Jump to content

giovanni

participating member
  • Posts

    39
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  1. Check out Alan Epstein's website www.astheromansdo.com. Alan is an ex-pat American who has lived in Rome with his family for +/- 10 years now. The website includes a lot of great information for anyone visiting or planning an extended stay in Rome. Also, be sure to read his book "As The Romans Do." It's definitely worthwhile.
  2. Breakfast --- there's only one "must go" choice in Boston: Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe on Columbus Avenue. Run by the same family for the past 80 +/- years (they must be doing something right), you'll sit at communal tables with an eclectic mix of young professionals, neighborhood locals, politicians, students, young families, etc. The pancakes, omelettes, french toast and famous turkey hash take simple diner/breakfast fare to another level. North End --- Regina's: forget it. Always overrated, and now not even as good as it once was. If a North End pizza is what you want, try Antico Forno (on Salem Street) --- far more authentic and a much more pleasant spot (great salads and antipasti as well). I would second the Giacomo's recommendation. For the more "upscale" North End experience: Prezza, Bricco, Carmen's, Sage. For North End "traditional": not as easy as you'd think (a lot of tourist traps in this category) .... But, I'd try Strega, or maybe Piccola Venezia, both on Hanover Street. Other dinner options --- Radius, Clio, Mistral recommended above: all very good, very trendy and very expensive. Another "sure bet" which has kind of fallen off the radar screen: Hamersley's Bistro (South End). If you're a wine lover: Troquet on Boylston Street. For a kind of new-wave asian/western fusion thing: "L" (the old Cafe Louis --- at the rear of the Louis store on Berkeley Street). I'd skip Legal Seafoods and the Naked Fish --- you'll find better seafood at any of these places.
  3. Gotta agree with agbaber (on Uni) and disagree with galleygirl (in part re: Uni, and completely re: B&G and The Butcher Shop). Uni is truly special, as, I believe, accurately described by agbaber. But it IS (as I said in my original post) very expensive, as noted by galleygirl. Nonetheless, for a splurge occasion (and I know that Torakris is looking for budget-minded options --- see my other rec's), Uni leaves a diner exhilirated and more than satiated. As for B&G and The Butcher Shop, "hot" does not always equal "mediocre", as evidenced by the fact that both of these places --- now open more than/almost a year and well-beyond the attention span of the ever-so-fickle see-and-be-seen crowd --- continue to do great business. Why? Because they're good and reasonably priced (not exactly cheap, but nowhere near expensive). The Sheryl Julian review below gives some of the price points at The Butcher Shop --- and none of the portions there, based upon my own personal experience, can be called "very little food." The sandwiches/panini are huge and reasonably priced ($9 for the roast beef version on Julian's visit). By comparison, the prix fixe three-course lunch at No. 9 Park (and I really like No. 9 Park, don't get me wrong) for $27 (excluding anything to drink), will leave you hungry. See the Julian review of Butcher Shop below: A NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY AT THE BUTCHER'S Author(s): SHERYL JULIAN Date: December 25, 2003 Page: 6 Section: Calendar I was describing the Butcher Shop recently to some people who had never been there and I realized that halfway through my story - no matter how detailed I got - they wouldn't be able to picture this place. I'll try again: At the entrance, there's a bar on one side and a row of seats along the windows at the other. Yes, it is really a butcher shop in the back, with the finest naturally raised organic meats money can buy. The shop also serves the same little meaty meals it offers at dinner during lunch. At night, when the foot traffic starts along Tremont Street, the 800-square-foot space turns into a neighborhood party. You see, the space really lends itself to partying. There are only a few tables, so mingling is easy, and the large butcher block at the back of the shop, where the meat cutting is done during the day, turns into a dining table at night. Picture a block the length and width of a king-size mattress. There are no seats, so you order and stand while you eat. The effect is that you think you've stumbled into the city's greatest culinary secret, that you've slipped into an exclusive club. The six-week-old spot is the latest venture of Barbara