Category Archives: Eat It

Brunch at Vee Vee

Raise of hands – how many of you Red Line-ers ever make it down to Jamaica Plain?

Almost no one? That’s what I thought. And it’s such a shame that so many of my fellow Cantabridgians and Somervillians (totally making up words now) never make it down to Jamaica Plain. It’s like Somerville’s sister city, or a mini Portland, Oregon, just south of Boston. Yes, it’s a bit of a trip, but so worth it. I love the vibe of the neighborhood, the bars, the galleries, and the friendly people.

Before traipsing about Arnold Arboretum last weekend, I stopped at Vee Vee for brunch. Vee Vee has a special place in my heart – I was introduced to a gallery owner through the restaurant’s manager, which led to my first art show in four years this past November. Obviously, these are some awesome people, and the food reflects their interest in all things good.

The brunch menu looks deceptively simplistic. Frittatas, french toast, an egg sandwich . . . But do not be fooled! That french toast? It’s crusted with granola and served with fruit and whipped cream. The egg sandwich? Forget the egg, there’s bacon, cheddar, avocado, and chipotle aioli getting cozy between the egg and the roll. And the fritattas. Ohh that heavenly mix of eggs, cheese, and whatever mix-ins the chef desires. Always be sure to check out the specials menu to see what special concoctions of awesomeness the chef has come up with that week.

specials menu

Trust me, the butter-poached lobster on a biscuit with and egg and chive creme-fraiche spread was a real contender. As was the meat frittata, made with chorizo, pulled roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, and jack cheese. But I love my veggies, so I went with the veg fritatta: crimini mushrooms, kale, asparagus, herbs, and bel passe cheese.

It was a good decision.

fritatta

Yes, a good decision indeed.

fritatta

Alongside this ridiculously good fritatta is Vee Vee’s equally tasty fried potatoes, a salad of greens lightly dressed with vinaigrette, and a flaky, heavenly biscuit that I originally tried to ignore. I did not succeed though.

biscuit

I can’t resist a baked good that flaky or buttery. Especially with a smear of butter and jam. It’s just not happening.

Next time you want to change up your brunch routine, give Vee Vee a go. Or if you’re headed down to the First Thursday event on Centre street next week, stop by the restaurant for some local brews and bar bites. You won’t go wrong there either.

beer at Vee Vee

Volle Nolle – Sandwiches, Simply, in the North End

I could use some simplicity right now. I have dubbed June the busiest month of my life thus far – I’ve photographed mens’ accessories for The Knottery, shot headshots for the CEO and CTO of Nara (if you love food and restaurants, you need to check out this company!), and will be shooting my first wedding this Friday. Oh, and planning for two exhibitions, one in August, one in November. All in addition to working full-time and so on.

Oh yeah. Simplicity is what I want and need.

Food-wise this translates to eating out and eating simply. I was in the North End a few weeks back for a photo festival and overheard the organizer raving about Volle Nolle – specifically the pesto chicken sandwich. Me being me, I decided to give Volle Nolle a go, but did not order that sandwich. I’m a bit odd that way. Instead I went with the tuna sandwich, a take on tunafish salad with the twist of green beans added to the sandwich. Sounded good, looked good . . .

sandwich at Volle Nolle

interior of sandwich

but to be honest, it did not wow me. While the bread was crisp and warm, and the green beans added great crunch, something was missing. I think a touch more salt, a few slices of tomato, maybe even some olives would’ve done the trick. But a sandwich of mostly tuna salad just doesn’t taste like much.

I’m not deterred though. Some day soon, after another busy day, I’m going to go back for the pesto chicken. Or any of the other awesome sounding sandwiches, and I encourage you do to the same. Volle Nolle is a great option for when you’re in the North End and you don’t want to eat an ungodly amount of carbs or spend an ungodly amount of money. Doesn’t hurt that the interior is so damn cute either.

Volle Nolle

Drink – Good Cocktails, Great Bar Bites

Drink

I think I’m the odd (wo)man out in Boston – I’m not fervently in love with Drink. (Well, at least not for the drinks, but I’ll get to that later.) The concept – telling the bartender what flavor or ingredient you want profiled in the drink – is cool. But honestly, there are so many awesome cocktail bars in Boston with really inventive drinks that I’m just not going to be impressed by a standard cocktail.

Maybe it’s my love of citrus and champagne. Maybe these are not the ingredients that will launch a thousand flavorful cocktail odysseys. A French 75 or a similar iteration is a lovely drink, but when I can get something like the Blueberry Thrill at Eastern Standard (blueberry gin, cardamom, lemon) or the Americana at Saloon (bourbon, brown sugar, j. thomas bitters, sparkling wine), a French 75 just doesn’t impress.

