Do you ever have one of those weeks where things just don’t seem to go right, and you get completely flipped on your axis? Do those weeks make you want to put on your pj’s and eat those foods that make you feel warm and fuzzy and have the inexplicable ability to wash away all feelings of self-doubt, and general yuckyness? Then you should read on..
This week didn’t start out exactly the way I would have liked it, but instead of wallowing I chose to reach out to one of my closest ladies and have an unexpected Tuesday night of laughs. We’re leaving for CABO this Saturday so of course we were able to use this as an excuse to get together and “plan”. And by planning I mean we talked about who would bring the flat iron and blow dryer. Planning? Nailed it. And I am fortunate my friend Fiona always thinks I look stunning (pause for laughs here), even when in my gym clothes. So after a 4.5 mile run, no shower, I met her for what I thought was going to be just drinks at Solas. I mean, we’re on our Cabo diet after all! But the idea of drinking our dinner quickly went out the window when a menu full of comfort food was presented to us. Turkey club, no mayo, with fries? Yes please. Coors Light, the silver bullet that seems amazing crisp and refreshing after a work out? Where do I sign up for a few…?
I know my blog posts up to this point have been about spots in my city that are a little more on the exciting side, but I wouldn’t be writing as myself if I didn’t have the occasional stop off at a place like Solas.. and let me tell you, as always, it didn’t disappoint. My sandwich and fries came out and looked like a warm plate of happiness. I love the combination of turkey, good bacon, lettuce and tomato and while I usually go with wheat bread- I opted to go big or go home with the white bread. It was exceptionally grilled, not heavy on butter at all, and had a faint taste of garlic or another herb that my taste buds couldn’t pick up on. And the fries, slightly thicker cut, had the most perfect seasoning on them and remained crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. I literally had to move the plate away so as not to be “that girl”, you know, the one I usually am that finishes every last morsel on the plate because my love for food runs so deep I JUST CAN’T STOP!!!
And finally.. Dear Coors Light, turkey club and Fiona thank you for making an otherwise ho-hum Tuesday night so much better.

