Brighton Bodega

Here today with a compilation of dishes I've had at one of my favorite spots: Brighton Bodega. 

A wealth of variety is offered through globally inspired small plates which are filling and big on flavor. The beverage program is impeccable with 20 draft lines host to some of the best New England craft beers, a seasonally focused cocktail menu with house made sodas and syrups, and eclectic, boutique driven wines. 

in order (mostly!)

The Bohdi Tree - plymouth gin, matcha tea syrup, cucumber, lime + eucalyptus bitters, mint

goat cheese stuffed dates with almond za'atar and apricot honey 

smoked salmon carbonara

fresh, briny, perfectly shucked oysters

black truffle gnocchi mac n cheese (S U B L I M E)

fried burrata in San Marzano Marinara (H E A V E N)

warm fluffy bao stuffed to the brim with fried chicken, lettuce and pickles

Korean BBQ Kalbi short ribs 

more warm fluffy bao this time with crispy duck confit bathed in hoi-sin

spicy chicken drumettes

Located in Brighton Center, this spot has felt like a neighborhood godsend since it opened. 

Brighton Bodega

328 Washington St

Brighton, MA 02135

Saltie Girl

You guys!! I'm finally getting around to sharing my dinner at Saltie Girl, where one of the most talked about food trends - tinned seafood! reigns supreme. 

This was an impromptu dinner on August 2nd;  a memorable summer night because we had just taken our engagement photos. I was wearing my late grandmother Julia Fenton's vintage party dress and feeling like a 1960's goddess as we gallivanted about our final shoot location on the Esplanade. 

Ready to celebrate the evening we ended up at OAK Long Bar + Kitchen for fancy martini service before Saltie Girl coaxed us in. As luck would have it we entered just as two cozy seats opened up at the far end of the bar. Serving seasonally-inspired, fresh and tinned iterations of seafood, the intimate restaurant set in a regal brownstone at Dartmouth + Newbury affirmed one of my favorite evenings of the summer with fantastic food and wine. 

We choose first from a variety of toasts - the Smoked Salmon with greek yogurt, truffle wildflower honey and cured yolk on potato bread was a revelation. Second, from the hyped, exceptionally curated menu of tinned fish the Tuna Filets in olive oil come with piquillo peppers, artisan bread and hand churned butter on a handsome slate board. Tinned fish is much more expensive than I expected; it was very good though! We also shared Toasted Handmade Gnocchi with caviar, and absolutely could not pass up Saltie Girl's Fried Lobsters and Waffles with sweet corn butter and spicy maple syrup. 

Saltie Girl

28 Dartmouth Street

Boston, MA 02116

Cultivar

Cultivar is Downtown's newest darling offering a bevy of earthy delights from Chef Mary Dumont (and her hydroponic garden). I've already been twice!

Cultivar 

@ The Ames Boston Hotel

1 Court Street

Boston, MA 02108

George Howell Coffee

HAPPY NEW YEAR, dear friends and readers!! 

I thought it would be fun to kick off 2017 with a post dedicated to one of my favorite openings of this past year, George Howell Coffee. 

George Howell features hand poured single estate and micro lot coffees that come together with high quality brewing equipment and skilled baristas; resulting in exceptional coffee and espresso drinks.  Because of them, (along with supporting roles by Gracenote and Caffè Nero) I became a very spoiled coffee drinker in 2016. 

The clean, light filled cafe located downtown at The Godfrey Hotel with a beautiful contemporary art aesthetic has become my go to for a mid afternoon cortado or cappuccino office escape. It offers a warm embrace when I'm in need of a 15 minute recharge - a quiet moment to collect my thoughts away from the computer screen.

A terrific pastry selection (Union Square Donuts!) and impeccably made toasts and sandwiches have given them a permanent spot on the breakfast and lunch rotation. 

In order of appearance: 

Cappuccino ($3.75)

outside looking in from Temple Place

Cortado ($3.50)

Huichol Indians of Mexico art installation

Smoked Salmon, creme fraiche, red onion, shaved radish on sourdough ($8)

espresso machine
pretty tile floors

Union Square Donuts | Belgian Dark Chocolate 
Avocado Toast with chili + lemon on sourdough ($6)
Single Cup Pour Over: Mamuto AA, Kenya | blackberry, dark plum, black grape ($6) 

Godfrey Hotel lobby bathroom selfie

Frozen Coffee ($4.50) (The Original Frappucino)

Chai MEM Tea Latte ($4)
Union Square Donuts | Brown Butter Hazelnut Crunch 

looking through to the Godfrey Hotel Lobby

Wolf Meadow Farms Primo Sale + Cheddar Grilled Cheese on sourdough ($8)

George Howell Coffee
505 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02210