One of the rarities in life is finding someone that we love so wholeheartedly, and connect with on a number of levels. One of these people in my life is my Nana. As my family prepares to let her move onto the next chapter in her life, I would like to pay homage to some of the facets of my life I have her to thank for.

My oldest brother Chris and I were incredibly blessed to be born into and raised in the same town as our Nana and Grandpa. We spent nearly every day during the summers at their house, as well as countless days in between. I may have been a toddler but I remember walking Chris to school each day and then heading to Nana’s house where I would have my breakfast. On these such days she would give me a break from the monotony of healthy cereals and treat me to such delicacies as Eggo waffles drenched in maple syrup, Mr T. cereal (yes,it existed and yes it was amazing), or Jimmy Dean sausages.. And I would savor every single tiny square of those waffles, one by one.. You know you did too as a kid. If I stayed on until lunch, she would continue the indulgences the worst of things, Spaghettios with meatballs. Something so completely unhealthy and salty, yet I still linger in the aisle sometimes at the grocery store wondering whether or not that should be my comfort food of choice. I will always think of Nana when in this situation.. She also allowed us to bury our hands into the seemingly unending jar of Peanut M&M’s she always had in her cabinet. I swear that jar never was never anything other than full. And let’s not forget her ever constant supply of Andes Candies, or non nonpareils (her favorites that we would always stop at Hebert’s Candies for).

It wasn’t all processed foods though. Nana always had an explicable way of making the most simple things mean so much. One of my absolute favorites was taking a slice of white bread, a slice of American cheese, bacon, tomato, and red onion and putting it under the broiler until the cheese bubbled and browned just enough. She would always serve me this sandwich with fresh Cape Cod potato chips, and sweet & spicy pickle chips. The best part about this open faced sandwich was that she always knew just when I needed it, and always just happened to have the ingredients. Another favorite of mine was the sweet and sour chicken she made. This recipe, while also simple, still remains one of the things i love making the most because it reminds me so much of the time I would spend at her house having dinner. This was just dry onion soup mix, apricot or orange preserves, and french dressing then baked and served alongside rice and steamed broccoli. So easy right? She also made her own “homemade” macaroni and cheese which I am still not convinced didn’t have some sort of boxed element to it, but I think she felt that since she added canned tomatoes and sometimes ham that it was 100% homemade. That’s ok Nana, you can have that one. I can go on and on about her cooking, and it’s sad to know I’ll never have her Shake n’ Bake chicken and potatoes, or her Yankee Pot Roast, or her amazing chocolate chip or oatmeal lace cookies.. but these are foods and memories that I will never forget and will always cherish.

Moving on from food.. There are a number of things I have acquired from Hazel Dillon Hofher, my love of fashion, my addiction to shoes, my love of Wheel of Fortune.. But most importantly the nickname and birthday we share. I don’t know if I was nicknamed “Peaches” because I was born on her birthday, or if it was because of what I like to think was an instantaneous connection from the first moment she held me. Aside from growing up no more than 2 miles away from her, I spent an extraordinary amount of time with her whether it be traveling to my uncle’s games, or up to Framingham to visit with cousins, or just going to her house for dinner so I could help move things into or take things out of her storage unit. No matter what, I know I have her to thank for some of my best qualities. She gave me so much of her love, but unfortunately not her small feet.. sigh, all those shoes. And she would let me sit for hours upon hours, looking at her jewelry and telling me the story behind each piece.. thank you Nana for my never-ending urge to buy accessories, my wallet however does not thank you.

As much as I joke, I honestly don’t know who I would be had it not been for my Nana. She has always been one of my biggest cheerleaders, brutally honest with me, and has loved me without conditions. I honestly don’t know what I’ll do without her, but I know she’ll always be a constant thought on my mind whether it be in my cooking or my shopping.

I love you Nana,

Bon Appetit!

Long time no write and so much has changed. What most, if not all, of you may not know is that at the beginning of 2014 I set out to challenge myself more. I’ve never been okay with complacency, and I always want to better myself if possible. So the first step in this was starting my blog (which admittedly I have been terrible at), the second step was making the decision at the start of the summer to make a move to New York City. Never, EVER, did I think I would do this yet it feels more like home to me than anywhere else I have lived. And while I miss the family (Cioci loves you Trey) and friends I left in Boston there is an energy in NYC that is indescribable, an energy that draws you so completely in that you never want to feel anything else. I have fallen head over heels in love with this amazing island, and can’t wait to start chronicling my food adventures here because let’s face it… No other city does food like New York does. The sheer vastness in the variety and number of choices borders on daunting.

