Sunday, January 18, 2015

VEGETARIAN AT GREEN LEAF IN FRAMINGHAM, MA

Sunday, January 18, 2015
Gobi Manchurian
Mediterranean Millet Risotto
Potato Leek Pizza
There are more and more vegetarian restaurants opening up and they're quite popular. I'm not a vegetarian, but that didn't stop me from trying out Green Leaf in Framingham, Massachusetts this weekend.

 We started out with the Gobi Manchurian for an appetizer. It's cauliflower dipped in chickpea flour, fried, glazed with a sweet tomato sauce and served with peppers and onions. They were delicious and surprisingly filling. Other apps include edamame, artichoke stuffed mushrooms and nachos. 

 There are many healthy drink options on the menu. We enjoyed an apple, banana and strawberry smoothie. Here's where things get rough. There are no alcoholic beverages on the menu. No wine. No beer. If you don't know that going in, you're going to be bummed.

 For dinner, we split the "Mediterranean Millet Risotto" and the "Potato Leek Pizza." As an Italian, I love risotto. However, if you order this dish thinking it will be anything like the Italian classic, you will be disappointed. The millet was mushy and the dish as a whole lacked flavor. I suppose that's what I get for trying a vegan dish. They redeemed themselves with the pizza. It was so filling that we brought some home.

 Green Leaf is also open for brunch on the weekends, so I'd be interested in trying their omelets and French toast. For lunch, they offer a variety of sandwiches, which are not on the dinner menu.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

(Closed) AN ITALIAN FEAST AT GRAPPA

Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Every meal begins with their mouth-watering garlic bread.
Stuffed mushrooms
Chicken piccata
Chocolate bomba
When I first started Eat Up New England two years ago, I wasn't so sure about blogging about Grappa. It's a tiny Italian spot tucked in on a side street near Target in Watertown, Massachusetts. Everyone eats in one room and the food is off the charts delicious. I felt this little restaurant was a hidden gem and didn't want to give away one of the best kept secrets around. Well, it's time for everyone to enjoy this Eat Up New England Favorite.

Every meal at Grappa starts with a tray of their garlic bread. It's soooo good and yes, they will bring you seconds. Apps include rolled eggplant, salads and bruschetta. My favorite is their baked stuffed mushrooms. They are overflowing with breadcrumbs and sprinkled with just enough cheese. They are also vegetarian.

You can find all of your Italian favorites on their dinner menu.  My favorites include the fettucine bolognese, spaghetti carbonara, chicken piccata (pictured above) and shrimp scampi. Also on the menu, a catch of the day, several other chicken and veal options, spinach & ricotta ravioli and linguine with clams. 

 Save room for dessert and order their chocolate bomba. It's a ball chocolate and vanilla ice cream covered in chocolate. There are also almonds inside and a cherry in the center.

 Grappa is open for DINNER only. Make reservations if you go on the weekend. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays. I discovered Grappa on Groupon and have been hooked ever since. They still put up deals on Groupon every now and then.

 www.grappawatertown.com


UPDATE: Grappa went out of business in July 2015. Read Eat Up NE's post from July 29th for more information.

Saturday, January 10, 2015

BREAKFAST AT MEL'S COMMONWEALTH CAFE

Saturday, January 10, 2015
Mel's Commonwealth Cafe in Wayland, Massachusetts is one of those cozy, old-school restaurants where you get the feeling that everyone knows each other. It's a local landmark and you'll realize that after driving around the parking lot a few times looking for a spot. This place is always packed!

 Sure, Mel's serves lunch, but let's focus on why I always eat there: their breakfast! Mel's has a ginormous breakfast menu, packed with all of the favorites. There are a bunch of egg specials. If you're really hungry try "The Wayland Warrior" with four eggs, four silver dollar pancakes, three strips of bacon, three sausage links, home fries, a bagel and orange juice. Feeling healthy? There's the "Healthy Heart Breakfast" with 3 scrambled egg whites, grilled turkey sausage, a fruit cup and whole wheat toast.

 Other breakfast favorites include pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast, omelets, Benedicts and breakfast sandwiches. I enjoyed an omelet with bacon and cheddar cheese, served with home fries. I always like when you can get an English muffin for your bread! Just like any good breakfast spot, Mel's attentive staff came by several times to top off my coffee.

melscommonwealthcafe.com

Monday, January 05, 2015

FINE DINING AT NEWTON'S BOKX 109

Monday, January 05, 2015
This is their menu, folded up in a paper bag.
Cod with fingerling potatoes and corn succotash
Lobster mac & cheese
It's a new year and that makes it the perfect time to try out the cuisine at some restaurants I've never been to before. On Saturday night, my fiancee and I braved the snow to enjoy dinner at Bokx 109 American Prime in Newton, Massachusetts. It's inside of the Hotel Indigo. The valet even parks the car for you.

