Day 47 Lunch (Brunch) at the Rustic Kitchen in Hingham, Derby street mall

cup of lobster bisque

 SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGE PIZZA tomato sauce, aged provolone, mozzarella & peperonata...13

 

 the omlette of the day, avocado ,chives,  tomatoes and cheddar cheese

 GRILLED CHICKEN CLUB aged cheddar cheese, avocado, Applewood smoked bacon, Bibb lettuce,

sliced tomato & avocado aioli…12


I am a huge fan of the mall at Derby Street in Hingham,  loads of great restaurants (Burtons, Legal C, Bertucci's, ) and 1 of the best bakeries i have ever been to in my life, White's bakery. 
In this particular day we decided to have brunch at the Rustic Kitchen and i really must say it was a beautiful experience all around.  

The staff was very attentive and accommodating ( we were a bit fussy, moving tables…twice) , after finally finding the 3rd table to be just right (insert a goldilocks reference if you wish). We ordered a round of cocktails , their beer and wine selection is quite extensive and i enjoyed a lovely lager that sadly i can't recall but its from a local micro brewery i had never heard of.

I had a cup of lobster bisque, my 2nd favorite soup and when i see it on a menu i feel compelled to order it, as not every restaurant offers it as an option. It was lovely, cream and rich. Generous portion of lobster meat, and it was cut of nicely not just 1 big chunk sitting in the bottom.  They served a nice bread selection at the table, but i must confess i wasn't a fan of the hummus spread they served instead of oil or butter.

The grilled chicken club was good, not quite a club as it was served with just 2 pieces of bread and not the traditional 3 slices of bread. Nevertheless it was a tasty chicken sandwich. Not deli chicken but a good sized chicken breast. The side dish was 1 of the best pasta salads i ever had…this was a problem as the chicken club was not my meal, so i was doing the mortal sin of stealing the side dish of another person's entree. Oh well, it was worth it, i can't wait to go back and order something that has that pasta salad on the side.

My dish was the omelet of the day, how do i say this…I didn;t like it.  BUT having said that, i am not holding this against the Rustic Kitchen, i was apprehensive when i ordered this omlette but i said to myself " Thor, why not try something outside of your comfort zone??"  While i do like avocado , something about an avocado omelet gave me reservations and i should have listened to myself. 

Now the pizza, holy mackerel that is a damn good pizza. Perfect amount of sauce , cheese and sausage. The sausage was cooked perfectly, and super flavorful. This is a large single serving meal, definitely enough to bring home for leftovers.  The oven they use to cook the pizzas in, gives the pizza crust a nice crunch and texture.

I would definitely go back to the Rustic Kitchen and i totally recommend the pizza or something that offers that amazing pasta salad as a side dish.

have a great night and a great meal.

Kevin

http://www.rustickitchen.biz/locations/hingham/lunch.cfm

Day 46 Dinner at the Freeport Tavern in Dorchester, MA

French Onion Soup $6

                                                                   “Classic Style” baked with croutons and a three cheese blend 

 Tavern Burger $12 *

One-half pound of ground sirloin, served with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on a soft toasted roll with your choice of cheese 

 Grilled Ribeye Extravaganza $24

Topped with sautéed bell peppers, Spanish onions, mushrooms and a Marsala demiglaze 

 pop-ovah(i'm from Boston thats how we say it)

 Famous “Certified Angus” Steak tips  $18 1/2 pound * Melt in your mouth-100% Choice Certified Angus beef, marinated in our own secret recipe

 

I must have gone past the Freeport Tavern 100 times over the years and never once thought of going in for a meal. I now realize what a mistake that was. We went in and sat at the spacious bar, the friendly staff was polite and informed when i asked some questions about what was on tap (I am on a bit of a cider/ale kick lately and seek them out where i may go). The bar is comfortable,  but with enough TVs if you are interested in watching a ball game, but not so many that you will be distracted from your dining companions.

