Bokx 109

The classy and sophisticated Newton steakhouse, Bokx 109 has once again provided me with an exceptional meal. Last fall I enjoyed dinner here at the chefs counter with a large convivial group, while this time around it was a relaxing slow paced date for two. 

Shortly after settling into a spacious and comfy tufted leather booth our server selects a bottle of Optima Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley and starts us with some items off the extensive snakx portion of the menu: sesame tuna nachos with sriracha sour cream, pear and mascarpone sacchetti with orange and balsamic and local oysters with cucumber and Hendricks gin mingionette. 

Each bite was creative and inspired. Sriracha sour cream is a fun pairing with the fresh tuna. The sacchetti are plump, slightly sweet, tangy and creamy, easily one of the best bites of the evening. And of all the oysters I've slurped, I can't recall one ever being paired with gin, it was fantastic.  

Chef outdoes himself with a warm calamari salad and I'm thankful our waiter steered us in this direction. Tender, buttery rings and tentacles mingle with wheat berries, arugula, and cherry tomatoes in a bright citrus nage.

Hearty steak entrees are named for the box the cuts are delivered in. The Deacon 3 - 109 (Prime Rib) comes three ways with shortrib, ribeye heart and spinellis. The 103 (Ribeye) Cowboy is one serious cut of meat, and provides leftover for two days. The steaks are perfectly cooked, with the exception of the short rib that end up being somewhat dry. Sides are delicious and include thick cut and heavily battered tempura onion rings, an ultimate Baked Potato and wild mushrooms dusted in fresh herbs and sea salt.

Dessert presented us with a variety of treats, a pretty fruit plate with a refreshing lemon sabayon and a rich chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse, peanut butter mousse and dark chocolate ganache.  

And for a grand finale, a tower of fluffy pink cotton candy!

 

Bokx 109 @ Hotel Indigo

399 Grove Street

 Newton, MA 02462

 this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own

Thanksgiving

I hosted in Charlestown. My mom cooked a duck. Leah made apple butternut squash soup with crème fraiche & crispy bacon. We sipped rose and fancy pinot noir and feasted on maple chipotle mashed sweet potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts w/ grapes & walnuts in balsamic, creamy potato gratin, butternut squash w/ gouda & parmesan cheese stuffing, canned cranberry sauce and pumpkin bourbon pecan pie.

This is late, but I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving all the same. Work is busy and holidays parties, Christmas shopping, ski weekends and trip planning are in full swing.

More dinners soon.

Champs-Élysées | Russel House Tavern

Yellow Chartreuse is a complex & mysterious French liqueur that has been made exclusively by Carthusian Monks for centuries with over 130 types of mountain flora. Its namesake honors their monastery, Grande Chartreuse located in the French Alps. 

Chartreuse is a blend of herbs, roots, plants and leaves macerated into a base of wine and aged in oak barrels. The aroma is bright and sticky sweet, while the flavor is enticing with citrus, honey and herbal notes of voilet, anise, cardamom, thyme and coriander. The addition of saffron after the distillation process gives the liqueur its pretty pale yellow color. 

It is the latest addition to my at home bar, earning a permanent spot right up there with another one of France's finest, St. Germain and my longtime loves from Italy, Aperol and Campari.

It will come as no surprise then, that my intrigue sparked after noticing it as an ingredient on cocktail menus around town. Russel House Tavern does an impeccable version of the Champs-Élysées($10) which combines yellow chartreuse with cognac, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and angostura bitters. So good you guys!