lergnom's Profile
Pino's in Cleveland Circle, what's the fuss?
I'll eat Pino's every now and then. It's better than many old places, especially those bar pizza places on the south shore.
Otto in Coolidge Corner Open
Ecco on Comm Ave is very good, very artisan style. Somewhat expensive but very tasty.
I disagree about Dante. Don't like it much. I'm not a fan of Upper Crust but there's room for both.
Pino's in Cleveland Circle, what's the fuss?
Those two pizza places, Pino's and Presto - which was an offshoot of Pino's, have been there forever. Pino's is 50. That's the appeal: if you want old fashioned pizza, then this is what it's tasted like for 50 years. It isn't as good as pizza today, just like food generally is better. Think of the crappy red sauce junk that passed as Italian 50 years ago compared to the variety of Italian restaurants we have today. Compare Wonder Bread to artisan bread. Or percolator coffee to hand drawn coffee.
Interesting Restaurants Around Legacy Place in Dedham? (It seems to be all chains...)
If I were going to Norwood, I would also consider Byblos. It's higher quality Lebanese than Al-Wadi. Decor is somewhat over the top because it has a function room that connects directly to the main dining room. But the food has had much more soul.
Interesting Restaurants Around Legacy Place in Dedham? (It seems to be all chains...)
Kouzina Estiatorio in Dedham Center is a small, family operated Greek place with good food. It's right across the street from the big public parking lot off Rt. 1.
Why do you continue shopping at CostCo? I am underwhelmed. What do you appreciate about the warehouse store?
My reason for shopping at Costco is they put substantial effort into the products they sell and they put specific limits on how much any product can be marked up. They don't find cheap stuff and sell it. They work with manufacturers to come up with something. This applies across the board. Take toys. They go through thousands of toys to pick some they'll sell and then work with the manufacturer to add enough to the package - like an extra piece, like 3 instead of 2, etc. - that they feel it's right for their members. They test toilet paper - as seen on a recent documentary. They consider their niche to be vetting a smallish selection of merchandise, not as a distributor of what manufacturers make. Those packages of food, etc., like the packs of pasta, are presented and argued about and designed so Costco says it should all be penne or a mix or whatever. If you're at all familiar with the buying process at big retailers, they push it further.
As for markups, Costco limits the markup on a brand name to something like 14%. It's like 12% for Kirkland brand - their private label. They have fired companies they've found selling for less elsewhere. This is also part of their niche: they see themselves as looking out for the interests of their members.
As an aside, they also are known for treating their employees pretty well for the retail business.
As a negative, they keep increasing the amount of prepared food. It's on the whole good tasting but the amount puts pressure on the space available for unprepared food. My hope is that Costco will use their immense power to drive lower salt, less fat and less sugar in prepared foods.
As for prices, I can buy allergy medicine for very little. 365 generic Zyrtec is about $15. They now sell prescription pet medicine so I can get Advantage for $40 less than at the Vet. I get months of my cat's heart medicine for under $20. I can buy Kirkland brand lactase (generic Lactaid).
Tricks you figured out in the kitchen and thought 'good one'!!!
I have a recurring task pop up each week for basic things like "sharpen knives". Takes less than 5 minutes but I'd never do it without the reminder.
Mega Lobster
It's been 5.99 at Market Basket. I bought two yesterday over 3 pounds in Chelsea. One was close to 4. I had to cook them separately. Very, very, very tasty.
They also had smaller lobsters.
Vernor's in Boston????
I think it's less carbonated than it used to be. The bite was the intense bubbly action, so sharp your nose might hurt. If you let it go flat, like when we were sick and that was all we could stomach, it tasted pretty similar.
Vernor's in Boston????
A Boston Cooler, as I remember from childhood, was mixed up ice cream and Vernors while a Vernor's float was ice cream with Vernor's poured over. It would bubble up like crazy. The Cooler was more like a milkshake with Vernors in it.
But the lines would blur depending on who made the drink. My grandmother shifted names for it all the time. Maybe because she had an evil streak.
