Boston Common Coffee Co.

Last Friday my camera was tucked safely away in my suitcase and a 12pm departure time to Falmouth for a friends wedding was fast approaching. Perhaps the shortest Summer Lunch series to date, there was no time for a leisurely meal so I opted for something quick and reliable.

Boston Common Coffee Co. is a cozy North End coffee shop located at 97 Salem Street. I've mentioned them quite a few times before; their coffee, baked goods and paninis remain top notch. Their cozy living room space offers free wi-fi, so often I'll head over with my computer when a change of scenery from my own living room is in order. One of my favorite paninis, basically a glorified grilled ham and cheese is the Hanover ($6.75) which satisfied as the second to last (ah where did summer go?!?) lunch. Black Forest Ham is paired with sharp cheddar cheese and bacon, which gets topped with an apple chutney and pressed between 7 grain bread. All paninis come with a free side salad, of either mixed greens, white bean, tabouli or tortellini. I chose the white bean, a lightly dressed mix of chickpea and kidney beans. It was noon after all, so I had already sufficed my coffee craving with a cup or two at home. I washed lunch down with a favorite sparkling citrus beverage, Orangina, just in time for our ride to the Cape to arrive. It was a weekend full of wedding festivities, which I'll be sure to recap once I have a moment to go through all the pictures!

Grotto | Beacon Hill

Summer Restaurant Week has been good to me; so good in fact that I find myself looking back on restaurant weeks past wondering if certain meals were deserving of as much praise I gave them. All comparisons aside, the two weeks of prix fix menus are a great reason to check out new prospects and old favorite dining establishments throughout the city. I am not sure how any RW appetizer city wide could stack up to the Chilled Local Corn Soup that kicked things off last Monday at Mistral. That meal went unphotographed but the sheer brilliance of that first course can not go without mention. Over a week later, I'm still savoring the velvety smooth with just a hint of cream soup, which was ladled atop a mountain of shredded lump crab surrounded by thick bites of soft avocado. A finishing swirl of Jalapeno oil lent a slow heat, in lovely contrast with the sweet corn flavors. It was truly a standout of soups I've tasted. The rest of the meal continued in fine form (Mustard Glazed Salmon, Chocolate Cake with cappuccino sauce) - so thank you to Mistral and moving right along to Grotto now! A subterranean spot located on the back side of Beacon Hill, our meal here tonight was just as poignant.As I descended into the space where exposed brick and stone walls are met with black shelving housing rows of wine bottles; I spotted my dining companion Lindsey of Beantown Eats sipping Chardonnay at a cozy two top. The cavernous dining room is characterized by sweeping floor to ceiling red curtains and industrial ceilings with exposed piping, dangling from them two small jeweled chandeliers. After soaking in the atmosphere, I turned my attention to the wine list. Lindsey remarked the Chardonnay was a little sweeter than she expected, which was helpful since I was in the mood for a crisp, dry white wine. I opted for a Quartino of Sauvignon Blanc ($12). I appreciated the reasonable price point of this small carafe (about two glasses worth.) Why settle on one when you can get two for just a few dollars more? With soft bread and a plate of olive oil served we were off to an impressive start. Grotto's Restaurant Week menu presents you with nearly all the same dishes as their regular menu, surpassing the typical three choice dishes that most restaurants are accustomed to offering. It proves for some difficult decision making but our waitress happily weighed in on her favorites. For my primi course I chose the Mare which is a grilled calamari salad. Under a bed of lemony dressed greens specked with red peppers laid tender coils of grilled calamari, elevated by a smooth white bean puree. Lin chose the Fontina Cheese Fondue served with beef tenderloin, aged balsamic, truffle oil and Portobello mushrooms. Drastically different appetizers, mine light and summery, hers exuding a cold weather heartiness; both were solid. 

