sox_foodie's Profile
Biggie Iggy Ice Cream Sandwiches
We used to have Biggy Iggy's and Chewie Lewie's at my high school. They're gigantic, full of fat, and deliciousness. And as cheap and intelligent high school students, a lunch made up of $1.50 french fries and a Biggy Iggy (can't remember how much they cost) and call it a lunch. Awful? or awesome?
I would love to get one one of these days. Ahh nostalgia.
Haymarket
Since moving to Boston, shopping at Haymarket has become such a part of the family's weekly shopping.
Haymarket is not a Farmer's Market. It is not supposed to be pretty and well laid out. It's rough and tumble while paradoxically touristy. It is not for people that do not know how to pick their own fruits and vegetables.
-Don't go in looking weak or looking like you don't know what you want.
-Watch what they're giving you, and pick your our pieces.
-Know that you will get some rotten ones in a pre-packaged bunch. $1 for 1 1/2 lbs of strawberries is still a pound in my belly before the afternoon is over.
-Wash your finds immediately!
-And eat them quickly.
-Go as early in the morning as possible. If you accidentally sleep in, don't go that week. On a hot day, you should expect rotten stuff by 11.
Yes, I get what I pay for and I paid $2 for a freaking huge watermelon and because I think of this as a weekend activity, I walked in with my game face and dug through the barrel til I found a delicious, gorgeous watermelon.
Finally, and I think this is secondary, but I love the environment. I'm sorry you think they're rude, but I think of Haymarket as a little slice of the UN, of the United States melting pot in action, but without the politically correct niceties. The Lebanese vendor is yelling at his neighbor the Vietnamese guy who is making wise cracks with the Black guys next door while the Venezuelan man quivers in fear of the Chinese lady while they sell cheap produce to tourists from France and stout Italian grandmothers who know what types of tomatoes are going into her sauce in her apartment in the North End. Let's play "We Are the World" and go digging for some unbruised apples now.
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Haymarket
Blackstone St, Boston, MA
1st Annual Food Truck Festival
I'm sorry you guys didn't manage to eat anything! I think I arrived at about 1:45. I had a group of four so we immediately split up. My mother got into line at Speed's (and is fantastic person) before even entering the main area and waited in line for almost 2 hours. Meanwhile, my boyfriend and I realized the line at M&M's was impossible so we beelined for Fillbelly's. I really wanted to try their waffles. He ended up grabbing us some lemonades while I waited at Fillbelly's. The last of our group tried, but like many was too overwhelmed by the crowds. She got a sandwich from Flour Bakery and tried to seem smug, until she saw our awesome collection of food.
The entire time I was in line I watched/listened as they started running out of food. Waffles, gone. Fried chicken, gone (just as I was getting close!). Three people to go and chicken bosalitos gone! Meanwhile, my mother is calling me from the Speed's line. She's 10 people back and they're running low. Finally, though, we ordered a West Indian Plate with rice and beans, fried pork, and fried plantains ($8) and four beef bosalitos ($3 for 2). And while we waited for our order, my mother scored three Speed's dogs ($7 each)! Ok, so we didn't need that much food, but we were just excited to be able to order and we weren't sure if the other line would produce food. Also, scored a free bottle of Hint water.
So, while everyone else slowly but surely filed out of our lines, stubborn, stubborn people in my family waited and we gorged ourselves on Speeds and fried pork in the shade at about 3:30pm.
Conclusions:
This was my first Speed's dog. I'm so happy I've finally gotten one! It was gigantic, but we didn't know that when we ordered so much food from Fillbelly's. The casing is legit. Really crunchy and chewy and almost difficult to bite through sometimes, though I think on a normal day when he wasn't as rushed, he might cook the dog longer for bite. The sauce was messy but delicious. Not something I could eat often, but glad to have had one.
I am really bummed that I missed out of Fillbelly's waffles, but really, how could fried pork be a bad thing? The plantains were a little salty. Some pieces of pork were a little drier than others. The rice was good though. Flavorful, but not too special. Also, the bosalitos are basically fried empanadas. They were ok. I'm biased after spending last summer in Buenos Aires. The meat could have been more flavorful and the dough was good, but perhaps I was just to full to enjoy the heavy dough (empanadas are baked in Argentina). I will give them the benefit of the doubt and say that it might have been better from from the truck on another day. We waited to long for our Speed's dogs so the pork got a little cold, not delicious.
