Stephi's on Tremont - "That's apostrophe "s". That shit is possesive!"

Stephi's on Tremont
http://stephisontremont.com/#13104858510131&true
Uh...Tremont Street.  #571 to be precise.
South End - Boston

Well, you may be familiar with Stephanie's on Newbury but have you walked the few blocks over to the South End yet?  Stephanie Sokolove, the queen of patio dining (and, Yes, of those Sokoloves.) has another hit on her hands over on Tremont Street.

I went.  You should, too.  Why?  Well, I'll tell you why.  It's really good.  Ok, blog over.

Alright, that doesn't seem very fair.  How about this?  Check out the menu.  Then you'll want to go.

http://stephisontremont.com/menu-winelist.htm#13104852091691&true

But even better still, I'll tell you what me and my pal JT had.

Let us suggest to you the Ricotta Gnocchi appetizer.  ($$$)  This is not your typical gnocchi in a creme or marinara sauce.  This appetizer is filled with sauteed leeks, onions, lemons in a light tomato broth.  You might find some picked mushrooms strewn about, as well.  Very funky, no?  Very good, yes.

As you'll see, there are many other fun dishes on the menu.  I am dying to go back and try the Salty Pretzel Crab Cake.  Now that sounds intesting.  Have you had it?  If so, let us know what you thought.

For dinner JT and I got the Braised Veal and the Roasted Pork.  The Veal was very good with a delicious sauce of tomatos, gorgonzola and balsamic.  Served with Tagliatelle, too.  One of my favorite style pastas.  Especially when it's served with warm, comforty food.  And it stands up really well to veals and braised short ribs and other meats of these natures.

The Pork dish was also really comforting, served with polenta and asparagus and dried fruit compote. 

Comfort food with flair is what Stephi is known for if you read up on her and her venues.  I think Stephi's on Tremont displays that very well.  I would definitely go back and sit outside on the patio, to enjoy the people watching while we dine.

And remember, forks: Hungry? Let Boston Revue find food for YOU. Call now for a toll free Foodsultation. If we don't get you the food you deserve, your Foodsultation is free. 1-800-BOSTONEATS.

Crossing the Border for the 1st time...

Border Cafe
www.bordercafe.com

Massachusetts Locations
Cambridge: 32 Church Street
Saugus: 356 Broadway (This is the location I visited)
Burlington: 128 Middlesex Turnpike

(There are locations in New Jersey and Delaware, too.  But you look those up on your own.)




Saugus Location



Hey 'buds!  Like most Bostonians who travel North over 4th of July weekend, we hit the bright (and sometimes tacky) lights of Route 1 North to begin our vacation last Friday.  The intention was to hit a place for dinner right in the heart of the it.  Border Cafe was the unanimous choice.

Now, it's true that Border is a chain, with locations stretching from the original in Cambridge, all the way to New Jersey ("Yeaaaah, buddy!).  And to be honest, I figured it was like most any other chain restaurant. 

Wrong. 

Let's start by discussing the Sangria.  Delish.  And when you're dining w/ Sangria snobs like Iesha and myself, you can take our word for it.  Good stuff.  And a very electric shade of purple, if I do say so myself.

The guacamole appetizer?  Worth every penny.  Garlicy and chunky.  Likin' it.  The chips and salsa are also addicting.

Now, my Vegisaurus friends, here is where you're gonna love this revue.
The Border Cafe kindly offers many Veggie options, clearly listed and highlighted on their menu.  See the page link at the top to direct to the menu.

As you know I am not a Vegisaurus.  I'm an equal opportunity eater.  A WhateverIwantasaurus.  And on this particular occasion the Veggie menu conquered all with the Corn & Black Bean Empanadas with Red Pepper sauce and white rice. 

I have never had an Empanada before.  But the mixture of corn, black beans and Monterey Jack cheese was enough to make it a new fav.  They were so filling that I had to take a doggie bag!  Luckily they  reheated well. 

Aside from this dish, there are many Veggie App and Entree options.  So if you're ever in Cambridge, Saugus or in the Jersey Shore smushing, stop in for a bite at the Border.

To my Veggie friends who do eat Seafood, we've got something for you, too. 

Originally the Border was Tex Mex when they first opened.  But along the journey they incorporated a little Cajun love into their creations.  This is apparent in the dish Iesha had: The Eggplant Royale, which is actually a replication of a French Quarter favorite.

