stupiddog's Profile
West End/Beacon Hill Drinks+Meal?
Thanks for the suggestions. I was also hoping I could just land a bar seat at Scampo's. Their pizza is on a "late night" menu, so I'm fairly sure we can get that at the bar. (Maybe I'll see you there 9lives.)
Opinionated Chef, thanks for the link. I'm planning to plug a couple of numbers/addresses into the iPhone and play it by ear. I thought of Cragie, but the one time I tried to go their without a reservation it was a disaster. Once again, so much will depend on the weather.
West End/Beacon Hill Drinks+Meal?
I have have and unexpected night at the Liberty 1/7 with my husband and no kids. Scampo is booked that night, and we just had a fabulous dinner at Rialto's, so I was thinking of not planning and trying to do a drink/appetizer/light dinner combination, maybe at 2 or 3 places within walking distance. Searched the boards and saw a recommendation for No. 9 for drinks then Grotto. I'd like not to have to plan everything out, but I might be unrealistic for a Saturday night. (Maybe it will be freezing and no one will be out.) I am completely out of the loop for anything new. I'd be willing to jump across the river also.
Sole Propietor, 111 Chop or Via
My husband and I get a gift certificate from Sole Propietor every year that we tend not to rush out and use. I usually have mixed experiences there, although I do like the bar drinks. I've had better luck with lunch there. Never been to their other too places 111 Chop for steak or Via for Italian. Anyone have recommedations for which one to use or dishes? (I'm trying to decide whether to go there for the babysitter we have Sunday or use my groupon for Chez Henri. I'm leaning to Chez, but I've got to use this certificate some day!)
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Chez Henri
1 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Question on Red Ginger, new Asian restaurant in Stow
They are supposed to open before Christmas, I saw the sign last week on there door. They have done a lot of work on the place, looks nice from the outside and front area. Actually has a bar also. I found this online, which is probably up before the opening.
http://redgingermass.com/index.htm
I'd just be happy with decent Chinese food in my town.
Best place to meet for cocktails in metrowest?
It's a little further West on route 9, but I'm always impressed by the bartending at Tomasso in Southborough and they usually have some nice apps and pizzas.
30th anniversary. Within half hour of Acton.
How about AKA Bistro in Lincoln? Great reviews and Sushi + French can't be that bad.
The atmosphere at J's at Nashoba is great for a special occasion.
Edit, sorry, missed the part about entertainment. I think Chloe has Jazz nights.
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AKA Bistro
145 Lincoln Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773
Boston Hound Needs Pittsburgh/South Hills Recs for 4th of July WE
I'm visiting family in Canonsburg and Bethel Park. I'm looking for two things. First, a family friendly Chinese place that has something closer to real Chinese food, but not too authentic that my parents and kids won't eat it. (That might be a pipe dream, it's hard to find here.)
Second, a place for my husband and I to go that will serve a later dinner so we got a prayer of going without the kids. A liquor license would help, since I'll probably need a stiff drink by day 3. Staying south of the city would be best, and we can always go to Washington. I am completely clueless as to what is in Pittsburgh now since I've been gone for decades. (Although I have been reading the boards and I am saddened that I won't have time to go down to the strip and try some Vietnamese sandwiches.)
Great place to take kids after the Discovery Museums or any time
Nancy's food is consistently good, but the service is the weak point. The only time when I've gone their for breakfast that someone asked if my coffee needed a refill was last week when Nancy herself was the server. She was excellent! But everyone else I've ever encountered really has not been suited for the job, and I've seen several servers there. She has an ad for servers, so I really hope she gets a good one. (Maybe one of you knows a semi-retired server in the area?)
new french bistro in Lincoln
OMG, it's got frog legs on the kids menu, I've got to go just for that! Maybe I can convince my 7 yo that they are chicken nuggets.
Thanks everyone for posting to this thread. This looks great and will have to check it out.
Tell me which Concord Area restaurants a Camberville Foodie would like?
The love for Julies is that is a cheap place to get breakfast in the AM, which you think there would be more of in the area. I don't love the food, I just don't want to spend $9 on 2 scrambled eggs, toast and homefries if they are only so-so, which it can be easy to do at other places. (some mornings my breakfast needs just aren't that complicated.) There is a diner in Clinton behind the post-office that I like on the week days, but that is a little further west.
Tell me which Concord Area restaurants a Camberville Foodie would like?
Well, as a person living in Stow I would say your best bet is to drive East along route 2 until you hit Arlington. .....