I had someone ask me recently if I’ve found a new favorite spot and I said “It’s impossible to find that here, because no matter how much you might love a restaurant there are 10 more you’ll love too.. and then 10 more after that.” This is not an exaggeration but any stretch of the word, there literally are so many options and not enough days in the week to try them all. Having said this.. I do have a few spots that I frequent in my neighborhood whether it be for a slice, or a casual Saturday or Sunday brunch, or a weeknight dinner with one of my new New York friends or my best friend who is the culprit behind getting me to pick up my life and move (I cannot ever thank her enough for that by the way). This said friend has also introduced me to the wonderment I like to call ramen… Stay tuned.. you’ll hear more about that soon.

So in closing for today, thank you for being patient through a rather turbulent time, an insane summer and allowing me to come back to you with new stories to share and food tales to tell.

Bon appetit!

Ok, ok I have been really terrible about writing and I am sorry. But after some prodding, and ego stroking I’m back!

 

I think one of the greatest things you can ever experience in life, other than food, is family. And around our families we build traditions, most of them playing out heavily around various holidays. My family is no exception. We have an AMAZING 4th of July party every year (my favorite holiday actually), and hold traditions around Christmas and Thanksgiving but also around Easter. I love the annual Americanized tradition of dip dyeing eggs, and filling plastic eggs with candy for the kids to hunt for in my parents’ backyard. But the traditions that I look forward to even more so, are centered on the food. I love the preparation, the togetherness of cooking with the women in my family, and I absolutely love eating it. And being Polish there are some foods, that are an absolute must try for you newbies, I crave all year round for my Mom to make.

Let’s touch on the process first. There is nothing to bring together the women (or men) of a family like cooking in my opinion. And this doesn’t have to be around the holidays, but it’s great because it brings about traditions that you can pass on from generation to generation that are then seen with such love and appreciation. I feel incredibly lucky that I have been blessed to be included in such, whether it be coloring eggs, or braiding the babka, or testing borscht at 9am I love it all. It’s the feeling of being part of something special that you can do year after year, it’s really incredible. So this past Easter, as many before, I awoke to some of the women in my family in the kitchen with the borscht already. For anyone that doesn’t know what it is, it’s a deliciously wonderful beet soup. You non-beet lovers may be thinking this doesn’t sound so great but it’s amazing both in its red or white form. Combine that with a lot of kielbasa, ham and hardboiled eggs and you have a sheer masterpiece of flavors. Once the borscht was completed, and I had finished my obligatory run so I can indulge in Easter, we moved onto the babka bread. Now, I don’t know how many (if any) of you have ever made bread in general before, but let me tell you it’s work. And I will admit, I barely did much of it because we had opened the Prosecco and I was quite consumed with the egg coloring with another of my fabulous aunts. However, after the rising, kneading, and punching I volunteered to show off my crazy good braiding skills and made me some babka bread. This, my dear readers, is something every Polish girl should experience in her life. I then sat back and watched as the potatoes were made in preparation for Sunday’s feast and the final day-before tasks were accomplished, and waited to feast on a warm piece of bread right out of the oven. It’s so worth any wait.

As you all know I’m no stranger to eating, so of course I did not object to an amazing lamb dinner made that night (yes, we had a huge lamb dinner the night before Easter- this is a judgment free zone, remember?). We had some wine and laughs, watched a movie and then all settled in for a good night’s rest.

Finally the day arrived! I’ll admit, I was a horrible Catholic and did not attend mass. But my adorable new nephew was there and I mean, how could I leave him? Obviously he would notice if I was gone… So we prepared at a leisurely pace, slicing the kielbasa and making a massive meat tray for the borscht. Adorning the ham with fresh pineapple rings and cherries, I love the pineapple. Getting the veggies prepped so they just needed to be heated and brought out at the right time, and making sure the cold veggie salad stayed in the fridge with the multi-color Jell-O mold until we were just about to start. Our Easter always happens this way, and I love that about it. Nothing out of place, everyone pitches in, and then everyone complains about how full they are after the borscht, but then proceeds to eat the main course. I love this, I live for this and nothing makes me happier.

Finally, as the eggs are hunter, and the to-go’s are being packed we all indulge on a sweet treat or two that come from a Polish bakery in New Britain. Polish treats are quite delicious, whether filled with fruits, or poppy seeds, or chocolate we all feel the familiar excitement each year as the saran is taken off and we can make our choices. Then we all move from our Easter best, to comfies but one thing never leaves me… the bling. This year was no exception as I adorned myself with a fabulous new bracelet (http://www.baublebar.com/original-pave-links-bracelet.html).

So ladies and gents, THIS is my Easter. I hope you have some traditions of your own!

Bon appetit!

 

Hi All! I know I’ve been a little slow in my writing the last few weeks and today I decided to take it in another direction and talk about one, or two, or ten of my vices.. Yes, I admit to a number of them. Obviously you all know by now that food is pretty much the numero uno for me, but trust me when I say I have quite a few others. Let’s dig in, shall we?

