July 16, 2015 La Cucina Sul Mare
We finally got the chance to head over to Main Street and try La Cucina Sul Mare, an Italian restaurant in town. The restaurant is separated into two rooms, the front room being a little noisier than the back room. It was before Memorial Day weekend, so we go it without a wait and the place was full, but not crazy.
Of course I ordered the bolognese ($20). The traditional sauce made with veal, pork, and beef also had sweet Italian sausage in it. I found the sauce to be on the sweet side and missed the cream in the sauce.
We ordered the linguine alle vongole ($24) with white sauce. The dish was presented beautifully, but we wished the sauce had a little more garlic flavor.
The sweet Italian sausage and rapini ($23): sauteed in aglio e olio sauce and served over orecchiette pasta, this dish was tasty.
The chicken parm was lightly breaded and served over a bed of linguine ($22). Overall, the meals were good, but the sauces were on the watery side (see above). The service was decent, par for the course.
For dessert we had a chocolate crunch cake, which was rich but fell a little flat – we were hoping for more crunch 🙁
La Cucina Sul Mare
237 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
http://www.lacucinasulmare.com/
Tags: bolognese, cape, casual dining, italian, restaurant
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July 15, 2015 Shanghai Jade
Shanghai Jade opened up in the old Zenna Noodle Bar space. While we ordered take out, we picked it up and we noticed that the space doesn’t seem like it is finished being decorated – like the college dorm room of restaurants. We ordered the pan friend raviolis (6 for $6.50) which were just average.
The spring rolls (2 for $3.95) were crispy but lacked flavor.
The chicken and broccoli ($10.95) was pretty tasty.
Shanghai Jade, which opened last year, has two chefs, both Chinese, one is trained in stir-fry technique and the other an expert in dim sum and noodles. The menu features Shanghai style dim sum and a dish called “strange flavored chicken”. While there are some authentic dishes on the menu you can still find favorite standby options like lo-mein and General Gau’s chicken.
Shanghai Jade
1374 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA
http://www.shanghaijadebrookline.com
Tags: brookline, casual dining, chinese, restaurant, take out
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July 14, 2015 Fiorella’s
Blog and Tweet Boston organized a #SundaySupper at Fiorella’s in Newton. Other bloggers in attendance were: Gourmet Pigs, Kerrie Urban, Dave and Emily Dudek, Janelle Suckley, Kristin Amico, Lei Ann and Erica Thomas to name a few. The Italian restaurant was opened by Remon Karian over a decade ago when he was just 23 years old! (Remon was the former co-owner of The Breakfast Club in Allston.) The space has been newly renovated with a great addition in the front room.
We were greeted at the door with a Blueberry Smash (Blueberry simple syrup mixed with bourbon, over ice and garnished with mint). General Manager John Gallagher has been working on ways to introduce bourbon to the menu in an accessible way.
The breadsticks here are amazing, and paper thin…so you can have double right? They are served with Fiorella’s signature marinara dipping sauce. (Watch out Olive Garden 😉 )
Our server brought out apps for the table to share. Antipasto Board Salami, pepperoni, parmacotto~ham, imported prosciutto, provolone cheese, marinated long stem artichoke hearts & mixed kalamata olives ($13). The parmacotto ham is a hybrid word…let me just tell you that it was like butter melting in your mouth.
Arancini A large crisp risotto ball stuffed with mozzarella cheese & served with their signature marinara sauce ($7). Ok, large is the understatement of the year – enormous is more like it – it was the largest arancini I’ve ever seen.
Misto A sampling of three appetizers ~ Toasted Ravioli, Stuffed Peppers Parmigiana & Calamari Fritti, served with a side of their signature marinara sauce ($13). While this was a plate of salty goodness (who can turn anything fried down?), I preferred the other appetizers.
I could probably have stopped there, but then the server brought out pizza and flatbreads to share. Arugula Pizza Delicious pizza crust with garlic & olive~oil, caramelized onions & mozzarella cheese, topped with fresh arugula & diced tomatoes tossed in a lemon vinaigrette dressing, sprinkled with pecorino romano cheese. How fresh does this pizza look? If you don’t dine in, you can get one to go!
Fiorella Imported prosciutto & fresh mushrooms over our pizza sauce & mozzarella cheese ($8). Probably my favorite pizza of the bunch – prosciutto and mushrooms are such a great flavor combination.