Off all the secondi courses listed the Potato Gnocchi with Short Ribs, Mushrooms and Gorgonzola caught both of our attentions first. This also happened to be one of the waitresses top recommendations and neither of us could pass it up!A generous portion of smooth as silk, fluffy as clouds, grooved potato dumplings were paired with fork tender short rib cubes in a deeply flavorful brown sauce laced with slippery shitake mushrooms and just a dusting of sharp gorgonzola cheese. Trusting our instincts paid off. This was absolutely phenomenal. Lindsey and I both agreed we had to spare a few bites for leftovers to take home to our significant others. Aren't we thoughtful?! For dolce I chose one of the lighter options to follow up a hearty entrée, one of my all time favorites, Panna Cotta. Grotto's lemon version is bright and refreshing with a decadent balsamic raspberry sauce and a crispy pizzelle cookie. Lindsey chose the Banana Bread Budding with caramel ice cream and candied spiced pecans. Restaurant week dessert courses can sometimes feel neglected; but at Grotto that is entirely not the case. Both of our desserts were outstanding and especially so because we paired them with a dessert wine - Falchini Vin Santo ($9). It offered a balanced sweetness and pronounced nuttiness with a sharp clean finish. An intimate and cozy space tucked inconspicuously underneath a Beacon Hill brownstone, visit Grotto for comforting, contemporary Italian dishes at a reasonable price point.

Grotto

37 Bowdoin Street

Boston, MA 02114

Joe's on Newbury

The second Summer Lunch post this week - that must mean I am catching up! I spent last Friday afternoon lunching and bridesmaid dress shopping on Newbury Street. The bride-to-be, one of my best friends from college, celebrates another task checked of the wedding to-do list with a giant goblet of Sangria from Joe's on Newbury.We were so hungry as we strolled down Newbury Street, bypassing longer waits for outdoor seating before deciding on Joe's at its new Back Bay location on the corner of Dartmouth Street. We scored a table in the coveted patio dining area adjacent to the upper bar. The sunken sidewalk patio is cozy and features a retractable roof. It is perfect if you are not looking to bask in the sun but still want to enjoy an outdoor ambiance.
Joe's boasts an extensive drink menu, I decided on a classic Dark N Stormy ($8) with Goslings Rum and Ginger Beer. To begin the table shared a Maryland Lump Crab Cake ($10.99) - they do it up right with quality crab meat and barely enough breading to hold it together. It is served with lightly dressed cole slaw and zesty tartar sauce. I was delighted with my Ahi Tuna Salad ($16.99), the inherent freshness and overall execution was spot on. The sashimi tuna graced by a sesame seed crust achieved a perfect sear and was drizzled with just enough spicy aioli. Fresh salad greens were lightly dressed in an herb vinaigrette topped with ripe avocado and red onion. Joe's is a local chain with nine locations in the greater Boston area. Serving straightforward comfort food in an upbeat all-American atmosphere, the Newbury Street location is likely a safe bet for lunch if you're in the area.

