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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Banana Egg Rolls... yumm
Last week I went to PF Changs near chinatown, Boston with a large group of friends. We started the night off at the bar with drinks and lettuce wraps (chicken and vegetarian). The bartenders were great - a white sangria was not on the drink menu but they made it for me anyways and it was delicious! My other friend ordered one too. After we finished our first round of drinks we moved over to a table. I ordered the buddhas feast for dinner - its vegetarian. It was really bland, the vegetables and tofu were steamed with no sauce and the tofu was extremely thin. I don't like a lot of sauce in dishes, a little goes a long way. For dessert, I split an order of the banana egg roll. Its amazing - it comes with coconut ice cream and caramel sauce. Its a must have! Now, if you don't like bananas this will convert you into a banana lover for certain!!
Q Restaurant
Two weekends ago about 5 of my friends and I went to dinner at Q restaurant near chinatown, Boston. The restaurant is known for hot pots - you cook your own meats and vegetables in a boiling broth - meat takes about 30 seconds and vegetables about 2-3 minutes. I got the vegetarian broth and a variety of vegetables (tofu, broccoli and corn). Everything was very fresh but quite bland. They do provide some dipping "sauces" but some were spicy and another was just simply minced garlic.
Overall, it was a fun experience. The wait staff was great - very attentive and friendly. I would probably not order a hot pot again but I wold certainly return because the atmosphere was great for a group.
Friday, May 27, 2011
MAX BRENNER
I was watching "The Best Thing I Ever Ate..." on the Food Network and Max Brenner's chocolate pizza was mentioned. Since I saw that episode over 6 months ago I have been dying to eat at Max Brenner. Lucky for me, a couple of months ago, one opened in Boston on Boylston Street. I finally got to indulge at Max Brenner in Boston 3 weeks ago. They have a very extensive menu - if you are indecisive I recommend looking at the menu online prior to going. I went around 10 or 11pm on a Saturday. It was busy, the bar was packed but the service was fabulous and very quick! I ordered the banana tempura fondue it was amazing!! If you are a banana lover, which of course I am, I highly suggest ordering it. Everyone was extremely happy with their dish as well. I cannot wait to go back and try the chocolate pizza. I highly recommend going to Max Brenner.
My rating is 4 1/2 stars out of 5 stars.
Smoothie time
Yesterday, I took the blender out and decided to make a healthful filling smoothie and that I did. This recipe is for banana lovers.
1 large banana
3/4 cup crushed ice
1 cup almond breeze milk (i use original, 40 calories/ cup)
1 tablespoon of peanut butter (optional)
Blend and in no time you have a delicious and very healthful smoothie!
Al Dente
Al Dente is a very small, rustic italian restaurant in the North End. I went for lunch on a Friday with 8 other people. I ordered the grilled fig salad to start. I thought the figs would be hot and cut up but instead it was cold, which was fine, but I would have preferred if the figs were cut more than just in half. I ordered the gnochhi for my entree; it was one of the best I have ever had - no complaints. One person in my party ordered veal parm and another chicken parm and the server mixed up the dishes but by the time they noticed they werent going to swap and neither wanted to return the dish. Another member order penne al vodka but the pepper seasoning was too overpowering. Another, ordered pesto with pasta but it was very oily- it was more like pasta with oil and a little pesto mixed in which was quite disappointing. Although, I had a fantastic pasta dish the rest of my guests were not thrilled which is disappointing since the North End usually never fails.
Modern Pastry, Not So Modern Recipes
Despite the name, modern pastry uses quite old and traditional recipes... thank goodness for that! I have been to Mike's Pastry many times so I wanted to try out Modern. I walked in with friends and family. Modern is much smaller than mikes and also has a much smaller selection. There also wasn't nearly as long of a line that Mike's typically has. I would say not off to a great start. We ordered a linzer tart, well i should say attempted because they dont have those nor knew what I was talking about. I then proceeded to order a rainbow cookie (3 layered cookie red, yellow and green). We also ordered a couple of lace cookies and a canolli (ricotta filling with chocolate chips). Now for the tasting review: I have eaten a fare share of rainbow cookies and these were not good. The lace cookies were okay. However, the canolli was fantastic and I am not one for canollis but there was nothing not to like.
Side note: I love these cookies and have made them twice; it was quite the undertaking but they came out pretty good. I would also consider myself a rainbow cookie connoisseur. I buy them everywhere I go.
