dchow's Profile
Best spots to buy culinary herbs (to grow)
allandale farm in brookline . . . i went looking for 2 tomato plants and spent a little too long deciding among the great varieties (i ended up with 3, along with a few other things). you'll probably do the same if you go looking for herbs there.
Maine Shrimp 2012... Can't wait!
just got some at $4/half pound at the cambridge winter farmers market today. shoulda bought more!
Tender Shortbread?
my favorite and simplest (ingredient-wise) is the recipe from the tartine cookbook. it's pretty essential to press the dough into your pan very evenly, or else the shortbread will bake unevenly. also, as per the instructions, cut the shortbread while it's still warm (i use a bench knife) or else you'll end up with not-so-neat pieces when it has cooled. totally worth it, though. buttery, tender, flaky, simple.
Chicken Fried Steak?
i had my last boston-area chicken-fried steak at chili's, a dallas-based chain . . . and i'm a native dallasite. it's not the best, but there was a bit of childhood nostalgia eating it there . . . and then walking out into the copley mall (hey, it's easy to get to!). i've only made it in my own kitchen before that -- but now i will have to at least check out the deluxe town diner.
Where can I buy espresso powder?
dairy fresh in the north end and both capone's locations sell the powder.
Which ice cream cone do you go out of your way for?
the furthest i've been for ice cream was at crescent ridge in sharon. took us about 45 minutes to get there, but it was worth it. can't remember the flavor name, but i know it had caramel, fudge, and huge, toasted whole almonds in the vanilla ice cream. we had to visit it after enjoying their quarts from whole foods (only 3 flavors offered at the brighton whole foods -- vanilla, chocolate, rocky road). fresh, delicious, friendly service, huge serving (practially a pint teetering atop a cone).
1/1/08 Dim Sum fun times at Gitlo's
the shiu mai that we had that were too big were the taro ones. they look like ghosts in the steamer (they're steamed upside-down). my favorite dishes there are the XO sauce daikon cake (i like the way they're cut into cubes and then pan-fried -- more crispy goodness) and the cantonese dumplings (thanks, sg, for ordering them for me last week!).
Tomato Powder
plum produce in the south end makes various vegetable and herb powders -- you *might* want to check them out.
Need a Korean market - desperately!
in addition to the reliable market, i also really like the village food mart in brookline village, though it might be a little out of your way. good frozen dumplings and delicious prepared foods in the back of the store.
dallas/plano/richardson eats -- it's been a long time!
paid a visit to the motherland after three years (i live in boston now) . . . here's what i ate:
tacos (9!) at el paisano taqueria (lombardy and webb chapel) -- 1 al pastor, 4 chicken, and 4 beef. my first time to have chicken tacos, delicious. also an horchata (could only drink half). can't find decent tacos in boston, so hence the quantity. my mom can't seem to get enough of the sauces they have in the squeeze bottles on the table, and i couldn't get enough of the steaming salsa in the molcajete -- i've never been served warm salsa before!
lucky layla drinkable yogurt -- from garland. had one of each flavor that i could find: banana, blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, mango. thick and tasty. favorites: banana and strawberry.
inside the may hua asian grocery store at park and coit in plano:
bulgogi at the korean restaurant (with the takeout they give you rice, kimchee, seaweed salad, and some pickled bean sprouts) -- excellent ribs. fell right off of the bone, delicious marinade and fat-to-beef ratio!
pastries from the taiwanese bakery: an eggy sponge cake (stayed fresh for days), a taro pastry (fine), a cinnamon-roll sort of pastry baked in a tin cup (50 cents but a little underbaked for my taste -- still not too shabby)
lamb-filled borek at cafe istanbul (in the shopping center near the inwood theater and empire bakery) -- fine but uninspiring.
brisket at spring creek barbecue in richardson. the brisket seemed a little dry, but my real addiction there is the plethora of hot rolls that just seem to keep appearing in front of my nose. mmm. any recommendations for better bbq in plano/richardson? i really wanted to drive to lockhart but didn't have the time.
taro shake at taiwan cafe in chinatown in richardson (near maxim restaurant). i recall it being thicker and taro-ier a few years ago -- sadly disappointing.
small tres leches cake from fiesta mart. just a taste since i'd never had one before -- good idea, but this one was almost like cake soaked in a milk soup. too much liquid! once again, any recommendations for a better one?
