Frenchie Wine Bistro

Bienvenue, Frenchie! To quote Boston Magazines top 25 new restaurants issue: every neighborhood in Paris has a Frenchie: an overachiever all day café that will serve you beyond-solid renditions of a dozen or so classics. 

True to it's name, this subterranean South End Bistro transcends you to the chic streets of Paris, France. The atmosphere isn't trying to hard. The neighborhood crowd is young and hip. All white pressed tin ceilings meet white exposed brick walls with a single white fluorescent sign that reads In Vino Veritas. In wine there is truth.

While in the midst of wedding planning (the to do list that never ends) an impromptu date night book-ended by cocktails at The Beehive and beers at Anchovies was the prefect respite. Because it was -14 degrees outside we ordered everything of the hot side of the menu, which meant lots of rich dishes and subsequently lots of bread as a vessel for delicious bites of garlicky escargots, slippery foie gras and creamy goat cheese. 

Escargot Toast ($11) on grilled country bread, lavished with herbed garlic butter.
Foie Gras ($18) accompanied by candied quince and crunchy hazelnuts over brioche.
Goat Cheese a la plancha ($9) - grilled boucheron cheese is a wonderful thing, especially when paired with raw honey and a concord grape compote.
Beef Bourguignon ($19) with brussels sprouts + pearl onions takes comfort to another level. And yes, we needed another bread basket to swipe every drop of that earthy red wine mushroom sauce. 
Chocolate Croissant Pudding ($10) - flaky croissant layers are sandwiched between dense moka (espresso) flavored chocolate with a scoop of housemade vanilla ice cream. 

Frenchie spoils us in the wine department with 32 carefully selected by the glass (32!) I loved the Daniele Croquet Sancerre Rouge (Loire Valley, France) a delicate red that paired expertly with the food. Also - not sure I've ever had RED SANCERRE so that is noteworthy!

Their menu design is fun and playful, I was charmed by the little black and white illustrations and the fact that they don't take themselves to seriously. Lines like "what the fork is for dinner" and "voulez-vous cafe avec moi?" keep things light. The food, however, is taken very seriously and it is utterly fantastic! 

P.S. I got a macro lens for Christmas and this was my first time using it. Please excuse the blurry portions of the images. 

Frenchie Boston

560 Tremont St

Boston, MA 02118

Menemsha | Martha's Vineyard

This was my first time up island!! Past visits to Martha's Vineyard always brought me to the down island hustle of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. The remote towns of Chilmark and Aquinnah provide an entirely different Martha's Vineyard experience. They are quiet and calming with sprawling farmlands and headlands leading to some of the most gorgeous beaches I've ever encountered. Seriously!

Menemsha is a dreamy little fishing village in the town of Chilmark. No matter where the days adventures take you, everyone gathers at Menemsha Beach for the epic cotton candy sunsets with lobster dinners from the neighboring fish markets. People swear by the seafood at Larsen's, but we ended up at Menemsha Fish Market simply to avoid a long line. Their raw bar and all things lobster: bisque, whole steamed + the hot lobster roll were terrific. I wouldn't hesitate to head there if Larsen's has a crowd. Seafood doesn't get any fresher than a dockside fish market so as long as you hit one up you're doing Menemsha right!

We stayed at The Menemsha Inn. Based on the impeccable website and the hefty midweek price tag ($340/night and we picked the least expensive room at the Teahouse), we expected more. On the positive side, the inn itself is lovely with grounds and gardens that are peaceful and well maintained. It is conveniently walkable to the harbor beach via a winding path that slopes down the hill and opens up to a beautiful marsh. They serve lemonade and fresh baked cookies daily. Our plush king size bed was super comfy. On the contrary - the bathroom ceiling paint peeling off in large chunks and the cushions on our patio furniture steeped with mold felt like they overlooked some key details. Our room came with wine glasses but not a wine opener - I had to sign my life away at the front desk to borrow one (easy win for the inn: provide each room a wine key). Nowhere on the website did it mention bike rentals were extra ($10/day) but the bikes are old, rickety and rusty so they didn't charge us, which was fair. 

