Dining out

You are currently browsing articles tagged Dining out.

Love is in the Air

February 1, 2012 in Food, Restaurants by traveleatlove | 6 comments

Love it or hate it, February means Valentine’s Day. I am personally a huge fan and always have been, single and married, because I love love, I love pink, and I love Champagne. We stay home for Valentine’s Day nowadays; in fact I can’t remember going out for Valentine’s Day since the first one we ever spent together, in Ireland. I mentioned it in my “How We Met” post, but Valentine’s Day 2004 was our first trip to Ireland together, my first time meeting my brother-in-law and now sister-in-law, the family dog (RIP Sunny), and all the friends. Talk about pressure! We had Valentine’s Day dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, River Gods, which no longer exists, I am sad to say, and then went to a play that my brother-in-law was in. And I fell asleep. Sorry, Patrick, it was the jetlag!

Anyway, for some reason I thought wearing a handkerchief for a dress on a cold and damp Irish day was a good way to celebrate the holiday. Times have changed! This year our Valentine’s Day plans are very much up in the air, but I thought I would share a few options based on information I have received and experiences I have had.

Kingshead Galway

Del Frisco’s – If you want to go all out and wow a special someone with a decadent meal, swanky surroundings, gorgeous views, and killer cocktails, Del Frisco’s is where I would go. They’re offering a special deal just for Valentine’s Day, featuring a filet and lobster tail for $79. Yes, it’s pricey, but if you have someone in your life who loves a great cut of meat and that old glam steakhouse vibe (with a modern twist), it’s a great option. Just looking to go out for a drink with the girls? Head to Del Frisco’s bar for their special holiday cocktail, the Pomegranate Kiss, a concoction of
Ciroc Red Berry Vodka,Triple Sec, Pama and Monin Pomegranate syrup.

Les Zygomates – This is our go-to date night spot. I have blogged about it a couple of times before, but we have been there probably a dozen times in the years I have been blogging. The food is always good, the service is always charming, they have a great wine list and raw bar and sultry, nightly jazz. If I had to pick one place to go in Boston on a date, Les Zygomates would probably be it.

Café Polonia – Never had Polish food? If you and your Valentine are both into food, try a new-to-you cuisine. A place like Café Polonia, one of our Dorchester favorites, is cozy and quaint, offers a great bang for your buck, and can be more than sharing just a meal, sharing an experience. If it’s wintry out, even better. Polonia’s hearty cuisine is the perfect comfort food.

Enzo Bar & Restaurant – If you live up there or feel like venturing North of Boston to the lovely seaside community of Newburyport, Enzo is the place to be. It’s cozy, romantic, rustic, and offers some of the best food I have had in awhile. Ten Tables is also another deliciously cozy option in the area. With multiple fireplaces and great food, you just can’t go wrong.

Pizza to go – This is more our speed for Valentine’s Day these days. You can’t beat really good pizza (Maybe from Stone Hearth!), Champagne, and a dessert like an easy Nutella mousse. Champagne and pizza are a match made in heaven, and with Valentine’s Day on a weekday, letting someone else do the cooking makes for a relaxing evening for all.

Stay in and cook together. – If Valentine’s Day fell on a weekend, this would be a great option for us. Unfortunately, with the husband working far away, it just doesn’t make sense for us for a weeknight, unless we want to eat at 10:00. Plan a meal together or have each person choose a course to make within a certain cuisine. Pop some bubbly, dip some strawberries in chocolate, put on your favorite songs, and spend some qt together.

What’s your favorite way to spend Valentine’s Day? Do you have memories of a magical or nightmarish Valentine’s Day to share?

Technorati Tags: Dining out, Food, holidays, Restaurants, Valentine's Day

Tags: Dining out, Food, holidays, Restaurants, Valentine's Day

Sandrine’s Bistro

January 26, 2012 in events, Food, Restaurants, wine by traveleatlove | 10 comments

Have you ever eaten at Sandrine’s Bistro? Somewhat hidden from the hustle and bustle of Harvard Square on a side street, Sandrine’s is a Cambridge institution that has consistently received rave reviews for the last 15 years.

