Category Archives: Dining

Boston ranked one of the best cities for brunch

Posted on May 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

Does your weekend revolve around brunch?

Sometimes it can feel that way here in Boston, and thanks to a recent Food & Wine survey, I now understand it is probably due to Boston ranking as one of the best cities to have brunch.

Although I question the methodology of their ranking (how else can one explain San Francisco ranking 12th best; I disagree), Sunday brunch in Boston is a weekly ritual for tens of thousands.  If this post has reminded you to make reservations for the holiday weekend, you can check out this article for some quirky brunch suggestions in Boston.

Not from Boston? Check out  how Food & Wine ranks your city, here.

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Boston Chops looks to buy Columbus Cafe liquor license

Posted on May 23, 2012 | 1 comment

Boston ChopsUniversal Hub reports today that the proposed South End steakhouse, Boston Chops, is looking to purchase Columbus Cafe’s liquor license for $280,000.  The Boston Licensing Board will vote tomorrow (Thursday, May 24th) whether to let Brian Piccini pay the owners, but I would be surprised if they ruled against this purchase since it is in the neighborhood’s interest to have Piccini open his “urban, modern steak house”. Nobody except for the ill-tempered tenant living above wants to see this space remain vacant.

Piccini has not indicated when Boston Chops might open. Piccini is the current owner of dBar in Dorchester and Deuxave in the Back Bay.

Boston Chops will open at 1375 Washington Street in the South End.

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South End restaurant update

Posted on May 22, 2012 | 4 comments

BostonThe former home of Pho Republique and more recently The Bombay Club  will soon be opening as BoMa (presumably short for Boston, MA?) The owner, Shane Manfred, also owns and operates two Italian restaurants in Boston’s suburbs, Bellino’s in Wakefield and Bistro 20 in Sudbury. Look for a July opening.

Union Bar and Grille recently rolled out their spring menu, but rumor has it that the menu will change again over the next week.  Look for some lighter fare with a pleasing price point.

The space formerly home to Joe V’s has been under construction for so long Yakitori Zai is fast becoming known as the new restaurant that never opened. Recently I was able to speak to the owner and he acknowledged he was disappointed they missed their planned opening for earlier this month but said they will be opening “very soon”.

El Centro’s request for a seasonal patio that can accommodate up to 14 people was approved on May 10th.  Have you stopped by to enjoy dining al fresco on the new patio?

Brian Piccini (owner of Deuxave in Back Bay and dbar in Dorchester) is moving forward with plans to open a new steak house named Boston Chops in the space formerly occupied by banq and Ginger Park on Washington Street (shown above).  However, Piccini still lacks a liquor license and the project will remain sidelined until one can be secured.

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Posted in Dining, South End

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Provincetown Restaurant Week

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 2 comments

BosGuyPtown’s Restaurant Week and Gallery Stroll: May 18-24, 2012

Provincetown’s Spring 2012 Restaurant Week(end) & Gallery Stroll starts later this week on Friday, May 18th.  This year’s restaurant week runs from May 18th through May 24th and will include 19 local restaurants and 30 Galleries.

Participating restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe menus for either $25 or $35.  A special Friday Night Gallery Stroll is scheduled for Friday, May 18, 2012.

A complete list of participating restaurants and galleries can be found here. Be sure to call today to make your reservations.

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Posted in Art & Film, Dining, Provincetown

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Taste of the North End

Posted on May 9, 2012 | 2 comments

Last Friday Sergio and I were invited to The Taste of the North End; Boston’s Italian neighborhood. Proceeds from the event benefited North End Waterfront Health, where my good friend Vincenzo Scibelli works. Below is a picture of Vincenzo and his colleague, Noreen Manning.

BosGuyBilly Costa was on hand (as usual) as Master of Ceremonies and he did a nice job kicking off the event, but it was Boston Bruins hockey player, Andrew Ference, who came to the event with his daughter who got most of the attention.  One part handsome and one part good sport this Boston Bruin was nice enough to pose with Sergio for a photo.BosGuyWith so many great restaurants to pick from it was tough to identify a personal favorite, but I have listed my top three plates.  First was Aragosta which served a pasta in a veal, pork and beef sauce that was covered in a blanket of cheese; Second was Mamma Maria’s braised rabbit with polenta; And third was Carmelina’s meatballs – MMM…BosGuy

Below are more photos from the Taste of the North EndBosGuyBosGuyBosGuyBosGuy

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Posted in Boston, Dining

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El Centro to request seasonal outdoor patio

Posted on May 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Boston GuyEl Centro, a Mexican restaurant that opened on Shawmut Ave. in the South End last year, will petition the city of Boston today requesting an outdoor patio that can accommodate 14 people.

