Thanks everyone--turns out that my husband's colleague was delayed in Europe, which pushed back his trip a day, but I appreciate all of your suggestions and look forward to jumping back into the Boston dining scene. You've given me several new (to me) places to explore.

Sorry--forgot to mention a couple more things:

I see you're planning Thursday at L'Arcangelo, which I'm assuming is no coincidence, and that you're planning to have their wonderful gnocchi. I had lunch there (also on a Thursday by design) and thought they served some of the best gnocchi I've ever had. I didn't try their suppli, which I am regretting to this day.

I would try to fit L'Asino d'or into your plans if you can. I know that not everyone loves it, but you would be hard-pressed to match that price for a comparable lunch. The portions are on the smallish side, which I actually thought was a good thing--many times, I was too full from lunch to have dinner.

For picnic items, you might want to check out Beppe i suoi formaggi, or Guadeo for sandwiches. There's also a place near the Spanish Steps that I haven't tried but is supposed to do nice picnic lunches, but I can't remember the name. Perhaps someone can help out?

I haven't been to a tasting at Roscioli (though I have eaten there and enjoyed it), so I can't compare the two tastings, but I did the My Italians class at Vinoroma with my husband, and we thought it was a great experience. One thing that I especially liked was that Hande took some background info from everyone, learned that my husband had spent a great deal of time in the Langhe region in Piemonte, and swapped out one of the original choices for something less familiar to him. It also gave us a chance to tour her wine cellar. I think the Vinoroma classes are more informative, less social than some classes I've taken, and I'm guessing that the Roscioli tasting might be--as you said--simply for fun.

A little more detail would be helpful--e.g., are you staying in a hotel or an apartment? If the latter, are you amenable to cooking dinner in the apartment or procuring prepared foods? You say you're looking for "fantastic" food, but at what price point/range? Any food preferences? Have you reviewed similar posts for ideas?

I'm not discouraging you, as I've travelled to Italy with my kids since the eldest was the same age as yours, but it does take some thoughtful planning, in my opinion. You need to take into account Rome's relatively late dining hour, your child's sleep schedule (which may be seriously disrupted by travel), etc.

That said, I would say not Roscioli--the space is narrow and crowded and not conducive to a stroller. I had a Sunday afternoon pranzo at Flavio al Velavevodetto last year, and it was filled with families of all ages--plus there is a small terrace in front for a small walking break.

Hope this helps you get started.

I would absolutely agree with your assessment of NYAJ, though I can only speak for the Hyannis location. It's always been perfectly adequate, especially for an impromptu evening out, and particularly when my now-older teens were younger and pickier. Ditto for Bertucci's (Hingham location--have had not so great experiences at others) and even Panera. Would I choose these for a date night? Of course not. Quick meal with the kids? Sure.

DH has a 7:30 flight, so leaning more toward 4-ish would be better. I guess that means something continuously open/serving throughout the afternoon.

I've been wanting to try Myers + Chang; have tried (and liked) Penang; not familiar with Montien but will check it out. Not familiar with Scampo either.

Thanks for the ideas. I am SO out of the Boston restaurant scene.

Hello, Boston 'Hounds,
I haven't lived in Boston since grad school (over 25 years now) and don't spend nearly as much time as I'd like in Boston, since my husband commutes there from Cape Cod during the week, and the last thing he wants to do on a weekend is head back into town. DH has a business trip with a Sunday evening departure from Logan, and since he has to be traveling on Father's Day, we thought a late lunch before his trip would be good. I'm looking for some ideas, with the following constraints:

--We'd like a late lunch, not brunch;
--We are a party of four: DH and me plus two older teens;
--DH doesn't like seafood. I would not call the teens adventurous eaters, but not overly picky either;
--We like authentic Italian, having travelled extensively throughout Italy. No red sauce Italian-American, please. (I hate paying for a meal when the kids tell me that mine is much better.)
--We would be open to various Asian cuisines.