My first experience at Sandrine’s was last spring, a wine dinner with Red White Boston that featured two fabulous women in wine, Maureen Martin from Clos du Bois and Janet Myers from Franciscan Estate.

I loved the event, which had a special menu paired with Clos du Bois and Franciscan wines. This past Tuesday night, I, along with a small group of Boston bloggers, had the opportunity to feast on items from Sandrine’s regular menu.

We all received a warm welcome from our server as well as Sandrine’s chef, Raymond Ost. Then we got down to the wine and food.

I started the evening with Trimbach Pinot Gris, a white wine from Alsace that was a perfect pairing with the starters we all shared.

{Moules Marinières P.E.I. mussels sauteed in Riesling wine, with garlic, shallots & onions}

{Traditional Baked Alsatian Escargots}

{Tarte Flambée (Flammekueche) crispy flat bread topped with nutmeg-scented fromage blanc}

Everything we tried was delicious and perfectly-made. The escargots were garlicky and so tender, not the least bit rubbery or chewy as people often expect them to be. And the Flammekueche was light, cheesy, and smoky. I could have eaten the whole thing myself, but I knew I needed to save room for dinner.

When it came to ordering an entrée, I had a hard time deciding as Sandrine’s menu offers many appealing options. Did I want lobster risotto? Or the traditional, meaty Choucroute Garnie? I ran 15 miles earlier in the day, so I definitely wanted something hearty. I ended up going with the duck, which is something I have only eaten a few times. It was tender and flavorful with brandied cherries and a heavenly mushroom risotto. To pair with the duck, I switched to the red wine option our server had chosen for us, a Rhone blend which went great with the duck. It mirrored the dark cherry flavors in the dish and also had a nice smokiness to it. I love Rhone wines!

{Roasted Maple Leaf Farm Duck Magret Mushoom risotto, brandied cherry reduction}

Dessert was another tough decision. Luckily the group was willing to share!

{Chocolate Kougelhopf warm dense chocolate cake, caramel coulis,
vanilla ice cream and chocolate ganache}

The Kougelhopf, a luscious chocolate cake, was pretty incredible. It was almost like a molten chocolate cake but not quite molten. It is a must-order.

{Milk Chocolate Pot de Crème Peanut mousse, salted brittle}

But my Pot de Crème won me over even more. Rich and creamy chocolate, topped with a creamy peanut butter mousse and served with light peanut brittle, this was a sophisticated mix of pb and chocolate, one of my favorite dessert combinations.

The service at Sandrine’s was outstanding. Our server was charming, knowledgeable, very helpful, and fun to chat with. The cuisine of Sandrine’s is from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. Our server was from Lorraine while the chef is from Alsace, and I think the experience was extra-special because it was authentic.

Sandrine’s has a cozy, romantic vibe with a menu that is perfect for chilly weather. You will definitely not leave the restaurant hungry!

My dining experience was complimentary, but I would definitely return for dinner again in the near future. Perhaps Valentine’s Day? Or rather the day before Valentine’s Day, since we prefer to stay in on the holiday itself.

Thanks to Sandrine’s for taking such good care of us!

Technorati Tags: cambridge, Dining out, Food, Restaurants, Sandrine's Bistro, wine

Tags: cambridge, Dining out, Food, Restaurants, Sandrine's Bistro, wine

Enzo Restaurant & Bar

January 17, 2012 in Cocktails, Food, Restaurants by traveleatlove | 11 comments

Our visit to Enzo Restaurant & Bar in Newburyport on Friday night makes me wish I lived in town so I could become a regular. I have had few dining experiences that were so perfect from start to finish in every way, and we literally have been talking about the food ever since.

