misscucina's Profile
My last Speed's Dog
My other question is why would you buy someone's business and then change the name to something with no good will or market value? Isn't that the point? Surely he didn't buy the preparation since that's something any customer could deduce by just watching their Speed Dog being assembled.
My last Speed's Dog
Speed used to make the sauce himself -- it was a family recipe. And yes, he did simmer the dogs in a water/apple juice bath before grilling them over the briquettes. Part of what made them good was Speed's homey, friendly touch and the feeling that a Speed Dog was somewhat elusive, like spotting Santa Claus in his sleigh on Christmas Eve.
staff meal food truck
I was there at 10:30am to 11am. They couldn't have run out of anything. There was no truck in sight. The other two trucks were there and ready to go.
Unfortunately their active Twitter feed wasn't showing up on my iPhone.
staff meal food truck
Sorry to bump an old thread, but does anyone know where to get accurate info on the SM truck's location? According to the city's food truck schedule, they were supposed to be at City Hall yesterday, but they weren't there. Pretty disappointing as this is the second time this has happened with these guys in the last month.
I checked their web page and Twitter yesterday but didnt see any announcements. Any suggestions so I don't get my hopes up and walk across town for nothing?
Need a dive bar with really good food in Downtown Boston
Yes, I realize it's a faux dive bar, but as was said above, a true dive bar would not have "good food" and probably would not be interested in having "loud NYers" who come for a "business lunch." Lucky's offers the flavor of a dive bar ... which I think involves stale cigarette butts and warm PBR.
Need a dive bar with really good food in Downtown Boston
What about Lucky's? That's within walking distance, the food's acceptable and it has that dive bar vibe in spades.
Wegmans strategies?
I buy only a limited variety of cheeses (mostly Italian or cheddars) so Russo's and Formaggio do the job for me. Russo's is a very good value and Formaggio has a few unique things I like (like Hillman's fresh goat cheese) and I live near the one in the South End, so it's relatively convenient. If I'm just buying your basic mozzarella to put on pizza or Cabot Monterey Jack logs, Market Basket is the best value. Last week they were on sale for $2.00 a piece which is an absolute steal.
Wegmans strategies?
I made my first (and probably last) visit since it's so far. Frankly, just not blown away by the products -- yes, a few interesting regional specialties as others mentioned -- but I thought the cheese dept. was very average and expensive for what it offers. What's with all the cryovac meat? The deli people were nice and the area well-staffed, which is unusual at most big stores. The beer/wine area was offering a few good deals, but I still would go to Costco if I was stocking up. As much as I complain about the gridlock inside/outside the Somerville Market Basket, there's no real flow of customer traffic at Wegman's until you get to the up-and-down aisles. That whole right side of the store (where the food court is back to the meat counter) is a cluster-f of people aimlessly wandering around looking for free food samples and bumping into each other.
Prices are OK compared to the big grocery chains -- Shaw's, S&S, Roche, Hannaford -- but I shop at MB and Russo's and WFoods, so things are mostly more expensive at Wegman's than what I'm used to paying. Wanted to love it, but just not worth the drive.
cuttlefish at a fish market or restaurant?
The River St. Whole Foods in Cambridge also has cleaned/frozen cuttlefish. I think it's $7.99 a package, but I can't remember the quantity. Sorry.
Kam Man Mkt South Bay
The #8 bus goes from Kenmore/UMass to South Bay. I also believe the #10 and the #6 also run by there. Plus, there's a huge private lot on site... if you don't have a car, then rent a Zip Car. I do it all the time and it's cheap.
Kam Man Mkt South Bay
Soft opening is tomorrow, Feb. 9. Grand opening with the Mayor, etc. is Saturday at 10 am.
Egg Cream (??)
I believe it's heavy cream, not milk. That's the way we used to make them anyway.
Best butter in Boston area?
I've got that Amish butter in my drawer along with some leftover Trader Joes and Kates. Since I find the Amish butter has a very pronounced flavor, I only use it for putting on bread or sometimes to cook eggs or throw on a steak.
Market Basket has the tub of Kate's and the pounds for dirt cheap (under $3), that's about $2.50 less than Whole Foods. Stock up there.
Super 88 in South Bay Center - Still closed?
Sorry, I don't know if it's on the door or not.
Super 88 in South Bay Center - Still closed?
It will reopen as Kam Man on Weds, Feb. 8.
ISO: Great Quality Bulk Chocolate for a Decent Price
Guittard does make chocolate chips. WF usually has them. They are fantastic, but $4 or $5 a bag.
