Food: May 2009 Archives

B is for beer, not for boy? That’s right it is, and it’s about time someone acknowledged it. Tom Robbins, author of B Is for Beer, recognized the place for the superior beverage at the top of the alphabet. (Perhaps A is for alcohol.) Robbins’ small book is billed as “A children’s book for grown-ups” or “A grown-up book for children,” and to be honest it’s hard to tell which is more accurate. The book is supposedly written as though for a small child, but with plenty of winks to the adults who are actually reading it. However, the prose is clearly aimed at adults, but he writes to them as if they slipped back into first grade.

Last week this Bostonist had the pleasure of attending the grand re-opening for Spiga, a wonderful taste of the North End in Needham. Spiga really touts two separate menus: a lunch menu, filled with delightfully simple paninis and delicious wood-oven grilled pizzas; and a dinner menu featuring more complex fare, like the wonderfully rich spinach and ricotta ravioli in an intense duck ragu. Last week’s grand re-opening festivities featured items from both the lunch and dinner selections.

This Bostonist was first introduced to Tutto Italiano while working across the street in Wellesley several years ago. The big red sign above the door was intriguing and the hype from coworkers even more so. As suckers for a good sandwich, we wandered over one afternoon to give them a try. The atmosphere of this little piece of Italy in America is very casual. Tutto’s wares are displayed simply; letting the quality and variety of products speak for themselves. The focal point of the shop is the enormous meat counter that stretches along one entire wall of the shop. Behind this counter is where the magic really happens.

All the proceeds from tonight’s “Drink a Better Brew” five-course beer dinner at Masona Grill will benefit the nonprofit West Roxbury Main Streets. Main Streets aims “to promote and enhance businesses in the Centre and Spring Street corridor” in West Roxbury. It’s hard to pass up a five-course beer dinner on its own, but when the proceeds go to a good cause, it seems almost wrong to.

Clearly, 163 Vietnamese Sandwiches is used to serving a wide array of hungry people. They whip out those sandwiches in about a minute, prepared to order. Pay attention to the sign at the counter that lists all the ingredients - if there's something you don't like, they'll be happy to leave it off. Choose from tofu, chicken, beef, or cold cuts, which are then piled high along with cilantro, cucumber, pickled carrots and daikon, spicy peppers, mayo, and fish sauce, all wrapped in a crunchy baguette. But be careful when you're eating - that baguette is delicious but also a mess. With the weather getting nice, you may want to save yourself the vacuuming and eat one of these outside.

   

On May 17, 2004, marriage licenses were granted to same-sex couples in Massachusetts for the first time. Though a few johnny-come-latelys have followed suit, civilization has yet to collapse (global financial crises notwithstanding). Bostonist would like to propose a toast. Or several.

Spring has come to Boston and with it, graduation season. And with graduation season come the herds of parents, siblings, and friends who want to take part in the big celebration and to seemingly annoy the hell out of every graduate in the city. We at Bostonist pondered this problem for a while and thought, “What better way to ease the tension than to drink?” We realize that liquor is not the answer to all of life’s problems, but having a place to go to entertain the masses will certainly help solve this problem at least.

Driving through Belmont can be an overwhelming prospect. Beautiful houses and shops abound, drawing the eye everywhere at once. However, despite the distractions, this Bostonist couldn’t resist pulling over when she noticed a bright red umbrella in what appeared to be a vacant parking lot on the side of Belmont’s Trapelo Road. This food stand is the sometimes-home of Silk Road bbq. Inspired by the Central Asian roadside grills that could be found along the Silk Road, Silk Road bbq lives up to its name by cooking its meats over a traditional charcoal fire grill. While this cooking method can take a while and we wouldn’t recommend dining here when you’re in a hurry, the technique does yield delicious results. Chicken, lamb, and beef Shashlyk are offered both as meals—with rice pilaf & salad— and as skewers only. This miniscule restaurant also serves up salads, BBQ grilled Pork and, on Saturday nights they expand their repertoire with some highly sought after Ribs. Meals are reasonably priced, and cans of cold sodas are available as well as free hot tea—another tradition adopted from its Silk Road roots.

In a quiet spot just off the main road, with a menu that deviates from the typical fare, Sofra Bakery in Cambridge offers a wide variety of tantalizing eastern Mediterranean flavors. With so many choices, you're sure to find something you like.

Halfway down Moody Street, a yellow awning above a wall of tall windows marks the entrance to Solea, Waltham’s only tapas restaurant. The large menu can accommodate even the choosiest of diners, and the festive yet cozy atmosphere makes Solea the perfect spot for a large party or a quiet date night. Recently renovated to offer even more seating for the weekend dinner crowd, Solea also features a cozy bar with smaller tables for folks who just want a quick bite while waiting for friends, or who want to augment their drinking experience with some delicious small plates.

Drinks and snacks at the bar are a great way to unwind at the end of the day, but the food and drinks can add up fast. Many restaurants in Boston take this into account and have developed special bar menus for these economic times. 33 Restaurant & Lounge's $3 Menu is just one delicious example.

    

On Wednesday April 29, this Bostonist had the honor of being a guest judge at this year’s Chocolate Madness event, hosted by NARAL Pro-Choice Massachusetts. Judges were asked to arrive early so that they could get their duties out of the way before the main event. After being handed our categories and escorted to the appropriate tables the judges set about to chose winners in each category: Into the Aether: Heavenly Stars of Showcase and Fancy Cakes; Out of the Fire: Fresh from the Oven; Down to Earth Mother’s Contemporary Candies; Flowing Water: Spoonfuls of Puddings, Ice Creams and Sorbets; and Light as Air: Sweet Treats to Go. Judges were asked to assess items on taste and originality. But the biggest perk of being a judge was the early access to all of the goodies. Once our judging duties were completed, we were allowed free reign of the chocolate floor. At first, this Bostonist was reticent to disrupt the aesthetics of the displays but volunteers and chefs assured us that it was alright and from then on it was a chocolate free for all.