1. Food as a whole. I love it and I can never have enough of it. I have a very close friend who doesn’t share my passion for food and sees it as a necessity to live. I, on the other hand, see it as a necessity to survive but in the most enjoyable way possible. I derive so much happiness from food, I would be lost at sea if it were to disappear from my life.

2. Strawberry shortcake. And we’re talking the kind with the actual shortcake and not the sponge cakes. I like the real stuff folks, adding little bit of almond extract to my whipped cream to give it that little umpf (kudos to my sister Jena for giving me this idea), and making sure the strawberries are macerated just enough where they have a little firmness left but have become the most juicy and sweet topping to contrast the buttery piece of shortcake. This, my dear readers, is one form of heaven for me.

3. Chicken Wings. I could probably eat my weight in chicken wings on any given day. Slathered in buffalo sauce, or honey gold BBQ, or grilled or covered in a great dry rub… it doesn’t matter… I’ll eat them any way I can. Here are a few of my favorite spots for the, in my opinion, the best wings:

• My picks for Buffalo or Honey Hot’s check out http://www.buffspubofnewton.com/
• For Honey Gold BBQ dirt wings check out http://www.jtimothys.com/menus.php
• If you’re craving more of a dry rub my two go-to’s are http://www.elicannons.com/index.html and the monster wings at http://www.sweetcheeksq.com/meet-the-fam/the-restaurant/
• 

4. S’mores. I grew up camping for a week every summer, and one of my fondest (and tastiest) memories is making s’mores. I remember the older kids teaching me how to hold my stick just right in the fire so as not to burn my marshmallow, and to have the rest of the accoutrements ready to smoosh it between two graham crackers with s square of Hershey’s chocolate. And while I may not camp every summer anymore, I still have been known to make them over an open fire at my parents’ house, or in the over should I have a desperate craving. And if you too are a fan, but don’t like making them go to The Gallows (http://www.thegallowsboston.com/) and pray they have the dessert that is a variation of the s’more, but with peanut butter and layered in. Your mind? Yup, it just got blown.

4. French Fries. I love me some hot, salty french fries. I love them plain with ketchup for dipping, or tossed in seal salt and rosemary, maybe dusted with truffle oil and parmesan, or completely smothered in a poutine style. I mean seriously, is there anyone out there that DOESN’T like fries?

5. Burgers. I have regaled myself as somewhat of a burger connoisseur in previous posts, and I still stick by that. Sometimes there is nothing I crave more than a mid-rare burger with the simplest of toppings- lettuce, tomato, red onion, and ketchup. But other times I might want some aioli, or pickled onions, or a great cheddar, or bacon and BBQ sauce. Either way, on my worst days I know a burger can cure any blues I might have. A few of my favorite burgers spots here in Beantown include:

• Craigie on Main http://www.craigieonmain.com/
• The Gallows http://www.thegallowsboston.com/
• The hamburguesas at Toro http://toro-restaurant.com/boston/
• JM Curley http://jmcurleyboston.com/

6. Chinese Food. For the majority of my life, since starting on solid food as a baby, I have had a deep love for Chinese Food. And I’m a bit ashamed to admit that I even love the variation that comes from the mall. Hi, my name is Julie Jakubiec, and I love mall Chinese food (the first step is admitting you have a problem right?). I’m also very ashamed to admit that every time I get Chinese I am pretty much guaranteed to over order. My sister, brother in law, and myself have been known to hit our favorite spot in Boston’s China Town (Gourmet Dumpling House, and if you don’t know now you know) and completely indulge in all things delicious. Our go-to’s are the soup dumplings, the crab rangoon, salt and pepper calamari, the garlic sautéed greens or spinach, and the eggplant with spicy basil sauce… not to mention the additional items we are sure to tack onto the order. And at the end of the meal we lean back in our chairs and are blissfully happy, but painfully full for the next 12 hours or so.

7. Accessories. Ok, ok I know this is a food blog but come on ladies you know you love to accessorize yourself too. I have become quite the fan of Bauble Bar http://www.baublebar.com/, Gorjana and Griffin http://www.gorjana-griffin.com/, and Etsy these days. I have no shame in the fact that I buy something new pretty much every two weeks, don’t judge me. But there is something I absolutely love when getting ready to go out to dinner, about putting on my jaguar bangle, and a great necklace.

Ok, so there’s a short list to get things started. I would love to hear from you all on your vices and maybe give those a whirl as well.

Bon appetit!

 

 

 

 

First let me say I’m sorry, I’ve been out of the writing game for the last few weeks but I have been quite busy with my day job (You know how they say “don’t quit your day job”? Well.. I’ve had a few people say that about my writing… And I quickly have then kicked them in the kneecaps.), but even more importantly I have a beautiful new nephew who has absolutely stolen my heart. And a shameless plug to my family here, my sister and brother-in-law are off to a pretty great job being parents.

