bosloft's Profile
Which new Mexican-ish place should I visit first?
How about LaSiesta in Winthrop. They are very pleasant & accommodating and the Camarones al mojo de ajo (shrimp, w/ garlic, tomatoes, mushrooms sauce) was very nice, not too heavy yet full of flavor. We also liked the Sea scallops in chipotle cream sauce. Had a warm back kick. Plus they have nightly specials. When I asked about sauces, they brought us some of each to try. Street parking is pretty easy and Winthrop center looks like a town lost in time, maybe from the 1950's. We enjoyed an after-dinner-time-travel stroll.
St. Louis Style Pizza
Have you tried Flatbread Company? Not sure it is what you are describing as St. Louis style, but it is v. crispy, v. flat, and I would say "cracker-like" (at least the couple I had were). They are a growing chain specializing in organic with locations in Somerville, MA (this is new one I believe), Amesbury, MA, Martha's Vineyard, NH, and Hawaii. Use wood fired ovens. Also have nice salads and some desserts.
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Flatbread Company
138 Congress St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Help: Need Jamaica Plain recommendation for tomorrow.
In or close to J.P. Looking for nice sit down place with table service, wine, any cuisine for tomorrow nite. Moderate pricing. Pubs are not usually my favorite. Was going to go to Zon's, but learned it is closed. (Haven't been around in a while.) Taking a friend to dinner. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Best Pot Pie in Boston?
Yes, yummy Pot Pie at Winthrop Arms and served by really nice waitresses who say things like: "You're in luck dear, today is chicken pot pie day." She was so right!
Looking for before show dining, vicinity of Boylston St. for 2/27/10
Going to see Phanton Of The Oprah @ Machine (1254 Boylston) Saturday 2/27. Looking for a nice place to dine before the show for 4 people. Any cuisine. Moderate pricing. Sit down w/ table service and serving wine. Thanks for any suggestions.
What's best to drink @ Shabu Zen?
Thanks so much for the great drink tips! I would never have tried the watermelon smoothie, but can't wait to try it now.
Lost Favorite Entrees
Pistachio encrusted chicken breast at 224. Off menu for at least 3 years now, but it was the only dish I really liked. I recall waitron saying it would be back because it was "so popular." Alas, it never did and sadly, after a year of waiting, neither did I.
What's best to drink @ Shabu Zen?
Going to Shabu Zen on Tyler St. for first time. Got the menu covered, but what do you recommend to drink with hot pot (beef, chicken)? Need both alcoholic and non. Thanks.
Calling all hounds: Angela's Cafe needs your help!
After reading on the boards that there are no decent Mexican restaurants in S. Boston (which is true) and reading here that Angela's was empty and have eaten @ Angela's and loved it, if I had a magic wand, I would wave it and Angela's would appear in the former Grill 77 space (and way back, the Zydeco Grille) in S.B.. That would be heaven!
Until then, I will drive around that block as many times as it takes to find a parking space for Angela's. Some places are worth it. This is one of them.
Best Chicken Parmigiana
Worth the trip thru the Ted tunnel: D'Parma in Winthrop. While you wait for your chick parm, try the stuffed mushrooms. And, byob.
Best in South Boston?
Cafe Porto Bello. The lobster ravioli in amaretto cream sauce is an appetizer that should also be known as a dessert. omg. For those who like it, you will want to dredge your bread in the sauce or lick the plate when no one is looking. WARNING: It will kill you. Pretty good chick. marsala. Good pizzas.
Joseph's bakery is not good, unless you like your cannoli filled at 8:00 AM and nice & soggy at 4:00 PM.
Farragut House: They fixed it up, but the food is still dreck. A place that you wish would be better. Ask them to get a new chef. It would be a great genuine neighborhood pub (with a funky table height bar) without the obnoxious junior financial district types getting drunk & loud at the Playwright.