But that’s what I basically ended up with for my first drink (on the left below). It was tasty and light, but not memorable. My friend did a better job of ordering, asking for something citrus-based with a kick of chili. Her drink was punchy but not too hot, with the citrus smoothing out the spicy edges.

Drink - Round 1

For my second drink, I decided to mix it up a bit. I asked for a cocktail made with beer, and the bartender delivered a Guinness-based drink sweetened with maple syrup. I’m not a huge fan of sugary drinks, so this one didn’t do it for me either, but it was certainly more interesting than my first drink.

Drink - Round 2

But honestly, I’m probably being picky. There are a lot of great things about Drink. For one, the vibe of the bar is excellent. It’s casual but elegant, and quite cozy. The crowd is mostly professionals, but the age range is large, so you won’t feel out of place here. There is a bit of a wait and seating (as in actual seats) is limited, but this is a great place to meet with friends after work and start your evening.

And then there are the bar bites. This is a Barbara Lynch joint, so the food is unsurprisingly delicious. It’s a small menu of snacks and petite sandwiches that are realllllly good versions of typical bar snacks. I can swear by the tastiness of the fries from a previous trip, and the sweet pea hummus served with carrots, radishes, and flatbread looked divine. I went with the cornbread and cauliflower, and while the cauliflower was surprisingly raw, the thousand island dressing on the side was just what it needed to be tasty.

cauliflower

cornbread

And yes, the cornbread was in the shape of corn on the cob. You know you think it’s cute.

Has anyone had any mind-blowing experiences at Drink? Or found their new favorite cocktail? I’d love to hear about it!

Sunshine and Seafood at Legal Harborside

I don’t make it out to the Seaport District often as there are so many excellent options between Harvard Square (where I’m based) and South Station (where you can either catch a ride on the Silver Line or walk to the district). But, the weather is warmer, the days longer, and the views in the Seapot never gets old.

Boston Harbor

If you’ve never gone out to eat in the Seaport, aim for a warm, clear evening – many of the restaurants have outdoor dining options. The above picture is taken from the deck shared by Temazcal and Legal Harborside. Another view:

Temazcal

It’s worth making the trip out this area for sure.

I went to Legal Harborside last week with the intent of eating sushi and drinking a lovely beverage on its third floor roofdeck (is there anything as awesome as drinking on a roofdeck?), but even at 6 on a Thursday with all the students out of the city, it was so crowded that there were no seats. I’m going to give it another go sometime (sushi on a roofdeck overlooking the Harbor will happen, people), most likely at an off-hour or during lunch, and recommend you do the same. Thankfully, there are two other floors of dining options – the second offers high end dining, and the first floor offers the standard Legal Sea Foods menu. I went with the first floor as I just wanted some excellent seafood, and will save the fine dining for another time.

I still wanted to feel a little fancy though, so my friend and I started with oysters. I’ve never had them before and deferred to the waiter’s knowledge on what to order, as there were about 10 different kinds on the menu. Out of the three types we ordered, I like the Kusshi from British Columbia best – they’re small, so easy for an oyster novice. Kusshi is also pronounced like “cushy,” and that’s just fun to say.

oysters

Choosing an entree was not easy, as there are dinner-sized salads, sandwiches, pastas, pizzas, and plates, with most skewing towards American or Italian in flavor. My dining comrade ordered the special of salmon with tomatoes, goat cheese, and pesto. It was a beautiful piece of fish, perfectly cooked, but make sure to order a side or an appetizer if you’re super hungry as it was basically just the fish.

salmon with pesto

I was torn between about five different things, and by process of wait-until-the-waiter-is-here decision making, I chose the baked stuffed artichoke appetizer. Don’t be fooled as I was though – just because these artichokes, stuffed with shrimp and scallops, are baked, does NOT mean they are healthy. Goodness no.

baked stuffed artichokes

baked artichokes

Healthy, no, but absurdly delicious? Oh yes. The stuffing-to-artichoke ratio is high, and the scallops and shrimp were bound with either cream or cheese or a combination of both. While the dish is listed as an appetizer, it also makes for the perfect small entree. I also can’t imagine sharing these with anyone – they’re that good.

