Tempo | Waltham

It was such a pleasant surprise dining at Tempo on a casual Tuesday night; I had never heard of this restaurant and they were absolutely terrific. Located on the always popular and bustling Moody Street in Waltham, Tempo offers new American fare in a revamped (after 10 years!) space featuring a gorgeous elongated bar, new acoustics, swanky décor points and comfortable seating. The restaurant is enveloped in warm chocolate brown tones with pops of color from the beautiful under the sea themed artwork. 

The menu items we were treated to this evening thanks to owner Erin Barnacle and chef/owner Nathan Sigel were in collaboration with Drink Maple - water made from the raw maple sap tapped from trees in Vermont. Chef Sigel commented that it was challenging to incorporate what is typically a fall ingredient with the summer season produce, however, he managed to flawlessly integrate Drink Maple into these dishes and more! 

We started the feast with a cup of Watermelon Gazpacho ($7). This chilled, velvety soup was a lovely prelude of sweet summer fruits, Amaretto and Drink Maple foam. Beholding a tower of fresh greens, shaved red and yellow beets, radishes, waffle carrots and wisps of manchego cheese over a swipe of roasted beet puree with a Drink Maple dressing, the Local Farm Salad was a work of art. Quite possibly one of the most beautiful summer salads I've had this season. The dressing was light and allowed the natural flavors of the vegetables to shine. Following the soup and salad we were presented with Grilled Shrimp + Corn Bruschetta over ricotta cheese. The toasts were easy to bite into with just a hint of crisp, and the ripe summer tomatoes and corn were bursting with freshness. 
A very special signature cocktail Tap the Maple ($10) was inspired by the owner Erin's love of Blueberry pancakes with real maple syrup. Made with bourbon, muddled blueberries, lemon, Drink Maple infused simple syrup, a dash of blueberry bitters and Drink Maple ice cubes; this was a very balanced and refreshing warm weather beverage. They also concocted a Summer Sap ($10) which combines Drink Maple with tequila, pomegranate juice, fresh lemon and lime. 

Tempo offers an excellent wine program. Worth noting: You won't find any overpriced bottles of wine here! All of their wine pricing represents just ten dollars over normal retail (that said, some prices are even below the standard liquor store price.) What you will find is an Enomatic wine dispenser which allows guests a chance to taste some of their finer wines at a perfect temperature and reasonable price. Intrigued, we each chose a glass from the dispenser. The Wild Horse 'Cheval Sauvage' Pinot Noir (half $11 / full $20) 2008 vintage was just the right amount of chilled. You can read some spot on tasting notes here.

I always have to sample a restaurants Fried Brussels Sprouts ($10) and with smoked bacon, lemon vinaigrette and bleu cheese crumbles, Tempo's rendition is an A+. 

The Tuna Tartare ($12) presents a delicate cube with avocado, sesame sriracha, and a sweet soy drizzle topped with potato crisps. It is excellent.

At this point we were very full. We took most of the Grilled Hanger Steak ($27) and Grilled Salmon ($26) home with us. Both were a welcome leftovers dinner the next evening! The steak is all natural angus beef in a coffee and mesquite dry rub with au gratin potatoes, asparagus and a bourbon Drink Maple cream.
The Wester Ross Organic Salmon was brined in Drink Maple, served over a ricotta-walnut agnolotti with a smoked corn and maple cream.
But what we were not too full for was dessert! Erin assured us they were small - which they indeed were. Not too small, but not overwhelming either. 

After our Drink Maple inspired feast the Passion Fruit Rice Pudding and the Nutella S'mores hit.the.spot.

I was so impressed with everything Tempo brought to the table. The seasonal menu plus the chefs Drink Maple Water dishes were creative and inspired. With a lively welcoming atmosphere, Tempo proves itself to be a Waltham neighborhood gem!

