Cambridge Food Truck Festival

          Food Truck Festivals of New England has kicked off a season of fun festivals throughout Greater Boston with the first in Cambridge this weekend. I've only tried a handful of Boston's food trucks, and was excited for the opportunity to check out so many in one place.

          Some of the things that struck me most about the trucks I tried was their commitment to quality and (many trucks use locally sourced ingredients, and the food was comparable to a casual sit down restaurant) fun stories behind the trucks (Mei Mei is owned by siblings, and Compliments is a couple who name all of their menu items with some reference to love and relationships).

          I went with Jen first thing Saturday morning, and we tried four trucks before getting too full and calling it quits!

          Our first stop was Mei Mei, a sibling-run food truck featuring creative, local Chinese-American fare. The rotating farm-sourced menu includes only humanely raised meat, butchered in house.

          We shared the Double Awesome, a scallion pancake sandwich filled with Vermont cheddar, pesto made from local greens, and two slow poached eggs. It really was awesome, and even better with the spicy ketchup!

          We hit up Compliments next, a truck featuring made to order dishes crafted from local, fresh food and their secret ingredient -  pure love.

 

          I tried the grass fed beef sliders, served on buttery bread and topped with crumbled cheese. They were fresh, delicious, and didn't even need any of the assorted condiments available on the side.

         Our next stop was Fugu, a truck featuring Asian street food with fresh ingredients and locally sourced produce. 

          I tried a taco with double braised pork belly, pickled red cabbage, onions, and hot sauce and the bibimbap, a Korean style rice dish with mixed vegetables and sweet pepper sauce. I enjoyed them both, but the taco was my favorite. 

          Our last stop was Area Four, a truck whose specialty is piadina (warm folded flatbread sandwiches) made from locally sourced ingredients. They are also very kid friendly, and children who can win a fresh baked cookie if they're able to complete a scavenger hunt and find all of the fun pictures hidden on the outside of the truck. 

          We shared two of the piadina, the classic made with proscuitto, blended cheese, arugula and lemon vinaigrette and the asparagus made with goat cheese, red onion jam, arugula and lemon vinaigrette. Each was amazing, but the asparagus was both of our favorite, and we loved the combination of goat cheese and red onion jam!

          If you weren't able to make it to the Cambridge Festival, don't worry there are more coming up soon! The full schedule is available online, and if you go here are some tips to get the most out of the experience:

1. Portions are big, so bring a friend (or 4) to share and try more things

2. While entrance to the festival is free (you pay for what you order at the trucks) wristbands are available for $7 in advance and $10 at the festival. The average full price was $7 and wristband price $3-$4.  If you plan to try more than 2-3 dishes the wristband is definitely worth it.

3. Have a plan. There are so many trucks, you can't possibly try them all. Do your research in advance and figure out the top trucks you have to try.

4. Ask for recommendations. We picked the top four trucks we wanted to try, then asked them what to order. We were not disappointed!

5. The Festival goes on all day. If you live in the area, come for lunch and back again for dinner!

Perbacco, NY

          While the purpose of my trips is often to check out Michelin rated restaurants and increase my star count, I also love to check out the more casual neighborhood places. During my most recent visit to NYC, I decided to try Perbacco, an Italian restaurant and wine bar in the East Village.

          It was the first real warm day of the season, so we decided to sit at one of two tiny tables outside. This definitely added to the experience, making the dinner feel even more cozy and intimate.

          The entire menu looked amazing, but so many of the appetizers and pastas sounded good we decided to share several small plates and create a tapas style experience.

          We started with the parmesan creme brulee which was by far my favorite dish of the night, and definitely the most creative! This was a warm souffle of parmesan cheese, topped with a crust of torched balsamic vinegar. This completely blew me away, I've never tasted anything like it!

           Next was the steak tartare, which wasn't my choice but I was brave and decided to give it a try (I've always been a little freaked out by raw beef, but have finally tasted it a couple of times during the past year). This one came with cured beef and a poached egg, so it was a little easier to try. I appreciated the flavors, concept, and high quality ingredients but it still wasn't quite my thing.


          We also tried a homemade grilled shrimp and scallop sausage simmered in a shrimp reduction and served over chickpeas. This was another dish completely unlike anything I'd ever tried, and both the concept and execution were spot on.

          The last appetizer was the tuna, and another of my favorites. The dish consisted of thinly sliced seared fresh tuna loin over sautéed endive, with hot aromatic extra virgin olive oil. The fish was perfectly fresh and rare, and the hint of sea salt sprinkled on the top really brought out the flavors.

