CHOWHOUND : Digest

Digest

What Chowhounds are discussing on the boards.

Praise for Ecco Pizzeria

Boston hounds are enjoying the pizza at Ecco Pizzeria, which opened in Allston in December. goslow thinks it's comparable to Emma's in Cambridge, and that it's the best pizza in that part of town.

goslow recommends the Verdure pizza (grilled baby artichokes, mushrooms, and caramelized onions), and lergnom recently enjoyed a custom pie with shrimp and olives. "The dough is excellent and the ingredients are tasty," lergnom says.

The menu also includes salads, and suepar thinks the dressing on the Caesar is "expertly made, if a tad salty."

lergnom notes that while the savory pizzas aren't cheap, the dessert pizzas are a great deal at $3 for a 6-inch pie. The options include chocolate-hazelnut, cinnamon, and strawberry.

Ecco Pizzeria [Allston]
1147 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
617-903-4324

Discuss: Ecco Pizzeria Allston

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

General Topics Digest

Add a comment

Texas Versus Cincinnati Chili

Ask a Texan and a resident of Cincinnati to describe what chili is, and you'll get two very different answers.

Cincinnati chili is essentially "something like a ground meat pasta sauce, with a Greek twist on chili spices," says paulj. Cinnamon, cloves, and even chocolate are the characteristic spices, mattstolz adds. The beans, if they're present at all, are served on the side.

Meanwhile, Texas chili is more of a "glorious beef stew" flavored with a mix of chile peppers, caseyjo says. Beans are not invited. "I defy my Texas-born parents by adding the tiniest bit of kidney beans, but they haven't disowned me yet," caseyjo says.

Of course, the popular conception of chili is a stew made with lots of beans, tomatoes, vegetables, and meat. "I grew up thinking I didn't like chili because all I ever was exposed to was canned chili with kidney beans," laliz says. "What a travesty!" "I wish they'd call Eastern chili, kidney bean stew, 'cause it sure ain't chili to me," Passadumkeg says.

Discuss: Cincinnati chili has no beans?

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Boston Digest

Add a comment

Quick Bites Near Symphony Hall

Need a quick bite before the symphony or a play at the Huntington Theatre? Options abound, including some hound favorites in unexpected places. Here are a few recent suggestions:

Moby Dick: Despite the name, this is "delicious Persian home cooking," poho says. femmevox likes the lentil chili over rice, and BostonZest raves about the albaloo polo (basmati rice with saffron, sautéed sour cherries, and chicken).

Woody's Grill & Tap: MC Slim JB likes this spot for the wood-fired pizza and draft pitchers.

Pho Basil: y2000k thinks this is the best Southeast Asian option in the neighborhood, and MC Slim JB agrees that it has "respectable" food. Despite the name, Jolyon Helterman thinks the Thai dishes here are better than the Vietnamese ones.

Lucy Ethiopian Cafe: Boston hounds love this option for its homemade food, but galangatron warns that service might be too slow for a "quick bite." Be sure to arrive early if you have plans post-dinner.

Brasserie JO: Highland Park thinks it's a great option for casual French, and as Jenny Ondioline recently noted, the walk from the restaurant to Symphony Hall is lovely as well.

Moby Dick of Boston [Fenway]
269 Huntington Avenue, Boston
617-236-5511

Woody's Grill & Tap [Fenway]
58 Hemenway Street, Boston
617-375-9663

Pho Basil [Fenway]
177A Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
617-262-5377

Lucy Ethiopian Cafe [Fenway]
334B Massachusetts Avenue, Boston
617-536-0415

Brasserie JO [Back Bay]
120 Huntington Avenue, Boston
617-425-3240

Discuss: Help with favorite quick eats near Symphony Hall?
Quick bite near Symphony Hall

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

General Topics Digest

Add a comment

Rabbit: Too Cute to Eat?

tcamp wants to know: How can you eat something as cute and fluffy as a rabbit?

Some hounds have a ready answer. "I eat them with a knife and fork and a glass of wine," responds caseyjo. "If I've made a tender stew, I really only need a fork (and the wine!)."

Rabbits are one of the few animals commonly kept as pets in the United States that are also commonly eaten, and some people are squeamish about cooking them. Others, however, love rabbit meat for its flavor and versatility. Will Owen frequently ate it growing up, and still enjoys it. "Mom usually did a flour-dredge, browned milk braise - her standard recipe for small game - which is delicious and makes its own gravy, or else she'd make häsenpfeffer, and that's good too," he says.

SAHCook's family raised rabbits for food, and has found the cognitive dissonance easy to overcome. "The adults were our pets, the babies ended up our dinner," SAHCook says. "Just not when they were cute, cuddly little things. When they grow out of the baby stage, they get longer and leaner, and not so cute anymore. I never felt bad about eating those!"

Discuss: Forget dogs, how can you *eat* rabbits?

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Boston Digest

Add a comment

Great Taiwanese at Asian Gourmet in Concord

Asian Gourmet in Concord has a new menu, thanks to a new chef and owner. Chef Lee took over the reins several months ago, and hounds are reporting that the food is great. The new menu reads similarly to those at the chef's former restaurants, JoJo Tai Pei and Formosa Taipei.

Fried items are consistently great. On a recent visit, teezeetoo tried the bone-in salt and pepper chicken, the best version she's ever had. "The chicken was crisp, spicy, and not at all greasy," teezeetoo says. Meanwhile, as part of a special Chinese New Year menu, tatsu tried some salt and pepper–style pork chops, which were a big hit.

makonna tried the noodles in Peking sauce with minced pork, as well as the steamed mini juicy pork buns, and thought both were "very tasty." lipoff notes that the pork buns are Asian Gourmet's version of Shanghainese soup dumplings, which are also very popular in Taiwan. hargau also gave the pork buns a positive review, and thought the pan-fried daikon cakes were excellent as well. The house special rice cakes (thinly sliced, chewy rice noodles cooked with shrimp, chicken, pork, and vegetables) were also delicious.