Vernor's in Boston????
For anyone, try a Vernor's float: Vernor's poured over vanilla ice cream in a tall glass. Better than a coke float.
Pretty much the only good food my grandmother made. She even had curly straws.
Vernor's in Boston????
Usually stuffed in a corner on the edge of the drink section. I hope they keep selling it.
Kelly's, Sullivan's, or Bell Isle ?
And Kell's Kreme is north a block on Revere Beach. Best soft serve in the area.
Dairy & Soy Free Dining Options?
You mention chicken. Does this mean meat in general? Because you can eat meat most anywhere.
Peace o'Pie in Allston/Brighton has, I think, dairy free pizza. They deliver to Cambridge.
Dairy & Soy Free Dining Options?
Red Lentil has a lot of vegan choices. Good food. There's also Grasshopper in Allston. Mostly Asian, all or nearly all vegan. You have to check individual items for soy.
In praise of Arax fruit
Also get the garlic spread. It's white. Delicious in anything.
Conference Widow's (Longish) Four Day Plan
Funny but ricotta pie at Mike's is one of the few things I really think they do well. But I get a whole pie.
I'd go to Maria's over Mike's during the day. It will not be crowded. It's very old time. Best almond biscotti. And they now take charges.
It's on Cross Street facing the Greenway just past Salem Street from Hanover.
Sunday Lunch in Watertown
Jasmine is also open on Sundays. Persian food. Same block as Red Lentil. I saw their sign said open.
Sunday Lunch in Watertown
I had lunch today (Sunday 4/22) at Red Lentil. They have a brunch menu that takes their usual menu and adds a few dishes. Vegetarian with some vegan options. One of my favorite places these days because the food, though not exquisite or awe-inducing, is cooked well so the ingredients taste good and yet blend together.
Boston Area Barbecue Restaurants
I've been surprised in a good way by Soulfire my last few trips. The sides are better. The food has been more uniform in quality. And it's been really good. The atmosphere with the freaking giant tv still annoys but the food has been good.
Where is the best thin pizza in Metro West
Also Max & Leo's in Newton Corner. Coal-fired oven.
Thought experiment - What is chow worthy classic "Chinese American" food?
The essential dishes in Midwestern Chinese American food - extending into the South - were Almond Boneless Chicken, Steak Kew and Lemon Chicken. All could be upgraded. The first is breaded, lightly fried chicken breast in a brown sauce with almonds. The second is sliced beef in a dark sauce. The last is breaded chicken breast with a lemony sauce and sliced lemons. You can see these can be made well.
Where to eat like Caroline Knapp, Morphine, the Lemonheads, and other 1980s Bostonians past
She died nearly a decade ago. Lung cancer.
Best Yogurt I've Ever Eaten - Sophia's Belmont
Read my post again. There are rules for what is considered pasturing - it's like 120 days a year. If a cheese is locally made and then delivered to you with minimal handling and managed refrigeration, it will of course taste better. Some of that is expectation and some is real differences.
I spent many summers on a farm. There was a 50 cow dairy farm on the corner. BTW, the cows I knew really liked alfalfa.
Knife sharpening for Japanese knives
I would trust Stoddard's. They are knife and sharpening freaks. If they can't do it, they'll tell you.
Best Yogurt I've Ever Eaten - Sophia's Belmont
I'm a little skeptical that there's much difference between grass fed and how other milk cows are fed. Meat cows are fed corn - meaning non-local meat cows. Dairy cows tend to be fed grasses, meaning some form of hay and some fresher grasses along with grain. Hay can mean anything, from straw (which has less nutrition) to alfalfa (which seems to be a treat for them) to flax to other grasses. Big producers like Stonyfield probably get most of their milk from pastured cows. There are rules for what's considered pasturing; they have to go outside much of the year, etc. Remember, the purpose for feeding meat cows grain is to bulk them up as fast as possible for slaughter. They generate a payback in meat for the calories put in as grain.
