don't really want to hold hands.  I just want to use you for YOUR revues.  We want to encourage you to spread those memories around, hopefully making this day more pleasant.  Here's how you can help.

Send your emails to: BostonRevue@gmail.com OR email us on our Facebook page.  Here is what we want:

1. What is your FAVORITE outdoor dining and/or drinking spot in Boston?
2. Why?
3. What stands out?
4. When is the best time to go?  A Sunday afternoon for Sunday Funday?  Any weekend night?  The night of a Sox game?

Anything you can do to share the warmth and help us create our Guide would be greatly appreciated!  Based on the feedback we get from you 'buds, you may have a chance to be included in our Guide and could potentially be the winner of a fabulous Summertime Themed Gift - details will come out later on this.

So forget about the rain outside your window and get those emails pouring in (see what I did there?).  We'll be waiting!

Bon Caldo - Italiano Delicioso in the 'Burbs

Bon Caldo

http://www.boncaldo.com/index.php

1381 Providence Highway (Rt 1)

Norwood, MA

Norwood isn't just home to the AutoMile, 'buds.  Rt 1 is also clad with some great restaurants.  And I'm not talking TGIWhatever's.  Right next to Skye sits a homey and delicious Italian spot called Bon Caldo.  If you know where Skye is, and everyone seems to, then you know where Bon Caldo is.  Don't over look it.

Inside you'll find a dining room with nice white linens and comfortable seating surrounded by a cozy fireplace and lighting.  The waitstaff is extremely knowledgeable and prompt!  And patient...because I was taking forever order and none of us could decide on drinks.

This venture to Bon Caldo was alongside some good friends who are huge fans and frequest guests.  PRG & Sassy are creatures of habit who favor Bon Caldo's Gnocchi di Ricotta.  I always knew this was their dish.  I considered ordering it myself.  But listen, 'buds, if you're reading this blog, you know by now I am not a shy dining companion.  I'm eating off your plate.  So I decided not to be a copy cat and try something else.

I asked the waitress about the Risotto del Giorno.  No, she did not tell me it was the Risotto of the day.  But she did inform us that it was going to be Risotto with Monkfish.  Sold.  Never had Monkfish, so that settled that. 

While patiently, and hungrily, waiting, we had wine and bread, which was served with a chilled tomato sauce.  I liked it a lot.  Good spice to it.  And when the wine ran out, I completely copied PRG's next drink order.  The name was what did it.  Anything called an Italian Sling sounds like a must.  This drink is comprised of gin (another gin drink reels me in! see the Woodward blog), grenedine, club soda, cherry brandy and tuaca (a citrusy vanilla liqueur).  So tasty and dangerous.  Goes down easy, like a slush.  Such a creative concoction.  Gin!  I hate Gin!  But again, not in this cocktail.

And the food arrived in such style, presented on gleaming white plates.  My Gnocchi friends were pleased, as the dish looked and tasted just as times past, which is perfect.  It was at this time I realized the Gnocchi were made with Ricotta and not potato.  PRG was gracious enough to allow me first dibs, so I took just one dumpling, covered in marinara.  It was insane.  Ricotta gnocchi are softer than anything I have ever eaten and the sauce is great.  I wanted to say that the dumpling was as soft as a marshmallow, but it was even softer.  Airy and light, which is exactly what you want.  Crazy.

My risotto was so creamy and delish.  The Monkfish was definitely good, although it truly smelled fishy.  Overall, that didn't really matter because it tasted great.  As this was my first encounter, I found monkfish to be similar to lobster, in look and texture.  Although not as chewey.  Remember, I don't like lobster, but I did like this Monkfish.  Specifically, it reminded most of the tail of a lobster.  Mixed in with the creamy rice, it was really nice.

3 people can eat and drink well and for a reasonable price at Bon Caldo.  Make the trip over the time you're over at ol' Ernie Boch or Home Depot.  You can try TGI-Whosie's some other time.

Ciao!

Post 390 - The brunch is no fluff!

Post 390
http://www.post390restaurant.com/
390 Stuart St
Boston, MA


Post 390 caught my eye the evening that I attended the shower @ BarLola.  We had parked our car in the garage underneath 390 that evening and when we surfaced, I made a mental note to check out this place someday.

The next day was gorgeous and the hangover was minimal, so I decided, in a split second, to get up and head into the city to enjoy the weather while I had the chance.  So with my trusty T pass, sunglasses and book, I headed to the red line to hope a T to Park Street.  There, I exited to make my journey through the Commons and Gardens.

