gini's Profile
King Fung Garden Chinatown, any recent expereinces
Bumping this up post-Peking Duck experience this weekend.
The duck was...sort of flat, actually. The skin was crisp, yes, but the duck itself was basically flavorless. Stirfy seemed about on par. The soup was clearly better - a much richer broth, better tofu and carefully picked bok choy rounded it out.
Scallion pie was as flaky and delicious as ever, shanghai noodles were perfect and the stir fried chinese broccoli in garlic sauce was delicious. I'm thinking in the future we probably won't get the duck again, but rather just concentrate on a very nice menu. Specials looked great as well - looking forward to going back for some jellyfish.
Sichuan Gourmet
My fault - we were at Sichuan Garden, not Sichuan Gourmet. Sorry to mislead!
Sichuan Gourmet
We ate the the Brookline location on Friday and had a lovely and somewhat spicy duck with black tofu. I don't see it on the online menu, but it was on an insert at the restaurant.
Backbar Open and Worth Seeking Out
Last night we tried to taste a good portion of their drink list, as well as a couple of food stuffs. Here's the nitty gritty:
Daiquiri Time-Out - expertly made
I asked about their version of an Americano (being one of my favorite drinks). The bartender told me their version is Campari, Fernet, and Coke. I get that it's a "bartender drink" and I get that he then asked me why I made a face - "Is it the Fernet? Have you ever had it?". Yes, I have and that's not my issue. Frankly, why would you ever want to hide the delicious taste of Campari with some way too sweet Coke? Fine, I'm a snob - I hate cola-products and love my Campari to stand out. I'm not a cocktail guru, and that's that.
a riff on a Pisco sour that had pineapple foam as its topper - the nose on this drink was outstanding, as was the way the foam melted in.
Friends also tried their Manhattan, which was greatly enjoyed, the Smoke & Coke - a cool twist with Moxie, smoked ice, rum, and a spritz of whisky - as well as the Union Mule - a spicy mix of St Germain, pear gin, citrus & ginger.
Bartender also gave us a taste of the their Eggnog milk punch, which was delightful - for those not familiar with a milk punch, you need to try this.
Food wise, we split:
fennel soup with poached oysters (yes!), warm olives (sure), bread & butter, spicy caramel popcorn (not my thing, but another liked it a lot), a slice of Robiola (for $12, really?), and then some charcuterie:
duck gizzard, which was a bit too crunch for my taste. Additionally, this preparation tasted exactly the same as if I had taken the parts out of the duck at home and boiled them on the stove top to make a gravy.
rabbit galantine & pork terrine (was it a terrine? I can't remember) - both seemed fine, but I wasn't overwhelmed.
The bottom line: hooray for cocktails! Food - I'd rather go up front to Journeyman or one of the other excellent joints in Union. That said, it's nice of them to put a couple of snacks on the menu.
Casa B in Union Square
We stopped by Casa B last night for a quick snack. The interior is adorable - whilst the upstairs is a bit austere, white, and streamlined, the downstairs is cozy without being cave-like.
We sat at the bar, where I had a mai tai, which was expertly made. We shared two tapas:
aranitas de chorizo, which were plantain and chorizo fritters topped with roasted peppers and goat cheese - smokey chorizo, sweet plantains, red pepper brightness - the whole dish worked.
deditos de olaya, cheese puffs accompanied by cilantro aioli - these were perfectly fried without a hint of grease. The aioli is addictive.
I wish we hadn't wasted out appetite at Back Bar earlier in the night - I'd love to try out more of their offerings based on this excellent first taste.
Neptune Oyster Feast of 7 Fishes 12/23; Who Else?
Nice to see that the old favorites are there (crab ravioli), but that Grotto has added dishes like the oyster. Thanks for posting!
Neptune Oyster Feast of 7 Fishes 12/23; Who Else?