Fiorella’s Neopolitan style pizza is cooked in a 700˚F wood burning brick pizza oven. The dough can make or break a pizza (all pizzas are not created equal) and this is delicious – thin and light but still chewy.
Bolognese Braised ground beef, veal & pork simmered with diced carrots, onions & crushed tomatoes in a red wine tomato sauce, tossed with fresh fusilli pasta ($11). Really quite good, I loved the fresh pasta. I was so full at this point that I took the majority of the dish home – and let me tell you, just like meatballs, it was even better on day 2!
Short Rib Milanese Boneless short ribs braised slowly to perfection with pearl onions, carrots & celery, served with mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables ($23). I had just a bite of this and it was delicious. The meat was tender and flavorful – definitely going to get this next time!
Meatball Calzone Homemade meatballs, mozzarella cheese & our pizza sauce ($11). This was delicious, the meatballs were really flavorful, maybe they will tell me their secret? Or I can just head over to one of their express locations (Belmont, Brighton or Cambridge) and pick up some and pass them off as home made 😉
Tiramisu Soft sponge cake soaked with vanilla & espresso coffee, layered with sweet mascarpone & dusted with cocoa powder ($7). At this point I was so stuffed I could barely get up from my chair!
Cannoli
Disclaimer: I was invited as a guest to Fiorella’s Sunday Supper. My meal was complimentary. All opinions are my own.
Fiorella’s
187 North Main Street, Newtonville, MA
http://www.fiorellasnewton.com
Tags: bolognese, casual dining, italian, newton, restaurant
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July 13, 2015 Ben and Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
The best part about Cape Cod and the summer is ice cream (obviously!). Enter Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium. Located on Main Street, the line here in the summer can wrap around the store and out the door. While you wait in line to order, you are surrounded by a glass wall of house made chocolates and other sweet treats. You’re salivating before you even get to order your ice cream! Behind the counter, young college kids home for the summer scoop your ice cream – the small is enormous (see above). My favorite, the butter crunch.
This is the kiddie size (in strawberry), and it is still pretty large – probably a small at most other places. They have since added a smaller size than kiddie, but you have to be under 5 to order it! So if you’re in the area, stop in for some ice cream or chocolates – I personally recommend the fudge!
Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
209 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
Tags: cape cod. ice cream
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July 10, 2015 Tatte Bakery
Owner Tzurit Or opened Tatte in 2007 after moving to the US from Israel in 2004. The small shop in Brookline led to 4 additional locations around Boston/Cambridge and you can even buy Tatte’s pastries online. Brookline’s location has a few tables inside which are a little cramped on most days, but what’s great is that now that it is warmer, there are a bunch of tables outside. Even at 4pm, they are crowded! In addition to pastries and coffee, Tatte offers breakfast sandwiches and eggs in the morning and a variety of sandwiches at lunchtime.
The blueberry clafoutis: a buttery crust filled with vanilla cream and it is topped with fresh blueberries.
Tatte is known for their nut boxes, the pistachio is my favorite with a toasted pistachio caramelized filling and a buttery crust. Other flavors include almond, pecan and cashew.
My favorite was the crumbs cheesecake, it was light and creamy – I almost forgot it was cheesecake!
Check out Tatte’s Instagram account, the images are outstanding and will have you drooling.
Tatte Bakery
1003 Beacon Street, Brookline, MA
Tags: bakery, breakfast, brookline, outdoor seating, restaurant
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July 9, 2015 Good Ones: Back to School at Study
The Good Ones met up last week in Cambridge at Study for a back to school themed party. The Kendall Square hot spot is a sister restaurant to the Ames Street Deli, Journeyman and Backbar.
I always love seeing how guests interpret the suggested attire. Matthew Tambiah always comes dressed to impress – see some of his other outfits here.
Scott Wieman.
A Good Ones membership comes with access to three events per month and you are invited to bring one complimentary guest to each of those events. Membership is carefully curated – these are people you want to get to know – they’re mentors students, entrepreneurs, foodies and travel enthusiasts (among others). The conversation will always be interesting!
Each event has a featured guest, tonight’s was Donald Sull, a global expert on strategy and execution in turbulent markets. He is a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management and was formerly a Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the London Business School, where he won three teaching awards. He is a three time Harvard grad. He has published three award-winning books, ten best-selling Harvard Business Review articles, and over 100 case studies, articles, and book chapters on strategy and execution in turbulent markets. The Economist identified his theory of active inertia as an idea that shaped business management over the past century and Fortune listed him among the ten new management gurus.
