The patio features a fire pit, stone walls, overhead covers to make it a little les sunny, and even fleece blankets for chilly nights. Before dinner, I enjoyed a delicious sour cherry cocktail. Ashmont Grill always has fun and creative cocktails on the menu. It’s definitely a good place to go if you are looking for a drink.

To start, we shared a plate of the messy Trainwreck Fries. They’re basically smothered in cheese, bacon, sour cream, and jalapenos.

My husband ordered a wedge salad, which we ended up also sharing because it was amazing. Oven roasted tomatoes and lardons really make this salad special. The flavor in the tomatoes was incredible.

I had the Truffled English Pea Arancini, hearty balls of risotto with mushrooms and a tomato dipping sauce. Alongside that I had a bowl of lobster chowder which was delicious, but I was stuffed at this point.

We spent a good deal of time just relaxing after our meal and enjoying the cool evening. It was a perfect night for patio dining and a great way to kick off a fun weekend.

Other favorite Boston patios? Interestingly, Dorchester has a few. dbar has a gorgeous outdoor oasis, and The Ledge does as well. Sam’s at Louis one of my favorites in all of Boston. And of course, the roof deck at Legal’s Harborside is a great place for cocktails and bar bites, and I like the Legal Seafoods outdoor space in Harvard Square too.

Do you have a favorite restaurant patio in Boston or another city?

Technorati Tags: Ashmont Grill, Boston, cocktails, dinner, Dorchester, Food

I joined a fun group of bloggers for a glass of wine prior to dinner, and then we proceeded to our table to get started on dinner. Turner’s General Manager, Wayne Wood, dined with us, and was able to walk us through the menu using his expert knowledge of the dishes to help us all order.

First up was the Atlantic Shelf platter for the table to share.

The cold seafood platter was one of my favorite parts of the meal. I could pair the delicious Viognier we were sipping (Bridlewood), with cold seafood and spicy cocktail sauce for dinner every night. Mussels, clams,s callops,  oysters, and shrimp were all super fresh and delicious with a spicy cocktail sauce. As always, I dipped my bread in the mignonette. It makes for a zingy bread topping. Sometimes we make mignonette just to top lettuce or bread. This platter reminded me of summer in New England, just perfect.

In the menu introduction, Wayne  recommended the tomato bisque, even as someone generally not a fan of tomato soup. The soup, in addition to being delicious, also happens to be vegan; the pureeing of the tomatoes creates the creaminess. It was smoky, basil-y, smooth and creamy, and clearly I hated it.

It was a dreary soup kind of day, and this hit the spot big time.

Turner’s has many tempting entrée options, and I literally went back and forth on a few until it was time to order. I just couldn’t resist the stuffed shrimp though. I love that you order them by the piece to decide how much you want to eat. I hate being super full after a meal or wasting food, so two of these large shrimp were perfect. The citrus cream underneath? To die for.

By the time dessert rolled around, I was fairly full, but I still wanted to give dessert a try. I thought an espresso and the Boston Cream Pie would pair nicely, and I was right.

The Boston Cream Pie was a delight, but it was Fiona’s dessert, the Meyer Lemon Puffs, that won me over.

I loved the fresh, lemony cream and light pastry. It was perfect for warmer weather, and I will definitely be ordering these next time.

Turner’s always does a really great job, and I was happy to be invited to try their latest menu. It’s great that they change things up seasonally; it doesn’t just guarantee the freshest ingredients, but it also keeps diners coming back to see what’s new.

*Dinner was provided by Turner’s, but as always, my opinions are my own.

Technorati Tags: blogger events, events, Food, restaurant, seafood, Turner Fisheries, wine

We got a late start; I did some work and blogging while he caught up on sleep, and then it was off to West Marine to pick up some boat stuff before a visit to the Hingham Shipyard, one of those places we keep ending up at. It’s a great place to wander around, and I have to admit, we are both pretty much obsessed with checking out boats. I was also really excited to see island roses in bloom. Gorgeous.

We had a quick late lunch at Wahlburger’s (no Donnie or Mark sightings, unfortunately!) and then headed off to Elements for blissful massages.

A post-marathon massage was just what the doctor ordered, and once we were nice and relaxed, we headed to Milton for an early dinner at 88 Wharf. We were both really excited to check out 88 Wharf as it is right on the river and offers some very pretty views.

We arrived at lowest tide, hence all of the mud. As we ate, we watched the water creep back in.

88  Wharf has a great patio space overlooking the river, but it was a chilly night, and we opted to sit inside. I definitely want to visit again to dine on the patio. The one downside of 88 Wharf, to us, was the interior décor. We found it to be a little corporate and cold, lacking character for a restaurant with such nice views. That was our only complaint.

