Charlestown Eats

Drum roll, please! Presenting a long overdue round up of what and where I've been eating in Charlestown. I regret that not all these plates are accompanied by photos to do them justice - sometimes the camera doesn't quite make it.

*Roasted Game Hen w/ swiss chard, chorizo, cornbread + gravy | Navy Yard Bistro*

I had a really nice time on my first visit to the Navy Yard Bistro, however, it was not without some misses. The appetizers were not quite up to par; fried oysters lacked crispiness and the mussels were far from plump and rather stringy. My entrée on the other hand, was flawless! The roasted game hen offered incredibly juicy white meat falling off the bone with perfectly crisp, almost caramelized skin that came dusted in fresh parsley. Alongside were nuggets of spicy chorizo and bitter swiss chard greens in a light but smokey gravy bath and a massive slice of soft, sweet cornbread pooling with butter. That handsome looking bird proved to be one of the most exquisite plates of food I have had all year.  

Another positive was our impeccable, personalized service. I appreciated that our waiter was quick to move us inside as impending thunderstorms and large drops of rain threatened our quaint table on the patio. And because it was my sisters birthday he generously comped our dessert - a hot fudge strawberry sundae alongside flutes of limoncello.

*Sweet Potato Bravas ($9) w/ feta, honey, jalapenos + avocado cream | Olives*

On a recent trip back to Olives I am happy to report (after all the mixed reviews and varying levels of press) that our food was better than I expected. Though I've only noshed on small plates and appetizers, I thought every thing was delicious and the portion sizes were just right for sharing. Besides the tasty Sweet Patatas Bravas inventively paired with feta, honey, jalapenos and avocado cream for dipping, there was a guilt inducing Mac N Cheese ($8) with truffle, porcini, taleggio and fontina. TE's rendition was rich, flavorful, creamy, piping hot and over-the-top cheesy. The atmosphere felt a bit too intense for casually enjoying cocktails, appetizers and conversation on a Wednesday night. It was much louder than I expected with music blaring and voices up ten more octaves as a result. As crowded as it was we did manage to get a table right away, and service remained cheerful even though it was on the slow side.

*The Cottage Burger ($11.95) w/ fried organic egg, bacon + sharp cheddar | The Warren Tavern*

For post work brews this historic watering hole has become our go-to. While not everything I have ordered has been a win, their burgers served on a lightly charred sesame seed studded bun have easily become crave worthy. The Cottage ($11.95) with a perfectly fried organic egg is my #1, but they have a plethora of equally fantastic options when I'm looking to switch it up like the Blue Cheese ($10.95) or the Paul Revere ($9.95) with sautéed mushrooms and swiss cheese. The richly wooded interior is classic and comforting and the bartenders are always friendly and eager to refill your drinks.

*Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict w/ red onions + tomatoes | Grasshopper Café*

Warm and welcoming staff, prompt iced coffee counter service on my walk to work, homemade honey butter, excellent breakfast dishes - I'm not sure what the Bunker Hill side of the neighborhood did without this place before it opened a couple years back. The décor is simple and casual, overall it is a lovely little café that I'm happy to live so close to.

Sabzi Persian Chelow Kabab

Venturing off the beaten path to Arlington via the 77 bus, I rarely visit this town despite frequenting its neighbors Cambridge and Somerville. The nature of my visit along with fellow Boston Food Bloggers - Rachel, Kathy, Kevin, Meesh and Jacki was to dine at a new restaurant called Sabzi specializing in upscale Persian fare known as Chelow Kabab. I confess to never having tried this variation of Middle Eastern cuisine, but I was definitely open to and intrigued by it.

In full disclosure tonight's meal was compensated, which is a welcome perk but definitely not any reason to sugar coat a review. As with most restaurants that organize an intimate blogger specific dinner, the experience is often favorable and highly regarded. Judging by the small one room dining room buzzing with tables of happy patrons, ours echoed the norm.