Dogs were out, kiddies were squealing.  Lots of groups playing ladderball or soccer.  It's great to stroll around the Common.  The best people watching in the city.  As I made my way through the Public Gardens, I noticed what looked like a "homebase" had been setup at the corner of Boylston and Arlington.  Sunday was in fact the day of the Greek Parade and I got the chance to see it from beginning to...well, just the beginning.  I was so hungry that after watching about 10 minutes, I had to move on.

Since I was now in the Back Bay area, it dawned on me to walk down Clarendon and take a look at 390's menu.  When I saw it wasn't too crowded, dimly lit and brunch was still being served at 2pm, I was locked in.

They were happy to seat me, as a party of 1, in a nice cozy high top booth for 2.  Every seat is a good seat because you are surrounded by windows, with a great view of the happenings around you outside, so even in a place that isn't crowded, you still feel like things are hopping!

At the same time, it was very relaxing inside on this Sunday.  The music was modern, acoustic and familiar, the waitstaff spoke in gentle tones.  It was quite nice after just bustling my way up the crowded, windy streets of Back Bay.

Brunch.  I tend to lean more towards the breakfast side of brunch.  Although I did consider the House Smoked Salmon and the Crab & Avocado Salad, I just accepted the fact that I was going to have to stick with guns...er, Pancakes.

The night before, during a Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Antics, another friend mentioned a recent outing to IHOP, where she had Cinnabon pancakes that tasted amazing.  Here at 390 I noticed they served Cinammon Roll French Toast with a Banana Creme Brulee.  I was seriously considering this because of how decadent it sounded.  But soon my waiter came by with Bloody Mary and to inform me of the day's Brunch Special.  Fluffernutter Pancakes with a Merange topping.

No sooner did like nice young man finish describing the pancakes did I pounce.  "So can I get a side of home fries with that".  Done and Done.  They were on their way.

I was quietly reading and highly enjoying my spicy Bloody Mary, patiently waiting for what I assumed would be a little stack of cakes piled up with...with I have no idea.  I had no clue what to expect.

What arrived was 2 large pancakes covered in powdered sugar and topped with the merange which looked a gooey glob of toasted marshmallow.  And much to my 'buds enjoyment, that is exactly what it tasted like.  Yes, I tried the topping first.

I added a little maple syrup, as that's all I really care for, and dug in.  The Fluffernutter pancakes tasted like warm, undercooked peanut butter cookies.  When you took a bite of the pancake and marshmallow, it was exactly like Peanut Butter and Fluff.  I felt like the book I brought should have been Ramona or the Babysitters Club, because this breakfast made me feel like I was a kid again.  We always had peanut butter & fluff sandwiches growing up.

It felt like hours had gone by and I hadn't even finished one pancake.  There is no exaggeration when I tell you that each cake was roughly the size of a small bar style pizza.  I tried to keep going, but my belly said, "Stop it!".  My 'buds and my belly are always at odds.

As I was paying, I thanked the waiter for suggestion the special.  What I learned then was the chef often tries to reinterpret sandwiches as pancake specials for Sunday Brunch.  Apparently the Sunday prior the special was a pancake that was inspired by a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  This I find great fun and creative.

390 was a great spot for brunch, but I think the night life could be pretty promising as well.  I really liked the bar and, again, the feel of the windows all around. 

Spontaneous brunching at 390 gets 390 silver dollar pancakes from me.  Good eats. Good Fluff.

...But how will these pancakes faire next to the Fried Fluffernutter @ Southie's newest haunt Local 149???  We'll see, forks.  It's a Fluff-Off!!!  ....Stay tuned.

BarLola: Tapas, Spirits and Crate & Barrel

BarLola
www.barlola.com
160 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA

Tapas on the corner of Darthmouth St & Comm Ave - Outdoor seating available.

Hey 'buds!  Monday.  Woof.  While you're back to the daily grind of the monotonous 9-5, take a few minutes for yourself.  That's what Boston Revue is here for.

And if you need to find a place in the city to have your next mid-sized function or gathering, BarLola can help!

A respectable group of around 20 women gathered there this weekend to honor our pal, and bride-to-be, D.  Inside BarLola we were set up in a semi private room behind the bar with banquette seating and cozy pillows.  The walls and ceilings are exposed brick with lots of wrought iron decor and vintage art.  Very charming.

Taking the walk through BarLola, the bar area was filled with sports fans, while the outdoor seating, set below street level, was at capacity as well. 

Back in the private room, we had a really nice stream of music, set at the perfect volume and plenty of seating and little tables to enjoy our Tapas and Sangria.  There was also a large table setup for gifts!  Crate & Barrel would definitely be pleased by the representation! 