The Eggplant Royale consists of lightly breaded eggplant slices that are then covered with lump crab meat and melted, gooey cheese, with a side of white rice.  It is phenomenal.  It may not look appealing to the eye at first, but trust me.  It is a complete winner.  (If you're a strict, strict Veg, don't worry.  There is another Eggplant dish on the Veg menu.)

So that's our story, 'buds.  Bring your best forks to whichever Border Cafe location you choose and chow down.  Bring your Veggie friends and everyone can dine happily.

Beans on Pizza - You want to read this revue of the Lynwood Cafe

The Lynwood Cafe

320 Center Street

Randolph, MA

781-963-9894

Cash Only

Pizza Only

Growing up, I never had the opportunity to try the Lynwood.  In Mansfield, we'd order Cousin's, in Norwood we'd order Soko's.  Once in while my soccer team would take a trip to Town Spa. 

Now if you ask all my friends from the South Shore area, they have story after story about going to the Lynwood once a week, getting takeout, braving the long weekend waits to eat inside, arguing that there is no way Town Spa could ever top what's going on there.  I was starting to get jealous.

To set the record straight, I had eaten Lynwood pizza.  I'd say I have it about once a year at my friend's  house.  Let's just say they have a connection to the Lynwood.  They have a little annual party and if you're fast enough, you can grab a slice of the pizza they provide before it's gone. 

Lynwood's is a bar style pizza that most people can consume in one sitting.  I like that.  If you're going to be ordering pizza with four of your friends, order 4 different pizzas and share!  There probably won't be many leftovers. 

So this past weekend I had my first ever outing to the bar.  I walked in and felt like I recognized the place, based on people's descriptions of the dark interior and the bar and the games and the small tables and booths.  For a group of 7 people we had about a 45 minute wait that went by pretty quickly.  We had the luxury of putting our orders in prior to being seated.  Love that factor.  I think we were only sitting about 10 minutes before our pizzas started arriving.

Ok, now, I have to tell you, before I even started typing the first sentence of this revue, I became instantly starving.  If I could turn back time I would go back to Friday and order the Bean Special all over again.  Yup.  Beans on my pizza.  Baked Beans.  All over my little bar style pizza.  It was suggested that I order it crispy because the longer it cooks, the better it is.  Yup.  All true.  I only got through about 2 1/2 pieces of this one because it was filling.  But also because I wanted to try other flavors.

The cheese was one I tried and it was good.  I've never a met a cheese pizza I didn't like, really.  But even better than that was the Green Pepper Ring and Onion pizza.  I don't know what makes a difference between slices or rings, but this style was delicious.  It even looked really pretty with the green circles all over it.

To those of you who may have been at the Lynwood on Friday, if you saw a bunch of girls climbing into the old phone booth and posing for pictures...uh...it wasn't us.

Bar style, beans, tradition, quality, loyal customers.  Gotta love it!  Lynwood, I'll be back. 

Those Mystery Photos we posted on FB? Here's the reveal...

Russell House Tavern

14 JFK Street

Cambridge, MA
http://www.russellhousecambridge.com/

The adventure to Russell House Tavern, truth be told, did not originate as one based on revue potential.  But I can tell you, they have a lovely bathroom.

Once that business was taken care of, I decided we (we, being my Sister and I) needed to check stuff out and pull up a seat at the bar.  Immediately, I noticed that at the bar was a raw bar stations.  There were trophs of ice with greens and lemons acting as a bed for whole clams.  According to the menu they are priced at $2.50/per.  But we weren't in the market for clams then...or ever.

We orderd a Rapscallion and Longtrail Blackberry.  Both were pretty good and it was nice to have something with more flavor than our usual light beers

The bar is really nice.  There are long communal tables, but you must be seated by a hostess.  These are not seat-your-self. 

For a quick little bite from the appetizer menu, we opted for the Melted Cambozola Cheese, served with flatbread. 

The cheese is melted in a cast iron dish, over mushrooms and caramelized onions.  It is seasoned with Thyme and garlic, 2 of my favorite spices.  Served with flatbread on a wooden chopping board, it was different than any other appetizer I've ever had.  I really liked it.



Although we had a fun experience, popping in out of necessity and staying on for a snack, I am not too sure I'd pick the Russell House Tavern as a go-to spot.  Not my idea of a place to make the trek to on a Friday night for fun drinks and socializing.  I would, however, make the trek to have a planned dinner or event, as there is a huge dining room in the downstairs area.  I'd be really interested to try their dinner menu.

