Eat Up New England

Friday, March 17, 2017

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

Friday, March 17, 2017

Pints of Guinness are flowing. Loud Irish music is filling the air. It's St. Patrick's day at bars and restaurants across New England.

Eat Up New England enjoyed dinner at a favorite Irish pub, Paddy's Pub in Newton, Massachusetts. The place was packed, but we scored a comfortable table within about 20 minutes. Paddy's offered a special menu for St. Patrick's Day, with favorites like corned beef & cabbage, shepard's pie and chicken pot pie. Since it's lent, your Catholic webmaster enjoyed the baked haddock with Brussels's sprouts and fries. My wife and I also shared their warm pretzel bites. Of course, I washed it all down with a pint of Guinness. I hope your St. Patrick's Day wasn't Guinn-less, as well!

Sunday, March 12, 2017

ST. PATRICK'S DAY IS IN FULL SWING AT WILSON FARMS

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Wilson Farms in Lexington, Massachusetts is going green for St. Patrick's Day. Eat Up New England stopped by today and was impressed by their large selection of foods for the holiday. They have corned beef, cabbage, Guinness potato chips and shamrock cookies & cupcakes. Wilson's even whipped up some green mashed potatoes for St. Patrick's Day. They are also selling bouquets of green flowers and their own pots of Shamrocks for $1.99.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

FRAMINGHAM'S J&M DINER DESTROYED BY FIRE

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Tragedy at Framingham's J&M Diner. It was destroyed by a fire early this morning. The Diner and all of the surrounding buildings are gone. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The Diner posted this heartbreaking photo on the Facebook page today. Customers are heartbroken. The Diner has been a staple in the community for 20 years, a real family business that attracted customers of all ages. I visited it several times and loved their big pancakes and omelets.

A Framingham State student and J&M customer is now raising money to help them rebuild. Check out his GoFundMe.

UPDATE: The restaurant will reopen at 50 Worcester Road in Framingham in Fall 2017.

Sunday, March 05, 2017

DELICIOUS DISH: BISCUITS & GRAVY AT COOK IN NEWTON

Sunday, March 05, 2017

Southern-inspired cooking is where it's at, so I was excited to find biscuits & gravy at Cook in Newton, Massachusetts this afternoon. Oh yeah, those biscuits are covered with chicken sausage gravy and mushrooms. Top it all off with eggs, any way you want them. It's tasty. It's filling. It's the perfect dish for Sunday brunch.

Biscuits & gravy at Cook: an Eat Up New England Delicious Dish at one of my favorite restaurants.

Friday, March 03, 2017

A HEARTY BREAKFAST AT THE LITTLE CAKE CAFE IN CONNECTICUT

Friday, March 03, 2017

There's a cozy little place to grab breakfast and lunch in Newington, Connecticut called The Little Cake Cafe. It specializes in all of the classic breakfast dishes like big, fluffy pancakes and omelets. I made my own omelet with fresh mushrooms and mozzarella cheese. The egg was so light and fluffy and I enjoyed their potatoes and bacon with it. The Little Cake Cafe also has some breakfast tacos with chorizo which look VERY tempting. They are also open for lunch, serving salads, sandwiches and soups.

The Little Cake Cafe has only been open since October 2016, so be sure to check them out.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY AT AMULETO IN WALTHAM

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Sandwiched in between Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day is another important national holiday: National Margarita Day! This perfect excuse to drink a margarita just happened to be yesterday, so Eat Up New England indulged at Amuleto in Waltham, Massachusetts. It's just one of the many fine and eclectic restaurants on Moody Street.

Amuleto has several margaritas on their menu, but I kept it simple and ordered their house margarita: the Amuleto Margarita. We went for their guacamole and chips to start off with. It was fresh and there was so much of it that we got a second round of chip! Other small plates include sopa de torilla, 3 mini tamales and elote de la calle aka street corn.