The waitstaff in the dining area was also very friendly and informative when asking for opinions on dining options. Some may argue a burger is just a burger, i would slap those people. A burger can be as exquisite as any 4 star meal, or prepared so poorly i wouldn't serve it to someone on death row. This i am VERY pleased to say was a 4 star hamburger, i could not have enjoyed it more. Cooked perfectly, just the right amount of cheese and seasoning, the brioche bun was a nice accompaniment.  I can't say i was in love with the french fries, they were fine but didn't knock me off my feet. But the burger was the show stopper on my plate that night. Prior to my entree i had the french onion soup, sadly disappointing  but i don't condone a restaurant based on an appetizer ( or an App as some would say).

I don't know about you, but i think Prime Rib is totally hit or miss. Amazing in certain places and horribly regrettable at others. This prime rib was beautifully cooked, a generous size, but not a glutton-ish size like sooooo many places serve. It came with a popover , and i have a soft place is in my heart for these little pastries. My mother is a 5 star chef (she is the cook at a church rectory but in my opinion the best chef i ever met) and when i was a boy she would always make popovers for when she served beef at large dinners she cooked for, and she always brought me 1. When done right they are so light and buttery and go so well with prime rib, this one was done just lovely.

Another item that i find hit or miss are steak tips, i know historically restaurants don't use the best quality meat for steak tips, so they can be tough in some establishments. These were good but not exceptional, not tough but not cooked perfectly either. For the price , which i must say in my opinion was high for steak tips i would have expected better quality.

But besides my small critiques , i would definitely go back to the Freeport Tavern and i would recommend it to anyone in the Dorchester area. Feel free to give me a ring and i'll join you, I'm always in the mood for a great burger.

have a great night and a great meal.

Kevin B.

http://www.freeporttavern.com/tl_files/freeport/documents/POCHMENUSpring2014.pdf

Day 45 Dinner at Alfredo's in Quincy center

cup o' minestrone soup $3 ( free w/ entree)

 chicken & fettucini alfredo $16

 spaghetti & meatballs $12

 chicken piccata $17

I have lived in Quincy,MA for most of my life, and i am always surprised when i stumble upon a new hidden treasure that has has been right in front of me for many years. After many years of saying "we must trying Alfredo's , sooooo many people recommend it.", we finally did it. 

I must say i did not go into this meal with especially high expectations. This was a restaurant i must have passed about 40-50 times without even a second glance. But after being tired of the same ole Italian restaurants in the area, i thought i needed a change. So Alfredo's seemed like a logical choice, and i must say what a pleasant surprise.

The restaurant has 2 bars , that offer both a nice option to eat at the bar if you choose and a place to have a relaxing cocktail or a more lively section that would suit someone looking to have a good time.

The cocktail prices at the bar are reasonable , with a wide selection of beers /wines.

The waitstaff was very friendly and accommodating, when we sat at the bar and decided to get a table the servers worked together to get us a table that met our needs. This restaurant had a vibe of an old fashioned restaurant ( and believe me when i say this, i meant that in a ver good way)  a lot of places now a days you order a meal and your vegetable  or starch comes separate but in this case for most meals you got 2 sides, a soup/salad/pasta/rice/potato/ vegetable.This is an old fashioned offering that i must say was a very pleasant surprise.

The entrees were delicious, each plentiful and very flavorful. i had no choice but to order the chick and fettucini Alfredo ( for God's sake the restaurants' name is Alfredo's , how do i not order the fettucini Alfredo ) it was sublime, the sauce was delicious but not overwhelming. Alfredo sauce is 1 of my ultimate guilty pleasures, a sauce made from cream and butter has to be a gift from heaven.

The chicken piccata was tasty, and not over powering like a lot of lemon based sauces.

The meatballs in the spaghetti and meatballs were amazing, not all breadcrumbs. you could actually enjoy the flavor of the meat and the sauce.

I would heartily recommend Alfredo's to anyone in the Quincy area looking for great Italian cuisine.

Have a great night and a great meal.