Banquette seating and 1 round table with add'l chairs.

The bridesmaids provided the guests with a variety of hot and cold Tapas from the menu, along with Red and White Sangria.  You can't go wrong with variety!

We snacked on Tomato & Mozzarella, Manchego y Serranno, Calamares Fritos, Pinchos de Vieras y Uvas Negras, as well as many others.

Both of my favorites were of the seafood variety.  The Calamari was served perfectly crispy along with a zesty guacamole, almost vinaigrette, dipping sauce.  I kept going back for this.  The other winner for me was the Pinchos de Vieras, scallops skewers.  Scallops and roasted grapes.  What a delicious combo.  It was impeccable.

For a more extensive glance at the menu, be sure to check out the link posted at the top.  And if you ever pop in to BarLola, be sure to try one the Red Sangria w/ the Calamari and Scallops.  Your 'buds will be thankful.

Congrats to our friend D and her main squeeze!

Woodward at the Ames Hotel - YUP!

Woodward
1 Court Street
Boston, MA

http://www.woodwardatames.com/

When you walk into a bar and eye a bartender dispensing a foam into a champagne glass, you know you're not at typical Bostonian pub.  Woodward, located within the Ames Hotel, is a chic and above average experience that will make a lasting impression. 

On a Saturday evening, around 10 pm, you can find the downstairs bar packed with diners at tables and at the U shaped bar. But you can still find a table with minimal wait.  There are also "communal tables" for those that just want to have a drink and a place to rest their elbows.

Upstairs are a few more tables for dining, another bar and a fireplace seating area, which is first come first served.  You will also find a DJ playing very intoxicating old school hip-hop and rap.  I'm a sucker for this, as you may know.  A little "Good Day" goes a long way for this blogger.  This is where I decided to steak my claim until my friends appeared on scene. 

While sitting at the bar solo, for the time being, I had a nice view of the crowd, the bartenders and the NCAA Kentucky/UConn game.  Not bad.  I was so comfortable in this high top chair at the bar, that had arms and a nice cushion.  I wouldn't have minded sitting there all night.  And the bartenders were so prompt that I'd be golden.  It took forever to decide on a drink.  The drink menu is so unique and abundant. 

http://www.woodwardatames.com/library/pdfs/AMES_WW%20MENU_Cocktails_pages.pdf

I chose to start off with the Second Marriage, a drink that consists of Ketel One Citroen, Chandon Brut and fresh raspberry puree (All fruits and herbs at Woodward are fresh.).  My bartender complimented my choice and I realized why within one sip.  The cocktail was sour and rich and tasted like a bubbly slush.  It instantly reminded me of summertime.  It was hard to just sip this one.

Later I made friends with a nice gal named Olivia, from Chicago, imbibing solo, as well.  She was in town to do a photo shoot and just having herself a little entertainment.  We got to chatting and I noticed she was the gal who had ordered the drink in the champagne glass with the mysterious foam.  Luckily this was a menu item!

The Model Behavior, to call it by name, was fantastic.  St Germain & Hendrick's gin, Chandon Brut and CUCUMBER foam.  Now this is coming from a gal who does not like gin...This is one of the best cocktail creations I've ever consumed.  I didn't even know there was gin in this until I went back to re-read the menu.  Olivia felt that in the champagne glass the foam got lost and underplayed.  She kindly (she's from Chicago) insisted the bartender pour out the drink in a glass with a...ahem...larger mouth.  And he did. 

It was around this time that Olivia and I got to some serious chatting when a man came over to ask for the bar nuts that were in front of me.  And then he proceeded to offer me the nuts.  I told him I was allergic.

Later my party arrived and we grabbed a long table by the fireplace, very close to the DJ.  It was a little louder than we would have liked, but the music was too good to complain.  And now that the friends had arrived I could finally order the drink I'd been waiting for all weekend (You know me and my pre-outing research.).

The Pickle Back - Imagine in your own mind, if you will, what this would include.  A drink called the Pickle Back.  Take a few minutes and get your imagination going....Ok, ready?

When you see a drink like this on the menu, you may turn your nose up.  Me?  I go for it.  It's insane!  So, true to form, I ordered the Pickle Back: A shot of Jameson with YOUR CHOICE of house made pickle brine chasers.  Your choices: Bread & Butter Pickle, Yellow Beet, Red Pearl Onion, Carrot, Cauliflower or Grape.  Have you ever heard of something like this?  If so, please share, because I have not. 