Other options include "J's" at Nashoba Winery in Bolton. The dinners can be a bit pricey, but they have a very nice brunch. Oishi in Sudbury is nice for Sushi. I really like Sorrento's brick oven pizza in Acton, there is one in Concord. You can also get pizzas made and ready to cook at home. There is Nancy's Airfield Cafe at Stow Airport. They have nice fresh ingredients and they serve dinner on Fri/Sat. I've only been there for breakfast, but I've sworn off them because the service is so mediocre (I should really have a waitress come by to offer me coffee once in 20 min when I wait for food, with only 2 other tables). I've been eating at the Stow Cafe on route 117 for breakfast. Nice Brazillian lady owns it and if they have the coconut french toast on the menu get it. Cast Iron Skillet in Maynard is good if you are picky about which small plates you order. Monsoon Indian is half bad at the Acton location, but not too happy about the Maynard one anymore. Daniella's in Acton is no longer, Julia's the breakfast place has expanded into their space. (Bad food, cheep Margarita's) Chloe's in Hudson was a real gem, but the owners had to reallign their expectations of price after they opened. They do have 3 wine dinner's on Wednesday I've heard are good, but I haven't been there in years. (Their Mac&Cheese was excellent.) If you are on 117 near the Stow/Bolton line and happen to see a sign outside Applefield's Farm Stand that says "Peggy's Eggrolls Today" STOP, get out, get the eggrolls.
where to buy a whole Goose?
You can check out the post I started last week, I did some research on prices for fresh goose. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/671937
Frozen is all going to be from South Dakota (here's one of the big places http://www.roastgoose.com/ordering.html, note you can get goose fat from them). Since goose are such a small market they tend to be labeling free-range, but all free range are not created equal. That's what you are going to get from Market Basket, Shaw's etc.
Wilson has fresh goose ($7/lb) from upstate NY, which I'm guessing is probably the same place Lobel's in NY City gets theres where you can mail order from for the same price. (+$20 shipping to Boston area, so it might be worth it to get it mailed depended on where you live.) I don't think Owen's poultry raises their own goose, but I could be wrong.
Savenors and Dewars has fresh Goose, but that runs between $10-12/lb, probably for the same goose as the other fresh ones. Whole foods no longer offers goose.
A while back Cooks Illustrated compared organic vs. free range vs. fresh vs frozen turkey. They said that the diffference was not detectable or not worht the price. I'm not sure how the goose goes. The only comparison I have of fresh vs. frozen was with fresh ones that I helped killed, so not a fair comparison.
Fresh Goose
OK, called a few more places:
Dewar is $12.99/lb, fresh
Mayflower has frozen for $6/lb, which are from the place in South Dakota, which I can get my my Shaws down the street, so not worth the trip into Cambridge.
Wilson has fresh ones from New York for $7, you need to pre-order. So Wilson is closer to me, off course the easiest would be to order from Lobels, which my guess is probably the same source as Wilson since they are in NY.
Called some farms I know, no one has Goose. I had a friend that raises them sometimes, but I've killed and plucked a goose and it NOTHING like a chicken. (Geese and ducks have not been bred to be de-feathered so easily, it's a nasty job that takes me at least an hour for a duck, more for a goose. So I'm not going with the poaching idea, well enough GOD KNOWS what those geese have been eating!)
Fresh Goose
I'm starting to look for fresh goose for Christmas. I figured I'd post what I found here to see if anyone has anything else to add.
Whole Foods: Was told that they don't have goose because it doesn't meet their "quality standards." Don't know what that means and there were a bit snotty about it. I guess all those other years they had it they must have dropped their standards.
Savenors: Got them, traditional 10-13 lb range: $10/lb
Owens Poultry Farm in Needham: 10-11 lbs, $7.50/lb
Internet options so far:
www.lobel.com: 10-12 lb goose, $79 + $27 shipping
if money was no object I would consider:
http://www.sassafrasvalleyfarm.com/
Which have Gascon geese that look great, but they run around $90 and shipping to us is around $80.
I still have to make some more phone calls, including Dewars, etc. These are all fresh geese, not frozen.
Apple Picking?
Being in ground zero apple picking (my property straddles Stow & Bolton) I vote for Carver Orchards. They are off the main road, but closer to route 2 and 495 than Honey Pot. They have ice cream and a few things in the store. I think they are the nicest orchards to just walk around and the owners are really nice.