(couldn't pass up 50-cent tuesdays at the cinemark 10 at park and coit in plano to see ratatouille!)
chicken tortilla soup and rib-eye fajitas at mi cocina at the tollway and legacy. my first foray into tortilla soup territory . . . and this was light and delicious. loved the avocado and melted cheese. and i'd never had such rich fajitas -- i normally get the normal (skirt steak) beef, but rib-eye! !dios mio! hard to go back to the regular stuff now. heh heh. tender beef, nice marbling of fat, beefy perfection.
almond toffee and milk chocolate caramel from schokolade around the corner from mi cocina -- seemed like it could be better, but fine. i'm guessing this is a chain?
(had to check out the modern art museum of ft worth -- free on wednesdays! no time for grub in ft worth, sadly. awesome museum, though)
chicken-fried steak at black-eyed pea with the baked squash casserole and fried corn. fine for a chain -- any better suggestions?
cactus sorbet at henry's homemade ice cream in plano (15th and independence). interesting. tasted like apple with a slight bit of texture from the white stringy part of a banana. was looking forward to a scoop of black raspberry but not this time as they were out.
refreshing limeade at braum's (and a few bites of my mom's frozen yogurt twist -- good as always). that limeade always makes me happy -- so simple yet so tasty. i love the freshly-squeezed limes that can't ever be replaced by the stuff in the bottle. no way!
zapp's caribbean key lime chips. i was expecting something light and refreshing (as you may be able to tell now, i love limes) but got a bag of chips that tasted weirdly like key lime pie. it had a dimension of dairy-ness to it. odd.
and man, i'm still full (days later now). i love eating in texas . . . so many new things to eat. always makes me look forward to coming home.
Salt-Rising Bread
about a year late on the reply, but hey, better late than never. picked up my first loaf of salt-rising bread at the saturday falls church farmers market. a longish loaf was about $5. kind of dry when sliced and eaten plain, but when toasted, it's absolute heaven. i'm kind of a bread snob (okay, more than kind of), and i really dislike bread in plastic, however, it seems necessary in this case. as i've read on some of the other posts (searched for "salt rising bread"), it does have a cheesy aroma to it. i'd actually have likened it to parmesan rather than the other bad smells others have noted. i've been addicted to this bread for the last two days.
anyway, the stand that sells it is at one end of the market. grace's pastries, i think it's called. luckily for me i'll be back in two weeks and will probably get another loaf (i live in boston).
Coming Soon: 2nd Cup Cafe, Allston
i'm sitting in the former harvard ave cafe right now, renamed in>house cafe. they haven't changed the sign out front, so don't get confused! definitely nicer than before, redecorated nicely. small, comfortable, just what i'm looking for. can't tell if they're using terrior coffee (though they are at second cup). free wi-fi. selection of bagels, muffins, croissants, etc. a few salads and spinach/meat pies.
Where to buy sausage casings in Boston?
i've bought them before at the roche bros. store in west roxbury, but you should be able to buy them from any butcher.
where can i find pizza dough
try capone's in somerville. they make their own pizza dough, and they also sell a cheese blend for pizza. not sure if they sell fresh cheese (mozzarella or ricotta), but odds are that they do.
Where to buy aged balsamic vinegar?
i would also check out capone's. their web site displays some balsamic vinegars. they're really nice there.
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Capone Foods
14 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
Best Little Restaurant 9/6
for me the squab was the most delicious thing all night (though i know that alcachofa was in love with the braised duck dish). squab: beautiful mahogany skin, lemon juice squeezed on top, delicious salt on top (did someone sprinkle the salt on top before it got passed around?), meaty deliciousness.
salty pork with string beans was awesome because of the salt : fat : pork ratio and crunchy, wrinkly long beans. i've only gotten this at other places with just ground pork. i'll never turn back.
easily the best dinner i've had in boston's chinatown. i usually take chinese food for granted, ordering the same old things. great company, awesome food, good times. thanks, striperguy, for making it all happen.
