kayowinter's Profile
What a find! 2nd printing of Old Mr. Boston Guide
I guess that's why I never noticed the products! Didn't even know they were still made, I thought the original factory was closed down many years ago. Thanks!
What a find! 2nd printing of Old Mr. Boston Guide
Was at Rodney's in Cambridge - they are closing, everything is 50% off and found a 1935 copy of this in excellent condition for only $11! Anyone know about the brand Old Mr. Boston for liquors? there are a bunch of recipes and some ads in the middle of the book for Old Mr. Boston products. Would Brizard Apry be close in theory to the OMB apricot perhaps?
Bachelorette Party - Sonoma
I think Girl and the Fig would be a lovely al fresco afternoon lunch for 10 ladies. It's in teh same square as EDK mentioned above.
Waffle day - what's your favourite waffle topping?
The one that always brings back warm childhood memories for me is cream cheese, orange marmalade and a little sprinkle of powdered sugar. This was how my dad always ate his waffles and I liked taking a bite of his mixed in w/ my maple and butter. I do this occasionally still but skip the sugar - only needed for nostalgia not taste for me. Swedish Fish - what did you do for IWD?
3 Quick Wine Country Questions...promise they are quick! :-)
There is Ridge Lytton springs in Healdsburg which is the "wine country" (OP didn't specify napa) outpost of ridge (haven't been to the one in santa cruz mountains which is their flagship and most of the cab is grown I think) I could be wrong but it seemed like most of the wines were available for tasting at Lytton springs and were very, very good. Some of the best and most balanced zins available and my guess is the one people say you should go to. Never tried Pine Ridge but I whole heartedly recommend Ridge at Lytton Springs
Visiting from Boston one weekend in may - suggestions needed
just made my reservations for the night we come in - will definitely post a review.
Im thinking super cocina for now, but will talk to DH - he likes to be near the water - any good enough mexican near water to make him happy? (he's less picky than me)
Visiting from Boston one weekend in may - suggestions needed
Those sound great! Cucina Urbana sounds like something we will definitely check out. We live in the South End - lots of great food but fancier than we would like for regular nights out.
Visiting from Boston one weekend in may - suggestions needed
My DH and I are going to be spending the memorial day weekend in SD from Boston. Sat night is taken by an engagement party but late dining friday, break/lunch sat, all day sunday and breakfast monday are open! Staying in La Jolla area, will have a car. I've been to Chino Farms once and plan on going back. Other than that we need help! Moderate pricing (or cheap even) would be key. The thing we miss the most is good mexican food here on the east coast so suggestions for that would be great. Seafood is a pass for us since we can get lobster etc..pretty easily. Thanks for any help!!
Bombay Club
I have to comment, I ate here a couple weeks ago at the lunch buffet and their saag was...weird. Actually pretty gross, not just weird. I think they had pureed broccoli into it which made it develop this very, very bitter medicinal undertone. I usually love saag, but this was just...no. yech. *shivers*
What are you making right now?
Ruhlman's olive oil duck confit legs with caramelized cranberry chutney and salad. Made up an appetizer of chive ricotta stuffed dates roasted in bacon fat. Smells good so far, not sure how it will turn out.
Pancakes or Crackcakes?
growing up Bisquick was my mom's go to for pancakes - Morinaga is nothing like a Bisquick 'cake. The irony is...my mom is japanese!
Pancakes or Crackcakes?
I found a box of this at Hmart in Burlington and decided to try them based on this thread that I had read before. I looked at all the links and I agree - not sure what the deal is with the wet towel and the pan then returning to the stove, I suspect it is the Japanese way of testing if things are the right temp. After a couple of trial runs I figured that with my gas stove on med low flame and 3/4 cup batter in a nonstick pan, flip once then cover the pan with a lid (not smash the face of the pancake like the humor link) yielded a very, very high light and fluffy pancake. Almost unnaturally so. No one has posted what is supposedly in these so on my box there was an english translation of ingredients that were as follows:
wheat flour, sugar, palm oil, wheat starch, salt, corn syrup, baking powder, (corn starch, calcium sulfate, calcium acid sulfate) as emulsifier (soybean origin), sodium caseinate, artificial flavor, riboflavin.
That is verbatim. There are also packets of syrup that amount to glucose/sugar/cornsyrup and caramel coloring that I didn't try.
These are very weird but very delicious and I've decided I don't know what magic/chemicals make them this way but I want more!
After dinner drinks in the South End?
For a group of 6 28 degrees would probably have the best mix of comfort (many large tables geared toward drinks and conversation - they have snacks but I wouldn't call that their forte) and a very cool vibe. I think they make excellent drinks. Everywhere else is really a restaurant with a bar and consequently will mean 6 of you will be standing awkwardly at a very crowded bar - maybe not even together as some of those places can get so crowded. If it was more like two or three people, then I love most of the places MC S JB listed except Stephis (for political reasons, the food/drink is actually ok) Agree with poster below red fez is NOT worthwhile. Stella would be the biggest "scene" I think if that's what you're looking for in SE w/ pretty good cocktails but loud and crowded as mentioned above.
A classic girly drink?
