Day 15 Breakfast at The Friendly Toast

Coconut Cakes (a pancake with cashews, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and drizzled with coconut sauce for  $6.75)

My love for The Frienly Toast in Cambridge,MA is well documented.  Today was a day for trying new things, i am not a huge fan of coconut(except the water and milk) but i just felt like trying something a little different today. So when my friend order the coconut cakes, i threw caution to the wind and said make that 2 please (i did the same thing out for supper last night , when i ordered the same grilled cheese as my friend Rob).  The waiter said do i want 1 or 2, i asked how big they said 1 covers a plate, so i thought 1 would be sufficient. Wow was i right, i couldn't even finish the 1 i ordered. Its absolutely delicious and soooo flavorful. But its a dense pancake and heavy with toppings, 1 is more than most people could eat.  For 2 coffees, 2 juices and 2 pancakes, the total came to  $26 and change.  Very reasonable for good quality food.  

I have a few people who have asked me to let them know when i go, and this is 1 place that i will always make time to go with someone to introduce them to my favorite breakfast joint.  So come 1 come all, lets all go to the Friendly Toast and soak up the great food and atmosphere.

Have a scrumptious day and a great meal.

Kevin B.

http://www.thefriendlytoast.net

Day 14 Dinner at Tony's Clam shop

 Worst picture of me ...ever, but look at those onion rings !

Fried Oyster Dinner with cole claw and fries  ($17.95)

Well this is my 1st repeat posting, i just love Tony's and i wanted to show the world  (the small section that i know) how amazing Tony's food looks. I had the fried oyster plate, a little pricy but the quality is outstanding and the quantity is more than i can eat. My friend Andrea got the fish and chips, and she said the fish was terrific, not greasy at all ($15.95) and then we split an onion rings. The atmosphere was great, the outdoor seating area was packed ( a little too buggy though, we both got bit). 

After dinner we went to Marina bay and had cocktails at Port 305 ( I am NOT a fan of their food, but the bar area is nice ) The drinks looks better than they tasted but still a nice way to end an evening.

All in all a fun night, and i hope to go back to Tony's again soon while the weather is still nice to sit outside. 

Have a good night and a good meal.

Kevin M.W.B,

http://www.tonysclamshop.com

Day 13 Dinner at Hingham Beer Works

Watermelon Beer

Fried chicken sandwich with whipped potatos

grilled chicked sandwich,with sweet potato fries (raspberry aioli)

 Chicken Salad

The other night i had a lovely dinner out with my friends Michael and Kevin, we went to the Hingham shipyard (former home of 1 of my favorite restaurants of all time, the Hingham Bay Club).

We weren't sure which of the multiple choices we would dine at that evening, but where it was a perfect evening to dine outside we made our choice and the Hingham Beer Works was our destination. It was a Thursday evening, and at around 7:15 we still had to wait for about 20 minutes for a table outside. Once we were seated, the view was spectacular , we could see the water and the side walk(great people watching scene). On this particular evening we also had great music, there was a free showing of the Muppet movie near our restaurant and we could hear the songs from our seat.  As is well documented i am not a fan of watermelons, but the idea of watermelon beer intrigued me. It was worth trying, it was light and a refreshing beverage. I had a lovely fried chicken sandwich that came on a bulky with bacon and a nice cream sauce. I took the bacon off but the flavor from the bacon stayed on the sandwich and made it just that much tastier. Kevin got the grilled chicken sandwich and the sweet potato fries with raspberry aioli for dipping, i tried a fry and dipped...it was very surprising, i would never have put the 2 flavors together , but they worked. Michael got the salad with grilled chicken, it looked very tasty and was quite a good size for a salad, definitely meal size.  

Overall the staff was very courteous and attentive, the meals were well priced, nothing was outrageous, and the atmosphere was laid back and relaxing.   If you didn't want to sit outside, and perhaps wanted to watch a sporting event, the bar is well stacked with tv's showing everything that was on that evening.

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone. There are plenty of great shops within walking distance as well. 

Have a great evening, and a great meal. 

Kevin B.

XOXO

Day 12 breakfast at Zaftig's Delicatessen in Coolidge Corner

Empire Eggs (2 poached eggs, on spinach, salmon, and potato pancakes w/ hollandaise sauce)

Today i went to one of my favorite neighborhoods of Boston, Coolidge Corner. It has a cool vibe to it, but with some great shops and not overloaded with the same ole chains you see in every mall.

