Puritan & Co.

Here you have Chef Will Gilson's almost a decade-old original spot, Puritan & Company, and this is my first time here!! On our 3rd Wedding Anniversary in May of 2021 life was coming-out-of-the-fog but still on strict pandemic era time. Mask wearing was full on and tables were spaced strangely around restaurants like the ones here awkwardly fronting the bar. I was newly pregnant with my son, Ryder. I don't remember exactly what we ate but it went something like: crab toast, burrata salad, orecchiette in short rib ragout and brown butter cod over creamy risotto. Puritan’s team made us feel cozy and celebrated - and all the dishes of inspired New England fare were really, really good!

Puritan & Company

1166 Cambridge Street

Cambridge, MA 02139

Farmstead Table + Parish Café x Baby Camden

Dining out with baby Camden has been a success. He's pretty chill. Above we are enjoying a night out at Legal on the Mystic in Assembly Row. I didn't take any photos of that meal but him enjoying a rare bottle and the fact that I had the photo below ;)

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Farmstead Table in Newton Center is always a wonderful choice. In their clean intimate space we dined early and Camden mostly slept. 

A classic American country kitchen presents innovative plates with the freshest of the season. It looks like I ate a gorgeous crab and avocado dish topped with radish plated to resemble a tartare, plus grilled corn & cabbage tacos with avocado, cotija cheese, a spicy aioli and dusted with fresh chives.

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Parish Café escaped the blog all these years! I love it here for sure. Camden has a backup daycare in Back Bay so we will take a stroll and find somewhere to pop in for a bite. 

Their thing is gourmet sandwiches crafted by local chefs. The Bravas from Chef Cassie Piuma of Sarma Restaurant it INSANE. A grilled sesame torta bun is slathered with sweet onion butter, then layered with prosciutto, chorizo, manchego, crispy brussels sprouts, drizzled in a grand finale of hot sauce and garlic aioli. There are some notable Boston chefs on the menu - you can't go wrong as long as you get a sandwich. The tomato bisque with a deep fried grilled cheese crouton and basil is also next level. When Camden was first old enough to eat, the Baked Mac n Cheese with gruyere, romano, monterey jack and a Ritz cracker crumble got the job done!

Legal on the Mystic

301 Great River Road

Somerville, MA 02145

Farmstead Table

71 Union St

Newton Centre, MA 02459

Parish Café

361 Boylston St

Boston, MA

Honolulu | Eat + Drink

This recap includes the downtown city area of Honolulu which we ventured to twice, once for dinner at Sushi ii and once for lunch at Lucky Belly, as well as the posh city streets of Waikiki Beach. We found downtown Honolulu to be relatively quiet where as Waikiki was always bustling! 

We had our best meals of the trip on this leg of our Hawaiian journey; nowhere else overall compared to the restaurant and bar scene here. 

Mahina & Son's at The Surfjack Hotel + Swim Club 

[412 Lewers Street]

Surfjack Hotel is wonderfully hip. A retro Wish You Were Here tiled pool immediately invites you into the well manicured space. Mahina and Son's is an open concept that abuts hotel lounge and sun deck. 

We started with addicting, super spicy pickled peanuts with jalapenos. If you've never had pickled peanuts they are an absolute treat. I don't remember exactly what we drank but the cocktails were on par.

We hadn't yet tried Poi (taro root) which is a major Hawaiian crop / right of passage. It worked well in the Pa'a'ai Salad with pickled Akule (big eye scad), pohile (Hawaiian fiddlehead fern) and tomato. The first main was Monchong (Sickle Pomfret) with 'ulu (breadfruit), green bean, cherry tomato and chervil. The second was Opah (Moonfish) with savoy cabbage, purplette, u'ala (sweet potato) and a mustard-bacon broth. Dessert was the Dark Chocolate Butter Mochi with black sesame gelato and mango jam.

Sushi ii

[655 Keeaumoku St] 

An omakase menu is offered (go for it!) in this unassuming strip mall nook. A parade of impossibly fresh nigiri delights from Chef Hiro: lango, kinmedai, shima aji, toro, uni, hokkiado scallop, ikura, ama ebi...with a grand finale of miso soup!

Bar Leather Apron
[745 Fort Street Mall #127]

We ubered from Sushi ii to Bar Leather Apron for a night cap. This intimate cocktail den is located on the mezzanine level of the Topa Financial Center in downtown Honolulu. It is definitely a random, hidden location and it was a little tricky to find; part of the charm for sure. They have four old Fashioneds on the menu, naturally we each got one. 

