Ruckus + Sakura Sunakku | Ramen Noodles in Chinatown

I have been very into Ramen Noodles since college. I might go so far as to say Ramen is my favorite food. My death row meal. The Ramen Noodle bowls in Boston's Chinatown are far better than the Maruchan of my college dorm days. From humble beginnings comes a deep appreciation.

Ruckus is literally serving the best ramen noodle soup in the city. 

Pictured are two different and equally phenomenal bowls of deeply flavorful broth, bracing vegetables, tender pork, house pulled noodles, gooey egg and crisp shards of nori. An elaborate fanfare of warm comforts are captured in a single ramen bowl. 

S H O R Y U K E N ($15) | Shoyu broth, pork neck chashu, bok choy, scallion marinated yuba, furikake

S P I C Y   M I S O  L I T  R A M E N ($14) | chicken and pork broth simmered for 24 hours, house made noodles, ground pork, grilled corn, soft cooked egg, chili oil, shaved nori

Runner up best Ramen in Boston: Sakura Sunakku in the Avana Marketplace - the same Food Court as Avana Sushi so you just know it's good. It certainly presents in a similar fashion as somewhere under the radar and to discover it feels sensational.  The Vegetarian Ramen ($16) features more exotic mushrooms than you have ever seen in one dish. Shitake Mushrooms, enokitake mushrooms, beech mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms with bamboo shoots, corn, scallions, yuba and miso broth. This soup is giving so much squeaky clean earthiness and umami. It is divine. 

Ruckus

9 Tyler St

Boston, MA 02111

Sakura Sunakku

42 Beach St #101

Boston, MA 02111

c h e e r s | best bars

hipster haunt: The Automatic | 15 Hampshire St | Kendall Square | get the MUDSLIDE.

Best in Brighton: Brighton Bodega | 328 Washington St | REDRUM (Tiki) ($14)- Hibiscus Rum/triple sec/oleo/orgeat/lime

when the weather turns warm: The Barking Crab | 88 Sleeper St | Seaport District | Sangria was great!

when in DTX: The Marliave | 11 Bosworth | The Great Experiment ($12)

Hendricks Gin/mint/lemon/orange/cucumber

Townsman x Circle

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have fun plans shaping up for the new year! Speaking of, if you're getting together with a big group of friends to ring in 2018, Circle Pay is a new app you should definitely check out!

Circle. They are like Venmo, but way more fun. With an interface built around conversations where you can include GIFs and laughter-filled musings with your cash, it's like texting for money. Plus, faster cash out and designed for unique purposes like splitting checks at restaurants.

Townsman. Chef Matt Jennings chic New England brassiere where food and cocktails are devoured with utter delight. (If you are a regular reader, you know it is one of my go-to spots!)

An intimate group gathered at the convivial high top table fronting the bar, where creative and personalized Circle Pay poem place settings greeted us. Over cocktails + Townsman's signature brown bread with salted maple butter + a three course meal we caught up on life while learning about the app!

Course 1 - Seasonal Farm Minestrone. This piping hot soup served in a chic bowl was so comforting on a cold night, befitting from layers of flavor thanks to an herbed pistou. Additionally, I loved the swap in of nutty farro for pasta.

Circle fun fact #1 - No fees! No fees for sending money across border / between currencies + no fees for instant cash outs.

Course 2 - Char-Grilled Steak. The medium rare strip was tender with a rich char - another terrific cold weather dish complemented by savory roasted fingerlings and tons of braised greens over a sweet puree of butternut squash.

Circle fun fact #2 - Your money is insured. All deposits held in Circle Pay are FDIC insured up to $250k.

Chocolate Pecan Tart. The perfect personal sized tart with an equal sized scoop of luscious maple ice cream. 

Circle fun fact #3 - Group Payments. Zip money around in a group chat with up to 20 people. 

Cocktail - Senor Picante. I love when cocktails advertised as spicy actually deliver the heat! This one has tequila, sherry, fresno, grapefruit and guajillo salt.

Circle fun fact #4 - Events. You can set up an event page to collect money from a larger audience, such as fundraising for a marathon or a charity collection. I know so many of you would benefit from something like this!! (But if not, there will always be the hilarious feature that is GIPHY!)

Interested?! Sign up right this way...

This dinner was complimentary and I was compensated for my time. 

All opinions are my own. 

Townsman

120 Kingston Street

Boston, MA 02111

what's good | Amaro Montenegro, Posto Mobile + more

I am big on roundups and it has been awhile since I posted one! 