We went to Prezza's on Saturday and it was delightful. I think we might have even enjoyed it more than Il Casale last year and Grotto the year before. Still, with so much delicious seafood around - how can you go wrong?
Sweet Cheeks
4 of us split a mountain of food at Sweet Cheeks last night. The dirt:
Bucket of Biscuits: oh heck yeah. Big, buttery, excellent crust.
Fried Green Tomatoes: one of only two complaints from me - the crust to tomato ratio was too heavily on the crust side.
Big Cheeks Tray: pulled chicken, brisket, beans, and slaw. The pulled chicken was smokey and awesome. Not as tender as some I've had, but so flavorful. Brisket was a bit fatty and a little too thickly cut for my tastes. For comparison's sake: Sweet Cheek's brisket is more tender and had a similar smokey taste to Black's in Lockhart's. Slaw is not shredded, but rather squarely cut pieces of cabbage - dressing is nice. Beans were a big hit with the table.
Fat Cheeks Tray: Pork Belly was fatty and tender - I only had half a slice, but the others at the table seemed to really enjoy it. Pulled pork was well prepared, but not as flavorful as the pulled chicken. Brisket (see above). Broccoli cheese gratin was ridiculously cheesy and delightful. Potato salad in a vinegar-sour cream dressing stood up.
Sauces - my favorite was the straight up BBQ. The hot was definitely astringent. Western Carolina vinegar sauce is just not my thing. I'm more of an Eastern fan myself.
I didn't actually think it was that spendy. The trays are huge and one of them could easily feed myself, my man, and provide leftovers the next day (that's only about $10 each). I cannot wait to go back and try out the ribs and a couple other dishes. Or just order a biscuit and some brisket and chow down.
Fill Belly's - Jamaica Plain - Report
They have some chairs, tables, and prints up on the wall. We still ordered takeout though since the owner had to get back to a catering gig in Newton.
Fill Belly's - Jamaica Plain - Report
Went this weekend.
Savory cornbread was perhaps the best of the bunch, though weirdly microwaved to make hot.
Second runner up were the bosilitos, which were as Dave describes above and absolutely delicious. I want to go back and eat them right now.
The mac&cheese casserole was weirdly crunchy, but chock full of the collards and sweet potato. I don't really like max&cheese to begin with, so my opinion probably shouldn't be taken too seriously.
I liked the chicken&waffles (chicken wings, deep fried waffles), mostly because I love pouring syrup and hot sauce all over everything. My companion was less impressed by the waffles, probably because of the deep fried flavor.
Prices are ridiculously cheap and the owner is incredibly attentive. Really psyched to have it in the neighborhood!
Tavern at the End of the World UPDATE?
Sorry to be late to the party. My favorite thing at TATEOTW (sure, why not) is the lamb burger with yogurt dressing. They bring you a bottle of mint jam to put on top of it that is amazing.
Last week in Chicago
Here are a couple of places I hit last week whilst I was in Chicago from Boston. Thanks for the great time!
Vermillion:
To start, we shared:
blue corn crusted scallops on a kali mirch latin calabasa goat cheese puree (spicy scallops over pureed squash - yum!)
duck vindaloo arepa brushed pomegranate molasses, curry leaf mango (incredibly spicy and flavorful)
artichoke pakoras spain's favorite on an eggplant chili coconut sauce (fried artichokes, nuff said)
For my main, I had tandoori skirt steak seared churrasco in a classic indian marinade with fried plantain chips chorizo kale, jicama citrus, which was quite flavorful if completely undercooked. Rare does not be so raw in the middle that a knife can't get through it, folks.
The other 5 seemed to enjoy their entrees as well. The waiter, however, seemed to like the sound of his own voice too much. When waiter says "I am so happy to share my expertise with you and help you choose the right dish for you" and then the table asks for recommendations, the waiter should probably say something other than "oh, everything is delicious!" Just say everything is delicious to start and leave us to make our decisions.
