Missing Restaurants (A-B)

Ann has been keeping her own running list of restaurants which she periodically emails to me. Perhaps they are a mild shaming tactic to encourage me to post more often. Well here are some additional food establishments I've been to, prompted by Ann's list.

* Au Bon Pain
* Alive & Kicking Lobsters (Lobster Sandwich!)

* Angelina's Pizzeria (Jumbo Italian Sub, Onion Rings!)

* Anna's Taqueria (Tacos al Pasto, Tongue Taco, Grilled Chicken & Vegetable Quesadilla!)

* Auntie Ann's Pretzels (Sesame Pretzel!)

* Basha Café (Bad experience
using a Groupon where they ran out of everything including ketchup and falafel)
* Bina Osteria
* Blue Fin (Tasty sushi and Pork Cutlet Curry. Does seem to have gone downhill a bit in quality)
* Blue Ribbon BBQ (Much better than Redbones. Love the Gold BBQ Sauce and the Chipotle Mustard on the Kansas City Burnt Ends)

* Bob's Imported Food & Buffer Catering (Italian sub, baked pastas)

* Boston Burger Company (Decent burgers, but many nearby are better)
* Bostone Pizza (Good slices on Newbury Street)
* Bull McCabe's (Irish pub, Fish & Chips, Live music)

J.P. Licks

Fall brings something that I look forward to every year... CARAMEL APPLE ICE CREAM from J.P. Licks. They describe it as:

* Caramel Apple - It tastes just like Grandma's Apple Pie with a creamy swirl of caramel.

Typically it arrives in October, and Ann have a routine of heading there October 1 to make sure we beat the crowds. This year we almost missed it since it came a month early. No worries, we have a 2.5 gallon party tub in our freezer. Boston friends, ready your sweet tooth for an upcoming caramel apple ice cream party!

Best ice cream ever!

Bergamot

Sunday night... another dinner out with a Buy-With-Me certificate. Thing about buying all these half-off deals is that you sometimes back-up against expiration dates and need to eat-out more than normal. Oh well! :)

Bergamot is a tasty treat near Inman Square in the spot where Evoo previously stood. I had a nice glass of red wine and Ann had a tasty cocktail. They don't have an updated menu on their website, so let me try to recall what we ate.

* Tomatoes Four Ways
* Prosciutto and Melon
* Duck breast
* Seared  scallops

All were very tasty. Best were the main courses. Perhaps a bit high on the price point / quality ratio, but good food and friendly, informative servers.

Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale

Dinner out to use a Groupon!

Fun pub in downtown Boston named Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale. Ann and I indulged on:

* HOUSE CHARCUTERIE PLATE - House made pates, terrines, salamis, pickles, and toast
* LOBSTER SCALLION HUSH PUPPIES - spicy avocado aioli
* GRILLED MEYER RANCH HANGER STEAK OVER BRAISED OXTAIL - pomme Frites, three peppercorn aioli, brandy jus

Great food! Would pass on the hush puppies next time, but the charcuterie and steak frites were scrumptious.

Zing! Pizza

Saturday was our annual gathering at the Boston Vineyard for Small Group Leaders. Catered lunch was from Zing! Pizza and included:

* Holy Pepperoni - Our pepperoni is all natural vegetarian-fed beef and pork raised humanely with no added hormones. Gluten and casein free!
* Augustus Classicus - Tomato sauce, mozzarella rounds, sliced local tomatoes & fresh basil
* Blue October - Roasted butternut squash sauce topped with fresh baby spinach, mozzarella cheese, caramelized onions, blue cheese crumbles
*  What-A-Melon-Salad - Mesclun greens, baby arugula, watermellon, mint, feta cheese'
* Cran/Feta/Walnut/Salad - Sheeps milk feta cheese, dried cranberries, and walnuts on a bed of mesclun greens.

Delicious with tons of leftover. My absolute favorite is the Blue October.

Upper Crust

Reunion of Ann and my Small Group that ended last spring. Welcomed Caitlin back from Europe before she heads out again to the UK. Potluck that featured two pizzas from Upper Crust in Harvard Square.

* Garden Veggie - A wonderful combination of fresh mushroom, onion, diced bell pepper, broccoli and fresh garlic

* White Spinach - Our white pizza topped with fresh spinach, mozzarella, feta cheese and fresh garlic

Tavern in the Square - Porter

Dinner with my former Cluster at Tavern in the Square - Porter using a Groupon.

* Sicilian Chicken - Tender chicken breasts with crispy pancetta and fresh mozzarella, baken with herb seasoned breadcrumbs and topped with tomato basil sauce.
* I replaced the two included sides (mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus) with a side salad w/ side of ranch dressing and tater tots.

Side salad was huge and tater tots were delicious. Unfortunately the chicken was dry and under seasoned. I saw breadcrumbs betweeen the chicken breasts, but barely detected any pancetta or mozzarella. The "tomato basil sauce" was pieces of stewed tomatoes on top of the chicken and had very little flavor. Disappointing.