Appetito

[150 Ka‘iulani Ave]

Appetito is a chic craft pizza and wine bar, which we chose on a whim. I took just one photo of this phenomenal pizza: KING CRAB SHISHITO with avocado, shishito peppers and arugula on a cream sauce drizzled with wasabi mayo. We had a really great time here, much in part to our amazing, personable bartender, who in hindsight I recognized as professional surfer Keala Kennelly. She totally made our night.

Queen Street Cafe + Grill
[99 Kauhale St, Aiea]

Queen St Café + Grill is actually located in Aiea - the town that Pearl Harbor is in. We had lunch time to fill between our morning arrival and our late afternoon tour of the USS Arizona, so we opted to venture off campus instead of hitting up the hot dog cart with everyone else. I'm so glad we did! (Pearl Harbor has no entrance fees or parking fees so it's easy to leave and come back in one day.) The Poke Bowl Lunch at this no frills café is easily one of the best I had. You can mix and match so I had tuna and beef with pasta salad and white rice, Bob had chicken and beef with potato salad and brown rice.

Lucky Belly
[50 N Hotel St]

We stopped in Chinatown for lunch after we checked out of The Alohilani and before we headed for the North Shore. Lucky Belly was host to a decent lunch hour crowd. We sat at the bar and sipped ice cold Asahi Beers alongside delicious food. Bob had Tempura Shrimp Tacos topped with asian slaw and yuzu mayo. As for me, you know I can't pass up a good bowl of Ramen (I think this was my third so far in Hawaii!) The Lucky Bowl with bean sprouts, soft egg, wakame, sesame seeds, green onion and ginger was excellent.

The Beach Bar @ Moana Surfrider Hotel
[2365 Kalakaua Ave]

Moana Surfrider is a Westin Resort & Spa right on Waikiki Beach. This was our favorite place for cocktails - the nicest bartenders, live music, hula dancing, and you are literally steps from the sand. 

We absolutely loved the food scene in Honolulu and would give all these spots our vote of approval. 

Committee | Greek Mezze

These photos marked my first time eating at Committee and there has been a second visit since for a Verizon Connect Boston event. I was really impressed on both occasions. The Greek + Mediterranean food, wine + cocktails, plus the personalized service here are a delight. The Verizon influencer event was open bar so we took advantage of the opportunity to try plenty of cocktails. The beverage program is fun, thoughtful and creative and I can say the same regarding the food. 

Tyrokafteri ($8) Florina pepper stuffed with feta and hot peppers

Brussels Sprouts ($14) petimezi roasted, halloumi, sweet potato skordalia

Crab Katafi ($16) lump crab, whipped feta, pomegranate, phyllo

Committee - a modern day Greek Ouzerie - a vibrant gathering place that I have come to frequent and enjoy!

Committee

50 Northern Ave

Boston, MA

Charleston (Bachelorette Style!) Eat + Drink

We threw my sister a bachelorette party in sunny Isle of Palms + Charleston, South Carolina. We stayed in a house on Isle of Palms which is a 40 minute drive from downtown Charleston and had SO MUCH FUN. I had been to Charleston before but this time the area captured my affections on a deeper level. Sometimes it takes a second go round to really fall for a place.

I think bachelorette party details can be super helpful to those planning one. If you want to see the itinerary I put together, definitely inquire! Otherwise, most of the recommends below apply to just about anyone planning a trip. 

Friday Lunch: Minero | 153 East Bay Street | Charleston

Minero is a casual Mexican eatery from James Beard award winning chef Sean Brock. We sipped on a Watermelon Margarita ($9) and a Mezcal Marg ($11) and noshed on fantastic Tacos ($4.50) - Fried Catfish, Charcoal Grilled Chicken + Taco al Pastor. Minero was a perfect first stop in historic downtown Charleston!  

Post Lunch Libations: Vendue Rooftop | 19 Vendue Range | Charleston

The Vendue was the only overlapping spot from my previous trip. The double tier rooftop is sprawling and the views are pretty great!

Friday Night Dinner: Long Island Café | 1515 Palm Blvd | Isle of Palms

All the IOP locals will recommend to you this gem. Tucked inside the main shopping plaza, it presents a modest and unassuming front. Enter: a beachy oasis serving local seafood emphasizing classic French flavors with a South Carolina flare. We absolutely loved everything - pictured is the Local Handmade Seafood Pasta. 