Tempo Kitchen & Cocktails

474 Moody St

Waltham, MA 02453

 *this meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own*

Lolita | Cleveland

At Chef Michael Symon's chic and cozy Mediterranean bistro Lolita, there's an understated brilliance working its way into his dishes. Take the exemplary House made Pork Rinds ($6) which achieve a light and airy crispness, benefiting from a simple chili and lime seasoning that ever so nicely cuts their natural saltiness. The Crispy Pig Tails & Ears ($10) are another outstanding demonstration of the chefs prodigious ways with pork. The textures are spot on where crispy yet tender forkfuls meet a fennel-onion agrodolce, pickled chilies and cilantro. The Carrot Agnolotti ($18) presents elegantly braised rabbit that has been shredded and is bathing in a gorgeous, bright heirloom carrot agrumato. Side dishes of Fried Brussels Sprouts ($6) laced with caper, anchovy and walnut and Broccolini ($6) seasoned in Calabrian chili, olive oil, garlic, lemon and breadcrumb prove themselves worthy to stand alongside all these tremendous meat dishes. 

Cocktails are inventive and inspired. The Port Authority ($11) made with Makers Mark bourbon, LBV port, balsamic reduction and basil offers unique and deep flavors. The wine list is thoughtful and widely sourced despite the one Rosé offering of Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare ($12). I am always going to be on the lookout for Rosé this time of year. 

The small space is relaxing and tasteful, where soft lighting and exposed brick meet elaborate pressed gold ceilings. Heavy framed slate windows gaze out over a quaint block in the neighborhood of Tremont. Lolita would be the perfect host for an intimate girls dinner or a date night. The Destination Cleveland crew as a whole was thoroughly impressed with our first dinner out in C-Land. 

Lolita

Tremont

900 Literary Road

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Cleveland Makes a Comeback

There was a grim point in time in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, marked primarily by the decline of the steel and iron industries in the 1970's. The urban environment was largely forsaken and you can sense it in certain city districts where abandoned warehouses are slowly starting to come back to life. The recession didn't help matters, in fact it hit them pretty hard. 

As one local put it "You just had to grind it out - we grind till we shine, there's always a struggle, we always get through it."   

This sense of resilience and pride emanates from all the Clevelanders I mingle with; and in this gritty meets sophisticated Ohio city situated on the banks of Lake Erie, now is the time of revitalization and renewal. Said abandoned warehouses are being transformed into loft apartments, restaurants and retail space. Downtown districts are coming back to life, seeing a 98% full occupancy housing rate, the demand has skyrocketed. Local entrepreneurs are sinking roots, while Blue Collar neighborhoods remain true to theirs, and a vibrant spirit emerges. It is an exciting time to live in Cleveland and an exciting time to visit. What this city has to offer is sure to surprise you if you give her the chance. 

Getting Here: Jet Blue is now offering direct flights from Boston Logan and Fort Lauderdale, Florida into Cleveland Hopkins International. Bostonians - with flight time clocking in at less than an hour and a half, it makes for an easy getaway!
Getting Around: A light rail system known as The Rapid connects the airport with downtown, Ohio City, and University Circle area. The downtown districts are walkable. A rental car is a worthwhile option to reach other neighborhoods. 
Pictured Above (in order): The Flats District | Bridge crossing the Coyahoga River | Market Garden Brewery | Ohio City Neighborhood | The Arcade on Euclid | Fried Brussels Sprouts @ The Greenhouse Tavern | Playhouse Square (Theater District) | Carrot Agnolotti @ Lolita | World's largest outdoor chandelier(!) | Gateway District | Bacon wrapped Pork Loin @ Prosperity Social Club |
Where to Eat & Drink: This Midwestern cities food scene has long been influenced by its Eastern European roots - notably hearty fare like perogies, kielbasa and sausage. Today the culinary renaissance is largely accredited to Cleveland born Celebrity Chef Michael Symon (James Beard Award Winner, Iron Chef America Fame). Look to future posts that will individually highlight quintessential neighborhood restaurants and bars. 
Pictured Below (in order): The Arcade take 2 | Bar Cento | Black Pepper Bucatini @ The Greenhouse Tavern  | Ohio City take 2 | The Mayweather Building | East 9th & Euclid Avenue | Pretzel Crusted Chicken @ Great Lakes Brewing Company | Market Square | Gateway District accommodations |

I visited Cleveland on a press trip and I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity. I can't wait to share with you guys some of the fun things to do here!!

