Waypoint

Chef Michael Scelfo has done it again. Get yourself to his new restaurant Waypoint and without a doubt order the Uni Bucatini and the King Crab. There are some dishes that manage to get an entire city buzzing, and these are two of them. 

In an unassuming, sort of hidden subterranean industrial space on Mass Ave between Harvard and Central squares, Waypoint lures fans of Alden + Harlow with contemporary seafood focused plates and an absinthe centric bar menu. There's so much more than two of us could try in one visit - like crudo and caviar and clam pizza. It is an experience much like the Choose Your Own Adventure Books that the checks come delivered in; no matter which way the menu inspires you to tailor your order, you won't be disappointed! 

The interior is warmly lit by a distinctive neon green fish sign and a parade of hand blown glass lamps. Large and small booths tuck perfectly into cozy spaces, while communal high tops front the area between the bar and the open kitchen. Creamy marble table tops and gorgeous herringbone inlaid walls catch my eye. It is a space that is both buzzing and soothing all at once.

As far as the aforementioned dishes go - the intensely comforting Uni Bucatini ($18) offers thrilling heaps of sweet uni, a runny smoked egg yolk, pecorino crumbles and bottarga shavings among hollow strands of the al dente pasta. Plump and fresh King Crab ($22) is piled atop a heavenly chili garlic oil, a creamy brown butter aoili and toasty black rice; lending playful, contrasting textures and harmonizing flavors. 

Meanwhile, our other two dishes are not to be overlooked: Grilled Monkfish Cheeks with squid inked eggplant and kohlrabi salsa verde, along with a Squid Ink Gemelli ($17) featuring benton's ham, swordfish lardo, smoked pignola + pecorino crumble prove all of Waypoint's alluring coastal cuisine dishes shine. 

Being on a mezcal kick I passed up the tales of absinthe section and went with a house original called Portside ($12) with mezcal, manzanilla sherry, pickled cherry pepper, honey + lime. It was smokey yet balanced with a little fiery kick. Later on, a really funky, seafood-friendly wine appropriate for fans of sour beer, the Denavolo "Dinavolino" ($15) from Emilia-Romagna, Italy is a delicious, unexpected discovery. 

Waypoint
1030 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138

whole garden dinner | Alden & Harlow

The ladies and I planned our August get together at Alden & Harlow for a Whole Garden Dinner; a summer dinner series which featured a produce-centric menu from a different local farm each Tuesday. The chef's preparations on this evening beautifully showcased the bounty of fruits and vegetables from The Food Project farms. 

Seated comfortably in a gray booth and thick leather chairs set against the restaurants leafy green live wall, we opted in for the wine pairings starting with pink bubbly from France: NV Cote Mas Cremant de Limoux a Brut Rose chardonnay/pinot noir blend. (See the rest of the wines, below)

 To begin the feast: Pickles! Then, plates of Fried Shishitos with anchovy and grated egg yolk and a gorgeous Vegetable Crudite with Bagna Cauda (a garlic and anchovy infused olive oil for dipping.) The Bagna Cauda was a sensational compliment to the french radishes, snap peas, heirloom tomatoes and slivers of summer squash and zucchini. We had so many vegetables between the ten of us, I got to take a large portion of that plate home and I made an incredible salad with it the next evening. Vegetables that beautiful could not be wasted.

Next arrives heaping vegetarian plates of Stewed Pole Beans and Seared Japanese Eggplant which is insanely good with crumbles of sheeps milk cheese, basil, fregola and garlic. The pole beans proved flavorful and hearty with cherry tomatoes and torn crouton hunks. 

After we polished off the second course a platter of Grilled Potatoes smothered in Za'atar aioli with a pickled pepper and corn relish and a Kale Creste de Gallo with egg and fresh milled tomato grace us. The grilled potatoes were tasty but the Kale pasta overcooked and soggy. The latter plates outshined these. 

For the finale a dreamy Apricot Parfait with cardamom cream. It was perfect!  

Alden & Harlow brilliantly showcased the freshness of the farms produce, inventively dressing them up and incorporating flavors that shined. They expertly paired them with delicious wines. Bravo! 

See my first Alden & Harlow post here.

Alden & Harlow

In a sprawling subterranean space at 40 Brattle Street in Harvard Square, Alden & Harlow hides out, but its opening was no secret. Chef / owner Michael Scelfo has been creating a buzz for quite sometime on his personal instagram feed, where we got to watch the entire process of creating Alden & Harlow first hand. The interior he (and his wife) have designed is striking, beginning with the bright green live wall booths section growing pretty succulents, lush ferns and kitchen herbs. It catches your eye as you first descend into the restaurant, followed by handsome walls of reclaimed brick wood, vintage advertisements and rustic light fixtures. The long bar backlit with warm lighting and shiny white tile wraps around into the main dining room where the open kitchen and marble chefs table reside. The restaurant is so much larger than one would expect, with a smooth, composed energy flowing about it and among the waitstaff. 