This brings me to dinner last night at Toro (http://toro-restaurant.com/boston/). I took a very active part in the planning and execution of my sister’s baby shower, and in return she sent me a pretty sizeable gift card to Toro. I would have made it out there eventually as it’s been on my list for pretty much ever, but this gave me the little push needed to get out to the South End and have some amazing Tapas. Now, my dining companion and I tried to go two weeks ago but were greeted with an hour and 45 minute wait. I love me some tapas, but not that much, so that night we ventured out to Barcelona in Brookline (which by the way is awesome and I highly recommend it- shame on me for not writing, but I’m sure to go back!). But last night, hoping the rain would be a deterrent and wearing one of my favorite new pendants (http://www.anntaylor.com/crystal-cluster-pendant-necklace/337314?colorExplode=false&skuId=15929167&catid=cata000021&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=5343) we headed to Toro and were instead greeted with a 30-45 minute wait a.k.a completely tolerable. We made our way to the bar so I could have my glass of Syrah blend while we waited, but luckily the bartender put on us on the wait list for the bar (yes, they are so crazy that they even have a waiting list for the bar!) and we were seated within 15 minutes at the most.

At this point I was pretty famished, which is never a good thing for me when dining out. But luckily my dining companion gets completely on board with trying as much as possible and allowing us a night of semi-gluttonous eating. I would say the menu is intimidating, because of all of the delicious choice and where do you even begin to start?! But instead we accepted the challenge and made our way through the glorious options of Pan Con Tomate, Bone Marrow, Paella, and so so much more. So here’s how it went down, there was no way I could skip paella. I have literally been craving paella, really good paella, for the better part of the last year. I don’t have trouble finding paella, I just have trouble getting anyone to share it with me! My dining companion didn’t let me down when he agreed… smart man. We opted to accompany the paella with an assortment of tapas in the following order Pan Con Tomate, Datiles Con Jamon, Maiz Asado Con Alioli y Queso Cotija, Empanade de Pollo y Patatas, and the Hamburguesas. Again, this was a glutton without guilt meal.

We started with the Pan Con Tomate which came out the perfect portion of toasted bread with the lightest layer of roasted tomato with just the right amount of garlic. The tomato spread did nothing to eliminate the crunch in the bread, and the garlic brought such a nice warm hint. Next came the dates, which is something we also enjoyed at the South End Buttery, but these came stuffed with blue cheese, chopped almonds and wrapped lightly in ham. My dining companion actually preferred the ham over the bacon wrap we had consumed previously, I enjoyed both to be honest but we all know I love my salty pig products! Soon to follow was the Maiz (the corn in case you weren’t sure). I have had Spanish corn a few times now and this one be-stilled my heart. It was fire roasted on the cob then coated in a delicious mixture of lime aioli, pepper and aged cheese. Corn on the cob is never a sexy food to eat while accompanied by a man, but luckily he didn’t judge… I got right in there, and it was worth it. The Maiz might have been the star of my show. Just as we were finishing our first ear of the glorious corn, the paella arrived in a fiery hot cast iron skillet and looking every bit amazing as I had imagined. We had chosen what I believe to be the definition of paella, the one that was filled with clams, mussels, shrimp, chicken, chorizo, peas and rice. Regardless of the heat, I allowed myself a heaping spoonful and practically had to sit on my hands to keep from taking a bite before it had cooled adequately. (And besides I really hate when I burn the roof of my mouth and then I can barely eat Sour Patch Kids for days. Yup, that’s the worst.) Upon first bite it was almost as if life stopped, this paella was exactly what I had been dreaming about. The shellfish was cooked impeccably, tender and not overcooked, but infused perfectly with the sauce. The chicken came out extremely moist (sorry!) as they put only dark meat in the dish, white meat always tends to really dry out in paella. Lastly, who doesn’t love chorizo? I believe I already professed my love and loyalty to pig parts earlier in this blog. Finally out came the Hamburguesas and the Empanade. I’m going to go out on a line here and say something pretty controversial here, but the Hamburguesas were probably one of the best little burgers I have had… EVER (2nd to Craigie of course). Cooked rare to mid-rare, on a pillow of a soft roll, topped with smoked tomato, aioli, and pickled red onions. The pairing of the meat, with the sweetness of the tomato, and the creaminess of the aioli, and then a hit of acid with the pickled onions was amazing. I could have eaten another on my own, if not two more. I feel like after that the Empanadas were lost, how do you come back from a burger like that? They also did not disappoint with tender chicken and potatoes with the right amount of seasoning. What I really loved about this dish though was the tomatillo salsa mixed with aioli.