This trip was sponsored by the awesome crew @ Destination Cleveland; they covered all expenses including round-trip airfare on Jet Blue, accommodations at the Downtown Residence Inn Marriot, meals, and transportation throughout the city. I am not obligated to write about this trip, all opinions are my own.

Bricco Ristorante & Enoteca

Last night I got together with Tricia and Corinne, my best gals and college roommates for a little North End Restaurant Week action and some much needed catching up. I chose Bricco because both these ladies had never been and the menu had a plethora of good looking options from which to choose.

Bricco gets a compilation of mixed reviews; word of mouth I've heard everything from absolute adoration to just acceptable to "it's overrated" / "I've had better down the street" and a whole lot of "it's too expensive-s". After having dined here for the first time in December I was content to express my enjoyment but wasn't proclaiming it a North End favorite. I definitely agree with the too high price points in some instances where dishes don't live up. 

However, I've always been content visiting the bar and I certainly liked it here enough to give the menu another try. There isn't much to complain about by way of prices when you are paying a prix fix of $33.11 for three courses. (Yes, I'd encourage a restaurant week visit!)
Their cocktail menu is so well done and while I realize this looks like a standard glass of white wine it is actually a Left Bank ($12) where Hendrick's gin and St. Germain meet dry white wine. Delightful and inventive, the sweet elderflower liqueur was balanced out by the dry white wine and potent gin. Tricia enjoyed a strong and sweet cocktail of a different nature, the Limoncello Martini ($15) with Pallini limoncello, Ketel One Citroen and Mionetto Prosecco.

For the Antipasti course Bricco offers six dishes yet we somehow all ordered the same thing; the Eggplant Bake layered with bufala mozzarella, tomato coulis and eggplant. After a few bites I was confident we had ordered the best appetizer on that menu. Obviously, I had not tasted all the others, I just had a feeling this was one of the good ones. This was a refined eggplant lasagna if you will, with layers of paper thin al dente pasta that had been baked tender. The spongy texture of the eggplant with its mild flavors benefited from a vibrant burnt orange pool of a flavorful tomato sauce. The golden brown surface layer, bubbly and crisp was topped with olive oil soaked basil leaves. The secondi course followed with Agnolotti al Plin. Beautiful pillows of pasta with curvy ribboned edges are stuffed with braised veal and beef that mingles with fresh ricotta cheese. This perfect portion sits in a rich velvety truffle cream sauce topped with spinach. It was certainly a pasta filled meal for me, which is just what I was craving. Bricco does pasta dishes well. Corinne enjoyed the Veal Saltimbocca - a thinly pounded cutlet, breaded and bathing in savory juices, highlighted with crispy salty prosciutto and pungent earthy sage. That potato cake was a playful element with a crisp exterior and flaky, buttery layers. A side of spinach also accompanied.

For the Dolci course there were only three choices. My thick piece of Bread Pudding was actually quite good, spiced with vanilla and drizzled in a gooey caramel sauce. But I noticed the bread pudding on the regular menu is served with banana gelato, and gelato would have perfectly complimented this dessert. The Molten Dark Chocolate Torte was a tasty bite of rich chocolate sauce contained in a warm cakey-torte, but that's all it was, a bite. We actually had a good laugh about it as it was placed in front of Corinne. (I almost feel bad saying that, the poor little dessert, but....yes, we laughed at it!) 

Despite some uninspiring dessert offerings on their Restaurant Week menu, I like Bricco! Good company never hurts to maintain the fondness associated with a meal and an evening in general; but it is also the bustling urban atmosphere of this modern enoteca with a large yet intimate dining room, a sleek wine bar pouring inventive cocktails and a gorgeous open kitchen putting out solid dishes that makes it a North End destination I have come to adore and frequent.

Bricco Ristorante & Enoteca

241 Hanover St

Boston, MA 02113