Journeyman - A Bit of New York in Somerville's Union Square

You know the highest compliment any restaurant could receive is that it's "as good as something in New York."  At least in my humble opinion. 

Journeyman is a true diamond in the rough.  Not only is it located off the beaten path in Somerville's Union Square, it's not even visible from the street.  Tucked away, you'll find an industrial space and an ultra-modern tasting menu ($75 for dinner or $40 for a late supper on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sunday).  It's the perfect place to celebrate the New Year or go to warm up on a cold night.  In addition to their unique fare, they are masters of the craft cocktail. 

They say you eat first with your eyes and these plates are true works of art. So feast your eyes on these delicious offerings and then make your reservation right away!

Cafe Fleuri - Brunch Heaven

Brunch in Bean Town is about as beloved as baseball.  People have been known to wait hours, yes I said hours, at peak times at popular cafes that don't offer reservations.  I love a good omelet as much as the next gal (or french toast, I can never decide if I want to go savory or sweet) but brunch is supposed to be civilized.  All that goes out the door once you've been sweating and salivating on the sidewalk for two hours.

But if you're looking for civilized brunch, look no further.  It comes at a price ($60), but Cafe Fleuri is brunch heaven.  With no lines and plenty of shrimp cocktail. 

Located in the Langham hotel, this all you can eat brunch offers a sushi station, carving station, omelet station, and a chocolate bar. The savory or sweet dilemma is solved when you can have it all!  You can get oysters, calamari, artisanal cheese, roasted vegetables, and warm pastries.  And you can get as much of it as you please!

Hei La Moon: Dim Sum in Boston

Jake and I wanted to go out for dim sum and I was very skeptical.  The first time he ever took me out for dim sum I was also skeptical.  That time it was because I'd never been and I didn't know if I'd like it; this time it was because I didn't have any confidence that Boston could give us something as delicious as we had in New York.  But, I was happily proven wrong.

Hei La Moon serves up great dim sum.  It's the Chinese version of tapas, and we love us some little plates.  In typical fashion, they have the rolling carts and the bamboo baskets filled with delights like steamed rice and pork, shrimp dumplings, and pork buns.  While the cost is a mystery until you're done (waitresses mark your receipt with stamps based on the number and size of the baskets they give you) you never really have to worry about it.  We feasted for $30.  There is no better deal.

Then we walked around China Town and had delicious fried pastries filled with red bean paste and covered in sesame seeds.  Yum! I can't wait to go back!

Rafiki Bistro Can't Match Its Neighbor

Recently, there was a Groupon for Rafiki Bistro, a small restaurant in Cambridge right next door to our new favorite haunt, West Side Lounge.  So I scooped it up and Jake and I went to test it out.  Long story short: it's just like West Side except not quite as good and a bit more expensive.

We had a very delicious crab and avocado crostini appetizer and I absolutely loved my cocktail of gin, grapefruit juice and that now ubiquitous St. Germain.  And I enjoyed my entree of crispy cod, although the sweet potato gratin lacked flavor.  But Jake's steak frites was served medium to medium-well when he ordered it rare.  And we kept shivering every time someone walked through the door.

We're still not sure how these two stay neighbors when Rafiki is clearly losing the game of keeping up with the Joneses, but you'll find us next door at West Side from here on out.

West Side Lounge: Our New Neighborhood Restaurant

Thanks to a solid recommendation from Paloma, Jake and I recently checked out West Side Lounge.  It's a great neighborhood restaurant with good food, creative cocktails and a fun vibe.

They make their own house infused vodkas and one of my favorites is the ginger martini with candied ginger infused vodka.  There's also a French pear martini with St. Germain and a spicy tequila cocktail with cilantro.  

A couple weeks ago Jake and I went all out for dinner and had delicious truffle fries, fish tacos, and burnt sugar bread pudding, among other things.  Then this weekend we went and just sat at the bar and had cocktails and creamy deviled eggs.  Whether you're looking for a great way to end a night out or a great way to start one, this place is a really great choice.  

  

I Ate Pig Brains at The Citizen Public House

Let's just say this first - today's specials include fried pickles with bacon mayo.  They had me at hello fried pickles.  But last night I was not there for the pickles, but rather the pig.  I was at The Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar with the Harvard Law Epicurean Society (if you're tempted, as I was, to roll your eyes at how pretentious that sounds just remind yourself: bacon mayo) for their famous whole pig roast.

  

They served us a 35 pound suckling pig, which was brought out to us whole and then carved.  Admittedly, the night seemed more about the spectacle of the pig (and the flights of whiskey) than anything else (the meat was a bit dry and the skin not quite crispy) but it was a good time nonetheless.  The highlights for me were the one bite of pig jowl that I tasted and the salad with truffle vinaigrette. 