Next time I am in the North end, I will probably go to Mike's Pastry unless I am craving a cannoli and then I am crossing the street and walking into Modern.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Not your mothers Lavagna
Last Saturday evening it was pouring in NYC so My boyfriend and I did not want to venture that far so we went to Lavagna. It is a very small restaurant with a romantic rustic feel. The bread was fresh and the dipping oil had olives in it and was very flavorful.
We had one of the specials of the evening to start - white pizza with asparagus. It was good.
Then I ordered the fedelini fini (type of spaghetti) with toasted garlic and rusted tomato sauce. It was pretty good but a little spicy. The portions are a perfect size; not too big, not too small.
Dinner didn't stop there, for dessert we ordered the apple torte that sat in a pool of the most delicious butterscotch sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. We ate all the sauce and was on a sugar high later. I have one critique, I didn't taste much apple at all - there was more dough than apple.
I rate this restaurant 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
We had one of the specials of the evening to start - white pizza with asparagus. It was good.
Then I ordered the fedelini fini (type of spaghetti) with toasted garlic and rusted tomato sauce. It was pretty good but a little spicy. The portions are a perfect size; not too big, not too small.
Dinner didn't stop there, for dessert we ordered the apple torte that sat in a pool of the most delicious butterscotch sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream. We ate all the sauce and was on a sugar high later. I have one critique, I didn't taste much apple at all - there was more dough than apple.
I rate this restaurant 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Symphony Sushi
Symphony sushi is the place to go when you are craving some Japanese food.
Salad with their scrumptious ginger dressing is typical of any japanese restaurant - but it never fails to get old. The edamame are also a must!
The sushi is good and fresh. Obviously, cucumber inside out rolls are my go to.
However, my favorite dish there is the brown vegetable fried rice. I have never had it before Symphony Sushi. I order it almost every time I go here. Its amazing, I eat it all up! Its a nice change and a little healthier than the typical white fried rice.
The mochi is really good too! Its a night and light way to end the meal.
Symph Sush is always busy and the service is great; everyone is very friendly and accommodating.
** They also deliver
Salad with their scrumptious ginger dressing is typical of any japanese restaurant - but it never fails to get old. The edamame are also a must!
The sushi is good and fresh. Obviously, cucumber inside out rolls are my go to.
However, my favorite dish there is the brown vegetable fried rice. I have never had it before Symphony Sushi. I order it almost every time I go here. Its amazing, I eat it all up! Its a nice change and a little healthier than the typical white fried rice.
The mochi is really good too! Its a night and light way to end the meal.
Symph Sush is always busy and the service is great; everyone is very friendly and accommodating.
** They also deliver
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Would Beethoven approve of Symphony 8?
Symphony 8 Restaurant and Bar is almost 2 years old and has done very well for itself. Before this was an asian restaurant called Tiger Lily.
I've eaten here on numerous occasions, in small and large groups. As for the actual food - they have a good margarita pizza. However, do not get the flatbread veggie pizza. I think they buy pre-made flatbread, sauté veggies and put it on top. This makes the flatbread extremely soggy and practically inedible. I'm not saying they have to make the dough but they can buy pre-made dough and make the veggie pizza the same way they make the margarita pizza. I have had their mac and cheese, its just okay. Nachos are my guilty pleasure and Symphony 8 makes them pretty good.
The service is absolutely terrible. Once you get a menu you can wait 30 minutes before they take your order, especially if you're in a group. You can then wait another half hour for your meal. Oh and say you may want a lemon or bbq sauce well, you'll have to wait a while.
Despite the bad flatbread and poor service, I would go back for another meal because they have a very extensive menu.
** Symphony 8 is a very popular bar on Thursday - Saturday nights.
I've eaten here on numerous occasions, in small and large groups. As for the actual food - they have a good margarita pizza. However, do not get the flatbread veggie pizza. I think they buy pre-made flatbread, sauté veggies and put it on top. This makes the flatbread extremely soggy and practically inedible. I'm not saying they have to make the dough but they can buy pre-made dough and make the veggie pizza the same way they make the margarita pizza. I have had their mac and cheese, its just okay. Nachos are my guilty pleasure and Symphony 8 makes them pretty good.
The service is absolutely terrible. Once you get a menu you can wait 30 minutes before they take your order, especially if you're in a group. You can then wait another half hour for your meal. Oh and say you may want a lemon or bbq sauce well, you'll have to wait a while.
Despite the bad flatbread and poor service, I would go back for another meal because they have a very extensive menu.