Good eggplant parm subs?
i had a pretty tasty one from russo's a little while back. i think their bread is from b&r.
Wild Blueberries or Italian prune plums?
just got some yesterday at the brookline farmers' market at the little orchard stand near the sidewalk (dick's, i think it's called). nice running into you there, striperguy!
Any suggestions for awesome bakeries?
sorry it's a bit off-topic, but i was wondering where you read about this baking competition . . . ?
Fish Tacos
i'm a little late on the bandwagon, but i just had picco's fish tacos today. puts el pelon's to shame. two sauces (homemade taco sauce, avocado puree), delicious (panko-coated?) fish, and awesome vegetables on top. guess i should try la verdad's, you know, for comparison's sake . . . !
Best greasy egg & cheese sandwich
not that greasy, but my new favorite egg sandwich is at the toscanini's brunch (saturdays and sundays, 10-2), the fried egg sandwich with spicy mayo (rouille). i think there might be cheese in the sandwich . . . ?
Chowhound dinner @ Potluck Cafe (Long)
i wasn't sure which ones you were talking about, so i bought the two chocolatiest ones i saw (a light, airy cookie and a shortbread one with walnuts). i liked them both. perfect snacks. not too sweet. i was also tempted by the green tea butter cookies (very strong matcha flavor) and simple almond shortbread slices. i think my favorite, actually, was the almond cookie. i'm a plain girl and snacked on these with coffee. oh (now don't think i ate all of these at once), i forgot to mention some sort of flaky pastry (though more brioche in texture than croissant) filled with adzuki paste and a gooey rice cake. interesting, but i'd probably have preferred it without the rice cake. i just had to get it because they were bagging them right in front of me. cookies were very reasonable: $1.50 per bag and maybe $2 for the pastry. i think i did all right!
Chowhound dinner @ Potluck Cafe (Long)
prav -- great report with a fine eye for detail! good thing you typed it out as soon as you got home . . . i know i'd have forgotten. i loved the simplicity of the eel and peppers the most, i think. so nice to meet everyone. i'm suggesting a limster dinner at least once a month until he leaves us forever . . .
p.s. striperguy -- went to yi soon first thing this morning and bought the chocolate cookies!
Speaking of Ice Cream...
just went to the crescent ridge dairy bar this past weekend. a true dairy delight. it's basically an ice cream stand (and a small retail shop to the left) with maybe 10 service windows and 15 high school kids scooping in the back. very friendly service. a small (3.75) is literally a pint of ice cream. i didn't see anyone get a large, but i'm sure i'd have to share it with three other people. the mississippi mud (coffee ice cream with oreos and whole (!) toasted (!!) almonds) really hit the spot. it's a bit of a trek from boston but worth it, especially to see the cows swinging their tails.
bacon chocolate bars?! who sells Vosges?
cardullo's also sells some german line of chocolate bars (can't remember the name), and there must be about 20 flavors with funny names and wacky ingredients. the wrappers are very artsy . . . and i think there might have been a bacon flavor among them. banana curry, egg cream, etc.
i've also seen vosges at the wine gallery (basically a little outpost of temper chocolates) on rte 9 in brookline.
Eggs at Farmers' Markets
a stand at the brookline (coolidge corner) farmers' market sells them.
Vegetable Kibbe at Reef Cafe & New Stuff at Yi Soon
hey striperguy . . . i totally agree with the vegetarian kibby sandwich. i just love the texture and flavor. it's what always wins me over. well, that and the beef/lamb schwarma. as a sandwich (though i haven't ordered it any other way) it's really neat and easy to eat . . . and so easy on the wallet.
guanciale in boston?
sometimes lionette's market makes their own as well. call ahead. and maillard, i think i got the smallest pack of guanciale from russo's -- 2 lb!
Best Bets at Clear Flour Bakery
clear flour's not selling cream puffs or miso buns right now . . . (disclaimer: i'm an employee).
Plough & Stars (Central Sq., Cambridge), Serene Chocolates (Central/Harvard Sq. Cambridge)
does serene make any of their own chocolates on site?
