Doretta

          I'm a big fan of Michael Schlow and have been wanting to try his newest restaurant Doretta (a Greek taverna and raw bar) for a while now. So I was excited when I saw a Gilt city deal for a five course tasting menu for two with wine pairings; I bought it and went in the same night! 

          The five course meal actually feels more like 6-7 courses! Everything is served family style, starting with greek salad and a selection of house made dips.

 

          We tried the chickpea spread with rosemary, cumin, and green chickpeas, whipped feta with spicy jalepenos, and eggplant with walnuts, red peppers, and feta. These came eith home made pita bread and veggies as a gluten free option. They were all delicious but my favorite was definitely the whipped feta; it was light and creamy and the spicy jalepeno added a nice contrast.

           Next we selected three options from the Mezze selection of the menu starting with the harissa roasted carrots with onion ash yogurt (this normally comes with spiced granola, but the gluten free version leaves it out). I don't usually like carrots unless they're raw and covered in some kind of dip (this dish was the fiance's choice) but these were cooked to the point of being candied, and were the best carrots I've ever had!

          Our second mezze selection was the grilled octopus with onions, capers, parsley, Greek olive oil and lemon. The octopus was seared with just a bit of char on the outside, and the inside melted in your mouth without being too chewy. I ate almost the whole plate myself!

          Our final mezze course was my favorite, the saganaki fondue. This was a skillet filled with melted kefalograviera (a sheep's milk cheese) with pickled cranberries, schezuan peppercorn, metaxa (a sweet liqueur) served with toasted bread or veggies. This was so good I didn't even need the veggies to dip; after the first few bites I ended up just eating the cheese with a spoon!

           We were only able to eat a couple of bites of the main courses (we took these home but wanted to at least taste them)! The pan roasted chicken with lemon, gigande beans, and fresh herb was cooked perfectly and had extremely crispy skin which is my favorite. 

          The steak was also delicious, as were the accompaniments of creamed spinach, baby purple potatoes, and cream sauce.

           Thankfully the desserts were light, and we ended up eating more than we thought we could! I loved the Greek yogurt with orange and walnuts and the raspberry sorbet was perfect for a slightly sweeter option.

          The meal at Doretta was excellent, and a tasting menu a great value (especially given the amount of food). The only section of the menu that wasn't covered was the raw bar / crudo, which I hope to go back and try soon!

Bar Boulud

          I tried Bar Boulud when it first opened in Boston a few years ago and had a great experience, so I was excited to visit again recently for a holiday dinner celebration with a friend. The menu had changed some since my first visit, but I was glad to see they still had the amazing selection of meats, cheeses, and charcuterie! 

          We shared a charcuterie board to start, which came with three different kinds of pate, prosciutto, ham, soppressata, and bresaola. Everything was delicious but my favorite was the pate -  they even brought over fresh gluten free bread for me! The portion was so generous we ended taking some home so we'd have room for dinner.

           I ordered the venison loin as my main course, which came with huckleberries, chestnut, celery root, and rice. The venison was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the loin was an excellent cut, extremely flavorful and not at all gamey.

           My friend ordered the spaghetti nero which came with shrimp, calamari, and a mix of squid ink and plain pasta. It looked amazing, and she really enjoyed it!

          I was way too full for dessert, but I did look at the menu and there were several choices that looked delicious. I hope to go back and try it soon!

The Thinking Cup

            I recently tried The Thinking Cup for the first time, after it came highly recommended. I was excited to see that they serve Stumptown coffee (one of my favorites) and they have plenty of gluten free options! 

           I ordered a breakfast sandwich - bacon, egg, and cheese on gluten free bread and it was excellent!  The eggs were fresh and the bacon thick and crispy.

 

            In addition to breakfast sandwiches, The Thinking Cup had a great lunch menu and selection of pastries (including gluten free). I can't wait to try them again soon!

Kobe Christmas at Mooo

          Several years ago I discovered that Mooo in Boston regularly serves the best steak in the world: A5 Wagyu. Since then, one of my friends and I make it an annual tradition to celebrate Christmas at Mooo. We call it Kobe Christmas, and it's always amazing!

           Authentic Japanese Wagyu is the most flavorful beef you'll ever taste, and A5 is the highest grade. It's rich, flavorful, and literally melts in your mouth. Moo's preparation is simple, lightly seared and finished with some sea salt.

          I usually start with a light appetizer like oysters so I'll have plenty of room for my steak, and my favorite side at Mooo is the potato skin stuffed with creamy mashed potatoes, gouda, and bacon. It's one of my favorite meals at any restaurant, and a tradition I look forward to every year!

Dinner at The Maiden

          I tried The Maiden when they first opened a little over a year ago, and made a meal of apps, osyters, meats, and cheeses at the bar. I've since been back several times; it's now one of my go to spots in Southie!

          I always start with some sort of meat and cheese board; my favorites are the duck proscuitto, chorizo, and aged hard cheeses. They always have creative, delicious accompaniments like fruit butters, pickled veggies, and whole grain mustard.

          Their roast chicken is one of my favorites in Boston; the preparation changes seasonally but is always amazing! This was one I had in the spring with gorgeous bright fresh veggies!

          I've purchased Gilt City deals for The Maiden a few times now, and they're definitely a great way to experience The Maiden at a very reasonable price. The Gilt City menu features selections from their regular menu, and is always more than enough food! If it's your first time using Gilt, you can use my unique referral link for $25 off your first order.

Oishii Boston

          Oishii is by far one of the best sushi restaurants in Boston. I first tried the sushi bar in Chestnut Hill, which is just as good but tiny and very hard to get in. Since moving to Boston the south end location has become my go to spot for sushi. I love that they have a mix of high end, interesting dishes (think truffles, caviar, etc.) and traditionally prepared sushi.

          My all time favorite dish is the salmon on fire; this is delicious and such an amazing presentation! The salmon literally comes to your table over flames, which you can blow out once it's been seared to your preference. Every time I order this I get stares, and at least someone asks what it is!  I love the combination of the seared marinated salmon, toasted garlic, and raspberry sauce.


         
          Another favorite dish is the wagyu beef on a hot stone. The beef comes rare in a marinade, and you cook it to your liking on a searing hot plate at the table. This is also a dish that attracts a lot of attention!
 

          I usually finish with a selection of sashimi which varies based on what they have, but I generally get some variation on west coast oysters, uni, white salmon, and spicy toro gunkan. Everything is always incredibly fresh, and presented beautifully on a bed of ice.

           I also love the creative desserts at Oishii; several of them are light and reasonably healthy like this frozen melon with gold flakes and white chocolate shavings.

 
          I've been to Oishii many times over the years, and it never fails to blow me away. If you haven't been, I highly recommend checking it out!