** Symphony 8 is a very popular bar on Thursday - Saturday nights.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Go to HIGHPOINT BISTRO to start your day on a HIGH
If you are looking for a new brunch place in NYC make sure to check out Highpoint Bistro on 7th Ave between 22nd and 23rd street. I've gone in a large group of about 10 people and as small as just me and my boyfriend.
Highpoint truly lives up to its name. Instead of bread or muffins, they serve freshly made donut holes, its the perfect way to start the day!
I've had 2 eggs over medium there which is my typical go to brunch item. It was good but the side dishes proved to be a highlight. The french fries were great. The first time I ordered the mac and cheese it was just scrumptious. I dreamt about it so the second time I went to Highpoint I made sure to order it again but it just wasn't as great. I've also tried their buttermilk pancakes with lemon thyme butter which made them more savory. However, I found their pancakes too dry. If I'm eating pancakes, I'm going all out and I expect fluffy pancakes and I just didn't get that from Highpoint. I've heard their french onion soup is just delicious. All in all, I enjoy going to Highpoint and look forward to their vegetarian split pea soup and stuffed french toast, on separate occasions of course. I may also give the mac and cheese another go.
Its a pretty small place but both times I've gone its been pretty empty. The service is fairly good.
Overall, I rate Highpoint 3.75 stars out of 5 stars.
* As you can see I am making up my own rating scale. Highpoint was better than a 3.5 but not quite a 4.
And after brunch you can go to the wholefoods close by, go grocery shopping and have some samples.
Highpoint truly lives up to its name. Instead of bread or muffins, they serve freshly made donut holes, its the perfect way to start the day!
I've had 2 eggs over medium there which is my typical go to brunch item. It was good but the side dishes proved to be a highlight. The french fries were great. The first time I ordered the mac and cheese it was just scrumptious. I dreamt about it so the second time I went to Highpoint I made sure to order it again but it just wasn't as great. I've also tried their buttermilk pancakes with lemon thyme butter which made them more savory. However, I found their pancakes too dry. If I'm eating pancakes, I'm going all out and I expect fluffy pancakes and I just didn't get that from Highpoint. I've heard their french onion soup is just delicious. All in all, I enjoy going to Highpoint and look forward to their vegetarian split pea soup and stuffed french toast, on separate occasions of course. I may also give the mac and cheese another go.
Its a pretty small place but both times I've gone its been pretty empty. The service is fairly good.
Overall, I rate Highpoint 3.75 stars out of 5 stars.
* As you can see I am making up my own rating scale. Highpoint was better than a 3.5 but not quite a 4.
And after brunch you can go to the wholefoods close by, go grocery shopping and have some samples.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Bagels and smear but not too much smear
One of my favorite breakfast choices is an egg sandwich but bagels come in as a close second. There really aren't any delis you can go to in Boston for an egg sandwich - that is, a scrambled egg on toast. Although for some that includes cheese and is on a bagel.
On a weekend you can go out to brunch and order eggs with toast but that's about it. So I made it my mission to at least find a decent bagel place.
As a new yorker, not only do I think we have the best pizza but I believe we also have the best bagels. I did however, find a place with pretty good bagels, Espresso Royale Cafe (ERC). There are a few locations- Gainsborough Street, Newbury Street and Commonwealth Avenue. What I really want to recommend is their veggie tofu cream cream. Even if you are not a lover of tofu, I suggest you give it a go. I love scallion cream cheese and just never took to veggie cream cheese but the tofu veggie cream cheese is so different; its delicious. You must order a whole wheat bagel toasted (scooped out of you wish) with veggie tofu spread.
I don't know if you have had this experience but I hate how places put way too much cream cheese/ butter on bagels - they would never eat that much themselves so don't serve it like that to me. I might as well just put cream cheese on a spoon and eat it. I must embarrass my friends because sometimes when I order a bagel and cream cheese I ask for a 'normal' amount. I know it sounds silly and yes, sometimes they laugh at me but from time to time it works in my favor and other times not so much. I once barely got any cream cheese on my bagel like seriously none. However, I have found this is not a problem with the veggie tofu spread and I think it's because the consistency is a little different.
*also erc is very hipster and their coffee is very hot
On a weekend you can go out to brunch and order eggs with toast but that's about it. So I made it my mission to at least find a decent bagel place.