Kevin B,

http://www.alfredosquincy.com/index_dinner_menu.html

Day 44 dinner at The Merchant in Downtown Crossing

 crispy chicken wings $9

 bread basket

 Wedge Salad $9

 Pork 2 ways $24

House made asparagus pasta (appetizer size)$13

A friend and i were looking for somewhere new to try, and since The Merchant is so near my office we thought "what the heck".  I was a little apprehensive at 1st as i must confess the menu didn't exactly sing to me. There were a few intriguing options, but i thought we could better served somewhere else.  But i am glad we went with our first choice.  The staff was very friendly and accommodating, we asked for a table away from the crowded bar and they were able to move somethings around and give us a booth where we could actually hear ourselves over the crowd.

a very pleasant surprise was the pinot grigio they gave us, when i asked about it the waitress said its on tap and is their house pinot.  Well i don't normally have a lot of respect for tap wine, but this was actually very nice and crisp.

then we ordered an appetizer and i was talked into the chicken wings, now i know what you are thinking…who has to be talked into chicken wings? Well if you know me or have ever read my blog before, then you know i don't like food on the bone. But in keeping an open mind for the blog, i have to say they were good and flavorful. They came with some asian slaw and a nice sweet & sour sauce, and it was the perfect amount of sauce , i hate when you need 12 wet naps just to eat 2 pieces of chicken. 

My friend got the pork 2 ways, which came with 3 pork ribs and a nice pork loin. I did not try it, but was told it was excellent ( and since the plate was clean after, i will take that as a confirmation).

I got the wedge salad, which in fairness was not extraordinary , but it was a nice salad. If i had 1 critique, it had a skosh too much blue cheese dressing. I love blue cheese but i don't like to see it on every piece of lettuce.  The asparagus pasta on the other hand , was an absolute treasurer. The pasta is made with asparagus (what that what…yes made with asparagus) , it came with asparagus , plump shrimp (with NO TAILS !! The way they should always be served in a pasta dish) and chorizo sausage, there is no sauce but it is served in the sauce the chorizo was cooked in and it was just delicious. It was the perfect portion, leaving you full but not so stuffed you can't move.

I found the whole dining experience to be a pleasure, friendly staff, very good food , nice ambiance and  the prices were reasonable. I look forward to going back to The Merchant in the near future.

have a great night, and a great meal.

Kevin B.

Day 43, Easter dinner at Salvatore's Restaurant in the Theatre district of Downtown Boston

 Deviled egg appetizer (sooooooo good)

CARBONARA* 19 pancetta, sage, peas, garlic, parmigiano, egg sauce, linguine, topped

with a fried egg 

 Baked haddock piccata with rice pilaf and asparagus 

 FILET il CUSCINO*

black angus filet, topped with a jumbo bleu cheese ravioli, port wine reduction, chef’s potato, vegetable 

 Whoopie Pies 

Well for the first time in my families history we decided to not to stay home and cook a big Easter dinner, instead we decided to go into the city (Boston)  and enjoy the beautiful weather and also to embrace the love that was in the air for the Boston marathon that was happening the following day.

We made reservations at several places, because we just couldn't decide where we should go.  But after much deliberation we chose to go to Salvatore's on Washington street in Downtown Boston and we definitely made the correct decision. What a wonderful atmosphere and the food was amazing.

The staff was incredibly friendly and accommodating ( i can be slightly demanding). The prices are totally reasonable for Boston's theatre district. The bar has a great wine selection ( i had a glass of Pinot Grigio Zenato Veneto) , and is quite comfortable if you want to grab something to eat at the bar. 

I had the carbonara, i am a fanatic for this dish ever since i saw it featured on a Food Network program. A generous portion with a sunny side egg on the top , that when broken made a fabulous gravy and accompaniment to the extremely flavorful dish.

My dad had the Filet , and i have to say I would have a hard time finding a better steak in any "steak house" establishment. Cooked perfectly, beautifully seasoned (no salt or pepper needed) and the blue cheese ravioli…omg where has this been all my life. 

My mom had the haddock piccata, generous portion and served with a lovely sauce. The rice pilaf was the perfect side dish for this entree. ''.