Lynch, who has received acclaim as the chef and owner of No. 9 Park on Beacon Hill. With Peter Niemetz's stylish design - the walls are chalkboard and offer the specials of the day in delightful calligraphy - and Barcelona native Pep Vicente running the place, the Butcher Shop is incredibly popular. On a busy night, 100 people can come through the place, some stopping to have a glass of wine after putting their name on the list at B&G Oysters Ltd., across the street. Vicente says that some people eat fish first and then come over for some meat ("surf and turf," he explains). The oyster spot is Lynch's second project. Both oyster and butcher were in the works before the chef found herself pregnant. She's due in February, so running three restaurants couldn't be easy. Her husband, Charles Petri, watches her like a hawk. She spots us standing at the butcher block one night and he wanders over later to sing her praises. That might sound insufferable - standing for three hours listening to the owner's husband talk about her for half of that time - but when the visitors agree completely, somehow it's not. Lynch's imagination and culinary ability are admirable. Vicente pours generous glasses of wine in beautiful Spiegelau glasses, which are large and well-made and feel wonderful in your hand. (This and Lynch's other three wine lists are managed by the talented Cat Silirie.) We break off a piece of the tender Sel de la Terre baguette, inhale Sel's ciabatta, a looser-textured loaf, and wait for our dinner to arrive. Jason Bond is the chef here, and Lauren Resler the pastry chef. Frisee salad ($10) contains only the pale green curly leaves of this frizzy lettuce, scattered with matchstick-thin haricots verts, and drizzled with a truffle-scented vinaigrette and some hazelnuts. About eight bites in all. The roasted marrow from beef bones on toast ($6) is a second act in dining in miniature: six slices of bread with a silver-dollar piece of warm marrow on each. There is also coarse sea salt for sprinkling and haricot verts to nibble. Marrow is rich and luscious in the same way that foie gras is. In fact, you shouldn't eat a lot. We would have eaten more. Tartare ($14) is made from the fresh beef on the premises (it's one of the only places on earth that I would eat raw beef). It comes in a little pot, the ground beef mixed at the last minute, Pep Vicente explains, with a slightly vinegary tomato sauce, cornichon pickles, onions, and capers. This beef melts in the mouth, and it's divine on thin triangles of housemade brioche toasts. The charcuterie plate ($17, which is easily enough for two) is full of riches, including boned rolled chicken slices, rillettes, pork terrine wrapped in leek leaves, divine foie gras with a sparkling gelee. An irresistible roast beef panini ($9) is made on slices of the Sel de la Terre bread and pressed in a grill so that the meat is hot. Some nights, when it's quite chilly, Lynch makes a big stewy pot, so you might be offered something typical of a French brasserie: a cassoulet, coq au vin, or a choucroute garni, all between $12 and $14. It's an evening of forbidden fruits, a year's worth of meat and fat in an hour. But we're still hungry. We finish with a platter of cheeses, then ask for a few macaroons. They are tiny airy sandwiches, some chocolate, some almond, that melt on the way down. Tea comes in cups with lids, which act as teapots (they're more cute than functional). Every glass, cup, and plate is the highest style, and even if your teapot lid falls into the cup and you've been standing eating for three hours, it seems like a small price to pay for feeling like an insider in Boston's hippest corner.
  4. BTW, just noticed that you're the forum host for Japan. Do I dare suggest sushi?? There are several "usual suspects" that are generally recommended, but I'd guess each would fall short of your standards. If the urge strikes, however, to try something a bit different in the sushi vein, something of extremely high quality (and also very expensive) you might want to consider going to Clio, which is Ken Oringer's restaurant in the Lenox Hotel on Massachusetts Avenue. A couple of years ago, Oringer added a separate sashimi (no rice served) bar called Uni. It is an experience. Tasting menus, available at various levels of expense, are the way to go with expert guidance from the chef (sometimes Oringer himself) manning the bar. Also, if you'll be cooking asian, I understand that the Super 88 Market (in Allston-Brighton, probably accessible via the green line) is the place to do your provisioning (though I am no expert in asian cooking).
