| LIKE BOSTON MAGAZINE! |
 |
|
UPSTAIRS ON THE SQUARE’S MONDAY CLUB IS THE FIRST OF SEVERAL SPOTS TO GET A FACELIFTPosted by Leah Mennies on 9/29/2011 at 8:00AM | 1 Comment
 The Zebra Room in the Monday Club now has prancing zebras on the wall. (Photo courtesy of Mary-Catherine Deibel) Late this summer, UpStairs on the Square closed its more casual downstairs Monday Club Room, in order to give the famously whimsical space a bit of a facelift. It’s reopening next week, so we chatted with co-owner Mary-Catherine Deibel to find out what we can expect from the updated space and its accompanying new menu. |
THE FEDERAL IN BEACON HILL CLOSES, TO RE-CONCEPT UNDER SAME OWNERSHIPPosted by Leah Mennies on 9/26/2011 at 5:13PM | 1 Comment
 The Federal will become a new concept under Boston Nightlife Ventures. (Photo courtesy of BNV) Last night, news broke on Chowhound that The Federal, a Beacon Hill pizza/deli concept from Boston Nightlife Ventures (Forum in Back Bay, Noche in the South End, The Tap in Faneuil Hall) has closed, after owners posted “The Federal is closed. Thank you for your patronage,” on the door. We wondered if BNV had decided to sell the space to focus on newer, scene-ier spots like Noche and Forum, but we just learned this afternoon that the team is merely closing The Federal for a re-concepting. Below is the official statement that BNV gave Chowder:
Re-concepting spaces has been a trend recently—first Saint transitioned to Storyville under the same ownership, and late this year the same will happen to currently-shuttered Redline under the Grafton Restaurant Group. BNV is mum on what will come next, but we wonder if the new concept will fall into step with its flashier South End and Back Bay siblings. We will keep you posted as we learn more. [Chowder, Chowhound via Boston Restaurant Talk]
|
A LOOK AT BRIAN POE’S LATEST ‘UNLEASHED’ MENU AT THE RATTLESNAKEPosted by Leah Mennies on 9/26/2011 at 2:45PM | No Comments
For the past several months, chef Brian Poe of Poe’s Kitchen at The Rattlesnake has been exercising his creativity on a special menu dubbed “Poe Unleashed,” where his signature Southwest-meets-New England bar-friendly fare gets an injection of upscale ingredients like black truffles, foie gras and lava salt. Poe’s Autumn-themed Unleashed menu drops today, featuring dishes like a foie gras-topped duck confit chile relleno, quail tacos with black truffle risotto and a squash casserole topped with cranberry and fennel salsa. To get a full look at his new offerings, click the link below. |
DRINK UP: LOW-CALORIE COCKTAILSPosted by Tanya Pai on 7/20/2011 at 4:30PM | No Comments
Haru is mixing up the exotic “Watermelon Fizz” ($12), made with tequila, fresh melon, and cilantro and clocking in at 95 calories. For those trying to kick the frozen-drink habit, Prezza offers the “Naked Piña Colada” ($12.50), a shot of Don Q coconut rum infused with pineapple — all the taste of the island favorite for just 60 calories. And Fleming’s Steakhouse has two 99-calorie drinks (both $11.95): July’s “Sexy Sailor” (like an Arnold Palmer spiced up with Sailor Jerry rum), and August’s “Russian Prom Queen,” made with Stoli Blueberi, fresh lime juice, and cucumber. Looking to re-create the trend at your next get-together? Try this recipe for Morton’s Steakhouse’s “Skinny Rita,” our favorite offering from the restaurant’s new low-cal Spa-tini menu (pictured). Skinny Rita Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake 25 times and strain into a martini glass garnished with a lime wedge.
