The Art of Eating Boston

Here’s a list of Boston cafes and restaurants to help plan your next visit. Or maybe you’re there now. Fabulous!

Roast Beast and Puns / Boston

There is only one of two ways to be. You can be the type of person or place that is a little bit good at everything or you can be the type that is excellent at one thing. The guys from Roast Beast chose the latter and their passion, if you can’t tell from the pictures above, is puns. No, wait. That’s wrong. It’s roast beef, definitely roast beef.

Never mind how much I love the clever name of the small, convenient and quick shop, this is about the food. Maneuvering your way through is quick and easy. You choose a meat (beef, turkey, chicken breast, pulled pork). Then the size of your sandwich and the type of roll (deli, onion, wheat) (go onion!)(I know, but just do it). You choose your toppings and then make the very hard decision of a picking a sauce. Maybe (definitely) add on some cheese. And if you’re feeling crazy make it a full meal by adding a drink and some Cape Code potato chips on the side.

My only tip would be to savor it. This is one of those sandwiches that you sit down to eat and has vanished by the time you can look up to say, “Holy cow, how good is this!”.

These sandwiches are just delicious, it’s really that plain and simple.

Roast Beast
1080 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215
(617)877-8690
(They offer curbside pick-up)

Apple Cider Everything!

One of my favorite days spent in Boston was the day we drove out to Connor’s Farm in Danvers Massachusetts. The idea was to go apple picking. We had been two years prior to celebrate my sister’s birthday and it became a bit of a birthday tradition for her. But as it happens with (some) big, hispanic families, we were too late.

We bought a large bag to fill with apples only to find out all the good apples had been picked and the apple picking area was closed. The great thing about Connor’s Farm though is that there is SO much to do other than picking. It’s as much a farm for adults as it is for kids.

There are freshly made apple cider donuts to eat and warm apple cider to drink. It’s easy to get apple cider crazy. The market at the front of the farm is stupendous, you could spend the entire time in there. You’d find every type of homemade pie you could dream of and probably a packet of muffins to match it too. There’s also Bob’s BBQ if you arrive hungry, though we didn’t try it. We went from apple cider donuts to specialty popcorn from The Corn Crib.

Once you pass the market the fun starts: swings right by the gorgeous lake, go-carts, pig races, pumpkin picking, a ride around the farm in carts, zombie paintball, a corn maze (with different levels), playing and feeding cute farm animals. They even have a Maze of Darkness which no one in their right mind should partake in.

What’s even better than the activities is the actual farm. I don’t know if we got lucky with the weather; the entire farm was sun-drenched which exaggerated the already stunning fall colors of the trees surrounding us. I’d like to think that every afternoon at Connor’s farm is as beautiful as the one we had.

Oh, don’t worry. We did walk away with apples in the end. We filled the bag from the market apples on the way out. Birthday apple picking complete!

Connor’s Farm
30 Valley Road (Rt. 35) Danvers, Massachusetts 01923
(978) 777 1245

No. 9 Park / Boston

No. 9 Park is a special place.

I don’t mean “special” as in Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen live nearby in a similar looking, gorgeous brownstone in Beacon Hill, even though I hear they do. I mean “special” like it’s fancy, the type of place we’d all go to celebrate an achievement or occasion, or even just the fact we ended up with more money this fortnight than last.

This place has class, what with it’s dark lightning, mirrored walls, and dark wood finishings. It’s somewhere Ron Burgundy and the rest of the Channel 4 news team would have hung out had they broadcast in the 2000’s out of Boston. And even with that, it remains incredibly unstuffy and unpretentious.

The menu is the best part; there are so many mouth watering meals to choose from and so many ways to explore them. They offer a three-course prix-fixe, a chef’s tasting menu or a la cart options off the entire menu (they’ll just have to double check with the chef). So basically, anything is possible. We had so many questions for our excitable, patient and helpful waiter, but he actually seemed to like it.

The menu changes often and also seasonally, with the exception of their most famous dish, the prune-stuffed gnocchi (it’s VERY good). The slow roasted pork belly was exquisite, as was the Terrine of Hudson Valley Foie Gras I ordered. But! what ended up happening on our small table for four was that we each got the three-course prix-fixe menu of an appetizer, an entree and a dessert ($69 each) then shared everything. It truly was a eating extravaganza at No. 9 Park that night.