So! Now you know to where those Mystery FB photos belong.  Perhaps we'll try that again!

Ciao

Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party @ Govt Ctr

BBQ Beach Party - hosted by the Phantom Gourmet
Govt Center - Last weekend
http://bbq.phantomgourmet.com/SD/home.aspx

Last weekend Government Center was enclosed in a smokey, delicious circle filled with BBQ stands from around the world.  Australia, Texas, good ol' Boston.  Booths of Roasted Corn and Fried dough.  Dessert stations like Wholly Cannoli and Wicked Whoopies.  You basically have to be rolled out of there, Violet Beuregarde style.

If you got there right at 12pm, which we didn't, you wouldn't have had to wait in any lines.  You could walk right up to the services of your choice and put down your money in exchange for some BBQ.  On top of the $10 entry fee, the prices were not too bad at the stands, especially if you shared. 

Aussom Aussie pork/shrimp

For example, Iesha and I opted to try some Aussom Aussie BBQ because their shrimp skewers looked very tempting.  I was eyeing the pulled pork and there happened to be a shrimp/pork combo meal for $10.  Love the economy style meal. 





Dave Andleman being fed by Paul MacKay



The pork was really good and flavorful. And the shrimp was spicy and full of grill flavors. But as a non-BBQ expert, I had to wonder what made this award-winning faire? Not because I wanted to complain, but because I am (still) genuinely curious. What I should have done was walked right over to Paul MacKay, while he was shmoozing with Dave Andleman, and asked him, "Why are you the best?" If any of you readers are BBQ experts, fill a blogger in! 

Corn on the cob is probably a staple that everyone thinks about at cookouts.  I think there is no greater snack in life than corn on the cob.  It is one of my all time favorite inventions.  Yup.  So yes, I am going to be MORE than willing to cough up $3 for an ear.  I was tempted to get 2, to keep my other hand from getting jealous.  The Roasted Corn stand was simple and to the point.  Give 'em the cash and they give you an ear wrapped in tinfoil.  Thank you very much.

 

After our BBQ and corn feasts, we couldn't even think about trying another savory, smokey thing.  We had to move on to the dessert area.  And move we did.  More like floated...

 

We got a couple Whoppies from Wicked Whoopies, as you may have heard of from Phantom Gourmet.  They're on the show all the time.  We ordered a Classic, a Peanut butter and a Red Velvet. Then we went next door to the Wholly Cannoli stand and got a Chocolate Chip and a Dynamite Stick.  We're glutton's for punishment.

After a tall Bud Light can and a dixie cup of Barefoot Moscato totaling $12, it was time to go.  We are glad we went (did I mention our tickets were free?), but we did spend a bit more than we'd hoped.  However, Phantom Gourmet does put on good events and we'd definitely go to another one.

With the Food Coma passed, the show (revue) must go on!

Read Part 1 here.  You'll want to see how the Food Coma started.

A quick recap of our outing to Salsa's: Chips, Salsa, Mahi Mahi Chowder, Papa Taco, Margarita, Good Service, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Basically last night I was in such a state of stuffed-ness, that it pained me to finish writing this revue.  And to be honest, I only have one more dish to share with you.  But trust me, it's worth the wait.

What I ended up ordering was the Pollo en Almendras (Chicken in Almonds).  Yup.  Almonds.

This was a dish of thin chicken breast covered in a salsa made of garlic, almond, sour cream, chipotle chilies and parsley.  If you look at the picture to the left, you can hardley see the chicken.  That's right.  They load on the sauce.  But honestly, as you cut up the chicken, the ratio with the sauce is not overpowering at all.  It's really quite good.  I really enjoy the whole almonds sprinkled throughout the dish.  The vegetable medley side dish was also really good.  I especially loved the grilled carrots.

Salsa's is really a great venue for delicous and above average Mexican foods.  Be sure to enjoy ingredients on the menu such as almonds and raisins!  This ain't to Chilis chain food!

Oh, and remember, try to get the window seats!  You'll love the breeze and the people watching.  And there's a nice view of Ben Affleck's favorite flower shop...

Eat well, digest for 24 hours.  Totally worth it.

Food Coma, aka Hibernaceion, ala Salsa's Mexican Restaurant

Salsa's Mexican Restaurant
(Guess who the owner is?  Find out here.)
118 Dorchester St
Dorchester MA

http://www.salsasmexican.com/index.htm

Happy Sunday, 'buds.  What are the odds that you watched Phantom Gourmet this morning?  And then what are the odds you saw a dish that you had to run out have immediately?  Well, the odds for me were really good.