I like to highlight favorite spots I'm visiting again and again, or restaurants, dishes, drinks and brands that made a lasting impression. Enjoy!

 Acai Bowl @ Energize

True to its name this blog focuses on boozy drinks and indulgent food. But I am a big smoothie bowl and fresh squeezed juice fan, too! Energize in Oak Square, Brighton is my favorite neighborhood juice bar for a delicious, healthy and beautifully presented smoothie bowl. 

Juices + Smoothies @ Thirst Juice Co.

When I'm working downtown my go to juice bar is Thirst. Pictured is the Buddhabeet Juice made with beet, carrot, pear, pineapple + ginger. This is a perfect afternoon thirst quenching pick me up!

Fried Burrata @ Brighton Bodega

On our first visit to the new bodega the Fried Burrata took center stage - comforting, luscious, crispy and bathing in a savory tomato sauce. The other dishes were just so-so compared. On our second visit I was much more impressed with our dishes. With an on trend neighborhood vibe and a solid house cocktail list + 20 thoughtfully selected beers on draft, I am so thrilled Brighton Bodega has made a home in Brighton Center! Look for a full post on this place soon.

Negroni @ Townsman

...from healthy red juice to my favorite red cocktail! Townsman's Negroni or some variation of the classic usually graces their menu and always hits the spot. 

Thai Tuna Maki @ Hillstone 

Hillstone is an upscale chain restaurant in Faneuil Hall. I enjoyed hanging out at their polished subterranean bar and was surprised to see maki rolls on the menu. The Thai Tuna ($16) is eight squares with cubes of fresh tuna, avocado, a spicy thai sauce and macadamia nuts.

Amaro Montenegro @ Alibi

Amaro is an Italian herbal liquor that has for awhile been my go to digestif. I have been using it frequently to craft a delicious variation on the Manhattan. You probably drink amaro in cocktails all the time and don't even realize it! 

A collision of sharp sweetness blunted by potent alcohol, an understated bitterness, scents of flowers and spices, I love it so! There are lots of brands out there but Lucano, Averna and Montenegro are my three favorites. Alibi at The Liberty Hotel hosted an amazing evening last month called "Montenegro Nights" where they transformed the heat lamp lit patio into a Montenegro shrine and even had a tattoo artist giving (fake) Montenegro bottle tattoos, reaffirming my adoration for the brand!

Authentic Neopolitan Pizza @ Posto Mobile

I haven't featured a food truck in awhile but I eat lunch at them all the time. Posto Mobile wood fired pizza is ridiculously good. Pictured is the Soppressata - namesake spicy pork salumi, mozzarella, Tuscan peppers, oregano, parmesan + arugula.

House Featured Manhattan @ Troquet on South

This my friends is what a $17 Manhattan looks like. It is made with mad river burnt rock bourbon, sweet vermouth, barrel aged bitters + cherries. I love cozying up to the intimate + sophisticated French Bistro that is Troquet on South.

Where have you been eating + drinking lately? What are some dishes I must try around town?!

Shōjō | Chinatown

Shōjō is one of my favorite restaurants. A Chinatown mainstay dishing offbeat takes on modern Asian fare in a funky space painted with elaborate murals, you absolutely have to go and get all of the lust worthy dishes and Japanese cocktails you can manage!!

Originally I had Shōjō on the docket in my latest and greatest round up post but then, I've done that before! So that did not seem fair. I think doing favorites justice in a full post is too much (self-inflicted) pressure to write well. Deep breaths. Just show the food.

To drink Bob and I love the Yakuza Old Fashioned featuring Nikka coffee grain whiskey, bitter caramel + angostura.

Pork Belly Dumplings ($15) bathe in a sake hoisin with cilantro, radish, and jalapeno

The Shojinator ($7) is their burger! A hamburger patty with smoked bacon and kimcheese is sandwiched on a house steamed bun. Please note KIMCHEESE.

Chicken + Waffles v3.0 ($16) features juicy thighs on a Hong Kong waffle (so on point!) with five-spice butter and sizurrp. 

Suckling Pig Bao with smoked bbq sauce, kimchi and pickled cucumbers is tender, juicy, crispy + fluffy. A perfectly done bao!

In conclusion Fried Chicken + Waffles v 3.0 / The Shojinator / Dumplings / Bao / run to Chinatown, visit Shōjō and let me know if you love as much as Bob and I do!

Shōjō

9A Tyler Street

Boston, MA 02111

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