I talked my friend into having breakfast with me at Zaftig's Delicatessen. I have read some good reviews and heard some good things from friends,but i have never been to an authentic Jewish delicatessen and was apprehensive about whether i would enjoy myself. Well we sat at the counter, which is my favorite place to sit in a breakfast joint. The staff was very attentive and were constantly checking if we needed coffee refills. The restaurant was quite busy for a thursday morning, which is  a very good sign. The menu looked great, and i flip flopped about what to get, but i felt for the purpose of blogging, the Empire eggs benedict was the route to take. It was delicious, the eggs were cooked perfectly, the potato pancake was nice and crispy(thats key for me) and it didn't overload with spinach or Lox. They used a light amount of hollandaise sauce, which was good, because i want to taste the food and not mask the flavor with sauce. The most pleasant surprise was the home fries, they were fantastic !! This is coming from someone who does not like home fries , i would eat these weekly.  The slice of watermelon was a nice touch (if i liked watermelon) but it brought the plate together.  I would definetly go back, and i know i would try the french toast or pancakes with strawberry butter( that just sounds ridiculous). If i had one issue with Zaftig's it would be the prices, i thought they were a skosh high, not outrageous but a lil high for breakfast.

While you are in Coolidge Corner please stop by Julie's nails for a mani/pedi (its the only place i will go), Kupel's for the best bagel i have ever had (thank you for the recommendation Tami), or the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse to grab a burger or to watch a game (sports on every tv in the place and they have A LOT of tv's).

Thats all i have for now, so have a good night and a good meal.

Kevin B.

xoxo

Day 11, Dinner at Hennessy's just outside Fanueil Hall

Steak tip fajita wrap, with fries and a pickle

Shepherds pie

Well today we spent the day at Faneuil Hall/Quincy Market,  it was quite nice.We watched street performers, walked over to the water, and stopped into a few places to cool off (i.e., have some cocktails and watch the Red Sox game) First we went to Anthem, and then over to Durgin Park and couldn't quite find the perfect place to eat. Then i recalled having a wonderful meal a few years ago at a bar near the Purple Shamrock but could not recall the name. So we took a chance and scampered over there (it was a scorcher, so walking around was a chore) and thats when i saw Hennessy's and a light bulb went off over my head ! That was the place! Success , and they had a special on $2 Corona Lights today, so it was win win.  I had the shepherds pie, and it was pretty tasty.  Ground beef, carrots, peas, onions with a nice brown gravy and mashed potatoes on top.  The gravy was tasty, but a lil overwhelming, as much as you see on top it was filled with it inside too.  My friend Cathy got the steak tip fajita wrap, which she enjoyed but it could have had more steak and less sour cream she noted. i tried 1 of her fries, and they were tasty but over cooked (she then ruined them with ketchup, so i then chose to look away).  The meal wasn't what i hoped , but it was still pretty tasty and filling, it did both lunch and supper.  Although, we did  ice cream on the way home...soft serve ( i had pina colada, YUM !!) and then thanks to my friends being generous sharers, i got to try the watermelon soft serve and the vanilla too.  I liked mine the best, and wished i had taken a picture of it.  However, i thought the price was  Out -(wait for it)- Rageous !!  $8 FOR A CONE!! What am i , a billionaire?? 

I am glad i spent today catching up with old friends and going back to my old stomping grounds. 

Thats all for now, have a good night a good meal.

Kevin B.

XOXO

Day 10 , Breakfast in Coolidge Corner

The sampler (1 piece of challah bread french toast, 1 chocolate chip pancake, and 1 waffle with fresh whipped cream, strawberries and vanilla ice cream, home fries)

omlette with wheat toast and home fries

This meal was at the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse , in Brookline, MA.  I have had lunch and dinner at this restaurant about 3 times and have enjoyed every meal. Its got a good size menu and the prices are reasonable.  This was our first time going here for brunch, and i have to say i was pleasantly surprised. I had the sampler which gives you 1 piece of challah bread french toast, 1 pancake (your choice of type, i chose chocolate chip, and 1 waffle with strawberries , vanilla ice cream and fresh whipped cream)  This is a HEAVY meal , and while i enjoyed what i ate i don't think i could order it again. But it gave me a preview of all 3 breakfast choices so  i now know i don't think i would enjoy the waffle for breakfast, it has too much going on and while the pancake was tasty it looked undercooked to me and if something doesn't look appealing then that will turn me off. The waffles however were delicious and i would definitely get them again. My friend Paul got the above omlette, which i believe he enjoyed but i can't recall what he put in there besides peppers and salsa .  Joanne got the French toast, and i think she also enjoyed them as much as i did. We all got iced tea and unlike quite a few places, they gave free refills. It was quite tasty as well.  

The Coolidge Corner Clubhouse is a place i would definitely recommend to people, and its within walking distance of Julie Nails which is worth the trip to Coolidge Corner alone. But if you find yourself in Brookline and are looking for a good place to watch a sporting event on TV , the CCC (as they call themselves) has TV's in every possible place they can put one on their walls. 

