Although I have been in school for two years, I officially became a college student this summer when I took the caffeinated plunge and discovered my love of coffee. Up until May, I always felt rather left out when people would suggest meeting for coffee, where I would inevitably be stuck sipping on a hot chocolate or a glass of water.

With my addiction well underway, I recently went to Espresso Royale Caffe on Commonwealth Avenue (see below for their other locations in Boston). Although I have had been there many times before, this was the first time I could participate in the whole “Espresso” part of the equation.

For starters, Espresso Royale’s ambiance is charming to say the least. Filled with artwork from locals, oversized chairs, and calming music, spending an afternoon there is like being in a rustic, homey kitchen-and with the hustle and bustle of the city, I am not against finding a place to escape, sit and relax.

Espresso Royale’s coffee menu is expansive, offering a wide range of choices from a spicy Spanish Latte to the classic Iced Mocha. I got a Vanilla Latte, which came in a large white mug and was the perfect drink for a cool afternoon. If good coffee isn’t enough of a draw, or you were like me several months ago and have yet to acquire a taste for it, they also have breakfast and deli-meat sandwiches, as well as bagels from Bagel Rising, a bagel shop in nearby Allston (my personal favorite is the Whole Wheat Everything bagel).

As the fall weather begins to roll in, I have a feeling that the idea of sitting inside with a hot drink will become increasingly more appealing. With three locations in Boston, Espresso Royale is a great place to get your coffee fix, grab a newspaper, and take in a laid back atmosphere.

Locations:

736 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston - (617) 277-8737

286 Newbury Street, Boston - (617) 859-9515

4 Gainsborough Street, Boston - (617) 859-7080

Newbury Street is synonymous with upscale and trendy restaurants and bistros, but Trident Booksellers and Cafe is a small, fairly priced cafe/bookstore in one that has held its own at its Newbury Street location since 1984.

Given that Trident is also a bustling bookstore, I didn’t think that a ton of attention would be given to the food. Alas, my expectations were blown out of the water. For starters, the menu is very extensive, and has everything from homemade hummus with pita chips and seafood gumbo to chicken or steak fajitas and meatloaf. If that is not enough to get your mouth watering, my favorite feature of Trident is that they serve breakfast all day. Breakfast is my favorite meal, so this is THE spot to go if I am craving eggs or a thick slab of challah bread french toast. In addition, Trident also has a daily special soup and entree. But save room for dessert- they have some original creations including deep fried s’mores.

Second to the food, one of the highlights of Trident is the atmosphere. The cafe portion of the store is not immense, giving it an intimate feel. When you eat at Trident, it feels like you are sitting down at your kitchen to a meal prepared by mom, and the servers are as friendly as your own family members. Another big hit at Trident is its weekly Trivia Night, where groups of friends come to chow down and test one another’s knowledge.

When you are done with your meal, be sure to check out the other side of the restaurant for an expansive array of both classics and bestsellers, and perhaps buy a good book to read on the couch when you are nursing that inevitable food hangover.

For more information, check out Trident’s website.

The chocolate chip cookie is the great unifier: enjoyed by all generations, this American classic is a go-to to fulfill even the strongest of dessert cravings.

The Boston Chipyard, located in the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, has been serving up warm, bite-sized, homemade cookies since 1976. The Chipyard was always a favorite destination for my brother and me whenever we went to Boston as kids, and over ten years later, the joy that comes from biting into a straight-out-of-the-oven cookie ceases to amaze me. While The Chipyard may be located in the heart of Boston tourist attractions, it is well worth the wait, whether you are visiting for a day or are a lifelong Bostonian.

Customers waiting in line at The Chipyard. Photo courtesy of TheChipyard.com

The Chipyard could put many bakeries to shame, and the key to their cookies is simplicity. They carry seven flavors, ranging from the original chocolate chip to oatmeal raisin chocolate chip. The chocolate-chocolate chip tastes like a warm brownie, and the mint chocolate chip cookie is a fresh twist on an old favorite. In honor of my love of peanut butter, I find the PB chocolate chip flavor to be out of this world. You can mix and match cookies as well, in amounts of a half dozen or a dozen, so feel free to mix and match or try one of each flavor. All the cookies are crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and no matter what flavor you choose, I guarantee you will find these bite size morsels will be highly addictive.

For more information, including directions and hours, check out The Chipyard’s website here

The Cousin Oliver Burger

Forget all the local pubs and famous steakhouses around Boston…one of the best burgers in town can be found at b.good, a local chain started by two best friends on a mission to serve healthy fast food. Just as the name suggests, everything on the menu is good for you, from the baked French fries to the low fat frozen yogurt smoothies. But, do not be fooled: taste is not compromised by healthiness.