Ok I guess i'm retarded or read too fast - missed the line in the OP that you've already used this as a sig drink! Sorry, my bad - but good taste!!!
A classic girly drink?
Aviations (with creme de violette) are so very yum! (gin, lemon, maraschino and violette) I've been drinking these lately at home and out - and starting to introduce my friends to them and they are all suprised by how good they are. And they are a lovely light purple shade - can't get much more girly! I first had them minus the violette but found later it really just makes the drink sing IMO.
Grille 23
I third Jolyon! Grille 23 is great! I've never had a bad meal there - esp the dry aged ribeye, med rare yum! S&W on the other hand I was totally underwhelmed by and we had the special little table for two on top of the stairs overlooking everything (anniversary dinner about 3 years ago) Service meh and even worse steak was MEH! The only other S&W I've been to is in ohio and that beat the one here by a mile - surprising but true. I'd never go back to the S&W in boston.
question about dried/hard mochi
I've never had that brand but my family at new years usually got a large supply of the "hard mochi" type that a local (buddhist) church would make. We tended to freeze them and they lasted a long time that way. Then toast until brown (almost black sometimes- mom liked em that way) and dip in 50-50 mix soy sauce and sugar. Makes me very nostalgic just to think of it as it has been pretty hard for me in Boston to find that type of mochi.
Local source for baker's cream?
If you want something more natural to try out go for the High Lawn Jersey Cow heavy cream that I pick up at Russo's in watertown. Compared to other whipping creams this is incredibly dense and even after a couple of days in the fridge whipped doesn't become all weepy and watery at the bottom. The Jersey cream (and milk) has more fat and protein per ml as compared to the usual cows used in larger operations. Besides the fact that it is just a totally phenomenal product as a bonus it is organic and hormone free.
Chez Henri
half of our party bailed at the last minute - which was great because we did sit at the bar!! and the cubano is as billed by everyone, absolutely amazing. I have to say the periodista was not to my particular liking (not bad but wouldn't get it again) but I got another drink that involved plymouth gin, green chartruese, bitters and orange peel that was potent but very tasty - by the end of drinking it though I managed to forget what it was called. Thanks chowhound for the recs!
Luxardo Maraschino cherries not at all worth the price
StriperGuy - do you pit the cherries? How long do you think they would stay good? I'm mad I just saw this and now have to wait until next cherry season to try!
Chez Henri
Going here for the first time on saturday in a group of 6 - have reservations. Any new updates? The last post here was 6 months ago. Seems like everyone raves about the bar - I'm guessing that will be difficult/impossible with a group this size. Any suggestions for the dining room? Are things on the bar menu available on dining room side? I'm hoping at least one of us can get a cubano.
Teranga/ Senegalese South End
DH and I went there tonight for the first time for dinner. Lovely! I'm not sure what I was expecting or imaging but it really blew us away. We shared the salad "ordinere" which isn't what I think of as ordinary - spring lettuce with sweet potatoes, white potatoes and beets in a garlicky delicious dressing. Sounds heavy but it wasn't. DH had grilled lamb chops that were tender and garlicky with a lot of that delicious char taste from the grill. Garlic I think played a very big role in a lot of the dishes. I had a lamb stew that had things like sweet potato and cabbage and it too was totally new tasting and delicious without being weird.
The only thing we got that I would probably not order again is the baobab juice drink. DH liked it enough to finish but it was very thick and seemed more like something I would use to moisturize my skin with rather than drink. The ginger drink was amazing and I will likely be craving it soon.
If you have been thinking about going - go soon! I fear for this little gem of a restaurant as it was empty except for us (yes early on a wednesday BUT still!). Even if you haven't been thinking about going you should still try it. It is very reasonably priced too - an excellent deal in an often pricey neighborhood.
Your Best Dutch Oven Recipes
long slow braised short ribs - all sorts of recipes are out there but they are pretty hard to mess up, it just requires patience! And the cut is cheap in general. My only challenge with it is to be patient when browning the meat before it goes into a braise - a nice dark crust makes it much more delicious! My personal fav recipe is from Sara Moulton's weeknight dinners (in the make ahead episode) If it's for company I follow the recipe to the letter, but I find it a little fussy so I skip most of the other steps (generally centered around obtaining a lovely lump and grease free sauce) and just end up with delicous meat when it's just me and DH.
Request for Sonoma Winery Preferences $30 - $40
Preston is great - beautiful setting, all organic/sustainable production. They also make olive oil which is very good. I'm also a fan of Christopher Creek in healdsburg very small production, everyone there is very nice.
Comb honey
I've seen it at Russo's. Never tried it, not sure if it's exactly what you're looking for but there's usually a few little boxes in front w/ the comb on the shelves under the berries.
Flambe...ing, be afraid, be very afraid
I second not using too much of the cognac! (I tried replying to poster below and couldn't for some reason...) When I was about 12 my adventerous aunt and I decided to make bananas foster...we had triple bananas so why not triple the rum? well, we almost ended up with no eyebrows and she almost got a new kitchen but ultimately all was fine and very delicious. My main rec would be if you are skittish about introducing a flame using one of those long automatic clicker lighters to give yourself some distance and keeping a tight fitting lid around - no oxygen means no flames!