So how you do end a dinner like this? One where you think you couldn’t possibly eat another thing? You get dessert. I have become a fan lately of restaurants having one dessert and not giving you options, so I was content when the bartender let us know that our one choice was churros accompanied with homemade chocolate sauce. Again, I know I’m allergic to cinnamon, and yes I know I’m not supposed to have it but come one, churros! I will say this is the only place I felt Toro fell short, but this could also be because we had had the churros at Barcelona two weeks before and they were thicker, doughier, and less cinnamon. However, the chocolate sauce at Toro was a game changer.

All in all, Toro completely lived up to everything I thought it would be and so much more. The service was excellent, the food was simple and perfect and warmed us up on a cold rainy night. I would absolutely go back, do you think tomorrow is too soon?

Bon Appetit!

This post is very bittersweet for me to write. Last Thursday I had a fantastic and much needed girls’ night with one of my best friends and a new friend. And last Thursday I found out that said best friend is taking her own huge step out of her comfort zone, taking a huge step in her career, and moving to.. NYC. I could not be happier for her, and I support her 100% but I am devastated to be losing her to the city that never sleeps. On the upside? It looks like PBR and Caviar will be seeing some NY blog posts in its future. Best of luck Fiona, I will miss you but I am so, so proud of you!

Ok let’s get onto the food shall we? I’ve been looking for an excuse to get into JM Curley’s since I heard it has a burger that could be one of the best in Boston (don’t worry Craigie on Main, yours is still my favorite). So when Fiona suggested it for our Thursday girls’ night, I fought through a horrible day and we ventured out into the frigid temps and allured by a warm cozy space with heartwarming food. I had my Talisman necklace from Anthropologie (http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/shopsale-jewelryaccessories/29045903.jsp;jsessionid=BF0CBB186765101E50995A2BD5048A98.anphlpapp01-store04) to bring us luck, and we didn’t have to wait long for a table.

Now you know a girls’ night requires comfort food so we got the party started with JM Curley’s Cracka Jack. Let me tell you, this is not your typical Cracker Jacks, this little doozy of a mixture comes out as a lovely mix of salty, smoky and sweet popcorn. I mean come on, caramelized popcorn with peanuts AND bacon is pretty much one of the best flavor combinations ever. And there’s even a prize inside! Another treat we opted to indulge in was their Cast Iron Mac and Cheese, and this helping did not disappoint. I know I say I’m a connoisseur in almost every blog, so why stop now. I think I’m a mac and cheese connoisseur, and this was one of the best I’ve had in a while. It came out creamy and melty and with enough breadcrumbs on top to add some crunch, and a great hint of beer with the Cottrell Old Yankee Ale mixed it. This is a dish you can’t go without here… trust me.

So while one friend opted for the burger (the fries WERE extremely notable by the way), and another for a salad and the pork & beans on the special menu, I went big and ordered the pork chop. I rarely will order a full sized entree just for myself anymore, as you all know I love sharing, but at our server’s recommendation I went for it. The Porterhouse Pork Chop with applesauce arrived in front of me as large as a porterhouse steak, covered in sliced and roasted apples. So where do I begin.. Let’s start with the chop, it was cooked to the exact temp pork is meant to be served at with just the right amount of pink in the center. Lightly seasoned with the exact amount of salt necessary to counter the sweetness of the apples, and make for a little bit of a crisp on the outside. The meat was perfectly tender and came right off the bone, and had I not overindulged in bacon cracka jacks and mac and cheese I really would have taken care of the whole thing.. Self control, self control, self control. And the apples you ask? They were cooked to perfection with the right amount of crispness left in them while still soft and buttery. Not overly dressed in cinnamon (but enough for yet another allergic reaction), these apples were most lovely accompaniment to the pork chop. My advice to you is to take a bit of each together, it is simply divine!

So here we have yet another positive dining experience, and I will be sure to be back. Unfortunately I did not have the same experience at Spoke in Somerville on Friday..

Bon Appetit!