Post Dinner Libations: The Windjammer | 1008 Ocean Blvd | Isle of Palms

One hell of a beach bar. There was an awesome 90's cover band. We jammed out until 1:30. Solid first night!

Saturday Pre Dinner Drinks: The Bar at Husk | 76 Queen Street | Charleston

In a rough hewn restored space, The Bar at Husk recalls a bygone era of Charleston nightlife and pays homage to traditional southern spirits. Their cocktails are a revelation. We drank Through the Garden ($12) with rum, Green Chartreuse, red pepper, agave, lime, calamansi vinegar + basil and Don't Call Me Sweetheart ($11) with rum, brandy, strawberry, house rhubarb shrub, mint, black pepper + lemon. Definitely pay a visit to The Bat at Husk when you are in town!

Saturday Night Dinner: The Ordinary | 544 King Street 

 Many people will tell you The Ordinary is the best restaurant in Charleston. They would not be wrong. This is Chef Mike Lata's fancy oyster hall in a restored bank and his food is everything. They also have a phenomenal wine and (Rum only!) cocktail program. 

Ordinary Hawaiian Rolls ($5) sea salt butter
Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Toast ($18) tomato, jalapeno, parsley
Milk Punch ($14) Milk Washed Rhum, grapefruit, lime, Luxardo Maraschino

Snapper Ceviche ($17) cucumber, avocado
Heirloom Tomato Salad ($14) goat cheese, pesto

Steamed Porgy ($20 ) banana leaf, roasted figs

Zucchini Carpaccio ($12) almond, mint, pecorino

Foradori 'Fontanasanta' Nisiola ($95) Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, 2014 - an excellent and unique white wine - aged in terra cotta!
Spicy Yellowfin Tuna ($15) Sea Salt Potato Chips

Don't even get me started on dessert. This might have been my favorite part and I rarely succumb to that notion. The girls and I will be talking about this meal for a long time to come. 

Carolina Gold Rice Pudding ($8) blackberry, basil

Chocolate Hazelnut Budino ($10) sea salt, caramel

Post Dinner Libations: Republic Garden + Lounge | 452 King Street 
One of the bridesmaids booked us a table at Republic. Having a couch area + bottle service on the patio was the key to a really fun night here. Also, we are wearing all white this evening at the brides request - turns out this is a clever way to remain inconspicuous - resisting the bachelorette party cliches!

Sunday Night Dinner: The Obstinate Daughter | 2063 Middle Street | Sullivan's Island

The Obstinate Daughter is another one of those hot spots on the radar of everyone in Charleston. Eclectic American fare including pizza, pasta and a raw bar are served in an elegant, country meets nautical infused space. This was an impromptu Sunday night dinner after a long day of boating when just three of us remained. Aimée declared it her favorite, ranking it even higher than The Ordinary. Yes, the food was ridiculous, but the service was also some of the best I've received.  Our waitress was laid back and effortlessly enthusiastic at the same time. She 100% made our night. Desserts are on another level. Save room. 

Summer Peaches ($14) prosciutto, tomato, pepper, gorgonzola vinaigrette
Obstinate Flatbread ($6) olive oil, Bulls Bay sea salt, butterbean puree)

Blistered Shishito Peppers ($7)

Catalan Seafood Stew ($27) fish, shrimp, oyster, clam, chorizo, almond

Rigatoncini ($19) fennel and sausage ragu, parmesan

Dark Chocolate Olive Oil Cake | olive oil gelato
Lemon Ricotta Pound Cake | mascarpone whipped cream, blueberry-blackberry sauce (just so good that it deserved two close ups!)

Monday Breakfast: The Refuge | Isle of Palms 

The Refuge is a sweet little coffee bar and adjoining restaurant located in the main IOP Plaza (right next to Long Island Café). We mostly cooked breakfast at home but on our last morning we grabbed coffees and a Greek yogurt parfait to go; then walked the beach one last time before checking out of our rental house and heading downtown to explore The Battery / Waterfront.

Monday Lunch: Caviar + Banana's | 51 George Street

Carviar and Bananas is a gourmet market and café serving sandwiches, salads, sushi, beer + wine. This was the perfect spot to grab a bite and a can of local beer after shopping on King Street and before heading to the airport. Pictured is my Pimento Cheese BLT with applewood smoked bacon and green tomatoes on toasted sourdough. 

In between all this good food we were at 29th Street beach or boating around the gorgeous waterways of the inter-coastal / Morris Island / Folly Beach / Shem Creek. The South Carolina coast is remarkable.