july outtakes

Just a few shots from July. minus the beach time because my camera and beers and sand and waves don't always mix. I loved this month. 

nighttime balcony views | pasta salad, grilled steak tips, asparagus, watermelon + feta | bluefish tacos with pickled onions, corn, tomato and jalapeno | kitchen views | purple flowers on the RKG | herb garden | fish stew and fried scallops | daytime balcony view

City Landing

City Landing opened quietly in July, filling a prime location on the Greenway overlooking the Wharf District parks. It takes over where the original and well liked Sel de la Terre left off after nearly 12 years. 

There was definitely room for a new type of energy on Long Wharf and the re-design embraces that with wide light filled windows, green fabric booths and matching lime colored placemats. Handsome contemporary stone work inlaid with pretty blue tiles frame the dining room with contrasting chocolate brown tables.

My mom, sister and I had  just returned from hiking Spectacle Island and were looking to relax, this was the perfect spot to do so. After the host greeted us warmly we settled comfortably into our table and proceeded to study the wine and cocktail list. I settled first on a Pineapple Jalapeno Caipirinha ($13) it was one of the more exciting versions of a caipirinha I've had, the sweet and spicy livening up the traditional lime and mint.

The wines are grouped progressively - light, medium and full bodied, with a range of selections. Glasses are offered in 6 and 9 ounces, accompanied by a sleek carafe. Later in the meal I chose a 9 oz pour of the Domane Wachau, Gruner Veltliner ($15) a versatile and food friendly wine with a medium body and crisp acidity.

We were pretty excited upon placing our appetizer order for the Trio of Spreads ($12) consisting of truffle herb goat cheese (say no more), white bean roasted garlic and artichoke tapenade. The pitas were served warm and the super flavorful spreads come in adorable ceramic pots; the meal was off to a terrific start. 

The dreary and drizzling weather lent ideal conditions to linger over a bowl of soup. Or two. I was excited to see that they offered a Soup Sampler Duo ($9)!

If your craving a cup of Boston Clam Chowder, chef-owner Bill Brodsky's version is expertly seasoned, briny and creamy, with a nice thick broth and perfectly cooked morsels of potato. The crispy clam on top adds a special touch. It's no surprise this chef has mastered the art of clam chowder, he comes here after spending over a decade at Cape Cod's Wequassett Resort. 

It seems he's no slouch either when it comes to the ultimate bowl of comfort, Tomato Soup. To be precise, this is a Yellow Tomato Bisque and it's bursting with sweet, ripe, juicy tomato scents and flavors, heightened by swirls of chive oil and a flaky cheddar twist on the side. 

I tried my Mom's entrée sized Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon ($23) it was robust with white anchovy, chopped hard boiled egg, capers, garlic croutons and parmesan. My sisters Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($13) was yet another solid offering, it came with lettuce, onion, tomato, bacon, Swiss cheese and a lovely basil mayonnaise.

Our impressive food was matched with kind natured front-of-the-house staff, our waiter was attentive without being overbearing and the manager offers warm smiles as he moves about about the dining room, taking note of newcomers and making sure to thank us as we left. So far, City Landing proves to be a great fit.

City Landing | Long Wharf

255 State Street

Boston, MA 02109

spring in Boston

1. Rose Kennedy Greenway

2. Charlestown Navy Yard

3. roof deck Prosecco

4. Huntington Avenue

5. Fenway Park

6. North Street

It is one of the loveliest spring seasons that I can remember. Hope the view is just as pretty from wherever you are.

daylight savings begins.

We went for a walk after dinner on Monday to celebrate the extra hours of light. Then we got chocolate (her) and strawberry (him) frappes. Tuesday rolled around and we frolicked in the park and drank dark'n'stormys on the deck at The Sail Loft, before dinner this time, because there was that much more sun to enjoy.Even after a mild winter that lacked the epic snowstorms I was craving, the early burst of spring weather felt pretty darn amazing. Let there be daylight!

Blue Inc.

