In a Pickle

          Since moving to Waltham I've been on a hunt for the best breakfast spot, and finally found it at In a Pickle on Moody Street. It recently moved and reopened, and I've been told the new location is even bigger and more popular. In a Pickle made my list to try after seeing the long line weekend after weekend. Since I literally live right next door, I've gone down a few times, given my name, and waited in the comfort of my apartment!

           The menu is impressive and includes a large selection of creative and delicious sounding pancakes like chocolate chip cookie dough, snickers, and more! Although I've opted for somewhat healthier options, I'm sure one day these will tempt me!

          My favorite is the eggs benedict, which is available on the weekends only. They normally come with cheese and a side of homefries, but you can make them healthier by skipping the cheese and substituting fresh tomato for the home fries. Either way, this is the best eggs benedict I've found on Moody Street.

Healthier Eggs Benedict

Eggs Benedict

         On weekdays when I can't get eggs benedict, I like the whole grain Belgium waffle with bananas and real maple syrup (the real syrup is a small upcharge).

          In a Pickle has quickly become my regular neighborhood spot for breakfast, and it is definitely the best in Waltham! Check them out if you're in the area!

 

B Street

          I had the pleasure of dining with the Boston Brunchers this weekend at B Street in Newton (although the meal was provided free of charge, the opinions are unbiased and completely my own). B Street is a neighborhood bistro in Newton Centre, with a cozy wine bar feel, an atmosphere similar to some of my favorite spots in the South End. The prices are affordable and the menu is a nice balance of creative twists on comfort classics and healthy choices.

          The staff at B Street was extremely friendly and welcoming, and several people stopped by to introduce themselves and check in throughout our meal. When we sat down they explained they had prepared a tasting menu of house specialties to start, and then we would each be able to choose one full sized entrée from four options. We also got to sample the house made sangria and Bloody Marys.

          We started with the cocktails, which were light, refreshing, and perfect on a hot summer day. The sangria was a rose, which I’d never had and really enjoyed. It was fruity but not too sweet, and infused with fresh peaches, plums, and berries. I’m not normally a fan of Bloody Marys, but this was lighter than any I’ve had and not too spicy. It’s one of the few I’ve tried and would order again.

 

          The tasting started with spinach pie, and we realized quickly these were more than just small tastes! The pie was light and flaky, with just the right balance of spinach and feta. It was served with a small side of fresh salad greens.

          Next came the breakfast flatbread. Each slice had one over easy egg, a roasted garlic sauce, thin sliced potatoes, cheese, and chunks of crisp bacon.

          The steak and egg quesadilla came next, and this was one of my two favorite dishes. The flour tortilla was stuffed with large slices of steak and scrambled eggs, seared to the perfect crispiness, and topped with fresh pico de gallo.

          The final tasting course, the challah french toast, was my other favorite. The french toast was some of the thickest I’ve had, and it was topped with warm caramelized apples and maple syrup.

          We had four choices for the main entrée, and a fellow bruncher and I decided to share two: the hangover burger and smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. The burger was huge, served on a grilled English muffin, with slices of thick bacon, gooey cheddar cheese, and a fried egg. This was named quite well, and definitely on the level of some of the award winning burgers in Boston.

          The salmon scramble was also delicious; the Norwegian smoked salmon was incredibly fresh, came in thick slices, and went perfectly with the scrambled eggs. The eggs were moist and just on the line of being slightly underdone, which was the perfect preparation to pair with smoked salmon.

          At the end of our main course, the chef came over and introduced himself. We learned he had only been at B Street a few weeks, but has worked brunch for ten years at a few different restaurants in Boston (including one of my neighborhood favorites the South End Buttery). The fact that he was so new made the food and experience even more impressive.

          As we were preparing to leave, completely stuffed (and satisfied) our sever told us there was a surprise dessert on the way. Despite our comments about not being able to move or eat for the rest of the day, we all agreed we could squeeze in just a bite or two! We tried to guess what the dessert might be, and several of us hoped for chocolate. Within a few minutes, several of the staff came over with not one, but THREE desserts (and yes there was chocolate)!

          We tried a strawberry rhubarb crisp with vanilla bean ice cream, blueberry crostada with vanilla bean ice cream, and s’mores baked Alaska with meringue, chocolate ice cream, and a chocolate crust. The proprietor explained that they were changing the dessert menu and asked for our feedback. The desserts were all delicious, but the clear winner was the strawberry rhubarb (and yes, this was the group that wanted chocolate)! The warm strawberries and vanilla ice cream were a perfect pairing, and the crisp topping was light and sweet.

          The brunch at B Street was one of the best I've had. Nothing I tried was short of fantastic, and even with several great brunch spots within walking distance of my apartment; I’d make the drive out of Boston to try B Street again. The Chef mentioned that the menu would be changing in a few weeks, and I’d love to check it out and taste some of his new creations!

Common Ground

          I recently had the opportunity to attend my first event with the Boston Brunchers at Common Ground in Allston (in the interest of full disclosure, this event was free to us but that in no way influenced this review). I'd heard of Common Ground but had never been and until brunch, I always thought it was more of a bar. After reading the description of the food on the brunchers invite, I was excited to try it!