The entire thing was weird.  Yesterday I was at the PG BBQ Beach Party (revue to come) and happened to meet the host of the show, Dan Andleman.  While he was super nice, I was completely cheesy, telling him I love the show and get so many ideas of where to eat.  Well, Dan, I did it again.



Papa Taco

Today Roomie and I ran to Salsa's, in Southie (There's a location in Hingham, too.) to get the Papa Taco, almost immediately after seeing it on TV. 

As the first diners of the day, we got prime window seating and really great service, including an instant delivery of chips and salsa.  Really good and fresh.

You already know that Roomie got the Papa Taco, which is baked potato mashup with steak, sour cream and bacon.  (Very filling and really good.)  But to start, I ordered the Mahi Mahi Chowder which was super buttery, filled with scallions and generous hunks of really nice fish.  I was blown away. 

 



Ok, 'buds.  This is going to have to be a 2-parter.  Stay tuned tomorrow to find out about the rest of our outing at Salsa's.  You'll be happy you did.

Saus: Revisited

Saus - Revisited
http://bostonrevue.blogspot.com/2011/03/sauced-at-sidebar-pom-frites-waffles-at.html

Ok, 'buds.  Real quick.  I want to put an update out in the bloggisphere about my beloved Saus. 

Since our last blog (see link above) we've popped in many more times, as recently as yesterday, and there are a few things you need to know.

1. The Salty Caramel waffle has now taken top billing.  Nutella, you're still amazing, but that sweet and salty combo finally overtook the lead for us.

2. A new dipping sauce has bumped the Vampire Slayer.  We're now obsessed with the R.anch I.'d L.ike to F.rite.  Yup, that's right.  It is not your typical store bought ranch dressing salad dressing.  This is a serious dipper with amazing flavor. 

3. The Mixed Berry waffle: Order it.

That's about it.  Less is more, when it comes to this post.  Take to heart these sentiments and keep going back to Saus.  We do!

224 - Part 2 (Warning: Do not read in public if you salivate easily)

224
Part 2: A Full Meal
224 Boston Street
Dorchester, MA


Welcome to Part 2, 'buds!  If you will, take a few minutes to familiar with Part 1 here.  You wouldn't watch a sequel without seeing the original, would you?

Thirsty Thursday in the Dot turned out to be more of a "Throw food in your face Thursday".  That's right.  Our dinner at 224 was absolutely crazy and if you do not take my recommendation and dine here, you're wasting time in life.  I don't care if you're 16, 36 or 60.  If you can chew, you're going to like it.

As you may recall (because you all read Part 1), I really love the Boston Cod Cake.  Therefore, it made an encore performance last night.  I was with my good pal Wafa & Roomie, who was a last minute addition.  A welcome one, at that!  Extra plate of food to try!  But basically, I wanted them to experience my favorite appetizer on the menu.

In addition to the delicious Cod Cake, we devoured the Zucchini Fries and the Appetizer Special, which was a Braised Short Rib.  The fries were so good and light.  And because they're a vegetable, you don't feel too guilty!  The Short Rib was a completely different experience.  It was over the top good.  It really tasted like that sweet, intense Korean BBQ flavor that I often find but can never replicate.  And when you put your fork to the rib, it fell apart in such exaggerated fashion.  You can't describe how delicate it was.  Just go order it before they take it off the specials!

The entree menu has definitely changed a bit since the Fall/Winter.  And that's no problem with me.  I like seasonal menus.  For the table, we ordered the Seafood Crepe (located in the Appetizer section) the Grilled Pork Loin with Fig and Walnut Ravioli and the Rib Eye.  Each dish completely different, each dish completely fantastic.

The Crepe was very dainty and tasty.  It was filled with lobster and shrimp had a similar taste to a Crab Rangoon.  It was very familiar.  Wafa loved it.  The Rib Eye was covered with a massive handful of onion rings, which were delicious and served with a side of asparagus.  Roomie couldn't even make it half way through the Rib Eye.  It was a whole lot of food.

The Pork Loin and Ravioli dish that I had was really good and inventive.  The pork was cooked perfectly with the bone in.  And what was interesting about the Fig and Walnut Ravioli (portion of 3 on the plate) was that the cheese was crumbled on the outside, on the plate, rather than stuffed inside the pasta.  I liked that.  I mean, I like ravioli pretty much any way.  Traditional, of course.  But this funky twist was enjoyable.