Mul's: dirty. I was there when the wait staff was going down a list of items to clean after they hand been inspected, by whom is not known, but they were grumbling about having to clean the place and the list was long.
Best delivery pizza: Olymic. on E. Broadway.
Like others have pointed out: Stay away from Chinese, Mexican. Also stay away from Kelly's Landing. They served canned corn the army would reject.
drinking bourbon
MC Slim JB: Fantastic recipes I've copied and pasted into my Bar book. Thank you.
Regarding Sazeracs: Best one I've ever had was at the Sazerac Bar in the Fairmont Hotel, New Orleans made with Old Overholt Rye Whiskey (available in Boston area at Kappy's) and for the "absinthe" they use Legendre Herbsaint. The Herbsaint is much about the aroma and at home I like to use an atomizer to spritz inside the glass. Here's a link to Herbsaint info.
http://www.internetwines.com/spirits-liqueur-anise.html
Cheers!
Looking for healthy desserts that are tasty
Some great ideas here, but I confess I'm always looking for desserts that are similar to what I love (like a banana cream pie, cheesecake, etc.), only downsized in the fat & calories. I've been watching Ellie Krieger's Healthy Appetites on Food Network and she has lots of healthier versions of comfort desserts that are easy to make and quite delicious. Lots of fruity, chocolate, muffin, & pudding desserts. I can vouch for the banana cream pie & raspberry ricotta cheesecake. She takes many tradional desserts and lightens them up. Plus she's a nutritionist, so she tells you what healthy vitamins, etc., are in the recipes. I find all of her recipes to be quite tasty and full of flavor. To quickly find recipes, go to foodnetwork.com, search ellie krieger dessert recipes and about 20 of them will pop up.
Near Seaport Hotel for 10
For fresh fish: Dry Dock Cafe is open for dinner limited nights (Thurs.& Friday only?) and serves very fresh fish, and non-fish entrees. It's located in atrium/ lobby of North Coast Seafood (so you know the fish is fresh) near the Design Center. It's BYOB, making it a good value when you bring your own. Atmosphere: Large, v. plain, open space, but linens & fresh flowers on table, very clean, & the service is friendly and accomodating. Call ahead to see if they can welcome your group. 617-951-2999
Here's an article from S.B. Online. And remember to be sure to check hours if you go.
http://www.southbostononline.com/articles/news/2005/11-03-05DryDockCafe.cfm
Lucky's Lounge @ 355 Congress St. Go for Sinatra Sunday Brunch. Great music, fun food, good drinks. A rat pack throwback, friendly mixed crowd, very cool. No sign outside, but cab will know where it is.
http://www.luckyslounge.com/
Barking Crab: Sleeper St. across from Moakley Courthouse. Great atmosphere (funky, place seems to float on the harbor), not always thrilled with the food, but OK. Popular and fun. V. casual. Great T shirts.
http://www.barkingcrab.com/
Just a big thank U to Chowhounders
I really want to thank everyone who posts here with such great suggestions. If not for the wonderful recommendations I've read (99.9% are dead on accurate), I would never have learned about some great places to eat, esp. in and around Dot Ave. Thank you all for making my winter so much more fun and adventurous for my bored taste buds. Most of all, you've helped me out of the dreaded rut of same old, same old dining out. I love Chowhound! What a great culinary community.
Good Place for Sandwiches Near a Picnic Area?
Don't forget Southie's "hidden in plain site" secret! Sullivan's & Castle Island. OK, so Sullivan's only serves burgers, hot dogs, shakes, Hood ice cream, fries, coffee, etc., but just like old fashioned beach boardwalk food, they're all fresh, v. inexpensive and pretty darn good. They pack it all up in easy to carry cardboard boxes, offer lots of self serve ketchup & napkins and you are ready to stroll about Castle Island. Lots of picnic benches right out front, but if you walk out to the harbor side, you can sit and watch ships & ferries & sailboats glide by, not to mention the planes & the airport. On windy days, you can tuck yourself in behind one of the castle's massive granite walls. Plenty of parking in the large lot. Easy to get to (5 min from Xway). The Park Service watches over the place. People are friendly, but it's never so crowded that you can't find "your spot." Parking, food, incredible views, tables, green grass and breezes on a hot day; you can't do better. Castle Island is a city treasure.