I am usually either over or underwhelmed by the amount of food consumed at three course meals but the portions we were given felt just right. That is, of course, until the bill landed on the table with complimentary, exotic looking chocolates. That’ll tip anyone over the edge.

If only I lived in Boston and had an Old English Sheepdog named Bleeker who just learned to rollover into a hug, we’d be at No. 9 Park high five-ing over the dark chocolate tart. Because, forget special occasions… any reason for a fancy dinner will do.

No. 9 Park
9 Park St, Boston, MA 02108, United States
617-742-9991 (Call to book in advance)

The Butcher Shop / Boston

There are many times when expectations for a restaurant are raised ridiculously high and they are met with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek, but it is rare that expectations are surpassed. That was the case with The Butcher Shop in Boston.

My family was very excited to be going to many places in Boston together, but this seemed to be their number one. Located on the corner of one of the prettiest streets in Boston, visiting The Butcher Shop is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

The decor is simple, modern but comfortable. It feels light with large, open windows and high wooden tables surrounding a butcher’s cutting table. You see, The Butcher Shop is not just a name, it’s a description. This is a wine bar and cafe situated inside a butcher shop with a butcher always on hand to help you select the perfect cut of meat or chicken.

We couldn’t take away meat, being tourists and all, but we did do a bit of damage on the menu: a shared plate of salami, prosciutto, duck liver mousse, cheese, jam and, of course, a glass of red wine. The perfect place for a business meeting or a friendly catch up session.

We then got into two delicious main plates: the flank steak and the burger with blue cheese and wagu and a second glass of wine. Making it the perfect place for nearly any occasion.

Also, their pre-meal offerings are excellent. A baguette and soda bread basket with a spread of vermont honey and salted butter are placed on the table as menu are passed out. Good luck controlling yourself on that.

The Butcher Shop
552 Tremont Street Boston, Massachusetts 02118
617-423-4800

Sportello & Drink / Boston

I’m going to keep this post simple, authentic and exciting as those are three adjectives that also perfectly describe Boston’s Italian restaurant, Sportello.

You gotta trust me when I keep repeating, ‘You have to try this place. TRUST ME’!

It will not be easy to choose from the small menu, but there is no need to worry as the friendly staff is there to help. They won’t only walk you through the menu, they will get you salivating for the feast to come.

The dish that made me desperate for a second visit was the Potato Gnocchi with mushroom ragu, peas, cream. It’s worthy of a little… OMG! OMG! OMG. The Tagliatelle with bolognese sauce and fried basil was a slam-dunk. My dad kept saying it tasted just the way my grandpa’s sister used to make it (she’s 100% italian, by the way). The Strozzapreti with braised rabbit, picholine olives, rosemary was like making a basket from half court!

Honestly, I recommend all the pasta on Sportello’s menu because I’m confident anything you order will be spectacular! I’m feeling a bit crazy so I will also recommend the Colorado Lamb Shank with vegetable stufato, risotto, rosemary glaze. It was spectacular.

And because I’m (apparently) completely insane, I think you should forget about your bedtime and stay out after dinner. Sportello is on the second floor of a two-story building; underneath it lives a place called Drink, a cool, dark bar where you can get a cocktail to match your personality! I KNOW! How fun!

So, there you go! Your first night out in Boston is sorted. All that’s missing is you!

 Sportello
348 Congress Street Boston, Massachusetts 02210
617-737-1234 (They take reservations)

Sweet Cheeks Q / Boston

DISCLAIMER: I wish I could say this was an actual music festival in Boston but it’s not. It’s better: a restaurant that was so much fun to eat at it felt like a festival.

THE VENUE: 

SWEET CHEEKS Q is on Boylston St. near the historic Fenway. It’s not exactly what it sounds like but it’s pretty dang close: Texas style BBQ near the ballpark and a lot of other sweet things on the side.

THE OPENING ACT: 

BISCUITS!! You HAVE to order the bucket of biscuits (this brings 4 gigantic biscuits) as soon as you sit down. Yes, with your drink order! I promise they don’t care, they’re used to it. And, okay. I’m no biscuit connoisseur, but I strongly believe those were the best biscuits I have ever had and will ever have. Slather some whipped HONEY BUTTER (!!) on them, slap me silly and call me Miss Piggy because your life will change in an instant.