My favorite item on the menu is the classic Cousin Oliver burger- an in-house ground patty on a whole-wheat bun with special sauce (a combination that tastes like mayo, relish, and ketchup), red onions, lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes. All the sandwiches have quirky names, such as the West-Side (avocado and homemade chipotle salsa) and the Adopted Luke (caramelized onions, Swiss and homemade BBQ sauce), that are taken from customers or family members. In addition, each sandwich can be made with as a beef burger, turkey burger, vegetable burger, or grilled chicken breast.

b.good's menu outside their Newbury Street location

For those that want to opt for something other than a sandwich, b.good offers an array of salads and sides. They also have a seasonal rotating vegetable (this month’s is grilled asparagus) that comes from local farms. The restaurant chain is extremely accommodating, and service is always friendly and outgoing. You can substitute a hamburger bun for vegetables, and can add vegetables or a side salad to any meal for less than $3.50

With locations on Newbury Street, Harvard Square and Dartmouth Street, across from Copley, b.good is a healthy place to refuel after a long day of shopping, and I guarantee it will keep you coming back for more.

For hours and locations, check out their website here

Now that warm weather is (hopefully) approaching, I have been channeling my inner elementary school child and have officially declared it ice cream season. I recently went to Coolidge Corner for an afternoon of shopping, and treated myself to a frozen yogurt at Berry Freeze. I highly recommend going for a frozen yogurt experience that cannot be found anywhere else in Boston.

Every aspect of Berry Freeze is self-serve, giving the customer complete control over his or her yummy creation. You start by choosing a small or large size…I opted for the small and it was more than enough. The store has several tart flavors, including original, pina colada, chocolate and pineapple. If you are unsure which flavor to have, employees are more than happy to give you a sample. Or, when in doubt, mix multiple flavors. I mixed original and pina colada, and both were extremely flavorful and creamy.

After filling your cup to your heart’s desire, you move to a buffet area filled with toppings. Berry Freeze has tons of different toppings, ranging from kiwi and strawberry to Twix and Oreos. I chose strawberries, blackberries, pineapple and sprinkles. The fruit was extremely fresh, and I was pleased at the amount of healthy topping choices.

Once you are done loading on delicious toppings, simply go to the counter where your cup is weighed. And at only 35 cents an ounce, Berry Freeze provides a tasty snack that your stomach and your wallet can appreciate.

Mon-Thu, Sun 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

273 Harvard St
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738-3300

Photo courtesy of yelp.com

Italian cuisine in Boston is synonymous with the North End, but last week I sampled some of the best Italian dishes I have ever had at Stella, a chic restaurant located on Washington Street in Boston’s up and coming South End neighborhood.

I went to Stella with my family, and between the three other diners, I sampled about eight items from the menu. The meal started with freshly baked focaccia and a white bean spread, and being the carb addict I am, it took every ounce of will power to not get full on the bread alone. For appetizers, I highly recommend Parmesan arancini, which were perfectly fried and filled with mozzarella. They sat in a pool of light tomato sauce that had a slight kick but was by no means overbearing. The crudo misto was extremely fresh, but I would recommend it to people who really love lemon, as the tuna had a strong citrus flavor.

For entrees, the pasta dishes are out of this world. My bolognese was made with fresh tagliatelle and came out piping hot. I also sampled the orecheitte, which had crumbled sausage and chile flakes and was equally delicious. The portions of pasta are huge, but any of Stella’s pastas can be ordered in an appetizer portion and served as a starter. The crispy halibut was cooked to perfection, as was the beef sirloin. One of the standouts of the meal was the French fries, and while French fries do not typically capture my attention, these was hot, light and had a wonderful flavor.

Nothing upsets me more than ending a fabulous meal with a weak dessert, and Stella, yet again, failed to disappoint. The chocolate mouse was light and fluffy but with a deep chocolate flavor, and was topped with crouton-sized pieces of homemade biscotti. It reminded me of something my mom would make…only better. But, if I could recommend one dessert, it was the apple crostada and caramel sauce. This was one of the best desserts I have ever had, period. A warm apple filling with surrounded by a chewy, shortbread-like crust, and finished off with a scoop of vanilla gelato. The desserts were big enough to share, but I could have finished this one off all on my own.

From the bread to the last bite of dessert, Stella delivered on every course, and mixed comforting Italian dishes with an upbeat atmosphere that makes it a must in the Boston dining scene.

Stella Restaurant and Bar

1525 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
617-247-7747