Maggianos

         I recently had the opportunity to dine with the Boston Food Bloggers and sample the new summer grill menu at Maggianos Little Italy in Park Plaza (although this was provided free of charge the opinions are my own). It was a fun night with good food and a chance to chat with some fellow bloggers.

          They had reserved a private room and when we walked in the staff greeted us warmly. They asked immediately about any dietary restriction, and although I don’t have any, I heard other bloggers mention vegetarian, seafood allergy, red wine allergy, and no pork. The staff at Maggianos happily accommodated, and quickly went back to the kitchen to whip up some alternatives in addition to the menu they had planned for us (these included a vegetarian pasta dish, flatbread without seafood, and a white wine sangria).

          We started with the house made red sangria, which was light, fruity and refreshing. Servers came around with refills several times throughout the night, but were not hovering or intrusive.

          Our first course was a flatbread with shrimp, heirloom tomatoes, pepperoncinis and a basil pesto cream sauce. The tomatoes were fresh and flavorful, and the shrimp grilled perfectly.

          Next was the grilled chicken and sausage spiedini, a plate of grilled marinated chicken, Italian sausage, roasted potatoes, and red peppers. The sausage on this plate was my favorite savory dish of the night. It had a great flavor and was cooked just right.

         I skipped the vegetarian pasta alternative and went straight for the grilled mahi mahi. This was topped with a roasted pepper almond pesto and carbonara orzotto. The mahi was good, but the star of this dish was the orzotto, which was creamy like a risotto, and came with pieces of ham mixed in.

          We finished our meal with two desserts, a strawberry pie with mascarpone cream and toasted almonds, and a cheesecake with strawberries. Both were very good, but the cheesecake was some of the best I’ve ever had, and by far my favorite dish of the night.

          As we left, we were encouraged to pick up coupons toward a future visit, and a complimentary Maggianos CD featuring classics from artists like Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Thanks to Maggianos and Boston Food Bloggers for hosting and a great meal!

India Samraat Via Foodler

          I recently tried the delivery service Foodler for the first time (although I received a discount to blog about my experience, the opinions are my own) completely starving after a long day at work. I logged in and was a bit overwhelmed by all of the choices, although this was in no way a negative on Foodler’s part. The website is very well organized with the ability to sort by cuisine type, distance, and price. As a foodie, I’m easily distracted by menus and with so many right in front of me I just started reading them rather than actually thinking about what to eat. Fast forward a half hour, I decided I felt like Indian.

          I wanted to try somewhere new, so I went with the place with the combination of best reviews and most perks. India Samraat on Mass Ave in Boston was the winner with a 15% instant rebate, free delivery, triple rewards points, and 4.5 of 5 stars. I placed my order easily (the interface was very user friendly) and received an email confirmation in less than a minute estimating my delivery time at one hour (typical for the area). While waiting I decided to check out the site and learn more about the rewards points and instant rebates.

          I learned that Foodler bucks can be used like cash for any Foodler purchase, and rewards points are more like credit card rewards. The rewards points can be used towards gift cards like Amazon and Apple, merchandise like a Foodler T shirt, or more Foodler bucks. I earned a total of 207 for placing and rating my order. This was certainly not enough to redeem for anything now, but one or two more orders could get me a Foodler t-shirt and twenty orders could get me another $10 in Foodler bucks. Not a bad deal!

         I placed my order and received the confirmation email within a minute. The estimated delivery time was one hour. It arrived five minutes early, with all of the food packaged neatly in individually labeled containers. I ordered chicken curry, cheese naan, and cheese pakora, and was pleasantly surprised to see that they had included a complimentary side of basmati rice.

          The cheese pakora included six slices of cheese fried in chickpea batter. This was almost like an Indian version of a cheese stick. It was a patty and the cheese wasn’t quite as gooey as mozzarella, but it was the same idea and even came with a spicy red sauce.

          The chicken curry was delicious, and included a generous portion of boneless chicken in a mild curry sauce. I enjoyed half of the chicken and rice leftover for lunch the next day.

