Ni Neu | San Sebastian

On our last night in San Sebastian we decided to check out Restaurante Ni Neu located at the edge of the Gros District just beside Zurriola Beach. Previous research indicated the restaurant - which means I Myself in Basque - offered a reasonably priced tasting menu highlighting adventurous modern cuisine. The New York Times article 36 Hours in San Sebastian noted it as the stage upon which the stylish set gathers to dine. Enticed by these sentiments, the sleek and contemporary Ni Neu managed to coerce us away from another night of txikiteo. (The Basque term for a pinxto bar-crawl.)

We did not have a reservation and hesitated once we entered the bustling space where it was apparent the International Film Festival crowd filled nearly all the tables. We were greeted by a friendly hostess who lead us to a separate dining room where we breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of empty tables. We're in! The restaurant is also adjacent to the Kursaal - an Auditorium and Convention Center where the zinemaldia (cinema!) is located. In the above photo, Ni Neu is the glowing space on the first floor. In all my San Sebastian posts, I have somehow neglected to mention that we were in town during the film fest! It's a pretty big event as International Film Festivals tend to go; the streets radiating with that movie premiere fanfare was an infectious scene that Adam and I relished. It felt like an added bonus to our time here. What also felt like an added bonus was everything included in our meal at Ni Neu. We chose the Xortak tasting menu, in addition to six courses it included a cocktail aperitif, a bottle of Rioja, bottled water and coffee all for 38 euros. That's an outstanding deal.  For the aperitifs, a Cherry Martini for her (though I guess our definition of martinis vary - no worries, it was delicious with hints of Campari) and a Tequila Sunrise for him (now that's a martini!) The Salade d'Anchois was the least impressive course overall, but not a complete disappointment. Under a bed of slightly wilted lettuce and tomato confit hid the ample portion of fresh anchovies over an emulsion of praline seeds. Anchovies are a staple in Basque cuisine, so I was savoring their fishy, briny essence every chance I got. Pairing them with a slightly fruity and nutty sauce was unique and I enjoyed the contrast. I only wished the greens freshness matched that of the fish! Next, the Cuttlefish is simply radiant with its glistening black ink complexities over a bed of creamy chickpea puree. The bold umami flavors are persistent yet elegant and there is something to be said for eating jet black food. (It's exciting!) The Grilled Hake was the recipient of a super sleek presentation (how fantastic is that plate?) over a black olive cream with sun dried tomatoes and roast aubergine. The piece of hake was nicely grilled with a light flakiness to it and the cohesive flavors of the Mediterranean were a splendid pairing. The Boneless Roast Lamb was salty enough without the addition of coarse sea salt sprinkled on top. It permeated every corner of the tender meat and I didn't fully enjoy the lamb because of it. I did appreciate the flavorful butternut squash puree and stroke of coffee and cardamom. Never a brushstroke out of place, the three main plates nailed the aesthetics; embodying an elegant and artful simplicity. A duo of desserts were exemplary, beginning with a Pain Perdu which had been prepared in the traditional style, soaked in egg yolk and fresh cream and caramelized in a pan. This breakfast turned dessert was topped with a green lemon juice compote that nicely balanced the sticky sweetness with bright acidic notes. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side was perfect. Finally, a whimsical bowl of lemon gnocchi in pineapple juice with coconut ice cream is probably my favorite course. Plump little dessert dumplings mingling in a pina colada pool strike a perfect balance of fluffy to chewy. This is an inventive ending point that certainly leaves a lasting impression. Thanks Ni Neu for making our last night in San Sebastian a memorable one! And thanks to the random gal on the Zurriola Bridge who handed us tickets to the premiere of Le Skylab. The Zinemalda experience (where the movie was in French, the subtitles were in Spanish and the sub-sub titles were in English) was the icing on the cake. P.S. This meal was photographed using my Canon Powershot (point and shoot)

Cape Cod | Easter Eats

We arrived to Cape Cod and were warmly embraced by my Mom's Easter spread! She provided quite a feast to kick off the Easter celebrations starting with deviled eggs topped with half a pimento olive. Following the luscious deviled eggs was a cheese board boasting three types of cheese; Jarlsberg, Triple Cream Brie and Gruyere, as well as cherry tomatoes and crusty loaves of bread.

And some red wine, too!

A bowl of Minestrone Soup perfect for dunking in some of that hearty bread was served!

And with stars and stripes pasta to boot.