  5. I've lived in and eaten my way through Boston for 20 years now ..... slbunge, while a newcomer, is right on with his/her (?) recommendations. I'd add a few additional thoughts: For marketing: 1. In addition to the other places mentioned in the North End, try Sulmona (on Richmond street I believe) which is a terrific butcher shop; 2. For "the very best" meat-buying (but much more expensive than Sulmona), try Savenor's on Charles Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Fabulous prime cuts of beef, veal, lamb, pork and many exotics as well. 3. For lobsters, J. Hook on the waterfront near the Boston Harbor Hotel (5 minute walk from the North End). 4. For produce, any of the Whole Foods Markets (I believe there is one proximate to Jamaica Plain), which, in my opinion, beat the Haymarket hands-down in every category except for atmosphere/charm (which still makes Haymarket worth a visit). 5. For bread, Hi Rise Bakery in Cambridge (near Formaggio Kitchen, which was mentioned by slbunge [a must-see, world-class cheese/specialty food shop --- but make sure to visit the "flagship" Cambridge location versus the "satellite" South End location, there's no comparison]). For cheap eats/lunch: 1. If you go to Hi Rise Bakery, you can also eat lunch there --- awesome sandwiches, homemade soups, salads; 2. Tim's Tavern, on Columbus Avenue straddling the South End and Back Bay, serves one of the world's great (and largest) hamburgers for very short dollars. It's a bit of a "dive", but a classic nonetheless (great tunes on the jukebox); 3. Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe, also on Columbus Avenue, is a 70+ year old neighborhood institution serving awesome breakfast 6 days a week (closed Sundays). Try the pancakes, the omelettes or the house specialty turkey hash; 4. In the South End on Tremont Street, try B&G Oyster Bar and/or The Butcher Shop, both owned by local celeb chef Barbara Lynch of No. 9 Park fame. These two gems sit across the street from one another, and both offer great lunch options. B&G serves a wide assortment of oysters on the half shell, a terrific New England lobster roll, and many other seafood choices. The Butcher Shop is both a butcher shop and wine bar. Sit at the bar and enjoy many fine wine choices by the glass and a daily list of light lunch specials/sandwiches. It's a taste of Italy in the South End. Enjoy!!
  6. HMMM.... client dinner, females, not too adventurous, nothing stuffy.... on a par with No. 9 Park. Try any of these: In Boston: Via Matta (italian) Excelsior (new american) L (asian fusion) Hammersley's Bistro (french bistro) Prezza (italian) Pigalle (french bistro -- chef just named a F&W best chef) Trouqet (mediterranean/new american --- awesome wine experience) Clio (new american/asian inspirations --- separate sushi bar) Capital Grille (classic steak house) In Cambridge: Oleana (mediterranean --- but think Morocco; great neighborhood feel) Rialto (italian/mediterranean) East Coast Grill (awesome raw bar, grilled fish) Craigie Street Bistro (french bistro)
  7. Mario, Do you stay in touch with the folks at La Volta? Have you been back there in recent years? I will be in Tuscany in August, and always plan my days around lunch and dinner. I'm wondering if La Volta is worth a special trip, and, if so, what you would order .... thanks.
  8. I've eaten there three times --- just to be sure. Each time I was greatly disappointed. The quality of the food is, at best, mediocre. Decor, pretty dismal. Service --- OK. I really wanted to love it --- I like Ming Tsai's shows and believe that the flavor combinations and cooking "alchemy" that he enthusiastically showcases on his television shows is truly innovative and (if he's preparing the food, as he does on his show) delicious. The problem at Blue Ginger is that 90% of the time there is no Ming Tsai in the kitchen. In addition, the restaurant's reputation may simply have exceeded the reality of it's day-to-day dining experience. If you have visiting parents in the area --- take them to Blue Ginger (if they really want to try it) for lunch. But for your special occasion/destination dinner, there are far better choices throughout the Greater Boston area that won't disappoint you the way I think Blue Ginger will.
