Category: Places

  • Sweet Cheeks Barbecue

    sweet cheeks outside

    While we would never claim to be Southern gals, we’re not immune to the occasional hankering for some rich Southern comfort food. When our cravings recently hit with full-force, we headed to Sweet Cheeks BBQ near Fenway Park – the best barbecue place in town.

    sweet cheeks

    Chef and owner Tiffani Faison (who was also the Top Chef runner-up from season one) opened this comfort food mecca back in 2011. We can now safely say she has realized her dream of creating a casual, warm place where you can enjoy great company and eat delicious, local, responsibly sourced food. All while experiencing that one of a kind Southern hospitality. (more…)

  • Townsman Brunch

    Townsman Grilled Cheese 2Townsman

    At Townsman restaurant overlooking Boston’s Rose Kennedy Greenway, Chefs Matt and Kate Jennings are having fun with food. Since its opening last winter, Townsman has been serving up fresh New England fare to Boston patrons in a polished yet comfortable atmosphere.

    Townsman Dining (more…)

  • Boston Public Market

    Crowd

    Welcome to Boston’s new foodie paradise, Boston Public Market.

    The permanent, year-round Market opened in July of 2015 with almost 40 different local vendors, making it the go-to place to satisfy any and all of your cravings. With everything from ice cream to pasta to fresh seafood, this is one place where you really can have it all.

    Sandwich Making

    One step into the Market and we were overwhelmed.

    The smell of warm cider doughnuts accosted us as we walked in, followed by the bright colors of familiar farm stands. But what really gave this place its vibrancy was the massive hungry crowd buzzing around the market; the heartbeat of the beast.

    Cresent Ridge

    After collecting ourselves from this sensory overload, we jumped right in. (more…)

  • Blackbird Doughnuts

    Blackbird

    We met each other in the South End while working at Flour Bakery + Cafe, so this neighborhood is like a second home to us. Our budding friendship grew as we braved blizzards together while walking to the train in mid-December, or as we threw together impromptu post-work picnics in Blackstone Square park in mid-July. We love the South End, so of course we get excited when new shops and restaurants pop up in the area (just as we’re sad to see the old ones go.)

    Blackbird Leili

    Blackbird Doughnuts opened less than a year ago in Boston’s South End as a little sister to the Gallows (which happens to be one of our favorite places in the city to grab a drink, and indulge in a little poutine!). It all started with the Gallows serving a few select flavors of doughnuts for brunch on the weekends, until Blackbird spread its wings into its own location just a few short blocks away. Now, with extended hours and new additions to the menu, we’re thrilled to add Blackbird to our list of places we love. (more…)

  • Eating Through Europe, Part III: Italy (continued)

    siena plates
    Ciao, bellos!

    This is the third and final part of Eating Through Europe – read up on Part I and Part II to whet your appetite. Part III is all about my visits to Florence, Siena, and Rome. Let’s do this.

    Florence

    Traveling from the red city of Bologna to the gray city of Florence marked the transition from the Emilia-Romagna region into Tuscany. Florence and Siena, my two stops in Tuscany, were by far the most scenic, and were home to the most beautiful works of art.

    firenze

    In Florence, after a full day of walking through galleries and visiting the David, my stomach demanded sustenance. Luckily, there was a nearby panini shop, All’Antico Vinaio, that had a never-ending line out the door. The enigmatic guys behind the counter made ordering a panino easy – either you told them what you wanted, or they surprised you with a combination of meats, cheeses, and veggies that melded so perfectly together you could say they were the Michaelangelo of sandwiches. I can’t even tell you what the specific ingredients were in my panino, but I do know there was a hefty amount of pecorino cream on each piece of freshly baked rustic focaccia. It was divine.

    allantico vinaiopanini man panino (more…)

  • Eating Through Europe, Part II: Italy

    sfogline pasta duoWelcome to Part II of this series, Eating Through Europe! This part is all about the places I loved in Italy. More specifically, in Venice, Parma, and the foodie’s paradise, Bologna. (Check out all the places I loved in Paris in Part I).