The Chinese New Year menu that tatsu sampled was a true feast, with several items not listed on the regular menu. Besides the pork chops, tatsu loved the orange shrimp, which were "shell-on good sized prawns, battered and with an orange glaze." He also liked the three desserts that were included in the special meal, especially a dish of sautéed rice cakes with a banana filling. "It had the smell and crispy exterior of a banana stuffed flapjack, but that soft unmistakable mochi texture inside," tatsu says.

The menu tatsu tried is no longer available, but it's worth keeping an eye out for future specials like these.

Asian Gourmet [MetroWest]
794 Elm Street, Concord
978-369-8114

Discuss: Asia Gourmet in Concord: Very Good Taiwanese
Chinese New Year special dishes in Boston?

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

General Topics Digest

Add a comment

Tasty and Convenient Prepackaged Artichoke Hearts

jameshig loves and heartily recommends Monterey Farms' packaged artichokes for their convenience and quality. "[Artichokes] are such a pain to clean and grill and I found their packs in the produce section and figured I'd give them a try," jameshig says. "The flavor is really good for pre-cooked artichoke hearts. I made a risotto with duck confit, the artichoke hearts and roasted beets on top."

DopplerDeb agrees that the brand is amazing. "Jarred artichokes always taste slimy and mushy to me," she says. "These are plump and firm and jam packed full of flavor. I eat them grilled right out of the bag they are so good!"

Discuss: Monterey farms artichoke hearts- FTW!!!

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

General Topics Digest

Add a comment

Overheard on the General Topics Board

"We had a girl stay with our family, an exchange type thing, from England. She was amazed that we buttered our toast right away, bringing the buttered toast to the table. She said they toast it, then put the slices in this little stand that kept the pieces upright, with space between. Way crunchy!" – wyogal

"It sounds like a natural pairing to me! I think of oatmeal-cookie based ice cream sandwiches with the added bonus of the temperature contrast (though I'd want the oatmeal to be warm rather than hot)." – kinnickinnik on ice cream served over oatmeal

"A combination that is quite a bit milder that you might want to consider is eggs and garlic shoots, instead of the cloves. We chop up the shoots, pan fry in a little oil, and the add a few eggs and fry. The mild flavour is quite different from regular garlic, and goes wonderfully with eggs. I haven't ever seen the shoots sold in [North America] but they are common in India (and in my mother's herb garden)." – sakina on eggs with garlic

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Boston Digest

Add a comment

Overheard on the Boston Board

"My pork hash and collards were outstanding, but completely overshadowed by the pancake. Of course, the bourbon syrup doesn't hurt, but the pancake itself was so incredibly flavorful while still being light and fluffy." – Weiszguy on the Sunday brunch at Highland Kitchen

"The Banh Mi at N & H Saigon Sub continues to impress me--crispy, crackly, chewy roll; flavorful meats; nicely pickled veg; beautiful cilantro and great, spicy peppers, if you want them. Good selection too, including meatballs. They have lots of other items, too - and now beef pho, which I have yet to try, but the broth looks great." – SeaSide Tomato on N & H Saigon Sub in Randolph

"While not online or their take out menu, they have a late night menu which begins at 11:00. It consists of a mix of American bar food items (wings, sliders, fries, etc.) and Japanese items, surprisingly including Hamachi Kama which is only featured on the late night menu, bummer." – Food4Thought on newly opened Owl Station in South Boston

Edit Post / Posted on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

Los Angeles Digest

Add a comment

Hefty Cheesesteaks at Boo’s

Boo's Philly Cheesesteaks is the best Hollywood option for cheesesteaks, says sku, who ranks its sandwich among the best he's ever had. The owners are from Philly, and the cheesesteaks they serve are truly tasty, sku says.

The Boo's version is hefty and overstuffed, served on the proper Philly Amoroso roll. It's got great, thin-cut steak, and plenty of peppers. "The cheese melts into a nearly transparent state and the bun soaks up the flavorful grease from the cheese, beef and onions, creating a slightly mushy whole that is greater than the sum of its parts," sku says. "It's about the gestalt, and this place has got that down."

Options include onions, mushrooms, peppers, and sweet peppers out of a condiment jar. There's even Sriracha, for those who want to spice up and de-authenticize their cheesesteak.

Boo's Philly Cheesesteaks and Hoagies [Hollywood]
4501 Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles
323-661-1955

Discuss: Boos Philly Cheesesteak

Edit Post / Posted on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Los Angeles Digest

Add a comment

Cheese and Charcuterie at FIG

Here's an under-the-radar tip from westsidegal: For a great cheese and charcuterie plate and a free lesson on the world of meat and dairy, go to FIG Restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel. The guy who oversees the preparation of the plate is named Eric; he's got a station set up at one end of the bar. He does all the ordering and preparation, and his knowledge is deep, westsidegal says.

Go when the restaurant opens at 5 p.m., westsidegal says, and grab the bar seat right in front of him. Then pick his massive culinary brain before orders start rolling in from the rest of the restaurant.

FIG Restaurant in the Fairmont Hotel [Westside - Beaches]
101 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica
310-319-3111

Discuss: Where should I become acquainted with cheese and charcuterie?

Edit Post / Posted on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012