sycamore | newton centre

An upscale neighborhood bistro perfect for date night. Consistently winning Best of Boston awards since they opened in 2013. Tempura soft-shell crab with green sriracha. Polenta fries. Unique homemade pasta dishes. Exquisite fish entrées like bluefish with rabe pesto, chickpeas, and sweet pepper jam. Strawberry rhubarb angel food cake with hibiscus sorbet. Beignets with salted caramel sauce. The menu is always changing and no matter what, it is always exceptional. If you ask me for a restaurant recommendation in Boston, I'll ask if you don't mind venturing slightly outside the city because sycamore is consistently at the top of my list. With an easily accessible location in Newton Centre on the Green (D) line, sycamore really is a must if you're looking for somewhere new to impress! 

sycamore.

755 Beacon St

Newton, MA 02459

Masa Taqueria + Tequila Bar | Woburn

I have always been a fan of the South End's Masa for spicy cocktails and margaritas, tasty southwestern inspired food, and their fantastic brunch.

Last Saturday I paid my first visit to their recently revamped Woburn counterpart, Masa Taquieria & Tequila Bar (formerly Masa Southwest Bar & Grill). They've updated their menu, décor and website - all that's left seems to be the outdoor signage. The interior transports diners from a typical suburban strip mall to somewhere much more sophisticated; yet the vibe still remains casual and relaxed. Comfy chocolate leather booths meet white exposed brick walls which are home to a large collection of colorful Mexican posters - notably retro travel adds, accented by rainbow painted wainscoting. Zorro chandeliers and punched metal Southwestern light sconces envelope the space in a warm glow. 

They have some new interactive touches - a Hola! sign you can clip into a memo stand if you need the waitress' attention and a mini index card of the menu to select your food. 

A tres chile margarita ($11.50) was in order first. The jalapeño infused blanco tequila + anaheim + poblanos (the thres chiles!) brought a fantastic heat. This marg was a perfect pairing with creamy guacamole (small/$5) where large slices of ripe avocado are laced with red onions, garlic + lime and served with high quality tortilla chips. 

They have a large selection of tequilas, plus tequila flights and a few mezcals, although we stuck to cocktails this evening. The high noon ($10.5) with high west bourbon, lemon, luxardo, and domaine de canton was good - definitely on the sweeter side. The habanero watermelon margarita ($12) was a favorite I recognized from the South End's menu; habanero infused resposado tequila, triple sec and watermelon puree are a winning combination. (I even replicated this at home for a fourth of july party one year - a big hit!)

Off the specials menu Bob enjoyed the Grilled Swordfish over sautéed kale and butternut squash polenta. It was juicy and tender, a well executed piece of fish. I was excited about my Small Taco Combo ($26) which included six tacos, one tamale, rice, beans and grilled mexican corn. The tacos are miniature - two or three bites worth and are also offered individually for $2.75 - $3.75. I ordered: chorizo with cranberry salsa, portobello mushroom with cotija cheese, charred shrimp with sweet pepper slaw, slow cooked chicken with roasted tomato salsa, crispy cod fish with garlic aoili and carne asada with pico de gallo. I honestly don't think they can make a bad taco! And I loved the opportunity for variety. The rice and beans were surprisingly lackluster. I liked the corn tamale and the street corn though, so overall the taco combo was solid.

The churros ($7) shaped to resemble heavy crullers were deceiving! Not to worry, the first bite revealed a light and airy, ever so slightly crisp and piping hot churro, alongside a rich, warm, bittersweet chocolate sauce for dipping. For dessert, these are a no-brainer. 

Masa Taqueria + Tequila Bar
Woburn Plaza Shopping Center

350 Cambridge Rd.

Woburn, MA 01801

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

La Bastide Bed & Breakfast + Dundee Eats

I can't say enough about how lovely our accommodations were in the Willamette Valley. La Bastide Bed & Breakfast was comfortable, relaxing, and a touch romantic; the perfect spot to end our Oregon adventures. The innkeepers Mark and Elizabeth built the house just recently in 2014; the name referring to a country home in Provence, France, with a nod to their personal style and the style of wines in Dundee. Our second floor room had soft new carpets underfoot, crisp white linens, tasteful artwork, breezy curtains, a walk in closet, a gas fireplace and a spacious bathroom. We had a charming view of the neighboring Hyland Estates. And if the photos are any indication - Elizabeth's elegant two-course breakfasts were also a highlight of our stay. 