          When I walked in, I was greeted by several staff members who were all extremely friendly and nice. Once we were seated, the owner came out and welcomed us personally, explaining what was included (the full buffet plus house made bacon, bananas foster French toast, and one cocktail). The Chef even came out toward the end to talk to us about some of the food. We learned that the only item not homemade was the turkey bacon, and that everything else (including condiments and granola) is made in house.

          The buffet included a ton of food: eggs, bacon, sausage, roast beef, muffins, fruit, and much more. I loaded my plate, and tried to get at least a small bite of everything. My favorite items from the buffet were the corned beef hash, sausage, and chocolate chip muffin.

          The corned beef hash was some of the best I've ever had. It was delicious, and this is something I normally like. Unlike the hash I’m used to, with ground corned beef and tiny potatoes, this one had large slices of fresh corned beef mixed with chunks of roasted potatoes, onions, and peppers.

          The house made sausage was also very good. It tasted fresh, had just the right amount of seasoning, and was the thickest sausage patty I've had. These were more like mini pork burgers without a bun.

          The chocolate chip muffin was a group favorite. I didn't take one at first because my plate was so full, but after hearing the other bloggers rave about it I had to try one! It was crisp and sugary on the top and incredibly light and moist on the inside, with the perfect chocolate to muffin ratio.

          The bananas foster french toast and home made bacon were two dishes not on the buffet, and were also group favorites. The french toast was a cinnamon raisin bread, topped with caramelized bananas and fresh fruit. The bacon was a plate of chopped slab bacon, similar to pork belly with a crispy top and tender layer of meat (and fat) on the bottom.

          Although I only tried one drink (the mimosa), it looked like they had a great selection. One of the bloggers tried the shake of the day, which included peach ice cream and vodka. This is something I would definitely like to try when I go back.

         Overall the meal at Common Ground was excellent and a really fun way to spend a Sunday morning. I got to meet some great new people, chat with other bloggers, learn about a great new restaurant, and for once not be the only one at the table taking pictures of my food!

Red Cottage (Cape Cod)

        The Red Cottage is an old-fashioned diner in Dennis (Cape Cod), that serves breakfast and lunch and is extremely popular with the locals. It’s small, cash only, and I’m told it’s the best breakfast in town.

          I tried it during a recent trip to the Cape, and even during the off-season, there was a little bit of a wait. The menu had several options I would have liked to try including biscuits and gravy, and many different types of pancakes and French toast. I decided on the plantation breakfast based on our server’s recommendation, and was glad that I did. It included three pieces of ham hock (all on the bone), buttered grits, a fresh baked (and then grilled) biscuit, and two poached eggs. I tried each component individually, then mixed the egg yolk in with the grits, chopped up the ham into small bites, and layered it on top of the biscuit. It was all delicious, and worked really well together. The combination reminded me of a shrimp and grits appetizer (minus the shrimp) I recently enjoyed at a southern style restaurant in Boston.

          The breakfast at Red Cottage was the best I’ve had in a while and without having tried any others, I have no trouble believing it’s the best in town. I’m excited to go back to the Cape and eat there again; I’ve already decided the next two meals will be biscuits and gravy, and French toast foster!

Sound Bites

Sound Bites is a restaurant and bar in Somerville best known for their breakfast (although they do serve lunch and dinner).  It’s become famous with the locals for a few reasons:

1.       The amazing breakfast

2.       The rivalry with Ball Square Cafe (a similar breakfast spot next door)

3.       The comparison to a certain Seinfeld character rushing customers to order and then out the door as soon as they finish

After hearing about Sound Bites and Ball Square Café, I decided to eventually try both and compare. I started with Sound Bites because there was a free spot at the bar when both places had a line. As expected, the service was quick and the staff did their best to keep the line moving. The make your own coffee and drink stations helped and I thought these were a great idea. For a casual breakfast, I would prefer to make my own coffee exactly how I like it. There were plenty of options to choose from including different roasts, milks and creamers, sweeteners, and flavored syrups, and the drink station included several juices, soft drinks, bottled and ice water. Although service was quick, I didn’t feel rushed or like the server was annoyed when I ordered something not on the menu. 

There were several dishes I wanted to try, but the Best of Boston award for pancakes on display made my choice a little easier. There were quite a few options including whole-wheat and various fruit toppings. I asked for whole-wheat banana walnut, and learned that any of the options can be made whole-wheat at no additional charge. There was a charge for the real maple syrup, but at $1.50 it was well worth it and made the award-winning pancakes even better. They were some of the fluffiest I’ve had and were filled with just the right amount of bananas and walnuts. 

I also ordered a side of turkey sausage to go with my pancakes. I sometimes I find turkey and chicken sausage to be dry or bland compared to pork, but this was not the case. The sausage tasted fresh, and was well seasoned and tender. I didn’t come close to finishing my breakfast, but managed to try a couple bites of hash browns (grilled mashed potatoes) and grilled blueberry muffin. Both were delicious, and I added them to the list of things to try when I go back!