 The ambiance was warm and vibrant, with a jazz band setting a relaxed tone during dinner. Bokx 109 boasts an extensive wine menu, but I went for a Harpoon Winter Warmer. Apps include wings, crab cakes, mussels and oysters. There are traditional salads including Caesar, beet and a wedge. At $15/bowl, soups like their lobster & seafood chowder and caramelized onion, are on the pricy side, but I bet they are very satisfying.

 I ordered the cod for dinner and added a small side of mac & cheese to go along with it. The cod was among the finest fish dishes I've ever had the pleasure of eating. It was cooked perfectly on a bed a fingerling potatoes and corn succotash. There were small bits of glazed ham in the succotash that made the flavors of this dish just pop. Somehow, I saved room for the hearty lobster mac & cheese, which was nice and cheesy and included just enough lobster.

 One of the highlights on Bokx 109's menu is a New England lobster boil with mussels, clams and scallops. Also on their mouth-watering menu are land & sea tacos, broiled scallops, chicken, short ribs and salmon. Who could forget the steak? Cuts run from the $32 Sirloin Tri Tips to the $60 103 Cowboy Ribeye. Pair your steaks with sides like grilled asparagus, sweet potato fries, brussel sprouts and short rib mac & cheese. There are a few burgers on the menu, including a hearty veggie burger, along with several flatbreads. Desserts include creme brulee, cheesecake and chocolate molton cake.

 Bokx 109 is open for dinner only. In the summer, you can order from their menu while relaxing by Hotel Indigo's outdoor pool.

 bokx109prime.com

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

CHRISTMAS CONFECTIONS AT COUNTRY DESSERTS

Tuesday, December 30, 2014
You've gotta love an old-fashioned bakery. One of my favorites is Country Desserts in Newton, MA. This small shop has big, delicious cupcakes, which have recently been all decorated for Christmas. For breakfast, they're known for their huge and flavorful muffins. I'd recommend the lemon poppy seed. Country Desserts also has apple and blueberry turnovers on the menu for breakfast. Don't forget lunch! They have different dishes everyday like soups and pizza. 

Monday, December 22, 2014

APPLE PIE CHEESE

Monday, December 22, 2014
There are now a million flavors of beer and the flavoring trend is making its way into the cheese world. Grafton Village Cheese in Brattleboro, Vermont is one of my favorite cheese shops in New England. When I was visiting over the weekend, one of the cheeses they were sampling was this apple pie cheese. It certainly does taste like apple! If you're looking for a unique last minute Christmas gift, why not surprise the foodie in your life with some apple pie cheese?!

Friday, December 19, 2014

THE CAKE BOSS IS COMING TO MOHEGAN SUN!

Friday, December 19, 2014
The Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro is opening his first bakery in New England. Carlo's Bakery will open in the Casino of the Earth at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut in late February. Buddy once made the casino a cake to celebrate their 15th anniversary. Carlo's Bakery has several locations across the country including the Cake Boss Cafe in New York City. Besides cakes, you'll find all sorts of sweet treats including cookies, pies and cannolis. There's also plenty of Cake Boss merch at his shops.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

DELICIOUS DISH: ITALIAN MEAT & CHEESE CALZONE

Wednesday, December 17, 2014
My favorite deli in all of Massachusetts is the North End Deli in Plainville. Everything on the menu is perfect and this Italian meat and cheese calzone is my favorite. It's stuffed with salami, peppers and mozzarella. The bread is so soft and full of flavor. You can eat it cold or hot with sauce on the side, but for some reason I prefer it cold.  They make one huge calzone and you they'll cut off as much as you'd like. If you're lucky, they'll be giving out samples during your visit. The North End Deli has a bunch of other types of calzones including sausage & cheese and spinach & cheese, but go for the Italian meat calzone.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

CELEBRATING THE SEASON WITH "OUR SPECIAL ALE"

Thursday, December 11, 2014
Every Christmas season, I look forward to drinking some of Anchor Brewing's "Our Special Ale." The San Fransisco brewery releases this beer in November each year and it's sold through mid-January. Each year, the recipe is different along with the Christmas tree on the front of the bottle. The same artist has been drawing the trees for Anchor Brewing since 1975. It's tough to describe the taste, so I'd say it's kind of like Christmas in a bottle. You can find this special craft beer right now at Paddy's Pub in Newton, Massachusetts.