No glutinous feast would be complete without the brilliant idea to order dessert.  The Death By Chocolate was an exceptional way to end our evening.  A delicious chocolate brownie covered in hot fudge sauce (we believe it's Smucker's) and topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.  Rich, sweet, deadly, addicting, ohmygodgiveittomenow.  Yes.  Tasty.

So, to sum it up, 'buds, 224 offers well rounded meals if you're making a night of it, or a cozy bar area for a couple quick drinks.  Either way, make sure you order something. To err is human.  To not order food at 224 is barbaric. 

Thank you and goodnight!

(updated version with photos to come.)

224 - Part 1

224
224 Boston Street
Dorchester, MA

Main entrance/Outdoor patio dining

www.224bostonstreet.com

The truth is, I've been to 224 a million times.  The fact that it's never made this blog baffles me.  Baffles my co-diners (Similar to co-pilot. Jesus, take the wheel?  Jesus, take my fork!), my friends and my family.  We're all a little 224-obsessed.

Last weekend was an impromptu visit, with the Sister, to have a little snack and little sip before heading to the bitchin' rock show at the Beachcomber.  Our little visit turned into a long adventure.  We made friends with the friendly bartender, ran into long lost acquaintances.  Not to mention, we ordered 2 appetizers at a snail's pace. 

Before I get to the food, let's talk cocktails.  One of their featured drinks is the Dark & Stormy which is visually stunning.  Dark on top, from the rum and lighter on the bottom, sort of cloudy, from the ginger beer.  I give it my typical rating of: Delicious and Dangerous.  I use that term a LOT.  And I like it.  Another featured drink is a Champagne cocktail with St. Germain Elderflower.  A fav combo always, in my book.

Like I said, we've had many a meal at 224, but for this night, we opted for appetizers only.  The Chive Hummus plate with Pita points is pretty self explanatory, as well as delicious.  In addition to this, we ordered the Boston Cod Cake.  Phenom.  If you like traditional crab cakes, you will love this twist.  What I love about it is that the filling tastes like there is lemon inside, so I never squeeze the lemon garnish on it.  If you decide you like this appetizer enough, you can also order it in the meal portion, which is accompanied by Zucchini Fries.  That sounds amazing.

Alright!  Fine!  We ordered more drinks.  Including a Pomegranate margarita with Patrol Silver that was only $8.50.  Are you kidding me?  Unheard of, right?  While I was busy picking my jaw up off the ground, our super friendly bartender made my sister a Mojito, using the fresh mint plant behind the bar.  She loved it.

Look, you don't have to take my word(s) for it.  Check out their segment on TV Diner here.  Enjoy that little snippet while you eagerly anticipate the posting of Part 2!!!  You know your 'buds can't hardly wait!

Part 2: Coming this Friday.

A summery Thursday evening @ Siros - Marina Bay

Siros Restaurants
307 Victory Road
Quincy, MA 02171
http://www.sirosrestaurants.com/

http://www.sirosrestaurants.com/Dinner.html

If you'll remember correctly, last Thursday was a beautiful day.  Sun shining, temperatures sky-rocketing.  A great opportunity to get oneself into an outdoor dining experience.  With friends!

We'll mark this outing to be one of the best of the year, to be quite frank.  The outdoor component, the company, the food.  The hilarious waiter who knew we were the right table to handle his sarcasm and witt.  All around good.  But let me back up a little bit.

Dinner reservations at Siros were set for 6pm, which was pretty smart.  We were the 2nd group to be seated outside - no wait.  Shortly afterwards the outdoor section filled to capacity and it was a fun, happening night.  But getting in before the rush was greatly satisfying.

Now, being at dinner wit all the gals, Mother, Sister, the Scanclan and Cro-dogs, the drink menu was being passed around more than a pipe at a jam band concert.  "I'm getting this." "I'm getting that." "I'm gonna throw up.".  There were lots of drinks.  The one that stood out was the Pomegranate Sparkle, which is a delicious and dangerous champagne drinks.  But we tried the Lemon martini, the Mango Punch and the Peartini.  Just avoid the Cantaloupe Martini, unless you really like orange juice.  Then go for it.

Instead of appetizers for the table, we just kept asking for more bread and hummus.  Thank you to the wise, wise human (or otherwise) who made the bold decision to replace butter pads with hummus.  Butter, you can kiss my you-know-what because I never liked you and often skipped out on some pretty amazing breads because of you.  Hummus.  Never leave me.

