Brighton Bodega

Here today with a compilation of dishes I've had at one of my favorite spots: Brighton Bodega. 

A wealth of variety is offered through globally inspired small plates which are filling and big on flavor. The beverage program is impeccable with 20 draft lines host to some of the best New England craft beers, a seasonally focused cocktail menu with house made sodas and syrups, and eclectic, boutique driven wines. 

in order (mostly!)

The Bohdi Tree - plymouth gin, matcha tea syrup, cucumber, lime + eucalyptus bitters, mint

goat cheese stuffed dates with almond za'atar and apricot honey 

smoked salmon carbonara

fresh, briny, perfectly shucked oysters

black truffle gnocchi mac n cheese (S U B L I M E)

fried burrata in San Marzano Marinara (H E A V E N)

warm fluffy bao stuffed to the brim with fried chicken, lettuce and pickles

Korean BBQ Kalbi short ribs 

more warm fluffy bao this time with crispy duck confit bathed in hoi-sin

spicy chicken drumettes

Located in Brighton Center, this spot has felt like a neighborhood godsend since it opened. 

Brighton Bodega

328 Washington St

Brighton, MA 02135

Parla | North End

Parla is a hip new addition to the North End. Located among the mainstays on Hanover Street it is tiny and tucked away with a cozy bar in the back, pressed tin ceilings overhead and vintage artwork lending a 1920's vibe. The signage is displayed on the interior, illuminating the space with retro neon bulbs adding to the speakeasy-eqsue ambiance. (Pretty sure it has been flying under the radar since it opened in April.) My visit was way back in May with some of the first friends I met through blogging. This was one of those lovely catch up and share everything dinners - with the always present bottle of bubbly rose, crowd pleasing appetizers, refined cocktails and dressed up versions of classic pasta dishes. It was nice to reconnect while discovering splendid new offerings in a neighborhood we all love. 

Cocktail | Sacco & Vanzetti - rye, blackberries, peychaud bitters
Small Plates | Wild Boar Meatballs and Braised Oxtail Arancini
Antipasti |  Buratta Fritta - eggplant caponata, balsamic reduction, red pepper puree
 Pasti | Lobster & Uni Ravioli - homemade ricotta, lemon cream, diced tomatoes, fava beans, garden peas
Squid Ink Gnocchi - wild boar ragu, basil, parmesan, garlic bread puree.    
Quail Egg Carbonara - panchetta and spinach

Chamonix - Mont Blanc | France

A big, crazy, adventurous group of friends rented a chalet in the French Alps for a week. In the mighty, crevasse filled, powder steeped, bluebird sky tipped mountains of Chamonix, France (and Cormayeur, Italy) we skied hard. It snowed heavy nearly every evening. By morning as the fog rose steadily above the vast jagged peaks, the warmth of the sunshine combined with the fresh, deep powder, our happiness radiated at a constant high.

The quintessentially French mountain village of Chamonix on the one hand is quaint and inviting, with patisseries and boulangeries where croque monsieur, crepes and Vin Chaud are sold street-side. Fantastic restaurants range from the cozy and homey with steaming French onion soup, pots of fondue, and rich spaghetti carbonara, (topped with a layer of parmesan cheese and a runny egg yolk) to the elegant and refined with escargots bathing in a pesto sauce, buttery foie gras dishes and perfectly cooked duck a l'orange. Add to that a bustling tourist scene with elegant fromage and chocolate shoppes and an endless variety of name brand ski apparel stores. On the other hand it hosts a vibrant après ski and nightlife party, with live music and table dancing, pitchers of Pelfourth and Kronenbourg, bottle service and rounds of shots.

Skiing in the Alps was incomparable. Most notably, there was the 20km off piste run, the legendary Vallee Blanche - which begins with a descent from the top of the Aiguille du Midi. Harnessed to one another and our guides we hiked down a ridge edge with a 40 degree pitch on both sides. Then we skied all day among the glaciers, untouched snow and the most breathtaking scenery Mont Blanc range has to offer. 

 Favorite spots in downtown Chamonix:

Apres Ski - Elevation 1904, Chambre Neuf

Fine Dining - Hameau Albet 1er, Le Cap Horn

Party - Les Caves, Barberousse

Piccola Venezia

I mentioned 2012 was going to kick off with a slew of North End restaurant posts! I'm finally getting all caught up over here. Thanks for all the great comments and feedback. Sounds like a lot of you are itching to pay a visit to the neighborhood. (Be sure and let me know when you do!)

I have walked by this home style Italian restaurant located at 263 Hanover on a regular basis for the past four years. A few weeks ago, the time finally came to check out Piccola Venezia. On a Thursday night we entered into a large-by-North End-standards dining room which was nearly empty. Considering the waitstaff's laid back and seemingly unenthusiastic approach, this scene did not seem out of the ordinary. No one greeted us when we entered. After standing around for an awkward amount of time, we played the "should we stay or should we go" game; when finally the chef way back in the kitchen made eye contact and beckoned us to sit anywhere we like. I have no problem with seat yourself establishments, but it is something I never want to assume. The atmosphere takes you back in time, within a rustic kitchen meets Nona's attic inspired space we felt comfortable. The vintage looking paper place-mats in faded red and white only enhanced the old fashioned vibe. Shortly after choosing our table, a member of the front of the house appeared to greet us with menus. With kitschy Christmas décor in place (the meal occurred back in December) and large kitchen utensils hanging among antique framed photographs set to a weathered exposed brick backdrop, we settled in with a standard bread basket and a round of Peroni ($6) on draft.
The food came out in a timely manner, beginning with a surprisingly wonderful bowl of Mussels Marinara ($11.95). I say surprisingly because after the initial realization that only two other tables were in the restaurant and we didn't feel entirely welcome there to begin with, we were a bit skeptical of what to expect from the kitchen. The red sauce was incredibly flavorful with chunky tomatoes, thick slices of onion and a generous dusting of fresh green herbs. It did the steamed mussels proud. Further enhancing the appetizer were four slices of just crispy enough and perfectly buttery toast. On a low note, my Spaghetti Carbonara ($16.95) came swimming in a cream sauce and was rather bland. What should typically be a classic egg and Parmesan cheese sauce was disappointingly and abundantly creamy, not to mention super thick and somewhat cloying. It weighed me down and it weighed the spaghetti down, too. 
Unfortunately, this was not a dish I could truly get excited about. This was further evidenced by the fact that I never felt compelled to eat the leftovers I took home. If you're looking for a good carbonara in the neighborhood, I'm partial to the ones at Artu and Ristorante Daimiano. However, if you're looking for a good Tiramisu ($7.95), look no further. Homemade with espresso soaked ladyfingers, pillowy brandy infused mascarpone cheese, and cocoa, this large portion looked like way to much to take on, but ended up being the perfect amount. The tiramisu itself was supremely light and fluffy; this was exactly they type of dessert I needed after a heavy entrée. Traditional, comforting and not too sweet, with a whimsical presentation, what's not to love?
A frothy cup of Cappuccino ($4) completed the meal. With an abundance of restaurants to choose from in the North End, establishments definitely have the power to sway me even after one visit. Piccola Venezia doesn't happen to make the cut of my personal favorites; all things considered. Taking into account the varied level of affection for the dishes I sampled, it was still a good meal at a very reasonable price point that left me satisfied but not necessarily eager to return.

Piccola Venezia

263 Hanover Street

Boston, MA 02113