Adam and I brought dessert in the form of lobster tails and red velvet whoopie pies from Bova's Bakery. The red relvet whoopie pies are one of my favorites. Dense yet pillowy deep red cakes sandwich a rich fluffy buttercream that is out of this world. We stopped eating long enough to take in a movie at the Cape Cinema - a single theater historic venue located just off Route 6A in Dennis. It is one of the only theaters on Cape Cod where you can view independent films. Showing this evening was Win Win one of this years Sundance Film Festival movies. It ended up being a really enjoyable film that I'd recommend if Independent flicks are your thing. The movie generated a lot of laughs and struck a good balance of funny and lighthearted to meaningful and heartwarming. The Cape Cinema serves the usual concessions as well as beer and wine. I sipped a Sam Adams Noble Pils. Right next door to the theater is the newly opened Harvest Gallery Wine Bar. It is a cute spot to relax with a glass of wine or a draft beer and listen to live music. Enjoy tasty bar bites surrounded by local works of art including paintings, photography and sculptures. My Mom just so happens to hostess here and seated us at the bar where I sipped a glass of Cava ($8) and Adam and I shared the Three Meat Antipasti Plate ($17). The house cured meat offerings included prosciutto, salami and bresaola. Once my Mom was off her shift we shared a classic dessert of Creme Brulee ($8), the sweet custard was paired with a tart and fruity rhubarb compote. I paired dessert with a glass of Ruby Porto ($9). A jazz duo played well into the evening as I drank a nightcap of Stone Pale Ale, one of two choices on tap. Vacationing on Cape this summer? This place is a fantastic little addition to Dennis Village for some light food and drink in a cozy artsy atmosphere.The next morning my Mom served a hearty Easter Brunch of Strawberry and Raspberry buttermilk pancakes plus Jarlsberg cheese and pepper omelets with Applewood smoked bacon. Complete with warm blueberry compote and pure Vermont Maple Syrup, it was the perfect way to celebrate Easter morning and fuel for a long day of exploring the beaches of the lower Cape!This day on Cape coming next!

Wollaston Charms

Wollaston is a quaint neighborhood located in the city of Quincy, Massachusetts boasting a beach on Quincy Bay with distant views of the Boston Skyline and a small downtown area with friendly shops and historic nuances. Quincy is known as the city of Presidents (where it all began!) as well as Adam's hometown. Obviously, I've been to the neighborhood more times than I can count, but this weekend while we were dog sitting combined with warm temperatures conducive to long walks and explorations, I took a few photographs and decided to share.

Setting out to Wollaston Beach with Buddy.

We actually walked the beach twice - on an overcast Friday afternoon... ...and then a longer stroll on a sunny blue skied Saturday morning. (We were up at 8:30 which is pretty early for us on a Saturday, believe it or not!)

Coffee in one hand, dog leash in the other, it was a perfect morning.

The strolls continued around the tree lined residential neighborhood streets.

I love this dog! The edge of the neighborhood is defined by a vast stretch of marshland area.

We definitely tuckered Buddy out after all these long walks.But apparently not ourselves, we only worked up an appetite and were back out a couple hours later in search of breakfast.

Newcomb Farms at 31 Beale Street did the trick. It's not fancy food, just your basic breakfast and brunch fare served at a reasonable price.

Their weekend special menu displayed a healthy dose of Red Sox pride!

Hot coffees were delivered promptly.

I ordered the New England Breakfast ($6.75) consisting of French Toast, Scrambled Eggs and four sausage links. I half expected this plate to have home fries accompanying but I ordered pretty quickly without fully scanning the menu listings. 

Across the street is The Wollaston Theater which closed down a number of years ago. Adam recounted dollar movie nights and expressed a fondness for the single screen theater venue that once housed live performances and motion pictures.

It's too bad the cinema closed down, it would definitely be a welcome addition to the neighborhood if it were re-opened.

Peering in the window front, the antique ticket booth still stands among an abandoned looking space.

Speaking of abandoned buildings, the one pictured below just up the street holds quite a significance in terms of popular culture icons.

As evidenced by a small "HJ" orange logo embedded in the stonework of the front stoop, this was the first ever Howard Johnson's.

It wasn't a motor lodge as we know them today but simply a corner drugstore operating a soda fountain.

I thought that was pretty cool.

I also liked this vintage Mobilgas pump that sat at on display at the auto body shop next door. The last sale clocked in at $4.40, probably from as long ago as when the HoJo's was alive and kickin'.

Flash forward to present time, the current pop culture trend of cupcakes sees business booming at the locally owned Babycakes.

At 163 Beale Street it was our last stop before heading back. I ordered four signature cupcakes to-go and later enjoyed the Boston Cream (front right.) It was an excellent cupcake!!

Also pictured is the Peanut Butter Cup, Tiramisu, and "The Babycakes". The cupcakes are baked fresh daily using ingredients from local suppliers. Each day of the week features different flavors. 

One last photograph of a building with historical significance to end the Wollaston montage. The picturesque Josiah Quincy House, the country home of the revolutionary war Colonel sits tucked away on Muirhead Street.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!