Bob Dobalina's Recent Activity
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Best meal and/or dish of 2009?
Really like the mention of your "down-market" items - it's hard for me to remember some of the higher end things I've had vs. the everyday stuff that I love, such as steak tacos from Tacos Lupita, which send me.
Couple of single dish highlights for the year:
Scallops roasted with brussels sprouts and husk cherries at Oleana - a special which was very.
The Gran Gusto pizza with the sausage
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Pescatore Expanding?
Ha - did not see you leave, but heard the request. :)
I have to admit I have never had their fried fish - always a grilled or otherwise prepared fish - you'll have to let me know how the pizza rates.
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Pescatore Expanding?
Had dinner there on Friday night - really excellent tuna steak, seared, with roasted peppers and capers - risotto-y rice and asparagus - really hit the spot -
I really like the new place, especially the long window - place was busy on Friday, so I guess the expansion was well warranted.
Parsnipity - think I might have seen you - saw someone ask about pizza and thought it was odd, because I had no idea they made pizza in any way -
Next time, try the arancini, which always come out perfectly fried, and the fusilli amalfi with the tomato sauce - a great amount of perfectly cooked seafood - my go-to dish here.
BTW, waitress pointed out that they built a patio out back for outdoor dining in season. Hope the kitchen can keep up - they went from having 5 tables to over a dozen by my count.
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Hungry Mother
I would suggest that the corn was actually hominy which is dried corn, so it is not going to have the consistency of fresh - I *think* what you're calling undercooked is actually the starchiness of the thing.
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Petsi's eggnog custard pie ... has anyone tried it?
Haven't had it, but why not order both? :) Go forth, adventurous hound!
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Duck, Duck.....(and probably fish for me)
Congrats and condolences. If you are going to be working for a white-shoe, multi-national law firm, go to Salts in Cambridge for their duck (though that is duck for two). If you are working for a small firm, Evoo has Duck, duck, goose on its menu - always well lauded on these pages. If you are working in public interest law or a non-profit, go to Dok Bua for the duck larb.
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Anniversary at Oleana. Tasting menu or regular menu?
Congrats on your anniversary. My fiancee and I always order one vegetarian tasting menu and supplement with one app / pret-a-manger and one app/entree. That's always more than enough food, because we also share the four courses from the tasting menu. This is also very much accommodated by the staff. I think the last time they may have split each course for us.
The last time I was there, they had a scallop entree with brussels sprouts and husk cherries that was outstanding. I see they have a similar item on the menu now, sans husk cherries, so I might recommend that. I also have tried a few meat dishes, and while good, they never seem as yummy as the veggie/fish dishes, but ymmv.
BTW, pretty sure they do not have a regular tasting menu.
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Hungry Mother good but....
Yeah, I was more responding to a couple of the other comments after your post. I think the food has a synergy that is missing from Craigie, for example. While I like both, I feel like there is a certain imagination at HM, while CoM is more big flavors done well. Case in point - we had a cauliflower side at HM, which was cooked in brown butter, capers and gremolata, the addition of which worked really well to brighten the other flavors. Another example - had the seafood pan boil (I think that's the name) and it features a generous helping of hominy - now I know you might get corn on the cob with your traditional clambake, but the hominy was a heavier, stronger corn flavor and it really worked to pull the dish together for me, in taste and texture. I haven't read all the press - and have been to HM three times - and each time I come away feeling like the meal always tastes better than the sum of its parts, as opposed to excellent cooking of each part at other fine places I enjoy. Then again, maybe I am drinking the Kool-Aid...
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East Coast Grill - dinner report, 11/7/09
I am a little confused by the OP - "Why did they ruin a nice piece of fish?"
Why then order it in tacos? IIRC, ECG has a chalkboard list of the fresh fish of the day that you can have prepared more basically, without the taco junk, if just a nice piece of fish is your thing.
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Hungry Mother good but....
Called up on a recent Friday at 4:45 to see if they had any space for 2 - just had a cancellation (assume it's true) and we were there by 5:10 - they have a nice little deal where if you arrive before six, they will purchase your movie tickets from the nearby Kendall Square cinema at the special price of $6/tic, adding it to the bill and presenting them at your table upon arrival. They also validate parking in the garage for $5 for four hours. So not sure how that jives with their other policies and other folks' take on the attitude. As for front of the house, I think it was Elon and Rachel were both there (and I think with their newborns at the bar?) - so can't be too stuffy if the kids are hanging out.