La Bastide is located just off the main road in Dundee. It was an easy walk to dinner and it is within two miles of 25 tasting rooms and wineries. Currently they are operating 3 guest rooms and plan to have 7 up and running in the coming months. 

La Bastide Bed & Breakfast
21150 NE Niederberger Road
Dundee, Oregon 97115

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 We enjoyed thoughtfully prepared Northwest wine country cuisine and a romantic setting at Tina's for dinner on our first evening.

We started with classic cocktails. An Old Fashioned ($11) Makers Mark with muddled cherry, orange & a bitters-soaked sugar lump for him and an Añejo Marguerita ($11) classic, everything fresh squeezed with Cointreau & a salty rim for her. The House Salad ($8) with organic greens, shallot vinaigrette, parmesan & hazelnuts is substantial and the Pumpkin Soup ($8) divine. Entrees are hearty and gorgeously executed. The Duck Breast ($34) is seared and roasted with creamy fried polenta, braised greens and a green peppercorn sauce. The Lamb Rack ($44) features heirloom green beans, Yukon gold-horseradish rösti and a Riesling beurre blanc. For dessert a Chocolate Soufflé Cake ($10) with house made ice cream is a perfect end to a wonderful meal.

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And on our second evening after a full day of wine tasting (our last one just upstairs at Domaine Trouvere) it was the casual vibe and good eats at Red Hills Market that drew us in.

 We kept it simple, sharing a couple beers served in mason jars, a delicious Potato Soup ($5) and wood fired Margarita Pizza ($12). 

And that's a wrap! We're done with Oregon! I'm officially ending on a Margarita Pizza and beers in downtown Dundee. Thank you for following along as I got to re-live this adventure. If you are considering planning a trip to the incredible state that is Oregon - DO IT!!

Skiing in The Alps

Skiing in Europe means your typical east coast assembly-line-style cafeteria food gets replaced with cozy alpine lodges and quaint mountainside cafes. The food on the slopes was nothing short of amazing.

One day we skied at Domanie du Balme, starting in the village of Le Tour, and venturing down into the little town of Vallorcine on the Swiss border. Le Cafe Comptoir sat tucked at the edge where the mountain meets the village. We sat outside and enjoyed live music, truffle ravioli with prosciutto, a side of frites and a liter of Rose. We learned it was the cafes birthday when they started handing out free vin chaud. Luckily, the pistes at Domaine du Balme are beginner to intermediate so an afternoon of buzzed skiing worked out well here. 

We spent a day in Courmayeur, Italy, where I was extremely fond of the tree skiing and their perfectly cooked al dente pasta. It was snowing heavy and visibility on the slopes was low. We skied untouched powder in the glades all morning and then discovered the food at Christiania that afternoon. A warm, family run ristorante; here we indulged in a heaping plate of cured antipasti meats, taggliolini in a hearty ragu, warm polenta baked with cheese and wild mushrooms, creamy pesto gnocchi and more. All this was followed by fluffy mascarpone infused tiramisu, frothy cappuccinos and sweet limoncello. 

The day we skied Brévent-Flégère we ate mushroom soup with parmesan croutons and jamon et fromage baguettes at La Chavanne.  At this mid mountain outdoor bar they had a live rock band, towers of beer, gorgeous views, a hot tub! It was a Monday afternoon, so still the beginning of the trip, and I remember having to pinch myself as I took it all in. Is this really my life for the week? 

On our final day, after a fantastic morning of skiing off piste at Les Grand Montets with our guide Pierre, it felt like Chalet Refuge de Lognan appeared out of nowhere in between the powder and the trees. At our table for 12 we drank red wine and ate humble plates of leafy green salads in a mustard vinaigrette followed by croutes au fromage (baked bread and cheese) with mushrooms and tomate. For dessert, soft slices of chestnut cake and steaming cups of espresso.

How I adore this crew! It was the trip of a lifetime.