A friend was in town for the night and as we tooled around the Quincy market area, the red aura of Red Sky beckoned us in for a bite. Without much hesitation we decided it was the ideal place for appetizers and cocktails.
Wine and gourmet Mac and Cheese became our company for the night as we were the only people in the dark restaurant. But a couple of smooth glasses of merlot quickly put us in a quaint little Red Sky bubble where the empty surroundings seemed trivial. Not to mention the fact that the Mac and Cheese was no Velvita box creation. The dish was made with freshly baked bread crumbs and truffle oil covering the thickest and creamiest cheese noodle masterpiece I’ve ever experienced.
Glance over the rest of the dinner menu and you will find everything from the loaded Red Sky burger and filet mignon to vegetable hummus and pan seared crab cakes. Amanda’s recommendation for the upcoming holiday season… stroll through Quincy Market where the epic Christmas tree lights up the night, and let the amber glow of Red Sky soothe your soul with its gourmet spins on classic American cuisine.
The average person walking around the Back Bay area would be taken aback by the grandeur of the Christian Science Headquarters, a massive white dome church that sits pretty on Mass Ave. But few would know that right next door is the Mary Baker Eddy Library home to both the Quotes Café, and the only existing Mapparium in the world.
If you’re in the mood for a delightfully random duet of an afternoon, this is the perfect combination of activities. Start with lunch in the Quotes café. The walls are filled with quotes from the greats like Shakespeare and Ghandi, perfect for some light thought provoking conversation over sandwiches like The Symphony, provolone cheese, broccoli rabe, on tomato basil bread with chipotle aioli. There is also fantastic flat bread pizza options like Athenas, fresh buffalo mozzarella and tomato, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and basil, and classic sandwich options like a Tuna Melt and The American BLT.
As for the Mapparium, this 200 word blog will not do it the justice it deserves, but it is geography frozen in time and recreated in a massive 160 piece stained glass globe, with panels that light up to draw attention to different counties and acoustics which allow you to throw your voice or hear it in surround sound. Who can say no to a great sandwich and self-surround sound?
My food fueled endeavors this week have officially graced each end of the spectrum, from the 12 Tribes Brotherhood of Common Ground Café to a frat boys dream at Sunset Grill. But it is safe to say that Sunset stands as a brotherhood of its own.
Let’s start with this fun fact, their menu is 16 pages long, correction their beverage menu is 16 pages long. Think of your favorite beer and they’ve got it, plus 20 others that are similar and sure to tickle your taste buds with hoppy goodness. As the last leaves of autumn meet their doom, I chose to stand by my fall favorite, the Weyerbacher Pumpkin ale. With 8.0 percent alcohol and a glass rimmed with cinnamon and sugar, it is a desert beer that will leave you flying high to say the least.
And just incase the booze become too much, there is a 12 page food menu to balance your buzz. Are you in the mood for Mexican? They’ve got it, Italian? Yup. Classic American? For sure. Short of Sushi, Sunset has the broadest expanse of food and beverage of any restaurant I’ve come across and all of it is in the highest of quality.
Thirsty or hungry, sunset will more than satisfy your needs.
Prosciutto Heaven on a plate
Hello food enthusiasts! My next few posts are going to look at another side of the food world which I have been privileged enough to experience in the past few months, food events. Besides being the equivalent of Foodie Heaven these events are a great place to meet fellow foodies and find out about amazing restaurants and places you may otherwise never have the chance to experience. So, without further delay, join me in what was…2009: A Food Odyssey.
It seems that everyone in New York City believes that great food can only be found in Manhattan. For twelve years the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has put on the Brooklyn Eats event to show that this simply is not the case. Attempting to show the best an entire borough has to offer to the food junkie in one night sounds like an impossible task, but this event did exactly that. Displaying more than 40 of Brooklyn’s finest restaurants, bars, and beverage distributors, the Brooklyn Eats event opened this reviewer’s eyes to all the wonderful places the people of New York City have only to hop on the subway to discover.