|
COMING RIGHT UP: GREAT BOSTON BEER MARATHON
Fast forward six years, and the event has grown into one of America’s biggest pub crawls with as many as 3,000 people joining in the fun. For $25 ($30 if you wait ’til the day of), participants receive beer marathon memorabilia including light-up viking helmets, T-shirts, and swag bags, as well as access to drink and food specials and free pool at 26 different bars stretching from Kenmore Square out to Allston (here’s the whole list). The event presents a worthy test of any Bostonian’s true beer-swilling ability, but the idea isn’t to hit all 26 bars. Event organizer John Vergato says, “the goal is to have fun.” The route begins near Fenway with registration at the House of Blues before revelers scatter from Kenmore staples like Cask N’ Flagon and Bleacher Bar on up to Allston’s White Horse Tavern because, says Vergato, even after a day of boozing, marathoners are still welcome in the Allston bars. “We’re not shunned there,” he adds. — Hannah Sawyer Saturday, 7/16; Registration starts at 10 am at House of Blues, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston; greatbostonexperience.com. |
YOUR NEW HONEY’S FIVE FAVE BEERSPosted by Beer Drinking Report on 7/9/2011 at 7:00AM | 1 Comment
But pretty soon, she is going to figure out that you’re not so exciting – that you’ve only read three books in the last five years (two of which were sports-related), and that you still spend an inordinate amount of time watching reality TV. So you better go find a pretty good second act. Pronto. Here’s a good start: Figure out what kind of beer she likes, then pick a few new ones for her that might not have yet reached her more sophisticated palate. Continue reading “Your New Honey’s Five Fave Beers” » |
I ATE THIS: ROUND TWO BRUNCH AT LOLITAPosted by Tanya Pai on 6/17/2011 at 10:00AM | No Comments
 Photo courtesy of lolitaboston.com My curiosity about Lolita was first piqued when I read Amy Traverso’s review back in March. So when I heard that the place had begun serving a “Round Two” brunch, targeted at party folks who wanted to keep the Friday night fiesta going, I saw the perfect opportunity to practice one of my favorite hobbies: day drinking. Thanks to a press release’s promise of a “debaucherous Saturday brunch” I’d expected tables crammed with twentysomethings forcing down tequila shots as techno bumped over the speakers. Instead, when we arrived at noon the place was entirely empty. That didn’t dissuade us from getting the party started with some specialty cocktails. The cucumber watermelon mojito was all things refreshing and delicious. For those with expensive tastes, there’s what must be the priciest margarita in town: the $100 Liquid Gold with Don Julio 1942 (though why anyone would put aged sipping tequila into a mixed drink is beyond us). A word to the wise: The “Bloody Maria” comes with a bacon garnish, which isn’t listed on the menu and came as a shock to my vegetarian friend who ordered it. A request for a tequila sunrise (not on the menu) prompted a display of the encyclopedic tequila menu, which is organized by flavor notes and fully three times as long as the food menu. The food itself is mostly standard brunch fare with a slight twist. Instead of pancakes, it’s “¡Red Velvet Pancakes Gigante!” Rather than regular French toast, you can order a giant cinnamon bun soaked in custard, served with an ominous-sounding “bun drizzle.” Hint: Order anything that comes with the red chili home fries, and ask for a side of the house hot sauce — a mango-habanero concoction served in a cork-stoppered red glass bottle. Fresh fruit ceviche (basically fruit salad) was served in a hollowed-out pineapple half, though pineapple was mysteriously missing from the mix. We solved that mystery when my “Naughty Pineapple” cocktail arrived at the table. Crammed with chunks of fresh fruit and packing heat from serrano chilies, it was easily the best part of my brunch — I’d go back for that alone. It seems, overall, that cocktails are what Lolita does best. And about halfway through our second round of testing that theory, another party showed up — with a toddler in tow. He chattered and cooed as we stared uncomfortably into our icy drinks. Debaucherous brunch? Maybe we’ll plan our next visit during nap time. Round Two Brunch is served Saturdays, 10 am-4 pm; Lolita, 271 Dartmouth St., Boston, 617-369-5609, lolitaboston.com. |