There are several different tacos for dinner. I enjoyed their chicken enchiladas, served with rice and beans. Amuleto also has several other authentic entrees including chile relleno and carne asada.

The best came last. Dessert! The dulce de leche was fantastic and easily the highlight of the meal. It's served warm with vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and caramel.Fantastic. ORDER THIS WHEN YOU VISIT!

www.amuletorestaurant.com

Sunday, February 19, 2017

WHEN PIG'S FLY PIZZERIA IN KITTERY, MAINE

Sunday, February 19, 2017

When Pigs Fly is known for its breads all over New England, but they also have an AMAZING pizzeria in Kittery, Maine. Step inside and enjoy their cozy atmosphere: modern industrial meets rustic Maine. If you have to wait, When Pigs Fly has a bread store next door where customers can sample their breads, pastries and cinnamon rolls.

When Pigs Fly Pizzeria has a bar with local, national and international beers on tap. They also mix some yummy cocktails. Start your meal off with one of their snacks like crispy Brussels sprouts, a house made Bavarian pretzel, Thai curry mussels, chicken wings or falafel. My wife and I shared one of their salads. The Greek salad is plenty for two and is topped with a hearty portion of feta cheese. It was also amazingly fresh, like the lettuce and veggies had just been plucked from the garden.

For lunch, we enjoyed one of their wood-fired pizzas. It was half meatball and ricotta and half eggplant. Other pizzas include chicken & bacon, peppers & Italian sausage and four cheese & pesto or you can create your own. They also have several sandwiches, a raw bar and many daily specials to choose from. Desserts include a cheesecake of the day and ice cream sandwiches.

The food at When Pig's Fly Pizzeria is so fresh and filling, making it an Eat Up New England favorite. Check them out the next time your shopping at the outlets in Kittery.

whenpigsflypizzeria.com

Thursday, February 16, 2017

BJ'S RESTAURANT AND BREWHOUSE IS COMING TO WARWICK, RI

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Western restaurant chain BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse is opening its first New England location in Warwick, Rhode Island. It will be on the site of the old Rhode Island Mall. BJ's brews 11 signature beers and cider. Beers include their Brewhouse Blonde, Piranha Pale Ale and Hopstorm IPA. BJ's operates sic breweries in two states. They are also known for their California twist on Chicago deep dish pizza and their dessert called a "Pizookie." The Pizookie is a warm cookie or brownie topped with a couple of scoops of ice cream.

www.bjsrestaurants.com

Sunday, February 12, 2017

CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S DAY AT ROX DINER

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Rox Diner in Newtonville, Massachusetts is one of Eat Up New England's favorite places for breakfast. This weekend, they offered a special Valentine's Day menu. There were red velvet pancakes and this sinful tiramisu French toast. It was surprisingly light, with just enough cocoa powder and powdered sugar. Eat Up New England wishes you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 11, 2017

MCDONALD'S INTRODUCES FOUR NEW SHAMROCK SHAKES

Saturday, February 11, 2017

It's the time of the year when McDonald's goes green. Their famous Shamrock Shake is now available and this year, it has some company. Mickey D's has rolled out four new Shamrock Shake inspired drinks. There's the Shamrock Chocolate Chip Frappe, Chocolate Shamrock Shake, Shamrock Hot Chocolate and Shamrock Mocha. Try them soon because they are only around for the St. Patrick's Day season.

Saturday, February 04, 2017

BEER BREWED IN HOUSE AND EXCELLENT BAR FOOD AT TRINITY BREWHOUSE IN PROVIDENCE

Saturday, February 04, 2017

Trinity Brewhouse is a legendary brew pub restaurant in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Since 1995, their brewmasters have been making beer in house and they have won countless awards to back up just how fresh and how good their beer is.

The beers on top change every night, but last night I was excited to try their Black Hops. This double black IPA is an interesting concoction that looks like a stout. It's also 8.8% alcohol and is just $6 a pint. Other beers include a Russian Imperial Stout called Darkness and their signature Kolsch beer, with a pale golden color and light body. Trinity also sells big old growlers of beer to take home.