I wish it were possible to write up each and every restaurant and bar that was at the event, as they all truly deserve it, as every establishment put their best foot forward to offer a glimpse of what they have to offer. As the night went on it became clear that one man could never actually consume every dish – try as I might! That is why as the evening went it was amazing to see how the experience itself brought people together, everyone bonding over their shared love of food, telling everyone else what they thought simply could not be missed. In short, the Brooklyn Eats event became like one giant family gathering, with all of the attendees giving their two cents and their own reviews of everything available. For the foodie who wants to attend a great food event without feeling like an outsider, the annual Brooklyn Eats event is a cannot miss.
Now that the experience itself has been explained, it is time to speak about the real attraction of the event – the food! The first stop of the night was at the table for Scottadito Osteria Toscana, where the head chef was serving prosciutto filled with goat cheese, topped with caramelized shallots and a balsamic reduction. If all that terminology sounds overwhelming let me put the end result in layman’s terms – delicious! This small taste of what the restaurant has to offer overall definitely arouses the food lover’s curiosity and was just a taste of what the rest of the night would have to offer. For more information on Scottadito Osteria Toscana visit their website at www.scottadito.com, you will not be disappointed.
Another standout on the evening was the salmon a la vodka dish from La Stalla Restaurant & Bar. The salmon was so perfectly done and the sauce complimented it so well that even the most “fish phobic” food lover will be converted. The best thing about La Stalla was seeing that they have managed to create great food and still offer great deals in a city where those two do not often go hand in hand. La Stall features a happy hour from 1 PM to 6 PM every day and a brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for under ten dollars that offers all you can drink mimosas, bloody marys, or coffee. La Stall offers the less-than-ordinary combination of Italian and Mexican cuisine, but the food also proves itself to be extraordinary, proving that when done right, anything can be combined.
After experiencing the food that other cultures have brought to Brooklyn, it was time to have the ultimate American experience, soul food. The Soul Spot (www.thesoulspot.com) was serving jerk chicken with rice and black eyed peas. These dishes were all new experiences for this reviewer and after tasting them I wondered why I had spent so much of my life without tasting these flavors. After you get yourself to The Soul Spot, I imagine you will be thinking the same thing.
The three restaurants mentioned above are only a few of the great culinary experiences from the evening, and a few more the standouts on the evening are mentioned below for those of you who want to get out and find everything that Brooklyn has to offer. For anyone wondering what a great food event is like, the answer is the annual Brooklyn Eats event, it’s just a shame that we all have to wait another year to experience it again, but when it rolls around, make sure to attend, it’s a decision you will not regret!
Other Standout Restaurants and Bars
-Buttermilk Channel
Visit www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com for more information
-Bussaco
Features an excellent full menu prix fixe and wine pairing, see www.bussacobklyn.com
-Vue Restaurant & Lounge
Visit www.vuerest.com to see what this excellent bar and restaurant has to offer
-Waterfront Ale House
See their website www.waterfrontalehouse.com to see everything this classic ale house and bar food eatery has to offer
-Cake Man Raven Confectionary
Experience why this man deserves this name, you will not be disappointed, but you will be stuffed! Visit www.cakemanraven.com for more information
-Clover Club
The prototypical cool bar, check out their website at www.cloverclubny.com and enjoy the Spicy Pete (a personal favorite)
-The Sweet Tooth
This desert specialty restaurant proves there is no such thing as being too sweet. Check out their website at www.shakoorssweettooth.com for more information
I have a number of friends who live in Chicago’s diverse, fascinating Rogers Park neighborhood, so I hang there on occasion. Recently three of us wanted to have a nice, comfortable girls-only chat, so my two friends agreed the best place to do that was Charmers Cafe in the Jarvis Square area. This cute and quirky little coffeehouse, with a nice selection of named bagel sandwiches, coffee, tea, smoothies and milkshakes, was exactly what the doctor ordered. It’s a totally unpretentious space with a few couches, some tables, a bookcase or two, board games and a menu full of spoonerisms (that’s when you switch the first letters of two words/word phrases).
