did you miss me? i'm sure you were wondering where i went. after introducing you to my blog and teasing you with multiple entries, i disappeared and didn't write a new post for days and days. it was cruel, and i'm sorry. you have to know that i wouldn't have left if it wasn't for a good reason; that reason, is Boston.
Boston is to food lovers what paris is to fashionistas, or at least it should be. before i moved there, i always associated Boston with seafood but after living there and getting to know the city's many culinary nooks and crannies, i now know that it is home to a variety of exquisite foods including amazingly fresh seafood, artisinal breads and cheeses, and the best cannolis this side of the Atlantic (not to mention some really cool beers). on my last trip to beantown, i made it a point to eat at all of my most favourite places in the city and to scope out the eateries that have been garnering attention from the boston globe. lucky for you, i took my camera with me...
first stop, Genki Ya. if i still lived in Boston, i would eat here at least once a week. after months of trying to find the best all around sushi restaurant in Boston, mike and i landed in this jewel. boasting its use of organic ingredients, Genki Ya lures you in with its bright green sign and bamboo adorned windows. what's more, the menu is enormous. not only can you get the basics like everyone's favourite spicy tuna roll and the classic california roll, you can get dozens of other unique creations such as the scorpion roll, the crazy roll and the king salmon torch roll, all with fun additions like flying fish roe, shrimp tempura, yam tempura and real lump crab meat. and did i mention that you can get your sushi made with white, multigrain or brown rice? well, you can, and i go for the brown rice quite often.
now, it's no secret that Boston is an expensive city and a place offering organic food could certainly charge more than a pretty penny and still have a large following. however, as far as boston goes, the prices are more than reasonable. the lunch specials, offered between 11 and 3 everyday, includes the option of a 2 roll, soup, salad and dessert combo for only $9. $12 will get you one more roll. my favourite? the 2 roll special with the heartiest, most buttery yellowtail and indulgent king salmon.
mike got the crazy roll...
next on the list: a trip to Little Italy. hidden away from the hustle and bustle of Hanover Street, Ernesto's Pizzeria is the definition of a hidden gem. this Salem Street, family owned and operated eatery is one of my boston top 5.
do not let the unassuming exterior fool you. although it is tiny and seats only about 20 people at a time, Ernesto's is probably the second best pizza experience i have ever had (i'm sorry but nothing beats the one i had in Rome). $3.50 buys you a slice (which is actually about 1/4 of an entire pie) of cheese pizza.
best pizza in Boston? try best pizza in North America. this slice will literally melt in your mouth. the crust is impossibly thin and the rich, flavourful sauce seems as though it is painted on leaving plenty of room for a generous dusting of freshly grated cheese. what's great about this pizza is that it will not leave you feeling full, only satisfied. i just can't get over how good it is. and while you wait, mouth watering, for your pizza to come out of the oven, the photos on the wall will keep you entertained. the place is decorated with posters and pictures of the Rat Pack, Sophia Lauren and of course, the Boston Celtics. the reason behind these pictures is never made clear, but it really is an interesting experience, savouring the taste of this amazing pizza with a mug shot of old blue eyes hanging over you.
of course, a trip to the north end wouldn't be complete without a visit to....