It would appear that I have some unfinished business to attend to. Once upon a time when it was summer, I had Friday's off from work and I went out to lunch! You remember those days? Long gone are they now, but not forgotten. I can't start something and not finish it, so without further a due, the final installment of my beloved Summer Lunch Series.
The opening of Blue Inc. in the Financial District had my interest peaked long before it even had a name. Chef Jason Santos was set to display his eclectic twist on traditional dishes in a funky, modern space located at 131 Broad Street, minus this one small detail. Since naming his new restaurant proved such a challenge, he announced a contest to the public. His affection for the color widely recognized thanks to his signature dyed-do, the winning submission aptly fits the bill.
I began my afternoon at the bar where the spirited bartender was more than welcoming and highly engaging. She took interest in my photography, which then led to a discussion of our favorite Boston restaurants. I happily conversed with her, sipping my Blue Inc. Sangria ($8) until Megan arrived and we sat for lunch. The signature red wine sangria with aloe vera and tangerine was a striking presentation with juxtaposing colors, animated further by a touch of blue in a test tube. I'm not sure the squirt of blue liquid added much taste wise to the already successful sangria, but frills and fun and blue fit right in, so it worked. Megan ordered The Anorexic Model ($11), this wildly named martini blends pierre ferrand cognac, lychee bubbles and St. Germain, and garnishes it with "twiggy & berries" an eye catching bunch of mini grapes. For lunch, we decided to share a couple appetizer plates and a salad. The chef's creative tweaks paid off in some dishes, but failed to impress in others.
Perhaps the appetizer I was most looking forward to trying (which ended up being one the waitress initially forgot) were the Mini Kobe Corn Dogs ($9). A half dozen short and fat hot dogs in an onion and cheese batter come with three dipping sauces - honey mustard with a kick, chipotle aioli and homemade ketchup. I wanted to love these as much a I love my carnival fare staple, but this version did them no justice. The batter was much too greasy for what was only a paper thin coating of it, namely the ratio of dog to corn tipped completely off scale in the dogs favor. The fluffy enveloping exterior I craved (which is certainly allowed to be somewhat greasy) was completely a miss. Twists on classics can succeed straying even far off the beaten path, but I fear corn dog lovers will experience the same level of disappointment we did. The Three Lobster Tacos ($14) followed up on a much brighter note, pairing finely chopped lightly dressed lobster with mango salsa, shredded lettuce, cilantro and lime. I wished there were more mangoes, and ripe ones at that, present in the taco, but otherwise I enjoyed the dish. Black Truffle is a recurring ingredient on the menu; I favored mine in finely shredded strands atop Tater Tots ($6) which were soft mashed potato mounds of pure comfort, stuffed in the center with Gouda cheese and wrapped in a thin crispy skin. The Hell's Kitchen Wedge Salad ($8) incorporated black truffle in vinaigrette form, drizzling it over a lettuce wedge studded with red grapes, candied walnuts and crumbled goat cheese. I wasn't blown away by this salad.After finishing off my sangria I was enticed by our waitress to try another cocktail. I'll give it to them - the bartenders at Blue Inc. sling some gorgeous looking libations. The pretty in pink and green Strawberry Fields Forever ($9) muddles strawberries with house infused basil vodka, lime and bubbles. This drink was balanced and refreshing, just as easy on the taste buds as it was on the eyes. For dessert, we fancied ourselves a mid-day milkshake in the flavor of Rootbeer & Toasted Marshmellow ($8). Made with liquid nitrogen, a mystical whoosh of tingling, cold, bubbly air swarms around you and before you know it, you've got a shake that's anything but - it's frozen solid! The kitchen was kind enough to split the shake into two glasses for us and return with additional liquid nitrogen to enhance the effects. Once the mist clears and the shake melts enough to be pierced with a spoon - a thick, smooth, clay like substance is flooded with liquid lying underneath and within, proving this milkshake that strays far off the beaten path, works.
Megan and I were witness to what looked like a media demonstration where Chef Santos assumed a spot behind the bar to whip up a milkshake for a press photographer. Fun!Accompanying the check in a shot glass is your classic childhood bank teller treat: A blue lollipop! Proving a convivial experience; the atmosphere, cocktails and food at Blue Inc. all exude a unique fanfare. While not all of the dishes I sampled during my final summer lunch outing won me over, I was more than happy to accept an invite to check out the dinner menu with friends this past Tuesday. How did the Greenway hotspot fare on my second venture? Hopefully my next review won't take as long as this one did!