One assumes that this tiny restaurant so popular with it’s neighbors will be approved.  The additional seating could be the difference between remaining profitable or not since the postage stamp-sized cantina has such limited seating.  Additionally, the neighborhood approved a similar license for Orinico directly across the street a few years ago so there is precedent.

The result of the licensing board’s vote will be available to the public tomorrow afternoon.  I’d like to wish El Centro best of luck today.

Boston

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Oyster Invitational

Posted on May 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

This past Sunday B&G Oysters hosted the 4th annual Oyster Invitational, which included oyster shucking demos and speed contests, wine pairing conversations and of course plenty to sample and taste.

I briefly chatted with Rebecca Roth, owner of The South End Gallows, while hoards of bivalve buffs lined up and waited for more. Her team was serving oysters as fast as they could but there was no stopping the crowds that came back for seconds and thirds.

BosGuyThis year B&G Oysters was joined by local restaurants: The Gallows, Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar, DeuxAve, Erbaluce, Green Street, Hungry Mother, Neptune Oyster,  Oleana, Orinoco, and Uni. Oysters were provided by Woodbury Shellfish, Riptide Oysters,  Matunuck Oyster Farm, Salt Pond Oysters, Blue Island Shellfish, and Naked Cowboy Oysters. Below are a few photos from the event.

BosGuyBosGuy

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Greenway Mobile Food Festival today

Posted on May 5, 2012 | Leave a comment

BosGuyAre you looking for something fun to do today?  Check out The Rose Kennedy Greenway Mobile Food Fest from 11:30am – 7pm today.

Food trucks will be in Dewey Square Park on the corner of Summer Street and Atlantic Ave, which is across from the MBTA South Station.

Participating mobile eateries include: Kick*ss Cupcakes, Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Lefty’s Silver Cart, Grilled Cheese Nation, The Dining Car, Equal Exchange Free Range Cafe, Ben & Jerry’s, Boston Speeds, Redbones, Lobsta Love, The Froyo Truck,Del’s Lemonade, Mei Mei Street Kitchen, Beantown Franks ‘n Spuds, Culinary Cruisers, Boston Harbor Ice Cream Company, Cupcakory, Go Fish, Silk Road BBQ, The Chicken and Rice Guys, Bon Me and Staff Meal.

You can get more information by linking to the event page here.

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Posted in Boston, Dining, Free Stuff

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Dining Out for Life: April 26th

Posted on April 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

Make your reservations today and plan to dine out on Thursday, April 26th to help fight AIDS here in Boston or in your community.

Since 1990, Dining Out for Life has offered an easy and delicious way to raise money to fund critically-needed services for people with HIV/AIDS, and next Thursday participating restaurants around the country will donate a portion of all sales to local AIDS service organizations. Here in Boston, participating restaurants will donate 25% of sales of meals to AIDS Action Committee.

So spread the word by “Liking” Dining Out For Life on Facebook at Facebook.com/Dine4LifeBos, or follow @Dine4LifeBos on Twitter and use the hashtag #DOFL.  Here is a list of Boston area restaurants that are participating – Boston Dining Out For Life.

Make your reservations Today!

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Dinner party at “Frenchie and the Yankee”

Posted on April 21, 2012 | 2 comments

Last night Sergio and I went to a dinner party hosted by a friend and blogger of the gorgeous blog, Frenchie and the Yankee.  The name of the blog refers to the writer who is originally from France and his partner who is of solid Midwestern stock.

We first met at a mutual friend’s birthday party last fall and shortly after started bumping into each other around the neighborhood (notably at Melanie’s killer abs class at Boston Sports Club South End).

Anyone who is familiar with Frenchie and the Yankee blog knows David has an exceptional eye and marries many of his posts with beautiful images of food he cooks / bakes. Having now sampled his cooking firsthand, I can assure you it is as delicious as it looks.  The dinner party was such a wonderful start to our weekend, and I wanted to post a quick thank you to both David (a.k.a. “Frenchie”) and Mark (a.k.a. “the Yankee”) for inviting us to their home.