sure, there is debate among Bostonians, Italians and everyone in between about the authenticity of Mike's. Mike's Pastry, famed for its specialties like pannetone, lobster tails and ricotta pie, is one of the most talked about places in Boston's Little Italy. on any given day, there are line ups outside the door and winding down the north end's tiny side streets. at first, i didn't want to give into the hype. there are so many bakeries in the north end, why should i go to the most popular one which clearly doesn't need my business? but folks, i have tried the rest and have settled on the best. owned by Mike and Annette Mercogliano, Mike's is certainly Italian, even though many of the servers here are Albanian. if you manage to get there on say, a Monday morning, you might beat the crowds and have a quiet, stress free experience, but it's almost more fun to go on a busy Sunday when the place is packed and it's standing room only. no matter when you go, you will be greeted by a friendly server, dressed in a cute, blue Mike's apron. there are so many things to choose from here, but if you have to get one thing, go with the florentine cannoli. the ricotta filling just can't be beat. it's sweet and thick with just a tiny hint of tangy-ness. and the florentine shell is the perfect compliment to the dense, creamy filling - buttery, crispy, crunchy and sweet. order a few for the road and your server will dust them with icing sugar, pack them up, and tie the box closed with the signature blue and white thread which hangs from the ceiling. or, eat your cannoli on the spot at one of the little tables in the front of the cafe. i suggest washing it down with some bitter espresso. so, what does this cannoli look like? you ask. well, i was too greedy and i ate my sweet treat before anyone had time to take a snapshot of it! you'll just have to go there and get one yourself :o)
and...
if you're in the north end on a friday or a saturday, DO NOT miss a chance to hit up haymarket. i love, love, love farmer's market but have never before seen better deals on fresh produce and seafood than i do here. all i'm saying is that i got the most beautiful raspberries here last summer - 12 1/2 pint containers for $3! i'm not kidding! and last weeked i got 2lbs of fresh Atlantic salmon for $6! and 3lbs of grapes for $1! you will not be disappointed if you go here. go! shop! eat!
so now i've probably made it seem like the north end is the only place to eat in boston; while it is pretty amazing, there are dozens of other places that warrant some attention. i first read about Burdick Chocolate in the Boston Globe. the shop was featured in an article about the best hot chocolate in Boston. to be honest, i didn't go looking for the place, i just happened to notice it, happily sitting across from the Upper Crust, another Boston pizza favourite, up in Harvard Square.
while it's evident from the cafe menu that Burdick focuses on its truly rich and decadent hot chocolate, it also serves up some amazing specialty chocolates which you can check out on the website. when i went there it was too early for chocolate for me, but since it's never too early for butter, i was willing to indulge in a french macaron - a pistachio macaron sandwiched with buttercream to be exact.
there are so many other places that i love to eat at in this city, but sadly, my stomach and my wallet did not allow me to visit all of them this time. however, i would like to introduce you to some more of my favourites. here is a sampling from my list of the best places to eat in the city that stole my heart:
The Mission, one of my other Boston top 5's, mainly because it's in my old neighbourhood and home to many, many, many good memories - get the fish and chips and wash it down with a pomegranite champtini.
Penguin Pizza, also on Mission Hill - get the thin crust, arugula-basil pesto pizza with fresh mozarella and roasted garlic.
Flour Bakery and Cafe, located blocks from my old school and very good at providing sustenance for 3-hour long evening lectures - get a big sticky bun and a mellow cup of joe.
Blunch, also close to my old school and just such a great play on words - Mike says to get The Loaf sandwich (yup, you guessed it, a hearty and dense meatloaf sandwich).
Petit Robert Bistro, for excellent customer service and some really rich, delectable French food - get the crab cake salad with curried mustard dressing to start, then follow it up with the pan seared scallops with a Kir Royale chaser!
Addis Red Sea, for authentic Ethiopian food, served on injera bread on short, wicker tables - get the yesmir wot, lentils simmered in a spicy 'berbere' sauce which is perfect for light, airy injera bread dipping.
Clear Flower Bakery, because my friend, Rich, raves about it just about every time i see him. i have never been here, but i'm assuming it's amazing, because Rich is picky and he certainly doesn't rave about every bakery in town.
Shawarma King, as good as it gets for being a typical, run of the mill, university student-going shawarma place - get the falafel sandwich, spicy (although they do have an excellent selection of other authentic Lebanese specialties).
and last but ABSOLUTELY not least...
LTK, go here! land at Boston Logan International Airport and go directly to LTK. do not pass Go; do not collect $200; go directly to LTK and get the tuna burger. just get it, and devour it. it is the best thing.
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