    Venice

    I quickly realized that Venice in July was populated by more tourists than locals, and I was a little anxious about falling into one of the many tourist-trap eateries that seemed to be on every corner. Luckily, though, I was able to stumble upon couple spots off the beaten path that offered a more authentic view of Venetian fare. First up, though: the outdoor markets.
    venice boat market
    As it is surrounded by water, it only makes sense that Venetian dining is heavy on the seafood. The bustling fish markets by the Rialto bridge were a sushi-chef’s dream, and the fresh produce stands that accompanied it were a feast for the eyes.venice marketvenice fish marketAfter a full day of getting lost in Venice’s ancient, narrow streets, cicheti (small bites) were the perfect pre-gelato snack. At All’Amarone, these salty cicheti included toast with various salumi, cheeses, olive spreads, and sardines. I was pleasantly surprised by the baccalà mantecato (salted and dried cod cooked in milk to become a creamy, salty spread). It was rich, yet simultaneously light like a mousse, and was one of my favorite foods in Venice.venice cicchetteMy other favorite? Dinner at Osteria del Cason, a modern eatery well away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist-filled piazzas. Spaghetti al nero di seppia, a black pasta dish with cuttlefish in a sauce of its own ink, was saltily delicious and the cuttlefish were plump and meaty. If black pasta turns you off, that’s your loss – this was seriously good. Although to be fair, it did stain everything from my gums to the tablecloth (sorry I’m not a perfect eater, guys). The shrimp at Osteria del Cason were also plump, herbed and buttery, and downright drool-worthy. When in Venice, this is the place to go.cuddlefish inkWhile I was sad to leave Venice, I was thrilled to finally get to my next stop: the Emilia-Romagna region. While each region in Italy has their own cuisine, Emilia-Romagna is considered the foodiest region (yes, “foodiest” is the technical term). It’s famous for some of Italy’s richest foods: meats, cheeses, pastas…basically, all the good stuff. Let’s get into it. (more…)

  • Eating Through Europe, Part I: Paris

    eiffel towerLeili here! After gallivanting across Europe for the past month, I’m so excited to be able to share all the things I licked/saw/touched with you guys.

    Let’s be honest: a trip to Europe, for me, was always going to be about the food. Seeing the sights is almost a requisite, but tasting everything I could get my hands on has been a life-long dream. What people eat, and how they eat it, says everything you need to know about their culture – and in the last few weeks, my taste buds have tasted a LOT of culture.paris

    First up on this culinary expedition? Paris, the City of Light! (Or as I call it, the City of Bread and Butter).

    Being the pastry-crazed person that I am, I felt right at home in Paris. Boulangeries and patisseries are nestled into every street corner, luring you in with the smell of freshly baked baguettes and flaky croissants.l'arnicol macarons (more…)

  • B&G Oysters: Lunch

    Seafood Sandwiches

    B&G Oysters is the ideal place for a summer lunch if you’re looking for classic New England fare. As a go-to place for South Enders in dire need of fresh seafood, B&G reliably delivers. And just as all of Barbara Lynch’s other restaurants, the menu at B&G focuses on freshness and quality – and it shows.

    Wieners and BivalvesB&G Patio

    (more…)

  • Naco Taco

    Naco patioNaco Taco, Chef Michael Scelfo’s second restaurant venture after Alden & Harlow, opened its doors in early March 2015 in Cambridge’s Central Square area near MIT. And it was an instant hit. (Edit 6/15: Michael Scelfo left Naco Taco in June 2015 – after getting the restaurant off the ground, he handed the reins over to Chefs Robert Preciado and Amanda Howell).

    naco truck windowNaco arrived just in time for patio season, and because we’ve been hit with a heat wave in Boston lately (no complaints here!), we were grateful for Naco’s large outdoor seating area with shady umbrellas and ice cold drinks. (more…)

  • The Backroom at Moody’s Deli: Dinner

    moody's deli

    Chef/owner Joshua Smith opened Moody’s Delicatessen and Provisions on Waltham’s eclectic Moody Street in late 2013. Moody’s Deli was named best deli in Boston by Boston Magazine in 2014, and that’s no surprise. They make, cure, and sell aged meats in-house, and their sandwiches are always done right, with high end cheeses and perfectly chewy bread.

    ambiance

    In early April of this year, Smith opened his restaurant space behind Moody’s Deli: The Backroom. The menu is meat-centric and makes use of all the great charcuterie from the deli (as well as some cheeses that they make in-house!), but also offers some vegetable dishes and flatbreads. They have an enormous copper wood-burning oven lined with clay that’s shipped straight from France, which fits in nicely with the French cuisine and great wine list.

    backroom ovendeli backroom (more…)