chevrelove's Profile
Local Asparagus
Three or four vendors had it for $5/bunch at the first Dewey square market today.
Conference Widow's (Longish) Four Day Plan
Maybe it's just me, but several times I've been foiled by the dreaded "We're all out" upon ordering the ricotta pie at Modern post-dinner. So if that's high on your list, go there during the day instead of Mike's. (There's nothing wrong with getting pastries from Modern twice in the same day. You have my permission.)
Harvard Square rehearsal dinner restaurant?
I'd second Trina's, ECG, and Oleana - all terrific suggestions. Right in Harvard Sq, Upstairs on the Square might cross the price/fanciness threshold, but still worth checking out and could fit OP's "quirky" requirement.
Oysters & a TV?
Yes, the one location in Boston. My experience lies with the Cambridge location, and unfortunately, Mohegan Sun - once.
Oysters & a TV?
Does the downtown Summer Shack have a sports bar like the one at Alewife? If so, there you go.
Food Truck Season
Lines can be very deceiving, at least in my experience. Bon Me's line can be 20+ people deep, and I'm still out of there in under 10 minutes easily. Tried Staff a week or two ago for the first time, and with a line of
Food was good, but is that typical of Staff Meal?
Cambridge Restaurant for Easter Brunch/Lunch with 87 year old Mom
I'll second that, but offer the caveat that your "older mom" is fairly mobile. It can get *pretty tight* at Blue Room for Easter brunch - which can be an issue 1) if you are seated near where the line for hot dishes builds up, and 2) if you are seated at the opposite end of the restaurant, in which case you need to squeeze between tables of festive families dining to navigate over to the food. But overall, it's an enjoyable brunch. Which is why we will be back again this year.
Recs for breakfast near Arlington?
Different strokes, I guess. We lived within sight of the Arlington Diner previously and now within sight of the Broadway Diner. Broadway is a acceptable in a pinch, but we'll still hike to Arlington if the weather isn't bad. The home fries with onions at Arlington, while on the greasier side, are much better than Broadway's, and I won't even order the bacon at Broadway anymore. The Eggs Mykonos at Arlington are a favorite for us, too. Like I said, Broadway is okay in a pinch, but I was surprised to see some posters echoing my exact sentiments (unimaginative, lower quality, etc.) - just the other way around.
Looking for a good lunch spot in Somerville
In that case, how big a party will you have? And what is your maximum price per person? A lot of the non-sandwich places in Inman and Union aren't open for lunch.
Where to find cranberry wine?
A little closer to the city, Cambridge Wine & Spirits always carries a few varieties.
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Cambridge Wine & Spirits
202 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA 02138
Too late to order Turkey?
I've ordered my heirloom turkey from John Crow this year, although they were also raising domestic whites. Seems to me they may have extras, though I would email them to confirm. Pickup of the fresh birds will be next Wednesday.
http://johncrowfarm.com/
Bridal shower dish involving goat cheese
Will you have access to an oven at the shower? Otherwise I'm inclined to agree with suggestions that have a bread base and can be served at room temperature. However - if you have an oven (or some other mechanism for reheating that isn't a microwave) queso rebozado con miel - or lightly fried goat cheese balls with caramelized honey onions - is amazing. You could fry at home, and at the shower throw them in an oven or toaster oven to re-crisp and heat up the honeyed onions.
Capon in the Boston Area?
As of a day or two ago, they still had extra capons! Send Pete and Jen an email to confirm, but they are amazing. I think they were mostly in the 8-10 lb range this year.
ISO Thanksgiving To Go?
Received an email just the other day from Blue Ribbon detailing theirs. Admittedly I've never had it, but it seems to fit most of your requirements. Here are details: http://blueribbonbbq.com/thanksgiving/
Maybe someone who has can speak to their experience.
Help planning a company holiday party
Good call on CBC. My midwestern alma mater had an alumni event there a year or two ago, and they did a great job with the group. But then, we're also there about once a month in general, so obviously we're fans.
Meat CSA - Houde Family Farm
We have been very happy with Houde as well. We do the 10 lb. share. The convenience factor of the delivery service is huge, but really is only secondary to the quality of meat, which is high and of good variety. Tdaaa, you're not kidding about the breakfast sausage... my favorite as well.
