The 88 Bus runs directly from Davis up Highland Street to Highland Kitchen, 10 minutes tops. Or a good long walk. Expect to wait for a table, but the cocktails will keep you busy. Kick-Ass Cupcakes for dessert on the way home. The deep fried cupcake sundae is (drool) awfully interesting.
www.highlandkitchen.com
www.kickasscupcakes.com

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Highland Kitchen
150 Highland Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

Jaspar White's at the Summer Shack in Cambridge's Fresh Pond area are pretty damn good. That enormous industrial scale room still turns me off, but the seafood is always fresh and prepared with great respect. Doesn't hurt that there is a ton of parking there, and access via the Minuteman Bike Path or it's mere steps away from the Alewife stop on the Red Line.

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Summer Shack
149 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02140

My husband swears that I'm trying to express deliver him to boot hill, but I go for salted mozzarella -- a slight saltiness is part of pizza. For variety I might use a good fontina for stronger flavor and sensuous meltiness. For the sauce, I generally like to make a quick sauce with strained crushed San Marzano canned tomatoes in a skillet with extra virgin olive oil and fresh garlic cloves minced on a board sprinkled with (yes!) sea salt. Stir in some chopped fresh basil if you have it just before spreading on the pizza dough. God, is dinner ready yet?

And when in Ogunquit, how about the fabulous Arrows, run by Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier, a gay couple themselves? http://www.arrowsrestaurant.com/index...

Oh, don't give up on Upstairs! I lunch there with friends weekly, and have dinner there perhaps monthly. Have also brought groups of family and friends, and they have handled us well. Matthew is indeed solid gold, as is Mary-Catherine, one of the two owners that you will see up front. Marcie is often hostess at the door with dark hair, very thoughtful. By the way, favorite lunch standards are the flash-in-the-pan salmon, or the salad nicoise.

As a recent NYC visitor had a fabulous evening at Gascogne, a warm late summer evening in their intimate garden. Outstanding on all counts: menu, wine, meal presentation and flavor, flawless service, intimate garden (indoors looked atmospheric as well). I'll look for a chance to get back on a future trip.

Coming to SF at the end of this week, got to have my coffee route planned into the itinerary. Usually hit Ritual in Valencia, but have gotta give Four Barrel a try. Is their new coffee bar on 375 Valencia open for business yet, or are they still operating out of the temporary outlet?

When is a General Store in a sleepy hill town more than a General Store? When it's Elmer's Store in Ashfield, MA. I was out that way for a class reunion and needed to get a dinner for 16 catered. There are few catering options out there in the serious rural setting but someone recommended Elmer's. What a discovery. They produced two large pans of very deep dish layered lasagnas, one vegetarian and one rich in ground beef that were huge hits amongst all our diners, along with a pan of grilled summer vegetables that were beautiful and delicious. The charge was only $16 per person, and we might have been able to feed another dozen folks with the leftovers.

But catering is not their main thing: they have a terrific casual country dining room with a meny featuring wholesome organic produce from local farms -- they support the local and sustainable agriculture ethic. The shop also offer local products for retail sales. It is becoming something of a cultural center, with local artists' works prominently displayed for sale. The weekend of our reunion coincided with a Blues Festival that they put on, extremely well attended -- they took over the town -- featuring Chris Smithers performing. The owner, Nan, was apparently Arts Director for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and retains her New Orleans connections -- plans on continuing to sponsor music events, and to feature cajun influences on the menu.

Check them out if you have a chance anytime you're in Western Massachusetts -- quite close to Amherst, Northampton, Greenfield and Deerfield. Also an easy detour for leaf peepers in autumn on the Mohawk Trail.

www.ElmersStore.com

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Elmer's Store
396 Main, Ashfield, MA

Gus Rancatore is the guy who runs Toscanini's He also used to run the SomedayCafe in Davis Square.

We're coming into Toronto from Cambridge, MA for a long weekend, as we try to do annually. We always hit Bulldog for espresso and Oyster Boy for Oyster Boy, but looking to try some new things. Gave up on Le Select ages ago, but used to love it, so thining of La Coquine and Citizen as possible replacements for the bistro thing. Also want to try Starfish as a counterpoint to Oyster Boy. We hear that Manic for espresso is a necessary check. Whaddya think, 'Hounds? Comments and suggestions?

To round out the picture, we're staying at the Drake on W Queen, but are very mobile. We like somewhat casual, fine cuisine, never the chains but love the funky off-beat. Good wine list a definite plus. Patio dining and we're in bliss. If you have a great Japanese place to try that's not too formal, we're there. Thanks ahead of time.

