peelmeagrape's Profile
Russo's vs. Whole Foods
I love Russo's. Every visit there feels like a special but reasonable treat in a way that a visit to WF never could. The abundance and variety of vegetables at Russo's is probably my favorite thing. It's a voyage of exploration every time - browse, see what looks tempting, try a few things I've never bought before. In the dead of winter that's heaven. I love when the first rhubarb comes in, the first champagne mangoes (which they have now!). I also like the prices in the cut flower section at the front (the stuff in the fridge in the back is another story: frustratingly-high pricing by-the-stem: I would really like to be able to put together my own bouquets with just a few of each type of flower.) The snap peas are sad too often and I really have to pick through them. I love sweets but the bakery doesn't tempt me at all. Great price on basic pepperoni - about 1/4 that of Monica's in the NE. I wish they sold light flavored soy milk and Calabro fat-free ricotta. I wish they had more fresh tropical fruit like canistel and black sapote. Otherwise, Russo's is pretty perfect.
Best Boston dessert (only) caterers
Hello all,
I'm looking for Boston's best dessert caterer: someone who would be thrilled to be turned loose to make a completely mind-blowing unusual, creative and delicious dessert-only buffet at a party for 50 people to be held at my house. I'd really rather not just buy a spread from a good bakery because I can't afford the time to display it myself and keep it refreshed, enticing and exciting over the course of the 4 or 5 hour party. I'm also interested in the idea of dishes that need to be baked/assembled last-minute and at least some (passed?) hors d'oeuvre-style compositions. Spring seasonal flavors would be great (party's end of April). Budget is wide open: I just want it to be a dessert connoisseur's paradise with nary a molten chocolate cake nor creme brulee in sight. TIA for any leads chows!
Orange Soda on tap?
I love Polar too - their Diet Orange is my summer afternoon still-sorta-guilty pleasure.
Eastern Standard Aging Gracefully
We love the frisee salad too. And, of course, the impeccably gracious service.
Fresh Cheese on Fleet St., in the North End - tel no disconnected???
My reply was to the original post, which asks about Fresh Cheese on Fleet Street in the North End. That's where I shopped on Tuesday.
Fresh Cheese on Fleet St., in the North End - tel no disconnected???
I shopped there on Tuesday and it seemed to be business as usual.
Foodie Experiences in Boston for Christmas Gift
Sorry to be contrary, but I have to voice my disagreement with the recommendations for a class at Stir. Maybe there are different levels of participation among their various offerings but I was really disappointed with the "class" my husband and I took there this fall. There was no hands-on part at all and I found it disappointing even in terms of watching someone else cook: they had pre-made large portions of the meals in advance, including the entire dessert course. The menu was not posted in advance and given how quickly the classes book up, I'm not sure it would have helped to phone the several weeks prior to the event to try to determine exactly which dishes would be served and whether they were something I felt would be educational to watch someone else make. I didn't feel I learned anything culinary at all and I get as much out of eating at the bar area of an open kitchen on a not-very-busy night and chatting a bit with the cooks about the preparations that look particularly interesting. Our experience at Stir was certainly nothing we felt was remotely worth the expense, the hassle of jockeying for a spot in a class, and the need to schedule so far in advance (especially with the strict cancellation policy). Just my 2 cents.
Small Plates or Small Bites in North End or near ICA
Damiano's menu consists entirely of small plates. It's right on Hanover and one of my favorite restaurants in the NE.
Looking to buy good quality smoked salmon ( not cured salmon) in the greater boston area?
Thanks so much for posting about this, myladyfae.
I was in the Wellesley WF yesterday and they, too, sell a house smoked salmon for $17.99/lb. (It's at the seafood counter: you order whatever quantity you want and they wrap it on a customer-by-customer basis). I got the maple smoked and the tequila-lime smoked. Both really good - I preferred the maple, my fiance preferred the tequila lime. I could definitely see craving the maple. It's very smoky and not hard/candied at all. I think it might be hot smoked rather than the cold that the OP was looking for, though. Btw, they also had house-smoked Chilean sea bass.
ISO plum jam; also, apricot jam prefs?
I bought Stonewall Kitchen's Sugar Plum jam a couple of weeks ago at Russo's. Festive-tasting, but maybe you need something plainer to bake with.
Long Trip Report from a Seattle Chowhound
I think the Zahra is an absolutely brilliant cocktail. Conceptually, it's built more like a really great main course than a drink, which I mean as a complement. I feel guilty about the cream, so I don't order it as much as I otherwise would - which would be every single time I'm at ES.
Been to Trade yet?
We went a couple of weeks ago - the first or second day after it opened. It was what you'd expect from a restaurant that soon after opening: underwhelming. I can't remember anything we ate (all from the small plates part of the menu). The decor feels incohesive to me, though the size of the space and the windows are impressive. Not hurrying back - I'll wait 'til I hear lots of sustained raves.
November 2011 Openings and Closings
I heard that Hawthorne is planning to open within the next two weeks. Exciting, but I hope the ES/ICOB goodness doesn't get spread too thin!
Best foccacia in the North End?
There's Boschetto's bakery too. (Meant this as a response to retrofabulousity's question about whether Parziale's and Bova's are the only 2 bread bakeries in the NE.)
Best foccacia in the North End?