          For our entree, we shared the homemade whole wheat tagliatelle pasta with lamb ragout. The pasta was fresh, and the braised lamb rich and so tender.

 
            We were way too full to order dessert, but the menu had some great selections. I would definitely return to Perbacco on another trip to NY, and would love to experience more of their creative Italian menu!

 

Marea, NY

          Marea has been at the top of my list of NY restaurants to try for years now, for a few reasons:

1. Two Michelin Stars - Need I say more?
2. The Top Chef Master's New York's Finest episode had me sold
3. Italian Seafood is one of my favorites, and you don't often see a whole restaurant dedicated to the concept

          So on our recent trip to Manhattan (which the bf and I now refer to as the Italian Tour of NYC), we absolutely had to try it with the friends we were visiting! Marea has an extensive menu including crudo, oysters, caviar service, pasta, and simply prepared seafood dishes. Although they offer a tasting menu and a four course pre fix menu for $99 (an amazing deal!) we decided to order a la carte, so we could try everything we wanted and not be limited in the number of courses.

          I started with the crudo trio, and selected the Tonno (bigeye tuna, oyster crema, crispy artichoke), Spigola Nera (local black bass, sturgeon caviar, mussel vinaigrette), and Scampi (pacific langoustine, murray river pink salt). These were two bites each and all outstanding, but my favorite by far was the langoustine which just melted in your mouth.

          Next was the Moleche, a 
hazelnut crusted softshell crab, with cippolini onion, apricots, and purslane. I love softshell crab, and the fried hazelnut crust made a fantastic crispy coating.

          The next course was the Tortelli, shrimp and proscuitto ravioli with mussels and sorrel. When I looked at the menu I wasn't as excited about the pasta courses, but ordered one because everyone else did. Sometimes peer pressure can be a good thing, because this ended up being my favorite dish all night! The ravioli were incredibly fresh, and I couldn't get enough of the rich sauce that came with the dish!

          At this point I would have been completely satisfied, but my main course the halibut with salsa verde crust, spring onions, morels, potatoes, and peas was next. This was a beautiful piece of fish, and a nice light, summertime dish.

          Despite being too full to finish my entree, somehow there is always room for dessert (especially when the dessert involves doughnuts)!

          The bombolini with, rosemary, chocolate sauce, and spiced honey was the perfect ending to the meal and I ate them all!

          Overall the food and service at Marea were outstanding, and definitely worthy of the two Michelin stars. I hope to dine there again in the future.

 

Food Trucks Heading to Cambridge

Will I see you at the Cambridge Food Truck Festival Next weekend?

Food Truck Festivals of New England is pleased to announce the first-ever Cambridge Food Truck Festival at Kendall Square on Saturday, June 8th. Over 20 of the area’s best food trucks will all be there serving everything from gourmet grilled cheese to lobster mac & cheese to brown sugar marinated hotdogs to spicy Asian noodles and homemade ice cream sandwiches. Cambridge will also kick-off the Food Truck Festivals of New England season, which includes 6 festivals in total, throughout the state of Massachusetts and concluding in Newport, RI in October.

The Cambridge Food Truck Festival will run from 11:00am – 5:00pm and will feature children’s activities, sampling tables and entertainment, in addition to food trucks from all over New England. Partial proceeds from the Cambridge Food Truck Festival will benefit the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts.

Participating trucks include:

• Area 4
• Lobsta Love
• Baja Taco Truck
• Mei Mei Street Kitchen
• Bon Me
• M&M BBQ Ribs
• Boston Super Dog
• Newburyport Crab Cake Company
• Chubby Chickpea Mobile
• Pennypackers
• Compliments
• Roxy’s Grilled Cheese
• The Dining Car
• Sweet Tomatoes
• Frozen Hoagies
• Fugu
• Taco Party
• Trolley Dogs
• Grilled Cheese Nation
• The Whoo(pie) Wagon
• Kickass Cupcakes
• The Sweet Truck by Flour Girls Baking Co.

All trucks will be serving sample portions as well as full meals. Menu items will be announced next week.

The 2013 season will also include a new, more simplified ticketing system, with wristbands for sale at a discounted price in advance online for $7, and $10 at the festival, with $1 benefiting the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts. The wristbands will serve as an entry ticket to the event and give attendees access to the trucks and the entertainment as well as special Festival Food prices at all trucks. Walk-ups are also welcome and can pay a higher “walk-up” price at the trucks.