  9. I have some of both the '99 Giorgio Primo and the '97 Lisini in my cellar ..... awesome choices. Enjoy!!
  10. Mark, You can definitely put together a really good case without "breaking the bank." Unfortunately, the dollar is now at an all-time low against the euro, so it won't be quite the easy bargain it would've been a couple of years ago. Nonetheless, I've generally found that most Italian wines retail in Italy (assuming for the moment parity between the euro and the dollar) at about 50%/60% of the US price --- IF you can find the same wines in the US. Even with shipping costs, you still save quite a bit (though when shipping [which is priced according to weight], the bargain is far better when dealing with more expensive labels). If you're going to do the carry-on thing, you'll make out even better. I think you're on the right track considering Chiantis, Carmignanos, etc. versus the more well-known (and highly marketed) Super Tuscans and Brunellos (which are fabulous, but no longer provide the value proposition that they once did). I'd also suggest looking at Rosso di Montalcino (Brunello's "little brother") and at Vino Nobile --- the DOCG wine of Montepulciano. It's another great example of the Sangiovese grape at its finest, but much less well-known outside of its native region and accordingly much easier on the pocketbook. Florence has several well-regarded enotecas where a good case can be put together. Find one where you can taste a range of your targeted wines and where there's knowledgeable staff who can help guide you. My personal favorite is Pitti Gola e Cantina. It may be a bit more expensive than some others (because of its tourist trap location directly across the street from the Pitti Palace), BUT the selection is excellent, the staff are very knowledgeable/friendly (they speak some English), and there are always a number of wines available for tasting by the glass on any given day. A bit more difficult to get to/find, but with a very good selection and well-regarded is Enoteca Fuoriporta (Via Monte alle Croce, 10r --- near the church of San Miniato [well worth a visit for the church and its view over the city]). Another way to go if you will have a car, is to buy directly from a winery --- the prices will be even lower. The possibilities are, obviously, endless. Pick a "zone" which interests you and focus on it. Last fall, I concentrated on Panzano --- in my opinion one of the great Chianti Classico zones. At the Fontodi winery, you can taste/buy any of the vineyard's excellent offerings (ranging from their "basic" chianti at around $12, to their riserva and single vineyard "Vigna del Sorbo", all the way up to their highly acclaimed Super Tuscan "Flaccianello della Pieve"). Hope this helps. Good luck and enjoy!
  11. The situation Craig describes raises not only issues relevant to wine appreciation, but also sensitive social questions. And in my view, depending on who you're with, the social considerations may trump the desire to flag a corked wine --- it may not be worth embarassing your fellow diners. What I find more perplexing (and irritating) when it comes to corked wine is the ignorance and attitude of self-proclaimed "sommeliers"/"wine service professionals" who either can't recognize the flaw themselves or if they do, prefer to try to assuage or, worse yet, intimidate their objecting customers into believing that it's "the style of the wine." Since a mildly corked wine can be a close call, even for an experienced wine drinker, this general bad attitude can have a chilling effect on customers' willingness to complain. Obviously I'm generalizing here --- many restaurants follow the credo "the customer is always right", and in fact gladly take back bottles from unhappy customers even when the wine is actually fine!! But they are too few and far between.
  12. Sorry for the Italian and the missing translation. Guess my Italo-American blood got caught up in the moment.... My hat is off to you and your husband. Seems to me that's exactly the way to approach a culinary adventure.... and the same way my wife and I try to do our pre-travel planning, whether in Italy, here in the States, or elsewhere. I wish more people would do the same....
  13. Esatto!!! Sono sicuro che ci sia qualquno qui nel filo che ha mangiato al famoso Enoteca Pinchiorri a Firenze (due stelle). A me, quello non e cibo italiano --- e cibo francese! Si puo dire la stessa cosa di tanti altri ristoranti "stellati" dalla Michelin, come La Tenda Rossa (due stelle) a Cerbaia (Toscana). Mi dispiace di usare l'italiano, ma mi ha sembrato giusto per questo soggetto particolare....
  14. You're right. But Lupa is a pleasant exception.
×
×
  • Create New...