samovar32's Profile
Lunch en route Citrus FL to NOLA
We will be driving from Citrus FL (just north of Tampa area) to NOLA on Monday (I-10) and would like to find a good lunch that won't require too much of a detour. Fresh seafood in the Pensacola area would be ideal. Thanks much.
Lunch along route Citrus FL to NOLA
We will be driving from Citrus FL (just north of Tampa area) to NOLA on Monday (I-10) and would like to find a good lunch that won't require too much of a detour. Fresh seafood in the Pensacola area would be ideal. Thanks much.
Gen Sushi, Belmont
I was nonplussed in my last few visits to Toraya, for both portion size and freshness. Liked Gen Sushi better and it also happens to be closer.
Gen Sushi in Belmont is finally open
We didn't try any cooked dishes (except cooked eel on a roll, which was excellent) but as mentioned, the tempura going to an adjacent table looked outstanding.
Gen Sushi in Belmont is finally open
Gen Sushi, long awaited in the little storefront next to Golden Garden, is finally open. Tiny place - three tables and a 6-seat sushi bar.
First impressions generally positive. Generous fish portions, nice little touches (sushi portions topped, respectively, with tobiko, mint leaf w/ drop of sriracha, salmon caviar) and good rolls. Knife work perhaps a little bit rough. Brought a complimentary dish of edamame while we waited for a huge order just in front of us to be completed. Tempura at neighboring table was truly exquisite-looking.
Not cheap but a decent value.
Cleveland takeout
B-Spot (eat in) was a good call, thanks. Great burgers, decent rosemary fries, interesting pickle bar. Onion rings were unfortunately fat heavy and doughy, however.
Lincoln, NE takeout
We are Boston hounds traveling cross country with kids/dog and will be stopping for a night in Lincoln. Looking for Chowish suggestions for good, interesting takeout that we can eat in the hotel or picnic in a park (obviously the dog and kids kill eat-in options). Willing to travel up to 45 min out-of-the-way for something good. Thanks!
thin crust pizza near Arlington Heights/Palatine
I grew up in Chicagoland and am looking to get a fix of proper thin crust takeout pizza (why can't anybody else in the country make a decent thin crust pizza?) when I pass through Arlington Heights/Palatine this weekend. Suggestions? Thanks.
Cleveland takeout
We are Boston hounds traveling cross country with kids/dog and will be stopping for a night in Cleveland (off I-71 near airport). Looking for Chowish suggestions for good, interesting takeout that we can eat in the hotel or picnic in a park (obviously the dog and kids kill eat-in options). Willing to travel up to 45 min out-of-the-way for something good. Thanks!
Little Q Hot Pot, Arlington
I guess Little Q is "officially" Mongolian Hot Pot, although in practice it has many common features of Shabu Shabu places, and that's the shorthand my kids use.
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Shabu
397 Hancock St, Quincy, MA
Little Q Hot Pot, Arlington
Went for the first time last night and thought this place blows away other Boston-area Shabu Shabu joints. Broths were full of multiple whole spices, garlic chunks, ginger, scallions -- more like full-fledged soups than mere dipping broths. Generous portions of good standard meats and seafoods, plus more unusual choices like big chunks of beef tendon (melts in your mouth after a few minutes in the broth). Also great value at the price point compared to other Shabu joints. Lots of empty tables on a Saturday evening; need to generate some enthusiasm to keep this place going.
Chinese New Year Specials?
Are there any places worth visiting that do specials for Chinese New Year? Our staple is Shangri-La in Belmont, but prior experience simply suggests bigger crowds with the standard menu for Chinese New Year.
suggestions for casual sit-down dinner or pizza near Regis College?
After a kids' performance event Friday evening, looking for a casual sit-down dinner or pizza nearby the Regis College performance venue.
fresh goose?
Update: Wilson Farms says they will have a new shipment of fresh goose tomorrow morning, 12/24, no advance order required.
fresh goose?
Thanks. I'm usually more diligent about checking old threads but was so frustrated by the turn of events at Whole Foods I felt compelled to post immediately . . . .
fresh goose?
For years, we bought a fresh goose for Christmas dinner at the Fresh Pond Whole Foods. This year -- no geese. "We decided not to do it this year," said the meat guy.
Any convenient alternative suggestions as the clock ticks down . . .?
Lunch en route between Springfield MA and Saratoga NY
Would welcome any suggestions for a nice leisurely lunch somewhere between Springfield MA and Saratoga/Glens Falls.
Lunch en route between Springfield MA and Saratoga/Glens Falls
Would welcome any suggestions for a nice leisurely lunch somewhere between Springfield MA and Saratoga/Glens Falls.
Northern Maine (near NB border, Houlton, Orient, Weston, Danforth, etc.)
I would welcome any suggestions for northern Maine near the New Brunswick border (Houlton, Orient, Weston, Danforth, etc.).
Thanks much.
