This place is on the small side and has limited seating so in the future I would get my sandwich to go and eat it at Olmsted Park, weather depending of course.  Our first visit we were lucky to snag a seat and also lucky to go on a Saturday because its the only day of the week that they offer their two slow roasted pork sammies.  I chose the one with pork, sauteed broccoli rabe and sharp provolone on a toasted sesame seed roll which surprisingly did not need any condiments.  I think it was because the broccoli rabe was sauteed in garlic and some of those juices carried over as well as the sharpness of the provolone.  My man crow went for the roast beef which he raved about, I would have tried a bite except for the fact that I’m anti 1000 islands dressing.  Here’s a picture of our sandwiches, it didn’t come out that great because we were too anxious to mow down!

Since we were able to buy tasty beers at the store we didn’t hit up too many bars during our stay.  It seemed as though when people really wanted to get their drink on they went to an Irish style pub.  We hit up a couple of these before we stumbled upon my dream bar.  It was in Lyon and called The Beers and specialized in craft beers and charcuterie platters in a rustic two story building just steps away from the Rhone River.  It was fate that we found this hidden gem right when their happy hour started, pints for 3 euro and basic snack platters for 5 euro which included olives, pickles, baguette and sauscisson.  Deal of the century, if you ever find yourself thirsty in Lyon, head here!

When we arrived at the Paramount the line was practically out the door.  I heard rumor that it goes fast but there was close to 30 people standing ahead of us!  Plus the waiting line was virtually right on top of the diners.  If I happened to sneeze, chances were good that some of it would end up right on some poor soul’s waffles.  Nick saw the look of hunger and frustration in my eyes so he made the executive decision to check out the only other noted brunch spot in Beacon Hill: Panificio.

Panificio is just a short walk down Charles St heading away from Paramount and towards the MGH T stop.  As soon as I walked through the doors into the rustic and casual setting I knew we had made the right choice.  There was still a small line ahead of us but I felt much more at ease here, there wouldn’t be people hovering over me ready to vulture my table; this was a place where you can eat breakfast at your own pace, sip your coffee and watch the foot traffic stroll by.  You place your order at the register, put your corresponding number sign on your table, and then the wait staff brings you your meal.  Quick, easy, and hassle free.  I ordered the first thing that caught my eye on the menu: Chicken Sausage Hash with two poached eggs.  I am a huge fan of poached eggs, and the description of the chicken hash was reminiscent of Emily’s Sunday Breakfast post which had me drooling for days!

The coffee and food were both delicious and we were left with no complaints.  I ate my meal so fast I was looking forward to the walk ahead of me to help digest my full stomach.  A nice stroll down Charles St, through the Boston Gardens and onto Boylston to catch the Orange Line at Back Bay, a perfect way to end Sunday brunch.

The three beers went down fast so we were left pondering where the night would take us.  We agreed that more beer and some food was necessary so Emily, Vbar and I chose the low key route of ordering sandwiches from city feed and picking up some 22oz beers from blanchards.  Since city feed is often crowded with screaming small children, Vbar came up with the perfect plan of ordering the sandwiches, notifying the cashier we would be right back, and skipping out to blanchards to pick up some brew.  By the time we got back, our sandwiches had just came off the assembly line and we were happily on our way with delicious food and drink in hand.

Unearthly is a manifestation of the brewer’s craft; skillfully balancing art and the forces of nature to produce a divine liquid. Delicately pour a taste into a fluted glass. Smell the enchanting aromas of the hops waft forward as your first sip divulges this beer’s fervent soul. To underestimate Unearthly is to trifle with the mysteries of the universe, so please consume wisely. 10.0% abv • 15.6ºL • Imperial India Pale Ale • 22 oz / 1/2 keg / 1/6 keg

I have been all about the 220z high alcohol content beers this summer (a trend that may continue indefinitely).  My go to brew has been the unearthly ipa from southern tier brewing company. If you read the description you will see that the alcohol content of this bad boy is 10% and they sell a 22oz bottle at blanchards for $7.99.  In terms of getting the best bang for your buck its almost equivalent to buying your favorite bottle of wine for 8 bucks, which is virtually impossible.

I definitely suggest this blanchards/city feed route the next time you want to take a night off from the kitchen and don’t have the energy to sit down and dine at a restaurant.  You can fill your tummy and catch a small buzz in the location of your choice for around $15; add that to your urbanspoon page!

My co-worker and I have had a rough week (haven’t we all?) and after a day of slangin’ shoes on the internet and to the fine tourists of SoHo, we decided a cocktail was in order. We walked a bit on W. Broadway-just off Canal St. in SoHo- and stumbled upon Sanctuary T, a little cafe/restaurant that had a cocktail list that was too good to be true. Check out this little number-

fresh brewed green tea, tequila, triple sec and muddled lemon and limes

We decided on a ordering a little snack to hold us off until dinner time. How about a plate of their fried marinated artichoke hearts with homemade tarter sauce? Definitely a good choice.  Yum!

What sort of happy hour treats did you indulge in this week?

I always welcome a trip (home) to Portland,OR.  While this one was short, (only 1 night!) My mom, sister and I still managed to sneak in a meal at what is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in Portland.

Like many Portland restaurants, the menu at Veritable Quandary  changes with the seasons, as they feature fresh seasonal local meats and veggies.  While they do have some permanent offerings, no matter what you choose, VQ is not likely to disappoint. We were lucky enough to be seated right at the window leading out to the back patio-a perfect location to enjoy the cooling breeze while watching the crowds shift.