Maybe you’re noticing a theme here? Yup, that’s right… Poutine twice in one week. You might be thinking it’s a little indulgent, and I’m going to be completely cliché here but YOLO! What’s the point of the hours spent in the gym or out on the roads if you can’t have a dip into the indulgence pond? Last night I absolutely jumped right into the indulgence pond, and the water was nice. I have spent a few nights in my Boston lifetime at numerous spots in the South End, Myers and Chang (expect a post soon!), Boston Chops, Franklin Cafe, Cinquecento, and have a number of spots yet to try. But there has been one that I’ve only had incredibly craft cocktails at but have never savored the food, and that my dear readers is The Gallows. I have always heard great things and that the food is carefully created, but had yet to experience it myself so when it was suggested last night I gladly gave up my thoughts of pizza.
The Gallows, on Washington St. in the South End, provided an amazing place for a quiet Tuesday night both with fantastically prepared food but also a warm and inviting interior. You walk in and just immediately feel at home. As per usual, we decided that we should probably share a few things because again, that’s how you get to sample as much as possible and eat a lot without actually looking like you are. I indulged in a Dogfish Head 60 minute, and then the food fest began.
We started with the Housemade Pickles, the Scotch Egg, and the simple poutine as well as their burger. The pickles came first and were the right start to the dinner, they had just the right amount of acid, and a touch of sweetness, with a strong variety of vegetables that you wouldn’t typically picture as pickles. I was a fan. We also had the Scotch Egg, I don’t even know where to start here. I have been wanting to try a Scotch Egg for quite a while and if I had to pick one to be my first? The Gallows wins. A soft boiled egg enveloped in crispy pork sausage? Where do I sign up? The pork almost had a hint of fried chicken in the flavor with absolutely exceptional seasoning. Not too salty, not over-peppered, just clean and simple. I could have eaten two more. Don’t judge me!
The poutine came next, the cheese curds were farm more the standard than the previous poutine which provided a change, and there could have been a touch more salt on the fries. But the gravy really completely the dish for me with just the right amount of flavor and silky texture. Following was the burger… Now, I love burgers and they’re another food group that I can’t live without as long as they’re done well. And by well I don’t mean the temperature, I prefer mine mid-rare. The Gallows does their far more well done that I would typically order, and they don’t give you a choice. Ordinarily this would be a deal breaker for me, but then I tried it. The house made ketchup was a burst of tomato and smoke, coupled with the homemade pickles, grilled onions, American cheese, and my favorite lettuce for a burger. Iceberg. What on this is not to love? You put grilled onions on anything and it tastes better (I remember being threatened as a child of liver and lima beans should I misbehave, but I always would inquire whether or not there was the option of grilled onions). You put all of this on a buttered, toasted bun and it was was burger ecstasy…
So I know in my first post I encouraged you all to let out your inner fat kid. Well last night I did just that, we didn’t stop there. When dessert was suggested in the privacy of our company I just could not contain my excitement, my eyes lit up like the fireworks at my parents’ 4th of July party and I think I might have squealed a little. So with little coaxing from our server (who was incredibly attentive without going overboard), we opted for the one dessert which he described as a toasted marshmallow with chocolate ganache, peanut butter and bananas. Right, as if you would have said no to that?! When it came out to the table I worried it wasn’t big enough for the two of us, but we pretty much dominated that. It was definitely rich, but the flavor of toasted marshmallow is something I can eat heaping spoonfuls of all night. The ganache touched the right amount of sweet and bitterness with chocolate, the peanut butter gave it a creamy and smooth addition, and the bananas really finished off the sweet treat with a hit of texture and happiness. When all was said and done, I tapped out and threw in the spoon.
All in all, it was exactly what I was hoping for an expecting and I left feeling elated and completely sated. I would highly recommend making an appearance but you MUST order the Scotch Egg. And if you were wondering why there was a random crane on Washington last night? That was me being hoisted out.
Bon Appetit!

I know, I know.. my team wasn’t even playing in the Super Bowl this year so why should it matter? I’ll tell you why, I made a fool of myself by supporting the great Peyton Manning in a public viewing area and was ridiculed and defeated when he crushed the definition of choking! That’s the last time Peyton, the absolute last time.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because while I may still be stewing over the Broncos loss, I had an amazing stew during the game. Late last week I reached out to a close girlfriend of mine, a fellow food lover, to see if she wanted to grab dinner. We both were less interested in the game due to the lack of the Pats, but we figured we could still catch a glimpse. So we made a plan to hit up Strip T’s, a spot I have been wanting to try for quite some time. But just like the Broncos, we were defeated that night when we arrived to find it closed on Sundays (what?!). We quickly decided on a plan b at one of my favorite Somerville spots since moving to Boston… Highland Kitchen. That right there should be enough said, but there’s more. Everytime I’ve gone into Highland Kitchen I have been a little cautious to try the goat stew, and have never had anyone brave enough to try it with me. But not this time, the goat stew was happening. But why stop there? They had poutine on the menu as a special that night, so that was an obvious choice, and then we balanced it off with some broccolini (because clearly we need our greens). And no meal of goat stew, while watching the Super Bowl, would be complete without an ice cold Lone Star… hello nirvana.
The poutine came first and did not disappoint. The fries were perfectly crispy where not saturated by gravy, and the gravy had just the right amount of salt to counter the creaminess of the cheese. But oh… the cheese… it wasn’t your trypical poutine cheese curds, and that’s ok because it was gobs of heaven. And the addition of taso ham was the perfect finish. Yum!
Next came the goat stew and broccolini. Let’s talk broccolini because, while fantastic, it was not the star of the halftime show. It was perfectly seasoned and tender without being overcooked, but still had the right amount of crispness that I love in my vegetables. So now this brings us to the stew, this is where I find myself at somewhat of a loss for words. So I took a heaping spoonful, mixed it with some of the rice included with the dish and dug in. I love my spice, and this spice did not leave me feeling like I just missed the game winning field goal. Highland Kitchen’s goat stew was the perfect balance of heat and sweet from the curry. I’m not a massive curry fan but this had the exact amount of coconut that I need to make it a palate pleaser for me. The broth itself could have been a meal, but the goat was so tender and expertly cooked that I ended up just picking the goat out by the end (well that and trying to watch my carbs after the massive plate of fries). The plantains on the dish were fried up and had the right amount of acid and sweetness to counter balance the heat. What I will say is, if you try the goat stew make sure you have an ice cold beverage to soothe yourself after. But it is definitely a dish that I would order again, and again, and again.
All in all it was a great night, I got to have dinner with a great friend and watch the Seahawks absolutely dominate the Broncos (yes, my allegiance did change by the end). Definitely a great start to the week!
Bon appetit!