Years ago (before kids) DH and I used to like Hamersleys, No. 9 Park, and Lumiere . More recently, we have been to Sportello (o.k., not great) and Erbaluce (pretty good; would like to return when we aren't rushing out to a show).

Any ideas for a late Sunday lunch for Dad? Thanks.

I would second Monti. Yes, it has become more hip and gentrified, but I found it a very comfortable neighborhood when I spent a week in Rome last spring before my husband joined me. Lots of comfortable spots to hang out; very walkable but also accessible to public transportation; many choices for dining; close to many sightseeing destinations but not itself overrun with crowds of tourists. I felt very safe and comfortable there as a solo woman traveler.

That's true about the bulk purchases--it takes money to save money. Perhaps you could pair up with a similarly-situated friend and swap?

I lived on very little money while in graduate school, so I know what you're dealing with. Homemade soups are great, as are lentils, chickpeas, quinoa. If you have a freezer, it's easy to make large quantities of chicken stock and vegetable stock from leftovers and scraps. (I still do this.)

The good thing is that, if you know how to cook, you can have a very healthy diet, since a SNAP budget doesn't allow for pricy, processed foods.

My 16-year-old son requested a coconut cake for his birthday, so I made Ina Garten's version from Barefoot Contessa at Home. Very easy to make and quite yummy. Also made a batch of brownies so the chocolate lovers in attendance wouldn't feel deprived. Next will be baking something with the rhubarb from my CSA share.

Even though we're in New England, I will probably cut down on baking shortly. I plan to focus on ice cream, gelato, and fresh fruit desserts this summer (although will probably make some pound cake or shortbread to serve with the fruit). I may also experiment with our outdoor, wood-fired pizza oven, although that's better for roasting rather than baking.

I, too, would recommend giving Sostanza a try. We had avoided it for many years after a visit with my then-toddler son, when we felt distinctly unwelcomed. Finally went back a year ago in April (sans kids, but they're older teens now, so can't compare) and were so happy we did. The butter chicken was to die for; great food overall--also a friendly, cozy space; very warm and welcoming this time. Had a lovely chat with a regular at the next table. Perfect experience all around.

I prefer a baked version myself, preferably with a mixture of cheeses, but my kids absolutely love the Panera mac and cheese. It's become a staple in my home.

Cape Cod Guy nailed it. While Ital/American "red sauce" cuisine is not my personal favorite (having travelled extensively in Italy for 20+ years), that's exactly what the North End is all about. It's also a fun place to wonder around, and still pretty vibrant despite increasing gentrification--unlike NYC's Little Italy, which is now almost completely subsumed by Chinatown.

We made an impromptu dining decision and hit Alberto's for the tail end of restaurant week. $29 for a selection of appetizers and (big) selection of entrees, plus dessert off the regular menu. Additionally, a free bottle of wine (for two diners) from a limited selection or a $20 credit toward any wine from their list. I thought that was a very good value, and I was happy with the food. My husband and I had the daily soup special (white bean with greens) and son had the bruschetta. Next, husband had the saltimbocca, son had gnocchi, and I had orvieto (a shellfish dish over gnocchi). All very tasty. As my last dinner there was decidedly underwhelming, I think they redeemed themselves on this visit.

Sur La Table sells brown sugar savers (sometimes called brown sugar moisture stones) that I have found very effective. I just substitute a Ziploc bag for the original plastic packaging and store on the pantry shelf in its original box. If you need to soften brown sugar in a hurry (unlike the apple or bread methods), the microwave works well. Just microwave some water and a separate container of brown sugar, and you'll have soft brown sugar in a couple of minutes.

I definitely agree with Jen about having the main meal at lunch, both because of the late dining hour and because it breaks up the day for the kids. All the better if you find a restaurant with air conditioning. If your kids are anything like mine, they'll be happy to sit for a leisurely lunch with AC.

