PennyC's Profile
I'm finally a fan of Aujourd'hui
Is Brick Loomis (from Cafe Louis in the good old days and then Great Bay) the current sommelier? I thought I heard that he was. If so, I have to get there to see him. Husband and I learned a lot from him over the years.
The Martin House - Provincetown (long post)
Thanks for the warning. We find that every year we have to carefully check the current status of our favorite places. Anytime you read a review for Provincetown, you need to check the year it was done.
There was a rumor last year that the Martin House was up for sale. I just did a search and found mention of new owners in a two places.
Now, please tell us about the other places you tried and how they fared in your opinion. There are so few P-town posts!
trader joe's at fresh pond?
They do list new locations and coming soon on their website. Nothing there yet.
You can check here.
http://www.traderjoes.com/locations/index.asp
trader joe's at fresh pond?
They do list new locations and coming soon on their website. Nothing there yet.
You can check here.
http://www.traderjoes.com/locations/index.asp
solo dining in p-town
Thanks for the update.
You mentioned pear yogurt with Granola. Was this "Liberte Six Grains?" If so YUM! I have it for breakfast every morning and I'm so glad they still have it.
You were all set for breakfast so I never mentioned Devon where we treat ourselves to great breakfast and at least a couple of dinners every year.
Ok, Summer Shack didn't suck today
We live near the Summer Shack in the Back Bay and we went there a number times when it first opened. The food was always fine by us. Good basic seafood meals and some fun stuff too. And, they have had some good bartenders in the past.
We stopped going because of the noise. We were there one day when they had Michael Jackson shrieking from one set of speakers and some sport event droning on from the TVs. I object to either form of noise with my meals.
And, then there is the wine list for beer guzzlers. I can't imagine a worse wine list. It looks like one of those low end places that lets the beer distributor set up their wine program.
Perhaps this has changed but we stopped trying to go there. You can only give a place so many chances. We mentioned our issues to staff people. They always seemed to say, very politely, "Hey, this is what we are." Each time we returned we were faced with noise from the speakers and sub-par wine with our meals.
Outdoor Eating?
How about the garden at Casa Romero in the Back Bay?
http://www.casaromero.com/about_us.html
All Star Sandwich Bar "draft" menu
Thank you for transcribing! I can't wait and I don't normally look forward to sandwiches. Now if they just do delivery to the Back Bay, I'll be a very very happy camper.
rendezvous was great!
Those are from the regular wine list. Here's a link.
http://www.rendezvouscentralsquare.com/blog/WineList
Bonne Maman Rhubarbe for cheap?
I can't resist an internet search. I found a possible substitute in Cambridge at Formaggio Kitchen on Huron.
http://formaggio-kitchen.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/22_150_43/products_id/174
I think I would call before I went over but it might help with the craving. Of course this was the one on their website. They may have something else in the shop.
You could also check to see if some of the local farms produce one that is just rhubarb. I'll check my farmers for you. You could call Verrill and Wilson farms and ask them.
Bonne Maman Rhubarbe for cheap?
I think I saw it near the registers under the nearest produce counters. There is a lot of Stonewall and a few other brands. If you turn your back to the registers and scan below those counters facing you, you should see all the jams and jellies.
Is it unusual to open a wine that does not have a cork?
Most of the New Zealand whites we drink come with screwtops. It is a slightly different system from the one used on non-wine bottles.
Here's a pretty good article from the Washington Post on the topic.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A26966-2004Oct12.html
New place: La Galleria 33 in North End (and Pace's is open)
Correction- make that much MORE expensive than Russo's!
New place: La Galleria 33 in North End (and Pace's is open)
We stopped into Pace's aftere a great lunch at Neptune Oyster.
It is not the same in any way-it's very cold, sterile. They redid it with no personality and nothing in the way of merchandise you would go out of your way to get.
Most items are much less expensive at Russo's so I'll just get them when I'm there.
The cheese/deli case is so mundane that I can't imagine it is a product of the same company as the old one. It was staffed by two kids who seemed nice enough but were certainly not interesting like the old Pace staff.
Another classic bites the dust!
Bonne Maman Rhubarbe for cheap?
I checked Dairy Fresh in the North End today and they don't even carry the brand anymore. I thinkt they have opted for a deeper line of Stonewall Kitchen.
Bouchee?
If it's from the Back Bay Group it will be a food factory not a restaurant. I avoid all their facilities. One of the problems trying to find places to dine in the Back Bay is that so many of the cookie-cutter, food-factories here are run by them.
It's just not the kind of company I would support with my patronage.
solo dining in p-town
P-town is not really a budget place!
We love Ross' Grill at the end of Whaler's Wharf. It's not cheap but it is well prepared food with good portions. They also have an excellent wine by the glass program and a nice bar where the staff will make you welcome.
We had an email from their outstanding bartender Janet, saying she was not coming North this year and would miss us. We'll miss her too. But, we have had excellent service from other staff members.
You should also check out Clem and Ursis on Shankpainter Road, across from the Supermarket. Excellent take out, wonderful bakery and lots of picnic stuff to go. It also has a nice casual eat in area.
Don't forget the picnic on the beach idea. We do take out from Angel Foods on the East end of Commercial Street. Pricey but less than a restaurant meal.
The Commons has a communal feeling and the food is okay.
All this said, we don't go down until the end of August into September so all these recommendations are based on last year.
There is a tiny fish shack on the west side of MacMillian pier where we buy lobsters. You can also eat inside at their tables. That might be a good place to try some simple seafood. They are really nice folks.
The bar at Napis might be a good place to get a quick meal. It is pub grub- basic but okay.