Dim Sum at Triple Crown - I actually thought most of the skins were incredibly tough. My friend who took us said that this is the best place he has been outside of Vancouver. I shudder to think what he might have had in Vancouver.
In pictures, here is what we had:
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Avec:
chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with smoked bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce - of course
spaghetti squash crostini with parmesan saffron cream and watercress - perfect
roasted brussels sprouts with chicken liver, pumpernickel, walnuts and mustard vinaigrette - the ingredients didn't gel as much as I'd like them to. It just felt like a bunch of tasty things being mashed together.
Frontera:
Ceviche Fronterizo: Lime-marinated Hawaiian albacore with tomatoes, olives, cilantro, green chile; on crispy tostaditas - wow, quite spicy, but delicious.
Puerco y Ayocotes Encacahuatados: Braise of Gunthorp heritage breed pork shoulder & heirloom Mexican purple runner beans, Xalapa-style peanut sauce, local greens
Tamales Especiales (Wednesday): Chef's choice tamal. - it was duck, hooray!
Mezcal Margarita: Del Maguey Single Village artisanal mescal (Oaxaca), 10-year-old Torres brandy, Peychaud bitters, limonada, shaken tableside -
Can't find the dessert on the menu, but it was a chocolate tarte with pomegranate ice cream
great meal at Bondir
Wow - what a great meal at Bondir last night. I want to go back, tonight please!
We shared four dishes:
Hand Made Burrata with Squash-Marjoram Tart, Shaved Vegetable Salad, Honeyed Walnut Vinaigrette: The sweetness of the salad and squash played off of the salty tang of the burrata and the savory tart. This was a perfect salad. Seriously.
Scituate Cod Brandade, Nantucket Bay Scallops, Fingerling Potatoes, Bread Crisp, Lobster Roe Froth: Possibly a little too soggy with all the elements, but still interesting and delicious, though the froth was a bit superfluous.
Stone-Ground Barley Rigatoni, Braised Chicken Thigh, Locally Foraged Mushrooms, Chestnuts, Savoy Cabbage, Roasted Squash, Ricotta: Absolutely perfectly braised cabbage & chicken as well as earthy pasta, mushrooms and nuts. A comforting dish to say the least.
Roasted Mallard Duck, White Flint Cornmeal Cake, Naples Long Squash, Black Tuscan Kale: I never thought I would say this, but the cornmeal cake stole the show (along with a crispy kale).
Blue Nile Ethiopian...
Three of us ate here last night.
The bad: we waited 60 minutes for the food to come out. The first beer they brought (in a bottle) was flat. The drinks were brought staggered - I got to sit for 15 waiting for my tea. I didn't realize it took that long to boil water.
The good: the food. The waitress was surprised we ordered our kitfo raw, and asked if we'd had it before. Yes, yes we have, but yours is delicious, spicy and excellent. It was a gigantic portion and when we couldn't finish it, they cooked the leftover to take home with us. We also sampled Fasolia - vegetables with carmelized onions and Key Wot - a comforting beef stew.
I was really impressed with the food. I thought it was better than the other two places in Boston I've been to (Addis and Fasika) and if they even out the service I imagine they'll be quite successful. I'll give them a pass for the first week - it was buzzing when we got there and the kitchen could have just been overwhelmed.
TW Food is a lovely, underrated restaurant
I was at first not so impressed - it had to do with my utter disdain for puff pastry and the chef's love of it. That said, I had brunch there recently and it was absolutely fabulous. The trick is to avoid the puff and settle in for the excellent house made sausages.
Please indulge my Friday afternoon whine - need a cocktail spot on the Orange line
Thank you for all of your great suggestions! We ended up at Sam's at Louis and really enjoyed ourselves.
Please indulge my Friday afternoon whine - need a cocktail spot on the Orange line
PRB is actually completely empty on Friday nights - we went there recently and drank champagne and ate cheese for hours on end - completely divine.
Thanks for all the great ideas, folks!
