With the Super Bowl fast approaching, it's time to give classic and not-so-classic wings a try.
Welcome to Man Food, where burger pro Richard Chudy steps away from his usual beat to explore food challenges, street eats, and other gut-busting delights. Ladies are welcome, of course.
 From left: North End, Gorgonzola, Buffalo, Korean, and Atomic wings from Vito’s. (Photo by Katie Barszcz.)
Along with nachos, sliders, pizza, and guacamole, chicken wings will always have a place in our Super Bowl hearts. Truthfully I’m normally indifferent to wings; I usually find them over-sauced and overly greasy. But in need of some inspiration for my own Super Bowl party, I ventured to Vito’s Tavern in the North End to sample some traditional (and not-so traditional) versions of chicken wings.
Vito’s Tavern is anything but the typical Italian joint that you’d expect to find in this neighborhood. True, you will find the classics (chicken parm, meatballs, and pasta a-plenty), but when was the last time you saw kimchi or burritos on Salem Street? The flavors of the wings are also all over the map, and being someone who has to try everything, I ordered a round of each: Buffalo, Gorgonzola, North End, Korean, Chipotle, and Atomic. READ MORE
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Are the popular veggies best fried, shredded, or sauteed?
In Taste Test, Chowder contributor Fiona Coxe compares buzzy dishes around town — and finds out which ones are worth the hype.
 From left: Bristol Lounge, The Gallows, and Coppa. (Photos by Fiona Coxe).
Over the past couple of years, humble Brussels sprouts have undergone a major transformation. After spending decades as the sad vegetables that were more likely to be fed to the family dog than eaten, they have since fought their way on to menus everywhere and, some could argue, have become the most popular veggies in local restaurants.
Since Boston has fully embraced the Brussels sprout, I set out to see who is serving up the best ones in town. The three varieties I tested couldn’t have been more different: buffalo-style at the Bristol Lounge, jazzed up with horseradish and pecorino at Coppa, and smoky-sweet with bacon and raisins at The Gallows. Get the Brussels breakdown — and find out the winner — ahead. READ MORE
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Co-founder Michael Oxton gives us the scoop on the new Everett-based nanobrewery.
 As soon as next month, Night Shift Brewing, a new nanobrewery, will be joining the local beer scene. Based in Everett, the group consists of Michael Oxton, Michael O’Mara, and Robert Burns, three guys who got their start running an extensive home brewing operation — just for fun, at first — out of Somerville (you may remember this piece in the Dig about their experience then).
It’s always exciting to see a new brewery launch, and we are particularly excited about Night Shift, which features some unusual beers created in collaboration with local purveyors. I recently chatted with Oxton to get some more details on the new nanobrewery — ahead, find out more about their three debut offerings and forthcoming brewery tours. READ MORE
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Dig into the city's newest, and most unexpected, dining hot spot.
 Head to Kendall Square for gravy fries from Abigail's. (Photo by Scott M. Lacey/Boston magazine) Boston and Cambridge diners may not be accustomed to thinking of Kendall Square in the context of food. After all, for most of its existence, the neighborhood’s been better known as a tech haven. But with countless restaurant gems popping up right and left, that’s changed and Kendall’s officially the city’s new successful culinary underdog. Everything from gastropubs and sushi stops to Southern-themed restaurants serving comfort food done right are either alive and well there, or coming soon.
To prepare you for this unexpected foodie hotspot, we’ve collected our past coverage of the restaurants. Read through for some dinner ideas — and for you Foursquare enthusiasts, check out our new Kendall Square tips list. READ MORE
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Where to find a dozen takeout hot dogs, one-pound burgers, and triple-sized burritos for the big day.
 The one-pound "Giant Killer" burger at Russell House Tavern. (Photo courtesy of RHT.) On Sunday, the New England Patriots will face off against the New York Giants — use our handy guide to ensure that you celebrate (or stress eat) alongside a stack of gourmet chili dogs or a one-pound burger. READ MORE
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The tacos here are great in theory, but not so great in execution.