Ordering salads was as much a production for 7 woman as ordering the drinks.  "Oh, you're getting that one?  Want to share?  No?  Changed your mind?  Ok, can I have a sip of your drink?".  I think it took a good 25 minutes to order salads.

The Red and Yellow Beet salad w/ Gorgonzola Cream was the best salad.  There.  I said it.  Sorry to you friends who ordered the Wedge, Mediterranean and Caprese salads (all raves), but there can only be one winner.  And I write the blog, so...

I will say that the buffalo mozzarella in the Caprese Salad was the best I've tried in a long time.  (Beets, you're stll the best.)

About 4 hours later we ordered our Entrees.  Let me tell you, are we co-dependent orders.  Between the 7 of us, we got 2 sets of duplicate orders.  2 orders of the Beef Risotto with Spinach and Asiago and 2 orders of the Seafood Risotto.  Both  were exceptional.  The Seafood came with large shrimp, mussels and a scallop.  All excellent (although I'm sure you know I gave away my shrimp.). 

We also had orders of Chicken Piccatta and Chicken Marsala.  The Chicken Piccatta had capers the size of olives and the Marsala came with a side of Mashed Ginger Sweet Potato.  So #$(*#$&(# delicious.  All of it.  Everything I just wrote about.  Winners. 

There may have been a few more drink orders going around.  I do believe I recall hearing the words "Vodka Gimlet" in there.  Anything that includes the word Gimlet is awesome.

Dessert.  Dun-da-dun-dun...dun!  I couldn't even look at another piece of food.  But then M.A. ordered the Cheesecake that tasted like Ricotta Pie and I suddenly had lots of extra room in my tummy.  We also had a White Chocolate biscuit with Sorbet and berries.  A Flan dish, too.  I am pretty sure everyone liked their desserts, but I had a Gollum-type hold on this cheesecake.  Totally delicious.

In conclusion...I don't even know.  Siros is fabulous, the service is friendly and the drinks are powerful.  Oh, and the view.  Did I mention the view?  Beautiful on a clear, summer night.  Get your reservations in and don't show up too late.  You'll be outta luck!

Cheers!

Game 7: Where's Boston Watching?

Boston Bruins vs Vancouver Canucks - GAME 7
http://bruins.nhl.com/club/schedule.htm
WED June 15 8:00pm - Can you handle it???

Let's do it B's - no jinxies, no backsies

Is the nausea setting in?  How about the cold sweats?  Did you get enough sleep last night?  Don't tell me you didn't even see the game!  Blasphemy.  If you need a recap, check it out here. 

So now the big decisions need to be made.  Where are you going to WATCH Game 7?  Weather you're a die-hard, bandwagon or straight up indoor-kid, we're all going to be watching in some capacity.  Don't fool yourself.  This is exciting.

Canal St

Off the top of my head, my first instinct would be to hit the best sports (and best Bruins) bar that I know of by North Station.  And I know you know it.  Say it with me now, people: Sully's!  Sullivan's Tap is a great dive bar with real people, real fans and one long as bar with stools that'll kill your posture.  Classic.  Play some pool or some jams on the juke box to pass the intermissions away.  Just don't forget to bring cash!  And make some friends.  I always talk to the best people when I'm there.  Plus, the fun part here would be being so close to the Garden.  It'd be super fun mayhem on Canal & Causeways streets, should the game go as Bostonians hope (no jinxies).





Right next to Back Bay

 Another scenario might be that you're just getting out of work and want to grab a bite and some beers right when that 5 o'clock whistle sounds.  My ol' after-work-stomping-grounds was Clery's over on Dartmouth Street, by Back Bay Station.  Pop over, store the lap top under your bar side table and grab some apps.  If the weather is nice and the windows are open you can shout out pleasantries to your fellow Bruins nation as they pass.  We'll all be friends on Wednesday!



Southie & Quincy

 But maybe you're just outside the city.  Southie. Quincy.  The first place that comes to mind for me here is The Stadium.  Now granted, this may not be my favorite everyday hang out.  But I will definitely go for sports events and if my friends are all meeting there.  And I might treat myself to a Fried Twinkie Sundae, who knows.  You could definitely meet a big crowd of your friends here and share some apps before face off.