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
Wow, this Paraguay Royal Oak does indeed spark WILDLY when first starting up.
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
The Royal Oak at Via Latina is from Paraguay, which is reputed to be sparkier than US-sourced Royal Oak, but I bought a bag to try. Certainly one of the better deals for non-Cowboy lump in the area.
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
Called Hillside. They have something called Natural Hardwood Lump (not listed in the Nakedwhiz review db); $25 for a 20 lb bag.
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
$19.95 for an 18 lb bag of Basque at BBQ Barn.
Pasha in Arlington; VERY disappointed
We were excited to try Pasha in Arlington after many good reviews here and elsewhere. We have eaten and loved Turkish food all over the world and mourned the demise of Istanbul Cafe on Comm. Ave. (The food at Brookline Family Restaurant is decent but we've never quite been able to get over the total subshop atmosphere and glare of harsh fluorescent lighting).
In short, we wanted to love Pasha. Sadly, while it is cute and the service gracious, the food was extremely disappointing.
We had the following:
Bread was a not-super-fresh unidentifiable flatbread. Came with small dish of olive oil and tiny dish of tasty hummus/bean-like spread.
Imam Bayildi (traditional eggplant appetizer, $6.95). This was probably the best dish, nicely flavored, although with a strong suspicion that the bland tomato sauce came from a can, a suspicion heightened by other items we ordered.
Sigara Boregi (described on the menu as "fried mozzarella sticks," $6.50). We usually love these, typically fried cylinders with tasty feta-style cheese inside. The Pasha version had a baked rather than fried consistency and were filled with a heavy/gooey/stringy mozzarella (so the menu was apparently honest but the app far from the wonderful authentic original).
Sebzeli Borek ("filo dough stuffed & rolled with seasonal vegetables & Turkish spices, baked in the oven," $6.50). Kind of like a baked burrito in filo dough. Filled with the same gooey mozzarella-like cheese and cut vegetable medley, very heavy on carrot cubes, that was obviously from a CAN (or perhaps frozen and then overcooked to limpness), and very bland.
Kalmar Kizartma ("Fried calamari marinated in unique beer sauce, served with fresh vegetables and lemon", $8.95). OK fried calamari, but nothing special and nothing to dip in.
All of the above apps came with a big mound of shredded green salad and sliced union, undressed. There is oil/vinegar/salt/pepper on the table however. Given the volume of lettuce that came with everything, no reason to order a separate salad.
As a main, we split the Hamsi Bugulama ("boneless anchovies roasted with fresh seasonal vegetables. A delightful seafood dish found only in our kitchen", $17.95). Again, we usually love these little fish, typically grilled, roasted or fried whole (with bones/heads). We should have been suspicious that these were boneless. From what we could tell, the dish consisted of: CANNED SARDINES, canned frozen vegetables, drowned in bland tomato sauce and roasted in an iron dish to a mushy consistency. Pathetic, especially at that price point.
Had a nice bottle of Turkish white wine reasonably priced at $19.95 and decent Turkish coffee (first cups brought to us were lukewarm but they graciously replaced with fresh/hot coffee).
Total came to about $90 with tip for two. Unfortunately I don't think we'll be back any time soon.
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
Just noticed that Whole Foods at Fresh Pond carries Wicked Good, but at a whopping $18.95 for a 22 pound bag.
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
Just called Brookline Ice & Coal and they also only carry Cowboy....
Where to buy good hardwood charcoal (Belmont/Arlington/Watertown vicinity)
Made a special trip to Arax today and all they had was Cowboy. :-(
Boston area places to check out ceramic and charcoal cookers?
I am thinking about upgrading my decade-old and disintegrating Weber kettle to either a Kamado-style ceramic cooker (e.g., BGE, Grill Dome, Dragon Fire Kamado) or a higher-end charcoal grill (e.g., www.germangrill.com). Problem is that other than the BGE, I haven't located any dealers w/in 50 miles that actually carry them.
Are there any local hounds who would let me take a close-up look at a Grill Dome, Dragon Fire Kamado, or German Grill?
German Grill v. Grill Dome v. Dragonfire Kamado
My trusty Weber kettle is about to disintegrate after a decade and I am thinking about upgrading, either to a Kamado-style ceramic cooker or a higher-end charcoal grill.
Would welcome any first hand or, even better, comparative thoughts on these. Even better would be someplace in greater Boston where I could actually take a close look in person.
Thoughts? The three principal options I'm considering are below.
www.germangrill.com
http://www.bbqguys.com/item_name_Dragon-Fire-King-Kamado-Charcoal-Grill_path_7119-9994-11447_item_2113315.html
www.grilldome.com
Chacarero - What is my Problem?
I get the beef pretty regularly and love the sandwich. For the first time this week i decided to try a BBQ chicken and was severely disappointed. The all-white-meat chicken was overcooked to the point of total bland mush. Will stick with the beef going forward.
