cpingenot's Profile
Beantown Taqueria
Thanks for the tip- I too would have steered away from it based on the name alone, but I'm always happy to try another taco place.
On that note, just tried "The Taco Truck" Sunday at the Mem Drive closure. My husband and I split an order of Carnitas and an order of Barbacoa. It was good, although not super memorable and exciting. The meat was good, although the carnitas were not as flavorful as the barbacoa. The corn tortillas were good but not amazing. You have to buy salsas on the side, which was a little odd. We added cotija and guacamole at home (these were takeout on the way home) but they had both available for an extra $.75 each.
I thought they were a little pricey at $5 for two tacos, but they use sustainably raised meats, so that drives the price up. I will say that they were super super slow to make 4 tacos. It's not like they are cooking everything to order from scratch, and there was no one in line in front of me, so it wasn't that they were behind, or understaffed. Not sure what the delay was but it took more than 5 minutes, and probably closer to 10 to get the four tacos out. Maybe they were having issues, but they're going to have to do better than that if they want to do volume.
Surprising Menu Items That Steal the Show
I'm not sure if this meets the OP's criteria, but the buffalo Brussels sprouts at Highland kitchen are not so much surprising in the context of their menu as a surprisingly amazing concept.
I like Brussels sprouts generally, but never would have thought of them as a vessel for Buffalo sauce, but it's such a great combo that I've started making them at home.
April 2012 Openings & Closings
That really seems bogus, in such a bike-ped dense neighborhood. I would think that Cambridge's zoning would be more progressive than that. Damn.
I was thinking that they needed more bike parking in that neighborhood more than they needed car parking. I wonder if letters of support are needed/ wanted....
Lukewarm on Acitron
I was part of the big "expiring groupon" group there on Saturday, and it was fine, but nothing special. Presentation was nice- everything was visually appealing, the dining room was pleasant and the service was very good, although the kitchen seemed a bit slow.
I got the Cochinita pibil, and it was kind of boring. My DC had the mole, and it was very sweet and flat- didn't have the subtle variation that a good mole has. Also it was just slathered on a boring chicken breast- I prefer dark meat poultry and or chicken cooked for longer in the actual sauce.
The Elote, which we make a lot at home tasted like it was made with frozen corn on the cob.
I'm from Texas, and make a lot of both tex-mex and mex-mex food at home. And unfortunately I can make better mole and probably (looking at the unfinished plates next to me) better Chiles en Nogada at home.
It was fine, but I don't think we'll be rushing back any time soon. If I returned I'd definitely try the fish tacos, which were nicely presented with dark red cabbage.
Need Help with Choosing a CSA for Summer '12
It might just have been that they were having a bad summer- this was a couple of years ago, and like I said, I know that we got 1 of things that were kind of ridiculous.
First Printer in Harvard Square
I'd love to hear as well. I checked out the menu when I was walking the dog and it looked all over the place, and not necessarily in a good way. I'd love to have another good option in the square, so I'm hoping I'm wrong about it.
April 2012 Openings & Closings
I was there Saturday too- we've been so excited to have it, that we made a special trip despite expecting it to be slammed. Service was actually pretty quick, and the coffee, as expected was fantastic, but they seem to be missing half the tables and chairs on the long banquette wall, which made it not appealing to linger.
Having the coffee bar in the middle of the space allows for a nice European style standing counter, but makes the circulation a bit confusing. You walk in, and you're not sure where to go to place your order. Lots of empty space that hopefully will be filled with tables soon.
I had the cheese puffs (gougieres) and my DC had a scone. Both were tasty but not mindbowing, and I hope they'll have something more substantial like bagels or breakfast sandwiches for weekend brunches.
March Madness in the Financial District
If it matters, JA stats reopened under another name. Don't know if it's changed at all- the interior looks identical. The food was never fantastic IMO, but it was slightly better than the rest of the pubby sports bar type places I've tried in the area.