Geez, I always wince when I hear Emack & Bolio up there -- I just never thought their base mix made the cut. And yet hounds with otherwise discriminating ice cream palates often include them. I would honestly like to hear a little patter about specific appeals of E&B...?

I mean, ice cream, I like 'em all. Herrell's is my top though. Also enjoying Richardsons over at the Davis Square theatre.

Interestingly quite a lot of the big name chefs in Mexican food are not Mexican, don't know what that's about. But I have no question that Erwin has a pursues the development of his cuisine with a passion -- whether it suits your tastes or meets your standards of authenticity, that's a personal thing that I respect. No question he's a level above the usual Tex Mex fare (to which I concede also is a guilty pleasure at times, i.e. Jose's on Sherman St in Cambridge). And if he develops personal recipes beyond traditional, doesn't offend me. I do respect that he makes frequent trips to Mexico to develop his cuisine and bring back authentic ingredients. I do also enjoy Tu y Yo in Powderhouse Sq near Tufts quite a lot, although I like Ole's atmosphere more.

argh, sorry mce1215, I was just given the good word that the recipes distributed at class are for personal use only, and expressly not allowed for mass publication -- gotta respect the source I guess. If it's any consolation, it's probably a two day process and some 26 ingredients, not something one would use frequently (though quite delicious).

On my way out to dinner just now, will post it tomorrow sometime if you'd like to check back then. MANY ingredients, requiring patience, but quite delicious.

If you're quick about it, you may be in time to sign up for a mexican cooking lesson with Erwin Ramos, head chef and owner of Ole in Inman Square. The next session is Tuesday, May 20 from 6:30 to 9:00, cost of $70 includes hearty eating including salsa & chips, appetizer, main course. Cash bar. This lesson will feature TAMALES, a dish routinely butchered at most Mexican restaurants, but Erwin does particularly well -- he mentioned working with Kathleen Kennedy on the dish a couple of weeks ago in New York.

I was invited to attend a previous cooking session on mole sauce and it was outstanding. The crowd is small, like 15 or 16, mostly folks with links to Edible Boston magazine and also a Slow Foods group. Erwin was great with lots of info and technique, plenty of opportunity for hands on. Had the back room all to ourselves, and with the margaritas nearby we had an especially fun time. Highly recommended.

To sign up, or to get info on future sessions: carlha@verizon.net with your contact information.

Info on Ole Mexican Grill at www.olegrill.com

I like your style, cheapertrick. Absolutely agree that cold brew is essential for clean tea flavors, as well as a clear (non-cloudy) beverage. Thanks for the lead on the Hario pitchers, I've been a long time looking for something like this.

Ah, Rose mint tea! A dear friend of mine is a regular at the NO festival, raves about the iced tea, and one year brought home a jar so we could experiment as none of the vendors were giving away trade secrets. We tried lots of things, including rose hips, lemon grass, etc. -- don't know if we can duplicate it but the KEY was HIBISCUS for the slightly sweet tart flavor (go to www.uptontea.com if you want to order some at reasonable rates), with some spearmint tea also purchased from Upton Tea.

I've been pondering the same question, know that my kid will be going to college at Eugene Lang. Haven't done any sampling yet, but plan to be guided by a very recent article from www.CoffeeGeek.com that you may want to check out: http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/pa... where they mention Cafe Grumpy, Ninth Street Espresso, Joe-The Art of Coffee.

Similar theme mentioning many of the same spots in NYTimes article back in 9/13/2006 titled Expresso's New Wave Hits Town -- if you give me an email address, I can send you a copy, or if you're a subscriber run a search. A nice quote, on what separates mentioned shops from their peers: "It's ingredients, equipment and technique. But its also attitude that combines craftsmanship and artistry."

It's that mad busy season, and here we are trying to throw a casual Saturday lunch party for daughter's graduation -- no way we have time to do it ourselves. Any suggestions on a good caterer who can deliver to our N. Cambridge home? I was thinking of asking Vicki Lee in Belmont, just off the top of my head. We're looking at about 30-40 people; my kitchen will be too small with a houseful of guests to actually cook in so food will need to be prepared off premises.