A special VIP experience is also being offered, presented by Boston.com, which gives attendees the opportunity to skip the lines and enjoy free beverages and samples from the trucks for a 2-hour period.

The Sinclair

          The Sinclair opened in Harvard Square in March 2013, and is part bar, part restaurant, part live music venue. It was the joint project of Chef Michael Schlow and Marcellus Coleman (of the Food Network show Chopped), so naturally I had to try it!

          I went with my friend Michelle for dinner and a show (Kurt Vile) over the weekend, and had a fantastic experience. The food was affordable, upscale comfort with a twist, and lots of southern influence. There was also an extensive list of creative cocktails. The atmosphere is industrial / minimalist which fits in perfectly for the neighborhood.

          I started with a cocktail, the Truant, which included strawberry basil vodka, st. germaine, and sparkling wine. This was delicious, and so creative.

          We ordered the disco fries as an appetizer, which consisted of waffle fries baked in a skillet with cheese sauce, chorizo gravy, and jalepenos. This was by far my favorite dish of the night and one of the better variations of poutine I've tried, which seems to be a trend in Boston lately.

          Next were the entrees. Michelle had been before raved about the veggie burger but they'd just run out. Instead she tried the vindaloo with grilled tofu, which she enjoyed although not as much as the burger. I tried a bite and really enjoyed the texture of the grilled tofu.

          I agonized over my decision between the burger or fried chicken, and finally settled on the chicken. It was a boneless version, with thick slices of juicy white meat, breaded and fried, and served over a mix of sweet corn and collard greens. The chicken was delicious, and I can't wait to go back for the burger!




          We also shared a couple of sides, which sounded so intriguing and unusual I simply had to try them!

          First were the fried chicken skins coated in powders flavored with ranch and chive, blue cheese, and franks red hot sauce.  My favorite was the ranch, but the franks was definitely most impressive and tasted just like a buffalo wing!

          The bone marrow was flash fried and served with a Thai peanut sauce. I loved the concept, but I decided I prefer the traditional preparation (roasted and spread over toast).

           It was an amazing meal but we were way too full for dessert, and headed over to the other half of the building for some live music. We had just as much fun at the show, check out Michelle's recap and pics here!

Taste Trekkers Food Tourism Conference

           Do you plan your vacations around food? If so, then you should definitely check out the Taste Trekkers Food Tourism Conference coming to Providence this fall!

          The event is taking place September 20-22 and will include a cocktail reception, Mystery Dinner, informational sessions and panels with industry experts (chefs, farmers, wine makers, brewers, etc), a food truck brunch, culinary tours, and more!

          The full schedule is available here and I'm offering $15 off your ticket for the Saturday events at the Biltmore. Just enter the discount code "itakepics" when you check out, or purchase them directly here.

          I can't wait to attend and hope to see all of you foodies there!

Sycamore

          The recently opened Sycamore restaurant in Newton Centre is the latest project from Chef-owner David Punch, (formerly of Ten Tables Cambridge). The former butcher shop location retains its rustic feel, which is perfect for the upscale but simple French bistro style cuisine. I tried it recently with a friend and had an excellent experience.

          I started with the spring-dug parsnip soup with crispy duck confit & vadouvan (an Indian spice blend). It was drizzled with truffle oil on top, and the duck was fried into a crisp cake, that was both tender and flavorful.

          My friend ordered the equinox farm greens salad with goat cheese, hazelnuts, dried pears, and champagne vinaigrette, which looked delicious.

           Next we shared the asparagus topped with a poached egg, tiny shrimp, and chanterelle mushrooms. The egg was cooked perfectly, and the runny yolk created a nice sauce for the rest of the dish.

          For the main Course we shared the lamb board, consisting of four different lamb preparations: confit with carrots and peas, grilled leg with farro, sausage over cucumber salad, and belly roulette with tomato jam.

          I had a hard time picking a favorite, but if I had to choose it would have been a toss up between the sausage and the confit.

          We asked our server for a wine pairing. and he recommended two, one more traditional and one a little unusual. We split these into half glasses so we could each try both.

          The classic pairing was a syrah grenache blend.

          The slightly more unusual option was a French blend of cab franc and malbec.

          Both were delicious and worked well with the lamb, but we preferred the less traditional pairing.

          Although I was stuffed I had to try dessert, and went with the warm sugared beignets with house-made milk jam (dulce de leche). I didn't regret this decision at all.

          Overall my meal at Sycamore was fantastic; definitely the best I've had outside of Boston in a long time. I will definitely be back!