A Food Aficionado – Sweet Cheeks
Boston is home to a few token BBQ places and the newest entry that joined last November has taken the city by storm. Helmed by Season One finalist of the popular Bravo TV Reality show “Top Chef” Tiffani Faison, barbecue fans are in for a treat. After the South End Italian restaurant Rocca closed its doors, Tiffani decided our fair city needed a new place that served Texas style BBQ. After some serious road tripping throughout Texas trying out the different barbecue, they came back and to our great fortune, Sweet Cheeks (1381 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215 (617) 266-1300) was born.
A Food Aficionado – South Garden
My family always tries to seek out Chinese restaurants in the area whenever they are in town. This time around, we headed out to Quincy to a place they have wanted to go back to for dinner for a long time for dinner. In the Presidential Plaza where the Chinese Market Kam Man can be found, a small Chinese restaurant South Garden (217B Quincy Avenue, Quincy MA (617) 328-6628- near Kam Man Market side) serves Chinatown caliber food (not much Americanized Chinese choices are available here).
A Food Aficionado – Chinese New Year Memories
Growing up in my Chinese family on Cape Cod had its ups and downs. My parents who hailed from the Canton Province tried their best to instill traditional Chinese customs and culture to myself and my siblings. But my favorite Chinese holiday that was more important to us than even Thanksgiving and Christmas was the Lunar New Year Celebrations, and most importantly our big feast. I always tell my friends, if you are invited to a Chinese Wedding banquet or Chinese New Year meal then be extremely excited for an awesome meal!
A Food Aficionado – Shiki
When Shiki (aka Four Seasons in Japanese) located at 9 Babcock Street, Brookline [617-738-0200] opened up a few years ago, it filled a much needed void. While in the highly competitive Brookline area, riddled with Japanese places, they still deliver delicious food and different Japanese food from the mainstream Japanese sushi houses. This is one of the few places around I always hear Japanese spoken amongst the patrons. This is a sure sign of a winner!
A Food Aficionado – AMMA
New York City is a mecca of good eats and a hub for a wide range of cuisines from all around the world. Recently while in Manhattan’s East Side in search of a now-defunct ramen shop, we stumbled upon ‘Amma’.
A Food Aficionado – Bottega di Capri
Bostonians know to go to the North End or our Little Italy to get great Italian food. But delicious Italian food can be had for reasonable prices outside of the North End too. Nestled in between Coolidge Corner and Brookline Village off Harvard Street is a great Italian Gourmet Deli called Bottega di Capri [41 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 738-5333]. This great hole in the wall serves both lunch and dinner that has a few tables.
Anna Ing’s A Food Aficionado – Hot Doug’s
What do you think of when you think of Chicago in terms of food? The most common answers would be deep dish pizza and Chicago Style hot dogs. Foodies will say that the food scene is amazing and some top notch molecular gastronomy can be eaten here too.
But how far will you go to try something new?
A Food Aficionado: Make Life Sweeter… Eat Dessert First!
Locals in the know have heard of restaurateur, cook book author, pastry chef and owner of Flour Bakery and Café’s Joanne Chang, who has supplied Beantown’s sweet tooth for over a decade with her decadent yet wonderful food and baked goods.
A Food Aficionado – Pho So Number 1
Remember in grade school, when your teacher told you that quality was more important than quantity? Well, when it comes to finding a good restaurant, that concept is wrong. The more diners at a restaurant, the better the food – obviously – and hands down, some of the Boston area’s most delicious Vietnamese food can be found in Dorchester.
A Food Aficionado – Bon Chon offers a Korean Twist on Fried Chicken!
There has been a big void for Bon Chon lovers since the Allston lounge, Privus, closed its doors over a year ago. However, thanks to some former Privus employees Bon Chon is back and it has moved a block away into the former Toki Shabu Shabu space [123 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA 02134(617) 254-8888 www.bonchon.com]. Since earlier this year, the new and improved Bon Chon has been flourishing (their menu selection surpasses its New York City sibling, with even more selections slated to come!)
A Food Aficionado – Feng Shui Delivers!
Feng Shui’s motto is “Taste, Quality and Style” and they deliver it in spades. It is off Route 9 (west bound next to Chuck E Cheese) 801 Worcester St, Natick, MA with other locations in Cohasset and Chelmsford with fourth location in Tyngsboro on the way. Named after the study/science mix of Chinese Astronomy and Earth, Feng Shui diners are welcomed into a dining with soothing muted colors, various rooms and relaxing atmosphere.
