Glass Hostaria | Trastevere

When there is a Michelin-starred restaurant run by a notable chef at the top of your street, you go! Chef Cristina Bowerman's gastronomic cuisine stands out in a sea of trattorias. It is always preferable to make a reservation at a Michelin star but you wouldn't necessarily need one at Glass far in advance. Contemporary Italian fine dining is not what the crowd in Trastevere leans towards so the sleek glass and gold-accented dining room was not busy. Because we were in town so many nights dining here was a welcome change of pace, the meal certainly noteworthy. Camden slept until dessert, the little angel! 

Dueling amuse bouche to prelude meal were crisp pickled vegetable tacos and mojito globes. Yes, it is liquid inside those balancing spheres! Then, a refreshing tomato and raspberry gazpacho. The Beef Filet Tartare appetizer with celery, nashi pear, smoked Sardinan sauce and quail egg was outstanding!

Our Massolino Barolo was an elegant, savory, refined bottle of red wine. The pasta courses were small but exquisite - Tortelli stuffed with rabbit, coconut sauce, green curry and pine nuts. Gnocci with sea urchin, black garlic bagancauda, salted lemon and truffle.

Dessert + Petit Fours were on another level. The first featured condensed milk, espresso jelly and Baileys ice cream! The second amazed with passion fruit, popcorn ice cream and caramelized popcorn.

I wrote a note with our reservation request so they knew we had a baby in a stroller and to actually make sure it was OK to dine with him. They were more than welcoming and by the end of the night I think every waitress had held and got to know Camden. It was really, really sweet!!! When we were outside at Bar Del Cinque the following evening, our waitress spotted Camden and came over to see him.

Proving you can go all out Michelin Star dining with an infant, Glass Hostaria 10/10

Glass Hostaria 

Vicolo de' Cinque, 58

00153, Rome

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*

UpStairs on the Square | Tomatoes Galore

I have a feeling that the tomato and my love for it need no introduction. See this post from the tomato feast at UpStairs in 2010 and this one from a couple weeks ago at Bistro 5's heirloom celebration. At this dinner Michelle, Meghan, Megan and I celebrated more than just tomatoes but two years of friendships. It is pretty remarkable when events like this mark the passage of time - nearly everyone's lives are in a different place - whether we've moved, have a new job, have gotten engaged, or a combination of the above! 

Visiting UpStairs on the Square is like attending a festive soiree, its originality and charm resonate each time I return. We gathered first at the Monday Club Bar with a vibrant purple and green color scheme where a serpentine lilac bar commands the space. 

I started with a bubbly aperitif made with Aperol, fresh grapefruit and rosemary called Aprile ($11). The intense rosemary scent was cleansing and offered a lovely accent to the bitter sweetness of the Aperol.  Once we settled in among the jewel toned dining room enveloped by plush lavender booths and flickering gold accents, we began the tasting with an amuse bouche featuring juicy tomatoes with tender pork rillets over a piece of toast. 

A light bodied yet vibrant Boony Doon Albariño was poured to pair with the first course. Offering an acidic medley of grapefruit and lemon peel, the refreshing, silky texture matched that of the Green Zebra Tomato Gazpacho with green olive oil, crème fraiche, chives and rosemary. I scraped my bowl clean, this was a terrific first course. 
Then came a Brandywine Tomato Salad with radish, peach, lobster and nasturtium flowers. I never imagined lobster and peach together, they work exceptionally well. I am also a big fan (after this meal) of anything featuring the edible nasturtium flower. Its leaves offer a delectable peppery punch. At this point we are drinking a food friendly Sybille Kuntz Riesling, Mosel, made from organic German grapes resulting in delicate, dry and ultra crisp sips. 

The entrée is a hearty, tender Fire Roasted Berkshire Pork dusted in Fresh fennel pollen over smoked tomato molasses with bitter greens. 

This pork chop was a real treat alongside a vibrant Occhipinti Frappato, Sicily which balanced tart red fruits with a distinct earthiness.

I expected a little more from the dessert! While the Tomato Sorbet with candied pine nuts was lovely, it was similar to but not as incredible as the dessert from the last tomato tasting. The pungent sorbet did benefit from the final wine pairing, De Trafford Vin de Paille, a sweet but not cloying straw wine from South Africa.

