BostonZest's Profile
Menton, No.9 Park or Deuxave
I would suggest either Craigie on Main or Island Creek Oyster Bar.
http://www.islandcreekoysterbar.com/
http://www.craigieonmain.com/
Choosing either one will result in an evening that will make you smile every time you think of your visit to Boston.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Where can I buy fresh burrata cheese
Copley is open Tuesdays and Fridays. Fiore di Nonno also makes appearances at SOWA on Sundays also open and outside now, Lexington on Tuesdays starting 5/19, Belmont on Thursdays starting 6/14, Union Sq Somerville starting Saturday 6/2, and Winchester on Saturdays starting 6/9.
ICOB (Island Creek Oyster Bar), I know you've heard it all before
ICOB=Island Creek Oyster Bar a great seafood oriented restaurant in Kenmore Square.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Best spots to buy culinary herbs (to grow)
Another great choice, dchow! We are rich in herb producers around Boston!
Best spots to buy culinary herbs (to grow)
Don't forget the farmers' markets. Gilson's Herbs who grow the wholesale plants for many large outlets sells directly at six different markets, Cambridge Center on Wednesdays, Copley Tuesday and Fridays, Prudential Thursdays, SOWA on Sunday. Those will all be open this week. They will add Union Square and Harvard University when those markets open.
And, other farms begin the market season with lots of potted annuals and herbs.
If you are out near Russell's Garden Center in Wayland, I've interviewed Peg who selects and tests plants and she works hard to have varieties that grow well in this area and that are requested by ethnic communities who shop there.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Dinner with old friends before wedding
Another vote for Brasserie Jo. Save room for dessert! It's good enought to go there after other places just for dessert!
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
What's good in Provincetown
My husband and I were down there in April and had a great meal at Ross' Grill. It remains one of our enduring favorites. It is at the end of Whalers Wharf.
http://www.rossgrille.com/
Devon wasn't open for the season but the site says they open May 20th.
http://www.devons.org/
Be sure to include one breakfast at Devon in your plans. Outstanding.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Where can I buy fresh burrata cheese
Call Salumeria and check this but I believe it arrives on Thursday and we usually can walk in and buy it on Fridays. My husband adores this Italian buffalo Burrata. You can call ahead and reserve one to be sure they don't run out before you get there. Have them hold half a loaf of chibatta for to enjoy with the burrata.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Best Lobster Shacks within 30 miles of Boston?
Pegmeister is right about the lobster roll. I guess I never order it because it has mayo so it's a lobster salad roll to me. I'm a fan of the RI/Conn. style lobster roll that is just lobster meat and butter. I'll even opt for the butter on the side when I can.
I was thinking " whole lobster in the rough" from the Podie1956's post.
And, Clam Box and Tony's have a view of the Beach and can be a great place for a beach stroll to walk off the lunch.
Best Lobster Shacks within 30 miles of Boston?
Here's are the menus for Tony's and the Clam Box at Wollaston Beach in Quincy. Both have lots of seafood but not lobsters.
http://www.tonysclamshop.com/
http://clamboxquincy.com/menu.pdf
Jakes Seafood in Hull would be perfect for your request.
http://www.jakesseafoods.com/
Woodman's does fall within 30 miles and does have lobsters but there are much better choices if you want simple lobster. For a great view and good service try the Lobster Pool in Rockport. But this is about 40 miles outside Boston.
http://www.lobsterpoolrestaurant.com/main/index.php?picaddress=&size=
Yankee or James Hook are great if you want lobsters to go but they don't give you the feel of a getaway or even a pleasant place to eat a lobster.
We had a great lobster dinner in Plymouth at Wood's seafood recently but that is 40 miles so outside your zone.
http://www.woodsseafoods.com/index.html
You might want to try the Southern New England board where locals could tell you their favorite spots to chow down on simple lobster dinners. I think the Northern New England Board is outside of your target zone.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
So Disappointed at Italian choices on North Shore
Have you taken a look at the places that have been reviewed by the women at North Shore DIsh? They have an option to search by cuisine and seem to do a good job of covering that area.
http://www.northshoredish.com/
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
I would like to tell you about the food at Orinoco (Brookline)
No, they began May 4th, will run until June 8th and the killer weekend is May 18-21. There are six commencements this weekend.
May and early June are busy times in Boston restaurants. If you need reservations get them quickly.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Conference Widow's (Longish) Four Day Plan
Yes it is Dartmouth, right on Copley Square. We visit the food trucks outside on Boylston, Clarendon, or over on Stuart street and have our lunch in the Courtyard. Once the Copley Farmers' Market opens on the 15th, we sometimes pick up lunch there and sneak over to the Courtyard.
Warning, the Friday lunch concert series starts June 1st, then it is really mobbed. You might want to pick a different day for a more peaceful lunch.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Inexpensive Salads -- Need Panera Alternatives
If you see the Bon Me food truck you might try their noodle bowl for $6. It is greens, soba or rice noodles and the protein of your choice- chicken, pork or tofu & shiitakes. You choose from the dressings of the day. The Vietnamese vinaigrette is light and clean. Photos here.
http://www.bostonzest.com/2011/10/bon-me-noodle-salads-rice-bowls-food-truck-tracking.html
Schedule here: http://www.bonmetruck.com/?page_id=35
On Gloucester Street between Boylston and Newbury is Cafe Jaffa and they supply wonderful simple salads with the dressings on the side for $7.25 or less. For under $10 you can top them with enough chicken or schwarma to make two meals from one salad.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
A Game of Either Or
Did you call them directly or use a reservation service? Most places don't put all their tables onto the service and some will put you on a waiting list.
