Glass Hostaria | Trastevere

When there is a Michelin-starred restaurant run by a notable chef at the top of your street, you go! Chef Cristina Bowerman's gastronomic cuisine stands out in a sea of trattorias. It is always preferable to make a reservation at a Michelin star but you wouldn't necessarily need one at Glass far in advance. Contemporary Italian fine dining is not what the crowd in Trastevere leans towards so the sleek glass and gold-accented dining room was not busy. Because we were in town so many nights dining here was a welcome change of pace, the meal certainly noteworthy. Camden slept until dessert, the little angel! 

Dueling amuse bouche to prelude meal were crisp pickled vegetable tacos and mojito globes. Yes, it is liquid inside those balancing spheres! Then, a refreshing tomato and raspberry gazpacho. The Beef Filet Tartare appetizer with celery, nashi pear, smoked Sardinan sauce and quail egg was outstanding!

Our Massolino Barolo was an elegant, savory, refined bottle of red wine. The pasta courses were small but exquisite - Tortelli stuffed with rabbit, coconut sauce, green curry and pine nuts. Gnocci with sea urchin, black garlic bagancauda, salted lemon and truffle.

Dessert + Petit Fours were on another level. The first featured condensed milk, espresso jelly and Baileys ice cream! The second amazed with passion fruit, popcorn ice cream and caramelized popcorn.

I wrote a note with our reservation request so they knew we had a baby in a stroller and to actually make sure it was OK to dine with him. They were more than welcoming and by the end of the night I think every waitress had held and got to know Camden. It was really, really sweet!!! When we were outside at Bar Del Cinque the following evening, our waitress spotted Camden and came over to see him.

Proving you can go all out Michelin Star dining with an infant, Glass Hostaria 10/10

Glass Hostaria 

Vicolo de' Cinque, 58

00153, Rome

Oak + Rowan

The next up and comer in Fort Point neighborhood is Oak + Rowan and this restaurant is something special. For an evening out with some of my favorite ladies they took such good care of us - and it was a long night fueled by multiple bottles of bubbly and lots of terrific courses.

Choose from six cocktails listed on the menu by type of alcohol: Tequila, Ginger Cider, Bourbon, Scotch, Vodka or Gin, made table-side from a fancy bar cart! I had the Bourbon -  which is a Swedish Punch with Zucca, lemon, honey + Angostura Bitters. Zucca is an Italian liquor made from rhubarb. This cocktail was on the sweeter side and proved to be a delightful apertif. 

Definitely order a cocktail here as one shaken or stirred table-side is a really fun way to start!

We were seated in a booth underneath the exposed light-bulb BWC signage which stands for Boston Wharf Company. I love the warm ambiance created in the lofty industrial warehouse space. 

We started our meal with a bread course worthy of splurging on, the Caraway Sourdough ($6) accompanied by homemade pimento cheese and salted molasses butter. This was followed by two really solid, well executed appetizer dishes, an Arctic Char "Pastrami" ($14) (not pictured) served over oat bread with smoked egg, pickled onion and kale and Pheasant Kotschoubey ($17) (above) with brussels sprouts, bacon jam and winter truffle. We also had a beautiful Duck ($32) entrée over a luscious sweet potato puree, grains, smoked pear and juniper.

A four course Pasta Tasting ($49) is offered on Thursday night only (fate!) so we had to order one for the table. Our waitress nicely paced the handmade pastas throughout our meal. The first three were unique and creative, while the fourth was a classic. All were comforting, thoughtfully prepared and delicious.

First Course: Passatelli | Brodo, Parmesan, Chive

Second Course: Garganelli | Braised Pheasant, Egg Yolk 

Third Course: Tortelli | Polenta Cheese Filling, Hazelnuts, Grape Must

Fourth Course: Lasagne | Smoked Bacon + Beef Bolognese, Arugula

The kitchen sent out a cheese course with compliments. I am so glad they did because as it turns out the cheese plates are impeccably done and not to be missed. We had Brillat Savarin Custard ($11) which is a Triple Cream from France w. honey + celerac and Bailey Hazen Blue ($9) a Blue Cheese from Vermont w. bacon jam, sourdough + port gastrique.  

Speaking of not to be missed, most of the desserts also fall into the realm of being special and alluring. One I would pass on is the Winter Citrus ($12) with grapefruit sorbet, granola, cara cara and lemongrass. Those ingredients didn't mesh so well for me. The next two were winners, though! Chocolate + Cashew ($12) offers a rich Taza Chocolate log with a quenelle of cashew mouse, mascarpone and topped with a brioche ribbon. The Yogurt Panna Cotta ($12) felt playful yet elegant with sweet and tart cherries, hibiscus sorbet, honey, pear, and a very pretty candied ice decoration that looked like a snowflake.

Oak + Rowan

321 A Street

Boston, MA 02210