The last option, that actually sounds really good to this Bostonian, sitting on my couch, with Roomie, eating dinner and stalking updates on Facebook.  I will virtually high-five all my FB friends when we knock down the Sedins and own every power play.  We've watched every win in the Dot, while chomping on Mexican food, so it's only right to keep the tradition alive.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Before Facebook era

So where will you be watching?  My little list is nothing compared to the hundreds of possibilities that Boston has to offer.  Let us know your plans and keep in touch on Wednesday!  No matter where you are, let's watch together (insert hand-holding music here).

Go B's!

First Cone of the Season!

Bubbling Brook
1652 High Street

Westwood, MA 02090
www.bubblingbrook.net

 
Well, I had to it.  I had to escape the four walls of my 9-5 cage and treat myself to the first Bubbling Brook run of the year.  It was worth those extra scandalous minutes that exceeded my communistic lunch break.  Living on the edge, doing it all for ice cream.
 
As always, I get a small Chocolate/Vanilla twist.  (I have a favorite order at every ice cream shop.)  But you may be wilder, like my girl LMc, who loves Pistachio with a Cherry Dip.  Now, growing up, I was never allowed to have my cones dipped because they were messy.  Unless my great grandmother took me, then I could get whatever the hell I wanted.  And now as an adult, fully capable of handling the dip and it's fast melting mess, I pass.  Hey mom, I guess I did listen to you!
 
If I'd had my way, I would have eaten my ice cream old school style, sitting in my car in the parking lot until every last bite was gone.  But no, the rat race wouldn't allow it.  Instead I had to whiz (he he) back to work, driving with one hand and inhale my treat as soon as possible.  Hopefully no one missed me.
 
I'm sure lots of you will be heading to Bubbling Brook this summer.  And if it's not in your area, take the trip over and splurge.  You may even want to sit inside and get some dinner!
 

Get yourself a cone today, people!  Don't let the summer pass you by.

A little LV, a little NKOTBSB, a lot of rain.

La Verdad (a Ken Oringer venue)
1 Lansdowne Street

Boston, MA
www.laverdadtaqueria.com

In between Jillian's & Bill's Bar

After stumbling around in the pouring rain, having just excited the NKOTBSB mayhem, I would have parked mi arse anywhere.  Even that insipid Tequila Rain.  Yes, I said it.  I-N-S-I-P-E-D.  The lines were out the door for every bar or club in the area, except for La Verdad.We were skeptical and relieved. 

I kid you not when I say that me and friends were soaked to the core, teeth chattering, sentences unforming, miserably drenched.  Somewhere between wanting it that way and hangin' tough, the skies had opened up, turning the concert at Fenway into a water park side show.  It did also force Donnie Wahlberg to rip off his shirt, so you know.  Not all bad.

Now, again, the exit.  It was miserable.  We almost had to fight some bitches, people were walking like dingleberrys on parade and the rain just would not stop.  When we stepped inside La Verdad, I had no idea what to expect.  I don't frequent Landsowne Street too much these days for Night Life, so I am not ashamed to say that this Boston Revuer had no clue that we had just stepped foot inside a Ken Oringer venue (think KO Prime, Toro, Clio, etc).

The second the waitress came over she said something about wanting our drink order and I sort of barked, "Chips, salsa....GUACAMOLE!".  (Sorry lady) There was a Bud Light order in there somewhere, but I never drank it.  (I'd had too many at the concert on account of the the fact that I invented a drinking game: When Backstreet Boys comes on, go get beer.)  And no one ordered the Margaritas, which LV is known for.  Next time.

The chips and such were delicious.  We had to get a second round before the other food even came out.  Our ordering was sort of all over the map.  Iesha got a salad, I got an appetizer and Kath got an Entree.  I don't think we were right in the head.  But no matter, because everything was good.

The hit of the drunken dinner was Kath's entree, the Carne Ascada.  The steak was perfectly cooked/spiced and delicious.  After stalking the Internet for other research on LV, I noticed that other sites raved about this same dish.  My girl knows how to pick 'em!

We sat in this little room, off the bar.

Iesha got the Ceaser Salad, no onions, which was very good.  Very large portion, too.  I think it was reproducing/multiplying as she was eating it. 

And in a most random order, I got the Grilled Corn.  Yup.  Just a plate of corn.  Pfft, just a plate of corn?  Are you joking?  This was one corn cob divided in two, covered in Chipotle Aioli and Cotija Cheese (which was in all our dishes I might add, and stellar.).  Oh man-alive.  Rain on me all day long, I don't care.  So long as I can have my Grilled Corn from LV. 

