by glenn on August 30, 2010
I was once a fan of Restaurant Week. I would eagerly await the release of the list of participating restaurants and then assiduously comb the list selecting those restaurants I would visit during RW. I had some great meals – Mistral, Radius – and not so great – Aquitaine. Yet, over the years, the thrill diminished – RW began to seem like an overworked gimmick. And I was never able to get a reservation for a civilized dining time at the former flagship of the grupo. However, when Katrin mentioned a visit to Rocca which would also provide a chance to spend time with Rodney who was back for a brief State-side visit, I was eager to once again head out for RW. My interest in going to Rocca was sparked by Devra First’s laudatory review in “The Globe” of the restaurant and its new chef, Tiffani Faison. I knew that Tiffani had been on a food show but since my interest in food TV is confined to the classics – reruns of ”The French Chef” and “Jacques and Julia” – I didn’t know which one, nor very much care; the proof of a chef’s ability and palate isn’t on TV but on the plate in front of me. It was time to sample Tiffani’s talents. [click to continue…]
by glenn on August 19, 2010
Even as I was dining at Myers+Chang during the August Mystery Meet, I was already planning my return. When, a few days later, a friend called and wanted to do lunch stipulating that it would be my choice, I had already chosen. Would my impressions of the restaurant from my first visit be borne out, or in the light of day, be found wanting? 
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by katrin on August 11, 2010
Katrin: Glenn and I had such a great time at the first Mystery Meet at Ten Tables that we were quite eager to attend the second one regardless of the location that Seth Resler had chosen. Of course we were also excited to find out where it would be. Ten Tables would be difficult to top! In a wonderful and mysterious fashion, Seth had been releasing clues over the past couple of weeks – the restaurant is in Boston, we would be dining family-style, and the chef, who had been featured on the cover of Stuff in the past year, is a marathoner.
The day before the dinner, our hunch that it might be Myers + Chang was proven to be right. Myers + Chang had been on my list since it opened in 2008, but for one reason or another I just hadn’t made it over there.
Glenn: I worked in a hotel for many years and formed friendships with several Chinese women. When their children married, I was invited to the wedding banquet in Chinatown. The evening would be a somewhat wild and raucous event with many courses arriving one after another. And the Mystery Meet at Myers+ Chang reminded of those good times, though without the Crown Royal. We were seated banquet-style at one long table. The food, arriving family-style, kept coming – and for the most part – coming. There were eight items in all, highlighting Joanne Chang and Matthew Barros imaginative mash-up approach to Vietnamese, Thai, and Taiwanese cuisines. I really couldn’t pick a favorite – the dishes were all so well done – though I did feast on the wok-roasted mussels and indulged in the palate-soothing tofu and broccoli chow fun. [click to continue…]
by katrin on August 3, 2010
Who would have guessed that Worcester County would turn into the home of “super sized?” A recent visit to a new wine store and an Italian restaurant are just two examples of why bigger does not mean better.
On July 30 Thomas Trone and his son Taylor opened WineNation in Millbury in a space formerly occupied by a Linens ‘N Things store. I was quite excited about the opening and the possibility of a store this size having a diverse and interesting selection of wine, beer, and gourmet foods. Unfortunately, it was a mistake to shop there the day after the opening, but I was in the area and just couldn’t resist.
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by glenn on July 30, 2010
(Disclaimer – I apologize – but not too profusely – for the title of this post. Having been “born bad” – without a sufficiency of better judgement – I just couldn’t resist; yet I’m positive I won’t be the only blogger guilty of being lured to triteness. Glenn.)
Glenn – The subject line of Katrin’s email was “Next new place”. Opening it up, the text was brief “The Gallows another gastropub in South End”. I had recently received a Zagat email about the place and knew that the people who did The Biltmore, the original gastropub in the Western Suburbs, were behind the project. Gastropub, bistro, brasserie, tavern - whatever – I thought the concept bordered on being overworked. However, as the recession continues – and continues – the idea of mixing good cocktails and comfort food continues to have appeal. We’ve been to some of the best and most inspired – a “tavern” in a boutique hotel – and the not so good and lacklustre – a “bistro” in a clothing store on the waterfont. So, why not try another? And they also serve up that somewhat minor food trend – poutine – straight from the canon of French-Canadian cookery.
