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Thursday, June 2, 2011

weekend eats: Antico / Citizen Pub / Clover

It was a warm Friday evening on the cusp of a long weekend ahead. Adam and I ventured up to our buildings roof deck to kick things off. We snacked on brie, smoked gouda, crackers, pancetta and a bowl of olives. After a few hours of sipping Peroni and basking in the late evening sun we headed to the bar at Antico Forno. A glass of Pinot Noir and one of their brick oven pizzas with house made ingredients hit the spot. I know this is not the first you've heard me rave about them. We enjoyed the La Capricciosa ($15.50) with homemade Italian sausage, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and homemade mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce. For dessert on the walk home a stop at Gigi GelateriaThe first gelato of the season tastes like heaven. I'm always mixing and matching flavors, tonight I got creamy vanilla and pistachio. 

Saturday night rolled around and we met friends for dinner at Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar. It was my first time at this Fenway neighborhood tavern which opened in October 2010 by the same owners as our beloved Franklin Cafe in the South End. Trendy and casual, I was into the ambiance and definitely impressed with the caliber of food and drink. (Although the service and timing could use some work.) Enjoying the company of friends we had not seen in awhile and considering the dark atmosphere, I kept the camera flashing to a minimum and took only one photo:
DUCK FAT FRIED GAME HEN | w/truffle corn spoonbread + gravy ($19)
Fry anything in duck fat and I'm instantly a fan - i.e. the Brussel Sprouts at Craigie on Main, the French Fries at Aragosta. Who knew the next temptation would be a game hen. The duck fat appeal is one that gives a rich, distinctive flavor to anything it touches. It elevates an ingredient to something phenomenal. While crispy skin encases the succulent and juicy meat of the hen, the duck fat adds a silkiness more varied than butter, a new depth of savory. In short, it makes this dish one worth bragging about.  
Considering this is an oyster bar, you better believe that one each of the daily bivalve offerings preceded my hen. There was a Summerside from PEI, Canada, a Ninigret Cup from Charlestown, RI, and a Penn Cove from Hood Cabal, WA. The oyster is certainly celebrated here as these were sensational. 

Their is no lack of love in the cocktail department: they've got Swizzles & Smashes, Highballs & "Down" Drinks, Shots & Combos, 75 types of Whiskey and more. I had a really tough time deciding but eventually it was the Granny Smith Gimlet ($11) from the "Up" drinks menu that I happily sipped. Combining Reyka Icelandic Vodka with fresh green apple, ginger, fresh lime juice and demerara syrup, it was a blend true to granny smith in all her green apple glory. They also boast a worthy selection of draft beer and for my second drink I sipped the Pretty Things Seasonal - an East India Porter with amber roasted malts and bold hoppy flavors. 

Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar is worth checking out if you're in the Fenway neighborhood. The spacious sidewalk offers al fresco dining while indoors a circular bar is flanked by large comfy booths, banquettes and even a gas fireplace. If I lived nearby I would happily become a regular.

1310 Boylston Street 
Boston, MA 02215

I discovered on Sunday afternoon that Clover Food Lab is pretty awesome. It you find yourself hungry in Harvard Square looking for an affordable, fast, healthy lunch option, look no further than the infamous Boston food truck turned permanent food lab located at 7 Holyoke Street. The menu is small, the food is all vegetarian and mostly organic, the space is clean and the staff is helpful and efficient. I drank a Basil Limeade ($2) - this just made batch wasn't too sweet, nor too tart, it struck a nice balance and was especially thirst quenching on an 80 degree day.To eat I ordered their signature Chickpea Fritter ($5) which is a soft chewy whole wheat pita stuffed with excellent falafel rounds, loaded with pickled onions, carrots, cucumbers and drizzled in a tangy yogurt sauce.
I ate the entire pita and did the best I could on an order of the Rosemary French Fries ($3).You get a ginormous portion of just cut PEI potatoes hand tossed with rosemary and sea salt. These fries alone could make a meal. While not your ordinary fry, they actually embody a soft and very potato like quality - think less traditionally crispy, more baked potato-esque texture. At least, that is how my batch tasted and I thoroughly enjoyed it.What a weekend of fantastic city eats; from North End brick oven pizza + gelato, to an indulgent meal in Fenway to a healthy lunch in Harvard Square. I can't believe it is Thursday already! Hope your week is flying by and it is onto another beautiful weekend....

17 comments:

  1. I've been to antico forno a couple times but never tried their pizza, I'll need to do that. the basil limeade sounds awesome. I had something similar from the bon me truck over the weekend made with thai basil.

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  2. Looks like such a fun weekend with loads of good food. Long weekend and the week is flying by - doesn't get much better than that!

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  3. What a great weekend with lots of great eats! I spent it in the city, too - i love how empty it felt.

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  4. I LOVE (!!!) the brussels sprouts at Craigie!! You're so right about duck fat...it's very bacon-esque in its ability to make anything taste amazing. Must try the hen :)

    PS - totally jealous of your roof deck, what a great day!

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  5. I was at Citizen Saturday night too! I was at the bar. Sad I missed you :(

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  6. Wow! It looks like you had some great eats this weekend!

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  7. Sounds like a great weekend!! We had our first dinner on the grill this past weekend and I was thoroughly excited for the summer ahead!!

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  8. Looks like a wonderful weekend! That basil limeade and chickpea fritter look spectacular!

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  9. I am jealous of all your eating! Great variety and it all looks great.

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  10. DUCK FAT FRIED GAME HEN?? Holy mother of foodies. I need some of that. And some olives!!

    ps-just snorted out loud at your note. hahahahahaha

    that dancing man ring was such a wicked find!

    xo,
    c

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  11. OH My! From the bloody in your picture, {which is why I ventured over} to all of these amazingly delicious foods you have here, I am in love. From one foodie to another, you do it well, girlfriend! xo Samantha

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  12. what a fun staycation you had! it was such nice weather up here, I heard. I want to hit up that food cart- the limeade sounds so refreshing!

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  13. Fries and gelato should be a part of every meal!

    I love that you have a rooftop deck - and that you have picnics on it! That is just too awesome.

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  14. Looks like a great weekend! I need to try Clover. I've seen them at the Open Market and the line is always so long - clearly an indication of the quality of their food!

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  15. I haven't had a falafel in so long & those rosemary fries look really good too!

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  16. GREAT eats! Looks like such a fun weekend!

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  17. I've just read through several of your posts and now I'm staaarrving.

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