Fresh/ Local Cornish Game Hen
Would like to buy a couple of Cornish Game Hens for a dinner party. I know I can buy them at Star Market, and I _think_ I can get them frozen at Mayflower Poultry, but is there anywhere in Boston/ Camb/Sommerville/ that would have them from a non- industrial source? Would prefer fresh, but high quality frozen would be better than Perdue from Star. Would go out to Wilson's farm or Russo's if they were a source.
Need Help with Choosing a CSA for Summer '12
I've done Stillmans' and RFF, and this year will be my 5th with RFF. I was tempted away to Stillmans by the weekend pickup and half share, but neither was worth it.
A half share was frustrating because you didn't get enough of many things to build a meal around (1 zucchini? 1 Red pepper?- 1 ear of corn?)
RFF works really well for me because I can pick it up during lunch downtown at Dewey Sq. I also like picking up at a farmer's market, because if I do want to get additional stuff that's not in my share, I can pick it up there.
I do wish that there was some kind of flex-spending- so I could get more brussels sprouts and fewer carrots or such, but I imagine that with the number of people they're serving now, that would be too complicated.
First Impressions: Lone Star Taco Bar
Yes, I hear you on this-
I got so hungry for mexican food when I first read this post that I (misguidedly) succumbed to an order of tacos at the "mexican" place down the street from me in the financial district. I knew not to expect anything decent, but still, it's so sad to get crushed over and over again. I'm hopeful about this place, but also reluctant that it won't be able to live up to my expectations.
I don't really understand why it's so hard for restaurants in the NE to make decent mex or tex mex? That said, my tex mex life has improved a lot since I discovered the Homesick Texan blog/ cookbook, and started to make the good stuff myself at home.
January 2012 Openings and Closings
I was riding past, and I think that that little space is PERFECT for Burdick. So cute and cozy, and right off Newbury. I think they will clean up there.
January 2012 Openings and Closings
not necessarily that exciting, but the Chipolte on Washington street DTX is open- this was the first time I've seen people in there, but it may have been open a while. I ride through there after most of them are closed, but it seems like there are a lot of new-ish places on that end of Washington- should get myself on my bike and check them out some day at lunch.
January 2012 Openings and Closings
Thanks, that's odd- Google must have taken me to an older site.
Hi-Rise and Simons are good, but a bit of a hike from Harvard. I miss the old Hi-rise at the CAEC. I guess the dwell time location is a bit of a hike from the square proper too, but it's a hike in the direction I'm already in.
January 2012 Openings and Closings
Has anyone heard anything about Dwell Time? Last post on their site was in October, and said "coming soon" The greater Harvard sq area needs a really high quality coffee place, and I've been waiting anxiously for any developments. I get the feeling that some of you folks are more plugged in, and hope that someone has news.
Keeping up with Kendall Sq
I'm a big fan of Area Four- have really enjoyed everything I've had there.
I had a very "meh" experience in the dining room at Catalyst, but have heard better things about the bar feeling less sterile, and being less pretentious.
December 2011 Openings and Closings
Thought this about Catalyst as well- the pair of doors closest to the street are not the entry doors. They had a paper sign on them directing you to the "main" doors, but it seems like frosting the glass, or putting curtains on the door would make it clear without signage, and make the dining room feel more private as well. Suspect that those doors will give out to a patio in the future, but until then, the paper sign isn't a great solution.
Unmarinated Olives in Boston?
BTW I bought the ones I tried from here; too late this year, but for the future:
http://greatolives.com/fresh-olive-updates/
Unmarinated Olives in Boston?
I had so many olives that I did some with the lye and some with the salt, and the salt ones were a bust. Partly they got so scummy that I was scared to eat them, and partly they never softened. I think you might need a deep stone cellar to help keep the bacteria down. Although now that I've made sauerkraut, I think I have a higher tolerance for scummy.
Unmarinated Olives in Boston?
This is interesting, because I thought that the season was sept/ oct- maybe that's just in California.