Woodman's is the iconic for lobster in the rough and clams for generations. It's location is also good for folks interested in cruising the antique shops in Essex village. But for both food and atmosphere, my personal favorite is a little further down the road to Farnham's. It's a rural feeling site right on the salt marsh, picnic tables outside there if the weather cooperates; absolutely my choice for fried clams. But there are no absolutes in that regard, it's all personal, and it's all been debated on these boards many times before, including at these links:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/337970
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/151358

Oh, you should make a point to check out Route 1 sometime! It's classic American car-oriented commercial strip, lots of traffic, lots of big signs. There's some interesting Americana to be found (the famous Hilltop Steakhouse in Mass. with the life-sized plastic cows and neon cactus). In the southern Maine area you will find the Kittery Outlets -- true shopping mania, and since I'm a non-shopping type I avoid it like the plague, but my visitors often love checking it out. The folks from Iowa might truly love that, along with Bob's Clam Shack (which really is very very good), the quick drive down towards York Beach with the photogenic Nubble Lighthouse at the point on the end could round out the day. Even York Harbor with some of the old historic Big Houses. You could keep driving a short way north and see Ogunquit, and even Kennebunk where you could find the Bush family compound. There's some really fine nature walks nearby, but probably not for a March visit. All in all, a lot of decent options for what you seek in March.

Agree, Steinpilz, no burn intended. My experience with the food is that it is very good indeed. And it's a mile from my house. Which makes it frustrating to me that the ambience is so jarring. The food at the places I mentioned ranges from good to mediocre at best, I'm just thinking of Iowa, and looking for that New England salt-air experience.

Tough time of year. But if you are determined, and coming from Nashua, I'd consider heading over to the Portsmouth/York/Kittery area, not too bad a drive and a real sense of New England coast.

In Portsmouth, the old standby is Warren's http://www.lobsterhouse.com/, but there are lots of places with good seafood, and historic Portsmouth is distinctively ye olde Newe England for Iowans to stroll around in.

Cape Neddick Lobster Pound is on the coast just north of York, ME, another old stand-by, great coastal drive as well, lighthouses at Cape Neddick and York.

I'm sure they'd love the food in either of the above, but I am a little fussy. I'd prefer Bob's Clam Shack for the food, although the location on Rt. 1 is very .... Rt. 1, if you know what I mean. Still, a very short hop to the real shore. http://bobsclamhut.com/

Less shack, and more upscale is the York Harbor Inn: http://www.yorkharborinn.com/ and also upscale and very cool is Lydia Shire's new place on Short Sand's is Blue Sky on York Beach http://www.blueskyonyorkbeach.com/ind...

The other thought that comes to mind is more of the working harbor theme, take Rt. 3 down to Rt 128 north out to Gloucester/Rockport, or even Essex (best clams, but atmosphere is subtller salt marsh feel).

I would avoid the Jasper White's -- the food is quite good, but the ambience is ... annoying, loud, too large. And not authentic waterfront feel.

1369, people, for heaven's sake! The 1369 coffee house, in Central Square across from the post office and also Inman Square at (where else?) 1369 Cambridge Street, right at the main crossroads there. www.1369coffeehouse.com/ None of that burnt Starbucks swill.

Also well worth a visit is Diesel Cafe in Davis Square, across from Starbucks on Elm Street -- best hangout for coffee in the area. Check out the pool tables, and the photo booth in back. http://www.diesel-cafe.com/

And yes, everyone genuflect when the name George Howell comes up, truly a pioneer in GOOD American coffee.

I would second that nomination of Trattoria Pulcinella. The menu is always interesting and varies seasonally, good variety, lots of specials. If it's not on the menu, Omar is always happy to meet requests (my husband is a sap for seafood fra diavolo on fettucini). Omar is also really helpful with wine recommendations. Reservations usually available even on short notice, and if it's not peak hours, walk in possible. It's a comfortable neighborhood place. Not budget prices, but reasonable. I'd give it a solild 8 of 10 stars.

A friend always has it at the NOJazz & Heritage fest ... the rose mint tea! We experimented a bit at home to recreate the recipe, and she tells me we are not quite there yet. Can't be all that complicated, can it? I'm guessing that there is spearmint (duh), maybe rose hips, but I think it's hibiscus that gives it that pink tang.

Repeated googling gets me nowhere. If 'Hounds can't do it, no one can!

I have business/pleasure in the Conway Massachusetts area in early February, staying at what looks like a nice little inn, the Nestle Inn in Conway. I'd like to take some friends out for dinner and looking for suggestions. I'd like to avoid the Amherst/Northampton/Greenfield area, but I appreciate that Conway is a bit in the middle of the foothills with not a lot of civilization (which is why we want to be there...). Would hope that the drive would be no more than half an hour from Conway Center, but I realize that I may have to be flexible. Any thoughts out there?