It’s a well-known fact about me that I absolutely LOVE Fig’s in Charlestown. It’s one of my favorite go-to’s for pizzas, salads, and just a great neighborhood joint. The line is typically out the door, but the food is more than worth the wait. As you can imagine when the topic of pizza on a Sunday came up? I was more than happy to suggest the quick walk to Fig’s. So, adorned in my new much anticipated Courtney Bibb from Bauble Bar (http://www.baublebar.com/the-courtney-bib.html), we made the trek.
Last night was one of those rare nights when you walk into Fig’s and are not completely overwhelmed by the crowd. Maybe it was a slow Sunday night, maybe it was a result of the Celtics game still in play, or maybe everyone was hunkering down getting ready to watch the finale of “True Detective” (which of course was UNBELIEVABLE!!). Last night, my dining companion and I, walked into a quiet dining room and took our pick of tables. Now, he was hesitant to believe the “hype” about Fig’s but let me tell you that by the end of the end of the night.. He was a Fig’s convert.
Now, I very rarely am able to go into Fig’s and not order the warm bacon and spinach salad so of course I started with that. He picked the wedge, but I’m pretty confident that once he saw the massive pieces of bacon in my salad he was jealous… Food envy is the worst isn’t it? We also decided to go half and half on a pizza, he picked the Bronx Bomber and I opted for the Roasted Pulled Chicken (the Bronx Bomber was a first for me as I typically am allured by the more artisanal choices).
I’m sure you’re thinking a salad is a salad is a salad. Not the warm bacon and spinach salad. It comes out expertly dressed with the perfect amount of lemony vinaigrette, massive chunks of bacon, and grated fresh parmesan. It’s simple, it’s clean, and it has just the right amount of salt to bring out the flavor of the spinach. I would comment on the wedge, but my dining companion did not offer me a bite so I apologize.
Pepperoni pizza is my jam when I’m really in the mood for it or if I go to the Brown Jug in Chelsea, otherwise I tend to go for a pizza with more veggies on it. The Bronx Bomber half of the pizza was gone by the time we finished. Smaller slices of pepperoni strategically littered to give you just enough of the spicy taste of the meat without going overboard. And the crispy basil leaves on top, coupled with the right amount of sweetness in the red sauce and the most delicious amount of cheese on top? Ridiculous. I literally think this was the best pepperoni pizza I’ve ever had. And let’s not forget one of my staples- the Roasted Pulled Chicken which is also topped with gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and basil oil. This is a pizza I will never have enough of. The pairing of gruyere with basil oil and caramelized onions is just too good to be true, and you honestly can’t go wrong. I feel we had the perfect blend of spicy and salty on one half, and sweet and savory on the other. One of my concerns with taking my dining companion to Figs was the thinness of the crust. I know how picky some can be and how crust can teeter on the edge of being too thin, but this was perfectly cooked with the right amount of char on the crust and not too thin.
No good pizza dinner would be complete without dessert, you need a little something sweet to complete the meal. Given only one choice, we went for the vanilla bread pudding. It was presented to us topped in whipped cream, and the plate was drizzled in caramel sauce and sprinkled with cinnamon (uh oh, I guess I’ll just eat around it?). I didn’t know what to expect as I’ve only had pizza and salad and apps at Fig’s and everything has always been pretty amazing, and this dessert did not disappoint. The bread pudding was the right temperature and consistency, and not overly sweet. I was happy there was not cinnamon through the entirety of it, but I still managed to work my way through the caramel and whipped cream without having a crazy allergic reaction. Note to self: Let restaurants know about my food allergies. Noted.

Bon Appetit!

After two long weeks, my travel has finally come to an end.. Holler! The second portion was my first trip ever… to San Francisco, and I fell in love with the city! But what I’m crushing on most out there? The food, obviously. I was fortunate to find two nights out of a busy four to try two really fantastic spots and I left both feeling completely sated, but more importantly impressed. Well done San Fran, you did not disappoint.

     

MONDAY:
The first of my food adventures took place last Monday. Adorned in my new jaguar bangle (http://www.baublebar.com/baroque-jaguar-bangle.html) and from a well-respected recommendation with a personal touch, my dear friend and I walked .8 miles to Twenty Five Lusk. Somewhat hidden from the street, this is truly somewhere not to be missed. I had taken a quick glance at the menu on the cab ride from the airport to the hotel, but it barely did it justice. We stepped in and I immediately felt at home with the warm lighting, the exposed wooden beams, and modern furniture. We took seats at the bar and were immediately attended to and served customized bourbon cocktails.. way to make your way into this girl’s heart.
After much thought and consideration, and help from the wonderful dining room manager, we opted for the California Caviar (YAY! my first caviar but shhhhhh.. no one needs to know that!) and blinis, the Kusshi Oysters, the Crispy Soft Poached Farm Egg, and the Seared Ahi Tuna for our entree. We really struggled on whether or not to also taste the Hokkaido Scallop Crudo, but decided against it, so we were absolutely thrilled when it was also served to us. Have I mentioned how wonderful this experience was yet?
First came out the caviar, oysters, and poached egg, now as I have never been so lucky to taste caviar and have heard many mixed reviews, I was prepared to possibly not like something. Which if you know me? You know that nearly never happens. But the sturgeon caviar arrived with perfectly prepared blinis (the dining room manager told us the interesting story behind Twenty Five Lusk’s blinis and I encourage you to ask about it as well), creme fraiche, finely chopped red onion and dill, and paired with a very chilled shot of vodka. The crispy poached egg arrived in a wave of delicate aroma of the truffle oil, mixed with smoked ham and artichoke. It was also at this time we were surprised with the scallop crudo, served artfully with daikon, watermelon, tahini vinaigrette, and the most incredible wasabi sorbet. After a quick lesson on the proper way to eat the caviar and blinis, the sensory overload began. I cannot even express to you the happiness my taste buds experience through these three courses, all paired with a lovely glass of Savvy B. The smokiness of the ham, mixed with the truffle oil, artichokes, and the egg yolk made for the perfect bite. But the blinis, oh caviar and blinis, that may have stolen the show for me. The Kusshi Oysters were the lightest fare in our long list of treats, served with a cucumber, meyer lemon and ginger caviar. They really brought some East Coast flair to our dinner, even though I’m quite sure they might have been West Coasters. And finally, let me give credit where credit is due here with the scallop crudo. Taking a piece of artfully cut scallop with watermelon and a dab of wasabi sorbet had me dreaming of summer.
Of course by this point we were both nearly full, truth be told we did have two servings of bread, but our Ahi Tuna was then served to us. Perfectly pink and rare, it was served over grilled spring onions, pomelo, beets, with a tarragon vinaigrette. This was one of the most artfully prepared ahi’s I have ever seen, and the taste more than matched the presentation.
It is often I feel so tended to, but this was an exceptional experience and has quickly made it to my list of restaurants to return to in my travels. Thank you to all who made it so special!