Ultimately I thought I would be partaking in this shot/chaser combo on my own.  However, I was pleased that my pal Sue was all in to take one down with me.  For chasers I chose the Yellow Beet, Sue the Bread & Butter.  We partook on a count of 3 and hoped for the best.  The Jameson we knew, we respected...it was the brine chaser that seemed daunting.

In the end, the Yellow Beet seemed to favor over the Bread & Butter.  Both were manageable drinks and not as intimidating as they would appear.  We really were the boss of those shots.  And since this is not something you have everyday, why not go for it?  I highly suggest it.  In the future, I will order this again, perhaps trying out the Grape or Carrot chaser (I will stick to the sweet ones).

Eventually the drinks stopped because the dancing started.  The music was contagious and the dancing was infectious.  Every single person upstairs was dancing.  It was great fun.

Note the website, included up top, to take a virtual tour of Woodward.  Their white walls and shelves create a very open environment.  You feel very cozy in such a hip venue.

Next time - the shot will be ordered and food will be consumed.  Woodward is a huge hit for me and highly suggest you put on your cutest outfit and head over there soon.


Blog Bonus: We ate there!

Hey again, 'buds!  You've got it.  Sister and I popped into Woodward sometime after 11pm last Thursday, after a hysterical evening @ the Improv Asylum (Hanover St - North End. Go.).  We were frantically famished and in the mood for something good.  Luckily, Woodward serves food up until 12am on week nights.  Such a bonus.  To all other spots in town: Keep your kitchens open later, people!!!  Even if it is a select menu.

What we learned that now that Woodward's drink menu has recently rotated.  The Model Behavior is no longer listed (see original blog above) but they still had their Second Marriage.  YUM!  And it WAS better the second time.

We decided to share some food.  To start, we inhaled the Warm Beet & VBC Goat Cheese tart w/ Meyer lemon curd & Hazlenuts.  So incredible.  It was a delicious pastry with red and golden beets.  The cheese and the curd were fanctastic.  It tasted like dessert.  We destroyed the thing.  I believe I dropped my forks a few times while attacking the poor tarte. 

For our late night dinner we shared the Spring pea & lemon Risotto w/ pean greens and parmesean.  Again, incredible.  Super lemony and summery.  Not too hot.  It was like an outdoorsy, picnic style risotto.  We cleaned the dish out.  Not a grain left in sight.

Let this be your lesson.  It's good to eat after a night of laughs and buckets o' beer at the Improv.  And luckily, Woodward is smart enough to keep those kitchen doors open for us late night gigglers. 

*Bonus bonus: The kitchen is open until 1am on weekends.  C'mon!  Total score.

Flour - Ooo!

http://flourbakery.com/

Locations:
12 Farnsworth St., Boston
1595 Washington St., Boston
190 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge

'Buds, if you remember back a few weeks to my Cabby Shack post, you know I watch a lot of Food Network.  I watch a lot of TV in general, but specifically the Food Network.

One show that Roomie and I are big fans of is Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  Flour was featured in an episode undertaking the challenge of the Sticky Bun.  Their's were carmely and full of pecans...and the size of my head.  Ooo!

Some time later I found an article in the paper, probably the Herald, because I like their puzzles.  There inside was an interview with chef/owner Joanne Chang, including a recipe for Homemade Oreos...I cut it out and made sure to add to my collection of "To-make"s.  But I never did. 

Much to my surprise, Roomie was kind enough to surprise me with a Homemade Oreo this week.  These are nothing like your store bought name brand little dunkers.  These cookies are roughly the size of a hockey puck and much more rich and decadent.  It was...ooo!  So good.  I really enjoyed it.  But I could not eat the cookie in one sitting.  I had to save half for the next night's dessert. 

The cookie is so rich and full of nice cocoa flavor and the cream is dense and smooth.  These would be great to order for a celebration or if you're going to a dinner party.  The are impressive to lay eyes on and enjoyable to eat.  I actually think these would taste delish on the side of an adult beverage like a Mud Slide or a Sombrero.

Mmmm...definitely head to Flour for a cookie.  And so you don't feel too guilty, they make lunch too!  Check out the link above!

Later, 'buds!

The Tops Seeds: Cantina Italiana vs Villa Roma. Boston Revue crowns it's Champ.

The March Maddness competition has come to a close...

March Maddness was just that.  Lots of food, lots of calories and lots of tough competition.  Maddness!

As you may recall, the initial Final Four were: Cronin's Publick House, Fleming's Steakhouse, Villa Roma and Cantina Italiana.  It was a filling and tasty contest, but there can only be one winner on Boston Revue. 


We already know that Cronin's and Fleming's were bumped.  And we also already know that Cantina Italiana scored and impressive 43 out of 48 points.   