My mom and I both got the a VQ twist on the gin and tonic called the gin and ginger.  This drink features house made ginger ale along with top shelf gin.  I had to order 2.  My sister got a Vodka-Berry-Lemonade  concoction that was satisfying in every way  on this particular warm summer night.

Being the fish lovers that we are, we started with the Oregon albacore tuna bruschetta and the house made rabbit pate with toasted brioche.  While these apps were a meal in themselves, we were excited for what was to follow!

For dinner, my mom ordered the never disappointing Osso Bucco which was served with parm and basil risotto.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Cooked to perfection, we were more than happy to take home the left overs!  Since my mom ordered the Osso Bucco (my first choice) I had to go for something else: at a restaurant this good, we wanted to try everything! I decided to go with the Salmon, which was buttery and flakey and paired perfectly with Jicama and mango slaw.  Did I mention the Dungeness crab beneath it all?

All in all, we were very satisfied, to say the least.  If there’s one thing Portland does well, (but let’s not kid ourselves, they do it all well!!) it’s food.

check out the restaurant at:http://www.veritablequandary.com/about.html

Usually, a Saturday night out in Portland Maine for me means closing the bars down in the Old Port then sneaking over to Sangillos to make their last call.  This past weekend I switched things up a bit and had a low key evening of sipping craft beer, tasty wine and munching on salty snacks all to live music in the background.  Where did this all go down?  An establishment that I have walked by countless times and finally had a reason to go in: Blue on Congress St.

The reason for my visit to Blue was to watch my boyfriend’s Uncle’s band play a set.  They go by the name of Abram Taylor and their “garage jazz” sound fit perfect in Blue’s low key lounge atmosphere.  The acoustics are not too overpowering here so patrons can either enjoy dinner from their condensed chalk board menu or lean back with some brews, munch on tasty bar bites and watch the Congress St foot traffic stroll by.

Throughout the summer I have tasted a lot of delicious beers but the most memorable so far has been the Spring Peeper Ale I had at Blue (yes, the name is ironic for the season).  When I saw the name on the beer menu I knew it sounded familiar, then I remembered I had sampled it at last year’s Maine Brewer’s Festival at the Portland Expo.  My vocabulary for describing the taste of beer and wine has never been sophisticated, which is why i usually feel uncomfortable at wine tastings trying to chat the server up to be proved worthy of a heavy pour.  My laments terms to describe the Spring Peeper would be crisp and refreshing with no lingering after taste, and the best part of all is that it comes in a 22 oz bottle!

My wine list is not very extensive so I was excited to see two familiar names on their chalk board.  The first being one of my stand by wines, it’s a Vinho Verde called Gazela. It’s made with premature green grapes so it’s a bit sour and has some fizz which I enjoy because it fills the void of prosecco without hurting your wallet.  The second familiar name on the menu is another white wine called Domaine de Pouy 2005 Cotes de Gascogne (mouth full but the second half states the region of France it was produced in).  I will definitely be scouring the wine isles for a bottle of this in the future, it went down smooth and one glass just wasn’t enough!

What I can take away from my trip to Blue: a new favorite beer, wine, and a trusted location for great live tunes and service.

The waiter was attentive but not in the least bit overbearing. Our glasses were never empty (water/wine) and the dishes were brought out gradually to allow for more dinner conversation. This was by far the best meal I’ve had since moving here (probably the best all year).  One of my favorite dishes was the tarte tatin of caramelized onion and goat cheese. Absolutely out of this world! A roasted red onion on a flaky tart, topped with a dollop or two of goat cheese-how could that not be delicious?

The mood lighting was spot on so I was only able to snap a picture of a cocktail or two. Check out this little number…

lychee martini

There weren’t any REAL shockers in this article but I would be interested to see if #2 works effectively, who thinks to freeze mashed up avocado?  #4 seemed the most creative, since avocados are high in fat it makes sense that they would be good in baking, maybe I’ll put that on my kitchen to do list.

Here’s a few that I came up with:

Salad Ingredient- Dice up avocado and toss them with citrus juice and poppy seeds.  I think orange works well here but lime, lemon, and grapefruit are all prime candidates.  Add the diced avocado to your next garden salad for some richness.  Staying on the salad theme you could also add avocado to make a creamy vinaigrette like Miz Emily shared with us last June- Orange Basil Dressing.

Sandwich Ingredient- I know this is old news but since I am an anti-mayo Crow, my new favorite substitute on a BLT is Avocado.  The key here is to use a mushier avocado and spread it on the bread rather then adding huge slices that fall off and add to the overall messiness of the sandwich.  You need to save room on the sandwich for the extra bacon as you can see in the picture below.  Note: this was constructed by my Man Crow who happens to love Mayo & Bacon.

Soup Topping: It’s common to add a dollop of sour cream on certain soups such as black bean or chicken tortilla but you can step it up a notch by pureeing avocado with sour cream or creme fraiche and adding a dollop of that!
Breakfast: Avocados and eggs are a match made in heaven whether you eat them on the side or stuffed in your breakfast burrito.  There is a brunch spot just around the corner from my apartment called Bon Savor that has the best options for omelets with avocado, check them out:
French Omelet Stuffed with fresh avocado, sautéed asparagus, tomatoes, and melted Swiss cheese
Richie Omelet Stuffed with fresh avocado, crispy bacon and melted Swiss cheese
It’s always so hard for me to decide between asparagus or bacon but the important description to pay attention to is the word “stuffed” because they pack atleast a half an avocado in each omelet.

Some of these ideas may or may not be new to you but if you are a lover of this delicious fruit (yes i checked on Wikipedia and it is indeed a fruit) then you probably share the belief that adding avocado to almost anything makes it better.

http://www.breadstuy.com/

Banana bread and hazelnut coffee