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Posted in Dining, Friends

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Beth and Shelley at Union

Posted on March 31, 2012 | 1 comment

Friday night we had an early dinner at Union Bar & Grille.  As we were finishing, an older couple arrived.  Beth was perfectly coiffed and immaculately dressed.  Shelley who was only slightly larger than Beth was quite distinguished and the perfect gentleman.  It was endearing to watch Shelley pull out the chair next to me so Beth could sit down.

Although we were finishing, we ended up chatting first about Beth’s cocktail then the menu and finally about food and restaurants.   Beth dominated the conversation, but Shelley did his best to interject although he often deferred to her for details like where they ate dinner the night before and the market he likes to buy his cheese.

Romance is not just for 20-somethings

From where I was sitting, the two couldn’t be more adorable. They were the storybook image of a happily ever after couple who had built a life together.  However, that wasn’t the case  at all.  They had been dating for more than a decade and enjoyed each other’s company but they did not live together.

Always be open to love and you just might find it

Although they never used the word it was obvious they are sweethearts. I’m not sure what twists in life may have brought them together, but they were / are quite clear about their independence and how Friday is their date night.

I was enthralled and hope to meet them again soon.

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2012 Munch Madness

Posted on March 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

Munch MadnessThe NCAA  Basketball tournament comes to Boston starting this week with some very high profile college basketball tournament match ups.

Couldn’t care less?

Me too, but one contest that I can sink my teeth into (so to speak) is Munch Madness.  This is an event where foodies from all over Boston vote for their favorite chefs and restaurants.  Not familiar with Munch Madness?

The Boston Globe creates a bracket of 64 restaurants (see photo above) and you get to pick your favorite restaurant as they go head-to-head with competing restaurants until a champion is picked. The first round starts today and runs through Thursday.  On Friday check back to see if your picks survived so you can vote for them in the second round.  The finals takes place at the end of this month and the winner will be announced on April 4th.

Fill out your Munch Madness Brackets here

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2012 Taste of the South End

Posted on March 7, 2012 | 1 comment

You know how much I enjoy my food so the fact that I look forward to the Taste of the South End each year will not be a shock.  The event draws 40 restaurants from the neighborhood and consistently sells out. The proceeds go to the very worthy AIDS Action Committee.

The event includes plenty to eat and drink with more than a dozen different wines to sample.  Sam Adams was the brewer on hand this year and they were featuring their new cider, Angry Orchard.  If you like cider, its worth the try.  The VIP lounge which traditionally includes a specialty bar, restaurants from outside the South End and comfortable seating did not disappoint.  Restaurants in the VIP lounge included: Jasper White’s Summer Shack, Cambridge favorite – Upstairs on the Square and The Ritz Carlton’s – Artisan’s Bistro.  Below is a video that I created for AIDS Action Committee

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Posted in AIDS Action Committee, Dining, South End, Video

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New cafe in South End: Orange Corner Cafe

Posted on March 1, 2012 | 2 comments

The South End recently welcomed a new independent cafe to the neighborhood.  The Orange Corner Cafe is located at 374 Mass Ave, providing a cozy atmosphere where you can grab a coffee.  The menu also includes baked goods, sandwiches, paninis and soups.

Although there are 8 coffee shops within a 4 block radius of my apartment in the South End, the Orange Corner Cafe, tucked near the Back Bay and South End line is a great location that is under served. Check out this new business and let me know what you think.

Hint: coupons are available for download if you visit their website.

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Posted in Back Bay, Dining, South End

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Taste of the South End: March 6, 2012

Posted on February 27, 2012 | Leave a comment

Next Tuesday is the Taste of the South End.  This event which draws 40 of the neighborhood’s restaurants and cafes to showcase some of their favorite bites and more than a few cocktails is an absolute must for Foodies. The fact that the money raised helps the AIDS Action Committee is a bonus.

As with years past, I’ll be in attendance; no doubt overeating and loving every minute of this very friendly and highly social event.  Several new restaurants will be joining the event for the first time, but I’m most interested in sampling the food from Cinquecento the new restaurant from The Aquitaine Group which will open this spring in the space previously occupied by Rocca.

Buy your tickets here

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Posted in AIDS Action Committee, Dining, South End

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