With 43 points to beat, Cantina does stand out!



How will VR rank?  Will it oust Cantina Italiana?

It's definitely a photo finish, 'buds.  The winner was the best by just 1 point!  Both Italian cuisine, friendly service, careful and clean decor and presentation.  While neither are perfect, each experience was worth having.  One far off down the Cape, one right in the heart of the North End.  They could not be further apart but closer in many ways.  As a diner, my 'buds were glad we got to patron both.

I could go on and on forever, trying to sound eloquent, but you know, that doesn't always work for me.  I could go off on a tangent.  That always works.  Instead, let's rip off the band-aid and crown our Champ!

(Insert Dick Vitale's voice here)
The Champ of the 2011 Boston Revue March Maddess is: Cantina Italiana! 

That 43rd point really helped you, because Villa Roma was on your heels with a challenging and respectable 42 points.  To you, the reader who suggested Cantina Italiana, you will become the recipient of our coveted Phantom Gourmet Gift Card!  I will contact you directly.  (Keeping the anonymity, forks.  The interwebs are scary!)

Thank you to all who participated in this.  We had many submissions, but only 4 could be chosen.  If you recall, from my previous blogs, I am planning some summer activities/contests, so keep your eyes peeled for those.  And note, we'll be on a mini hiatus during the end of April, when we'll be DESTINATION Revuing from Aruba.  Jealous?

Another big thank you for reading, participating and enjoying.  Stay tuned for many more blogs.  Just because the contest is over doesn't mean I'm going to stop eating!!!

Villa Roma - Our FINAL Revue for the March Maddness competition!

http://www.villaromaonthecape.com/

Villa Roma
278 Rt. 6
West Harwich, MA

Hey forks!  The final revue is in and March Maddness has come to a close.  Villa Roma was the last venue in our Final Four and in dramatic fashion...

...well, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

You might wonder why a blog called Boston Revue would trek down to the Cape for a competition like this.  I will address this by saying that while a current dweller of the city, there is life outside.  Many of us escape to the sandy beaches of Cape Cod during the summer, no?  And we gotta eat, right?  So that pretty much sums that up.

While it's common that most of the older generation flies down to Florida this time of year, many remain on Cape.  We dined with most of them last night at Villa Roma.  We were definitely the youngest people in the restauant.  The music was Big Band era and Rag-time.  I thoroughly enjoyed this.  Roomie did, too.  Did I mention that is who I took?  No?  Ok.  Well, Roomie was loving the older crowd as much as I was.  At one point I shushed him in order to eavesdrop on an Octogenarian telling her friends how she'd met her husband.  It was actually this really romantic story about how they'd sat next to eachother a plane to DC, only to realize that they lived in the same apartment complex!  She invited him to a New Years Eve party at her apartment and the rest was history!  Although he had to go to Italy (pronounced "It-lee", just like my Nettie says) for a time, so they wrote letters back in forth.  When he came back they got married.  Oh god.  Who needs food when you've got the original classic love story over at table 5?

Ok, I'm right on track for getting off track, so let me see if I can regroup.  Roomie and I were actually the 2nd diners of the evening to arrive at Villa Roma, a nice and dark, quaint dining room of booths and tables and a small bar.  It was a very cozy space with dark woods and nice bright white table clothes.  On each table was a bottle of Pelligrino, olive oil and packaged bread sticks.  I loved the table.

Immediately our waitress, who was really nice, as I expected, being on the Cape, brought us over a nice baguette, a cheese spread and marinated mushrooms and olives.  This is what she simply called, "Snacks".  Awesome.  Love snacks.

Roomie had his order ready within seconds, but I needed a bit more time.  The menu is actually very small, just 2 pages, not couting the Specials.  And each Entree comes with a salad, which is really nice, considering the prices were already very affordable. 

We decided on getting an appetizer off the Specials menu, which was the Maryland Crab Cake.  This is just  a serving of 1 cake on top of a bed of mixed greens, capers and roasted tomato.  We did not mind this serving size, as we both had Caeser salads coming.  Sharing the crab cake, we noticed instantly that the cake was all crab.  Minimal fillers, minimal mayo.  The crab was the focal point and it was so good.  The mixed greens were dressed in a super lemony herbed dressing and the tomatoes were sooo hot, right out of the oven or pan, that all combined in one bite was perfect.  Roomie dubbed this the 2nd best crab cake he's ever had.  I would agree.