Joe's on Newbury

181 Newbury St

Boston, MA 02116

En l'honneur de St Germain

As lasting friendships formed among the lovely ladies I have met thought blogging, so did our love of a certain artisanal French liqueur, St Germain. St~Germain is an all natural product, made from fresh handpicked elderflower blossoms which are harvested annually during springtime in the Alps. The resulting taste is subtle and delicate, yet curiously complex. It suggests flavors of lemon and grapefruit, pear and passion fruit, melon and cherry, without settling on one. This hand crafted elixir pairs well with a variety spirits and in numerous cocktails. We decided to celebrate its versatility and elegance with a late summer cocktail party. Emily offered to host on her spacious Cambridge patio and a Horizon Beverages rep (who we connected with at an event last month) graciously supplied her with carafes, stirrers and other St Germain media. This generous gesture added festive touches to the already picturesque ambiance. Megan's Chocolate Lab, Gunner and Emily's Black Lab, Sadie joined the party, too!Each of us crafted a drink with the ingredient du jour in addition to providing savory and / or sweet appetizers to pair alongside. Emily's Peach Germain Spritzer with homemade peach simple syrup and seltzer was a hit, in addition to her crostini topped with Trader Joes goat cheese and blueberry spread and some delicious lemon tarts. Megan's dry white wine and fruit filled carafe of fresh blueberries, nectarines and strawberries blended to create a refreshing Sangria Flora. She baked some Parmesan crisps and served them alongside a beautiful heirloom tomato dip. And she made Elderflower, almond and lime teacakes with St Germain infused frosting. Yes, they were even better than they sound. Elizabeth's savory cucumber and ricotta filled crepes and her non-alcoholic blueberry topped ginger peach juice were equally creative and delicious. Bianca paired St Germain with Limoncello, brought some spicy Sopressata and made incredibly addictive chocolate chip cookie dough truffles! Inspired by a favorite cocktail on the menu at Bricco; I made the Left Bank which blends St Germain with Hendrick's Gin and Sauvignon Blanc. I purchased some fancy Italian cheeses and an olive antipasto at Salumeria Italiana. A classic pecorino as well as a moliterno al tartufo, which is a rich sheeps milk cheese infused with black truffles were an excellent pairing with Bianca's Soppressata. We ate and drank well into the evening, still I sampled more inventive cocktails from Meghan's zesty herbal vodka, lemon and basil concoction to Amy's St Honore 75 adorning the coveted liqueur with bubbles and lemon. Relaxing and listening to music while catching up over inventive cocktails in this plush garden patio, I can't think of a more perfect way to spend a Thursday evening. Harmoniously blending with a variety of spirits and delighting the most discerning of palates, the sophisticated, exquisitely balanced St Germain not only makes truly lust worthy libations, but proves an exciting guest of honor!Have you ever thrown a liqueur themed party? Should we make this a tradition?

Neptune Oyster

After blogging regularly for a year and a half now, I've come to realize certain content becomes repetitive. Annual trips, new dinners at previously reviewed favorites, North End Festivals, and in this very instance the Hot Lobster Roll from Neptune Oyster. I dined here last Summer and I came back again this summer because it is simply that good. And because Megan has been encouraging a visit together ever since! Two Friday's ago (I'm just a little behind with posting!) We endured a short (half hour) wait after putting our names in around noon. This is typical of the always packed Salem Street bistro meets raw bar.
The hostess will take your name and cell phone number, allowing you to wander around the North End until your table is ready. We browsed some local boutiques and relaxed on a Greenway bench before returning promptly 30 minutes later. We slid into comfy red leather banquets surrounded by glossy white subway tiles, large globe sconces, and handsome menu mirrors framed in a heavy dark wood. The food and drink specials handwritten on the mirrors add a simple sophistication to the ambiance.  Globe pendants dangle from pressed ceilings overhead. 

With a glass of Prosecco ($10) each we surveyed a large index card of the namesake signature offerings. Oysters! I recommend taking advantage of the varietals from both coasts, comparing and contrasting versions of these freshly shucked sea creatures never ceases to delight. Working our way from east coast to west, first we enjoyed the local Wellfleet ($2.60) which are extremely briny with a sweet buttery finish. Next a Kumamoto ($2.90) from Willapa Bay, Washington which are sweet, plump and creamy with hints of honeydew melon. Last we slurped the Kusshi ($2.90) from Deep Bay, British Columbia. These are tiny in size, pleasantly sweet and mildly salty with a crisp cucumber finish. The Hot Lobster Roll ($25) is everything to me. We decided to split one! There is easily enough lobster meat on their to satisfy a duo, not to mention this option is a little lighter on the wallet.

Don't mistake that to mean the $25 isn't worth the splurge. Piled into a soft griddled brioche bun is a mountain of the fresh, warm, butter-drenched lobster chunks and nothing else. Velvety smooth claws and sweet succulent tail meat grace every bite. Intensely seasoned crispy fries also in enormous proportion seal the deal. How many different ways can I explain how good it is? (Even when I know you have read it all before!) Add to the best lobster roll ever a lively atmosphere drenched in character, Neptune Oyster enchants and charms all who dine here. Add it to your list of must visit restaurants in Boston for sure.

Neptune Oyster

63 Salem Street

Boston, MA 02113