Please indulge my Friday afternoon whine - need a cocktail spot on the Orange line
I quite like both Franklin and Gallows - thanks for the idea!
Please indulge my Friday afternoon whine - need a cocktail spot on the Orange line
I would like to go somewhere for a drink after work tonight. This fabled place should have seats available at the bar, adults rather than frat boys drinking, backs on the bar seats, a local and interesting selection of beer available, a well crafted and rum/tequila/brown liquor based mixed drink list, and it be on the Orange line from Haymarket south. There should be a buzz, but it should also not be packed to the rafters. Points if I can get a seat and there's still some interesting people watching.
Please throw out any ideas you have. I am blanking here.
Please review current plan, critique and suggestions requested
In the Beacon Hill area, Savenor's is a good place to pick up gourmet picnic items for your drive to MV.
The Salty Pig?
My last visit to Canary Square was lackluster (trout pate that had the consistency and flavor of drywall), but our visit to Salty Pig last night was delicious!
We share two charcuterie: a silky, slightly salty, and completely divine chicken liver mousse that is made in house as well as mortadellini - essentially balogna for grownups. We also put a couple of cheeses and some very delicious pickles on the board. Two thumbs up for cured meats.
Dining near NEU dorms /Columbus Tremont MA Ave
Happy to help out!
Lots of Northeasterners that have good palates end up in the JP corridor instead of Brigham Circle when they move out of the dorms. Not a bad tip to pass onto your daughter - lots of fine South/Central American food between Jackson Square and Hyde Square.
Curious about Red Lantern
We stopped at Red Lantern last night on our 3 restaurants-as-close-to-BB-Station-as-possible tour.
I was pleasantly surprised - sure, it's Americanized pan-Asian in a Vegas-style conference room, but the food was entirely edible, even enjoyable.
We split duck buns and lobster rangoons to start - each was flavorful and balanced, if a little too sweet (especially the drizzle over the rangoons). Yes, we ate rangoons. It seems like the type of place to get them.
We then moved on to two rolls:a plum&hamachi concoction that looked like it belonged in a barbie house and tasted entirely of rice as well as "Half Baked" which was delicious.
The dining room of Red Lantern was filled with Wellesley HouseWives Night out and it appears the Vox crowd has relocated to RL's bar. If you are stuck in this area for some reason, Red Lantern is the better choice to Brahmin, which is a nightmare of bad service, bad drinks, and bad music.
Reservations at Island Creek Oyster Bar: can they be all booked up for 7-9pm times????
Agreed - walked in on Friday and promptly found seats for 2 at the bar during "peak" hours.
Dining near NEU dorms /Columbus Tremont MA Ave
At the Corner of Mass Ave and Tremont is an outpost of Parish Cafe - excellent spot for sandwiches.
At Mass Ave and Washington there are a clutch of restaurants: Mike's City Diner for brunch/breakfast, as well as Toro - probably the best tapas restaurant in the city. Seiyo is also there - a sushi-cum-wine bar as well as Terenga, a terrific West African spot. A little further down Washington is Flour, one of the better bakeries in the city. In that neighborhood, on Shawmut, there's Orinoco (Venezuelan)
A little further down Tremont, towards Melnea Cass, there's Ali's Roti - probably the second--best curry stand in the city.
By the way, around the corner from Darryl's is a divey-Jazz bar called Wally's. The liquor is crap, but the Jazz sounds like Jazz.
Pittsburgh Weekend
Oh my gosh, you mean people put chemicals in food sometimes? How dare they! Do you think there are big companies out there benefiting from harvesting corn or soy or something? My goodness, that's just evil!
Thanks for pointing it out to me - I'm still glad I tried Rita's and I'm happy I can return to Palermo where they have real gelato.
East X Northeast
To revive an old thread: we stopped by last night for a 10 course tasting (Buywithme Deal) and it was outstanding. It was also way too much food for the two of us. We ended up taking both noodle dishes home.