Was it worth the wait? Yeah, we're a little smug that waiting out the lines resulted in a pretty fantastic picnic. I'm looking forward to seeing this develop better in future years.
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Flour Bakery + Cafe
12 Farnsworth St, Boston, MA
Chinatown for large group with vegitarian options
Hi all,
Thanks for all the replies. I will definitely suggest the vegan cafe to my friend. I actually got saved by my mother and we went to Hei La Moon and took over two tables for 20 people total. We knew they would have plenty of space and would be able to easily fit everyone.
We split the tables into largely vegetarian and a bit of everything tables. The restaurant was really great about meat free versions, but I don't think I could have done it with my Chinese skills. My mother explained really well, but they were very nice to the group.
The meal was delicious and everyone seemed full and pleased with their meal.
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Hei La Moon
88 Beach St, Boston, MA 02111
Chinatown for large group with vegitarian options
I don't think anyone is actually vegan, just a couple vegetarians, a girl who doesn't like seafood, a girl that only eats chicken, a couple that keep kosher and just eat vegetarian when they're out, etc. All different people so it results in ultimately a largely vegetarian meal.
The gluten free girl tells me she probably won't come to dinner, but I did mention I would ask about the soy sauce if she did.
Also, on a funny note regarding oyster sauce, I asked my dad advice about ordering some vegetarian dishes (that I don't order when I'm on my own) and he sent me a lovely list, but number three clearly says, "Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce." Just goes to show how foreign the idea of being a vegetarian is for my Chinese father.
Chinatown for large group with vegitarian options
As a token Asian and resident foodie, I stupidly volunteered myself to lead a group of graduate students and a couple professors/physicians around Chinatown tomorrow. I didn't realize, however, that nearly 2/3 of them would be vegetarian or seafood free. As a hardcore carnivore, I've never had to approach Chinatown from a meatless point of view. Also, there's one gluten free girl, but she's prepared to have difficulties.
Also, the group is being horribly unhelpful by not giving me an exact number, but I need to plan for about 12-15.
I'm thinking a big family style meal in Jumbo or Peach Farm where I will choose lots of vegetarian options and hoard a large plate of spare ribs for myself.
Does anyone have any experience with vegetarian friendly Chinatown?
Thanks!
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Peach Farm
4 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
where to buy chocolate covered sunflower seeds in Cambridge, MA ??
It's not actually in Cambridge, but I always buy the chocolate covered sunflower seeds from Russo's in Watertown. They're kind of addicting.
Un estudiante en Buenos Aires-7 weeks
Thank you so much for the reply. This is definitely the type of info I will use. I live just near the jardines, so I will definitely look for Voulez and Guido's this week. The farther places will have to wait for the weekend, but I'm looking forward to exploring more now that I'm starting to be able to understand the Colectivos.
Un estudiante en Buenos Aires-7 weeks
I really chose this program base on my interest in public health. It just happened to be in Buenos Aires. I didn't know that much about the country other than having seen Evita on Broadway and hearing all about the steak. I came expecting fabulous steak and an intensive 7 week public health program working in clinics. The intensive public health classes I have experienced. The steak not so much.
I did finally have a decent empanada as snack en Palermo on the corner of Santa Fe and Scalabrini Oritz. It's a relatively nice cafe. 4.50 is a little more than the usual empanada, usually around 3-3.50, but I was happy to have a nice warm empanada with flavorful filling. The chunks of carne are nicer than minced meat.
I have family in Peru and have visited twice. Peruvian food is so amazing. Argentina just so happened to be my second South American country. I heard they had a lot of Italian influence, but I think I understand the history a bit more after today's class actually.
Un estudiante en Buenos Aires-7 weeks
Hello South America board!
I just posted in a thread, but thought I would introduce myself to the board. I am a student studying abroad in Buenos Aires for 7 weeks. I've been here 5 days thus far and sadly, throughly unimpressed with BA for food. I had such very high expectations and likely, because I've been running around with a large group of American students, my expectations have fallen very, very short.
