Monday, July 31, 2017

The Quarry | Hingham

 

 


 Introducing my new favorite restaurant! If The Quarry was located in Newton I'd become a regular. We had such a nice dinner experience on our drive home from the Cape one warm July evening. 

The Quarry shines in every aspect of the dining experience. A cozy, casual, atmospheric bar fronts a classy, polished, visually stunning dining room with vaulted ceilings and wall-to-wall windows that look out over the quarry itself. The setting is complimented by equally polished and attentive service. Then there's the scenic, serene, al fresco terrace. I wont call it Waterfront dining - but quarry front - how unique! Most importantly - the food is terrific. 

We each chose a beer from the well rounded selection - a Bad Martha's 508 IPA and the chefs very own draught Pineapple Tikiweizen which he brewed down the street at Barrel House Z. After our perfectly chilled beers arrive, a server sweeps over with a warm basket of bread and tableside olive oil service. He meticulously prepares the oil for dipping by grating fresh garlic and sprinkling in red pepper flakes and dried herbs. 

The small plates section of the menu is stellar with numerous dishes and nearly all sound enticing. The Crispy Pork Belly Bun ($4) was one of the best baos I've had. Simply done with hoisin sauce, cucumber and cilantro, it was an ethereal bite of tender, slightly crisp pork belly. I was equally charmed by a generous serving of Fresh Burrata Caprese ($15) with juicy tomatoes and a luscious duo of balsamic glaze and pesto. Lastly, we couldn't pass up the Roasted Figs ($7) - three candy sweet nuggets stuffed with bleu cheese and proscuitto to add that key punch of sharp, creamy and salty flavors. I'm glad we went with three small plates to start the meal, the portions felt like just enough without overdoing it. 
Entrees also delight at The Quarry. A Pan Roasted Swordfish ($29) comes over a flavorful succotash of house smoked bacon, roasted corn, lobster, chipoltle and roasted potatoes. The Local Lobster Brodetto ($28) offers a 1/2 lobster over generous potions of toothsome scallops, shrimp, calamari, clams and mussels bathing in a savory saffron tomato broth. I'm pretty confident you can't go wrong on this menu. 

We debated over dessert - of course we were full after all this food, but what's a new restaurant experience without it?! We settled on Lavazza Espresso ($4) and the chef sent over our choice of digestif - Limoncello for him, Amaro for her (also the chef's favorite. If you haven't gotten into Amaro yet, I highly recommend.) For the divine grand finale a Cider Doughnut Sundae ($8) tops a warm, sugary doughnut with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream chocolate and salted caramel sauce.



The Quarry
415 Whiting Street
Hingham, MA 02043

Quarry Restaurant Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato 

*This meal was complimentary - thanks so much to The Quarry for hosting us*

Monday, July 24, 2017

Intelligentsia | Watertown




Intelligentsia is officially open in Watertown! A high end industrial chic coffee bar chain (locations in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta + San Francisco) serving daily roasted brews; Intelligentsia is committed to direct trade partnerships with farmers that continue to thrive year after year, enabling them to provide exclusive, remarkable coffees. 

In their words: The pursuit of exceptional coffee is a lifelong journey of discovery and delight. We believe coffee in all its forms—whole bean, brewed, and espresso—should be an approachable, accessible luxury. Our goal is to make our coffee a memorable addition to any experience, and to make the act of preparing and enjoying a cup of our coffee an experience in and of itself.

In my words: everyone go check this place out!

810 Mount Auburn St
Watertown, MA 02472

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

Primo | Rockland, Maine















Primo is the best of the best. I unknowingly had this place on my bucket list ever since Anthony Bourdain / No Reservations / Season 6 / 2010. I say unknowingly because I forgot the name entirely for years, but, traveling up here sparked my memory of the show - and an elusive restaurant - a white farmhouse on a hill - in Rockland, Maine....

Surprise! That's where Bob scored reservations for our engagement dinner (obviously having not discussed any plans with me, definitely having no idea about my memories from watching the show many years prior.) Fun how things work out like that. Very serendipitous!

The experience was unforgettable and the staff treated us like royalty! Seriously, I had never felt so special, post engagement glow and all that.

Seared Husdon Valley Foie Gras ($22) | chive biscuit, seared strawberries, madeira jus
Oysters Rockefeller ($17) | baked in the wood oven w bacon butter, spinach + parmesan
Cabernet Franc, Chateau du Hureau ($48) | “Saumur~Champigny” 2010 France
Pan Roasted Halibut ($38) | Maine shrimp + corn, asparagus, fiddleheads, spoonbread
Pork Saltimbocca ($33) | roast garlic mash, garden spinach, prosciutto + mushroom, madeira jus
Banana Pudding Parfait | house made Nilla wafers and baked meringue

Also check out Eater New England's 38 Essential Restaurants. I was glad to see Primo on that list.

2 Main Street
Rockland, ME 04841