October 9, 2015 Bibim
Bibim is a great Korean restaurant located in Allston. We ordered take out the first time and dined in for our second time. The Bibim dumplings ($9) were delicious, they come 6 to an order, topped with shredded lettuce, carrots, cabbage, cucumber and chili sauce.
Bulgogi ($15) is my go to Korean dish. Sliced beef sirloin with a sweet soy glaze shrooms, onion, and scallion. This dish did not disappoint.
When we dined in the restaurant, the decor is not what you would expect for a Korean restaurant. The space is open and airy, with wicker furniture and painted brick. It almost feels like you would expect to see this restaurant in California. The kitchen is in the back, behind what looks like a sliding closet door.
Service was excellent, our server was friendly and attentive.
The presentation of the dumplings, when eating at the restaurant is lovely.
The fried sweet potatoes ($6) were tasty and so much lighter than a traditional tempura.
Bibim chicken, large ($18) was too much food for one person, we ordered it half and half, chili garlic and sweet soy sauce.
Bibim
166 Harvard Ave, Allston, MA
https://www.facebook.com/bibim.allston
Tags: allston, casual dining, korean, restaurant
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October 8, 2015 Bonefish Grill – Waltham
Bonefish Grill recently opened in Waltham. I grew up nearby and remember when this area had nothing but the Westin Hotel and the Bertucci’s. Now there’s a Starbucks, a Market Basket, even a Marshall’s nearby! Great to have Bonefish here for some variety in dining options!
I had visited the Bonefish recently in Westwood, check out my review here.
The spacious bar area has high top tables and the main dining room has both free standing tables and booths.
I love the wall art that is made up of tiny mirrors.
Bonefish offers two private dining areas that can be combined into one large room. The large windows allow a ton of natural light which was really nice. The rooms come fully equipped with an audio/video set up, perfect for a casual business meeting or a “when you were young” slideshow at a baby shower.
We started the evening with a 2014 Masianco Pinot Grigio and Verduzzo that would pair well with the first three courses. The wine is Masi’s white “supervenitian” that has notes of tropical fruits and honey with a dry finish and a citrus twist.
We started with the blacked Baja fish tacos topped with cabbage, Pico de gallo and lime crema.
Next up, the signature Bang Bang shrimp – crispy breaded shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy (just a little kick) sauce. Did you know that they sell more Bang Bang shrimp than all other menu items put together!!
The cilantro lime shrimp salad came beautifully displayed.
When they pulled off the glass cylinder, the shrimp fell into place perfectly. The salad had roasted corn, black beans, Feta cheese, grape tomatoes, red onion and a cilantro lime vinaigrette.
The lobster flatbread was a favorite among guests – topped with cold water lobster, mozzarella cheese, red peppers and a lobster infused sour cream.
By the time we go to the main course I was stuffed! The surf and turf was presented on one plate, but I wanted to give each piece it’s own spotlight. The Ahi tuna was served Pan Asian style.
The Chilean sea bass was served with a mango salsa.
The filet mignon speaks for itself – check out those beautiful grill marks! One thing that I didn’t know about Bonefish is that they really go out of their way to accommodate food allergies – they have a special place on the grill reserved for making gluten free items.
For dessert we had the seasonal pumpkin creme brûlée, spiced up with cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with a healthy dollop of whipped cream!
You may also want to check out their drink menu, check out this beautiful espresso martini they served!
Disclaimer: I was invited to Bonefish Grill for a media preview dinner. My meal was provided compliments of Bonefish Grill. All opinions are my own.
Tags: casual dining, private room, restaurant, seafood, waltham
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October 7, 2015 Brooklyn Flea
Whenever I am in New York I loved to go to the Brooklyn Flea. Not only do they have fun finds but they always have great food. This time we tried some new places.
Lonestar empire was our first stop – their slow cooked Texas style brisket looked too good to pass up. It was everything we hoped it would be, a little smokey, super tender…all kinds of deliciousness.
