Interior of The Grove by Jessica Gioglio
It probably won’t come as a surprise to the more frequent readers of this blog, but I adore charming little restaurants and boutiques. When traveling, I purposefully seek out places like San Francisco’s Fillmore Street that contain a mix of both. Delightful, yet not overly posh, this street is situated in the city’s beautiful Pacific Heights neighborhood, and is perfect for a lunch and shopping jaunt.
Let's Make a Heart by thefleeg From Flickr
Overly expensive pre-fixe meals? Ridiculously huge heart-shaped boxes of chocolates? Unnecessary amounts of red roses? I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a fan of the hoopla surrounding Valentine’s Day. Therefore, in the spirit of celebrating Boston’s simple pleasures, I’ve decided to share a few of my top picks for quality vendors, nibbles, and more that will brighten up your Valentine’s Day in the city, without costing too much. From romantic, to indulgent, to DIY, these places, treats and ideas are special throughout the year, but are also Valentine’s Day appropiate. Please consider this my Valentine’s Day gift to you. Mwah!
Rocca by SoWa Sundays from Flickr
As I look forward to many nights on the town in 2011, I can help but feel a twinge of sadness that three of my go-to hotspots – Rocca, Vox and Ginger Park – are no longer open.
Ginger Park closed in early December and according to the Boston.com blog Dishing, chef/owner Patricia Yeo is reportedly scouting out another space for a new restaurant concept in May. What I’ll remember is the incredibly cool space framed by arched wood panels, fantastic drinks and a chill bar scene.
Following a New Year’s Eve dinner, Rocca surprised local foodies by closing its doors. Adding to the buzz was whether the restaurant’s celebrity chef Tiffani Faison may be interested in opening her own place. We can only hope that a fun new restaurant concept takes its place, because I’ll remember Rocca’s free parking lot, swanky interior and affordably priced menu for making it a great venue for meeting friends from all corners of the city for a workweek dinner.
Last, but certainly not least, Vox on Boylston Street has also closed. Unfortunately, googling has not generated much background as to why the fun nightspot closed, but we can only hope that its prime Back Bay real estate will result in another fun bar/restaurant before we know it. I’ll remember many lively happy hours and nights out on the town!
Got any scoop about soon-to-be restaurants and hotspots filling these venues? Leave a comment below and let me know!
I recently returned from a trip to the West Coast, where I frequently took comfort in cozy cafes and far too many sweet treats. Still basking in vacation bliss, I was inspired to spend a weekend afternoon walking from the Back Bay, to Harvard Square. During this jaunt, I popped into two local eateries in Central Square for small snacks or treats. The result is a delicious snapshot of an afternoon savored in Cambridge.
Fresh Tabouli Salad Plate at Andala
I started the day by enjoying a light lunch at one of my favorite cafes, Andala in Central Square. Inspired by Old Jerusalem, Andala has a great menu with light, yet flavorful plates for sharing, in addition to sandwiches, coffee and pastries. It’s a great place for getting work done (don’t be surprised by the many local students lingering over their laptops), a casual date, meal with friends, or solo diner like myself. As pictured below, I enjoyed a fresh Tabouli Salad Plate for $7.95. Andala is located at 286 Franklin Street in Central Square, Cambridge.
Toscanini's Goat Cheese Brownie Ice Cream
Moving from savory to sweet, I celebrated (er, counterbalanced?) my day of walking with Toscanini’s Goat Cheese Brownie Ice Cream (see picture here). Slightly tangy from the goat cheese yet sweet from the rich chocolate brownie chunks, I’d proceed with caution if you’re not a goat cheese fan. Luckily, I adore goat cheese and really enjoyed this unique treat. At $3.85 for one scoop, it’s a perfect treat for a foodie like myself who enjoys an opportunity to try unique flavors (next I want to try Salted Caramel and Bourbon). Toscanini’s is located at 899 Main Street in Cambridge, near MIT.
South End Buttery by Don’t Wake Me, I Plan On Sleeping from Flickr
Casually cool with amazing sandwiches and pastries, the South End Buttery is exactly the kind of place you want to live within walking distance of. Tucked into a quaint area of the South End filled with posh brownstone walk-ups and hip furniture stores, this neighborhood gem is open from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily, allowing ample opportunity to satisfy cravings on a whim.
Upon entry to the restaurant, step into the bustling cafe space with cheerful yellow walls and a display case filled with pastries worth salivating over. Though there are two quieter rooms, I prefer sitting in the main room, which gets fantastic natural light and presents a constant stream of Bostonians for people watching. On a nice day, try and snag a seat on the tiny outdoor patio, which is pet-friendly.
While I’ve never been for dinner, I have tried – and loved – their plain croissant, pecan sticky bun and seven layer bar. Their iced coffee is lovely, but fair warning – the large size is huge! The sandwiches are truly the star of the show here, especially the Curried Chicken Salad, which is worth every deliciously messy bite.
Though the South End Buttery has many high points, I wish that they also made their salads to order instead of having them available at the takeaway counter. I’m guessing that this is only a lunchtime issue, but after seeing the delicious made to order sandwiches arrive at our table, I would have swooned over a more innovative salad menu.
The South End Buttery is located at 314 Shawmut Avenue at the corner of Union Park in the South End. For more information, please visit their website: www.southendbuttery.com