erwocky's Profile
October 2011 Openings and Closings
Looks like they've got a website with menu (http://www.firebrandsaints.com) and a short piece by Devra First in the Globe (http://tinyurl.com/3qnjhvo). I'll probably try it out for lunch soon. Although they don't have their hours listed....
Spanish Wine in Boston/Cambridge?
Peter at Federal Wine and Spirits on State St knows his Spanish wine. And in fact, I just got an email about they're weekly Wednesday wine tasting--Spanish wines tomorrow. http://www.federalwine.com
June 2011 Openings and Closings
There is a new halal butcher shop in Maverick Square in East Boston, on the corner of Chelsea Street. They've been open a week and don't have a lot of meat yet--lamb, ground beef, chickens--but they have room for lots more, and the guys working there are very friendly.
Apparently a Moroccan Kitchen with takeout will be going in upstairs. (Not sure if that's the name or merely a description.)
Floating Rock Recs
Really? I was under the impression the Revere location had closed before the Cambridge location was even halfway renovated. If that's a mistaken impression and they're still open, I'll be very happy!
Obviously I haven't been in that neck of the woods in a while.
Searching for early Monday dinner spot, near Logan airport
You might try Ecco in East Boston. It looks like they open at 4 pm for dinner, are open Mondays, and you can't get much closer to the airport than that. It's a nice, sophisticated space, great cocktails, great food. And a parking lot in back.
http://www.eccoboston.com
Though personally I think a CEO meeting at Angela's or Rincon Limeno in Eastie would be more fun.
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Rincon Limeno
409 Chelsea St, Boston, MA 02128
Ecco
107 Porter St, Boston, MA 02128
Best Wine Shop
I will second the rec for Federal Wine & Spirits on State St in Boston. Very knowledgable, helpful staff.
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Federal Wine & Spirits
29 State St, Boston, MA
Santarpios - You've got to be kidding me.
And here I was thinking of going to Rino's for the first time in a long time later this week. Thanks, Guy Fieri.
How Rino's fits into any of those three categories sure beats me.
Santarpio's Peabody
Was it really 2 hours from the time you ordered till the pizza arrived at the table? Or does that include waiting for a table?
Mehak - Indian in East Boston
Guess I'm a day late...but I really like the haleem. Shredded meat (I believe chicken, but possibly some beef) in a thick, almost paste-like lentil gravy. Very rich and flavorful.
Unfortunately, the last few times I've been, the quality across the board has been disappointing compared to my early visits. I hope this is not a permanent thing, so I'd be curious whether you liked it.
Santarpio's Peabody
Not sure exactly what sort of oven that is, but I believe they have a rotating oven in their Eastie place, no?
Where to find Concord Grapes?
The concord grapes in our backyard in East Boston just started ripening this past week, so keep a lookout at Russo's. My guess is they'll appear soon.
Any good Restaurant Week reports?
We also did BHB, last night, and had a very good meal. I got identical courses to kimfair1, and they were all very good. The molasses bread (used sparingly) was a good match for the pork. I thought the duck confit with tagliatelle was delicious, although my wife thought the bacon was overpowering and some of her pasta was undercooked. I thought the smokiness of the duck and bacon were really well matched.
Also tried the mussel and clam appetizer, which was delicious, and the bluefish, which tasted like bluefish should taste.
The soup on the RW menu is "Chilled Soupe de Courgette", or zucchini, not spring peas. That was quite good. Chilled pea soup is on the regular menu, not sure which one kimfair1 got.
Scup's for brunch on Sunday
Gotcha, now I do remember seeing that. I've peeked back at the kitchen and seen them sprinkling brown sugar on the bacon, so they probably do the "broil-to-order".
BTW, I had the quiche last Sunday, and it was fantastic.
Scup's for brunch on Sunday
"Reheated" section of the menu? Don't understand what you mean, unless they pre-cook the bacon and then throw it under a broiler with brown sugar to order. I for one love the millionaire's bacon, every time I've gotten it it's been hot with the brown sugar freshly melted and nearly caramelized, and I get smoky and spicy and sweet from it. But I suppose YMMV.
I also very much like the venue both indoors and out. To me it is low-frills and funky in a "not trying too hard" sort of way. Funny how that can be so different for different people.
For another water view aside from Piers Park, and dog-friendly, one can take the food and walk the other way out of the marina and around the harborwalk toward the Hyatt. Not much by way of seating, although there is a small pavilion halfway around with some tables (probably used by MassPort folks for lunch) and some tables at the T ferry. The Hyatt has some grassy area as well. Probably a 15 minute walk out to the end.
