Besito | Chestnut Hill

Besito translates to "little kiss" and at this small chain of authentic Mexican restaurants newest Chestnut Hill location, there is no lack of love. You taste it in the beautifully presented cuisine, you feel it from the eager-to-please waitstaff who greet you in Spanish, and you embrace it all around you in the culture rich atmosphere.

I love Mexican food. I wanted it all - tortilla soup, tableside guacamole, not to mention a number of sensational sounding appetizers. In an effort to reel it in, we decided on the ceviche del dia featuring fresh shrimp, avocado and mango, served with crispy tortilla and plantain chips. I sipped on a Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita, which nicely balanced the elements of cool and refreshing with a pinch of heat. 

Entrees showcased incredible, wide ranging and well developed flavors. The Filet de Res ($28) has a serious wow factor. Marinated in Negro Modelo, the butterflied steak is cooked a perfect medium and comes presented on a wide, circular cast iron skillet surrounded by a rich chipoltle sauce, balanced by quernado salsa, queso Chihuahua, queso fresco, nopales (cactus) and sweet plantains.

The Salmon Manchamantales ($23) is roasted and served with plantains in a pineapple pico de gallo. Besito's manchamantales mole is excellent. This earthy, complex sauce is certainly rivaling the mole we ate in Tulum, Mexico not too long ago! Additionally, black beans and rice studded with pepitas come with the entrees, served in little cauldrons for the table to share.

For dessert the delicious Tres Leches Cake is a must. The dense sponge cake is soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated, condensed, and placed atop a sweet, heavy cream. I sipped a smokey Mezcal while Bob enjoyed a spicy Mexican Hot Chocolate.  

At the end of the meal you are presented with parting gifts - crispy Churros and tiny little Mexican Worry Dolls. Traditionally you tell all your worries to the doll and place it under your pillow before bed, in the morning you wake up worry free.



Besito is a true testament to the owners deeply rooted passion, stemming from years of travel to Mexico. You can also visit them in Huntington, New York, Roslyn, New York, West Hartford, Connecticut, and in Burlington, Massachusetts at The Burlington Mall.

Besito Mexican Restaurant

Mall at Chestnut Hill

199 Boylston Street

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

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

No. 9 Park

2013 has brought some change. I have not been photographing as many meals or spending time here nearly as much. So many things still inspire but the shift in mindset, focus, dedication - it happened. For now, a recent (birthday!) dinner at No. 9 Park.
Should you need a reason to splurge or an excuse to visit one who sets the precedence for fine dining in Boston, No. 9 Park in an intimate Beacon Hill townhouse displays timeless elegance under sparkling antique chandeliers, with a celebrated bar and wine program, gracious hospitality, and the best of Barbara Lynch's flavorful and inspired dishes.
 

The Air Mail ($10) made with Neisson rhum agricole blanc, honey, lime and sparkling wine proves a lovely aperitif and the Conquistador ($14) garners high praise with an exotic spiciness and a hint of smoke, it blends Soberano brandy de jerez, Del Marguay Vida mezcal, Carpano Antica vermouth, cacao and thai chili. The old world meets artisan wine list is pricey but the good news is, they offer half bottles. The sommelier described quite a few in beautiful detail and we chose from Bandol, Provence, a Chateau de Pibarnon.

We started with six oysters on the half ($21), which were tiny, but of unique character; Fin De La Baie from New Brunswick, Sun Hallow from Washington and Bagaduce from Maine. The appetizers to kick off the three course prix fix ($69) were the chef's special of Seared Yellowfin Tuna with torgarashi, foie gras vinaigrette and Periguex truffle and the unphotographed but ironically favorite dish of the entire evening, the dish I would go back right now for, a rich and velvety Autumn Vegetable Potage with poached pear, seared bay scallops and sage brown butter. (It wasn't even my dish, but man, it somehow blew my sashimi away! It was more of a soup night anyways.)

The entrees of Glazed Beef Shortribs with potato mille-feiulle, baby vegetables and macomber turnip and Prime Flatiron Steak alternating with a bone marrow bread pudding and a swiss chard and spinach parcel were flawless; perfectly plated, refined, balanced, solid. (But they still did not outshine that soup!) Then there were desserts in abundance, beacons of goodness and at times otherworldly, a Tres Leches Cake with Earl Gray ice cream, grapefruit and lemon, and Fried Carnaroli Rice Pudding with pineapple, cardamon and basil. Lastly, a surprise Happy Birthday treat with the beloved chocolate and peanut butter combo was a nice touch!

The restaurant that began an empire is exquisite; it is classy and expensive, but by no means pretentious or stuffy. Our waitress was a gem. Her cheerful, easygoing, and informed nature truly added to the experience.

No. 9 Park
9 Park Street
Boston, MA 02108

P.S. If I'm not here, I'm still here, here and now here....

the rebirth of Olives

Chef Todd English recently threw a party to celebrate his flagship restaurant located at City Square in Charlestown. Olives grand RE-Opening event was met with much fanfare and excitement. The original Olives which opened in 1989 was something of a legend in Boston. Having been closed since 2010, the space has been revamped to embody a rustic elegance, with a grand mahogany wraparound bar and a stunning open kitchen as the central focal points. 

Todd has partnered with Chile Extra Virgin Olive Oil which was a featured ingredient in many of the signature party bites. Beautifully prepared ceviche (tuna with avocado panna cotta and hake with cucumber and coconut milk) and a remarkable dessert of olive oil tres leche cake. Even the signature martini highlighted the olive oil by lacing it a top a fantastic concoction of shaken vodka, vermouth, basil, Cointreau, muddled orange and simple syrup. I arrived early to attend a tasting of the olive oil before the party began. It is definitely some of the smoothest, most flavorful I've had. It truly enhanced everything from the quail egg shooters (above) to the carrot and duck risotto (below).

After some mingling, drinking and dancing we dug into a lavish dessert bar. The sweets were abundant and incredibly executed, from rice krispies pyramids to wonderfully fluffy, decadently frosted cupcakes.

This was such a great night. I captured much less of all the details and the exquisite passed appetizers than you see here, I was mainly relishing the spirited energy with friends and bubbly. I love that the opening nearly coincided with my move to the neighborhood! I can't wait to return for dinner.