As a new yorker, not only do I think we have the best pizza but I believe we also have the best bagels. I did however, find a place with pretty good bagels, Espresso Royale Cafe (ERC). There are a few locations- Gainsborough Street, Newbury Street and Commonwealth Avenue. What I really want to recommend is their veggie tofu cream cream. Even if you are not a lover of tofu, I suggest you give it a go. I love scallion cream cheese and just never took to veggie cream cheese but the tofu veggie cream cheese is so different; its delicious. You must order a whole wheat bagel toasted (scooped out of you wish) with veggie tofu spread.
I don't know if you have had this experience but I hate how places put way too much cream cheese/ butter on bagels - they would never eat that much themselves so don't serve it like that to me. I might as well just put cream cheese on a spoon and eat it. I must embarrass my friends because sometimes when I order a bagel and cream cheese I ask for a 'normal' amount. I know it sounds silly and yes, sometimes they laugh at me but from time to time it works in my favor and other times not so much. I once barely got any cream cheese on my bagel like seriously none. However, I have found this is not a problem with the veggie tofu spread and I think it's because the consistency is a little different.
*also erc is very hipster and their coffee is very hot
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Do you want fries with that?
About a month ago my boyfriend and I went to Pommes Frites on Second Avenue in NYC. I'm not sure how to describe it, its kind of like a shack and completely dedicated to selling thick 'authentic belgium' fries with a variety of dipping sauces. It may seem ridiculous to have a food business dedicated to one thing, but in NYC its not crazy there are places that just sell soft baked pretzels and places that specialize in donuts. It also follows the old adage, if you do one thing really well, people will come.
They have a menu with all of their sauces - take a look on their website. The fries are twice fried and made right in front of you, they are so hot and fresh. Not the healthiest option but once in awhile won't kill you. My boyfriend and I ordered regular fries with the dijon mustard sauce. It was delicious. There are three sizes of fries: regular, large and double - the regular was plenty for us to share!
If you are in the area, you must stop by and get some fries. They have very little seating but its easy to eat and walk around with. Its a very European thing to do. When I was in Amsterdam two years ago we ate fries as we roamed the city.
I want to go back just to try more of their dipping sauces.
They have a menu with all of their sauces - take a look on their website. The fries are twice fried and made right in front of you, they are so hot and fresh. Not the healthiest option but once in awhile won't kill you. My boyfriend and I ordered regular fries with the dijon mustard sauce. It was delicious. There are three sizes of fries: regular, large and double - the regular was plenty for us to share!
If you are in the area, you must stop by and get some fries. They have very little seating but its easy to eat and walk around with. Its a very European thing to do. When I was in Amsterdam two years ago we ate fries as we roamed the city.
I want to go back just to try more of their dipping sauces.
Is a cucumber roll sushi?
Two weeks ago I met a few friends at snappy sushi on Newbury street. I ordered a house salad... I love the ginger dressing. I basically licked the bowl. We also ordered an appetizer of edamame, another favorite. I ordered a roll of cucumber sushi inside out.
My friends say cucumber isn't sushi but I say, if its on the sushi list (which it is) then its considered sushi. I have tried other sushi but its just not for me and I don't eat raw fish. I always order cucumber, its light and fresh. Snappy Sushi only uses brown rice which is fantastic and much healthier and nutritious for you and me!
The sushi was very fresh but not filling at all. I probably should have ordered another roll. This past summer I learned how to make sushi and I'm pretty good at it. Its definitely a process making the rice and peeling/ cutting the cucumbers. Note, you should use long English cucumbers because it has less water so it makes for better sushi.
The service was very friendly and quick. The location is perfect because after dinner you can go to a bar on boylston for a drink or two.
My friends say cucumber isn't sushi but I say, if its on the sushi list (which it is) then its considered sushi. I have tried other sushi but its just not for me and I don't eat raw fish. I always order cucumber, its light and fresh. Snappy Sushi only uses brown rice which is fantastic and much healthier and nutritious for you and me!
The sushi was very fresh but not filling at all. I probably should have ordered another roll. This past summer I learned how to make sushi and I'm pretty good at it. Its definitely a process making the rice and peeling/ cutting the cucumbers. Note, you should use long English cucumbers because it has less water so it makes for better sushi.
The service was very friendly and quick. The location is perfect because after dinner you can go to a bar on boylston for a drink or two.
il Cantinori - oh how we butchered the name
I was visiting my friends and boyfriend in NYC a couple of weeks ago. But before I met up with my friends, my boyfriend and I went to dinner at Il Cantinori. Side note, when we actually found out how to pronounce I was quite embarrassed at how badly we butchered the name.