Here is the web site: http://www.carverhill.com/
I boycott Honey Pot for several reasons. Including the rail-trail conversion was stalled because the old railroad runs through Honey Pot's orchards and the owner thinks people will come steal his apples. As opposed to him advertising for people to bring their bikes and make a day of it.
I
Dinner after O Ya in August
OK, just realized I posted in NE board, not Boston, AND I double posted. Sorry I took anyones time! Lesson to me, don't post after a night shift. Color me embarassed.
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So my husband and I are celebrating our 10th anniversary with two nights in Boston at the Liberty Hotel. We've decided to do the first night (a Friday) at O Ya, because, well we can actual justify the expense for this! And we have heard great things. We are looking for where to go the next night. Another couple is coming who and the price needs to be more reasonable, since the other couple has an unemployed member. Still nice, though, two of us have birthdays we celebrate together.
I was thinking something like Rendezvous Central Square, they have a Prix Fixe fo the summer. Last time I went to their Sunday Night Prix Frixe I had the most PERFECT steak fries ever. I mean, I am still trying to figure out how they got the texture inside so perfect with that amazing even brown crust. I know I had something else, but all I can think of are those fries.
So, other ideas? Could do North End I guess. I'm just trying to come up with something different enough from O Ya I won't be comparing, can get some drinks, nice surroundings, under $75 a person with drinks. We live withing an hour of Boston, we just don't come in as often as we like because of the kids. Oh, and if anyone wants to recommend things to try at O Ya, please feel free. We are sitting at the sushi counter.
Saturday Brunch/Lunch in Boston/Cambridge
We have a last minute offer to babysit from MIL so we can do brunch tomorrow. We would be hitting Boston around 11 am. One suggestion is Aquitaine, which I haven't been to in years, and never for brunch. All the places that I've been wanting to try are not going to be open. I'm not wedded to brunch. We are coming from Metrowest Acton way, so Cambridge is an option also.
Easter buffet brunch?
I'm a big fan of the Blue Room's Brunch. They only take reservations for larger groups I believe. (6?) Which means if you have 6 people it may not be booked up. Upstairs on the Square is also an idea, more expensive.
Of course I can't help but think that Maison Robert would be perfect for a prix fixe Easter Brunch, if it still existed. *sigh*
CSA 2009
Is the pickup for the Drumlin CSA far from the parking lot? The one time I saw them there was a big tent set up pretty farm inside the farm, which would add to pick up times when dragging two small kids with me. (Not to mention the "I want to see the cows/pigs/chickens/horse complaints") :)
CSA 2009
OK, so there is over a foot of snow on the ground (at least where I live), but it's time to start thinking about spring veggies, at least if you want to get space in a CSA. What are people signing up for this year? Were you happy or unhappy with your past year's pick?
I have gone with Stillman's for several years, but took a break last year. I'm in a curious position of being next to farms, but still being 1 hour round trip drive from a pick-up location. I'd be better off in JP at my old address. I was happy with my Stillman's half-share, but never had any other experience. I'm also considering Drumlin Farms and someone in my town is trying to get a group together for Heavens Harvest Farm. So I'm very interested in hearing from others what they are doing.
Brunch (jazz?) for 12+ Boston/Metrowest
I realized, while posting somewhere else, I never reported back and thanked people.
We wound up doing Bullfinches and cannot express how happy I was with them. Wound up with 30 people and had the whole back room, which is lovely. They let me pick a menu of 5 items and printed it out special. They combined one drink on me with an cash bar after that. It was complicated, but they did great! I cannot recommend them enough for an event. The back room would be lovely for a shower or something. They have benches with throw pillows, I very nice vibe and we didn't feel like we were disturbing the other patrons.
Cocktail & Apps tour downtown
My husband and I are escaping the x-burbs for a weekend soon. The bad news is it is 8/15 & 16 so we are hitting the tail end of restaurant week. We are going to L'Espalier 16th to celebrate our anniversary. Friday we wanted to just hit a few places for drinks and appetizers, maybe with some friends. We are staying at the Liberty Hotel, so we might end up at their bar (Alibi). I'd like to start at No.9 Park. I'm a little worried about the feasibility of my idea given it will be a Friday and places might be packed. Any suggestions of a few other places? Eastern Standard is an idea, but I'd like to stick to walking distance. Drink + app suggestions would also be welcome! I know it's the pear martini for me at No. 9.