IMBIBERY: THANK YOU FOR SMOKINGPosted by Tanya Pai on 6/8/2011 at 11:00AM | No Comments
 Clio bartender Todd Maul smokes the glass for a Spring In The Afternoon This time of year, the smell of smoke usually signals a summertime barbecue. But Clio bar wizard Todd Maul takes the scent in a different direction for his Spring in the Afternoon cocktail. It starts with Brugal white rum flash-infused with fava bean leaves, which is mixed with fresh lemon juice, grapefruit bitters, and Champagne. Flash infusing rum with fava leaves? Genius. But then there’s the presentation. Maul lights a piece of a blackened, dehydrated lime with a cigar lighter and inverts a rocks glass over it so the smoke coats the inside of the glass. The cocktail is then served with a single huge ice cube, which keeps the drink from getting watered-down, and garnished with a bright green fava bean leaf. Each sip is slightly tart, with a slight grassiness from the fava bean leaves and a lingering smoky note. It’s an unexpected, sophisticated twist on the usual citrusy summer beverage. Drinkers be warned: Though it tastes light and refreshing, it still packs one hell of a wallop. Clio, 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-536-7200, cliorestaurant.com. |
COMING RIGHT UP: WOODWARD DOES THE DERBYPosted by Erin Byers Murray on 5/6/2011 at 1:00PM | No Comments
If you’re hosting a soiree of your own, the fine folks at Woodward recommend their take on the classic julep–a sure fire way to get your party out of the starting gates. The Woodward Mint Julep 8 mint leaves plus 1 sprig Use a bar spoon to lightly muddle mint in a julep glass. Add simple syrup to the muddled mint a stir. Add bourbon and a handful of crushed ice and stir. Top with a small mound of crushed ice, garnish with mint sprig and drizzle a spoonful of Sailor Jerry spiced rum over top. Kentucky Derby Hat Party, Saturday, May 7, 4-9 p.m. Woodward at Ames, 1 Court St., Boston, woodwardatames.com. For additional details or to make reservations, call 617-979-8200. |
WHAT’S BREWING: MEADHALLPosted by Anne Vickman on 5/5/2011 at 4:00PM | 1 Comment
Curious to see for myself, this past Sunday I made the trek with some of my craft-beer-drinking partners in crime. We sauntered in around 2:30 in the afternoon, and (fortunately for us) the two-story space was nearly empty. A somewhat vacant-eyed hostess seated us at a table next to the bar, a tall, double-sided monstrosity with 100 taps (heavy on IPAs and Belgian-style brews). Glorious! The beer list at the table, we assume, is meant to match the large chalkboard list on the wall, though the board listed which kegs were kicked, as well as a few selections not on the menu. Our server had to check in three times before we were ready to order, leaving me to conclude that more is not always better: too many choices can be overwhelming. I settled on the Brouwerij De Halve Maan’s Brugse Zot Belgian ale, a crisp and slightly citrusy blonde, while my cohorts went with an Allagash Confluence and a St. Louis Gueze Fond (the latter of which is noticeably more pungent in flavor and aroma on tap). Round two included Ithaca’s hoppy Thirteen wheat ale, which was the only disappointment due to a criminal pour: The 12-ounce glass came with two inches of head on top; and for anyone paying $9 a pop on a slow day, that’s definitely a party foul. But my Peak Organic Taza Imperial Stout was outstanding — rich yet light, with overtones of delicious chocolate straight from Somerville. As far as food goes, those Yelpers didn’t lie—the menu is small, but many ingredients are sourced locally, which we dig. For three hungry twentysomethings (two of whom don’t eat meat) the selection was rather limited — a burger was the most substantial option — but snacks like the hand-cut Parmesan French fries with garlic aioli ($7) and the hummus plate with olives and goat cheese ($8) were delectable. Service was solid; though our server didn’t have the answer to some of our beer questions she was happy to ask the bartenders for info and opinions on our chosen suds. In a word, we’ll be back. We’re most interested in how selections will change over time — may we suggest more saisons to herald the impending arrival of summer? Have you been to Meadhall? Tell us what you think! 4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, 617-714-4372. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