Standard and tasty Caeser Salads (anchoives optional) came out while I was eavesdropping on our older counterparts in the back, now reciprocating to their friend how they'd met.  Their's was more humerous, as they met on the tennis courts as matter of convenience.  The gentlemen and his friend wanted to play a game of tennis, but the singles sign up was taking too long.  Off in the distance he noticed 2 gals waiting, too, so he suggested to his pal that they snag these girls and sign up for doubles, as there was no wait.  They agreed they didn't have to hit the balls to the gals!  So the pairs were made and a game was played.  Less than a year later, the couple was married.  Dinner and a show, my friends!  Ok, I know, I know, back to the food...

Out came the entrees.  Veal Parm for Roomie and Chicken Piccatta for me.  Portions, huge.  Presentation, eye catching.  Mine was lovely with all the lemons and shallots.  The parm was just a big cheesy, saucy blob.  But I'm not into parms or any sort, so you may find my opinion a little unfair.  Back to my chicken.  The dish was very flavorful with lemon shallots and capers.  For their own personal touch, Villa Roma adds scallion and thyme.  Although Roomie thought this made it untraditional, I thought it was delicious and really pretty in presentation.  I found the pasta to be unflavorful, so when twirling up some to take a bite, I'd twirl it directly on a lemon, which made it taste super good.  Love lemon, 'buds.  Love it.

Veal Parm - What do you think of this?





Chicken Piccatta - YUM



Now, I tried Roomie's Veal Parm and kept an open mind.  I love veal, but again, parms aren't my thing.  I have to be honest when I say, it was not good.  I didn't taste like veal or any other sort of meat.  It just tasted like saucy fried cheese.  And Roomie did not care for it, either.  He'd intentionally ordered it to see how it stood up against other places.  That's just how he orders.  Unlike myself, where I like to mix it up.

Villa Roma no like sharing. No like loud kids!

Check out the link that I posted up top for more menu items and hours.  Villa Roma is open all season long, so don't worry about that!  If you're in the Harwich area this summer, I would definitely suggest going.  I know that when I'm in Dennis this summer, I'll take the short ride over to try some seafood, which I can only imagine will be outstanding.

Ok...so you want to know.  You want to know how Villa Roma scored out on the Final Four March Maddness ranking system.  You want to know if Villa Roma topped Cantina Italiana's whopping 43 points.  There were lots of things to consider when ranking Villa Roma.  An older crowd, a lovely dining space and beautiful table, one great entree and one mediocre, a delicious appetizer...there's only one thing to do but wrap up this competition and tell the readers who has won.

So check back in a few for the announcement and see if Villa Roma bested Cantina Italiana!

Wicked good Sangria, but don't ask to "hold' anything on the menu @ Wicked Fire Kissed Pizza.

http://www.wickedrestaurant.com/gourmet-artisan-pizza-dedham.asp

A night of catching up with old gal pals is always fun.  Of course there is going to be a lot of chatter, snacking and cocktailing.  It's nights like this that make it really hard to order because you get distracted with stories and memories and "Oh ya, whatever happened to...", etc, etc. 

Another thing that makes it hard to order?  The fact that at Wicked Fire Kissed Pizza you're encouraged, outright, not to make any changes or substitutions to any menu items.  While I respect a chef's creativity and the right to suggest, if you tell me not to do something, I'm going to want to.  Damn that hot burner on the stove!

Luckily one thing that we could order with no hesitations was the Sangria!  Tasty and inventive in presentation.  Each order is served to you in a glass with a personal decanter that spins on the table like a top.  It's impressive. 

So want to know more?  Stay tuned, forks & 'buds!  The full Revue of Wicked Fire Kissed Pizza will be up 3/28!

Teasers?  Truffled fries, burgers and liquid desserts...

3/29 - The Full Revue!  (A date later than I originally promised.)

Well, we left off at the impressive Sangria, if I remember correctly.  And I do, because I just scrolled up to make sure.  Yes, it was delicious and the presentation was something special.  The personalized decanters twirled and twirled and twirled...mostly because I kept messing with them.  Nothing broke, so it's ok.

Remember, I was with some gal pals, so we did a lot of chatting.  Somewhere between the gab fest, I managed to put in an order of Reggiano Parmesan Cheese Fries w/ Truffle Oil.  I've said it before, but yes, these are a huge craze right now and I am totally sucked in.  They're just good.  You know?  Of course they were good.  Fries, sprinkled cheese, truffle...it all works, it's all good.  Moving on.

Entrees were a little harder to settle on, as we found many things we liked, but were put off by the 1 ingredient that we'd normally ask to omit.  Not allowed to a Wicked.  No, no.  But I would like to point out that my meal contained chicken that is Hormone free.  Great.  Really.  I am thankful.  But you don't want to put it right there in the description, do you?  Maybe a blurb on the front page of the menu as a general statement that your shit is clean?  How about that?  I'm an idea person, what can I say.