Scup's for brunch on Sunday
I agree that characterizing it as a "water view" is rather misleading, although there is some harbor visible from outside, and the HarborArts installations add a nice funkiness to the scene. Heading to Piers Park is a great idea, though you have to hide your mimosa from the MassPort police. And scarf down the millionaires bacon while it's still ripping hot.
Sorry about your car. I was there on Sunday, but I didn't drive, so it wasn't me.
Lunch on the water in Boston?
I've had a couple good lunches at Sail Loft. Standard fried seafood as well as sandwiches and pub food, and they do a pretty good steamed lobster. Clam chowder and lobster bisque were also good. Anyway, much better than Anthony's (although that's not saying much).
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Boston Sail Loft Restaurant
80 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02110
Philly Cheesesteaks in Boston?
At the risk of going off-board, Cheez Wiz, provolone, and American are all acceptable options, but Philadelphians will argue ad nauseam about which one is best. (Or maybe the nauseam is from the cheesesteak.) I favor provolone but a wiz one sure hits the spot on occasion. I suppose mozzarella is OK, too.
Swiss, as Sen. Kerry discovered, is right out.
I think the roll, the way the meat is cooked with the onions, and the lack of the wiz option are what make it hard to find a Philly cheesesteak up here. But I can live with a good Boston steak and cheese and savor the real thing when I'm back in Philly.
Philly Cheesesteaks in Boston?
You're thinking of E-Z Cheez, Philly cheesesteaks take Cheez Wiz. It's a completely different fluorescent orange cheese food product. But you're right, that is hard to find on a steak and cheese around here.
Service for Kitchen Aid Mixer
I want to say mine was $80 or $100. I'd guess $30 of that was the part, from what T Clark says below. This was ca. 2008.
Scrapple
I have never had hot scrapple, and didn't even know it existed. Have you tried it? Do you know what brand it is?
This thread is getting me hungry; especially with the Phillies in town this weekend, I might have to hunt down some scrapple.
Service for Kitchen Aid Mixer
I also went to the place in Salem, also a long drive, also a lot of money to fix a fried circuit board. He did fix it, although it didn't seem to run quite as well afterward...which doesn't make sense for just replacing a circuit board. But it works well enough.
Scrapple
I've gotten it frozen at Stop n Shop at Suffolk Downs. Perhaps most of them have it, but my Shaws doesn't seem to.
It was from Wisconsin--not Habersetts, but it hit the spot nevertheless.
Best Indian in Boston?
A new one to add to the list is Mehak in East Boston--only one stop on the blue line outside of Boston proper. Been there several times now, and the food is really outstanding, a mix of Pakistani and typical Indian dishes. Highlights from the last visit were a delicious, melt-in-your mouth haleem, fantastic daal (with black-eyed peas) and biryani, and just plain delicious naan. I'll take photos next time.
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Mehak
329 Sumner St, Boston, MA 02128
Emma's, dry pizza. And, do I need to be a regular?
While I haven't had the all-meaty pizza at Emma's, I have had pepperoni, and while I wouldn't say it's dry, it definitely not greasy. So sounds like their style of pizza just ain't your thing, as Gabatta says. Add the poor service and I certainly don't blame you for not going back. Sorry you had a bad experience. (I quite like their pizza, myself.)
I've been there 4 times over 4 years, all at lunch, and I've had fine service. They're usually busy so it's not terribly fast, but good enough. So I don't think they dote on regulars.
Where to find a selection of loose tea? Real tea, not the fruity ones
I've gotten some decent loose tea from 1369 Coffee House in Central Square (also in Inman Square). Not a huge selection and probably not single plantation, but worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood.
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1369 Coffee House
1369 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139
Recent Burgers
Ah...that would explain it. I am rather heavy-handed with the salt in my own burgers, which probably made it even more noticeable for me.
I was worried the NYC salt police had infiltrated the People's Republic, but glad to see that's not the case (yet).
Recent Burgers
Just tried Bartley's last night for the first time, and while the burger was cooked a proper medium rare, it was somehow not juicy and not properly seasoned or beefy-tasting. On the inside, at least; I did enjoy the greasy topping overkill, and the onion rings were very good. I should have gone for the plain lime rickey--the raspberry version was indeed like a liquid Skittle.
The Elvis frappe, on the other hand, was delicious.
April openings and closings
Mehak, a halal Indian and Pakistani place on Sumner St in East Boston, opened about a week ago. First reviews are very good, as you might have seen on another thread:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/702479
http://thehubsterblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/sumner-street-food-court.html
There are still some service issues that will hopefully be ironed out in time.
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Mehak
329 Sumner St, Boston, MA 02128