A little context: the site used to be the location of a neighborhood gay bar with the same name until earlier this decade. Dan Sullivan opened the shop about four years ago in the same building where his mother grew up, and helped lead the rejuvenation of the section of town known as Jarvis Square. I’ve heard rumors that it incorporated a store next door called Dagel & Beli, which makes sense. Charmers is walkable from the lakefront, and it’s not the place to go if you just want to grab some Metropolis coffee and go (that’s the Chicago brand they serve here, a real favorite with locals). This is a place to sit and spread out, to work on your laptop, to talk and relax.
You have to order your drinks and your sandwich by picking your selection that’s printed on a piece of paper, then handing it to one of the people behind the counter. Me, I’m addicted to iced tea, so I had to ponder very seriously which of the two freshly brewed daily selections I wanted. I don’t remember which one I chose–a black tea of some kind, recommended by a barista, and it was lovely. I had a warm, toasty sandwich with hummus and red onions and tomatoes, but Charmers features many delicious-looking combinations including a reuben-style sandwich that I plan to try next time. And when an employee brings you your sandwich, it comes in a basket with a tiny little box of Chiclets gum, which is just adorable.
You might find the sandwiches ($6-$8) and drinks/drink refills here on the pricey side. But for that price you get high-quality food and coffee as well as free Wi-Fi. I understand the outdoor patio is a very nice place to hang out, but we’re still dealing with Chicago winter here so I’ll have to wait a few months before I’m willing to try that. But I’m definitely going back, and I’m taking all my pals with me. Charmers is at 1500 W. Jarvis Ave. (Greenview Ave. is the cross street). Or call ‘em at 773-743-2233. The Web site is at www.charmerscafe.com, but there’s not much there yet.
New York City has been hit hard this winter season with multiple snow storms that have been cluttering up our streets and making it hard to get from place to place, and frankly—I’m sick of it. Unfortunately, if you live in the city you’re expected to go into work and that’s where I was this past Friday morning. I was supposed to be meeting up with a colleague for a business luncheon at a local spot right near my office. I figured it was a pop-in-and-out sort of thing and I could brave the blustering, snowy winds.
She called an hour before we were supposed to meet and said our luncheon spot wasn’t serving due to the storm. But, she found one that was: Eleven Madison Park. “Yes, absolutely, see you there!” was my answer as I hung up the phone. Nothing—not even a dreaded NYC snowstorm—was going to keep me from lunching in one of the best and most beautiful restaurants in all the world.
Now, I’ve been at Eleven Madison twice before and both times were stunning. The food is top notch and the service is impeccable. It’s no wonder that Frank Bruni gave Danny Meyer’s beloved spot the 4-star before heading for the exits. But I haven’t been back since I’ve discovered that I have a gluten allergy, and I was once again so pleased at how accommodating the restaurant was.
The waiters asked immediately if there were any food allergies, and then brought over a gluten free bread basket. They were able to make the tuna tartare, which I desperately wanted, gluten-free by eliminating the soy sauce. My main course was salmon and I’m normally not a big salmon freak, but it was of course amazing. It has pieces of diakon with a citrus sauce drizzled over it that made me feel like I was in Seattle.
When there’s snow on the ground, I tend to hibernate, dress in layers and drink tons of tea. I’m usually not braving the elements with rain boots and umbrellas, all the while staying alert for falling icicles from Manhattan skyscrapers. But when I heard Eleven Madison was calling—you couldn’t stop me from answering.
Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Avenue,
N.Y., N.Y.
10010
212-889-0918
http://www.elevenmadisonpark.com/
Price $$$$
Crawfish at the Alpine
The evidence is all over, on the street, in the parks, under benches and in dumpsters. Little red chitinous cadavers in a pile or brown bag or strewn randomly like the aftermath of a mass killing spree. Which it sort of is. Yup, crawfish season is again upon us! It starts in March and proceeds through June. Unfortunately, due to the cold weather the little buggers haven’t been eating much and the season is slow. I was just at a site that quoted $3.32 a pound! But experts say the price is coming down.