Places that we always found very kid-friendly in Florence, as well as reasonably priced, are Casalinga, Da Sergio, and Armando al Pantheon. I have NOT checked August closings, though.

I haven't been to Parma for awhile, though it is a lovely city, but I remember walking my then-toddler in a huge park not far from the historical center. You can't go wrong with sampling the prosciutto and parmigiano reggiano on a picnic.

I checked out the offerings and they weren't that exciting. Boston Restaurant Week is much better.

Hopeful that the board will liven up soon with the approaching summer.

Fancy meeting you here on the Boston board. I'm a bit out of touch with the Boston scene, since the last thing my commuting husband wants to do on the weekend is head back into Boston, but Aquitaine might be nice. (Let me know if you go--I'm hoping to introduce my kids to some French food before our trip to Montreal and Quebec City.)

I was once a picky eater myself, and so was my son (now 15). Although I swore I wouldn't be the kind of parent who made separate meals for my child, I ended up doing it, too, for the same reasons as you. I'm writing first to reassure you that he will eventually grow out of this--it may not be until the adolescent growth spurt kicks in, but it will happen. The most important thing is not to stress or obsess about it. The more you do, the worse he will be, and you'll get into this vicious cycle that keeps you from enjoying mealtime. Mine lived on cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples, and sliced red peppers for a LONG time. Next he branched out to pasta, and we were off and running.

There is much research about getting kids to try new foods, and you need to keep offering the new food multiple times--I forget the number, but it was around a dozen. So--for now--take JulieJulez' suggestion about adding to the rice, albeit slowly and gradually and take it one step at a time. I'm not sending you any recipes because I don't think there are any magic foods that any toddler will eat, although I will suggest trying Panera's mac and cheese recipe, which is very popular and readily available online.

I would try to focus on nutrient-dense foods so that you get the best bang for your buck nutritionally. Make sure he takes a multivitamin, at least until his eating habits are better. Avoid between-meal snacks and especially fruit juice. And most of all, try to relax. You will get through this.

Just to follow up: I stopped by Fromage a Trois today. It is temporarily closed, but there's a sign on the door stating that it will be open sometime in May ("5/?/13"). Regularity of hours has always been a bit of an issue here--less a problem for me, since I'm only minutes away, but I would call first before making a special trip.

Awesome summary. Although the meat selection at the Barnstable Market is much smaller than that at its sister store, Peterson's, there is often more available than on display. My husband invited a friend to dinner the other night, and I had only 4 veal chops (purchased at Roche Brothers) for the family. I didn't want to run all the way back to RB, so I checked at the market--none on display, but they cut me my "emergency" veal chop on premises. Plus, they'll get anything that Peterson's has available.

I heard that the pasta and cheese shop in West Barnstable (Fromage a Trois) has closed again, but I haven't been by to verify. Will check and report back.

I'm going to weigh in briefly on the anonymity issue. First, I'm a poster, not a blogger, with no professional food connections. Second, and more importantly, I post as "lisaonthecape" for the same reason I don't have a telephone listing in my name--to limit access to my personal data. As a litigator for my state's child support enforcement agency, my job frequently involves seeking jail sentences for people who don't pay their child support. The less these folks know about my personal life, the better.

Actually, although I've seen veal or chicken marsala in Italian-American restuarants served over pasta, I wouldn't say it's really traditional. In Italy, you would traditionally start with your primo (soup, risotto, pasta, etc.) then follow with your secondo as a separate course. If you want to serve 2 courses like that, risotto would make a fine first course. If, however, you want a side with the chicken marsala, why not rice or orzo?

Sorry I can't offer any dining tips (we usually just did day trips in this area and returned to our rented cottage for dinner), but since you have a car, I would pack up a picnic lunch and take a drive into the Garfagnana, perhaps around Barga. There's also an enoteca, Vecchio Mulino, in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana that Faith Willinger recommended. (Note: her book is about 5 years old, and I haven't checked sources for updated information.) Dinner in Lucca is a possibility, if that's not too far for you.

