Overheard on the Boston Board

"No. 9 and Drink reliably make an outstanding version, served in vintage mugs. It helps to have the services of a top-notch pastry chef at your disposal for making batter on demand. The rule of thumb is that the T&Js don't come out until after the first snowstorm of the season, but they've waived that this year because we had one freak snowstorm in October and a lot of 50-60 degree weather since." – MC Slim JB on where to find the best Tom and Jerry (a mixed drink with eggnog, rum, and brandy) in Boston

"I had the Poondu Kuzhambu which was a tamarind-tomato based dish centering around garlic cloves. It was marked as hot, and it was spicy without being deadly and was more of a flavorful heat than a chili pepper one. The tamarind and garlic flavors worked rather well." – yarm on the newly opened Dosa Temple in Somerville

"We started out with the lamb dumplings, which were delicious. Small dumplings with a big lump of lamb filling inside. Reminded me somewhat of the ones I get in NYC Chinatown when I'm there." – mwk on a recent meal at Little Panda Hot Pot in Quincy