The cocktail list was a challenge; there were too many cocktails I wanted to try. I decided to go with the Blood Orange Cosmo, and it was tart and refreshing.

We skipped appetizers and went straight to dinner. I try not to order chicken when we go out because I can make it so easily at home, but this one was stuffed with Italian kale and soppresatta, resting on a parsnip puree, and served with a mustard jus. I pretty much wanted to lick the plate at the end of my meal. I am obsessed with kale lately and try to eat it whenever I can. I started eating a lot of it leading up to the marathon, and I swear it made me more energetic.

The chicken was really tender, and the stuffing was amazing. The parsnip puree was perfectly creamy; I am sure it was not fat-free, but it was a fun way to eat this root veggie. And the mustard jus just added tons of flavor to everything.

My husband had the flatiron steak and ate every bite of it. We agreed that 88 Wharf’s chef is doing everything right.

After dinner we took a little stroll along the water and then made an early night of it by heading home to watch a movie.

   We love exploring Dorchester’s neighboring towns, and Milton is definitely adorable. And speaking of adorable, I know not everyone is a cat-lover, but here’s a little Scout cuteness for you.

Yes, I did put a plastic box on our dining chairs so she can get a better view out of the skylight.

It’s nice to be recapping my weekend with another one just a couple of days away! How is your week going?

Technorati Tags: Dining out, Food, Milton, Restaurants

Wow.

My photos are all awful (I will learn to take a good photo someday!), but Bond is gorgeous.  High ceilings, chandeliers, leather chairs, a stunning bar, and jazz music on Wednesdays all add to the swanky feel of the lounge.

A creative cocktail list features cocktails all named within a financial theme; it makes sense since the building was once the Federal Reserve Bank.

Since it was almost Derby Day, I had the Derby Debt, Bond’s version of the mint julep. It was delicious. . . and strong! Then the food started coming. I loved almost everything, and though I left before dessert (To get a ride home, I will always skip dessert if it means avoiding the MBTA!), I left stuffed.

{Vietnamese Fresh Rolls – Shrimp, Chicken, and Spicy Peanut Sauce}

Delicate and flavorful, these were a healthy, fresh way to start.

{Stracchino Cheese and Heirloom Tomatoes – Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic}

Surprise! These tomatoes were stuffed with a creamy cheese. I am definitely stealing this idea for summer.

{Crispy Point Judith Calamari – Sweet Chili, Black Sesame, and Cilantro}

This was definitely a favorite. The fried, but not greasy, calamari was spicy and sweet. It was a great twist on a New England classic.

{Grilled Baby Corn with Esplette – Cotija Cheese, Aioli, Lime}

This was my least favorite dish of the night. It probably would have been delicious with real-sized corn; I just didn’t love the flavor of the baby corn.

{Sweet Soy and Ginger Chicken Wings}

These were sticky, sweet, and amazing. They reminded me a little of my mom’s BBQ chicken, but the presentation definitely fit the upscale lounge feel. The bone “handle” on each was perfectly clean which meant no sticky fingers as we ate the tender chicken.

{Lobster and Chorizo Quesadilla – Queso Blanco and Sweet Corn}

You really can’t go wrong with smoky chorizo and perfectly cooked sweet lobster. Again, an upscale twist on a favorite type of food. I liked that the rolled up quesadillas were easy to eat and less messy than the regular version.

{Flat Bread Pizza – Great Hill Blue, Grilled Stone Fruit, Pancetta, and Arugula}

I was almost too full to try this pizza, but it was one of the things we were looking forward to. I love blue cheese, fruit, and arugula, and adding them to a pizza with pancetta, well it was incredible. Salty, sweet, and gooey; I love that Bond’s menu really seems to be about flavorful contrasts and twists on comfort fare that fit really well into the atmosphere.

Before I left, I took a quick trip up to the Dom Perignon lounge, which sits above the dining rooms, looking out over everyone. Dom Perignon in a private lounge? Now you’re talking!

Bond’s service was top notch, and my dining companions, Megan, Daisy, Lindsey, and Will, were fabulous. It was a great way to unwind after a very long Wednesday. As  I mentioned, they do have live music every Wednesday, making it feel a little like a weekend mid-week. Who doesn’t love that?

I enjoyed a complimentary dinner as a media guest of Bond. However, I was not required to write a post, and all opinions are my own.

Technorati Tags: blogger events, Bond, Boston, cocktails, dining, events, Food, hotels, Restaurants, The Langham