Fair enough; I appreciate your comment. (BTW: I've never taken a food tour with Katie Parla, although I might like to do so in the future. I did take a wine tasting with vinoroma and enjoyed it tremendously.)

I'll get you started with a few suggestions for places I know best.

In Florence, I'm very fond of Da Sergio. It's very well-located, just behind San Lorenzo, and has all the Florentine classics. Mario is worth a visit for lunch, too, but you want to get there just as it opens. Not fine dining and not a place to linger, but if you want an inexpensive but good lunch, it's a good choice. I also had a great lunch at Cipolla Rossa last spring. Another favorite is Sostanza--great steaks, and the butter chicken is to die for. If you're looking for an "off hours" meal, Coquinarius is good and one of the few places worthwhile near Il Duomo.

If you're in Rome on a Thursday, the gnocchi at L'Arcangelo are wonderful. Trattoria Monti is very good, too. Armando al Pantheon is always a reliable choice (and very well-located).

Cinque Terre is so overrun with tourists that it's tough to recommend a particular place. Barberinibee is a good source of info for Liguria, though.

Just to get you started....

Not intending to be rude, but "any type of food in any type of setting" isn't going to get you much response here. You need to spend some time searching each city/area, developing some lists of places you're considering, then sending a much more directed inquiry--through separate posts--for each area. That will get you some helpful information. Use the search feature in the upper right corner to get started.

My understanding is that ParlaFood will be less focused on Rome and more on other cities. Katie also collaborates with Irene de Vette, Sarah May Grunwald, Hande Leimer (vinoroma to CH folks), and Gina Tringali on the newly-launched Rome Digest, which obviously focuses specifically on Rome.

We've just returned to the East Coast (Cape Cod) after a week of wonderful eating.

We had dinner at Cotogna one night, and it was everything we had hoped for. We each had an appetizer, a pasta and dessert. Of the appetizers, my favorite was the carrot sformato (my choice), which was wonderfully rich and creamy. All the pastas were excellent: my agnolotti dal plin was the best I've had since I was in Piemonte. The torta di pignoli was also scrumptious, topped with lavender gelato. Sometimes a long-awaited dinner raises expectations, which are not always met, but not the case here.

Also had a great dinner at Barbacco another night. We especially loved the affetati, which were very high-quality, and of course the famous Brussels sprouts. We overordered and ended up taking half our meal home, but it made a nice lunch the next day.

We had promised our son a dim sum lunch during our visit, so we decided to spring for Yank Sing. We were headed to the SFMoma, so we went to the Rincon Center location. Yes, it's pricy for dim sum, but the quality of the food was great. Especially enjoyed the Peking duck and the dry-fried green beans. My son said it was the best he'd had since he was in China last spring.

Another delicious lunch was at Osteria del Forno, which I always visit when in San Francisco. To me, it is a truly authentic Italian trattoria, not a tarted-up American idealization. The gnocchi with gorgonzola and sage were delicious, the lightness of the gnocchi offset by the rich sauce.

Finally, had a lovely dinner at Chiaroscuro in the Financial District with some friends from college. I haven't seen this place mentioned on the board, but my friends go there regularly and it did not disappoint. Standouts included a wonderful selection of cheeses, rabbit prepared two ways (duetto di cogniglio), and the best hazelnut gelato I've ever tasted.

All in all, a very good week of food. Thanks to all of the local posters; your comments were very helpful in planning our week.

Couldn't agree more. I'll skip the entire sad saga of my birthday dinner (La Civetta was closed) and note that I made my own tagliatelle and country ragu as a consolation the next day.My temporary solution is to get off Cape Cod. We're heading to San Francisco for April (school) vacation and are excited to explore the dining scene there: reservations at Cotogna, dim sum in Chinatown, Barbacco and more.