Monday, December 08, 2014

(Closed) BREAKFAST AT FIRST & LAST BAKERY CAFE

Monday, December 08, 2014
Spinach quiche with fruit

UPDATE: Sadly, First & Last bakery closed in 2020.

One of my favorite restaurants is the First & Last Tavern in Hartford, Connecticut. Across the street, you'll find their sister restaurant, First & Last Bakery Cafe. I've been here many times for lunch. They offer so may delicious sandwiches, but this weekend we stopped by for breakfast for the first time. We were wowed!

The Bakery is was packed with people on Saturday morning. We were lucky to find a table! I ordered the "morning scrambler," which is a scramble of eggs, cheese and sausage. It's served with roasted potatoes and a small muffin. It was so good and so filling! I also grabbed two cups of their peppermint stick coffee, which they are serving for the Christmas season. Delicious!

Other breakfast options include an omelet of the day, French toast and corned beef hash. Sides include bacon, fruit, hash and sausage patties. They also have a bunch of breakfast sandwiches including fried egg & cheese and bacon, egg and cheese. First & Last Bakery Cafe also has a huge display of pastries like croissants, muffins, sticky buns and cookies.

We've been looking for a new breakfast place since Mortensen's closed last Christmas and now we've found one!

www.firstandlastbakery.com
Open for breakfast and lunch 

Sunday, November 30, 2014

NO CRUST BREAD

Sunday, November 30, 2014
When I was at the Market Basket opening yesterday, they hooked us all up with this No Crust Bread fro free. It's perfect for the kid (or adults) who always takes the crust off of their bread. I never really understood this because I think the crust is the best part! If this does well, maybe we'll see a No Crust Pizza line.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

INSIDE THE NEW MARKET BASKET IN WALTHAM

Saturday, November 29, 2014
Today is a new day for Market Basket. At 7 a.m. the grocery store's newest store opened its doors in Waltham, Massachusetts. It's something many would not have expected after a tough summer for the company. Market Basket made national news when workers and customers protesting the firing on long time owner, Arthur T. Demoulas. Artie T. is back on the job and Market Basket appears to be stronger than ever.

The opening in Waltham was like a well-oiled machine. The place was packed with shoppers just before noon, but I parked with no problems. Inside, there was a sea of workers in their signature navy blue and maroon coats waiting to help everyone out.  Their legendary low prices were even lower for the opening and there were lots of freebies and free samples. I got some pasta with sauce and Christmas cookies. I also got a free loaf of crustless bread and a mini ciibatta stick. Workers placed coupons all over many of their products to save even more money. Like many of the newer MB's, this one also has a coffee shop, sushi bar, bakery, butcher's block and pizza station.

There are several other restaurants opening up at the 1265 Main Street Plaza. Grab a beer and enjoy classic bar food at Jake and Joe's, which is to the left of Market Basket. There's also a Starbucks, which may look open, but it's not yet. One of my favorites, Not Your Average Joe's in also in the works, along with a restaurant the specializes in meat called Flank.

Monday, November 24, 2014

THE CHIPYARD: A FANEUIL HALL FAVORITE

Monday, November 24, 2014
Finding the perfect cookie can be difficult. They all taste so processed. That's where The Chipyard comes in at Boston's Faneuil Hall. I've been going to this place for years for cookies that taste like the one's mom makes. You can watch them bake the cookies and see them pop out of the oven nice and fresh. My favorites are the chocolate chip and peanut butter chocolate chip. Other varieties include oatmeal raisin, walnut chocolate chip and mint chocolate chip. The price is also nice with a dozen cookies at $6.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

HAVE YOU TRIED THE NEW CROISSANT DONUT AT DUNKS?

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
It's hard to forget the cronut craze that started in New York City last year. These donut and croissant hybrids were all of the rage. Now, Dunkin Donuts is out with their own version. Just don't called it a cronut. They are calling it a "croissant donut." It comes it its own little box. The croissant donut is dripping with sweet sugar and it's pretty good. I must say, it kind of reminds be of a Krispy Kreme donut. Since this is no average donut, it's a little pricier, around $2.49 each.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

PERFECT PIZZA AT OTTO

Sunday, November 16, 2014
Otto's Twitter says, "home to some of the best pizza in the country." They aren't joking! I stopped by Otto in Coolidge Corner Brookline on Friday night and was wowed by their slices with creative topping combinations. 