Where to get ‘em? Well, ask a local as many bars around will have a boil going on the weekend. Places like Yo’ Mama’s Bar ( 727St. Peter). The Three Legged Dog (400 Burgundy) has an annual crawfish blowout in the summer: $10 all you can eat! Other places like the French Market Restaurant (Decatur and St. Phillip) and The Alpine (Chartres and Wilkinson) will have them on a more regular basis. And remember, when you ask, they are crawfish, crawdads or mudbugs, NOT crayfish (those are bait).
How to eat ‘em? Suck the head and pinch the tail! More specifically, rip the tail from the head and suck out all of the fat and juices that have absorbed all of the succulent spices from the boil. Grab the tail “fin” near the base and crush the last teensy bit of meat inside the shell. You will now be able to pluck the meat from the rest of the shell with your teeth. Don’t forget to fish out some onion, potato and corn from the boiling pot!
Crawfish are to New Orleans as wings are to Buffalo and crabs are to Baltimore. Hot, spicy, a whole lot of work for very little meat but they sure go great with a cold beer on a warm summer day!
Go here to hear local New Orleanian Ian McNulty talk about the coming season: http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wwno/local-wwno-887629.mp3
Hailing from Los Angeles, I’m a Mexican food snob. So Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, Vegas’ chain of MexAm restaurants, would not customarily be my first choice. Frankly, their food is tasty enough, but is as Mexican as I with my red hair and freckles. But my in-laws live in Vegas and, party animals that they are, they have a trunkful of these cute margarita glasses that not only guarantee you a larger pour of one of my favorite elixirs, but also a deal ($3) on the tab. After a couple of these, it really doesn’t matter that the salsa has no zing and the cheese is an unnatural shade of yellow. All is well in the world. And family? They’re the greatest.
www.Macayo.com
Italy never tasted sweeter with a freshly baked canola and a hot cappuccino topped with cocoa powder. This sub-forty Boston day, giving baystaters their first taste of winter, is beginning to look up.
I’m new to the Little Italy scene, but the vibe of this cafe sings Italia from front to back. Italy vs. Argentina glide across soccer field on the café’s two flat screen TV’s while the life sized espresso machines hum in the background. A huddle of thick leather clad men nosh on canoli’s in the back while the rest of the café is populated by a mix of young and old Italian Americans enjoying gourmet coffee and freshly baked goods after work.
The menu is not one for sustenance but if it gets any colder I’d certainly dive into they’re “specialty coffee drinks”. The “Caffe Vittoria” crowns the menu as it is comprised of coffee with kahlua, brandy, and tiramisu liquor. It’s if canoli’s and tiramisu aren’t enough there’s also yellow cream savoi, vanilla caked with Bavarian cream and almonds, or twenty different flavors of gelato.
While Boston is a small city, one of the qualities that sets it apart is the essence of each of its neighborhoods. Every area has its own flavor, and the North End’s Italian sector is a refreshing change from the pubs of Blackstone. Grazi Caffe Vittoria, I shall certainly be back.
We were about half way to Bourbon before the shots started to take effect. Greetings! Since this is my inaugural blog for the site I felt introductions were appropriate. Depending on which bar you’re at you might call me Chuck or Charles or Duffy. You might remember me from the New Orleans guide as the author of the “White Trash Chic” article. Since then so many things have changed. But that’s just part of living in this wonderful city of random merriment and spontaneous outbursts of parading.
As a tour guide I am constantly relating anecdotes, jokes, hauntings and the history of this fine city therefore blogging about it seems to be a perfect match! Now not only will I reach people already here but those who have yet to arrive. Consider me the “local in your pocket.” I’m going to blog about bars, restaurants, tours, history, architecture and what to do when you can’t remember the night before. I also write for a local satirical magazine so you can look forward to a slightly more irreverent tone in my blog. Information is good; entertainment is great! Don’t be afraid to let me know if you’re coming down. I’d be more than happy to meet you, show you around and let you buy my several rounds. But only in the coolest places, naturally! So read on ever mindful of the spirit of our fair city: laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!