Another thing you should know about me, I have very intense food cravings. I went into this dining experience knowing I was going to order risotto. I have never had it before but felt it should be a side dish; however, that's seldom the case. Close your eyes and picture this: grilled salmon with a side of risotto... Yum.
Anyways, we stumbled across il cantinori because my boyfriend wanted to find a restaurant that had good risotto because I really wanted to try it. This restaurant can make any type of risotto, you just have to ask.
We started with the insalata tricolore, it was refreshing. I then ordered a wild mushroom risotto and my boyfriend ordered veal. The risotto was very good. I would have preferred if the mushrooms were cut a little smaller. You have to eat risotto fairly quickly because it gets cold fast and once cold, its not great.
For dessert I ordered the bread budding and he ordered a cannoli. I wasn't a fan of either.
The service was fantastic. We got up to leave and everyone was so friendly and said goodbye. After I got my coat from the coat check I realized I left my bag next to my seat, so I had to go back over to our table... this has happened to me once or twice before.
Overall I rate my dining experience 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
Another thing you should know about me, I have very intense food cravings. I went into this dining experience knowing I was going to order risotto. I have never had it before but felt it should be a side dish; however, that's seldom the case. Close your eyes and picture this: grilled salmon with a side of risotto... Yum.
Anyways, we stumbled across il cantinori because my boyfriend wanted to find a restaurant that had good risotto because I really wanted to try it. This restaurant can make any type of risotto, you just have to ask.
We started with the insalata tricolore, it was refreshing. I then ordered a wild mushroom risotto and my boyfriend ordered veal. The risotto was very good. I would have preferred if the mushrooms were cut a little smaller. You have to eat risotto fairly quickly because it gets cold fast and once cold, its not great.
For dessert I ordered the bread budding and he ordered a cannoli. I wasn't a fan of either.
The service was fantastic. We got up to leave and everyone was so friendly and said goodbye. After I got my coat from the coat check I realized I left my bag next to my seat, so I had to go back over to our table... this has happened to me once or twice before.
Overall I rate my dining experience 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Night out on the town... 'Sex and the City?'
A couple of weeks ago 3 of my girl friends and I went to Da Vinci for restaurant week. We dressed up and felt like the women in 'Sex and the City' ohh wait, I think that was just me. If you have never been out during restaurant week, you should - its a pre fixe menu of three courses.
We were seated immediately upon arrival. When I sat down I opened my menu and yelped a little bit. Why? Well Da Vinci is very high tech and has a lit menu - when u open it, the light goes on... It provided a little shock factor, I liked it. I ordered arancini con mozzarella - im not sure how to explain it. It looked like a falafel but had cheese in the center and indian spices. The flavors were very bold and I've actually never had indian food before so this was very new to me, it was okay, not my favorite.
For my entree, I ordered the salmon - it was an amazing presentation, stacked beautifully and cooked to perfection. For dessert, I ordered chocolate soufflé - which is my all time favorite dessert. I would like to make it sometime in the near future but I know this is quite an undertaking so I will probably recruit none other than my boyfriend.
After dinner, the restaurant was pretty quiet which was perfect because my friends and I stayed and chatted for a bit, more like an hour, and no one shooed us out or rushed us. They actually gave us complimentary dessert wine.
I rate this restaurant 4 stars out of 5 stars
* I don't want you to think I'm being overly generous with my ratings, I'm actually quite particular and critique many areas when I go out dining.
We were seated immediately upon arrival. When I sat down I opened my menu and yelped a little bit. Why? Well Da Vinci is very high tech and has a lit menu - when u open it, the light goes on... It provided a little shock factor, I liked it. I ordered arancini con mozzarella - im not sure how to explain it. It looked like a falafel but had cheese in the center and indian spices. The flavors were very bold and I've actually never had indian food before so this was very new to me, it was okay, not my favorite.
For my entree, I ordered the salmon - it was an amazing presentation, stacked beautifully and cooked to perfection. For dessert, I ordered chocolate soufflé - which is my all time favorite dessert. I would like to make it sometime in the near future but I know this is quite an undertaking so I will probably recruit none other than my boyfriend.
After dinner, the restaurant was pretty quiet which was perfect because my friends and I stayed and chatted for a bit, more like an hour, and no one shooed us out or rushed us. They actually gave us complimentary dessert wine.
I rate this restaurant 4 stars out of 5 stars
* I don't want you to think I'm being overly generous with my ratings, I'm actually quite particular and critique many areas when I go out dining.