          The cheese naan was a white break stuffed with cheese and onions. This was very good, but after dipping the bread in my curry sauce I couldn’t taste much else. Next time I might save the $2 and order the plain naan, although this was very tasty!

          Overall I was very happy with my Foodler experience and I would use it again (and order from this restaurant again). The food was hot and on time, and I know I have almost $4 in Foodler bucks waiting for me (and the opportunity to earn so much more)!

Boston Food Bloggers on a Boat (An Oydssey Cruise of Boston Harbor)

          Last night I had the opportunity to attend a Boston food bloggers meet up on an Odyssey Cruise of Boston Harbor (this was provided free of charge but the opinions are my own). It was a perfect night for it, the weather forecasts predicted rain but it held off until we were almost back and even then it was a only a light drizzle.

          The event was open to food bloggers, and we were each able to bring one guest. We were told our ticket included the cruise and dinner. Once we sat down, our server brought over a glass of champagne and explained that our ticket also included open bar. She was very friendly and attentive, explained all of the menu choices, and offered to bring our dessert course outside so we could enjoy the view. The manager also stopped by to welcome us and checked in periodically to see how everything was going.

          We started with a salad of mixed greens, apples, strawberries, pecans, and blue cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The ingredients were all fresh, the fruit was a nice touch, and the dressing was light and not overpowering.

          The main course included a choice of several entrees. I tried the short ribs, which were delicious. They were fork tender, served in a mushroom gravy with mixed vegetables and fried onion strings on top and a side of garlic mashed potatoes. My friend ordered the maple glazed chicken with mashed instead of roasted potatoes (a request which they accommodated with no trouble), and she said the chicken was also very flavorful and moist.

          Dessert also included a few choices. I had a hard time deciding between the signature chocolate truffle torte and the special red velvet cheesecake. I finally settled on the chocolate torte, which did not disappoint with rich layers of cake, mousse, and chocolate ganache. I was slightly envious of some of my fellow bloggers when I saw the cheesecake come out (and tempted to ask for a second dessert) but I really enjoyed the torte!

          Throughout the night I sampled a few cocktails, a dark and stormy, espresso martini, and the beacon hill (vodka, champagne, and peach schnapps). They were all very tasty, but my favorite was the beacon hill.

          After dinner there was live music and dancing, and we had the opportunity to walk around the ship and head to the upper or lower deck. There were even giveaways at the end including gift bags and a grand prize cruise for ten. Unfortunately I didn’t win anything, but someone in our group won a gift bag!

          Thanks to Odyssey Cruises for a great night and to Boston Food Bloggers for hosting / organizing the event!

East Ocean City

          East Ocean City is one of my favorite restaurants in Boston, and has some of the best authentic Cantonese seafood I’ve had. When I’m asked for a recommendation in Chinatown this is the place I always suggest. The menu (or I should say menus) is huge, and they have a mix of delicacies like shark fin soup, which I have yet to try, and more casual dishes. I’ve brought many friends here over the years, and no one has ever been disappointed. I have a few staples from the menu that I always order (the top three are fried bean cake and minced shrimp, spicy salted soft shell crab, and clams with black bean sauce), but each time I go I try to get at least one thing I’ve never had before.

          When you walk in there are tanks of fresh fish and jumbo crab. The seafood selections change based on what they have in, although there are a few items that seem to always be on the menu. I went for dinner recently and tried a mix of old and new.

          I started with an old favorite, the fried bean cake with minced shrimp (pi pa tofu). This isn’t the type of thing I would have ordered in the past, but my first time here was with a Cantonese friend who insisted I try it (she said it was a very traditional dish, not many places in Boston have it, and swore I would like it). It's a huge plate of fried tofu, stuffed with shrimp, and served in a sweet sauce. The tofu is crispy on the outside, and the inside is soft and delicious. Now I crave it on a regular basis, and go to East Ocean City specifically for this dish.