ISO: Great Quality Bulk Chocolate for a Decent Price
I ended up getting Valrhona and Callebaut chunks of white and 70% dark at Whole Foods on River St. in Cambridge today. There were several cacao levels (33 - 70) and in various sizes, so you have to dig around for the size you need. The Valrhona dark was $18.99 a lb and the Callebaut white was $9.99 a lb -- not a bargain, obviously, but I didn't need bulk quantities.
Neptune Oyster Feast of 7 Fishes 12/23; Who Else?
Very excited, I'll be there. They're doing 4 seatings -- 4:30 & 5pm; 7:30 & 8pm. You have to pay at the time of reservation ($100pp) and I assume alcohol, tax and gratuity are extra. I booked today -- I could hear the staff talking on the phone about what table numbers were available and it sounds like it's filling up. They are seating parties at the bar.
Dry Pasta Preference and Where in Boston/Burbs?
I like Rustichella D'Abruzzo. They sell some shapes at Whole Foods (although be careful, WF has a knock off house version using similar packaging to fool you that's not as good). Also available at Formaggio. For pasta salads using orecchiette, I find Progresso to be pretty good and very reasonable at Market Basket.
Globe Article on Seafood Substitutions.
Except that one Legal outpost (Peabody) did, in fact, serve mislabeled fish and even insisted the fish was something it wasn't when questioned by the reporter.
@Bellachef: The issue re butterfish is that local chefs -- Ming Tsai most notably -- are selling another fish under this name, which violates FDA regulations. The entire article is about the various ways that consumers are being defrauded or accidentally misled into paying for something they are not served. Using an incorrect species name, however common, is one of them.
Chowhound "bum steers"
Erbaluce. Not the worst place I've been, but a waste of a birthday meal. :) CH totally overhyped and overrated the food. Plus, no one mentioned the room was also hideously ugly. Still looks like the bar that it used to be.
Bergamot was 1,000 times better in every way and even Prezza did just about everything right.
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Prezza
24 Fleet St., Boston, MA 02113
Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116
Neptune Oyster- Dissappointed..what to order?
Frankly, I'm not a fan of Island Creek oysters in general (the oysters, haven't been to the restaurant). I find they are like Red Delicious apples --they look perfectly plump, too perfect in fact -- but taste rather and can be sometimes too salty. When at Neptune, I prefer the Wellfleets and Kumamotos.
I only wish they had other "dipping sauces" like honey mustard or buffalo ranch... :O
Where to Find Cold Brewed Coffee in Boston
I've said this before but South End Buttery makes an outstanding iced coffee. Don't know if it's cold brewed, but frankly, for this finicky coffee drinker, it doesn't matter. It's quite good.
Will have to check out the Marliave. I've been looking for a decent iced coffee in DC/Fin. District for over a year with no success.
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South End Buttery
314 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA 02118
Marliave
10 Bosworth Street, Boston, MA 02108
Mid-priced tasty dining at 7 p.m. on a Friday night near South Station with an infant
Channel Cafe on Summer St. is moderately priced, has beer and wine (only) and is kid-friendly. It's on the other side of the Summer St. bridge from South Station, a 5 minute walk.
Not sure if you'd consider Sportello to be moderately priced ($23-32ish), but food is tasty, the room is "funky/urban" and will impress your suburban friends and yes, I see kids there all the time. It's across the Congress St. bridge, a tiny bit farther than Channel Cafe.
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Sportello
348 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
Gourmet Donuts
Sportello makes donuts (one flavor, small batch, they run out) only on Tuesdays. Generally they are raised, filled with some kind of homemade jam and then covered (and I mean, covered) in large granulated sugar. Last week it was strawberry/cranberry jam, today it was blueberry jam. Absolutely light and airy and the jam was nicely tart with a faint hint of lemon, offsetting the sugary coating. And only $2 each, which is a great deal.
Flour (around the corner) tries to make a similar style of filled donut on Sundays except they are chewy, too dark and overly greasy.
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Sportello
348 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02110
Friday Cocktail hour/ Sunday Brunch venues for a November Back Bay wedding?
Mini bar is a cute, stylish lounge at the corner of Exeter and Huntington Ave., about 4 blocks from the Four Seasons. Good energy, a tiny bit "Euro" but a crowd with people who are 20 or 50 aren't going to feel out of place. It's small enough that you guys could easily take it over informally with 50 people.
I think the a la carte brunch at Union Bar & Grill in the South End is a steal.
ISO White Castle style slider buns
Iggy's makes a delicious brioche mini burger bun. It has a little bit of black pepper, but it's not overly strong.