The gals, Kate & Steph, both opted to order the Apple-Wood Bacon and Cheddar Burger and I opted for the Miso Chicken and Soba Noodle Salad.

So my hormone free chicken dish (See?  Now I can't focus on the real name.) was interesting.  The best part was the noodles and the crispy wonton garnish.  I did not touch the mixed greens or the chicken.  I mean, I did try bites, but there was a whole lot of food left on the plate.  I did not eat the whole thing.  Unsatisfying.

The burgers seemed to be a mild success.  Kate and Steph got through 1/2 each and took the rest home.  They were not the best burgers ever consumed, but good enough.

Dessert may have the best part of the meal: More drinks!  Yes, after a disappointing meal, we decided the correct thing to do was drink our dessert.  Between the 3 of us, we got 3 martinis: The Creamsicle, The Chocolate Milk and the Lemon Drop.  All were so good and if any of us were sick, we definitely caught some germs that night.  Lots of sharing the drinks.  They're all self explanatory by their names.  The one the stood out the most was the Chocolate Milk.  As a lover of real life chocolate milk, this martini was tops.  Dangerous, for sure, as it is hard to tell that it is laced with Kahlua!  "Give me a milk...chocolate.".

Ahhh...writing this blog was not as exciting for me, as Wicked is not exciting for me.  If you do go, I'd suggest sticking to pizza.  The basics, too.  Avoid the fancy, shmancy ones.  The outcome is not predicted to be favorable.

I should point out this was my 2nd outing to Wicked, and the first one was not a success, either.  There was a Tuna Steak Sandwich gone all wrong.  I can't even write about it.

Now I'm depressed.  And hungry. 

A tasty guest blog from the North Shore. It's Joe Fish!

http://www.joefish.net/

Hey 'buds!  We've reached over 1,000 hits on Boston Revue, which is very exciting.  But even more so, we've got our 2nd guest blogger!!!  Joe Fish's Revue blog is being brought to you by someone you may have read about on Boston Revue before: Dreama.  I'm very excited to share this with you all. 

So without further ado, enjoy!!!

I have to start by saying that I am so excited and honored to be a guest blogger. I have never blogged before so we'll see how it goes.

I am submitting a revue of Joe Fish in Andover MA. It is not Boston, but maybe some of your readers live in that area and will want to check it out. If you like seafood or fish- as the name says- this is a great place.


We started out the night at the bar as we had a 30-40 minute wait. It was cool though because we were waiting for our 3rd diner to arrive from work. Also, we anticipated this wait because it was a Friday night (and during Lent season where some people only eat fish on Friday). So we got some sweet seats at the bar when a nice couple left and gave us their seats (they were nice). We had ordered a drink, boring Bud and Vodka Tonic, and then our 3rd party member arrived. It was soon after she ordered her drink, Fin Juice(vodka, Malibu and pineapple martini), that our little lobster shaped buzzer went off and our table was ready.


Once we sat in a nice booth, our waitress came over. I don't think she even introduced herself and she was not very memorable...kinda boring, didn't laugh or smile really. Not mean or a bad waitress, just not memorable. Anyway, we quickly glanced at the menu and knew what we would get right away, we really like this place and go there a lot. But I decided to change it up and order something different. We opted to skip the app. portion as it was late and we were all hungry and just wanted a meal.


Jojo-not to be confused with Joe Fish, his name is really Joe-decided on a pound of steamers and clam chowda...but he spiced it up a little bit (literally) by getting the Portuguese Clam Chowda. For those of you that have not had Portuguese style clam chowda, it is served in a red broth, not the thick white broth, and there are vegetables and sausage-I think linguisa in it. It was a little brothy and a little more spicy than I like, but Jojo gave it a ten. The pound of streamers was pretty standard, not really much to say about them....but I did notice that the clams looked pretty big, so that's always nice.


Jojo did not get anything exciting in the drink department, just Bud.


Joe Fish, in addition to having a raw bar and nice fish selection, has delicious drinks! Homemade drinks like the Fin Juice and the Cosmo Joe, which was my second drink.


My meal consisted of grilled swordfish steak and mixed vegetables. However, the swordfish steak was not quite a steak, it was pretty thin, but still tasty with a lemon-pepper dressing of some sort used to grill it. The mixed veggies, however should have been described as mixed carrots since that was pretty much the only veggie in there.