It’s worth having a small entree here, as the dessert offerings are just as tempting as the rest of the menu; soft serve boardwalk custard, chocolate mocha cake, strawberry shortcake cheesecake, and the winner for my friend, key lime pie. The custard was pleasantly tart and creamy, the crust crumbly and buttery. Raspberry is a great flavor companion for lime, and the raspberry sauce drizzle was just enough to really set off the dish.

key lime pie

I decided to end my evening with a glass of rosé, which was light and refreshing.

rosé

Even more refreshing than the wine was the stroll along the water after dinner, which I suggest be a part of your next trip to the Seaport as well – a beautiful end to a delicious dinner.

boat in the harbor

Harbor at Dusk

Seaport District

sunset on the Harbor

Afternoon Pick-Me-Up at Crema Cafe

Crema Cafe is one of my favorite eateries in Harvard Square. The sandwiches are far more interesting than your standard Panera or Au Bon Pain offerings, and the soups, salads, and quiches are stellar. It’s a great place to take out-of-towners for lunch, linger over a warm bowl of soup on a rainy evening, or for an afternoon pick-me-up.

I stopped by last week for something icy and caffeinated to get me through the mid-afternoon slump. Crema doesn’t make the choice easy though:

Crema Cafe menu

And to confound matters, the cafe also has special coffee and tea offerings every day:

Crema's daily specials

While I was tempted by all of the specials, especially the strawberry limeade and basil lemonade, I went with an iced Americano. I’m an obsessive tea drinker, so when I get the rare coffee craving, I want it to be good. And Crema does coffee right. I could have drank the Americano without milk or sweetner, but sometimes you just want a little something extra.

iced Americano

And speaking of extra:

Crema cupcakes

If you prefer your pick-me-up in the form of sugar, Crema has a varied assortment of sweets that rival the best bakeries in the city. In addition to these mighty delicious cupcakes, the cafe also offers brownies, truffles, cookies, cakes, macaroons, and whoopie pies. Check out the food menu here for additional offerings, and make sure to swing by Crema at some point this summer. It’s hard to get a seat during the school year, but the city is empty of most students now, so it’s the perfect time to grab a bite or a beverage and enjoy the cafe.

The Terrace at Avenue One – A Patio Bar for the Warm Days Ahead

I have mixed feelings about hotel bars. This is rather silly, as I can’t even remember going to more than two in my life. Yet I picture them as lonely spaces inhabited by weary travelers, places where the drinks are boring and the food is worse. I may have to reconsider though, as the Terrace at Avenue One discredits all of these notions.

Now, it certainly helps that this is a secluded patio bar. I think all Bostonians secretly crave the outdoors, warm temperatures, and sunny skies. The city sidewalks erupt with people on warm days, and the few restaurant and bar patios overflow. All the more reason to take advantage of the Terrace – it’s located in the Hyatt Regency near Downtown Crossing, and therefore will only attract hotel guests and those in the know – perfect for when the Sox are in town and every bar in Kenmore is out of the question. The Terrace is also above street level and buffered by buildings, providing a quieter environment to enjoy the outdoors.

Thankfully there are more reasons to visit than just the location. I went to a private event there and enjoyed the drinks, but the standout was the food. The Hyatt doesn’t have the standard menu available online, but no matter what they serve, I imagine the quality will be great. Circulating around the party was lobster mac and cheese (expertly modeled by Sally and the City – pinkies out!), which was perfectly creamy but not overwhelmingly rich – a nice change from most of the other mac and cheese dishes in the city.

lobster mac and cheese

There were also crostini with sauteed mushrooms, goat cheese, and tomatoes. This is always a winning combination for me, and while there was nothing out of the ordinary in the preparation, it was still quite good.

crostini

There were also lamb chops with tzatiki, and wonton-wrapped shrimp with an Asian-style dipping sauce, but my favorite was the grilled sirloin slider with brie. Again, nothing special, but grilled meat, cheese, and a buttery bun will always be a winner with me.

sirloin sliders with brie

slider

You may have noticed that all of these items contain meat or cheese, so what’s a vegan to do? Again, I’m not sure what’s available on the standard menu, but the chef prepared two special dishes for an attendee who couldn’t eat any of the prepared dishes – a spring pea risotto and a tomato and quinoa salad. Both were said to be lovely.

risotto and quinoa

The Terrace has limited hours of Tuesday-Friday, 5p-close, but don’t let that deter you. This would be a great spot for drinks and small bites after work, or pre-theater, as the bar is located only a block from the Opera House and the Paramount. Grab some friends when the weather is warm and the sun is shining, and enjoy!

The Terrace

Tatte Fine Cookies and Cakes – A Test of My Decision-Making Prowess

Right next to Taberna de Haro is another unassuming storefront, one whose simplicity belies the awesomeness inside – Tatte Fine Cookies and Cakes. I had never heard of this bakery until just two weeks ago, as Twitter was awash in updates about the second location opening near Kendall Square. After researching the new location, which has additional lunch and dinner menus that include salads, pastas, and tarts, I added Tatte to my list of dining destinations.