Katrin - The interior is simple but well-designed with eye-catching design details. Plus looking out to the street from the bar area, the expanse of windows are filled with the Cathedral of the Holy Cross across the street. We both started with cocktails; Glenn had the “hysteria-inducing” Elisabeth Aplegate, which featured gin, absinthe, and cucumber puree, while I chose the Angel’s Share, named for the wine that evaporates during aging. Both were good starters, before the food and wine. The wine list is well-selected and fairly priced, with enough options to keep both of our interests.
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by glenn on July 15, 2010
Glenn – What a concept! Combine social media and networking with foodies and end up with an event at a restaurant. I know that the success of the Korean taco trucks in L.A. is fueled by Twitter – but this is Boston and Mystery Meet is the new frontier in the internet food scene here. The premise of Mystery Meet is simple – contact foodies through email and Twitter and announce a date for a tasting event. Then, closer to the date, announce the location. People show up and have a great time. And we did. This was the inaugural event hosted by Mystery Meet and was a success.
Katrin - Alternative dining experiences have intrigued the winedinewith.us team since before the launch of our blog, leading to the creation of the Sunday Night Supper Club and participating in underground dinners. Founded by Seth Resler, the Mystery Meet is a fabulous way to meet local foodies and try different restaurants.
Glenn – I had always wanted to eat at Ten Tables but traveling to Jamaica Plain can be daunting. Their second location in Cambridge, in the space vacated by Craigie Street Bistro – now Craigie on Main – is much more accessible for me. After checking out the menu online to get a feel for the chef’’s cuisine – and finding it quite appealing – I was looking forward to the Mystery Meet.
Katrin – I first checked out the wine list and thought that it was carefully selected and interesting. Plus the menu looked great.
Glenn – The tasting menu – 4 courses for $40 – was well planned – composed salad, fish course, meat course and dessert – some items chosen from the current menu while others were created especially for the event. For an additional $25, wines could be paired with each course. I thought this to be great value. I would be hard pressed to pick my favorite course – all were freshly and thoughtfully prepared using as may local ingredients as available. I appreciated the visit to our table by the chef, David Punch, to discuss the food and answer our questions, but also to inadvertently receive kudos for such fine food. Also, service, under the direction of Ian Rose, the GM, was outstanding.
Katrin – The salad (Prosciutto Americano with Asparagus, Fava Beans, Shaved Pecorino, Walnuts
& Black Truffle Vinaigrette) was a perfect starter. Those of us who opted for the wine pairing had the choice of three white wines. The second course was the fish course. Some at our table had cod over cherry tomatoes and cucumber gazpacho; others got the bluefish with sugar snaps, yellow Indian woman beans and spicy chorizo sauce. The accompanying wine was the Jean Luc Colombo Rose. I’m not a big fan of bluefish, but it was well done with a savory and crispy top. The next course was a stand out: Berkshire pork over freshly-shucked corn with chipotle butter. And finally, the dessert. Again some of us had the rich chocolate terrine with sea salt and Thai basil ice cream and others Greek yogurt panna cotta with strawberries and saba. (Foodie quiz of the day – “What is saba?”)
Glenn – I really enjoyed the wines we were served. Also, I thought it quite hospitable to offer several choices for each course rather than just being given a pour. The Colombard and Ugni Blanc blend from Gascony was the perfect summer white – aromatic, lemony and crisp. Since I’m a fan of Crus Beaujolais, I was pleased to be offered a Moulin a Vent. And, as a former pastry chef, the selection of dessert wines was varied and gratifying – a late harvest Zinfandel, a Banyuls and Vin Doux Naturel of Petit Manseng.
Katrin – Super idea, Seth! Great execution, Ten Tables! Thanks for a fun evening!
by katrin on March 17, 2010
I’m always excited about trying new places. Despite multiple memorably disappointing meals and experiences at sibling restaurants Bin 26 and Lala Rokh, Bina Osteria has been on my list since it opened. With a friend from New York in town and Boston’s Restaurant Week in full swing, we thought we would give Bina a try for lunch.
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