short ribs with carrot puree - Martha Stewart recipe, lost
Yes, it does sound familiar. I know this is very late reply, but I was just looking for same recipe myself. I think the recipe you are referring to may be one Martha & a chef from Balthazar Brasserie in NYC prepared on another show (It may have been the Today Show, but really not sure) a few years back. I made quick notes at the time and have prepared the recipe twice. Delicious. Ribs fall off the bone. I was hoping to verify my notes (fill in any gaps) in case I missed anything. Here is recipe as I jotted it down:
Olive oil & butter in large pan.
Rub short ribs with salt, pepper on one side.
Brown ribs in pan, then remove and set aside.
In same pan add shallots, finely chopped onion, celery, carrots (chunked in small cubes -lots of them) and saute.
Add about 1/4 cup tomato paste (from a tube)
Add 3 T while flour and mix up with ingredients.
When mixture is looking carmelized, add about 2/3 cup each of port (ruby) wine and cabernet.
Let simmer, stir occasionally.
Then place ribs back in pan.
Add 4 cups of veal (or beef) stock.
Add a cut globe of garlic and a bundle of fresh parssely on top.
Cover and bake for 3 hours (wasn't sure of temp. 325?, 350?
When done remove ribs to serving dish.
Strain mixture through a sieve and pour the "gravy" over the ribs when serving.
I served with mashed potatoes and glazed whole carrots.
If you find out more about this recipe or a better sourse, please post it here. I've looked various places without success. I do think the recipe I have comes 95% close, judging by the results. Good luck!
Suuthie recommendations?
Know this is a late reply, but add to your list Portabello's on E. Broadway. Italian. The lobster ravioli in amaretto cream sauce app. will kill you, but you will die happy.
The Quiet Man in Southie -- Still in Business?
Farragut House has re-opened. They kept the low (table height) bar, fireplace (added a homey, cheery red mantel and spiffed up the rest with lots of picture frames on the wall. Large menu I think is trying to be all things to all people and is doomed to fail. So far: Tips were over done and tasteless. Mashed potatoes were scoops of cooked potato without any seasonings, butter, or cream - just bad. Shrimp scampi over linguini: 5 shrimp were OK but swimming in a gelatinous soup of bland saltiness, no garlc, and bits of chopped tomato. And, there wasn't enough linguini! Meatloaf: Not good. Menu says it comes with a side of onion gravy. My meatloaf had been drenched in gravy and then probably stuck uner the broiler which scorched the gravy. I still got the side of gravy (cold-right out of a can) in a small plastic cup. A dining companion ordered meatloaf, but was spared the broiled gravy. The new Farragut is busy now, but I predict the crowds will thin out after foodies begin leaving for tastier destinations. Message to the Farragut House: Come on Farragut, we in South Boston really want to patronize you, but please serve better food! A good meatloaf recipe is not that hard to come by. Shrimp scampi is easy to make. Mashed potatoes are not that complicated. "New" South Boston diners are a more discerning bunch.
Dorchesters best???
Agree. Common Ground has the best ice tea and I'm not even a big fan of ice tea. I wish someone could get their recipe.
Dorchesters best???
Re: 224 "Missing a dish." I used to order the pistachio crusted chicken breast @224. It was always well prepared, moist, & delish. Our waiter at the time said it was a customer favorite. Then it disappeared from the menu. When I inquired, I was told, "Don't worry, it's very popular, it will return." Well that was 2 (?) years ago and it has never returned to my knowledge. My opinion is that if a restaurant doesn't care enough about what their customers like, they don't want my business. I return only occasionally now, but it's off my regular favorites list.