UpStairs on The Square usually hosts their heirloom tomato series for a short period of time in the month of August. It is definitely a treat to attend and a tradition I have come to love! 

Heirloom Tomato Celebration | Bistro 5

All hail the magnificent heirloom tomato. I love that chefs around the city not only look to embrace the summer fruit in its prime, but become giddy at the prospect of cooking with it. They patiently wait for the high season, eager to get their hands on fresh, ripe, perfectly imperfect, locally grown heirloom varietals. In its peak the tomato is incomparable to those mealy, off season, uniformly round and shaped for the consumer brands. The in-season tomato is so beloved, so cherished. 

Chef Vittorio Ettore is one enthusiast, he practically worships them, and in their honor prepares a five course tasting menu annually at his West Medford restaurant Bistro 5. The excitement is palpable and the anticipation of this years menu builds as I listen to the chef speak about his inspirations while munching on soft, herb studded foccacia bread with chickpea puree over fruity green hued olive oil. What follows is a parade of courses that celebrate the late summer fruit in a sophisticated meets ethereal fashion. 

For our first course of Cherokee Tomato Gazpacho, a gorgeous pearly white scallop ceviche is punctuated with a beautiful Cherokee tomato broth and a quenelle of refreshing cucumber-jalapeno sorbet, garnished with a leaf of lemon basil.

Then, the chef swirls in an enchanting gazpacho cloud. He is creating a masterpiece where the foam itself is velvety and frothy adding remarkable depth and flavor. The dish strikes a high note, it is truly outstanding. 

The wine paired with this course is a 2011 Cantina Santa Maria La Palma, Aragosta, Vermentino di Sardegna. I think this is my first time trying the Vermentino white grape varietal and I adore it (along with that lobster on the bottle!) The wine is fresh and lively with notes of ripe apple, it finishes dry and is a particularly divine match with the scallops.

The Potted Tomato Panzenella is thoughtfully conceived and brilliantly executed. A whimsical presentation is inspired by the scent of a tomato garden with actual tomato plant leaves fancied as a garnish. Pineapple tomato and crusty bread mingle in a mini terra cotta pot with black olive "soil", topped with a mozzarella balloon that has been fused with a tomato mousse and then dusted in panko breadcrumbs. 

Another lovely bottle of wine accompanies, 2011 Domaine de Saint Pierre, Sancerre, Liore. It is high in acidity and tasting of green melon and citrus with a distinct chalky finish. 

Course number three is a dynamic Lemon Boy Tomato Risotto laced with soft tangy goat cheese and crispy prosciutto, paired with a 2011 Domaine de la Solitude, Rosé, Côtes du Rhône. I am fond of both the Risotto and the Rose, in this instance they are a perfect match. This dinner is turning out to impress far beyond my expectations and making that crowded bus ride all the way out to quiet West Medford square and later my cab ride home, well worth it. 

The fourth course presents an expertly seared Rohan Duck served with sweet and sour butternut squash, Thai basil and pickled ginger. Alongside is a head turning Smoked Speckled Roman Tomato Crème Brulee. 

A savory, smokey crème brulee? For the entrée course? Yes and yes, for the win. The wine continues to impress, we've moved to a red, a 2007 Vingneti Zabù, Il Passo, Sicilia which is a Nero d'Avola and Merlot blend with ripe blackberry and cherry, leading to a long velvety finish. It is fantastic with the meat.

Chef labels the dessert course Tomatina, it is equal parts creamy Organic Peach Tomato Mousse and a fanfare of a presentation inspired by the famous tomato fight in Spain. A splattering of vanilla crème anglaise and sweet pistachio pesto come with a neat little bowl of basil yogurt gelato on the side. The dessert wine is a sweet frizzante, 2011 Zagara, Moscato d'Asti, Barolo. It is extremely refined and feels fancy to sip.

This heirloom tomato tasting menu is not tomato as you might expect it; Chef Ettore elevates classic Italian dishes with an innovative use of ingredients and playfully inspired twists which translate real life moments and experiences onto the plate. Additionally, the wines are interesting and expertly paired. 

Bistro 5 will be offering the tasting menu, which changes daily based on the heirloom varietals availability, from September 5th   - 29th. {3 courses for $45/wine pairing $20 or 5 courses for $65/wine pairing $25} I attended this preview tasting as media and my dinner was complimentary.