In a cozy window side nook table, my sister and I made our way through the cocktail menu and the inventive, share-able plates. The cocktails are well thought out and delicious, however, I wondered why those martini glasses weren't arriving just a little more full. I sipped the bright, herbal McGregor's Garden ($11) made of Fighting Cock Bourbon, Spiced Parsnip Puree, Benedictine and lemon. And later the Plaza Hotel ($11) with McElhone Revived (their draft spirit), Overproof Bourbon, Fennel Infused Lillet and Campari. I am so into vegetal cocktails: PARSNIP in the first and FENNEL in the second. Amazing. 

The food is excellent. Flavor and ingredient pairings are exciting and unexpected. I've certainly never had Charred Broccoli ($8) this good. It comes elevated with a sweet squash hummus and is finished with a dusting of montasio (fresco cheese) and cashew crumbles. Smoked Moosabeck Farms Mussels ($8) tumble off a parsley crostino with tarragon and aioli, proving a lighter plate perfect to start off the meal. The Secret Burger ($14) is an incredibly juicy 8 ounces of House Creekstone Grind on an extra large, lightly grilled, sea-salted house made roll. It also comes with what the menu describes as "Your Faith" - an anchovy Russian dressing, a pile of crisp shredded lettuce and a parmesan cheese crisp! We finish dinner with a ridiculously rich dish of House Made Rye Pasta ($15) - plump creste de gallo coils with chicken confit thigh, crispy skin and fig and liver butter. I can't wait to return. 

Alden & Harlow

40 Brattle Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

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!

Resting Violets | Russel House Tavern

corazon reposado tequila, dry vermouth, creme de violette, st germain, orange bitters

The ingredient list is robust. Tequila, vermouth and a double dose of liquors plus a dash of orange bitters; this shiny grey and purple hued martini seamlessly combines five ingredients for a remarkably clean tasting drink. The versatile liquors:Creme de Violette and St Germain play nicely together, lending their distinctly floral and sweet notes upfront. The vermouth subtly adds its dryness into the mix and provides necessary balance. Then the tequila kicks in, exactly as you'd hoped it would for a final punch at the end. Order this gem the next time you find yourself bar side at Russel House Tavern. 

P.S. lunch at Russel House here and dinner (restaurant week) here.

John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

Descending below the bustling streets of Harvard Square an expansive brew house which first opened in 1992 greets guests with eclectic stained glass windows set against exposed brick and stone walls. John Harvard's underwent a makeover this summer, it appears shiny and fresh faced, outfitted with 11 plasma TVs and a new sound and lighting system. (I have no past visits with which to compare, but the space certainly looks great.) Mahogany pub tables and a 20-seat bar overlook the now visible brewery, while the dining rooms expands backwards into cozy nooks met by original wood pilings.  

The re-opening kicked off with a three course meal paired with their signature craft beers. My sister and I started with some 16 oz suds, their hoppy West Coast Pale Ale and their copper colored JHBH Pale Ale, along with a plate of Point Judith Calamari. The rings were a little tough and overly crisp, though the spicy tomato sauce, green onions, cherry peppers and Parmesan cheese added some nice flavors.

Our Caesar salads were tasty, perfectly dressed and thoughtfully paired with a pour of the Tripel Bottom Line. This sweet belgian ale is fermented at elevated temps and aged in American Oak. The creaminess of both the caesar dressing and the tripel played off one another for a well rounded pair. 

For our entrees we both went with the Bourbon and Ale Salmon, a hearty piece of fish, flame grilled (those grill marks!) and served with french green beans, roasted red peppers, English peas and tendrils and a chili glaze. 

Despite being slightly overcooked, resulting in a dry and less flaky piece of fish than I had hoped, it had terrific flavor where the char grilled smokiness was accented nicely by the sweet and tangy chili glaze. The green beans were excellent and worked in the dishes favor. Paired with this course was the West Coast Pale Ale where a mash up of Amarillo and Columbus hops produce a complex and satisfying beer.

We ended with a moist and gooey Flourless Chocolate Torte served with fluffy whipped cream and blueberries, alongside a dark and intricate Monticello Porter - a colonial era Baltic brew. 

At this subterranean neighborhood Brewery and Ale House, classic American dishes meet superbly crafted beers. Live entertainment in the form a doo wop acapella group making the rounds, plus our all around awesome and engaging waiter added up to a really enjoyable evening. Welcome back, John Harvard's!

I attended this dinner as media, the food and beers were complimentary.