djd's Profile
Indonesian market
I actually am making rendang for a huge crowd. Hence the interest in rice dumplings and other side dish options... I need to fill people up so I can make just a dumb amount of stew, not a completely unaffordable amount.
Indonesian market
Interesting. I didn't know there was a place in Burlington besides H Mart. Are both China Merch and Kam Man likely to have a full range of herbs we don't usually have in the U.S.? I've been reading this recipe:
http://indonesiaeats.com/beef-rendang-rendang-daging-padang-indonesia/
and scratching my head over the "spice you can replace with tamarind if you have to but it's not really the way you should do it" spice. I have trouble figuring out what's what in Reliable Market, even. Also, I appear to need vast quantities of lemongrass and thus I'd like to find it at a reasonable price.
Indonesian market
Hi guys — What's my best bet for Indonesian ingredients? In particular I'm wondering if there's any place to buy these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketupat
Greenway Names Dozen Vendors for 2011 (Food Trucks/Carts)
Hey crew, I'm late on posting this but my envy for the Greenway led me to investigate the sad dearth of food trucks in Somerville:
http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-10/yourtown/29643636_1_food-trucks-mobile-food-vendors-new-food
NYC 'Hounds Moving to Boston/Somerville
This is an overall strategy, not a specific place, but the faster you adjust to the fact that everywhere stops serving a lot earlier than NYC, the happier you will probably be!
Lil Vinny's Groupon
Even when the restaurant closes for the final week of the 52-week promotion?
I know, I know, I should've just gone before.
Lil Vinny's Groupon
In the dept. of headsmacking: I bought this Groupon and since it was good for a whole year proceeded to not use it and not use it and not use it for really no reason at all (lesson learned about my own odd habits). Tried going once on a Sunday only to find the restaurant had closed an hour early due to an emergency with the chef. Told the bf the other day that we have only days left to use the dratted thing. Just went to catch up on my Google Reader feed, and:
http://www.ward5online.com/2011/06/lil-vinnys-goes-on-vacation-announces.html
The restaurant is closed for the final week before the Groupon expires! I figure my options are eat the $20 or go to the restaurant after it reopens, explain the situation, and see if they'll still honor the discount.
Best Yogurt I've Ever Eaten - Sophia's Belmont
I can't imagine being able to eat a cup of Sophia's yogurt at a time. My limit is about four small spoonfuls.
New chef and menu at the Independent
Oh, was he just brought on then essentially to redo the menu?
Yeah, I feel like the neighborhood factor is key here. Foundry may or may not have better food, but I live near Union and tend to meet up with friends there. I guess it's a restaurant as hangout vs. destination difference.
April 2011 Openings and Closings
To the surprise of none of the dozen people who ever noticed it was open, the Brazilian açai juice/smoothie shop on Medford St. in Somerville has closed.
What's the deal with the new Clover space in Harvard Sq.? Anyone tried it yet?
I wish they would add... PLATES! My friends and I went recently and the food was delicious, but holy moly what a mess to eat a bbq seitan pita sandwich with just a wax paper wrapper to control the gluck.
Eat at Jumbo's - Ball Sq., Somerville
Went last night on a whim and tried one whole single menu item, so obvs. not authoritative, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was craving some kind of seitan sub (blame yoga) and remembered hearing that the restaurant used only locally made mozzarella so I gave it a shot. Lo and behold, they had a seitan "steak" bomb with peppers and onions. I asked for hot Buffalo sauce. Daiya cheese was an option but I went with good old American and it had that deeply melty texture that's almost like mayo. Squishy bun, huge, really tasty. And the guys who work there are nice as hell. I will definitely go back for relatively late-night cravings.
Vegans should especially keep their heads up--tofu tenders; (big) menu advertises tofu as a substitute for any sandwich.
Rod Dee Porter Square: Progress?
No matter that I've never been to the place before and am white and don't speak Thai, if a dish is listed as being medium-spicy I expect it to be at least a *little* spicy.
Besides, this restaurant's in Cambridge, not some mythical boonies. Do they really think the clientele'll be scared off by a modicum of heat?
yogurt in glass or ceramic?
