MaggieMuffin's Profile
Restaurant Week 2008
I had the Lobster Roll at Sandrine's today for lunch. The portion was quite large and it came with fries. Reasonable lobster content...and overall a great experience.
Accra--good eats?
I forgot to update the board with some of my new finds from a trip back in June...so here goes.
I had an absolutely fantastic meal of fresh fish at a place called Duncan's just off Oxford Street. The place, which is actually a bar, does not really seem to have a restaurant but if you ask your server a woman comes over and takes your order. There is fish (snapper I think) for two prices, no other options. But it is absolutely fantastic. I can't rave about this enough.
Next, I have also fallen in love with the Cafe mentioned above in Airport Residential Area. Josies or Cuppa Cappucino, whatever it is called. Great food, great atmosphere, real coffee, and shakes. Yum. To get there it is quite close to the "Aviation" trotro station. It is close to the Lavender Lodge, the WHO, the Nahoe clinic, etc.
Also in ARA, there is a new restaurant called Osteria. It is run by an Italian guy who is very passionate about food and all things Italian. He grows his own arugula in his yard to ensure a regular supply. The salads are to die for and the pasta not bad either. It is near the Saudi Embassy and/or Galaxy International School. It is across the street from CDD-Ghana, just follow the signs to it.
I'll be back again in a couple of weeks, and will keep scouting.
Best Peanut Butter Desserts
I'm not sure if this counts but Lumiere always does a dessert that plays on the concept of Peanut Butter and Jam. It is usually some mix of concord grapes, cream, and salted peanuts. I rarely get dessert when I eat out but I ALWAYS do when this is available at Lumiere.
Cafe Sushi, Cambridge
CHs,
I have been a regular at Cafe Sushi for the past year or so. It is on Mass Ave near the intersection with Mt. Auburn (near the Crate and Barrel). I have always thought that they did a great, good valued lunch special for a $12-15. Fresh and tasty and has made me a loyal fan.
However, I have to report that they have recently begun offering an absolutely fantastic chef's special of choice pieces. It usually includes 4-6 California type rolls, and 6-8 really interesting sushi pieces with everything ranging from scallop to roe. Each piece is different from the next and they are some of the most creative pieces I have had in Boston. Half the time I cannot even name the taste of the sauces they use. All this from $15 including soup, tea, and salad.
Check it out....
-MM
Anniversary dinner nearby? (1eme, 2eme, 9eme, 10eme)
Some great suggestions....I'll certainly try one of them out and report back.
Opinions, please
Admittedly I have never tried the two you described, but I do live in Newton and I can tell you about some of my favorites. I have almost tried Quince a few times, but never seem to make it....
I am a big fan of Lumiere: the food is always excellent, the ambiance is great, reservations are a snap, and it is easy to get to (right off the pike!).
In Wellesley, we like Alta Strada for more casual fare. Lincoln 51 in Newton Highlands is also worth a try, but the menu can be somewhat variable. Blue Ginger in Wellesley is also an option.
Anniversary dinner nearby? (1eme, 2eme, 9eme, 10eme)
CHs,
My husband and I will be making a rushed trip to France in a few weeks spending one night in Paris. We will actually have to spend our anniversary flying (separately!) but we agreed to seek out a very romantic, must try food spot together the day after we arrive. We will be staying near the 1eme/2eme/9eme/10eme arrs (at least that is what google maps shows me).
We are looking for something with good food but without going too extravagant: maybe 50-100 euros per person.
What would you suggest and why?
Karen
coffee shop in w. newton?
It is a bit of a stretch to call it a coffee shop, but they do sell coffee, and you can hang out there for a bit. There is not much else in the area, except if you head down to Walnut/Newtonville.
Accra--good eats?
Johnb - I should be in Accra more or less full time starting in mid-May or June. Let me know when you are back and we should grab dinner!
Accra--good eats?
Johnb,
Do let me know what you find. I'll be living there most of this year, so I'll be happy to try your recs.
Who's selling mangosteen?
I don't think it is quite the season, I just returned from SEA an they kept saying I had to wait a few more months to get the good stuff. I did manage to purchase a few while there.
Cooking classes in Singapore and/or KL?
Thanks for all of the tips. I just returned from my trip and am able to report.
I tried a number of places, all of those listed below plus some I found on websites. I was a bit disappointed in the fact that most of the schools offered general cooking classes or stuff like French and desserts on the days that I was there and I was not so interested in those. I had also reserved spots in a few classes that were eventually canceled due to low enrollment. Perhaps late March/early April is a very slow travel period.
However, I did manage to take one class at the Coriander Leaf restaurant in Singapore. The space was beautiful, set on the water in Clarke's Quay. The menu was Singaporean, we did everything from Pepper crab, to veggies, to black rice dessert. The food was excellent, the instruction was very good, however, I think I had hoped for something much more interactive (we sat while they cooked) especially at about $100 a head. But overall I enjoyed the experience.
I did manage to eat like a pig while I was in the area. So the trip was definitely worth it!