Sam Treadway, co-owner and manager of Backbar and Ames Street Deli was holding down the bar. Check out this cool video of Sam at a recent competition.
As expected, the cocktails were impressive.
The 5th year potions drink was a popular choice, such a fun presentation!
Rahul Desai, Analyst.
Events are held in Boston and Cambridge at some of the hottest restaurants. Previous events have been held at Liquid Art House, Barcelona, Trade and the Avery Bar to name a few. In addition to restaurants, the Good Ones have events at some unconventional places too: Limelight Stage (a karaoke bar), Neena’s Lighting, Bee’s Knees Supply Company and a private roof deck.
Oksana Barchuk, Educatius International.
Lizzie Schultz Mcguire, Senior Event Coordinator at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Ivan Badinksi, Economics Consultant.
Donald Sull.
Lizzie Schultz Mcguire, Eric Kramer, Carolyn Kim.
Interested in becoming a #GoodOne? Check out their website for more information about becoming a member.
Study
73 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA
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July 7, 2015 Besito
We met my mom for lunch at Besito is Chestnut Hill. A great spot in the Chestnut Hill Mall. It’s a chain, but you’d never know it.
Besito translates into “Little Kiss” and serves up delicious Mexican cuisine.
We get the table side guacamole ($9.95) to start.
The camarones ajillo ($22.95) is one of my favorite dishes – jumbo shrimp and organic crimini and button mushrooms cooked in a garlic chile salsa, mashed boniato, pico de gallo. There’s a nice sweetness to this dish which I love.
Chicken tacos ($10.95) adobo marinated grilled chicken breast, melted queso Chihuahua, pico de gallo, avocado salsa verde and chile de arbol salsa.
The dish came with rice and black beans.
We had the tres leches cake ($7) for dessert. Delicious – I highly recommend it! The cake was light and the flavor is crave-worthy.
Besito
(Located in the Chestnut Hill Mall)
199 Boylston Street, Chestnut Hill, MA
Tags: casual dining, chestnut hill, mexican, outdoor seating, restaurant
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July 6, 2015 Paul
The Natick location of Paul is the second of three in Massachusetts, other locations include Assembly Row in Somerville and the newest location in the Financial District on Washington Street.
The pastry case will having you drooling over decadent sweets – check out the size of those macarons!
In addition to the sweets and freshly baked breads, Paul offers breakfast an lunch in their cafe – with a variety of soups, sandwiches,and quiche.
My favorite thing of all the sweets we tested were the croissants, filled with things like chocolate, almonds pastry cream and chocolate.
Paul
1245 Worcester Street, Natick, MA
Located inside the Natick Mall
Tags: desserts, french bakery, macaron, natick
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July 2, 2015 The Barking Claw
I have seen The Barking Claw’s cart for some time outside in Grumpy’s Pub’s parking lot.
To be honest, my first thought was: lobster from a cart? How good could that be? How fresh is it? Did it come from a plastic tub? But then I thought, if the lobster rolls weren’t delicious, I wouldn’t see the cart there year after year. So this was the year that I was going to try one. We stopped over on a Sunday afternoon (they are only open Wed-Sun, 11-3) to give one a try.
The lobster rolls are well priced at $16. You can also get hot dogs or a stuffed quahog.
Owner Bill Swain loads the lobster rolls up with a good deal of lobster meat. There’s no mayo here (thank goodness), just lobster and some butter with a little bit of lettuce on a toasted hot dog bun.
I have to say that I was a fool not to have stopped earlier, these lobster rolls rank right up at the top of my list. The lobster is fresh and sweet. The presentation is simple, letting the lobster speak for itself.
The Barking Claw
29 Locust Road, Falmouth, MA
In the parking lot at Grumpy’s Pub
https://www.facebook.com/TheBarkingClaw/timeline
Tags: cape cod, casual dining, falmouth, food truck, lobster roll
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July 1, 2015 Steve’s Pizzeria
Steve’s Pizzeria is where the locals go for pizza. If you eat in, know that there isn’t a lot of ambiance – if you’re looking for more of a restaurant feel, head over to Stone L’oven across the street. Steve’s offers take out and delivery as well. We love the pepperoni pizza there, well done of course! Steve’s also offers a variety of subs, calzones and pastas.
Steve’s Pizzeria
374 Main Street, Falmouth, MA
http://www.stevespizzeriaandmore.com/
Tags: cape cod, casual dining, pizza, restaurant, take out
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