I’ve yet to have a chance to try the Cambridge location, but randomly walked by the original Brookline location the other weekend. I knew that the offerings would be good, but I was suitably impressed by the beauty and quality of the sweets.

I mean, come on, look at these lovelies! Cakes, brownies . . .

coffee cake

brownies

assortment of cakes

Chilled desserts . . .

cheesecake cups

cold desserts

(It’s worth noting that both locations carry Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, which is supposed to be some of the creamiest ice cream out there. The Saturday I was at the shop they had Whiskey and Pecan, Riesling Poached Pear Sorbet, and Brambleberry Crisp, among others. And I thought Christina’s had fancy flavors.)

Pastries, especially the Cinnamon Pecan Rose . . .

cinnamon pecan rose

But what I was really in the mood for was something light. One of my favorite sweet snacks is biscotti, and Tatte serves a few variations of the twice-baked Italian cookie. I ended up with the fig biscotti, which was super crisp like it should be, and interspersed with big chewy chunks of figs and crunchy hazlenuts. It was delicious on its own, but even better dipped into black iced tea, which softened the cookie just a tad. It’s my favorite way to eat them.

tea and cookies

fig biscotti

The biscotti and tea was a perfect afternoon snack, as would have been any of the other delicious-looking offerings. Tatte Brookline is not only a great place for snacks, but also for picking up a special dessert for a dinner party, or even breakfast:

breakfast menu

After this visit, I can’t wait to try out the Kendall location. Would love to know if you’ve been, and how it was!

Tatte

Taberna de Haro – Wine. Small Plates. Joy.

Last weekend was a big one for me. I had just finished two classes and was presenting a new photo series at the New England Portfolio Review. The reviews went very well, and I was able to share my work with many other photographers, gallerists, and museum staff in a great setting. (Big thanks to the Photographic Resource Center and the Griffin Museum – it was a fantastic event!) The event was held on Boston University’s campus, so I decided to celebrate the end of a very long semester somewhere in Brookline. But where to go? There’s always Coolidge Corner, and the Publick House (post coming soon!), but a good friend recommended we try Taberna de Haro. Because if there’s one key element to a celebration, it is wine. And my oh my, Taberna de Haro has one of the most complete, almost overwhelming wine lists I’ve encountered yet.

wine list

so many options

But this is not your ordinary wine list. No, each style is listed under a descriptive, if not a bit humorous subheading (e.g. “Pleasant and Palate Nurturing”), and the descriptions are worth reading aloud. After a bit of help from the proprietress/sommelier, we chose the Vina Mayor Reserva 2004, in part because the description began with “Ooh, the forest and all its glory …“

While the list may be comprehensive, it’s not difficult to navigate, especially with those kind of descriptions. Taberna de Haro is not a stuffy, uptight wine bar by any means, and the casual approach to the wine descriptions reflects the generally relaxed, casual atmosphere. This is a place that you are meant to enjoy yourself. The food also reflects this. The restaurant is a tapas bar, and the small, shareable plates create a laid-back dining experience meant to encourage conversation and an unhurried meal. It’s really the place you want to be after a long day/week/month/year.

The menu offers a range of options that are based on fish, meat, poultry, or vegetables. My dining companion is a vegetarian, so we stuck to the vegetables section, but I’m looking forward to returning to try dishes like conejo guisado – rabbit braised with marcona almonds and manzanilla olives, gallina en pepitoria – hen with sherry, saffron, almonds, and Spanish ham, and gambas al ajillo – shrimp with garlic and olive oil.

We ended up with the sauteed artichoke hearts, crimini mushrooms sauteed with garlic, and patatas bravas, the famous tapa of fried potatoes topped with a spicy sauce. The artichokes were delicious, but the potatoes and mushrooms were really the standouts. Mushrooms can be tricky to prepare, especially when they are the main ingredient of a dish, but these were perfectly cooked and spiced. The potatoes were hot, crispy, and the sauce was spicy without being one-dimensional in flavor. I would highly recommend all of these dishes.

sauteed artichokes

mushrooms

patatas bravas

Oh yes, I highly recommend them indeed . . .

If you’re looking for a causal place to relax, enjoy a bottle of wine and the company of friends, check out Taberna de Haro, easily accessible by the T, and close to Fenway. There’s even outdoor seating, perfect for temperate nights like the ones we’re expecting this weekend. Enjoy!