Essentially, if this were a $200/night hotel I might not blink at any of these annoyances (because we had such an amazing time) but this room was expensive; I felt it was only fair to note for those looking to plan a trip. Expectations can be everything.

The Menemsha Inn's sister property The Beach Plum Inn has a picturesque restaurant that serves breakfast from 7:30 - 10:30 am. Whether you are a guest a the property or not, I'd recommend stopping in for their breakfast with a view - my Portuguese Bread French Toast and Bob's Pastrami Eggs Benedict were really tasty.

Staying at The Menemsha Inn gives you access to Chilmark's renowned Lucy Vincent or Squibnocket beaches. A big deal was made to take the walk on pass though ("THIS IS A $100 PASS, DO NOT LOOSE IT." Okay, okay, I got it!) I quickly came to realize this pass is a big deal as you cannot walk onto the beach or park in their lot without one. LVB is also known for her nude sunbathing section. I've been to beaches all over and I'm telling you, Lucy Vincent is unparalleled. The shoreline is breathtaking with cliffs outstretched on one end, a classic dune-scape reaching towards the other and the water is pure comfort - warm yet refreshing and crystal clear with the perfect waves to drift around on or bodysurf.

If you do not bring a car on island the VTA Transit system has you covered. With 13 routes the buses are reliable even though the schedule can be tricky to navigate from one side of the island to the other. From Oak Bluffs to Menemsha for example it is three buses and will take you over an hour. (It is about 45 minutes with a car, I believe.) If you were up island for longer than two days you'd probably want to bring or rent a car. Also, many of the roads in Chilmark are NOT bike friendly. There are dangerous blind turns which we were warned when checking in that bikers have no business being on. I didn't expect this. So even though it's remote, there are just a few main roads that see plenty of car traffic.

And the final big tip if you are headed up Island: These are all dry towns so plan accordingly! (This means there are no liquor stores and the restaurants do not serve alcohol. Most are BYOB.) We packed our Yeti Hopper Cooler with cans of beer, two bottles of wine (1 Sancerre, 1 Rosé) and 2 flasks of gin, plus a tonic water. It basically went like this - a couple cans of beer on the beach each day, gin + tonics for happy hour at the inn or the harbor docks in town, and a bottle of wine with dinner each night! 

I have a lot more MV vacation fun and recommendations that I hope to get around to soon! I hope you all are having a wonderful summer and enjoying the heat wave! 

The Bistro & Wine Bar at Mirbeau

After a most luxurious and relaxing time at Spa Mirbeau, The Bistro & Wine Bar warmly welcomed me for a late Sunday brunch. Opting to be seated outside I settled into a comfortable porch table and ordered a glass of Sancerre ($12); soaking in the afternoon rays of sunshine as they combined with a crisp breeze. Gazing out at the zen pond gardens and vibrant green Japanese bridge, I recognized the inspiration from Claude Monet's Gardens at Giverny. For a moment I was transported back to one of my favorite days on a trip to France in 2009. 

The allure of France continues with the food where I recognize executive chef Stephen Coe's name on the menu, he used to be the chef at Bokx 109 in Newton. 

The hearty French Onion Soup ($10) warns off any hint of a lingering chill. A deeply flavorful broth is loaded with sweet caramelized onions. A thick slice of brioche is cloaked in musty gruyere cheese and dusted with chives. 

Chef sends out his signature appetizer - the Pear and Mascarpone Sacchetti ($10) which I also recognize from Bokx 109.  Sweet juicy pear and creamy mascarpone are tucked neatly into adorable little satchels with moustarda fruid, vincotto and chive fondu. I am delighted that he has continued serve this at Mirbeau!
Following the Sacchetti, a sample of chilled melon soup is refreshing and sweet. The piece de resistance is a Chicken Francaise Sandwich ($12) where supremely crispy skin gives way to tender meat that is layered with sage and honey. On the side, duckfat french fries complete the meal. This wasn't an easy choice though, the entire brunch menu looks stellar.

Mirbeau, you've been good to me. Exceptional, in fact. I'm beyond relaxed and ready to take on the real world again. Merci, beaucoup!!




I was treated to a complimentary "Touch of Class" spa package (choice of one 50-minute massage, facial, or nail treatment with a 3-course lunch) which retails for $200.