28 Degrees and Beignets
Since I recently started my blog and want to share previous dining experiences with you some of the next few entries may be from a while ago.
My boyfriend and I went to 28 degrees, in the South End, to celebrate Valentine's Day. They have two types of seating: tables and chairs along the perimeter as well as separate lounges with couches and low tables. We were seated in one of the lounge areas - I'm not sure how they choose who sits where but we were very happy to be sat there. It was more romantic and intimate and it also made us feel young and hip - which I like to think we are.
Now, on to the food. We ordered a salad to start and then a side of truffled parmesan fries that comes with two dipping sauces - they were really good. For an entree, I then ordered the salmon, shocker... it was cooked perfectly. The way the restaurant is organized they assume you are going to share everything so the entrees come out separately. However, my boyfriend ordered surf and turf (lobster and filet) which I don't eat so that was a downside but did give me time to digest and prepare for dessert. Another negative, was that the tables are really small and since we ordered a decent amount of food we had to constantly re-organize our plates and glasses.
For dessert we ordered their beignets which were filled with jam. If you don't know what a beignet is, Im going to let you know. It is a french pastry - it a dough thats fried and usually topped with powdered sugar and can be filled with a jam. Its kind of like a munchkin but the shape can vary. The first time I had beignets was in New Orleans last year at Cafe Du Monde.... they were amazing and delicious. I you venture to New Orleans you must stop by for cappuccino and beignets. Since I loved them so much I had to buy a box of the mix so I could make it at home; this turned into quite an adventure. I made them of course with my boyfriend (if you can't tell by now, we cook/ bake together a lot) and set off every smoke detector in the apartment. Who knew you had to keep a close eye on hot oil. We did however, make them again and were much more successful!
Sorry about the tangent, back to the restaurant. I know this may sound odd, but the bathrooms were really nice and modern - hard to explain but if you go to 28 degrees make sure to stop in the lu.
The atmosphere, service and food were amazing. I rate it 4.5 stars out of 5 stars
** Keep in mind the menu has varied slightly
My boyfriend and I went to 28 degrees, in the South End, to celebrate Valentine's Day. They have two types of seating: tables and chairs along the perimeter as well as separate lounges with couches and low tables. We were seated in one of the lounge areas - I'm not sure how they choose who sits where but we were very happy to be sat there. It was more romantic and intimate and it also made us feel young and hip - which I like to think we are.
Now, on to the food. We ordered a salad to start and then a side of truffled parmesan fries that comes with two dipping sauces - they were really good. For an entree, I then ordered the salmon, shocker... it was cooked perfectly. The way the restaurant is organized they assume you are going to share everything so the entrees come out separately. However, my boyfriend ordered surf and turf (lobster and filet) which I don't eat so that was a downside but did give me time to digest and prepare for dessert. Another negative, was that the tables are really small and since we ordered a decent amount of food we had to constantly re-organize our plates and glasses.
For dessert we ordered their beignets which were filled with jam. If you don't know what a beignet is, Im going to let you know. It is a french pastry - it a dough thats fried and usually topped with powdered sugar and can be filled with a jam. Its kind of like a munchkin but the shape can vary. The first time I had beignets was in New Orleans last year at Cafe Du Monde.... they were amazing and delicious. I you venture to New Orleans you must stop by for cappuccino and beignets. Since I loved them so much I had to buy a box of the mix so I could make it at home; this turned into quite an adventure. I made them of course with my boyfriend (if you can't tell by now, we cook/ bake together a lot) and set off every smoke detector in the apartment. Who knew you had to keep a close eye on hot oil. We did however, make them again and were much more successful!
Sorry about the tangent, back to the restaurant. I know this may sound odd, but the bathrooms were really nice and modern - hard to explain but if you go to 28 degrees make sure to stop in the lu.
The atmosphere, service and food were amazing. I rate it 4.5 stars out of 5 stars
** Keep in mind the menu has varied slightly
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Enhance your salad
I love eating salads and eat them at least once a day. Some of my friends, who shall remain nameless, call me a rabbit because I eat a lot of lettuce and veggies. When someone like me eats salad all the time, you need a way to spruce it up.