When my dear friend Fiona texts me on a Monday to make plans for Friday, I know she’s ready for a night out. And when she tells me to wear pleather leggings? I know she means business. So last night, donned in my favorite new pair of pants, I had a great night of food, dancing and laughs with the girls.
This post actually pains me a little to write. I have had the utmost admiration for Lydia Shire since moving to Boston, I even met her once while having a drink at the bar. I have spent many a night at Towne, frequented the Liberty Hotel yet I’ve never made my way into Scampo. So last night we met our 9:00 reservation with much excitement! When dining with the ladies, it usually consists of a number of smaller dishes to share which is great because then I’m able to sample more on the menu. We carefully picked our bottle of savvy b while waiting for our table, then a great pinot grigio to go with the dishes. After much discussion we opted to share the mozzarella with vine ripe heirloom tomatoes and arugula, the Hungarian mangalica prosciutto with the basket of chestnut parmigiano arrancini, Patrick’s naan with prosciutto, and the Italian “bufala” mozzarella pizza with peppadews & sweet Italian sausage, and the duck fat fries. I know these are all simple choices, and maybe I had allowed the hype to get to me, but I was ended up disappointed. My passion let me down.
Let me clarify here though, it wasn’t all bad. But when the best part of the food portion of your Friday night is the prosciutto and a miniscule arrancini, you know you’re going to have to make up for it the rest of the night. I guess I just expected an Italian spot to have better pizza, I felt they fell flat. There was nothing about the pizza or the naan that made me say “oh my God, I have to come back here”. And the duck fat fries, while good, completely lacked seasoning and needed more than just salt. I think myself to be somewhat of a french fry connoisseur and these were not cutting the mustard. Basically, if I’m not writing in detail, there was no detail to share with you.
Will I go back? Probably, I need to see what all the hype is about and maybe I caught it on a bad night. But there are far more places I need to give a whirl first.
Lesson learned last night? Not even pleather pants can make a meal of sub-par prosciutto better. But let me tell you we still had one hell of a night!

Bon appetit!