For dessert they had a lot of incredible sounding options and we chose to share the whoopee pies,  the fresh whipped cream and moist and rich chocolate cake was amazing.  Good size portion perfect for sharing.  I would recommend a Baileys on the rocks to have with this dessert ( i did and it went very nicely together).

I highly recommend Salvatore's in Boston, and i can't wait to go back.  Also if you have plans to go to the Opera House in Boston, Salvatore's is right next door and this would be the perfect place to go before or after for a nibble or a cocktail.

Have a great night and a better meal.

Kevin B.

http://www.salvatoresrestaurants.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FINAL-BostonDinner3-14.pdf

Day 42, dinner at Modern Apizza in New Haven,CT

 Large side salad

 1/2 Anchovie and 1/2 pepper pizza

 me

Well on a overnight visit to the city of New Haven with my friend Pablo, to visit his alma mater Yale University we went on a walking tour of the city.  I have to say its a lovely area and with quite a history for fabulous pizza places. But Pablo suggested we go to one of his favorite haunts, Modern Apizza. 

Well i was a little alarmed when we got there and the line waiting to get in at 7:00 PM was out the door with a 30 minute wait to get in to a table. So we put our name in , and went to a great Irish bar next to kill the 30 minutes.  When we got back , 30 minutes later we still had to wait a lil while longer.  But once seated, the wait staff is very attentative and brought us menus immediately and took our drink order. The above picture titled  "me" shows me drinking a Naughty Nurse Ale (yes thats the name, and yes i ordered it solely based on its name) , having said that it was quite delicious.

Pablo and i split the above large side salad, which was fine. Nothing extraordinary , but at the same time it was a side salad so what do you expect. It was all iceberg lettuce with hardly enough tomatoes or onions for my liking.  Although i will say i was a big fan of their blue cheese dressing. 

But …the main event, the headliner of our dinner…The Pizza.  Yowza talk about delicious. 

We got a 1/2 anchovy and 1/2 pepper pizza.  The pizza was cooked perfectly, the crust was thin and crunchy , the sauce plentiful but not overloaded  but the cheese was dairy perfection, i can't recall enjoying a pizza more. The anchovies added the perfect amount of salty to goodness and the peppers were cut to just the right size and cooked just the way i like them.

We managed to finish the whole thing which believe me is no small feat, since it was a generous portion.

The whole meal was fantastic, and very reasonably priced. 

I can't wait to go back to New Haven , and i am even thinking of enrolling at Yale just so i can go to Modern Apizza more often.

Have a great night and an even better meal.

Kevin B.

XOXO

http://www.modernapizza.com/menu.html

Day 41 Lunch at Zaftig's Delicatessen in Coolidge Corner Brookline

 Zaftig's own brand of Raspberry Lime Rickey

 *LENOX OMELETTE

Sun-dried tomatoes, chives and goat cheese. 10.95

 REUBEN

Grilled pumpernickel, corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut, Russian dressing. 12.95

 bagel chips and cream cheese

this is a repeat review of one of my favorite places in Coolidge Corner, which is a fabulous neighborhood in Brookline with a lot of great dining options…also near the place of go for my Mani/Pedis , but enough about me.

I normally go to Zaftigs for breakfast (which i highly recommend) but in this particular meal we had the opportunity to have lunch/brunch.  After we ordered , they brought us the complimentary bagel chips. I am a huge fan of their bagels and they make their chips from them. A nice little treat to pick on while waiting for your meal.

I had the reuben and i have to say, as a huge fan of this particular sandwich having it at a jewish delicatessen is a rare treat. The meat was amazing , plentiful BUT not overwhelming ( something i hate). Just the right amount of russian dressing and sauerkraut, i can't recall the last time i enjoyed a sandwich so much. The french fries were good but nothing special, i had heard their steak fries were terrific which is what i meant to order. My friend got the Lenox omlete, which she liked but didn't love. Her one complaint was the amount of goat cheese inside the omelet, goat cheese has a powerful flavor and that much of it inside the omlete was just too much.  She thoroughly enjoyed the bagel and home fries that came along with it.