Welcome to Man Food, where burger pro Richard Chudy steps away from his usual beat to explore food challenges, street eats, and other gut-busting delights. Ladies are welcome, of course.
 The pescado taco at El Pelon. (Photo by Katie Barszcz.)
After being decimated by a fire in 2009, the Fenway’s popular El Pelon Taqueria finally reopened the doors of its rebuilt Peterborough Street location in November. It’s a small space, with walls filled with pictures of satisfied and loyal customers from all over the world. On a recent lunchtime visit, the crowd was a bustling cross section of hungry students, young professionals, and locals crammed into the mostly take-out operation.
A fairly traditional Mexican menu is available here, with a ubiquitous variety of burritos, tacos and enchiladas. Catching my eye were the pescado tacos — cornmeal-crusted cod tacos topped with chile mayo, limed onions, pickled cabbage, and cucumbers. READ MORE
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Find pricey steak frites, upscale tater tots at the forthcoming Euro-themed dining spot.
 That'll be EIGHT for tater tots, please. (Photo courtesy of Brand X Pictures/ThinkStock) Late last month, Stuff alerted us to the opening of GEM, the latest eatery/lounge hybrid from Big Night Entertainment Group, the group behind high-end party palaces like Shrine at the MGM in Foxwoods, The Estate downtown, and most recently Red Lantern in Back Bay.
In the latest issue of The Improper, a few more details emerged: the space, located in the former Kennedy’s Midtown on Province Street, will seat a mere 35 diners (small by BNEG standards) and sport a 1940s European vibe complete with textures like dark leather and mohair (fuzzy walls, again?).
I recently got a hold of a copy of the opening menu, which you can check out ahead. READ MORE
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The logos that didn't make the cut for these Oat clients.
Welcome to Behind the Design, a series where local blogger Charlotte Wilder explores the thought behind the design of restaurants. Because, after all, the visuals are just as important as the food in the dining experience.
Last week, I wrote about the inspiration boards that Oat Creative Director Jennifer Lucey-Brzoza put together for Island Creek Oyster Bar and Saloon. This week, check out some unused logo prototypes Lucey-Brzoza came up for clients Bondir and Trina’s Starlight Lounge. “There’s all this work we do that never gets seen — the final product is all that makes it out,” says Lucey-Brzoza. Ahead, learn about the thought process behind these logos, and why the ones that didn’t get picked, well, didn’t get picked.
Bondir:
When chef/owner Jason Bond came to Lucey-Brzoza for branding and design, he already knew the restaurant would be called Bondir, the verb for “to jump” in French. “I started thinking of jumping, and then a rabbit, which fit perfectly into French cuisine,” says Lucey-Brzoza. READ MORE
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The Fenway eatery just extended its popular whole pig roasts to Sunday brunch.
 There's nothing like chasing a hangover with some pig parts. (Photo courtesy of Citizen Pub/Facebook) It’s been a great time for brunchers in Boston lately. First Area Four debuted brunch this past weekend, and now The Citizen Pub in Fenway is extending its popular whole suckling pig roasts to Sunday brunch for diners with a massive appetite—or dire hangover. READ MORE
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Owner Michael Wang shares details his new New Year-inspired sandwich at Foumami and his favorite Chinese New Year eats.
 The new spicy La Long pork sandwich and Longan melon soda will be available at Foumami for the next 15 days. (Photo courtesy of Foumami.) Today marks the official start of the Chinese New Year, a 15-day celebration that’s the most important holiday of the year for those of Chinese descent. This year is the “Year of the Dragon,” and in honor of the occasion, Asian-inspired downtown sandwich shop Foumami will debut a Chinese New Year-themed sandwich today called the La Long, which is Chinese for “spicy dragon.”
I recently chatted with Michael Wang, Foumami’s owner, in order to get more details on the new spicy sandwich, and find out how he celebrates the New Year on his own time. READ MORE
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