Next stop was Sunday Gravy where they had so many good things to choose from, it was hard to pick a favorite.
It was between the chicken parm, the eggplant parm and the meatball – we went with the meatball and it was super tasty, smothered with red sauce and parmesan cheese on a bun that felt a little like an after thought, but very good over all.
I’m horrible, because the place that we got this from has escaped me, but this sweet corn grilled brown rice ball was delicious! I love finding new places at the flea!
What’s your favorite spot at the flea?
Tags: brooklyn, casual dining, food trucks, new york, outdoor seating, trips
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October 6, 2015 Burger Heaven
We arrived in the city late and needed a place to eat close to the hotel. We were tired and looking for something casual and decided on burger heaven.
They close on the early side, at 7:30pm. We were the only ones there. There’s ample counter seating in the front of the restaurant and tables in the back. Large parties would be tough here and so would strollers. In addition to burgers you can get omelettes all day, soup, chili, a salad or a chicken sandwich. They have a variety of burgers including a classic beef burger, classic cheeseburger, chili burger, turkey burger, or a vegetable burger.
I ordered the classic cheeseburger with Swiss cheese ($9.95). It came out by itself on a plate and didn’t look very appetizing. The burger wasn’t great, it lacked flavor and had a weird consistency.
The crispy onion rings ($6.95) were delicious. They were thick slices of onion, lightly battered. Service was so-so, I wouldn’t be in a rush to go back.
Burger Heaven
9 E 53rd Street, New York, NY
Tags: burgers, casual dining, new york, restaurant, take out, trips
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October 5, 2015 Maison Villatte
Maison Villatte is one of those places where you walk into it thinking you’re going to get a croissant and walk out with a dozen things and you don’t know how you just spent $75.
Everything just looks so darn delicious and don’t even get me started on the smell! The small cafe seats about 20 and the line cane be out the door and down the street during peak season. You drool as you stand in line waiting to order, ogling at all the fine pastries. The croissants come in a variety of flavors, from plain to almond to chocolate. You can’t go wrong.
In addition to sweet items, the carry savory ones as well, like this delicious mushroom quiche.
The pastries are like works of art like this blueberry and raspberry tart. It was so buttery and delicious!
I loved the colors of this tart, apricot and pistachio make a good flavor combination.
And for those that like something a little more classic, the brioche is always a good choice!
Maison Villatte
267 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
Tags: bakery, cape cod, casual dining, dessert, falmouth, outdoor seating
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October 4, 2015 Sea Crest Beach Hotel
I was invited this past weekend to check out the Sea Crest Beach Resort in Falmouth on the Cape. The weather was cool, windy and gray. I live on the Cape in the summer time, but can I tell you a secret? I love the Cape in the fall more than any summer day! Why? You can get through town in a reasonable amount of time, you can walk into a restaurant without a reservation, you don’t have to worry about traffic and fall walks on the beach can’t be beat!
The Sea Crest is located on Old Silver Beach which is one of the best beaches on the Cape, with calm waters and sandy beaches.
The hotel owns a 700 ft stretch of private beach. In the summer, they offer events for kids and fitness classes for guests. Guests can rent bikes or water sport equipment, teens can hang out in the game room off the pool area, and during the summer months the property shows outdoor movies on their 16ft screen!
The Sea Crest just went through a multi million dollar renovation that was completed in 2013. All the guest rooms were updated and have a contemporary beach feel to them. I love the sea grass headboards and the blue and green color scheme is a nice way to pull in the view of the ocean outside. Pictured above is the one bedroom king suite. The room has a tile entryway where you can leave all your sandy things from the beach. The room has two bathrooms and the master bath is larger than my bathroom at home! The room also features a sitting area, complete with flat screen tv and pull out couch.
The standard guest rooms are also quite spacious. All rooms come with complimentary wifi and mini refrigerator.