-MM
Dinner with Boss (50-60 Streets, Eastside)
My boss wants to take me out for a business dinner and left the choice up to me as to where to go. I just moved to NYC so I don't know the area too well. I am looking for something approximately between 50-60streets on the East Side, but anywhere within a quick taxi-ride to that would also be appropriate.
I want something very good, he is a big foodie. I want something a bit trendy or where to eat next ish as I want to impress him with my taste. I want something high end without perhaps being too extravagant, (about 100 a head, but not more) he is paying after all. Roughly: French, Fish, Bistro, American, or Continental would be good, but not Asian, Latin, or Italian.
Where would you recommend?
Uganda
I just returned from my trip to Kampala and wanted to share some reports on the places I ate while visiting.
Faze 2: This place kind of has something for everyone, although it has a terribly western menu and is relatively pricey. However, I must admit that I enjoyed the setting and the roast pig leg shared among three people was actually quite delectable. Overall, I think this would be a great place to bring visitors or to go with a group of people.
Haandi: Good but nothing overly memorable. The appetizers were quite good but the mains were a bit commonplace. The kulfi dessert was pretty good.
Fang Fang: Given where it is, I would say this place was very good. The soups and appetizers were well done, the mains were well prepared, reasonably sized, and relatively tasty. The service was extremely attentive and there was a lot to choose from. I though the food was tasty and not too heavy, as Chinese can be.
Persephone
Last night I ventured with a friend down to Persephone in the Fort Point area. I know that there has been a lot of talk on this board about new stuff opening up in that area, but to be perfectly honest, I still had to look it up on a map to figure out how to get there. 6 years in Boston and I have to admit that part of town is still relatively unknown to me. That said, it is easy to access from both the 93 and 90 making it easy to get to and parking was super easy last night (however valet was also available). I kind of felt sorry for the valet guy standing outside in the cold weather with tons of free parking meters on either side of him.
The restaurant is part of the Achilles Project. I have not quite figured out exactly what a "project" is in this context - really just a fancy word for a "business". The restaurant is set in the back of a high end clothing store where the clothes are on display in glass cubes. Between the rows of clothing there were flat screen TVs where apparently one can play wii games.
The restaurant itself was very clearly thought out, and I must admit I really liked the space. The restaurant transitions first from the clothing store to a casual bar/lounge area and then into the restaurant. The space itself was quite large but its organization does not make it feel cavernous. The tables were set on metal rafters and can be set either for 4 or the tables could be split to quickly and easily make two tables for two. Very clever. The space was warm and cozy.
I am a huge fan of Lumiere and chef Michael Leviton. I live very nearby and for my husband and I it is our go to place for quick romantic dates on Wednesday nights or a place to take our friends out when we want to go out and I just don't have the energy to cook. We eat there every month or so. I love the consistency of the menu there, the ease of getting in any day of the week, the service, and the ambiance. In short, it is the perfect neighborhood restaurant. I got the sense that Persephone was aiming for the same sort of feel.
The menu was organized into 5 sections: small, medium, large and extra large plates (I must admit I hate these names, yes "I'll have the extra large portion??") plus a selection of raw bar items. In theory, our waitress explained, the small was meant for one person, the medium for 2 to share as an appetizer, a large was a main, and an extra-large could be shared by two people. This seemed reasonable in theory, but most of the dishes in the shareable category were actually kind of hard to share (a steak). Plus the small were too small for my liking: my $9 small sea scallop dish was actually only a single scallop.
The menu, for the most part was relatively standard fare, and very reminiscent of Leviton's classics: apple cider soup, scallops, arugula salad, roast chicken, roast cod, etc. There were also some nice surprises on the menu: an appetizer of roast bone marrow. The concept was seasonal sustainable ingredients so I guess they are somewhat limited in what is obtainable this time of the year. I found the menu to be somewhat lacking in inspiration: one chicken, one fish, one meat main with relatively straightforward and bland descriptions of each. But this is true at lumiere as well. I would have perhaps a bit more selection.
I selected to do one small and one medium as the medium was described to be relatively large. I ordered the sea scallop with chestnut/celery root puree and the grilled squid salad with preserved lemons and parsley. I found the sea scallop to be a bit too light (come on, give me one more scallop!) and a bit too complicated. Chestnuts have a relatively strong taste, which kind of clashed with the apple like sauce and hazelnuts served with the scallop. But it was reasonably good. The squid salad was well executed - lovely fresh flat leaf parsley with preserved lemon rind and well grille scallop. Again, it was a bit small for what was described as a shareable portion, but no major complaints. My friend had the roast chicken, which looked absolutely delicious, and also believed it was fantastic. I true Leviton classic. We passed on desserts.
Service was good but not outstanding. The general manager was on duty surveying everything so I got the sense he was really trying to run a tight ship I just think a lot of the servers were new but will eventually get the hang of things.
Small appetizers were 8-12, medium 10-14 ish, mains 20-28 ish, large 40 ish.
