Oak + Rowan

The next up and comer in Fort Point neighborhood is Oak + Rowan and this restaurant is something special. For an evening out with some of my favorite ladies they took such good care of us - and it was a long night fueled by multiple bottles of bubbly and lots of terrific courses.

Choose from six cocktails listed on the menu by type of alcohol: Tequila, Ginger Cider, Bourbon, Scotch, Vodka or Gin, made table-side from a fancy bar cart! I had the Bourbon -  which is a Swedish Punch with Zucca, lemon, honey + Angostura Bitters. Zucca is an Italian liquor made from rhubarb. This cocktail was on the sweeter side and proved to be a delightful apertif. 

Definitely order a cocktail here as one shaken or stirred table-side is a really fun way to start!

We were seated in a booth underneath the exposed light-bulb BWC signage which stands for Boston Wharf Company. I love the warm ambiance created in the lofty industrial warehouse space. 

We started our meal with a bread course worthy of splurging on, the Caraway Sourdough ($6) accompanied by homemade pimento cheese and salted molasses butter. This was followed by two really solid, well executed appetizer dishes, an Arctic Char "Pastrami" ($14) (not pictured) served over oat bread with smoked egg, pickled onion and kale and Pheasant Kotschoubey ($17) (above) with brussels sprouts, bacon jam and winter truffle. We also had a beautiful Duck ($32) entrée over a luscious sweet potato puree, grains, smoked pear and juniper.

A four course Pasta Tasting ($49) is offered on Thursday night only (fate!) so we had to order one for the table. Our waitress nicely paced the handmade pastas throughout our meal. The first three were unique and creative, while the fourth was a classic. All were comforting, thoughtfully prepared and delicious.

First Course: Passatelli | Brodo, Parmesan, Chive

Second Course: Garganelli | Braised Pheasant, Egg Yolk 

Third Course: Tortelli | Polenta Cheese Filling, Hazelnuts, Grape Must

Fourth Course: Lasagne | Smoked Bacon + Beef Bolognese, Arugula

The kitchen sent out a cheese course with compliments. I am so glad they did because as it turns out the cheese plates are impeccably done and not to be missed. We had Brillat Savarin Custard ($11) which is a Triple Cream from France w. honey + celerac and Bailey Hazen Blue ($9) a Blue Cheese from Vermont w. bacon jam, sourdough + port gastrique.  

Speaking of not to be missed, most of the desserts also fall into the realm of being special and alluring. One I would pass on is the Winter Citrus ($12) with grapefruit sorbet, granola, cara cara and lemongrass. Those ingredients didn't mesh so well for me. The next two were winners, though! Chocolate + Cashew ($12) offers a rich Taza Chocolate log with a quenelle of cashew mouse, mascarpone and topped with a brioche ribbon. The Yogurt Panna Cotta ($12) felt playful yet elegant with sweet and tart cherries, hibiscus sorbet, honey, pear, and a very pretty candied ice decoration that looked like a snowflake.

Oak + Rowan

321 A Street

Boston, MA 02210

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

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! 

Lucia | from humble origins

Food from old country Italy that is a robust cornmeal mush. Hulled, crushed and coarse to fine grains are boiled to a paste with lots of butter, water, a pinch of salt and stirred gently with intention. Peasant food that is cooked to a soft, creamy consistency. Yes, I'm talking about Polenta, a versatile starch which is a satisfying meal on its own, a base to layer sauces over and an excellent companion to roasted or grilled meats and poultry. Typically heaped onto a bread board and served family style, the polenta stiffens as it cools and takes on a slightly firmer texture, though mushy still, a cross between fluffy mashed potatoes with gritty flecks and a soft gooey cornbread. It has since become a star on highly regarded menus, found on fancy dining room tables about town. A refined American take on an Italian classic that never hesitates to comfort, especially during the lingering mid-winter chill. Ristorante Lucia is one of the oldest and among the first restaurants to open in the North End in 1977. They hosted a private dinner in honor of this rustic dish as it is prepared in the Abruzzo region of Italy and in the interest of getting to know some of the local food community bloggers and writers.

The Polenta Party was held in the upstairs dining room, a clean brick walled space with painted ceilings where a large central table is flanked by smaller ones dressed in white linens. The Sangiovese flowed from the moment we sat down, I appreciated that the professional waitstaff were sure to top off our glasses frequently. Prefacing the polenta were antipasto plates layered with sliced prosciutto and sopressato, thick squares of Auricchio provolone, roasted red peppers and spicy marinated eggplant. I adore a good antipasto to kick off an Italian meal, and this one was exceptional. So were the bruschettas that followed, where large slices of rustic country bread were grilled and brushed with olive oil, topped with truffle oil laced funghi and bitter broccoli rabe which had been sauteed with fresh garlic. This is incredibly simple food; the chef, owner and manager who dined with us were sure to point out. Modest as they were, I thought it was some of the most delicious and flavorful that I've tasted in the North End. Then it was time for overflowing plates of creamy golden yellow polenta. The first came topped with gamey rabbit meat still on the bone that had a sweet almost nutty flavor to it. While eating rabbit might seem unusual or exotic, it is a staple cuisine where Donato (the owner) comes from in Italy (Abruzzo) and there is nothing strange about it! The second plate was piled with a hearty pork chop and homemade sausage and the final plate (my favorite) a braised shortrib smothered in a smooth tomato sauce and sprinkled with fresh parsley and parmesan cheese. Dessert saw fresh brewed coffee, hazelnut cake that we drizzled in creme anglaise, and a duo of brisk, refreshing lemon and coconut sorbettos.

I like that they offered us something entirely different than the typical tiramisu and cannoli! I had never had hazelnut cake, it was excellent. The presentation of the sorbetto was charming. By keeping it simple and allowing the high quality ingredients to shine, Lucia succeeds in impressing the majority of us, just as they have their regulars and newcomers alike for 35 years. I was so impressed in fact, that I plan to return this weekend with friends! An equally honest review as a paying customer is sure to follow. In the meantime, thanks to all who were instrumental in organizing this memorable dinner party. Besides the food and wine, I especially loved hearing about what my beloved neighborhood was like back-in-the-day from folks who have lived and worked here since the beginning. The North End has come so far since 1977 and nights like this make me incredibly proud to call it home. Updated 3/11/12 to add: I didn't photograph my meal this past Saturday night, instead relishing the company of my college roommates and friends. We were a party of 12 and our meals and service were nearly flawless. (I am always especially impressed when restaurants succeed at accommodating a large group.) Our waitress was not only knowledgeable and efficient, she was wonderful at her job and consistently on the ball. The food was comforting, traditional and reasonably priced. Definitely consider Lucia for your next North End meal!

Ristorante Lucia

415 Hanover St

Boston, MA 02113