Thats all for now, have a good night and a good meal.

Kevin B.

xoxo

Special posting...the likes and dislikes of the author

I feel like i have been neglecting my blog lately. I enjoy it very much so just because i am not going out to dinner as much lately i can still share my foodie thoughts and recipes i have tried with everyone.

I don't have a particular recipe to offer at this time, but one topic that comes up quite often with friends/family/acquaintances is my declarations of things i don't enjoy. Sorry but if i don't like something, people are gonna hear about it. So for anyone who is interested below is a list of foods i enjoy and others i despise, for those who think i am picky the likes out way the dislikes.

Likes  
Chicken dishes                                                                  
Egg dishes (just about every conceivable way)                    
Mangos                                                                              
Shell fish (shrimp, crab, oysters, clam, etc)      
Boston cream pie (see also Boston cream donuts)
Bacon
Boiled Lobster on my birthday
Corn on the cobb
Broccoli
Kale
cauliflower
Peas ( combine with mashed potatoes ..Amazing)
Carrots & parsnips (mashed together)
Potatoes (mashed, boiled, fried)    
Pies (Pecan, pumpkin, cherry, blueberry, rhubarb, key lime, lemon meringue, apricot)            
Chocolate covered cherries (the real kind, not the kind bought at CVS)
Coconut milk/water
French Toast /Pancakes
 Black breakfast pudding (If you're Irish you know what it is)
Grilled English Muffins
Product 19 cereal
Captain Crunch ( best kids cereal)
Apple Jacks (best cereal ever)
Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (i prefer the white to the green)
Chocolate frappes /Milk Shakes
Dr. Pepper    
Alfredo sauce (why does something so amazing have to be sooooo bad for you)
Ice Mountain bottled water
Tomatos ( i could eat a tomato like an apple)
BREAD ( fresh bakery bread is my weakness, O'Briens bakery's Oatmeal bread ..just thinking about it, i need a moment to myself )
Twix
the rolls at Bertucci's
Sangria
White wine in the Summer  ( pinot grigio, and sauvion blanc are particular favorites)
Red wine in the cooler seasons
French Fries  ( with Salt (although not anymore) , or malt vinegar or honey mustard, and thats it)
thick onion rings
stuffed shells (my favorite freshly made pasta dish)
left over spaghetti and meatballs, reheated in a frying pan with a lil butter
stuffed mushrooms
asparagus (grilled)
soft pretzels with yellow mustard
red licorice
Izze juice drinks
a really well cooked grilled cheese on a cold night, with tomato soup
homemade mac & cheese
oreos (i will also eat a hydrox)
jelly candies (swedish fish/ fruit slices)
Yams
red grapes
plums (the juicier the better)
a fresh peach
cherries
chowdah
Olga's iced coffees
grapefruit juice
raspberries
blueberries
Spinach
Fish tacos

DISLIKES
Chicken on pizza
Eggplant(just about every conceivable way)
Every member of the melon family
Dishes that come with cooked shrimp that leaves the shell on the tail, that is infuriating to me
Potatoes ( Baked , shoe string, curly)
Banana flavored foods,  (ie banana flavored candy)
Kit Kats  (yuck)
Coconut candies or desserts (ie Almond Joys, Mounds)
White breakfast pudding (if your Irish , you know what it is)
flakey pastries ( i like doughy)
Lamb
Pesto
Turnips
Every member of the Squash family
Veal
Diet Pepsi
ovaltine
skim milk in coffee or tea
home fries (with 1 exception, The Friendly Toasts' in Cambridge, theirs i will eat)
Necco Wafers
Jolly Ranchers
Tuna/chicken/egg salad out , i will never order these 3 things out at a restaurant.
Cucumbers
Eating any kind of meat on a bone
green beans (except in casserole)
cookies with raisins
shoe string onion rings