Anyway, server was very knowledgeable and perfectly polite - even came jetting across the room to note that our table was a little wobbly and offered to fix it. Elon also was checking in with everyone - so I don't know - I think the service is just fine. Maybe I got them on a good night....
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Fall 2009 Openings and Closings
That outdoor seating sure is going to be chilly.
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Pho n' Rice - Somerville
Just a quick note about Tamarind House - not a heck of a lot of mention on the board - it tends to get overlooked for the shiny pennies in the neighborhood, but I feel like it's been there forever -
Have recently ordered take-out of green curry (with all green and white veggies), pad kee mow (the spicy one with the basil), papaya salad, bean thread noodle pad thai-style - everything was really deeply flavorful and spicy (when advertised), but not particularly heavy - veggies very fresh. Becoming our go-to thai place.
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What About Echo Bridge in Newton Lower Falls?
Thanks for the review - a real hidden gem that does not get enough love on these pages.
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Cachaça in the Boston or South Shore area?
Barril - thanks for the post and I would love to chat more - can you e-mail me at bobdobalina.2009 at yahoo?
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Cure my North End Boredom
Get out of the North End and go over to Somerville for great Italian food without the pomp and the crowds - Vinny's at Night, L'il Vinny's, Pescatore are three that come to mind. These places are not "the fancy" - just great chow. Also Gran Gusto in Cambridge.
Sorry - just re-read your post and saw no seafood, so you might want to avoid Pescatore, though they do have non-fish items, the fish is where the focus is.
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Speed's Has Added Grilled Pastrami and it's worth a special visit
He's still in Newmarket Square, though?
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Honey Crisp Apple Racket
I thought farmer's market prices were supposed to be generally less than retail, because of the direct to market, cut-out-the-middle-man, low overhead deal. I realize there is a cost associated with picking the apples, but even at $2/lb., seems really high.
I got a bag of Macouns at Russo's this weekend for $.89/lb!
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Family Restaurant in the North End
Go to Vinny's at Night in Somerville - better than anything you can find in the North End.
I would suggest Pagliuca's but there have been some recent so-so to bad reviews on here of late.
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City Girl, KO Prime, Fresh Catch, Thirsty Scholar
Thanks for the post on City Girl - had a fine brunch there last weekend - an egg sandwich on a baguette and a small salad - both very nice and cheap - the highlight was the punch (alcoholic) which was a combo of sweet vermouth, citrus and prosecco, iirc. Really nice drink. The pizza fresh there is excellent. They recently remodeled to be less cafe and more restaurant, i.e., the cooking area is now behind a wall. Thumbs up for me.
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The Biscuit finally scores in my book with banana-brioche bread pudding.
I think their savory scones are dreamy.
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Wine educator/sommelier for private party?
Not for sure, but check with the Federal Wine and Spirits guys - they know a lot of people.
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Dorado opens tomorrow! (7/29)
Older thread - just wanted to put my two cents out there - stopped in during yesterday's "blizzard" for the first time - couple of fish tacos, a steak and a shrimp - really enjoyed them, the unique toppings, also really dug the rice and beans and the charred jalapeno - perfect little lunch. A little pricey by weight, compared to the nearby feedbag of Anna's, but the quality is not even comparable.
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I've never had Lobster, Mac and Cheese...any recs in Boston?
Amrhein's in Southie has a good version.
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Looking for tarallis in East Boston or elsewhere
No answer to your post, but when I read this, I thought of you.
http://food.theatlantic.com/behind-th...
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Pescatore Expanding?
No, but that's a good sign for a great neighborhood restaurant.
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Friend from Peru.. Rincon Limon or Machu Picchu?
How does the MP Charcoal Chicken's pollos a la brasa compare to RL? I know RL gets the nod on the ceviche, etc., but I think the MPCC is amazing.
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Teranga/ Senegalese South End
How would you describe the white juice, in terms of taste? I wonder if it is guanabana...
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Teranga/ Senegalese South End
The purple drink looks a lot like sorrel juice.
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Best Banh Mi
Just had a Mike's Banh Mi and it blew Mei Sum away - lots more toppings, more meat, better overall flavor, the bread was perfect. At $2.75 a pop, it's my new #1.
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Couple's Cooking Class Suggestions
I've done the couples class at Cambridge Culinary Institute - you do a dish or two, along with all the other couples - then everyone sits down together for dinner. We ended up taking the French food class, which was small by comparison to the more "hip" classes like Thai, for example. It was a blast, especially because it was not a very full class - so we all worked hard and everyone's dishes came out really well. It's not an intense learning experience, more of a fun thing, but we did work.