If you’re not a beach person, the hotel also offers a beautiful outdoor heated pool (closing Columbus Day), an indoor pool (top right), a kiddie pool that is a foot deep (seen in mirror on top left photo) and a jacuzzi. The indoor pools and outdoor pool are separated by a garage door that is open in the nicer weather. They have a cute take out window for those guests who are hanging out at the pool and a ice cream shop as well!
We sat down to lunch at the hotel’s casual restaurant, Red’s, named after previous owner, Red Auerbach. The restaurant has tons of memorabilia for those of you Celtic’s fans! In the off season, Red’s offers great specials, like two for one burgers and football specials! I started with Red’s chowder ($12) that came with Cape littleneck clams, chorizo, celery root, thyme and toast. Super cream and perfect for this chilly day!
For my main meal I had the Portuguese chorizo and Maine lobster pizza ($22). The pizza is cooked in a brick oven and the dough is made in house. The pie comes topped with fire roasted peppers, grilled sweet corn and tomato basil sauce. Check out those huge pieces of lobster!! The pizza was a little larger than a dinner plate, and I could only eat about 3 slices.
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to the Sea Crest Beach Hotel, my lunch was provided compliments of the hotel. All opinions are my own.
Sea Crest Beach Hotel
350 Quaker Road, North Falmouth, MA
http://www.seacrestbeachhotel.com
Tags: cape cod, casual dining, hotel, restaurant, seafood
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October 2, 2015 The Beanery
Stowe Mountain Lodge has been undergoing renovations this past year. We headed up this summer for our annual trip.
I can’t stress how much I love it here. The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable. I think the best part of my day is talking to the valet guys!
Some of the new additions to the property are a few retail shops and a coffee shop.
The Beanery features locally roasted coffee and espresso drinks. You an grab a smoothie or a juice and a sweet treat or even a sandwich. There are windows all the way up to the ceiling so there’s great light in here, and great views with your morning coffee.
The Beanery at Stowe Mountain Resort – Open Mon – Thurs 7am-4pm, Saturday and Sunday 7am-6pm.
Attached to the Beanery is the Pantry. It’s a specialty market showcasing local goods. You can grab some craft beer or a red wine with cheese and crackers or a meal to heat up in your room. (Or for me, an ice cream sandwich for when I have those late night cravings!)
The Pantry is open Sunday – Thursday from 9am – 5pm and Friday and Saturday 9am – 7pm.
Tags: casual dining, coffee shop, stowe, take out, vermont
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October 1, 2015 Khao Sarn
My friend Amy introduced me to Khao Sarn, an authentic Northern Thai restaurant located on Harvard Street, conveniently located in Coolidge Corner.
Khao Sarn is a great place for lunch, it is kid friendly, strollers definitely can work here. The service is quick and efficient for those of you who have an hour for lunch and the food is delicious.
We love the shumai appetizer, the delicate dumplings are made with pork and shrimp. The satay was tasty, the beef was char grilled. The sweet beef was also another favorite at our table, Thai style soft jerky marinated with coriander seeds, soy and seasonings served with a side of sticky rice.
There is a soup for everyone’s taste, from chicken dumpling soup to the famous Tom Yum Goong – spicy with shrimp, mushrooms, lemongrass, chili paste, fresh lime juice and cilantro.
I loved the sweet and sour chicken ($13.95), but if you like the spicier things, they have some of those dishes too, like mango curry chicken, chicken gaprow and tamarind chicken.
If you like to go classic, pad thai, Khao Sarn has you covered, with the traditional, crispy chicken – the traditional pad thai with crispy chicken on top, and the mee rob pad thai with stir fried crispy egg noodles, chicken, ground peanuts, eggs, bean sprouts and chicken.
Khao Sarn
250 Harvard Street, Brookline
Tags: brookline, casual dining, kid friendly, restaurant, thai
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September 30, 2015 Norwell Farms Farm to Fork Dinner
I was excited to be invited back to Norwell Farms for their 2nd annual Farm to Fork dinner. Check out last year’s event here.