Trinity offers a traditional bar food menu to go along with their beers. Start off with Trinity nachos, chips & salsa, chili or chicken wings. For dinner, I would highly recommend one of their burgers. Choose from 6 or 10 ounce and top it with whatever you want. I enjoyed a 10 ounce with Vermont cheddar cheese, bacon and stout caramelized onions. It was perfectly cooked and served with a pile of their homemade fries. Other entrees include a New England clam roast, steak tips, fish & chips, lobster mac & cheese, pulled pork BBQ, jerk chicken and 12-inch rustic pizzas. Trinity even has a vegan ravioli for our vegan/vegetarian friends.

Trinity Brewhouse was an excellent dining experience from start to finish. Check them out online and social media for a look at what beers they have on tap before you visit.

www.trinitybrewhouse.com
@TrinityBrew

Saturday, January 28, 2017

EAT UP IN NYC: CHICK'NCONE

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Chicken and waffles have been a southern staple for a long time. Fortunately for us New Englanders, chicken and waffles have popped up on menus close to home. NOW, there's a new twist on this food favorite... and it's one you'll still have to travel for.

Chick'nCone has been delighting New Yorkers for a few years. This food truck serves crispy, hand breaded chicken IN WAFFLE CONES! Choose from ranch, BBQ and Cinna Maple sauces. They make the chicken right in front of you in minutes. These crispy cones are the perfect tasty snack or quick meal. You don't even need a fork!

Eat Up New England found Chick'nCone at the Winter Village at Bryant Park in December 2016. The pop up location is gone now, but check them out on social media to see where they will be cluckin' and truckin' next.

www.chickncone.com
@ChicknCone

Thursday, January 26, 2017

ITALIAN FAVORITES AT BRELUNDI RISTORANTE IN WALTHAM

Thursday, January 26, 2017

There's a cozy new spot for all of the Italian staples in Waltham, Massachusetts. Step inside the Brelundi Ristorante.

As soon as you walk in, you're transported to Italy because there's a a showcase of Italian pasteries and gelato. Have a sample of gelato, but be sure to save room for dinner. Their dining room features photos of watches, a nod to Waltham's deep history of watch making.

Dinner starts out with warm bread and cheesy, crispy bread sticks. Those bread sticks are so good that my wife and I got a second round! In true Italian fashion, they are served with a bottle of olive oil for dipping. Appetizers include grilled octopus, caprese, and a salt roasted beet salad, but we had to try their arancini. They have meat, ham & cheese and spinach arancini and they are served in a little skillet with plenty of sauce. These rice balls were the perfect way to start our meal.

For dinner, there are pizzas and calzones. Choose from one of their many options or make your own Italian concoction. Just like in Italy, their menu has a Primi section, all of the pastas, and a Secondi section, all of the meats. Pastas include carbonara, meat lasagna, primavera, ravioli with chicken, penne with chicken and broccoli. I enjoyed the carbonara. It's made with bucatini pasta, which is like a thick spaghetti. Meat entrees include seared salmon, pork marsala, bistecca, grilled chicken, chicken saltimbocca and steak tips. They also serve an eggplant parm and plenty of salads for vegetarians.

We saved just enough room for dessert. They have a blood orange gelato on special right now, which was sooo good.