I always envy the French recipes that measure quantities in yogurt jars!
Hamentaschen, 2011/5771
No fair calling yourself a "lackadaisical Jew" and weighing in on Jewish food authenticity in the same thread ;)
Rod Dee Porter Square: Progress?
Got takeout last night and I have to say I was disappointed. Everything was just sort of not-exciting. The eggplant with tofu wasn't spicy at all despite having two peppers on the menu. That makes no sense to me. The crispy chicken with mango had so much sweet sauce it de-crispified the chicken. Masaman curry with chicken was okay, not exciting, not much substance. Bah.
Coming for St Patty's.....where do we eat?
For crowded but not cheesy on St. P's itself, you might try Bull McCabe's in Union Square, Somerville. N.B. I haven't gone there on the night in question, but it's a chummy bar with good camaraderie and I'd guess it's sufficiently off-the-beaten-path to avoid the massively drunken young dude component. It's on the bus, not the T, so your easiest cheapish travel bet is to take the Red Line T to Central or Porter Square and then cab it from there.
Oh, note Irish bars tend to charge $10 to let you in the door on the 17th. It's like New Year's Eve for Irish bars.
Help! Historic/colonial restaurant in MA with GOOD food? [moved from Boston]
Went 2.5 years ago for a friend's birthday and at the end of the meal we unilaterally declared to the friend that he was never allowed to have a birthday there again. Mediocre food, especially for the price. Also it was a madhouse but I suppose that's part of its shtick.
Humane, sustainable charcuterie?
This is a good question, as I love the Wine & Cheese Cask's sopressata but always wonder about the sourcing. It might be worth a direct email to Akimenko; also to the Happy Pig Salumi guy.
Humane, sustainable charcuterie?
[Ugh, never mind, the reply-to function is breaking for me again and thus this reply is not funny as intended.]
Miso Market
http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x2089521673/Miso-Market-to-replace-Porter-Square-Bob-Slate
"The Diamond Group announced the lease transaction at 1963 Mass. Ave. in Cambridge. The 2,400-square-foot space was leased to husband-and-wife team Steve and Fumi Genova from the landlord, Bob Slate Inc.
"This new addition to Porter Square’s already eclectic mix of retailers is Miso Market, an Asian gourmet food market. Miso Market is set to open in spring 2011."
Juice Bars in the Boston Area?
My friend brought over a few smoothies from here recently but somehow got overwhelmed and skipped the açai. We weren't impressed—the avocado was notably bland. But they seem like nice people... but they also seem totally doomed in that location....
AreaTaquerias: Tacos lupita, El Pelon, La Verdad
Never mind. Hadn't realized that the two places had such similar storefronts, at least the bottom half viewed from the wrong side of the bus.
What Is the Least Romantic Restaurant in the Boston Area?
I thought that first, until I realized that Hi-Fi has a sort of, um, interesting relationship with romance, as in it may well be the tipsy food stop between the rock show, the after party, and going home with someone who may or may not be the world's greatest idea.
Is Deep Ellum on par with ESK and Drink?
Ah yes. Allston wasn't far behind Williamsburg on the transition from trucker hat to fedora--much shorter time period, come to think of it, than the usual New York-to-Boston food trend lag.
AreaTaquerias: Tacos lupita, El Pelon, La Verdad
Did Montecristo move down the street to take over the Los Paisanos spot? Or was I more woozy on the bus than I realized this morning?
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Los Paisanos Restaurant
62 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
Montecristo Restaurant
146 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02145
Cookbooks for sale at Newbury College Library in Brookline
That's great too. I pretty much keep my cookbook shelf narrowed down to classics (of all genres), omnibuses (omnibi?), and period pieces. Or at least that's what I have to assume I was thinking when I look at what's on the shelf... e.g., Essentials of French Cooking vol 1., the 1980s-era Joy, Ruth Reichl's hippie cookbook from the early '70s.
Cookbooks for sale at Newbury College Library in Brookline
Wish I had time to stop by. I love outdated cookbooks.
Looking for feedback on Deuxave
Saw the episode last night. He certainly isn't short on confidence.