Anyone who really knows me is keenly aware of my mild obsession with Bravo shows, one being Top Chef. So to be able to eat at the season one runner up’s restaurant here in Boston is like dining with royalty to me (please withhold your judgment!). I have somehow managed to eat everywhere except for Sweet Cheeks in the last few years since its opening. But alas, after a dining companion (who knows of my love for all things food) suggested a night of Southern BBQ, there was no hesitation in my response… the time had come, and it was on. And the icing on the cake? I learned that their Monster Wings were named in the listing of the top 25 wings in the US by Epicurious.com. Hello.
So I picked out my best BBQ eating outfit ensuring that wouldn’t show the remnants of the feast, and played it cool as I took my seat at the table. From here, the real fun began.. Luckily my dining partner is all about sharing, so we opted to order two of the trays. After very little (or no) indecision, my choice was obvious with the Monster Wings. We then agreed on the brisket for our other mainstay. For sides I knew the staples of collards, and mac & cheese were musts but I had heard that the carrot and raisin salad was necessary. Lastly, a simple potato salad rounded out the spread. I had heard the portion sizes were on the smaller side, I absolutely disagree. We questioned whether or not we should have ordered the biscuits, but we were barely able to finish what we did order. The trays came out, and my breath was temporarily taken from me (don’t worry, a quick sip of my PBR tall boy revived me). I cannot express the excitement I feel about both wings and BBQ, both favorite food groups of mine. So with little hesitation we dug into the mounds of wings, meat, and sides. Now I promised my cousin that I would go against the food writing grain and use the words “crispy” and “cold” in this entry. Well the carrot and raisin salad was just that, it was perfectly crispy and just the right amount of cold to balance the heat in one of the in-house made sauces, it was really something I could have made a meal of on its own. All of the sides came out, more than enough to share, and were the perfect accompaniments to the meats. The mac & cheese had just the right amount of breadcrumbs on top while the rest remained perfectly creamy. The collards had just the right amount of vinegar and the addition of the pork really made the dish. So I know what you’re thinking, “What about the meat?”. The Monster Wings truly lived up to their name with their monster flavor (ok, now you can judge me). They were piping hot, so I’m wearing Band-Aids on the majority of my fingers today, but it’s my own fault for not waiting. The smokey flavor was so simple and delicious on its own that I ate mine without the addition of a sauce. Moving on to the brisket, I’m usually pretty picky about this as it’s often a little overdone and tends to get a bit dried out. Sweet Cheeks’ brisket left me wondering why I agreed to share and should I have ordered it for myself only. It was that good, perfectly tender and mixed with all three of the sauces was really one of the most memorable parts of the meal. I can guarantee there was not much of anything left on either tray.
As much as I’d like to say I saved room for dessert, there was no way I was going to be able to make room for the oversized Nutter Butter cookie I eyed at the neighbors’ table. I guess this means I have to go back again, but I suppose there are worse things in life right? At the end of the night I checked Sweet Cheeks off of my list, but I know I’ll be back soon.

Bon appetit ya’ll!

Time after time I’ve been asked the age-old question of “What are you passionate about?” And for years I struggled, I never knew how to answer that. So I spent countless hours of my life trying to discover this hidden passion, at times even trying to create one because I thought that’s what I needed to do. Sure, I have hobbies and they’re wonderful for idle time (which is very little) but they have never provided me with the satisfaction of a passion. And then one day it hit me, that “thing” that I can’t live without, that makes me so elated at times and yet also disappoints me. That thing that keeps me coming back for more, day after day, week after week… The one thing I absolutely cannot live without. So ladies and gentlemen, my passion… is food. I derive so much happiness, satisfaction, pleasure, delight, and every other positive emotion, from food! I can’t even begin to describe the excitement that jolts through me each time I try a new restaurant, or going back to an old favorite. My taste buds do their little happy dance every time I allow them to indulge in things like brussels sprouts sautéed in duck fat with crispy pancetta, or perfectly grilled octopus, my mom’s pierogi, or one of my absolute most favorite things… chicken wings. I have cultivated my palate over my many years, to be an unpretentious, equal opportunity lover of all things food.
And I love cooking food too (yes, I am quite the catch). The sense of pride that comes from creating a meal that is then savored by my diners is like nothing else I’ve ever felt. Seeing the looks on their faces when they take that first bite? Priceless to me. It’s kind of like winning the elusive Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, except I have no idea what that feels like because I’ve never gotten a knock on my door with the countless times I’ve entered. I will never claim to be a culinary genius, I’ll leave that to the pros, but I will say I make a mean batch of cold sesame noodles and a pretty decent piece of salmon.
So to my readers, all 3 of you at this point, thank you for taking this new risk with me and letting me completely jump out of my comfort zone with both feet. I hope you enjoy the many entries to come, and I hope to be your food guru and teach you how to let out your inner fat kid too.
And to the supporters of this magic carpet ride, my friends and family, thank you for the incredible encouragement, support, and confidence in me. You have truly pushed me to not only figure out what I’m passionate about in life, but to also do something with that in this blog. I can never thank you all enough, but this now means you are required to be my most devoted readers.
Bon appetit!