Through a tiny vestibule lined with faded red curtains, the cozy space is heralded by an L shaped booth constructed of rustic wood panels accented with Middle East throw pillows. Potted green plants and an ad-hoc photo collage play into the homey feel while yellow and sea green hued glass lanterns envelope the space in a soft glow. The owner greets us warmly and takes our coats while simultaneously offering water and wine, returning with a bottle of Rioja to fill our non-traditional wine glasses. This unique detail stands out; it is simply delightful to drink wine out of a regular old glass. A bright start to the meal is a Salad Shirazi ($4.75) made with diced tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and mint tossed in fresh lime juice and olive oil. It serves as a palate cleanser, lending crisp clean bites and refreshing flavors. Thinly sliced pita triangles accompany a thick yogurt and Persian shallot dip called Mast-O-Musir ($4.75). Soft and creamy with an added kick from the shallots, this is another straightforward classic to begin the meal. Next, we are introduced to more complex but still traditional flavors, beginning with a seasonal noodle soup called Ash-e Reshteh ($4.75). The long slippery Reshteh (Iranian noodles) proved a little challenging to consume, but were delicious bathing in a substantial blend of spinach, lentils and beans, amply flavored with parsley, saffron and mint. The soup is topped with a dollop of Kashk - which is a form of whey produced from strained yogurt. With similar elements of color and garnish the Kashk-e Bademjan ($6.25) is a sautéed eggplant and caramelized onion dip lending a smooth velvety texture. Spread it lavishly over pita bread and prepare to be comforted by the warm embrace of smokey meets tangy flavors. The Torshi ($3) is a medley of pickled vegetables delivering an extremely sour punch. My taste buds pucker at the site of this dish, it was wildly pungent but I kept going back for more. Particularly memorable and the ultimate crowd pleaser among us was the Seer Torshi ($3). Pickled cloves of garlic are radiant bathing in a pool of zesty balsamic vinegar, not to mention beautiful, producing the type of image you want to freeze in your memory for all time, or frame it in your kitchen as inspiration. After sufficient exposure to the appetizer menu, striking and colorful entrees platters of Chelow Kabab are served.
Perfectly plated arches of kabab meats and vegetables that have been grilled over an open flame surround fluffy, steamed basmatti saffron infused rice, finished at either end with a juicy roasted tomato and pickled cabbage.
This is explained to us as the type of food Persians specifically dine out for, as opposed to cooking in their own home due to the more complicated nature of the preparation methods and equipment.The menu is concise with five main dish offerings and three combination platters. All are thoughtfully well seasoned from the Kabab-e Kubideh ($10.25) which are squares of select ground beef with sumac, onion and a house spice blend to the medallions of tender chicken breasts marinated in saffron and citrus in the Kabab-e Jujeh Barg ($11.25).The texture of the ground beef wasn't all that appealing to me, for my Persian meat fix I much preferred the select cuts of marinated triangle steak in the Kabab-e Barg ($14.25).The marinated fresh vegetables in the Sabzi Kabab ($11.25) were a remarkably charred batch of onions, tomatoes, zucchini and squash.
Saving the best for last, the unanimous table favorite of Kabab-e Jujeh ($11.25) presented a saffron and citrus marinated Cornish hen. The delicate bone in morsels retain lots of flavor, proving far juicier than the chicken medallions which almost seemed dry in comparison. (Still I liked the chicken, but the hen blew it away!) The combo platters (mainly what we were served) jump slightly in price but still remain affordable, the Persepolis ($15.25) offers one Kubideh (ground beef) and one Jujeh Barg (chicken), the Soltani ($16.75) one Kubideh and one triangle steak and the Kermani($15.25) one Kubideh and one vegetable skewer. We ended the meal with sweet, flaky and nutty bites of Baklava accompanied by soul warming Cardamom Tea served in a charming etched glass mug. Following suit after the red wine in a standard table glass, the tea mug proved just as enjoyable to drink from. A huge thank you to everyone at Sabzi for their generous hospitality this evening and especially for a memorable foray into Persian cuisine. With beautiful plates of traditional food served in a cozy and informal space, they make a welcome addition to East Arlington, in my case a worthwhile venture out of the city on the 77 bus.