Stroll the town. There are menus out in most places and in P-town everyone has an opinion and will be glad to share it. So ask the shopkeepers, your instructors and innkeepers.
Let the rest of us know what you find. It good to have a hound headed down as a scout for us.
New place: La Galleria 33 in North End (and Pace's is open)
I've missed Pace's and will have to get over and have some of that fun interaction with the staff. I always learn something new when I shop there.
I love their Pepato cheese. I believe it is a Sicilian Pecorino with peppercorns throughout. They always ask if we want them to grate it but we actually shave it and serve it for nibbles with wine.
Blueberries.
I've had wonderful ones from Hamilton Orchards stand at the Copley and City Hall Farmers' Markets. I also had some from Stillman's Farm. All were luscious!
This time of year, breakfast for me is half a mug of blueberries with a quarter cup of low-fat granola and a few spoonfuls of Fage 0% Total Yogurt mixed in. YUM!
Good ice cream near Fanueil Hall?
I haven't been to the marketplace in years but I remember a Steve's Ice Cream and a Frozen Yogurt shop in the central food court.
Perhaps someone else can confirm that they are still there.
Music in restaurants [moved topic digression from Boston board]
To me, foreground music, loud rock, rap, whining vocals -- anything that demands your attention is nasty in a restaurant.
I spend my money where I can hold a conversation without raising my voice and where the music is part of the decor not entertainment for the staff.
For a while at the Butcher Shop, the music was that pounding techno with make-believe drums. I'm sure you know the stuff I mean.
B & G was playing rap and Garrett told us he was just trying to give the place some "edge." We have never returned (and we were going there once a week.)
By the way, "edgy" when used to describe a restaurant will kill any desire I have to try the place.
The Butcher Shop doesn't care.
I know that they have had some turnover. Mitch, the butcher that we all counted on to select, trim and make cooking suggestions for our meat, left. Then Chef David Reynoso left to take over the kitchen at Spire.
We have had problems with the music at the Butcher shop in the past. They had another manager, Doug, who played dreadful noise in place of music and told us that was what the owner, Barbara Lynch wanted.
Fortunately, I ran into Chef David in another setting and told him why we had not been in for some time. He told me that it was not policy and promised we would have a pleasant experience if we returned. We did and he kept his promise.
As with all restaurants, I think you have to let them settle into the new management before you judge them.
That said, we stopped going to B&G because of the music. There are places where nasty music, designed to move customers out of their seats, is company policy.
Recent Rendez-vous Recs?
We were in last week.
Husband had the halibut and loved it. I had the Spicy fish stew and loved it. It had a nice variety of fish. Steve Johnson stopped by to say Hello and told me they are making their own chorizo for the dish.
We are long time fans of Steve's and have been following him from place to place for years.
Are there options to Boston organics?
I've been very happy with Boston Organics. I find the cost runs about the same as a delivery from Whole Foods. I don't have a car so I have to lug things home or pay for delivery or cab fare.
When I add those things into the price, Boston Organics makes sense for me. I know that those who pay all that cash to keep a car on the road never think of the cost of going to a store and back but when you are carfree you do.
My "Never Send Me" list at Boston Organics is a short one. Perhaps that adds to the variety of items I receive. This time of year, I switch to all fruit and buy my veggies at the farmers' markets. The fruit is always heavier to lug home so I pick and choose what I buy locally.
I've been a customer since the beginning of this company and have had consistent good service and great produce.
For those who don't use the service, in addition to fruit and vegetables, they will deliver organic bread, eggs, coffee, tea, cocoa, peanut butter and soynut butter.
And, each week you can go to their website and review what will be in your box so you can shop elsewhere knowing what will be in your Boston Organics order.
Here's a link if you would like to take a look at the details.
http://bostonorganics.com/
Hamersley's, Via Matta or Mistral
My clear choice would be Hamersley's. They also have a lovely patio. And, the South End scene is so much nicer than the ambiance in either of the other spots.
You also have the option of having your drinks or dessert at a second place on Tremont. Of course, that might mean missing the souffled lemon custard. I'm addicted to that Hamersley's classic.
Best material for mortar and pestle?
I adore my Thai granite mortar and pestle. I have the 8" and have moved the rest of my collection of grinding tools to the back of the closet.
I picked mine up at a Sur La Table store. They let me see it before I bought it which reassured me about the quality and coloration of the piece of granite.
Weekend farmers' markets
Here is a link to the page on the South End open market site that list the vendors.
http://www.southendopenmarket.com/participatingvend.htm
The food vendors are:
Herb Lyceum @ Gilson's Farm
Oakdale Farms
Oleg Flowers
Silverbrook Organic Farm
Snipped Fresh Produce
Clear Flour Bread
Dairy Fresh Candies
Goddess Granola
Nana's Candy
Nature Isle Tropical Gourmet
New Day Organics
OLIO di MELLI
R.J, Robertson - Chocolatier
Shootflying Hill Sauce Co.
Tastefully Simple
The Globetrotting Gourmet
Well, Well, Well
Zia's Cookies
Bonne Maman Rhubarbe for cheap?
You could try Russo's in Watertown. They carry the brand but I don't know about rhubarb.
Mystic or Groton Area
I remember having some great breakfast and brunch meals at Noah's in Stonington. We haven't been down that way in a few years but I have sent friends who have thanked me for the recommendation.
Here's their site for details.
http://www.noahsfinefood.com/
Campo di Fiore Harvard Square - closed??
Is this the same company that opened last year at BU? I keep meaning to try it but haven't been around there at meal time.
Campo de' Fiori
580 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: (617) 236-2066
If it is, it doesn't help for Harvard Sq lunches but at least it might give you a destination for your favorites.