Posto – Way More than Just Pizza

I never went to Pizzeria Posto while I lived in the Davis Square area, and looking back, this was a poor life decision. It’s true, I don’t eat pizza often – maybe once a year, to be honest. But the thing to know about Posto is that, even though the pizza is indeed excellent, there is much more to Posto’s menu. I go to Posto for the exceptional wine and small plates of stellar food. Which is exactly what I did a few days ago.

octopus salad, bread, wine

Posto has a great selection of anitpasti that can serve as the start to a meal, or even a light dinner. The dishes are rotated seasonally, and while I was tempted by the special of fried soft-shell crab, and the tomato and goat cheese bruschetta, I went with the octopus and chickpea salad. I did this in part to leave plenty of room for the rosemary sea salt bread. If you go, please do yourself a favor and order this to start your meal. I mean, look at it!

rosemary sea salt bread

Doughy, pillowy, soft but crackly, and covered with a shower of flaky sea salt and rosemary leaves. The bread is baked to order and the smell of it as it arrives, fresh out of the oven, is smoky and divine. I highly recommend sloshing on some of the hot chili oil that accompanies it. Happiness will ensue.

But back to the octopus! The salad was served chilled, with a jumble of cherry tomatoes, herbs, and lemon juice. I have to say, I don’t love octopus served cold. It’s a hard beast to prepare well no matter what, and I think the texture would have been better had it been served warm. But, the tomatoes were perfectly ripe, and the combination of all the flavors together was quite refreshing. It was a nice foil to the hot bread, and the Tuscan red wine I was drinking.

There are plenty of reasons to like Posto, but my favorite thing about the restaurant is the small list of special wines by the glass. Their wine preservation system lets them offer wines that would normally be too costly to offer this way, allowing customers to try unsual varietals. Most of the wines on this list are from Italy or California, and the current list includes wines like San Polo’s Rosso di Montalcino and Shardana’s Valli di Porto Pino. The bartenders are knowledagble about the wines and happy to help you choose one to your liking. There are also plenty of other wines on offer, as well as cocktails and beer.

Me being me, I had to end my evening with some bubbly.

sparkling rose

I believe this was the Juve Y Camps Brut Rosé from Spain, and it is one of the best sparkling roses that I’ve had. I will definitely be back for another glass of this, as well as some of that bread . . .

Tory Row – The Yelp-ers are Wrong

Sometimes . . . sometimes, you just can’t trust Yelp. An uncomfortable notion, right? Where else can you get tons of first-hand accounts of the food and experience offered by restaurants and bars in the area? But in the case of Tory Row, the reviews and my many experiences there just don’t jibe. I love this place. I find the food to be more creative and better prepared than what’s served at many other bars in Harvard Sq, and while their drink selection isn’t huge, it is interesting and well-chosen. And for the service – I’ve had some iffy service on very busy nights, but nothing like any of the negative reviews have recounted.

So, please, don’t listen to Yelp. Just this one time?

Let’s start with the simple stuff:

iced tea

Good iced tea will put any restaurant on the path to winning my affection, and this was refreshing and light. In some ways, I use iced tea as a restaurant barometer -  is it cloudy and bitter? I’m not happy. Clear and fresh? I am yours.

I’m a lady of simple pleasures, it’s true.

I am also easily wooed with a really good sandwich, and Tory Row has them in spades:

veggie burger

A veggie burger may not sound all that enticing to you, and that’s fair. But this is where I stand my ground against those reviewers who say that the food is bland or underwhelming. Tory Row makes an awesome veggie burger – an awesome veggie burger! This is a rare find. The texture is meaty and the taste, while mild, is good. It’s served on a toasted English muffin and comes with spicy homemade ketchup, dressed greens, and crackly roasted potatoes. I have come back to Tory Row just for this sandwich, and will continue to do so in the future.

I also couldn’t help myself and ordered a side of roasted asparagus with balsamic vinegar and shaved parmesan cheese:

roasted asparagus

I highly recommend you seek this out while it is still early spring and asparagus is at its most awesome. This was unbeliveably good.

My friend went with the grilled chicken breast sandwich that comes with those delicious potatoes and greens, the ketchup, and a chipotle aioli. Again, another sandwich that is so well composed that you’ll want to come back for it repeatedly:

chicken sandwich

Tory Row does way more than sandwiches, and I can swear by the spanish cheese plate for a starter, any of the flatbreads (which make great starters or individual servings), and the braised beef chili with cheddar cheese with a side of toasted baguette. And judging by the plate of food served to the girl who was sitting next to me, I’m going to guess Tory Row’s brunch is equally great:

brunch at Tory Row

So, please ignore the Yelp-ers, and go check out Tory Row, in the heart of Harvard Sq. The food, drinks, and people-watching are awesome.

Tory Row