Sabzi Kabab

352 Massachusetts Ave

Arlington, MA 02474

weekend eats: Antico / Citizen Pub / Clover

It was a warm Friday evening on the cusp of a long weekend ahead. Adam and I ventured up to our buildings roof deck to kick things off. We snacked on brie, smoked gouda, crackers, pancetta and a bowl of olives. After a few hours of sipping Peroni and basking in the late evening sun we headed to the bar at Antico Forno. A glass of Pinot Noir and one of their brick oven pizzas with house made ingredients hit the spot. I know this is not the first you've heard me rave about them. We enjoyed the La Capricciosa ($15.50) with homemade Italian sausage, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and homemade mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce. For dessert on the walk home a stop at Gigi Gelateria! The first gelato of the season tastes like heaven. I'm always mixing and matching flavors, tonight I got creamy vanilla and pistachio. 

Saturday night rolled around and we met friends for dinner at Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar. It was my first time at this Fenway neighborhood tavern which opened in October 2010 by the same owners as our beloved Franklin Cafe in the South End. Trendy and casual, I was into the ambiance and definitely impressed with the caliber of food and drink. (Although the service and timing could use some work.) Enjoying the company of friends we had not seen in awhile and considering the dark atmosphere, I kept the camera flashing to a minimum and took only one photo:

DUCK FAT FRIED GAME HEN | w/truffle corn spoonbread + gravy ($19)

Fry anything in duck fat and I'm instantly a fan - i.e. the Brussel Sprouts at Craigie on Main, the French Fries at Aragosta. Who knew the next temptation would be a game hen. The duck fat appeal is one that gives a rich, distinctive flavor to anything it touches. It elevates an ingredient to something phenomenal. While crispy skin encases the succulent and juicy meat of the hen, the duck fat adds a silkiness more varied than butter, a new depth of savory. In short, it makes this dish one worth bragging about.  

Considering this is an oyster bar, you better believe that one each of the daily bivalve offerings preceded my hen. There was a Summerside from PEI, Canada, a Ninigret Cup from Charlestown, RI, and a Penn Cove from Hood Cabal, WA. The oyster is certainly celebrated here as these were sensational. 

Their is no lack of love in the cocktail department: they've got Swizzles & Smashes, Highballs & "Down" Drinks, Shots & Combos, 75 types of Whiskey and more. I had a really tough time deciding but eventually it was the Granny Smith Gimlet ($11) from the "Up" drinks menu that I happily sipped. Combining Reyka Icelandic Vodka with fresh green apple, ginger, fresh lime juice and demerara syrup, it was a blend true to granny smith in all her green apple glory. They also boast a worthy selection of draft beer and for my second drink I sipped the Pretty Things Seasonal - an East India Porter with amber roasted malts and bold hoppy flavors. 

Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar is worth checking out if you're in the Fenway neighborhood. The spacious sidewalk offers al fresco dining while indoors a circular bar is flanked by large comfy booths, banquettes and even a gas fireplace. If I lived nearby I would happily become a regular.

Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar

1310 Boylston Street 

Boston, MA 02215

I discovered on Sunday afternoon that Clover Food Lab is pretty awesome. It you find yourself hungry in Harvard Square looking for an affordable, fast, healthy lunch option, look no further than the infamous Boston food truck turned permanent food lab located at 7 Holyoke Street. The menu is small, the food is all vegetarian and mostly organic, the space is clean and the staff is helpful and efficient. I drank a Basil Limeade ($2) - this just made batch wasn't too sweet, nor too tart, it struck a nice balance and was especially thirst quenching on an 80 degree day.To eat I ordered their signature Chickpea Fritter ($5) which is a soft chewy whole wheat pita stuffed with excellent falafel rounds, loaded with pickled onions, carrots, cucumbers and drizzled in a tangy yogurt sauce.
I ate the entire pita and did the best I could on an order of the Rosemary French Fries ($3).You get a ginormous portion of just cut PEI potatoes hand tossed with rosemary and sea salt. These fries alone could make a meal. While not your ordinary fry, they actually embody a soft and very potato like quality - think less traditionally crispy, more baked potato-esque texture. At least, that is how my batch tasted and I thoroughly enjoyed it.What a weekend of fantastic city eats; from North End brick oven pizza + gelato, to an indulgent meal in Fenway to a healthy lunch in Harvard Square. I can't believe it is Thursday already! Hope your week is flying by and it is onto another beautiful weekend....