Brunch (jazz?) for 12+ Boston/Metrowest
HeHe! Stairs! I'm going to have to tell my MIL that. She looks 50 at most and is always walking around in these 3 inch platform heels. Needless to say, she's not taking turning 70 well.
She didn't mention Bullfinches, and she's been there, but she did just mention the Acton Jazz Cafe yesterday. There were closed then reopened, so they could use the business. I will look into Lucky's and the others. I talked to someone about J's and they were cranky it was going to be around $25 for tax and tip. I hate trying to make everyone happy.....
Cocktail Recommendations at No. 9 Park?
Their Pear Martini is just one of my favorite cocktails. It might be a bit overdone now, but no one makes one as good as theirs. I have never been able to duplicate it at home to my satisfaction. I think they have a flight of cocktails, no? I'm sure they did once.
Brunch (jazz?) for 12+ Boston/Metrowest
So we are finally getting around to celebrating my mother in law's 70th Birthday. She wants to have a brunch and asked her friends and came up with Terry's Diner in Framingham, East Coast Grill & the Living Room. (I think she just asked her friends-the choices seem odd.) I don't think East Coast is a great fit, and if we are going into Cambridge we could do the Blue Room, but I think it is hard to set up a large table there and still talk to people. She's a jazz singer, so it would be nice to have a jazz brunch, so I guess Ryles is a possibility, but I've never had their brunch. We located in Stow, sort of north/west, so places out here would be possible. J's at Nashoba winery has a great brunch and right next door. We can get a private room, although a little pricey. So here is my want/ need list. I'm really out of touch with the brunch scene (having 2 preschoolers and all...)
-Can seat 12+ easily and still hold a conversation (reservations our must, no standing in line)
-Jazz music would be nice, but hat might give problems to the conversation thing
-Not too pricey, we can't afford to pay for everyone & would like it to be less than$20 (yes, know the blue room is more.)
-Metrowest would be good, or parking if in town for the suburbanites
-Need to at least be able to get a Mimosa
-Would be nice to bring the grandkids (1 1/2 and 5)
-Oh yeah, decent food!
I'm really coming up empty here, hope you all can help!
CSA Review
I've done Stillman's on/off for years now. I live out near their farm in Lunenburg, so I pick up there. Sometimes we don't do it for lifestlye/pickup schedule reasons. Very happy with their produce and picks for the week. Their newsletter is nice for those new to a CSA. Just got done with 6 months of Chestnut Farms CSA. As pp said, Kim is wonderful. We stopped not because of the meat quality, but my husband would like to eat less meat/more fish. Their lamb is really good. I can even get my husband to eat the chicken and he doesn't like chicken. Bacon was wonderful. I will probably try to give it another go when my kids get older and start eating more meat. I think the only difficulty with a meat CSA is I'm used to deciding what I want to cook for meat that week and getting it, so you have to work with what you get. Also, remember to thaw out the stuff ahead of time. I found soaking it in water to defrost effects the texture of the beef frequently, so it's hard to quick thaw on a whim.
Should I try the North End?
I swear I did I search and none of those popped up! Wow, your report on the North End was great, thanks for putting all that work in.
I looked at Gini's list and fell in love the the idea of a Peruvian/Italian menu and made reservations. Will keep your pastry list in mind for afterwards.
Stuck w/an electric stove (glass top) - how do I get lower temps?
I've always had gas until my current house. I have a Miele glass cooktop which I find excellent at low temps, in fact I consider it their strength over electric. I'm wondering if there is something wrong with your cooktop. Before I remodeled I had a cheap Kenmore glasstop which also had no problems with simmer.
Should I try the North End?
I find myself in the awkward position of booking a babysitter 6 weeks ago and not actually making plans for anything. So I got four people and no plans for Saturday night. The other couple is keen on the North End. I've had good meals there, but I've never picked a place, so I'm clueless. It's got such a Disneyland feel I really dread finding a good meal, well enough one that will have open spots for Saturday. Someone was trying to talk me into Sel de la Terre, which I know isn't the north end. I tried searching old posts, but didn't get much. (Except NYE recommendations and dinner for 60)
Any help is greatly appreciated.
cookbook for beginner cook - help!
The Cook's Bible, by Christopher Kimball is my go to book for people who are afraid to cook. The pictures aren't pretty and they aren't a lot of recipes. But what there is are basic with a very good explanation of why the recipe should be that way. There is a perfectionist quality that can be a bit overdone, but I think it is a good fundamental book. It also does not assume any knowledge base and the chapters on cuts of meat, etc. can be very helpful.
