Melissa complimented my zest for life in her recent post Sharing Some Love. Check her out if you have a minute, she keeps it real and brings humor and a fresh perspective in her "lazy girls guide to healthy living" blog. She had some really positive words to say about myself and some other local bloggers. It is such a great feeling to know people get just as excited to read your blog as you do theirs. Thanks for the love, Melissa!
At brunch this past Sunday Alicia offered up tickets she'd won to a wine cruise but wasn't able to redeem. How thoughtful of her! Takers? Anybody? No? Because I live just around the corner from Rowes Wharf and I'd be happy to take them off your hands. Spontaneous wine cruises around Boston Harbor are just what I need more of in my life.
We took in the scene at Rowes Wharf, one of my favorite spots on the Harbor. 
Boston Harbor Hotel docks are always pristine and inviting. 
I was excited, but I'll be honest with you, I had no idea how I was going to partake in a wine tasting right about now. I was full to the brim from Lord Hobo's Pork Belly Hash and feeling more like I needed a nap on my couch from the previous nights bachelorette party festivities. 
They had couches on the boat, so there's that going for me. As we cruised along by the Institute of Contemporary Art and Fort Point Channel, I decided it was time to dive headfirst into the tasting.
90+ Cellars provided the majority of the wines offered aboard the Marika. I had never heard of this brand but I really enjoyed all of the wines that I ended up tasting!
The "Lot 16" Pinot Grigio from Napa Valley was rich and full bodied (not what I would typically expect from a Pinot Grigio) with fruity notes of pear and grapefruit.
If you couldn't tell from the photos, it was overcast and windy. I didn't mind so much, it was actually somewhat refreshing. Most of the ship is indoors anyways, so the second you felt too much of that windy chill run through your bones you could step back inside.
It was a great day for a sail.
The jazz was a lovely touch.
They had a buffet that looked excellent but I didn't partake. Adam had a plate of the pulled BBQ Chicken and the Lobster Mac-n-Cheese.
We made our way to the inner harbor which provided views of the Zakim Bridge, The Charlestown Navy Yard and The USS Constitution.
Thanks again Alicia for offering up these tickets!
It's all about the neighborhood eats this weekend; from Washington Square in Brookline, to the North End in Boston, to somewhere in between Kendall and Inman Squares in Cambridge. Respectively, The Abbey made a great first impression with their fried halloumi cheese appetizer and Bison Bolognese entrée, Taranta kept me in her good graces with a hearty fall butternut squash + sage ravioli and an awesome Pisco Sour. Now Lord Hobo caps off a weekend of fantastic eats with an inventive brunch menu and creative breakfast cocktails to boot.
The first official Boston blogger brunch commenced in a cozy residential neighborhood outside Kendall at Lord Hobo. Lord knows I wasn't the only one nursing a hangover that morning. Sometimes all the body needs is a stiff bloody mary and some greasy eggs and toast. So the question of the hour begged, could the Lord save my Sunday?
(the night before):
[Side note to those of you who commented on the pumps - Steve Maddens I got at Macy's for $18 on some ridiculous clearance rack marked down 9 times over. Originally a $100 pair of heels. Score.]
An edgy hipster vibe emits from the industrial meets funky atmosphere with exposed metal pipes, low hanging light bulbs and walls painted red with black trim. Brightly colored canvas prints are displayed.
The water is served in mason jars and the mimosas in coupe glasses.
Ice cold and very necessary.
Also very necessary was a Bloody Mary ($7)
Deliciously spicy and full of vodka, though, that's no ordinary celery stick - it is actually a pickled celery. It was briny with a hint of sweetness and much softer in texture than your classic stalk. 
I'm sensing a trend. I ate pickled peaches in my salad the other night at Market and now a pickled celery stick in my bloody mary. If this is a new frontier in salad courses and drink garnishes, count me in!
Between all the bloggers in attendance we had the brunch menu covered. Check out Justin's Eggs Benedict ($12) with speck, spinach and hollandaise.
And Renee's Cuban braised pork ($13) with salami, swiss, pickled veg and fries
Both worthy choices. I stepped outside my comfort zone and chose the Pork Belly Hash ($14) with sunny side up eggs.
I usually forgo the hash option in favor of an eggs benny, but I do love a rich tender pork belly. The presentation in a round Staub cast iron skillet with two bright yellow eggs staring up at me was all it took to convince me I made the right choice.
But I definitely had to work for it, the cuts of pork belly were massive! The home fries were no bite-size picnic either.
Despite the extra effort involved, the roasted pork belly were exceptionally moist and delicately fatty, combined with onions, spinach, corn, runny eggs and greasy home fries. I could literally feel the hangover subsiding. 
I ordered a side of wheat toast & jam (before I knew the size of my meal.) A little sweet to go alongside the savory makes brunch for me.
Stomach: full. Hangover: cured. Buzz lingering from the Bloody Mary: something like that.
92 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Taranta is a solid choice for a special occasion dinner out in the North End. I find they cater well to large parties as evidenced on Saturday evening where I was dining with a group of women for Kirsten's Bachelorette party and in the past I have celebrated a friends birthday here with a large group!
Just because I associate them with hosting large groups, does not mean they compromise on the classic intimacy you'd come to expect when dinning out in Boston's Little Italy. I assure you this restaurant would be just as special for a date night or intimate celebration for two. Taranta hosts on three floors where each cozy level over looks Hanover Street. 