Oysters Cambridge/Somerville Sat night
Easy- If quantity of oysters is your main concern and not breadth of variety, go to Red House Restaurant in Harvard Square. They have dollar oysters on the patio and fifty cent oysters after 10.
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Red House Restaurant
24 Union Sq, Somerville, MA 02143
Best Hard Cider? [moved from Spirits board]
Excellent, thanks! I am indeed in the Boston area (not too far from Davis Sq actually) and am looking to acquaint myself with hard cider making this fall. I can order gallons of the unpasteurized stuff through my CSA and likely will, but from what I've read, cider is improved with the addition of small percentages of "cider" apples (you know, the kind you wouldn't eat because they're too bitter/tart/sharp, etc.) And, fingers crossed, I think I've found a good local source of these.
Phil's UPick sounds great, but I'll be sure to only purchase a few gallons so as not to arouse any suspicions of hard-cider making on Phil's part ;-)
Winter CSA Help Needed
Cpl, apologies, I am just seeing your reply now. While I echo the others' comments below, I would add I don't think Shared Harvest is heavy on potatoes. I find that I always need to buy more, and we probably consume an average amount of potatoes. You'll get a fair number of beets and butternut/other squash (per your comment below), but overall it's a nice variety. You could swap your cabbage for my beets. : ) If you have a basement (even on the damp side) at all, I think you'd be fine.
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Shared Harvest
Belmont, Belmont, MA
Winter CSA Help Needed
What are your storage concerns? I wouldn't be too worried. For my first three years with Shared Harvest, I lived in a third floor apartment with no storage space other than a closet floor (hardly ideal climate) and medium-sized fridge, and we still somehow managed. This year, we have a full-sized fridge and a proper basement, and I am ecstatic about the storage possibilities! The new SH pickup location is right off Rte 2, so a bit more accessible than it previously was, if you are not right in the area.
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Shared Harvest
Belmont, Belmont, MA
CSA Rating
I'd easily give Shared Harvest CSA (fall/early winter share) a 5, based on three years subscribing.
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Shared Harvest
Belmont, Belmont, MA
peachy peaches?
Have to put in a plug for Carlson Orchards also. We were there last weekend for peach picking. It's always a favorite, too, for apples. Also a plus, it's never a zoo.
Best Hard Cider? [moved from Spirits board]
Davis_sq_pro, realizing this thread is almost a year old, I'm doubtful you'll see this. However if you do, curious to know - do you ever press your own cider or rely on the unpasteurized from local orchards?
Andrew Zimmern in Boston filming Bizarre Foods episode
Appears he will be in Duxbury as well to check out Island Creek.
Recs for breakfast near Arlington?
On this note - If you're willing to gamble on available seating, Sofra has a Turkish breakfast that is pretty darn tasty.
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Sofra
1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138
Need caterer for a Caribbean themed BBQ/Clambake Reception soon!
Although Something Savory no longer exists as a restaurant, the catering business lives on. They would be perfect for what you describe and get high marks from people I know who have used them.
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Something Savory
1312 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington, MA 02476
Where to buy rabbit in Metrowest?
Hit up Pete & Jen's for some porky goodness this weekend (jowl bacon, YUM!) and noticed they currently have fresh rabbits in the fridge. Don't know how long till they freeze them, though.
Guys weekend, need advice
I've done both multiple times, and it depends on your preferences. Sam Adams has more of a rehearsed spiel thing going on, but that also makes it more of an "experience." As has been pointed out above, Harpoon offers tours at their production facilities vs. SA which produces the vast majority of its beer elsewhere. Harpoon wins for me, because as we walked past the mash tuns and tanks, the guide stopped at a tank of partially fermented beer, and offered everyone small pour in your sample glass a taste to see the difference between it and the finished product. Then you get to sample any of the ten or so beers (and cider) they have on tap.
But really, you can't go wrong with either.
Good Parking + Good Food in/near Boston = Possible?
Good suggest on Helmand. A word of caution, however, with respect to the Helmand lot. If you've got drivers who are not accustomed to urban driving, they may feel quite uncomfortable navigating the very tight spaces here.
Good Parking + Good Food in/near Boston = Possible?
In addition, there is ample, free parking at the Elephant Walk location in Porter Square. Just behind the building.
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Elephant Walk
2067 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