So if you go out for a night of pretentious clubbing in shoes that are too tall and need to take a break, hit up La Verdad and order the Grilled Corn and Guacamole to start.  Be sure to get the Carne Ascada, too.  Or tell your friends to, if you're not into steak.  Someone will be glad to have it!

And, you should probably try the margarita, since it's supposedly legendary.  Like Donnie....oh Donnie.

NKOTBSB & LV = AWESOME (That's not an acronym.  I just mean "awesome".)

Bagpipers, Drunks and Thyme, oh my! A Revue of the Harp + Bard.

harpbard.com


1099 Dot Ave

 The Harp + Bard 
1099 Dorchester Ave
Dorchester, MA


 
A nice little Sunday @ the H+B is a good way to top off a weekend.  Walking in to a room full of Bagpipers is even better!
 
I'm sure these talented Bagpipers are not always hanging around the bar.  I'm fairly certain it had something to do with the fact that it was Dorchester Day and a parade had just ended.  Nonetheless, as we were seated, they exited at full volume.  It was beautiful.  Brought a tear to our eyes.  And then the beer and menus showed up and quickly moved on.
 

Before our waitress (the only waitstaff member on duty) could even say hello, I ordered Onion Strings.  They're a fav of mine & Roomie's.  Our play Sarah Tags really enjoys a good onion, so we knew she would enjoy them as well.  And although we felt a little full from our appetizer and some pre-gaming we did back at home, we all ordered entrees.
 
I had the baked Haddock which was not fun.  Too much Thyme. One of my all time favorite spices.  But it was overkill.  The mashies were great, though!  Roomie had a Queen size Prime Rib, which was so giant, I couldn't even imagine what the King Size would look like. 
 
Chris & Ally had the Steak Tips and the Fried Clam Bellies, respectively.  I feel like the steak tips are the real gem at H+B.  Roomie's had them before, I've had them before.  They're pretty consistent.  Our friend Chris cleared his little plate like a good doobie, so you know he liked them.
 
Moving on to the Veggie Pizza, it looked fantastic and the revue from Sarah confirmed.  Lots of bright spinach, olives, tomato, no mushrooms. 
 
For those of you readers who are familiar with the Norwood area, I would describe H+B as a cross between Conrad's and Lewis's.  There is something very familiar about it.  Maybe it was the drunk guy that tried to hug us and knocked the "Please Wait To Be Seated" sign onto our table...but I can't pinpoint it.
 
Every adventure over to the Harp + Bard has been a good one for me and anyone in my company.  I would definitely suggest it for dinner and/or just drinking at the bar.  In which case, you can play the juke box all night and watch TV.  There are many TVs.  And in the summer, there's always outdoor seating in the back!
 
H+B = Good stuff.  But they might want to bring on a staff of full-time Bagpipers and kick out the creeps who knock shit over.

Joe Fish Revisted

Joe Fish - You know it!

http://bostonrevue.blogspot.com/2011/03/tasty-guest-blog-from-north-shore-its.html

Hey buds!  I want to fill you in on the best Fish n Chips I've ever had.  You may recall that a few months back we had a Guest Blogger, who wrote a really fun revue about Joe Fish, up on the North Shore.  (See above link to refresh your memory.)

Well!  I just happened to be up that way for a Miss Iesha's dance recital and our little group made the brilliant decision to celebrate over at JF.  I was so excited, as I often get overly excited at the prospect of food.

Their newspaper style menu was filled with a lot of tempting items.  Every Haddock dish caught my eye, especially the Haddock Maria which was covered in tomatoes, wine, artichokes and capers.  That was a top contender for me.  But in the end, I made a snap judgement to get the Fish n Chips.

I don't use Tarter Sauce & I don't squeeze lemon all over fish.  Now that you know that, I want to tell you that this was the best Fish n Chips I have ever consumed.  It was perfect.  Light, flakey, summery, not overly greasy.  You need to have it.

And while you're there, you might as well get a glass of the Sangria and a Ceaser Salad.  This can only heighten your sure-to-be wonderful dining experience.  And you know, you might as well, then, eat the rolls.  This will set your experience above and beyond.  Especially if they're piping hot, right out of the oven.

I kid you not when I tell you that on my drive in to work today, thinking about writing this blog, I was seriously craving the Fish n Chips.  And I have never wanted seafood at 8am. 

Joe Fish gets an entire school of fishies from this monger.  Check it out soon!

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.