Our 3rd diner, Iesha, opted for her fave the Blue Cheese Haddock also with the mixed veggies, I mean the mixed carrots. The Blue Cheese Haddock never disappoints, it is haddock topped blue cheese and sliced tomatoes. Iesha is also a fan of Sangria, that was her 2nd drink. There was no room for dessert at our table, plus our boring waitress was ready for us to leave since most of the dining room had emptied out. One of us also started getting a real bad case of the hiccups so we made our exit.


I do have to recommend Joe Fish. It is reasonably priced for seafood these days, which can be expensive. The decor is also very warm. There is a nice big fire place in main dining room and lobster traps hanging from the ceilings. There is a downstairs with a bar as well, which I have been told you can spot a certain Patriots coach down there often. So all in all it is a good fish place to check out if you are ever in the area...peace out Boston Revue, thanks for letting me guest blog!!
 
Thank you Dreama for writing a very entertaining, detailed and informative Revue of Joe Fish!  Pointing out that this is a great place for Lent-friendly meals is very important right now.  I can't wait to get up to the North Shore to dine here w/ you in the future!
 
Hope you enjoyed this one, 'buds!  And please, take after Dreama and send your revues in!

"What do you mean you don't eat no meat? That's ok, I make lamb."

http://tavolopizza.com/

Tavolo
1918 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester, MA

While you were all at home sleeping it off on Saturday, I was out cruising the sunny streets of Dorchester, headed to Tavolo for an early afternoon demonstration and tasting.

Together with Mayflower Brewing Company, Tavolo provided an opportunity to learn, dine and drink for the reasonable price of $45/person.  This fee encompassed a tutorial/demonstration on the anatomy and butchery of a Lamb, a 3 course meal, Mayflower beer pairings for each course, a cute take home guide, measurement magnet (which we should all have) and a key chain bottle opener.  I love goodies. 

This event was full of groups, couples and families.  Me?  I was flying solo.  It was a bit of a bummer not to have anyone to chat with, especially when I saw the chefs carry out a full lamb on their shoulders and plop it down on the demo table.  I would like to have had someone there I could have made an inappropriate joke to or something!  The demo itself was fascinating.  I feared it might be too overwhelming for my threshold, but it was tasteful, clean and unobtrusive.  I learned a lot and felt educated about what I eat, where it comes from and the hows/whys/whats I never would have considered asking.  This may seem odd to you, but I really like food and it's interesting to me.

One thing I learned is that Lamb is pretty pricey for restaurants to buy.  Over the years it has gone up in price quite considerably because it's such a premium meat.  And unlike other meats, you're not going to be cooking anything in lamb's fats.  Lamb stock/fats, apparently, are not desirably for cooking, the way, say, duck fat is.

To be honest with you, I'd never really eaten a lot of lamb.  It was never served in my house and it has never occurred to me to order it out at restaurants when/if I've seen it.  The 3 course meal they served was very exciting for me.

1st course: Braised  Lamb ribs w/ citrus slaw, balsamic glaze, spicy nuts

Pairing: Mayflower Spring Ale

Another thing I never really eat: ribs.  I have to say, these were delicious.  Initially I began using my fork to eat the meat off the bone, but after I while I just thought, "Screw 'em, Angus" and used my hands.  Looking around me, everyone else was, too.  The seasoning had a nice little kick which was offset by the slaw.  The group of guys next to me loved the kick. 

2nd course: Lamb shoulder ravioli w/ fava puree, sheep's milk ricotta, shard and pecorrino
Pairing: Mayflower Pale Ale

If this could be an every day menu item, I would eat at Tavolo every night.  Fava bean puree?  I'm going to be in my kitchen for a week trying to replicate this.  Maybe longer, a week is giving me too much credit.  The ravioli itself was perfect and addictive.  I really like the shard and the cheese together with the lamb.  I can't get over how good this was.

3rd course: Lamb Rib Chop w/ sunflower seeds, farro salad, olives, arugula
Pairing: Mayflower IPA

This is the dish that made me laugh out loud.  Not because it was funny, but because it was so good, I couldn't believe I was experiencing this on my own.  In particular, I thought of Roomie, who was missing out on an incredible ending to an incredible experience.  There was not too much going on with the lamb, other than the fact that it was cooked perfectly and tasted so fresh.  The farro salad was amazing and hearty.  I even ate the olives because I was so happy!

In regards to the beers that we tasted, I have to say that my favorite was the Pale Ale.  The only times I really talked was to the nice group of gentlemen who were kind enough to include me in the conversations comparing each beer.  There was much debate. 

The experience at Tavolo was rewarding in many ways, so hopefully I can snag some partners in crime the next time I go!  Aside from that, I will definitely be frequenting Tavolo for regular dining occasions and you should, too.