Special update- Holiday in Chicago 2012

Deep dish onion and pepperoni pizza

slice of pizza

Palm Beach Mahi Mahi with crab potato hash and sweet corn bisque

Chicago style hot dog

Linguini & clams 

Well this is a special post , as normally i would talk strictly about 1 meal or 1 evenings events. This is about my vacation i was on last week in Chicago and besides being 1 of the most visually stunning cities i have ever seen or visited , it is a city rich in world class cuisine. On Night 1 we went to McCormicks and Schmicks for a nice seafood dinner. I know what you're thinking, K Dawg you have a McCormicks and Schmicks in Boston why would you go there. The answer is simple, it was near the hotel and the city was H O T T T that night, and quite frankly i don't go to the one in Boston anyways so it was a treat to go there. I had some amazing Mahi mahi(pictured above) and a fabulous peach cobbler for dessert.  After dinner we walked around the city and took in the amazing view along the Chicago River. Day 2 , started off with a bust, lousy hotel 71 breakfast buffet. I can't stand these type of meals  (with the exception of Amreins in South Boston). But there was a huge rebound at lunch at the recommendation of several friends we had deep dish pizza at Giordano's (right near the Sears "now called Willis" Tower) This pizza (pictured above) was amazing, very filling and delicious. The crust is different than any pizza i had before, and the sauce is a little sweeter than what i am used too. I had 2 slices and that was a mistake, because this is a VERY heavy pizza.  That night after some more site seeing, we went to Harry Carey's Italian Steakhouse for supper. That place is quite a site to behold, we got there at 7:00 and was told there would be a 45 minute wait, but 10 minutes later we were at our table. The lobby of the restaurant is great, its filled with pictures from all sort of celebrities having there picture taken with Harry when he was alive, or the huge bust of his head in lobby next to the hostess station. Normally when i go to a steak house i get steak, but i was still pretty full from the pizza at lunch, so i got something i have never had before, the linguini and clams. It was amazing, the sauce was a garlic and oil with a lot of clams mixed in. Also very filling but busting with garlic flavor. 

Day 3 was a quiet day, did a nice architecture boat tour, that was a great way to see the city from the water.  For lunch we went to the billy goat tavern, kind of let down but i was a lil tired from a lot of walking. But i did try another Chicago specialty dish, an Italian Beef sandwich, which is an overstuffed Roast beef sandwich in a sub roll , with peppers and the whole sandwich is dunked in Au Jus before they give it to you, bread and all.  It was tasty but WAY too big , and i didn't want anything too big since i was having dinner with my friend Christina who lived in Chicago.  Christina recommended a fantastic Cuban restaurant 90 Miles Cuban Cafe , which was new to both of us. The plantains were delicious, and we ordered an extra plate...i want some now thinking about them. I can't recall the dish i ordered but it was a pulled beef dinner, with peppers, white rice , plantains and black beans. 

After dinner Christina took us too Mario's Italian Lemonade where we both got Italian ices, i got lime and Christina got watermelon. They were fabulous, i never had an Italian ice that was so flavorful. Then she took me over to see the United Center and a nice drive along lake Michigan. 

Day 4 was spent visiting the town outside Chicago that my Grandfather Mike Boyle, lived in back in the 1920's , where he worked on the street cars.   Then after that we visited some nice museums,and then went to the Navy Pier for supper, and to watch the beautiful fire works show they put on every Wednesday and Saturday.  The pier was great with all the typical junk food booths available, as well as a smaller Harry Carey tavern.  They play great music, and the view of the city from the pier at night, is truly magical.  

Now as we were leaving to go home it dawned on me i didn't have a Chicago style hot dog, and while i wouldn't have called the trip a failure if i didn't get one, i did want to try one while i was there. Thankfully O'Hare airport had an American Dawg ( i think that was the name) and since i never eat on planes and it was lunch time while we were waiting , i decided to throw caution to the wind and ordered a hot dog with the works. Normally i am very basic with my hot dogs , raw onions, relish and mustard (Never ketchup/catsup !!) , this Chicago style came with Bright green relish, onions, mustard, tomato, cucumber(which i don't like) , peppers, and celery salt.  I have to say this combo works! It was very tasty. I would probably never go to that effort if i was cooking a hot dog at home, but i would order it again the next time i go to the Windy City. 

I am home now, and hopefully will be going out to eat soon and i will get back to making some local recommendations.  But for now i will simply say I would recommend Chicago to anyone looking for a vacation. It has the big feel of a big city but not so big that you feel like you would get lost in the hustle & bustle. 

Thats all for now have a great night and a good meal.

xoxo

Kevin M. Boyle 

Day 9 1st meal at the beach of 2012

 I am not a big beach person i must confess, but 1 big perk of living so close to a beach is having good seafood restaurants within walking distance. This was my first trip to Tony's Clam box on Quincy Shore Drive this year. I had the fried clam platter, (i know some people just like the strips but i get the whole clams...love the bellies too) The portions are perfect, the clams are cooked just right and the batter is not overwhelming, you can taste the a hint of sea water off of them. Tony's give you plenty of clams, and not just a few with a load of French Fries,  although the fries are pretty fantastic too. I am a huge fan of the cole slaw, not too mayonasiey (i made up this word) and very flavorful. I had a lovely iced tea that was quite refreshing and you could tell was fresh brewed.  

The beauty of eating at Tonys is after eating a big meal you are already at the beach to walk off some of the calories you just put on.  

Thats all for now, have a good night and a good meal.

Kevin