My general sense as this will become a great neighborhood option for people in the area. The owner talked about how they plan to start a supper club there on Tuesday nights. There is a big part of the restaurant that can be converted to a table for 18 and there will be a prix-fixe dinner. I really liked the idea of this. They also plan to start serving lunch in a few weeks. There were lots of great windows in the back of the restaurant and I can imagine that during the day the spot would be absolutely delightful.
I'll likely try it again.
Cooking classes in Singapore and/or KL?
Thanks for the tip. I gather you are the tipster on all things foodie in KL. Do you have any other recommendations for things that I must do while I am there? I am really just coming to explore food for a few days.
Cooking classes in Singapore and/or KL?
Has anyone had any experience with any of the cooking schools in Singapore or KL? Would you recommend any of these?
How close are they to the downtown/public transit? How well taught were the classes?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
-MM
Cilantro in KL
Greater Asian CHs,
I will be coming to KL for 3 days in a couple of weeks and thusI have begun scanning this site for ideas of things to do and things to try. Thanks so much for all of the suggestions so far.
Cilantro, the restaurant in KL, comes up here and there. From what I gather it is in a hotel that is undergoing renovation and I was unable to find a website for the restaurant. Is the restaurant in fact still open? Do I need a reservation? If so, how does one go about getting one?
Also, how solo-traveler friendly is the place? What is it going to set me back. I am pretty flexible on price but as a general travel rule I try to spend less on dinner than my hotel room....or at least in the ballbark.
-MM
Croissants & French baguette
My husband is French and after we moved down here from Montreal, I spent a great deal of time driving around town to try out bakeries. While I have managed to find baguettes that he likes, I have been less successful for croissants.
The baguettes listed below are all very good (clear flour is one of our favorites), but to that list, I would also add the baguettes at the bread and chocolate bakery in Newtonville (http://breadnchocolate.com/). Their baguettes definitely capture that "super butter" flavor you mentioned and are lighter and flakier than those we get a clear flour.
I did not notice if they had croissants, but if the did, they would likely be quite good. Their cupcakes and stuff look absolutely amazing.
Japanese-style octopus salad?
CHs,
Whole Food (at least in the North East) sells a lovely cooked octopus salad with some combination of seaweed, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and lime juice. Does anyone have a great recipes for something similar? I love this salad - can't get enough of it...
-MM
Great meal at B&G last night
Thanks for the review - it reminded me that I need to go to this place again...and soon. I just booked a table for next week :)
Accra--good eats?
In Accra, there are lots of good options:
In terms of high-end food: Monsoon is a swanky option on Oxford Street. It features game meat and sushi. While the menu sounds very exotic, the dishes are actually pretty straight forward fare. But the dishes are well put together and the service is very good, so it is worth a visit. Also in the high-end area is la Chaumiere, out by the aiport. The food is very traditional french, but the dishes are well spiced and the seafood I find to be excellent, especially the soup au poisson, which is highly recommended. The room is also very comfortable.
In terms of local fare: I would start at Asanka Local. It is kind of like eating in a high school auditoriu, but the food is VERY traditional fare and you get to try everything, not just what is currently on the menu which is usually the case at most chop bars. I love the groundnut soup there. They do rice balls on Sunday.
As far as ethnic type foods, I think the Haveli is always a great option (also on Oxford Street) but the service and air condition can be very variable there. The naan is some of the best I have ever had.
There were a number of newer restaurants in Accra, opened in the past few years, which I did not get a try but they looked very interesting. Most of the good stuff is near Oxford Street.
Heading west of of town, if you do end up going to the Castle at Cape Coast, there is a lovely open air restaurent right next door which is great, mostly for the view, but the menu is pretty consistent. In Elimina, there is a great restaurant at the Bridge (called the Bridge Hotel or something). I had a wonderful grilled whole red snapper there recently which was fantastic and the bathrooms are simply fantastic. No joke.
Trader Joe's Truffle Oil?
CHs,
I have not been able to find this stuff at my local TJ's in some time (Newton, MA). Does anyone know if they have discontinued the stuff? What gives?
-MM
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas
So in the end I also did manage to swing l'atelier on my trip through vegas las week. The menus was exactly the same as the one lax outlined above. I thought the menu was excellent, all of the dishes were well executed, well presented, with the exception of the veal which I felt was just way too salted. Overall, a great meal. Service was excellent and I enjoyed watching in the kitchen - even when they had a few little "incidents" happened between the staff - all a lot of fun.
Given the overly priced wine menu, we opted for a few glasses of the Chablis by the glass, which was phenomenal.
Great meal. Worth the price.
CSA Review
Count me in too! I have been a subscriber with Stillman's for over a year - for their meat as well - and it has been great to be able to benefit from both options. They are very flexible if you are unable to make a pick-up plus I like picking up in Brookline in front of the Clear Flour bakery which gives me an excuse to stock up there once a week as well.
I was happy with the quantity and quality of the produce this year.
Small Plates Harvard Sq
Supposedly they should be getting their license within 2 weeks....but who knows.
Brunch (with reservations)
Union Bar and Grill in South End. They do both Saturday and Sunday brunch.
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Las Vegas
Without wine - how much do you think a meal for 2 would cost? I am trying to decide if I can swing this spot or not!
