bostonbelle's Profile
King Crab Legs
RHT serves jonah crab claws, not king crab legs. I agree, though, that they're a miss -- strangely waterlogged and completely overwhelmed by the gloppy ginger and harissa aioli that's served alongside. Also, the claws are served on crushed ice, which made its way into the crab and was an unpleasant surprise to bite into.
Storage Question: Summer Heat and Wine
Thank you, everyone, for the help. I did wind up buying a wine fridge, albeit a small one (12 bottles). Unfortunately, certain riesling and gruner bottles are too long to fit, but since there are screw tops, I'll just pop them in my main fridge.
Invinotheresverde, I will likely have these wines lingering for less than a year, but I figured better safe than sorry. I hope it's not too late for some of them.
Storage Question: Summer Heat and Wine
Thank you for the information! Will they be okay in the fridge for two-three months and then returned to room temperature? No high risk of cork shrinkage or damage from the low humidity/move from warm to cold then back to warm?
Storage Question: Summer Heat and Wine
As summer rolls into New England, I'm beginning to worry about my wine... I keep about 12-24 bottles on hand in my apartment, out of direct sunlight, away from direct heat, and on their sides. I'm concerned that the heat this summer will cook the wine, especially the lighter whites. None of the bottles are extremely valuable, but I would be sad to lose them and, as a grad student, hard-pressed to find the funds to replace them.
With "room temperature" possibly topping 80 degrees in the later summer months, do I have reason to worry? Should I invest in a wine fridge or can I get away without one?
Thanks in advance for the advice!
Too late for strawberries?
Thank you all for the responses! The prospect of raspberries, as well, is exciting. Have a happy holiday weekend, should the rain ever clear up.
Too late for strawberries?
Might there be a pick-your-own location that would not be completely cleaned out? I'm thinking of going on Friday, and I know many farms have had festivals recently. If anyone knows of a spot where the berries are still somewhat plentiful, I'd appreciate the info. Thanks!
Rudy's Resto-Cafe in Newmarket Sq.
Just once. I had a great eggplant and mozzarella panini and salad with a zippy vinaigrette. My s.o. had a burger and liked it a lot.
mushroom hunting?
Is there a link you can post that leads to more information about these orchards? Thanks in advance!
Green tea ice cream
Haagen Dazs makes a pretty good version and it's currently available in supermarkets. I bought some at Stop & Shop this weekend.
Any Brookline must tries?
Orinoco in Brookline village for S. American eats. Wallet friendly and palate pleasing.
Good (and bad) Restaurant Week experiences
Here's the link I've been using. I found it on the board a few days ago, and it links directly to pdf files of all the menus.
http://bostonusa.com/images/restaurant_week/menus/
Good (and bad) Restaurant Week experiences
I've found Mistral, Harvest, and Pigalle* to be consistently good and "worth it" during restaurant week.
*I'm not sure if Pigalle is participating this year and, in any case, they offer a three course meal for $40 on their regular menu.
Dorchester coffeeshops
I think you're thinking of Flatblack coffee which, although it's too far for you to walk, deserves a shout out as a Dot coffee standout.
http://flatblackcoffeecompany.com/
Casual w/ excellent wine list?
How about Bin 26 Enoteca? It's on Charles St, very close to your hotel and offers a casual atmosphere, good food, and a stellar wine list, including many great options by the glass.
I'm giving up on Barefoot Contessa!
I noted something similar a while back on this board, and other Ina fans seemed nonplussed.
I feel a particular let down after waiting a week to see a "new" episode, only to watch her make something (when I complained, it was a lobster gratin one week, a scallop gratin the next... and to bring things current, a lobster pot pie last week!) that I've seen a few times over. I still find her very pleasant to watch, but I think she's run her course if inventiveness is an important criteria for assessment.
Comfy lounge for coffee in the Financial District
Perhaps the Boston Harbor Hotel -- The Intrigue Cafe, or something of that nature. I think they do a tea service, but I'm sure you can opt for coffee instead, and maybe even score a nice view.
Shabu Zen Recommendations
I like to go the sliced beef short ribs route. The kim chee broth is very good.
How many tries are too many?
Actually, I wrote off Via Matta after one shot. During a business lunch, a colleague was served a chicken paillard having ordered swordfish. When he alerted the server, he (server) paused and simply said "oh," staring back until my colleague nearly blushed and offered to keep the dish.
Are There Any Wine Bars in Boston?
I think I'm sort of on board with Boston not having (m)any "true" wine bars, rather a few restaurants that focus on wine and, sometimes, particularly wines by the glass.
When I think wine bar: food should be present and should be good but not large, heavy, or the primary focus. Staff should be well-educated and wine-focused. Tria in Philadelphia comes to mind. Wines, beers, cheeses, and delicious small plates, all of which are prepared without a formal kitchen.
Bin 26 came to mind, but it would be wonderful to have a wine bar version of Drink.
California Pizza kitchen- opinions?
CPK has an almost Cheesecake Factory-esque following, but I have never found anything of outstanding taste or quality on the menu aside from the grilled vegetable salad -- maybe. It's a warm salad of japanese eggplant, asparagus, onion and other veg on baby lettuce with a passable balsamic vinaigrette. Basic pizzas are simply just okay, and I find their more experimental pizzas to be pretty vile. Thai pizza and BBQ chicken pizza stand out -- flacid dough, sugary sauces, just too much of everything.
best magazine for literate foodies?
I'll throw in another vote for Gastronomica. It's more cultural studies than recipe book.
I also enjoy Alimentum quarterly, "the literature of food". http://www.alimentumjournal.com/
Best Hummus in MA?
It does. A coworker made a lunch run, and mine also came with a protein (beef, if I remember correctly) that was also quite good.
Disappointing Meal at La Verdad-Does this reflect Oringer?
that's certainly saying something, these days.
Disappointing Meal at La Verdad-Does this reflect Oringer?
Ferran Adria of the famed El Bulli near Barcelona. He is a leader in the molecular gastronomy movement, if you choose to subscribe to that term. A while back, I posted a link to an article detailing the menu over on the media and news board.
Clio may be expensive, but Oringer plays it closer to the cutting edge than do many other Boston chefs.
lunch in newton
Sofra is wonderful for lunch (and relatively close to Newton Corner)
Barefoot Contessa: If It Ain't Broke...
Thanks for the comments. I anxiously (often rabidly) await her new shows, and I was mildly disappointed to see such a similar menu two weeks in a row. That being said, she's never steered me wrong -- from lasagna with turkey sausage to pear and cranberry fruit crisp. Mmm.
