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 Gelateria! The 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.

Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar

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....