If you don't enjoy eating salads, try using some of the same ingredients I use - they are sure not to disappoint
Here are some things I add to my salads:
- mixed greens or spinach (darker is better and more nutritious)
- sliced granny smith apples (dice half an apple) - adds tangy flavor
- chickpeas or kidney beans - adds protein
- beets
- shredded carrots
- edamame - adds protein
- occasionally I will add:
goat cheese (be conscious of the serving size) - adds great flavor
dried cranberries
baby corn
nuts (pine nuts, almonds, walnuts - whatever I have)
If this is for dinner I will cut up a veggie burger or tofu and mix it in the salad
My all time favorite salad dressing is the Newmans light raspberry and walnut!
** I usually use the other half of the apple for a snack and eat it with peanut butter. If you have a sensitive stomach do not eat a granny smith apple right before bed.
If you don't enjoy eating salads, try using some of the same ingredients I use - they are sure not to disappoint
Here are some things I add to my salads:
- mixed greens or spinach (darker is better and more nutritious)
- sliced granny smith apples (dice half an apple) - adds tangy flavor
- chickpeas or kidney beans - adds protein
- beets
- shredded carrots
- edamame - adds protein
- occasionally I will add:
goat cheese (be conscious of the serving size) - adds great flavor
dried cranberries
baby corn
nuts (pine nuts, almonds, walnuts - whatever I have)
If this is for dinner I will cut up a veggie burger or tofu and mix it in the salad
My all time favorite salad dressing is the Newmans light raspberry and walnut!
** I usually use the other half of the apple for a snack and eat it with peanut butter. If you have a sensitive stomach do not eat a granny smith apple right before bed.
Whole Foods Market
Although not a restaurant Whole Foods Market (WFM) is a place I frequent quite often; sometimes 2 - 3 times a day. Why do I love it so much? Out of convenience (its super close to my apartment), has good produce, has a lot of vegetarian options and provides samples. I love food samples which may be why I like BJs and Costco so much. Not only does whole foods have food displays where the employees create excellent recipes you can taste but you can also ask them to try just about anything in the store.
If any of you reading this are originally from NY you know good pizza and quite frankly that's hard to find here in boston. But whole foods actually makes good pizza (the white pizza is my favorite). If you don't believe me, go in and ask for a sample. For any of you readers who like to make your own pizza, they sell their pizza dough. My boyfriend and I like to make pizza and have bought their dough numerous times. Over the past year I have tried to convince WFM to start serving whole wheat pizza, so far no progress...
If you have never had a sandwich from here I suggest you go for it. I order tuna fish on cranberry nut bread with spinach, tomatoes and onions. It is delicious. I know the cranberry bread may sound odd with tuna but its really not. Give it a try.
If any of you reading this are originally from NY you know good pizza and quite frankly that's hard to find here in boston. But whole foods actually makes good pizza (the white pizza is my favorite). If you don't believe me, go in and ask for a sample. For any of you readers who like to make your own pizza, they sell their pizza dough. My boyfriend and I like to make pizza and have bought their dough numerous times. Over the past year I have tried to convince WFM to start serving whole wheat pizza, so far no progress...
If you have never had a sandwich from here I suggest you go for it. I order tuna fish on cranberry nut bread with spinach, tomatoes and onions. It is delicious. I know the cranberry bread may sound odd with tuna but its really not. Give it a try.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Stella in the South End is quite STELLAR
This past Saturday evening, I went to Stella with my boyfriend. We had a 9:30 pm reservation. A reservation is a must because even then you will have a slight wait. The bar was packed, the restaurant had large parties and gave off a very young, fun and romantic vibe. I don't mean to sound like a grandma but it was pretty loud at first which is to be expected after people have a few drinks. After about 15 minutes the volume quieted down a bit and i was able to have a stellar experience. The waiter was quirky but very friendly. When out at a restaurant I will usually ask the waiter to help me narrow down my choice selections by making a recommendation, this proves to be quite successful.
Now on to the food, for starters their bread was warm and sooo fresh... it was delish. Then we ordered the beet salad. If you haven't had beets yet go out an buy a can! (Open the can, put it in tupperware in the fridge and eat it the next day, it is much better chilled) It is my new favorite addition to salads. A week ago, I would have been like no way! but now I'm sold.