If you cannot finish the entire portion then don’t. Don’t feel bad about it. There is so much more to come. Just make sure not to over exaggerate when you’re ordering. Portions run large.

THE HEADLINERS OF THE NIGHT:

Berkshire pulled pork, berkshire pork ribs, pulled chicken, buttermilk fried chicken, and the hot wings. Everything comes on cute, personal silver trays. Yes, there’s a lot of options there and I’ve only mentioned the ones I actually tried. (We went twice and with a big group. Would you do a festival any other way?*)

Everyone in my group preferred different meats, but absolutely everything was smoked to perfection so I say choose what you know you already like! The unexpected winners for me were the pork ribs (thank you dad!) and the pulled pork.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES:

If you like sweet tea, try it here. I’m not one for it but I’ve seriously never seen my sister as happy as when she’s holding her extra large mason jar of sweet tea. When it comes to the sides, I would recommend to always order scoops AKA the small size. Our favorites (in most liked order) were the cheesy grits, salt and pepper potatoes, coleslaw, hush puppies.

THE BAND AIDS**: 

There will be three innocent looking sauces in the middle of your table, next to the silver tin of cutlery and napkins. TRY ALL OF THEM! There is a thai chili hot sauce that will make your brain feel silly. I love that sort of stuff. Another is a tomato based sweet sauce which causes intense and rapid licking of the fingers. The other is a vinegar based sauce that brings them all together.

The FANS:

Drinks! There is a large, wooden bar at the back where you can sit, have a drink and wait for your friend(s) or watch a game on the large TVs above. Sweet Cheeks Q offers an extensive array of beers and an even more exciting cocktail list. I wish, I wish so hard that I could remember the name of the cocktail I had because it was TOO GOOD. The part of my brain that deals with memory must have shutdown from an overload of happiness after my meal.

I should mention that most tables at Sweet Cheeks are communal and all food is served on trays with brown paper lining. If that’s not your sort of thing then don’t go. Because, okay. Even if you don’t like this genre of music you have to admit these headliners offer catchy hits that go straight to the top of the charts! Oh, look. Their new single just moved up to #1 on iTunes.

Sweet Cheeks Q
1381 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02215, United States
(617) 266-1300
(They take reservations. Do it.)

 

*I actually don’t know the answer because I’ve never been to a Music Festival.

**I watched Almost Famous (favorite movie of all time) on the plane to Boston so blame Cameron Crowe for this post.

Getting to know Boston.

Yes, I’ve been to Boston before. Many times. But I had never flown away from it thinking I NEED to tell people about this place. Maybe it’s because, back then, I was taking late night China Town buses from NYC for a 2 day visit my sister who was a college freshmen/sophomore and did not leave her dorm room/soccer area. Maybe it’s because I’ve finally visited as a grown up, with a grown up sister who does grown up things in childish ways. I don’t know. What I do know is that my visit to the pristine city of Boston this October (can you believe it’s already November!) was the real winner. What a fantastic city! You must go!

I can’t wait to tell you about the things we ate, and drank, the places we went, the streets and parks we walked around, monsoons we withstood, the hockey games we survived, the running tracks we found, the apples we didn’t pick, the squirrels we petted!

I applaud you Boston and I sincerely apologize for only thinking of you as “the pretty place my sister goes to school” for so long. It’s not about someone who goes to one of the many universities that inhabit you, it’s about all the great things you have to offer – like a rocking personality.

Apple Picker, Donut Eater and Hot Cider Drinker

I’ve been quite confused with the seasons lately. I’ve had three summers in a row, even though “summer” in London shouldn’t really count. Then I spent fall in the US, but came back to Australia just end time for the end of Spring. And now here I am with a cold and a knack for choosing the wrong outfit for the day.

The best season for me this past year was fall and that’s all thanks to my sister, apples, and a wonderful place called Honey Pot Hills.  Because my family agrees my sister is the greatest person in the world we spent her entire birthday week in Boston celebrating, and doing some apple picking.

To some (“me”) apple picking seems like an activity you could get bored from rather quickly, but it turned out to be the exact opposite. Apple picking, if taken VERY seriously, is an intricate process which becomes addictive once you figure out there are indeed better apples then others. And so, for our group of five, the day went as follows.