WEDNESDAY:
After a long day of meetings and working our booth at the conference we were attending (no, we’re not “booth babes”), my dear friend and another of our colleagues ran through the pouring rain to fill our bellies for an later party with some true comfort food at Hops and Hominy. Because let’s face it, nothing beats the rain and coats the stomach for an event of adult beverages like some amazing Southern delights. Manned with a bacon smoked bourbon manhattan, I was ready to make some really smart food decisions. The three of us began the deliberation process of deciding between apps and entrees and what we could possibly share, all while having complete food envy of the tables around us and the dishes of brussel sprouts and mac & cheese passing us by. Ultimately we opted to share a few apps and two entrees, all of which included the enviable brussel sprouts and mac & cheese, because let’s face it nothing cures the rainy blues like macaroni enveloped in warm melted cheese. YUM. For our entrees we landed on the Shrimp & Grits, and the Buttermilk Fried Chicken. I know what you’re thinking, how do I eat like this? Well folks, I run… a lot.
While we patiently waited for the arrival of our delicious decisions, a server brought over their house cornbread. Now, I don’t claim to be a cornbread connoisseur, but this CB was pretty amazing accompanied with a sweet butter. Enough said. But next came a plethora of delights on dishes. I think we all reached first for the mac & cheese and the sprouts. The mac & cheese came out in a small cast iron, with a golden crumble of breadcrumbs and bacon pieces on top. And the molasses brussel sprouts were enough to make a grown woman cry, ok I know that’s not THAT hard, but you get the point. Next I dived right into the Fried Chicken paired with collards and a pepper sauce, as well as the Shrimp & Grits. Where to begin, where to begin.. The shrimp came out placed on a healthy portion of cheddar grist with a crab and tomato brandy sauce, with a jalapeno vinaigrette. This reminded me so much of the days I’ve spent at the Boston LSU Alumnae Chapter’s crawfish boil, which made me so completely excited.. I love me a crawfish boil. The sauce had the right amount of heat without overpowering the seasoning on the shrimp and the cheddar in the grits. It was just right. And the fried chicken? I mean how can you go wrong with chicken, dredged in buttermilk and a crunchy coating? And when it’s coupled with collards with pork, and a spicy pepper sauce with a hint of sweetness you just can’t help but stop the smile from spreading across your face.
Many smiles were had in this dining excursion in the torrential downpours, and the feeling of total satisfaction as we closed out our dinner and headed to the party made the cold weather so completely tolerable.
Bon appetit!

       

