Archive for July, 2009

FIRST BITE: DUCALI PIZZERIA & BAR

Posted by Donna Garlough on 7/29/2009 at 7:59AM | No Comments

From the whisper-thin pies at Pizzeria Regina to the Sicilian-style slices at Galleria Umberto, there’s plenty of cheesy, tomatoey goodness in the North End. What could another pizza joint possibly bring to the neighborhood?

Turns out, plenty. Before its arrival, the area lacked truly casual pizza place. The kind of easy in, easy out, neighborhoody, non-chaotic, and—this is key—minimally touristed joint that serves good beer and well-made food at reasonable prices. Like Cambridge, 1, or maybe Picco. And Ducali, a 58-seat spot which opened just around the corner from North Station about a week ago, seems to be just that. READ MORE

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CHEF’S NIGHT OUT

Posted by admin on 7/22/2009 at 8:55AM | 3 Comments

Ever wonder where your favorite chefs eat out? Most nights, they’re slaving away in their own kitchens, but we were curious: If we gave them $100 and a much-deserved night off, where would they go and what would they eat? And so we asked around.

Surprisingly (or maybe not), some chefs opted to stay away from restaurants, eschewing table service for picnics and other non-traditional venues. Others would head to some of our own favorite haunts. Either way, take note of their recommendations. These palates know good food.

Tony Maws, chef, Craigie on Main
“I’d go to Jumbo Seafood (7 Hudson St., newjumboseafoodrestaurant.com) in Chinatown with my wife Karolyn and one year old son, Charlie. Charlie is loving Chinatown! We’d order shortribs with white garlic sauce and lettuce, clams with black bean sauce, chow fung noodles, lobster ginger scallions, geoduck clam sashimi, and a couple of beers (Tsingtao). It’s great to go there and watch Charlie clean all the meat off the bone. He loves those short ribs, but pretty much it can be anything with meat on the bone.  He will get every bit of meat off of it.” READ MORE

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SPREAD’S THE WORD

Posted by Donna Garlough on 7/13/2009 at 12:57PM | No Comments

When dining out, I do my best to not pig out on bread. I usually fail, and more so lately. The reason (other than my inability to leave carbs untouched)? The ever-more delicious spreads, dips, and oils that arrive alongside the foccacia, baguettes, and other fancy bread-basket fare. READ MORE

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FIRST BITE: SKARA GRILL

Posted by Brittany Jasnoff on 7/13/2009 at 12:19PM | No Comments

In these momentously difficult times for Boston-area restaurants, it’s quite an anomaly—though certainly reassuring—to find that in the heart of West Roxbury, a new family-owned eatery has not only sprung up in the place of a major chain resto, but also opened its doors to throngs of neighbors, who filled seats aplenty on a recent summer Sunday.
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TASTE OF HELL’S KITCHEN AT TREMONT 647

Posted by admin on 7/13/2009 at 8:50AM | No Comments

Our favorite local chefs are going all Hollywood on us. First it was Michael Schlow on “Top Chef Masters,” and now it’s Tremont 647 maestro Andy Husbands (a.k.a. the Fearless Chef ) on the sixth season of “Hell’s Kitchen.” Much to Chowder’s amusement, our hometown hero makes a televised effort to win over the notoriously nasty Gordon Ramsay on the show’s season premiere, which airs Tuesday, July 21 from 8-10 p.m. on FOX.

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FIRST BITE: TORY ROW

Posted by Donna Garlough on 7/7/2009 at 12:21PM | 1 Comment

When we first got word that a new bar/café called Tory Row would be taking over the former Greenhouse Restaurant & Coffee Shop space in Harvard Square this summer, we felt a little wave of relief. At least it’s not a chain, we thought—the square’s already been taken hostage by IHOP, Uno, Au Bon Pain, Starbucks, and Finagle. Bring back the indie vibe!

But indie isn’t always what it seems. Tory Row is the brainchild of Matthew Curtis and Chris Lutes, the same local restaurateurs behind Miracle of Science, Middlesex Lounge, Cambridge 1, and Audubon Circle. Thankfully, those are all spots we love, and Curtis and Lutes generally do a respectable job of playing to their new restaurants’ respective neighborhoods. And all signs indicated that they’d do the same here; “Tory Row” is, in fact, the historic name for Brattle Street. READ MORE

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LOBSTER LOVERS REJOICE

Posted by admin on 7/7/2009 at 12:18PM | 1 Comment

In case you hadn’t heard, the lobster industry is in hot water. It’s not because they’re being overfished or underfed, and not even because of this summer’s terrible weather. No, the lobster industry is in crisis because you’re not eating enough.

How does that work? Generally perceived as a luxury, the normally-expensive little crustaceans have been blacklisted by many budget-conscious diners. As a result, local lobstermen are stuck with full traps, and fewer people are out there reaping the rewards.

But that’s good news for you, at least temporarily. As the price per pound continues to plummet, many local restaurants are offering terrific specials. Roll up your sleeves, seafood lovers, and bust out the bibs. These deals from Rialto,  Olives, and Za Za Restaurant will fill your belly and help the lobster industry stay afloat.

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