If you're staying at Harvard, I'm sure someone will suggest Mr. Bartley's Burgers -- often listed in the best burgers categories; I wouldn't go that far, but it's a classic Harvard stop, expect a smoosh. Folks will also point you to Legal Seafood's outlet in the Charles Hotel there, the fish couldn't be fresher and the menu is extensive, but I can't stand the place myself. More likely to look at Charlie's saloon across the way for their double lobster roll special. Yeah, it's a bit of a dive, working class heroes and harvard kids, but you never know... there was that night when Steve Martin and Tommy Lee Jones were holed up in a booth at the back. I second the Chez Henri suggestion for cubanos, and highly recommend the (crowded) bar over the (crowded) restaurant side.

Speaking of crowds, my favorite local seafood is the East Coast Grill over in Inman Square. The bad news is -- no subway. But it's a cheap cab or a quite long walk from Harvard, and Chris Schlesinger knows what he's doing there. Always very very crowded, but we've done well going in early, like before 7pm. You'll find lots of good Portuguese and Brazilian down that way too, O Cantinho being a favorite.

Consider going a little out of Harvard Square on the Red Line. Central Square has lots of good eats, although the atmosphere is a lot more edgy -- must be the concentrations of wet shelters that the Peoples Republic boasts. If you hop over to Davis Square (Tuftsville) you'll find it jumping especially at night, livelier scene than Harvard and a little less intimidating to visitors than Central Sqaure -- Redbones BBQ has some pretty good pulled pork (very casual), and Diesel has the best coffee around, far superior to Starbucks across the road (except maybe 1369 in Central Square) and some decent sandwiches.

A breathlessly muggy night in Cambridge, almost 90 degrees at 6pm, and even with AC I am not up for cooking. Looking for a civilized meal, but wanting an informal atmosphere to just hang out. Any number of friends had mentioned Bistro 5 nearby in West Medford (Tufts-ville, for the academic crowd), and it seemed as good a time to try it as any.

We had a fine experience. I've now re-read some mixed reviews from years past on these boards, -- and while I will grant you that it may not always attain the culinary heights to which they aspire, we had a very satisfying dining experience, just what we were looking for.

I should note that this is restaurant week, so our thirty dollar meal (before wine) is not typical -- if you 're interested in current menus, check their web site, because they do change seasonally: http://www.bistro5.com We frankly are not big restaurant week fans, tend to eat where we like when we like and not worry a lot about the bill; restaurant week brings out the crowds, good for the restaurants but not the best for reclusive cranks like us.

Still, we were able to easily get a last minute reservation for 8pm, even as the restaurant was quite full. The neighborhood ain't glamourous, but it's in a handsome Victorian brick commercial block, interior is warm and intimate and still quite contemporary-- the place had personality. Greeted cordially, seated comfortably, service was prompt and highly attentive. We ordered our dinners and wine, and enjoyed the homemade bread and white bean/evoo dip. Our server came over to advise that the pinot grigio we'd ordered was out, but had brought two small glasses of alternatives for us to sample (he insisted that we not order either if they were just acceptable, he wanted us to love them, and offered to bring more alternative tastings if we wished). A nice gesture, and we did enjoy one of the two indeed.

To start: we shared his fried calamari -- very light and crisp, with a sweet and spicy cherry tomato chutney that was excellent, and my fresh spinach salad with thin slices of pear, toasted hazlenuts, their own cured proscuitto (yum), and pickled onion.

Entrees were his perfectly seared scallops paired nicely with saffron gnocchi w/ chorizo, peppers, onion. Mine was the Kurobuta pork loin in a luscious light and flavorful sage seasoned sauce, served with a very interesting crepe stuffed with goat cheese. I should note that I particularly appreciated the sauces for both dishes, in that they were seasoned with a light hand that complemented the foods without overwhelming them; and the herb flavors while subtle were very fresh.

Our server graciously offered that we might like to pause to enjoy the last of our wine before dessert, and we appreciated the invitation to linger. My dessert was fitting for the hot summer night: I thoroughly enjoyed a scoop of homemade lemon gelati with tiny slivers of rind alongside fresh plump local berries sprinkled over a small pool of zabaglione. Can't remember what he had, but he sure enjoyed whatever it was-- I think something chocolate/banana/ creme brulee?

Would we return? Without question. To be honest, it would not likely be our destination for a special occasion so much as just wanting a very fine and casual meal locally away from the frenzy. The setting and service were top notch. The chef impressed us as being creative without going flashy, with a refined sense of balance in flavors, textures, appearance. Love that everything is "from scratch", that locally grown is important, and that they indulge the harvest of the season in menu planning. The rooms offered very private and intimate nooks and more open spaces that still retained a sense of warmth and casual elegance. The Bistro 5 is a welcome addition to our list of favorite local dining spots.