After a much needed, very relaxing week away in the lovely Cabo San Lucas I need some really good food. Don’t get me wrong, the food at the all-inclusive resort we stayed wasn’t terrible, it also wasn’t tolerable after 7 days. So when I was presented with the option of brunch at Craigie on Main for my return, I JUMPED! I have been hearing about Craigie for years, and after experiencing Tony Maw’s newest venture, Kirkland Tap and Trotter in Cambridge, this was pretty much a no brainer. What I have also heard rumblings of, is the burger at Craigie on Main. Rumors have been widespread of the sheer simplicity of it, and that it always sells out. So again, sign me up! So I put on my new camo jacket, a trademark white V-neck tee, and an electric pink scarf and off we went.
We arrived at the spot, and were promptly seated (quick tip: you MUST make reservations) in a great corner booth that afforded some privacy to catch up about the week’s adventures. Our server came over to offer coffee and took my order for the Bloody Mary with spicy vodka, I needed a break from tequila. Another server soon came over and told my dining companion and I about their donut, which we’d heard about. Truth be told I don’t even think I heard what she said but responded with “yes please”. I didn’t know this meant we would both receive one, and when they first came to the table I almost sent one back.. I mean come on, I had just spent a week eating and drinking my way through Cabo.. did I really need an entire donut knowing I would be having a burger too? However, with that first heavenly bite I knew keeping my own was the right decision. It was perfectly dense and crispy on the outside but warm and cakey inside. It was served smothered in a chocolate sauce that was bitter enough to balance the extra sweetness of the cinnamon and sugar coating the donut. Now, what I will say is, shame on me here. I am allergic to cinnamon, but I ate the entire thing.. and my lips are still suffering but so worth it
Next came our burgers, I ordered mine with a fried egg which is my favorite way to eat any burger. It came accompanied by a nice salad of greens and radishes simply dressed, dark and crispy potato wedges, house made ketchup, a small side of slaw, and very delicious vinegar pickles. Here’s the best part though, they cooked it exactly how I like it… Medium rare! I made the mistake of attempting to half my burger, thinking that would make it easier to eat and I wouldn’t make a total mess of myself, wrong. That burger was everywhere, and you know what? I loved every bite of it. Burgers are simple, yet so many places screw them up but Craigie on Main did not disappoint. I will venture so far as to say this was the best burger I have had in my lifetime, yup, I just went there. And the potato wedges with light seasoning and crispy, and some simple greens were just what was needed to complete the plate.
All in all, it was the perfect way to spend my one day back in Boston before jetting out to San Fran for a few days.
Bon appetit!

I would just like to start this blog by letting you all know I’m writing from a few thousand feet above the earth.. Yes dedicated readers, I’m finally flying to a much needed escape in Cabo!! I think right now we’re somewhere over Texas? So as my dear friend Fiona reads I thought I’d share one of my recent food escapades!
I have a new dining companion who shares my interest in trying new spots.. Whether they’re brand new and still working out the kinks or have been on the block as long as J Lo, it doesn’t matter.. This chap likes food too… Thank God! This particular evening I let him choose between a few, the choices were The Buttery or Row 34. I’ve been toThe Buttery and swore id return so I was far from disappointed when it was designated as the evening’s location. I also found thus to be the perfect opportunity to debut my new cowl neck, cable knit sweater.. Perfect for the cold, snowy night!
We arrived a bit later, which was perfect as The Buttery is quite small and can be challenging to acquire a table. And even though it was quiet by the time we got there we opted for seats at the bar. The whole feel at The a Buttery is just comfort, you feel it from the moment you walk in to the moment the door swings closed on your departure. The bartender was so warm and welcoming, and he made me one hell of a Manhattan while also schooling me on some lesser known bourbons (my fave of the brown liquors).
After a somewhat lengthy perusing of the menu, choices were made. We’d start out with the Devils on Horseback, I’d have the salmon, and my dining companion would have the chicken Parmesan. The tasty little devils came out first, piping hot with a side of romesco. They were sheer perfection, the absolute perfect mix of sweetness from the dates, and salty smokiness from the bacon enveloping them in love (it IS Valentine’s week!!!). I tried one small bite with the romesco and didn’t touch it again. Don’t get me wrong, it was lovely, but the flavor profile without it was perfection.
Following after come the entrees, the chicken parm arrived thick cut and precisely coated under mozzarella sliced thin enough not to be overwhelming but thick enough to be dangerously wonderful. The plate came with the chicken resting on a plate of angel hair lightly dressed in a wonderfully flavorful red sauce. I stole a bit, maybe two, and let me tell you.. It rivals any chicken parm I’ve had in Boston’sNorth End. Ok, now we can talk about me! I had previously had the salmon at The a Buttery and it was, hands down, one of the most enjoyable pieces if fish I’ve ever had.. This was no different. While the last plate was accompanied by baby squash and zucchini, this was served alongside kale and parsnip purée and a recent change now has the crispy skin left on… Consider yourself enticed! The kale was sautéed and wilted to the right level, with the right amount of vinegar and garlic. And the parsnip purée? Let me just say, it was heaven on the palate. It had just the right amount of sweetness to balance the vinegar in the kale but without being overpowering on the plate. And finally welcome to the mainstay.. The salmon. Expertly cooked, light on the salt and pepper to give it that little kick of flavor, prepared at just the right temperature so the the ends are a little more well done but the inside has the right balance of semi-rare. But I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t tell you about the incredibly crispy skin that really completed the dish and gave it a little umpf of salt.
While usually my dinners end here, there’s been a recent trend of dessert.. So we opted for the flourless chocolate cake with a passion fruit sauce. Little known factoid about me, I have a mild obsession with passion fruit. This dessert did not disappoint. The portion was perfect off sharing, and the tartness of the passion fruit was a wonderful compliment to the chocolate.
All in all The Buttery brought it in my second visit, and I highly recommend you all make a cameo there as we’ll!

Bon appetit (or however they say it in Mexico)!