Date Nut Bread
Breadsong is usually at the Copley Farmers' Market and sell that great bread by the slice or loaf. I also love their Irish Soda Bread!
http://www.breadsongbakery.com/Locations.html
They have the markets at Newton/Cold Spring Park and Davis Square Somerville posted on their site as well. That gives you three more places to get a loaf this summer, fantundo!
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
A Game of Either Or
With less time, some of your choices would also take into consideration the time they take to achieve.
I would say ICOB over Neptune only because you can get a reservation. If you had planned to use the wait time for Neptune to explore the North End then you could do those two in one swoop.
The Druid would be my pick for food but it will take you to an area outside the things you might want to see.
I would skip both Durgin Park and Union Oyster and put something else back on the list.
Sullivans will again take up more time to get there. If you are dying to go to the area, by all means but I would certainly do Galleria Umberto instead.
Mike and Patty's and Paramount are both closer to the freedom trail so I would pick one of those two. Paramount could also give you a taste of local Beacon Hill and let you explore Charles Street a bit.
Same with Thinking Cup, it is right on the Boston Common while all three Flour Bakeries are destinations taking you out of the way to get there and back.
Sel de la Terre or a food truck for the solo lunch.
Finally, Pizza Regina if you are in the North End for other reasons and the line is not too long and Casablanca if you exploring Harvard Square.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Boston Fish Share
I did Cape Ann with friends for a year. It was great fun and the fish was fantastically fresh. I grew up fishing and worked my way through college cleaning fish to I do know fresh. We opted for whole fish and our pals turned the frames and heads into great fish stock and shared it with us.
I would do it again if I had a share, clean and cook partner. I don't have a car and getting to the locations each week, or even being here to use the fish each week is the current issue for me.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Citra: when you're stuck at the doctors on 850 Boylston
Teezeetoo, am I correct that this is in Chestnut Hill not Boston?
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Looking for FUD queso or other 'mexican' style cheeses
Not the brand you are seeking but I really like the Narragansett Creamery Queso Fresco and Queso Blanco. I usually buy it at the Copley Farmers' Market and that will be opening May 15th.
http://www.richeeses.com/products.html
Fresh is a big part of the charm of these cheeses so local is great! Of course, I understand that if you love one brand, you might not like another but figured others might like to try a local version.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
white truffle paste, where to buy
Have you called the Concord Cheese Shop to see if they have it or can order it for you?
http://www.concordcheeseshop.com/index.htm
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Boston Fruit CSA?
It's not a CSA but you can have a fruit delivery from Boston Organics.
http://www.bostonorganics.com/
We are doing their mixed fruit and vegetable in winter but we'll switch to all fruit as soon as the summer markets open. You can also stop and start when you need to do that. We were traveling on and off so stopped for the past month and will go back on in May.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Conference Widow Trolling the streets of Boston in search of Food
We also have a great food truck scene with some really great, exciting food coming off some of these rolling kitchens.
You should try Clover Food Lab while you're here. They already have 8 or 9 trucks and two brick and mortar restaurants. I'm betting this will be a national operation in the future.
http://www.cloverfoodlab.com/
In you walk by a truck called The Dining Car stop for the Crispy Cauliflower snack. Soooo good!
http://diningcar.net/
Try anything from Mei Mei Street Kitchen, but especially the beef and cheese dumplings.
http://meimeiboston.com/
Staff Meal has some wonderful snack size offerings which means you can step us and try something anytime you see the truck.
http://staffmealboston.com/
Go Fish has a chef onboard who really knows how to work with seafood. He does a salmon miso fresh roll that is light and fresh!
http://www.brothertrucker.biz/go-fish/
There are more than 20 trucks scattered around the city and lots of good food coming out of them.
Here's the city's link on where to find them.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/business/mobile/schedule-tabs.asp
But, it is not always the best source or up to date. I have an iPhone app that seems much more dependable.
http://streetfoodapp.com/
Conference Widow Trolling the streets of Boston in search of Food
I'm going to take a different direction in filling your days with food finds. We happen to have some great food tours in Boston.
The best known are the tours of the North End or Chinatown with Michele Topor or one of her excellent guides.
http://www.bostonfoodtours.com/
And, while I haven't taken one as of yet, I have run into the Foston Foodie Tours around town and the group seems to be having a wonderful time. I've also seen a lot of great reviews of these.
http://www.bostonfoodtours.com/
You might also want to browse the classes at the Boston Center for Adult Education to see if you happen to be here when a special food tour or cooking class with a great chef is scheduled.
http://www.bcae.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=1010
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Are my picks okay?
The duck meatball appetizer is back on the menu at Hamersley's. If you go try them and if you decide to go elsewhere, stop by for a glass of wine and these little delights.
We had those last night along with the chicken. Mark, our bartender asked if we always ordered the chicken. I guess we must seem to when he is on duty. No we don't, but craving that chicken often tips the decision on where to dine that evening.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
First Soft Shell Crabs Sighting
I had one of the best soft shell dishes yet at Coppa yesterday. It was tempura fried on a bed of spicy mixed beans. It sounds like it wouldn't work but it was Coppa so I put my faith in the kitchen and was rewarded with a dish I'll long remember. It was a special.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
Visiting Boston in June, need food tips for meals near the convention center
Over on Massachusetts Avenue, across the Christian Science Plaza from the Sheraton you'll find Pho Basil with some of the best Thai and Vietnamese food. Their pho is a great way to enjoy a very inexpensive meal so you have a bit more for your splurge.
I also second, hotoynoodle's Chili Duck and Cafe Jaffa.
And, don't forget our food trucks. Some of them will amaze you with good prices for really great food. Here's the schedule and map for those.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/business/mobile/schedule-tabs.asp
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
graduation dinner
Go over to Opentable.com now to see what choices you have for your party. It is late to get a top reservation like Craigie. It also depends on how many there are in your party. Three or four is easier than 5-8.
Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/