Jake ate pig foot, pig tail, pig eyeball and pig brains.  I thought the eyeball was the bravest part of all.  The waiter said it was like an olive, in that it has a soft outside and you have to spit out the inside 'pit,' i.e. the lens.  Jake said it was the same gelatinous texture of the fat in pork belly, but with a more intense pork flavor. 

I was reluctant, but I tried the pig brains too.  Served right out of the skull, I had a bit of brain smeared onto a crostini with lemon and smoked sea salt.  It tasted like...lemon and sea salt, but creamier.  When I was in Namibia I tried a lot of things just to say that I had done them and while some were thrilling, some I never want to do again.  And although pig brains are no caterpillars, I still don't think I'll be ordering it again anytime soon.

L.A. Burdick: Best Hot Chocolate in Cambridge, Possibly the World

The best hot chocolate in the world can be found in only three locations: Cambridge, MA; New York, NY (big surprise there), and Walpole, NH (big surprise there, this time sans sarcasm).  That's because these are the three places where you can find an L.A. Burdick shop.  Based in Swiss tradition, this choclate shop is famous (in my mind) for three things: 1. exquisite quality, 2. chocolate mice, and 3. hot chocolate. 

1. You will not go wrong with anything you buy at Burdick.  Their tagline is "Bon Goût Ne Peut Mentir," which I'm happy to report I was still able to translate without a dictionary: Good Taste Can't Lie.

2. The mice come from a Swiss tradition of refashioning bonbon leftovers into less expensive and more adorable treats for children.  Nowadays they're just as cute, but not quite as cheap. 

3. The hot chocolate.  Oh the hot chocolate.  Do not be swayed by the line; it is more than worth your time (and considerable cash at about $5 a cup).  They sell it in three sizes, including the diminutive "demi," that is surprisingly satisfying and filling.  It is truly the smoothest, richest, most wonderful hot chocolate you will ever try. 

Sandrine's Bistro Groupon - Get 'Em While They're Hot

Hey Boston buddies, those in surrounding areas and anyone thinking they might visit and have a bite to eat - you should check out today's Groupon for $40 worth of food at Sandrine's for only $20.

I blogged about them before in "Sandrines: A Gem in Harvard Square and a Throwback to French Class" and I was very impressed with their tasty Alsacian food and wonderful service.  If you're looking for the perfect date, place to take your parents when you know they'll pay, or swanky girls' night out I highly recommend picking up this Groupon because as you all know, if there's two things I love (and can therefore be counted on to give a great recommendation for) it's good food and a good deal.

Potenza, The Old World is New Again

Chef Walter Potenza specializes in old world Italian cuisine.  His restaurant, Potenza, in Providence, Rhode Island is both a gastronomical and educational experience.  You won't find the typical things smothered in red sauce and melted cheese.  The menu, or menus, each featuring regional Italian fare, are elaborate and many of the more interesting dishes require 48 hours notice to order.  The food is rustic, but elevated; it's heartwarming.  To me, this is the heart of Italian cooking.  Delicious food of course, but also food as a vehicle for a whole experience, at the center of which is family.  

Chef Potenza began researching Italian regional food after his father died.  Through a connection, he was able to see his father's classified military records and learned that his paternal grandmother was Jewish and that his father had protected 219 Jews from persecution during World War II.  Now, Chef Walter's menus feature many Sephardic Jewish Italian dishes and he hopes to show through his food that much of what we consider traditional Italian cuisine draws heavily from roots in Jewish food traditions.  

We ordered five dishes that required advanced notice as well as two desserts of the chef's choice: PIzza Rustica, a light quiche of egg and mozzarella with pork sausage; lamb, lean and tender and cooked in a terra cotta pot and flavored with lemons and oregano; a dozen tiny quails, their meat falling off the bone; rich, buttery and earthy mushroom ravioli in a cream sauce topped with shredded duck; and Basilicata, braised artichokes with potatoes, tomatoes, onions and fava beans.  To finish the meal we had Scodelline, a house-made almond pudding with walnuts and Pan di Spagna alla Nocciole, a toasted hazelnut sponge cake, which can also be made without leavening for Passover.  Both were light and nutty and not overly sweet.  

Reading Chef Walter's menus is a treat in itself and you can check out his website at http://www.chefwalter.com/index.html.  Anyone who happens to be in Providence with at least two days notice should call the restaurant and try one of his many offerings.  The dishes are all meant for two, but I recommend eating Chef Walter's food in the company of many.