I need someone to teach me to love BA, because thus far, I am very home sick and I'm pretty sure the food could wow me if I weren't simply stopping by whereever I can go whenever I'm lost. I'm looking for mostly student budget places, but I will definitely want to blow some pesos before I leave so best of the best is great to. I spend most weekdays in San Nicolas, but welcome ideas all over. Colectivo suggestions for getting there would be fabulous as well, but I'll scour a Guia T if needed.
In exchange, I hope to post reviews of places when I can. I'm horrid at posting in my own blog, but I know if i put some work into it, I'll learn to love BA. The last 5 days of food have been so sad. Please help me enjoy the next 6 weeks!
Food freak must haves in BA
I'm studying in BA this summer and thus far I am seriously under-impressed by BA. Please teach me to love it here. I am so underwhelmed by the Italian food.
I spend most of my weekdays in San Nicolas. Any good lunch places?
Weekends and nights I will venture anywhere and really really need good food to make love this place. Good places near the Jardin Botanico would great too.
Gracias!
Lactose Free Cheeses: Do They Exist?
I am also lactose intolerant and found this post really interesting. I don't like the flavor of cheese, so it's not an issue, but my roommate has recently become lactose intolerant and has been buying this horrible horrible soy cheese. I don't know the brand off the top of my head, but it's a green package and they sell orange shreds that are supposed to be "cheddar soy cheese".
My roommate wasn't a particularly good cook to start with, but she for some reason insists on melting it into quesadillas. Do NOT, please do not, melt this soy cheese for any reason. It smells horrible, looks bad, and tastes worse. Just in case, you're still experimenting with "lactose free" items. Stay away from this.
Best Hangover Food
To mcsheridan, please don't take aspirin while you still have alcohol in your system. You may cause stomach bleeding especially if you mix with things like Aleve or Tylenol. Just drink lots of water to limit the dehydration.
Personally, I like dim sum after drinking. It's delicious, oily, slow paced with lots of tea, and cheap.
Mexican restaurant on River St. in Waltham ?
I just drove by the new Guanachapi's and was also confused about the move. I haven't been in yet, and will stop by soon, but I have to say that it looks kind of sketchy. Why move to that location? I don't they think look inviting enough to attract drive-by traffic, if that's what they're going for.
I've been to the original. The food was pretty good (the date was a disaster) and they had great foot-traffic. I had some form of bistec with a tomato based sauce similar to what I've had at my aunt from Peru's house but distinctly different. I can't imagine that people would venture out to that new location solely with the purpose of going there. I wish them luck, though and will try out the new location soon.
Where to Find a Good Tres Leches Cake?
Second that! Tres Leches is so good! It's become something of a cult calling. There's nothing better than Tres Leches at Taq with some good friends.
Seasonal Sips- Meritage...tried it?
Has anyone tried the seasonal sips at Meritage on Thursdays?
Is it enough food for a dinner or is it really just a tasting and we'd need to go out to eat more?
I found it from Joanie's list of recession busters. I'm looking for someplace for dinner on Thursday that's affordable. Sit down, but doesn't have to be fancy. I'd actually really rather not spend more than $25-30 per person. Less would definitely be ideal. It'll be dinner for two but not for a romantic evening, just to catch up with my old skating coach. We went to Helmand's last time, but I wouldn't mind spending a touch less this time so that I can get a drink (see the appeal of Meritage?). Most importantly, I'm looking for something delicious. Also, I'm coming from Waltham. She'll be in near MGH. Either location is fine. Also, yeah, we are familiar with the north end. Unless, you super recommend some place, let's think out of the box.
I should probably post this in a separate thread, eh?
Non Meat on Yawkey Way
Do NOT order the chowder in Fenway. It's one of my favorite places on earth, but I would never order it. My boyfriend works there as a vendor. He says it comes in huge bags of mush and they mix it in foul smelling vats.
Your best bet is to eat before and grab some popcorn while you're there. The prices are absurd anyway, but if you are buying something from my boyfriend, tip him well. ; p
Lumiere, Il Capriccio, La Campania, or Boston for birthday dinner
I'm debating whether to stick to the 'burbs or venture into Boston for my birthday. I'd like to go somewhere nice and as delicious as possible. I haven't been to any of the following somewhat "top" of the western suburbs (read Waltham and Newton): Lumiere, Il Capriccio, or La Campania.