I am glad we did not have to wait long in between our appetizer and entree because I was starving. I ordered the Linguine in a cream sauce with asparagus topped with a poached egg. This was quite out of the ordinary, I don't typically order pasta - mainly because I don't exercise enough to burn off the calories. It tasted like a very upscale mac and cheese flavor and you cant go wrong with that. The egg yoke really cut the creaminess of the sauce, it was just fantastic. I highly recommend this dish to any diner. We ordered a side dish of roasted cauliflower... I wasn't a fan. It was more fried than roasted and tasted like french fries. That was the only downside to my meal. We were too stuffed to order any dessert. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
When I go out to dinner with my boyfriend, we typically go all out and order at least one appetizer and one side, if not more. If I'm feeling "skinny" that day and not too stuffed from dinner we'll order dessert too. This may be because I don't typically eat meat (unless I buy kosher meat which is very rare) so typically I eat salad, veggie burgers and a lot of fruits and veggies... not very exciting when you eat it everyday so when I go out to dinner which is about every other week, its a really nice change of pace.
On a side note, I watch a lot of reality TV, too much for my own good actually. You may be wondering what this has to do with food but actually, it all makes perfect sense. When I watch the Real Housewives of NYC and Bethenny Ever After I make not of the restaurants they are dining at. If its good enough for them, its good enough for me. I also watch Top Chef and Chopped - its a good way to learn about food!
Now on to the food, for starters their bread was warm and sooo fresh... it was delish. Then we ordered the beet salad. If you haven't had beets yet go out an buy a can! (Open the can, put it in tupperware in the fridge and eat it the next day, it is much better chilled) It is my new favorite addition to salads. A week ago, I would have been like no way! but now I'm sold.
I am glad we did not have to wait long in between our appetizer and entree because I was starving. I ordered the Linguine in a cream sauce with asparagus topped with a poached egg. This was quite out of the ordinary, I don't typically order pasta - mainly because I don't exercise enough to burn off the calories. It tasted like a very upscale mac and cheese flavor and you cant go wrong with that. The egg yoke really cut the creaminess of the sauce, it was just fantastic. I highly recommend this dish to any diner. We ordered a side dish of roasted cauliflower... I wasn't a fan. It was more fried than roasted and tasted like french fries. That was the only downside to my meal. We were too stuffed to order any dessert. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.
When I go out to dinner with my boyfriend, we typically go all out and order at least one appetizer and one side, if not more. If I'm feeling "skinny" that day and not too stuffed from dinner we'll order dessert too. This may be because I don't typically eat meat (unless I buy kosher meat which is very rare) so typically I eat salad, veggie burgers and a lot of fruits and veggies... not very exciting when you eat it everyday so when I go out to dinner which is about every other week, its a really nice change of pace.
On a side note, I watch a lot of reality TV, too much for my own good actually. You may be wondering what this has to do with food but actually, it all makes perfect sense. When I watch the Real Housewives of NYC and Bethenny Ever After I make not of the restaurants they are dining at. If its good enough for them, its good enough for me. I also watch Top Chef and Chopped - its a good way to learn about food!
About me and this blog
First of I want to tell you a little about myself and my obsession with all things food.
I currently live in Boston but I am originally from just outside New York City. I am in NYC a lot to visit family, friends and my boyfriend. This blog will give you some insight into both Boston and NYC restaurants hopefully with a humorous spin.
One of my hobbies is reading restaurant menus on line-take it as you will. In my opinion, if a restaurant doesn't have a website, it is a huge disadvantage. I am also very indecisive so looking the menu over beforehand saves a lot of time.
Another thing about me - I'm kosher, meaning I do not eat meat out (most restaurants do not have kosher meat), I do not eat shellfish or bacon/ham. In a nutshell, I'm a vegetarian. Also, you will soon realize I love salmon and italian restaurants
I hope you find my blogs humorous and useful when eating out. If you want me to give you tips on healthful eating or baking - let me know. I am studying health sciences so I know a lot about nutrition and I also love to bake.
By the way, I am writing this after returning from the gym.
I currently live in Boston but I am originally from just outside New York City. I am in NYC a lot to visit family, friends and my boyfriend. This blog will give you some insight into both Boston and NYC restaurants hopefully with a humorous spin.
One of my hobbies is reading restaurant menus on line-take it as you will. In my opinion, if a restaurant doesn't have a website, it is a huge disadvantage. I am also very indecisive so looking the menu over beforehand saves a lot of time.
Another thing about me - I'm kosher, meaning I do not eat meat out (most restaurants do not have kosher meat), I do not eat shellfish or bacon/ham. In a nutshell, I'm a vegetarian. Also, you will soon realize I love salmon and italian restaurants
I hope you find my blogs humorous and useful when eating out. If you want me to give you tips on healthful eating or baking - let me know. I am studying health sciences so I know a lot about nutrition and I also love to bake.
By the way, I am writing this after returning from the gym.
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