1) we purchased our apple picking utensils; we got two 16 dollar medium sized bags that hold up to 10 pounds worth of apples.
2) we all partook in the maze, I mostly did it as a way to tire out my apple picking opponents.
3) we stopped by the animals for a quick good luck pet.
4) we took a short but thrilling hayride to the battle field.
5) birthday apple picking got very competitive very quickly.

There were so many questions to answer off the bat. What type of apple should I pick? Which is shinier, red or green? But is shiny too 2007? Maybe I should go for matte?  Should I start from the back or front row? Should I find a ladder or try my luck with the botton ones apples? Should I pick some off the ground? Should I have a cheeky little apple now?

There comes a point where you get to know these apple so well that picking a bad one and throwing it on the ground seems law breaking. Oh, and let me tell you how much your mind will be blown once you pick the siamese version of an apple. It’s incredible!

In the end my sister found the largest apple but I also have to give credit where credit is due; I found the largest amount of good quality apples. So who won? Everyone! Because we got a dozen of the best cinnamon and apple donuts I’ve ever had, some hot cider and had peanut butter waiting in the car to be consumed with the picked apples. And so, birthday heaven was had.

To be completely honest, with the the animals, the maze, the hayride, the actual apple picking, the cider and food you really can’t mess up a day filled with fun.

My Toys R Us

As I hope you can tell from reading this blog, I love to travel. It’s simple really; I think there is nothing better in the world than traveling (actually food is up there pretty high)(and my family)(and my boyfriend)(oh, and friends too) (but you know what I mean!).

I’ve been very fortunate to have traveled so much this past year and by no means am planning to stop if an opportunity should arise, but I’m definitely ready to be a little more settled. I’ve had nothing to call my own this year except three suitcases filled with clothes, an overwhelming amount of paperback books and a bottle of mustard.

As romantic and adventurous as that may sound to some I’m about ready to invest in some day-to-day life stuff like a dining table, a coffee machine, a food processor, a comfortable pillow, a proper dream catcher, etc.  The first step has been to finally figure out where that settling would happen and it’s taking place in Melbourne, Australia. And I am filled to the brim with happiness and giggles! I am like a lost little girl are Toys R Us who doesn’t know she’s missing because she’s having too much fun. Except that little girl is not lost at all, that little girls home is Toys R Us.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m still living out of my suitcase right now but things are coming together. We’ve applied for a gorgeous, little apartment in Fitzroy and haven’t been turned down yet so that’s good (just found out someone beat us out by offering more money). We’ve gotten an adorable Mickey Mouse poster, our first piece of art. You probably think that sounds childish and weird, but we politely ask you to, “please take another look and analyze. See?”. We’ve also invested in a beautiful, old green chair; it was love at first that turned into a quick, impromptu marriage when I realized it was on sale.

Needless to say, this past year has been very on-the-go. I’ve tried to make time to share my experiences as much as possible, but am nowhere near finished! Because I still haven’t told you about Shake Shack in NYC (the fact my old roommate still hasn’t been drives me insane). I haven’t mentioned the grilled cheese at Outerlands in San Francisco, or the breakfast at OB House in Fort Lauderdale, or the inspired bread pudding Oprah* suggested I have from the Ice Box on Lincoln Road, Miami. I also feel it is my duty to tell you about the success I had while cooking with my mom in South Florida this past month, mostly thanks to Jamie Oliver. Oh and the sea lions in Santa Cruz and The Abbey in Boston. And that’s just my recent trip to the US. There are so many places to talk about from my summer in London and my birthday in Paris.

The exciting thing now is that while I want to take the time to reminisce, I also want to share all my findings back in Melbourne. I already have a list of places to visit I didn’t even know existed when I was here last. And as I move into a more certain lifestyle I can finally invest in my kitchen and cook up the type of storms I’m only brave enough to cook in my mom’s kitchen. My biggest cooking challenge now is planning and making a eatable Thanksgiving Feast because 1) it will be for people who have never celebrated Thanksgiving, and 2) because I don’t trust ovens.

I will stop babbling now, I’m just super excited about the future as well as the past and I wanted to share where it was I am at the moment!