I have plans in Waltham for later in the evening and think it might be better just have dinner there rather than go into Boston, but we could get an early reservation and still make it back in time if we decide Boston would be more enjoyable. I need some convincing to pick one of the three. I'm not in love with anything on the menu at Lumiere right now and leaning towards Il Capriccio. What would be the most delicious?
(p.s. My mother will likey run into this post and wonder at my expensive birthday treats since she's taking me out to L'Espalier for my birthday as well. Hi Mom!)
Best sandwich... ever?
My brown bag lunch in the 10th grade. My dad packed roasted red peppers, crisp romaine, tomatoes, cucumbers, perfectly medium rare roast beef, pastrami, and a homemade honey mustard in individual plastic bags and then into a Tupperware with a toasted roll. The looks of awe and confusion from everyone in the cafeteria were priceless as I pieced together my gourmet lunch. : )
For less gourmet, I've always gotten a great sandwich down the street from Mass General at a sandwich shop that I can't remember the name of right now. The owners are Portuguese, I think. It's before the DD on Cambridge and right next to that liquor store.
leisurely lunch in Waltham
Ah, clearly I should read the rest of the board. I'll stop by in the next few weeks to check it out, too. There are plenty of spicy eaters in the area and with the numerous other places on Moody, they had better have something to compete.
leisurely lunch in Waltham
Are they opened now? I called them forever for an estimated opening date and they said October. I'll definitely stop by to check out the bigger location.
Favorite Little-Known Italian Restaurant Outside of Boston Proper?
It's a haul from most of you, but I can't believe that no one's mentioned Cafe Il Cipresso in Tyngsboro. It remains a redeeming factor in the heinous line of cookie cutter chain restaurants up and down the DW strip part of old Rt 3. It's in a strip mall behind the Firehouse restaurant and no more than 2 minutes from Academy of Nortre Dame.
They make their own pasta. You can definitely taste the difference. I've run into tourist trap places in the North End that fail in comparison to my favorite little gem in the distant north. Their meat sauce is classic and so meaty. Their prices are really reasonable, too.
They've changed owners in the last couple years, and I can taste the difference, but it's slight and still great. It's worth the trip.
Shopping the frozen north (of Boston)
One of my best friends from high school used to work at Rosie's on weekends. I've never eaten lunch there, but it's great for breakfast. They're a spin-off from the OWL diner farther down in Lowell.
Also, if you're referring to NDA, I'm an alum. Il Cipresso is one of the only reasons I head over there when I'm home now.
Hei La Moon
Also, it's $10 all day on weekends, I think. And something like, $7 for one hour on weekdays.... I just know that I had to sprint to my car on a Thursday once because my hour was up. Weekends you should be fine though.
Hei La Moon
I was at Hei La Moon on Saturday and it was definitely worth a trip. First of all, I was blessed with an AWESOME parking spot. I haven't been able to avoid paying the stupid $10 to the garage in so long. This meal was so much cheaper simply because I managed to find a metered space. Yes!
Regarding CHers forsaking Hei La Moon, I beg you not to! The system of dim sum is based on volume. If a restaurant can't keep up the turnover of dishes, things get cold and aren't cycled as much and there isn't room for variety and creativity in dishes. It's a weird cycle. We go because it's good and it's good because we go.
My table of 8 had no wait on a Saturday at 11:30. The food was good, but I couldn't help but notice the empty tables in the back. I think the first floor was filled, so they were at about 3/4 capacity. The quality was good, but less great the last time. Still better than China Pearl, about the same as Windsor. Still, I'm worried that if they start emptying to 1/2 capacity, the food will drop also drop proportionally.
A Quick Review of Wu Chon House-Somerville
A friend and I were craving Korean food and looked around the boards for a good Korean stop in the area. We read over some Yelp and CH, and just randomly chose Wu Chon. Overall, I was thoroughly unimpressed.
The restaurant itself was very easy to find. I'm not sure if parked legally, but there was plenty of space in the Dunkin Donuts next door and we weren't ticketed. When we first walked in, I noticed that my DC was the only non-Asian in the room, always a good sign. The table behind us was filled with boisterous young men arguing in Korean. The walls are covered in nice artwork by a local artist so the atmosphere was very nice.
We had read some reviews that suggested against getting the kalbi, but frankly, I was craving it and it had been so long since either of us had Korean food, we wanted staples and the most stereotypical meal we could get. So, we ordered kalbi and bul go ki bim bi bop (in the stone of course).