We both got a raspberry lime rickey , and i must say Zaftigs own brand of soda is better or on par with most brand name sodas. 

I always enjoy my trips to Zaftigs as the staff is friendly and attentive, but the food is what always brings me back every time.

Have a great night and an even better meal.

Kevin B.

xoxo

http://www.zaftigs.com/index.php/menu-2/daily-menu

Day 40 Dinner at Alba's Restaurant in Quincy Center

celery root bisque 

 salmon & risotto

 banana bread pudding with banana ice-cream drizzled with a carmel sauce

Everyone has a certain restaurant that has special meaning for them, for me this place is Alba's. I have loved this restaurant since day one , when many years ago i started coming here with a dear friend who has since passed away.  I tried so many different meals at Alba's over the years, enjoying their soups , entrees ranging from a fabulous hamburger to one of the nicest filets i have ever had. Alba's is also the place i tried chicken parmesan for the very first time, and i have to say if i had known how good they made it i would have ordered it there years ago.

The owner Leo, is a hands on old fashioned restaurant owner who checks on the customers to ensure they are satisfied and will even pour you a glass of wine if he notices you are running low. A classic touch that i always love, so many restaurants you never see who is running the show.

I recently went to Alba's with a friend and we both got the 3 course meal  for $25. A fabulous deal , that includes, an appetizer , and entree and a dessert.  I got the celery root bisque with lobster meat. It was delicious, very flavorful and creamy. For dinner i got the salmon with risotto, a beautiful piece of fish. Fresh without a fishy smell and the risotto was cooked perfectly  and was just the right accompaniment to the salmon. We shared a couple of bottles of pinot grigio that i very much enjoyed, one thing you will not be disappointed too at Alba's is their extensive wine list.

For dessert we both had the banana bread pudding with banana ice cream, it was delicious. The ice cream served on top of the warm bread pudding with a melted carmel sauce was a perfect ending to a fabulous meal. But a fabulous meal is something i have come to getting used too at Alba's and i look forward to going back for my next meal.

Have a great night and an even better meal.

Kevin B.

xoxo

http://www.albaquincy.com/wp-content/themes/Alba/Alba-Menu.pdf

Special Posting- My special Spicy Olive/Pepper Tapenade

Hi Folks, so i fancy myself someone who is handy in the kitchen. If you have the misfortune of being my friend on Facebook then you are familiar with my posting of every meal i order when i go out, or sometimes just a local treat (i.e. a cupcake or sticky bun from my favorite bakeries).
Well one of my favorite pastimes is to watch some of the cooking shows on The Food Network, and i get inspirations from certain chefs for things to try at home.

One of the things that caught my eye while watching Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives was how many chefs in small restaurants all over the country are making their own sauces from scratch for their signature sandwiches that are featured on the show.

Well i decided to run with one myself, that i call my Spicy-Olive/Pepper- Tapenade (but its not really a tapenade, stop judging me).
This sauce is not like a Hot sauce, but does have a kick to it. Goes well in wraps,  with chicken, deli meats( such as corned beef or roast beef), I personally have not used it on fish but my mother served it at a dinner she was hosting with salmon,  it can also be used as a dip for vegetables.

This is made in a food processor , i am giving the ingredients as i have made it the last time but obviously you can adjust anything for how much tapenade you need for serving.

2 tbsp of light mayonnaise
1 generous tbsp of sour cream
1 tea spoon of horseradish
2 tea spoons of extra virgin olive oil
3 pitted pimento olives (your choice of olive )
2 garlic cloves
2 small red roasted peppers
Paprika (i am a fan, so i give a generous dustin (1/2 teaspoon)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
pinch of sea salt
7 to 10 capers, your choice…but i go closer to 7.
2 slices of jalapeños (with seeds, i told you it had a kick)

This gets mixed in the food processor on Mix cycle for about 2 minutes ( stopping at 1 minute to scrape the bowl and make sure everything gets chopped up finely.)
Then put mixture into a bowl with a cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to settle.

Then serve and enjoy….i sure do.

thank you,

Have a great night and an even better meal.

Kevin B.