         Next I tried the chow foon with beef, green pepper and onion. This came with wide egg noodles in a sweet sauce and large strips of marinated steak. This was some of the best beef I’ve had at a Chinese restaurant, but I’m not sure I’d order it again because I love the seafood dishes even more. But, if you’re not in the mood for seafood I would highly recommend this dish.

          I also tried the scallops with black pepper sauce: The scallops were fresh and cooked perfectly (medium, which is how I like them), and the black pepper sauce was surprisingly light and not spicy. It was served in a bed of broccoli, and was one of the lighter dishes I've tried here.

          Like always, I had a great experience at East Ocean and will definitely return again soon. I will continue to recommend it as one of the best places in Chinatown, with the caveat that you should go with a large group to try as many things as possible!

Mare Oyster Bar

         Mare Oyster Bar is an Italian seafood restaurant in the North End, with an extensive menu including a raw bar, caviar service, and a mix of classic New England fare like fried clams and gourmet dishes with ingredients like truffles. The original Mare recently closed and reopened as Mare Oyster Bar, but most of the menu remained the same (a fact for which I am extremely grateful).

          I tried the original Mare for the first time during restaurant week a few years ago. A friend and I shared the truffle pasta and chicken under a brick, and loved them so much we went back a couple of days later for the exact same thing! The truffle pasta in particular was my favorite, and I returned to Mare several times without ever trying another entrée. When Mare Oyster Bar opened, I went in planning to order the pasta as usual and sample some oysters and new apps. However, the hot buttered lobster roll on the menu quickly changed my mind!

        According to plan, I started with a selection of oysters. I decided to go with a sampling of east coast, from Canada to Virginia. My favorites were the first light from Mashpee, MA, which had a great salty flavor.

          Next I tried a special soft shell crab appetizer. It was deep fried, served with grilled bok choy, and an orange soy sauce. It was fresh, delicious and I was glad I chose Mare for my first soft shell crab of the season!

          When the entree arrived, I knew the hot buttered lobster roll was the right decision. It was described on the menu as the meat from a 2 ½ lb. lobster, and when it came out the meat was completely overflowing from the buttery roll. It wasn't the whole 2 ½ lb. lobster, but each roll came with one claw and could easily have been half! It was warm, fresh, and buttery, and tied the truffle pasta for the top two dishes at Mare.

          I truly enjoyed my experience at Mare Oyster Bar, and was glad that all of the changes seemed to be positive. It reaffirmed the restaurant as one of my top picks for Boston, and I will definitely be back soon!

North End Fish Market

          Sushi in the North End? Yes please! I know it sounds crazy, but working in the North End my lunch options are limited (in terms of variety, not quantity). I love Italian as much as the next girl, but after working in the North End for the past year I’ve done my best to track down some of the more diverse spots. My latest find is the North End Fish Market (or Mercato de Mare) on Salem Street.

          This place is primarily a market, with fresh fish, lobster, and prepared seafood (crab cakes, stuffed clams, chowder, lobster rolls, etc). However, they do have a sushi chef with his own corner in the front who prepares sushi to order.

          I tried the avocado salad, spicy tuna, and shrimp tempura rolls. The avocado salad was one of the best I’ve had. The avocado was extremely fresh, served in long thick slices atop a bed of crab meat and sliced cucumber. The whole thing was drizzled with spicy mayo. I generally don’t like mayo at all, but spicy mayo is the exception in small doses. This had the perfect amount.

          The shrimp tempura roll was also delicious. When I placed my order they cooked two shrimp fresh, which is something I’ve never seen (aside from a couple of extremely high end places).

          The spicy tuna roll was fresh and tasty, and with ten pieces a very generous portion.

          The total came to $20, which is a little more than I usually spend for lunch, but for a delicious fresh, filling sushi lunch, it was definitely a bargain! I plan to go back, would recommend this place to my coworkers (also sushi fans), and may even bring home some of the fish or prepared seafood for dinner.

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!