I ordered a 5lb box from a grower in California (back when I lived in Utah, and it wasn't that far away) and cured them using the lye method. It was a little scary using a poison on something I planned to eat, but I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed, and nobody died. After I was done "curing" them, I flavored a couple of batches- one with citrus peels, one with garlic, and they were very tasty, but the shelf life wasn't quite as great as store bought ones 5lbs of olives was a LOT for two people, and we didn't end up eating them all before they started to go. Maybe should have added some vinegar to the brine to keep it from growing stuff.
The olives that resulted were tasty, although not so fantastic that I would mail order them again. If I happened to be at Arax and saw them, I might pick up a couple of pounds and do it again. It's not the right time of year, but I could have a "home-made" salad nicoise, with home-(pressure)-canned tuna in oil and home- cured olives, which would be pretty fun.
velvet falernum
Nowhere remotely near lexington, but bought some of the Taylor's VF at Boston Wine Exchange two weeks ago. I'm certain that there are closer places, but I'd call before you make a trip anywhere.
Baer's Best Beans, where to buy
At Wilson farm they were on the wall of the vegetable section that backs up to the street/ outdoor market area when I got some in late August.
Oh, and at Russo's they were down low on a shelf in the area near the cheese counter.
Baer's Best Beans, where to buy
Russo's normally has them, as does Wilson Farms. I don't make it out to either much, so I tend to stock up. Made some of the cranberry beans this weekend!
I haven't seen them closer into the city, but I'd love to find a source closer in..
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Wilson Farm
10 Pleasant St, Lexington, MA 02421
Capon in the Boston Area?
I got mine from Wilson Farms last year, and it was very very tasty!
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Wilson Farm
10 Pleasant St, Lexington, MA 02421
Sunday night hot spot?
It's been a while, but it seemed like the Sunday Prix Fixe at Rendezvous keeps the place busy. The crowd when I was there ran more to academics than to hip and happening types, but there was a buzz of serious conversation.
Has anyone tried Catalyst yet ?
Went last night for my birthday and was disappointed. The room was oddly lit, exacerbating a chilly ambiance and odd table positioning (tables too close together and yet large unused spaces).
Service was simultaneously obtrusive and inattentive (a trick that) with forgotten side of fries (quickly supplied by the food runner), a long delay for requested additional condiments (while the waiter was visible clearing tables and messing around at the station).
Had the quail appetizer which was fine. Not incredibly flavorful, but fine.
I had the Tournados of beef, which were meltingly tender and flavorful, but the plating was kind of precious- too much white space, very symmetric, with the greens almost completely hidden below the beef, and topped by a pair of nipple-like ravioli.
DC had the paparadelle bolognese, which was not very good. I just tried a bite, but pasta was al dente to the point of crunchy (how do you do that with fresh noodles?) the bolognese didn't have any of the luxurious unctuousness that I would hope for, and the flavor seemed flat.
At this point, cold and uncomfortable in the modern chairs, I nixed birthday desert- the pear and brown butter tart looked tempting, but not enough to stay for it.
I'm not going to hurry back, and I'm afraid that it's going to be hard to make that combination of price point, menu which was simultaneously pretentious and not very interesting, and enormous space work out in that neighborhood.
breakfast in financial district
sel de la terre also has a "boulangerie" counter with pastries, bread, coffee and yogurt to go in the morning.
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sel de la terre
boston, MA, boston, MA
Looking for a few Boston spots to grab a quick single course at the bar, for an anniversary night out.
My husband and I like to do this approach- My favorite times have been in Harvard sq, because then we can walk to all the locations. On our most recent, I believe we hit Casablanca, Henrietta's table and I forget the third...Other options include Harvest, Rialto, Russell House (for the fried poached egg), Cambridge 1 and further afield Tavern at the cellar.
I think you could do a really fun progressive down Main St in Cambridge these days- Starting at Rendezvous, hitting Cragie on Main if it's not too crowded, Salts (although I don't recall if they have a bar per se) Area 4 and Catalyst. We'll let you skip cuchi-cuchi, Bertucci's and Royal East!
Tamale Ingredients - Where in Boston?
I will say that since the last time i searched for corn husks ( a couple of years ago) I have seen them crop as a regular thing at the WF' at both River street and Prospect.