Not yet. I'm really surprised that none of the bakeries in the North End seems to bake it - there are certainly a good number of bakeries in the neighborhood, even ones that specialize in bread, and judging by how commonly it appears in local restaurants, it seems to be popular. I had imagined that the 'hounds would have some favorites. I'm not in any particular hurry though, it's just something I've been wondering about.
Best foccacia in the North End?
Which bakery bakes the best foccacia in the North End? I'm specifically interested in bakeries where I can buy it to bring home, as opposed to sit-down restaurants that serve it. Thanks for your ideas.
Food/dish you are surprised hasn't caught on
OMG - yes!!! But then, I think everything about Portugal is under-appreciated. I visited for the first time nearly six years ago, have been back about once a year since, and always marvel at what a hidden gem it is. Foodwise, for me, that's true even more for the baked goods than it is for the savory main course offerings. Even the plainest cookies can be revelations, and the range of things the bakers do with custard boggles my mind.
Bonne Maman Rhubarbe for cheap?
Not at the one in Somerville. They do have Bonne Maman jams on sale, for the price you mention, but they only have strawberry, blueberry and raspberry, which are flavors that are available at pretty much any grocery store. Disappointing.
Where to buy local corn within 10 miles of Plymouth?
That's the farm stand I was going to suggest. The road name you're looking for is Manomet Point Road. We got some broccoli and yellow squash at the stand yesterday but they had lots of corn too (as well as lettuce, blueberries, zucchini, garlic...).
Boston's best salads? A round up
While none of these is healthy or seasonal, I like the frisee salad at Eastern Standard, the BLT-as-a-salad at Flour (though they tend to burn the bacon) and the spinach and bacon salad at the Capital Grill. I guess if you put enough bacon on something, there's a good chance I'm gonna like it...
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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
O Ya… Consistency whittled down to the dull art of repetition; or One and Done
Thank you for the detailed and balanced review. After reading all the effusive praise of O Ya on this board (and winning a charity auction gift certificate), I ate there about 5 months ago and was very disappointed by both the food and the experience. I'm shocked that they seem to get away with charging what they do for an okay but certainly not phenomenal meal. There are many fine dining restaurants in the area that deliver way more for about 1/3 the price. Beyond the issues with the food and service, the space is weirdly undecorated and uncomfortable for the expense. I wish someone had told me what to expect before I went as it would have saved me the let-down and the feeling of having thrown away money that I would have been much happier spending elsewhere.
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O Ya
9 East Street, Boston, MA 02111
Hearth Wood Fired Bread -- Plymouth
I tried them on T. Clark's rec about 3 weeks ago. We went to the bakery itself off exit 5 and got a loaf of the fruit-nut. It was tasty with substantial heft and a generous proportion of the add-ins. I'm not much of a bread eater but my fiance is and since tasting it he keeps wanting to go back. The guy who helped us was really nice and very enthusiastic about their bread and process. I wish there were more places like it (ie. Chowish places) in Plymouth.
Anyone seen jars of blueberry lavender jam around town?
I brought a jar of amazing locally made blueberry lavender jam back from Dublin but polished it off within two weeks. My craving for more isn't going anywhere. Has anyone seen it for sale in the Boston area? Any manufacturer recs? Thanks in advance.
restaurants/food stores near boston sheraton/hynes convention center
If you're in the mood for a more substantial restaurant breakfast with table service one morning, Eastern Standard does breakfast.
If you want a big lunch one day (pehaps paired with a light dinner), try the Oak Bar, in the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. I love their lamb chops and IIRC they're $26 for a gigantic portion. I also had their lobster Benedict last week (they have about a half dozen different types of Benedict if you aren't up for lobster). It came with the most phenomenal fried potatoes - sliced like an ultra thick potato chip but with the texture of tempura-light onion rings. I'm not a potato lover but these were a total turn on.
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Eastern Standard
528 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
Rant: What happened to phone reservations in Boston?
I completely agree with you and am so happy to read that someone else feels that way. It's an unbelievably frustrating situation. The problem at Ten Tables is so ridiculous that I've sworn I'll never eat there again, despite the fact that the one time I did have dinner there the food was good. I've had a similar problem getting an answered phone call when trying to make a reservation at O Ya. When I finally did manage to connect for a reservation I was extremely unimpressed with the place, so at least I don't have to worry about fighting with their system in the future. More recently, I've had problems at Journeyman. I understand that managing a reservation system might be challenging, but doing it well should be a basic part of running a restaurant. (Or else just don't take reservations at all, be clear about it, and risk annoying people with a wait like at Neptune, et al.)
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O Ya
9 East Street, Boston, MA 02111
Ten Tables
5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, MA 02138
Where can I buy raw octopus?
Wow! Thanks everyone. I can't wait to try some of these suggestions.
Where can I buy raw octopus?
I've had several phenomenal grilled octopus dishes at (out of town) restaurants over the past month. Octopus is not something I'd even tried to cook before, but these grilled preparations were so delicious that I'm thinking I might give it a shot. Does anyone know where I can buy raw octopus? I don't recall ever seeing it, even at places like Captain Marden. Is it all frozen? Is it expensive? TIA!
Portugese sweet bread/Easter Bread
It's probably further than you want to drive, but I bought an amazing one (with whole hard boiled eggs) last year from a Portuguese bakery on Cove St in New Bedford. Don't know the name of the bakery.