Last year it rained, but this year you couldn’t have asked for better weather. Guests gathered under the tent for a night of delicious bites, tasty craft cocktails and crazy good music. The shellfish was amazing – oysters, shrimp and clams!
Doug Rodrigues from the Tip Tap Room in Boston returned for his second year. Rodrigues has been at the Tip Tap room since 2013 and puts out some delicious dishes, like wild striped bass with anise hyssop, summer fricassee, garlic scapes and elderflower vinegar or short rib with yellow chive mashed potatoes, red kosho, glazed garlic, and rooibos jus. Stop in to see him over in Beacon Hill!
He presented a plate of warm malted vegetables and oxtail with malt chips and mugolio and orange oil.
Matt Garland from Eastern Standard in Boston.
Matt made a late summer cobb salad with brassicas, Point Reyes blue cheese and pickled egg. How beautiful is that egg?!?
Ron Vale from The Corner Stop in Cohasset.
Norwell Farms heirloom tomato salad with charred corn dressing, lump crab and Vermont goat cheese.
Brian Houlihan from Galley, Bia and Tinker’s Son in the South Shore.
Pan roasted Scituate scallops with Norwell Farms vegetable succotash.
Johnny Sheehan from Tavern on the Wharf in Plymouth made short rib with glazed farm vegetables, shishito jam, onion puree and pickled leeks.
Returning for his second year, Stephen Sherman from Scarlet Oak Tavern in Higham. He brought Ipswich fried clams with shishito peppers. I could have just had these all night – so light and delicious.
Rocky Nook oysters on the 1/2 shell with cucumber and wasabi aioli.
Matt Schrage, of Highball Lounge in Boston did a great ice demo – check out my Instagram video here.
Specialty cocktails included: Herbal Collins Tito’s handmade vodka, thyme and lavender, seltzer; Spicy Daquiri Privateer white rum, Norwell Farms hot peppers, cinnamon and lime; Jacob’s Lane Manhattan Boston Harbor Distillery Putnam rye whiskey, Seymour’s roast coffee liqueur, and Combier orange.
Frank Showstack, of Smokey Stax BBQ Catering in Hingham provided late night bites for guests.
The Common Good Band killed it! They played tunes all night long – check out my Instagram video here.
Norwell Farms
6 Jacobs Lane, Norwell, MA
Tags: events, farm, farm to table, norwell
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September 29, 2015 Sugar Sweet Sunshine
Probably one of my favorite cupcake shops in New York. I always try and stop here to grab a cupcake or six. The shop is tiny with only a few tables – but it’s cozy, decorate in 60’s and 70’s decor. The shop opened in 2003 by two friends, Peggy and Debbie.
The pistachio is a pistachio cake with “moose”. It’s light and the cake is so fresh! I die…every time.
The sunshine ($2.25) is yellow cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. A classic, but they do it so well!
Here’s a complete list of flavors:
Sunshine: Yellow cake with vanilla buttercream
Bob: Yellow cake with chocolate almond buttercream
Ooey Gooey: Chocolate cake with chocolate almond buttercream
Sexy Red Velvet: Red velvet cake with “The Moose”
Sassy Red Velvet: Red Velvet cake with chocolate almond buttercream
Black & White…Just Right: Chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream
Pistachio: Pistachio cake with “The Moose”
Pumpkin: Pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing
Lemon Yummy: Lemon cake with lemon buttercream
Goodie Goodie: Dark chocolate cake with whipped peanut butter buttercream
Faux-Coconut: Coconut cake with satin buttercream
Strawberry: Strawberry cake withcCream cheese or Peanut Butter buttercream
Holla Back Girl: Banana cake with cream cheese icing
Oreo Cookie: Oreo cupcake with satin buttercream
Where’s your go to cupcake spot in New York?
Sweet Sugar Sunshine
126 Rivington Street, New York, NY
Tags: bakery, cupcakes, dessert, lower east side, new york
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