The first level offers floor-to-ceiling street front windows which I love to see open in the warm months. The atmosphere as a whole is enchanting with a combination of exposed brick and exposed granite stone walls. An eclectic mix of colorful dangling glass light fixtures hang from the ceilings. Circular lights embedded in the steel staircase emit deep blue, yellow and green lights to captivate you from the moment you set foot inside. 
Opened in July of 2000, Taranta focuses on Southern Italian meets Peruvian Cuisine. The restaurant is owned by Chef Jose Duarte (who is originally from Peru) and his wife Anna. The owners deserve much praise for their commitment to sustainable initiatives in all aspects of work. This restaurant became Green Certified in 2007 and in 2008 received The City of Boston Green Business Award. They use efficient lighting and are recycling and composting 99% of their waste stream; which is very impressive.
When some of us arrived to dinner on Saturday evening 15-20 minutes late, the hostess was still welcoming and completely understanding. She even sat the members of our party who were on time (which I know some restaurants are hesitant to do). I really appreciated the thoughtfulness and hospitality regarding this.
I spotted a Pisco Sour ($10) featured on the menu and decided to try this one out for size. You might recall I drank a Galliano Sour the night before at The Abbey, so clearly this was the weekend for sour martinis! A grape liquor whose namesake honors to the city of Pisco, this traditional Peruvian cocktail made with lemon, Angostura bitters and a dash of sugar combined with the delicate frothiness of the egg white revealed a complex and lip puckeringly sour taste. I drank two. 
I was impressed when our waiter after announcing the specials, gave us his sincere apologies for the wait we experienced early on after we were seated. It took longer than usual for him to grace us with his presence and take drink orders. (I'm hesitant to admit because it didn't seem to matter whatsoever to any of the 12 women engaged in conversation.) But, the fact that he acknowledged our wait with a simple apologetic gesture was thoughtful and, all it took to set the tone for the rest of the meal. He was efficient and attentive from there on out and overall did a fantastic job, managing to get all 12 drinks and entrees correct in a timely fashion without writing anything down! 
For my entrée I chose the Butternut Squash Ravioli with brown sugar, sage and cream sauce with asparagus and shrimp. This dish to me represents fall. The raviolis were well made and the sauce flavorful and comforting, however I was a little disappointed in the asparagus. (There was not but 3 tiny bites of it!) 
I tried a few bites of the Pappardelle con Funghi Porcini ($26) - free form cut pappardelle pasta with wild mushrooms, porcini and truffle oil and it was exquisite.
We did order three desserts to share - A traditional Tiramisu ($8), the Hazelnut Mousse ($8) with a drizzle of dulce de leche and Chocolate Soufflé Cake ($10). I wasn't about to make anyone wait to dig in, hence, desserts went unphotographed. Sometimes this is for the best. The Tiramisu was excellent, living up to all my expectations. The Chocolate Soufflé was disappointing, but I had really high and perhaps unfair expectations after this souffle. The Hazelnut Mousse with its decadent layers was my favorite of the three. The flecks of nuttiness dispersed throughout added a texture similar to a Ferro Rocher candy.
I'm confident in this establishment as a whole because the staff is truly wonderful and their business practices demonstrate real integrity. The marriage of Italian and Peruvian cuisine makes for a unique concept to embrace in Little Italy.
210 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113
P.S. Earlier that afternoon I was getting pampered with some of the ladies at Christine's Day Spa in Quincy. I received hands down (haha) the best massage I've ever had. I felt so relaxed and spoiled the entire day. 
And my mani-pedi complete with a salt scrub leg rub was invigorating. I got OPI's All That Razz-Berry on my fingers and toes. 
We spent the day in bliss on the private third floor lounging around eating decadent cupcakes in plush bathrobes.
P.P.S. After dinner we had a fabulous night out at Sanctuary. 
At brunch this past Sunday Alicia offered up tickets she'd won to a wine cruise but wasn't able to redeem. How thoughtful of her! Takers? Anybody? No? Because I live just around the corner from Rowes Wharf and I'd be happy to take them off your hands. Spontaneous wine cruises around Boston Harbor are just what I need more of in my life. 
We took in the scene at Rowes Wharf, one of my favorite spots on the Harbor. 
Boston Harbor Hotel docks are always pristine and inviting. 
I was excited, but I'll be honest with you, I had no idea how I was going to partake in a wine tasting right about now. I was full to the brim from Lord Hobo's Pork Belly Hash and feeling more like I needed a nap on my couch from the previous nights bachelorette party festivities. 
They had couches on the boat, so there's that going for me. As we cruised along by the Institute of Contemporary Art and Fort Point Channel, I decided it was time to dive headfirst into the tasting.
90+ Cellars provided the majority of the wines offered aboard the Marika. I had never heard of this brand but I really enjoyed all of the wines that I ended up tasting!
The "Lot 16" Pinot Grigio from Napa Valley was rich and full bodied (not what I would typically expect from a Pinot Grigio) with fruity notes of pear and grapefruit. 
If you couldn't tell from the photos, it was overcast and windy. I didn't mind so much, it was actually somewhat refreshing. Most of the ship is indoors anyways, so the second you felt too much of that windy chill run through your bones you could step back inside.
It was a great day for a sail.
The jazz was a lovely touch.
They had a buffet that looked excellent but I didn't partake. Adam had a plate of the pulled BBQ Chicken and the Lobster Mac-n-Cheese.
We made our way to the inner harbor which provided views of the Zakim Bridge, The Charlestown Navy Yard and The USS Constitution.
Thanks again Alicia for offering up these tickets!