I realize why we were warned against the kalbi. It wasn't as tender as we would like. Two of the pieces were more fat that meat, and not in the delicious marbleized way, but in the large chunk of untrimmed meat way. The sauce was underwhelming and the portion was significantly smaller than Woo Jung, where I was first introduced to Korean food and to which I hold a base standard.
The bim bi bop was alright. The portion was tiny. I was really disappointed with how little rice we got. Are we in a rice shortage again? Why are all the restaurants around me skimping on rice? They were also stingy on the meat. I really didn't appreciate the fact that it was just a bowl of barely flavored vegetables. The stone pot did create a nice crunchy rice bottom for the little rice that we did get, so that was at least enjoyable.
My greatest complaint were the side dishes. I'm so disappointed. First of all, I admit that I can't eat spicy food like many CHers, but I like flavor. If I can eat the kim chi and other "spicy" dishes without blinking, there's an issue. I don't honestly like kim chi that much, but the other supposedly spicy dishes were lacking. The bean sprouts, which are usually my favorite, were bland, watery, and...bland. No sesame flavor. No sesames. My dad makes a much better version. The spinach has some sesames, but still bland and watery. There was a random plate of potato salad that was decent, but a total non sequitor.
The servers were nice, but not overly helpful. Our waitress refilled our tea just once and we were certainly never offered any more side dishes. Our dishes were completely and totally empty for well over ten minutes before she asked if we were done. Clearly, there was nothing left to eat.
I read that their soups were good and I realize we should have followed instruction by not ordering BBQ. Still, overall, I'm hugely unimpressed. Their other entrees better be really good to make up for the watery, bland side dishes. The prices were acceptable, but I really expected larger portions.
I'm still craving delicious Korean food and that meal did not suffice.
Need a guide to Chinatown bakeries
Yes, he used to own Bo Shek. They had some Board of Health issues....but nothing that's killed us yet. I mean, it IS Chinatown.
Vinh Sun is pretty good, although now that you mention it, I haven't been there in quite a while. The owner is an extremely nice and will try to choose his best stuff to give you if he likes you and you're not fussy. He hates fussy people. I'm glad he's doing well over there now.
Korean just west of city?
I've been to Woo Jung quite a few times and I actually really like their kalbi, but frankly, I'm just always happy to eat kalbi at all. : ) I like one of their noodle dishes quite a bit, can't remember what it's called right now. My father likes that it's BYOB... oy.
There's a little Korean place in Burlington, literally called Korean Barbeque Restaurant. It's not the best Korean I've ever had, but I enjoyed the food there. It was a little more expensive than Woo Jung, I think, but relatively decent for a meal for 3 and 2 kids. I'm definitely not a Korean food expert, but I think they're kalbi was a little too sweet. Otherwise, I don't remember anything horrid. It's a pretty short trip from Waltham up 95, so if I'm super craving Korean, I'd go there.
(Also, we had a couple of rowdy kids and a serious language barrier going (in 4 languages!), but the owners were nice about it)
Should I sneak into your college's cafeteria for lunch?
You PURPOSEFULLY went to Sherman? Why? Why?
Or do you mean downstairs at Usdan?
Either way, I'm not sure why you subjected yourself to that. It's horrendously overpriced if you're not forced to use a meal plan. The food is decent for a college campus really. We enjoy the grilled options during the week. The sushi has gotten significantly better this year, but I would never ever suggest you sneak into the dining halls if you didn't live/work/study here.
Alright, they have an absurd selection of vegan/vegetarian options all the time. It's a good option, but the vegetarian plate at Usdan is what? $6ish? That's money better spent somewhere on Moody Street.
Where to find the best Bubble Tea
Maybe a better question is where can you get bubble tea?
Unlike L.A. and NY, we don't have bubble tea at every street corner. Where can you get bubble tea and where's the best?
I'm especially looking for the BEST bubble tea in Chinatown proper and any good bubble tea out in the 'burbs. I like the Tea Stop in Harvard Square and am usually happy with Lollicup in Allston. I've yet to find a great place in Chinatown proper. I'm looking to try Bubblicious (sp?) in Newton soon. Any hope for good bubble tea farther north and west?