As I have mentioned in past posts, we typically make the journey to Newburyport every few months. We love the seaside town year-round; if we ever left the city it’s a place we could see ourselves living. Our last visit was very recent, but when I found myself having to go to Newburyport for a meeting related to potential Social Media work, my husband decided to meet me there after work.

My meeting was actually in the same complex of buildings as Enzo, so I arrived first, just as it was starting to lightly snow. Newburyport is colder than Boston, and I was happy to get inside and take a seat at the then-quiet bar. I initially thought that, being that Enzo’s focus is on Italian cuisine, I would want a glass of wine. That is until I saw their creative cocktail menu. I had a difficult time deciding, but since I always like something sparkly, I went with the Zenzero Frizzante: Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, maple bitters and Prosecco, spiced up with a square of candied ginger.

Bubbly and with a warm, spicy ginger kick, this drink was absolutely delicious. The bartender was very sweet and hospitable, and I felt relaxed and at home while I waited for my husband. He’s often the one late to arrive due to his commute, and sometimes I feel pressured to order food or more drinks while waiting; not here. It was nice to quietly enjoy my drink while catching up on emails I missed during my meeting.

One my husband arrived, we were seated at a cozy window table for two, and we started going over the menu. While we did so, we each ordered a cocktail. This time I opted for the Cranberry Old Fashioned: A seasonal take on the classic Old Fashioned: local, organic cranberries muddled with orange and Old Overholt rye. I loved the tart cranberries in this very New England-y drink. We can’t wait to return to Enzo just to try more of their cocktails.

We had a really hard time deciding on what to order; Enzo would be a great place for a group because there are so many appealing options. We wanted to share every appetizer, but we finally agreed on two.

Gamberi fritti / Fried Maine shrimp – fresh Maine shrimp (caught for us by the F/V Sweet Carolyn), flash-fried and served shell on with fingerling potato chips and tartar sauce

These shrimp were super fresh, and, as the menu suggested, tasted really great with the flash fried shells ON. The fingerling potato chips acted as more than just a garnish; they were really great dipped into the tartar sauce as well.

I also had to have the olives.

Olive all’ascolana / Fried olives – crispy morsels stuffed with herbed cheese

Eric’s brother and his beautiful wife and our two adorable nephews live in Marche, very near Ascoli Piceno where Olive all’ascolana originate. My sister-in-law, who is native to the region, makes the most amazing olives stuffed with a meat mixture, fried, and topped with fresh lemon juice and salt. These olives were vegetarian, and the creamy, warm cheese went perfectly with the briny olives. With any luck, this June, I will be eating olives in Ascoli, but Enzo’s will definitely do for now.

After a week of several tough marathon training workouts, my body wanted comfort food, and I found it in the Mandilli con salsa marinara e ricotta / Free form lasagna – house-made pasta handkerchiefs layered with house-made ricotta & roasted tomato sauce. I added in the optional Kellie Brook Farm hot Italian sausage for a flavorful, satisfying meal. The house-made pasta was light, silky, and fresh, absolutely perfect. And being that it was a deconstructed lasagna made it fun to grab a bite of this and that together.

And despite being quite full, we saved room to share dessert and cappuccino. What you see here is called Bicherin: a traditional sipping dessert from Turin: a layer of dark, rich chocolate sauce, espresso (regular or decaf, your choice) and lightly sweetened whipped cream; spoon it or sip it, either way it’s a delicious way to end your meal.

I call it pure heaven. Each spoonful brought a bit of dark, hot chocolate from the bottom of the jar, along with some espresso and cream. Heaven.

To our cappuccino, we added some of the house-made Reilly’s Irish Cream. Don’t tell any of the family back in Ireland, but we liked Reilly’s even better than Bailey’s. Winking smile

There’s a lot to love about Enzo, and it doesn’t just end with the food. The service, from the minute I walked in, was warm, attentive, and welcoming. And the restaurant makes huge efforts to source their food locally from small producers; they even have a farmer’s market dinner every other Sunday. What a great experience!

What was the best dining experience you have had recently?