A Food Aficionado
Boston is a city full of great food and a city that enjoys a plethora of Japanese restaurants. One recent standout that comes to mind is Fish Market Sushi Bar [170 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134 (617) 783-1268]. This tiny hole in the wall joined the sushi scene and has been satisfying fans with creative, [...]
Hot Pot Buffet: A Fun and Active Dining Experience
Joining other Hot Pot places in Chinatown (though more are of the Japanese shabu shabu style) is Hot Pot Buffet. In business for over a year, a constant flow of traffic has funneled right in this two level restaurant located [70 Beach Street, Boston, MA (617) 338-0808] adjacent to the welcoming Chinatown Gate. The restaurant [...]
Cutty’s- A Brookline Village Gem
Cutty’s is an amazing neighborhood gem nestled in Brookline Village (284 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02445 (617) 505-1844). With their high quality, delicious and local fare thought up by owner Charles Kelsey, a former editor at Cook’s Illustrated Magazine and a Culinary of Art Institute graduate, it is not your run of the mill sandwich lunch spot. They [...]
So Cal fave King Hawaiian
To stir things up a bit, here is a review of an out-of-town place. Earlier this month, I went to a popular and highly recommended Southern California mainstay for Hawaiian and American Cuisine called King Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant (2808 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance, CA 310-530-0050) and the family has been in business since 1950. Diners [...]
The Haven-a little piece of Scotland
Open for a year, The Haven (2 Perkins Street, Jamaica Plain, MA (617) 524-2836, located in Jamaica Plain’s Hyde Square, has been bringing Caledonian food at this gastropub in a city overrun by Irish pubs. The simple menu does consist of a lot of fried items, but it varies every so often. This hotspot serves [...]
Banh Mi-a tasty and cheap meal!
Go to any Asian community and you are sure to find one of the top famous Vietnamese food item besides pho (beef noodle soup) and it is the beloved banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich), which is sold at small shops, food courts, and bakeries all over. This simple Vietnamese export is a delicious and inexpensive meal [...]
Jajangmyeon is addictive!
For those who crave the Korean version of Chinese food, Buk Kyung (stands for Beijing in Korean) (151 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 617-254-2775) is one of two locations in the Boston area). This stand out dish does not look appealing, but don’t be deterred by its appearance. Jajangmyeon ($8.95) differs from the Chinese Zha Jiang Mian “fried [...]
Basho- A Modern and Hip Brasserie
Boston has plenty of Japanese Restaurants. But Basho Japanese Brasserie is a breath of fresh air. Amidst the usual sushi and sashimi choices, they also have the robata grill (on skewer). Located in the recently redeveloped Fenway area (1338 Boylston St, Boston (617) 262-1338), Basho has already garnered some fans. The decor is modern and [...]
Zaftigs- An Untraditional Jewish Deli
For 14 years, Coolidge Corner’s own Zaftigs Delicatessen [335 Harvard Street, Brookline (617)975-0075] has served breakfast all day! Yiddish for “deliciously plump,” Zaftigs has pleased customers with an extensive menu with over 200+ items including breakfast, sandwiches, salads, soups and entrees with generous portions. Best of all, their prices won’t bust your budget either! Assorted [...]
Sweet Tooth Heaven
The 5th annual A Little Peace: Dessert Tasting Fundraiser was held at the Vietnamese American Community Center in Dorchester on April 16, 2011. All proceeds went towards four organizations: Asian American Resource Workshop, API Movement, Boston Korean Adoptees, Inc, and the Coalition for Asian Pacific American Youth. The tasting included over thirty different types of [...]
Seven courses of beef
One of my favorite Vietnamese meals is Bo 7 mon or “7 courses of beef” can be found in the heart of Boston’s Chinatown at Pho Hoa II (17 Beach Street, Boston, MA (617) 423-3934). Although the menu reads that the meal can feed two people, it can easily be eaten amongst three. This is [...]
Dumpling Café=Soup Dumplings
Since last fall, Dumpling Cafe joined the Chinatown food scene (695 Washington Street, Boston). A faux terra cotta warrior at the entrance with a red scarf welcomes you. Everyone from the hostess to the waitstaff is very helpful and efficient. Perusing the whole dining room, a bamboo steamer is seen on every table. A must [...]
China Gourmet Restaurant in Chinatown, Boston
Visitors of Chinatown, who are looking for something to eat, usually head for the larger and more attention-grabbing restaurants, such as the big dim sum palaces, the latest upscale shabu restaurants or the storefronts with the biggest windows and the most neon lights. But tucked in between the more popular places are smaller eateries that [...]