Brelundi Ristorante is open for all three meals. They have an extensive breakfast menu with breakfast pizzas, sandwiches, frittate, omelets and breakfast arancini.

www.brelundi.com

Monday, January 16, 2017

DELICIOUS DISH: LOBSTER MAC & CHEESE AT TUSCAN BRICK OVEN BISTRO IN MAINE

Monday, January 16, 2017

Sure, it's the dead of winter here in New England, but it's still a good time to enjoy some lobster. This delightful lobster ale mac & cheese can be found at Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro in Freeport, Maine. The hearty dish is packed with fresh lobster meat and topped with cracker crumbs. Instead of the traditional elbow macaroni or penne, they use trumpet pasta, which is made in house. Be sure to save some bread for dipping up all of the leftover cheese sauce. It's made of red ale, gouda, fontina, parmigiana reggiano, pancetta and truffle oil. This lobster mac is the perfect hearty dish to fill you up on a cold winter night.

www.tuscanbrickovenbistro.com

Friday, January 13, 2017

SOUTHERN IN SOMERVILLE AT THE SOUTHERN KIN COOKHOUSE

Friday, January 13, 2017

Chicken & waffles

Pimento cheese fritters

Farmhouse buttermilk biscuits

Southern Food is one of my favorites, but I just don't eat it often enough. That's why I was excited to check out Southern Kin Cookhouse in Assembly Square in Somerville.

The Cookhouse offers an impressive selection of whiskey and cocktails. I sipped on a couple of "Southern Prides" throughout the meal. This drink is made of Henry McKenna bourbon, allspice, apple cordial and lemon.

We started things off with some of their mouth-watering apps. Their pimento cheese fritters are amazing, as are their buttermilk biscuits. The biscuits are served with jam and an incredible honey butter. Other apps include fried okra, crab soup, "Redneck Nachos" with spiced pork rinds and cheddar grits and the "Hog 'n Hooch Biscuit," a pork belly with fried green tomatoes.

Deciding on an entree was tough. The Cookhouse's menu is packed with all of the classics including shrimp 'n grits, bourbon brined chicken, Kansas City ribs and "Mississippi Spotted Cat," which is a buttermilk fried catfish. I settled upon one of my favorites, the chicken 'n waffles. It was so tasty and filling.

Good luck saving room for dessert, but they do have several pies included key lime, mud pie, buttermilk pie and Georgia's Peach Crumble Pie. You can also top of your slice with some of Bart's Homemade ice cream, which is made in Greenfield. Flavors include malted vanilla, maple cream, sea salt caramel swirl and mud pie.

If you're a fan of southern food, you've got to check out Southern Kin Cookhouse. The meal was perfect from start to finish.

www.southernkincookhouse.com

Monday, January 02, 2017

FINAGLE A BAGEL BAKERY & CAFE AND TEST KITCHEN IS NOW OPEN IN NEWTON

Monday, January 02, 2017

Finagle A Bagel has opened an all new test kitchen concept in the Auburndale section of Newton, Massachusetts. This cafe just opened in November and is right next door to Finagle A Bagel's corporate headquarters.

The test kitchen has a spacious dining room overlooking a huge kitchen where the bagels are made. You'll have a front row seat to watch the bagel-making process as you eat breakfast or lunch. The bagels made here are shipped out to local stores and other Finagle A Bagel shops. The test kitchen also has Finagle's signature buzz saw which is used to slice their bagels in half.

What makes this test kitchen different from its retail shops is customers will find sandwiches and sweets that aren't available anywhere else. Right now, they have a chicken piccata bagel sandwich as a special. The test kitchen is also offering bagel press sandwiches right now. I enjoyed their "Traditional" press sandwich with ham, crispy bacon, egg and cheddar cheese. One of the workers recommended it on an Asiago bagel and I'm glad I listened to her!

The test kitchen is kind of off of the beaten path in Newton. It's tucked in on Rowe Street. Put it in MapQuest and you'll find it. Give them some business. You'll be glad you did!

www.finagleabagel.com

Saturday, December 31, 2016

EAT UP NEW ENGLAND'S BEST OF 2016!

Saturday, December 31, 2016

It's New Year's Eve, so there's no better time to look back at Eat Up New England's favorite foods of 2016. These are all dishes that I tried for the first time in 2016. Thank you all for reading my blog. I look forward to bringing you even more of New England's best foods, drinks and restaurants in 2017! - Joe