 You can buy a whole pie or grab a slice or two. I went for the slices, so I could try a couple of varieties. These thin crust slices are HUGE and packed with flavor. I LOVED the butternut squash, ricotta and cranberry pizza. What a combination of flavors and perfect for the fall. I also enjoyed their mushroom, ricotta and herb pizza. The flavor of the herbs really popped in my mouth.

Other pizzas on Otto's menu include mashed potato, bacon & scallion, pulled pork & mango, apple, bacon & vidalia and their famous margherita pizza. There are several options for vegetarians and you can get your pie on a gluten-free crust.

Otto originated in Portland, Maine, where you'll still find it today, along with another location in South Portland. Besides Brookline, you can also find Otto in Newburyport, Harvard Square, Lynnfield and on the BU campus in Massachusetts.  

There's a reason why Otto is packed with people - this is some excellent pizza.

www.ottoportland.com
@OTTO_pizza

Saturday, November 15, 2014

THE GREAT PUMPKIN CREPE

Saturday, November 15, 2014
Everyone loves the Peanuts classic, "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." The movie has come to life in crepe form at Paris Creperie in Brookline, Massachusetts. The Great Pumpkin Crepe is their crepe of the month. This sweet treat is filled with pumpkin and pecans and topped with cinnamon, maple syrup and a sugary glaze. Leave plenty of room because this Great Pumpkin crepe will fill you up. It's also the perfect way to get your pumpkin fix if you can't wait for grandma's pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.

Sunday, November 09, 2014

FALL FAVORITES: CARAMEL APPLE SANGRIA

Sunday, November 09, 2014
It doesn't get much more fall than this caramel apple sangria. I ordered it at Not Your Average Joe's. It's like drinking a caramel apple. The rim of the glass is lined with caramel and cinnamon. The drink is made of Smirnoff cinna-sugar twist vodka, caramel apple liqueur, pinot grigio and apple cider. NYAJ is also offering a Cranberrita as part of their fall menu. It's a cranberry margarita with a sugar-rimmed glass. Cheers to the fall!

Friday, November 07, 2014

OLD GRIST MILL TO REOPEN NEXT WEEK!

Friday, November 07, 2014
It's been about two years since The Old Grist Mill Tavern in Seekonk, Massaschusetts burned down. It was a heartbreaking loss for the community. This is one popular place! But, fear not. The Grist Mill has announced on its Facebook page that it will reopen on November 14, just in time for the holiday season. 

The owner tried to make the new building look as much like the old building as he could, saving what he could from the fire, which was caused by a gas tank explosion. The cost of the new building: $3.5 million. I've always loved the Grist Mill. How many restaurants have a real waterfall? Plus, their salad bar is soooo good. Congrats to the Old Grist Mill on their much-deserved opening.

Monday, November 03, 2014

FILL UP ON MEXICAN AT MARGARITAS

Monday, November 03, 2014
Apple cider margarita
Margaritas Famous Taster
Margaritas is one of my favorite Mexican spots in New England and no matter where you are, there's usually one close by. They have locations in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and New Hampshire. I stopped by their restaurant in Waltham the other night to eat.

 You've gotta order a margarita at a place called Margarita's, so I ordered there seasonal apple cider margarita. It's served with a cinnamon rim and is so good! BTW, they are also offered a pumpkin sangria right now. There are bottomless chips and salsa to tide you over before the meal, so no apps were needed. There are lots of them on their menu including fresh guac, nachos, baby chimis, taquitos and Mayan shrimp.

 I wanted to try a little of everything, so I ordered "Margaritas Famous Taster" for dinner. It's a heaping portion - a chicken burrito, cheese enchilada and taco with ground beef. It also comes with rice and beans. Very tasty and filling. Margaritas menu is packed with Mexican favorites like fajitas, enchiladas, tacos and burritos. There are also a bunch of salads including a salmon, avocado shrimp chop and fajita salads. There are plenty of vegetarian options including a vegetarian burrito and roasted vegetable zarape.

 Check out Margaritas Circle of Friends card to save some money. Once you sign up, you'll get 25% off your first meal and $10 for every $150 points you earn, along with a gift on your birthday.

www.margs.com
@MargsMex

Saturday, November 01, 2014

GET A CUPCAKE ON THE GO AT A CUPCAKE ATM!

Saturday, November 01, 2014
Every cupcake shop should have one of these! The Sprinkles shop in Las Vegas has this cupcake ATM, so you can get a sweet treat without going inside the store. Just swipe your ATM/credit card and pick your flavor and you'll get one of their famous cupcakes.
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