First Summer of Boston Food

Well, it has been almost two whole months since my last post. I can't say I am happy about this layoff, but I have learned another thing or two about blogging.

It is difficult to maintain a personal blog on a day-to-day basis without financial, educational or other pressures.

In this case, you just have to love to write, love to eat and love to spend money. I am good at all three points, but I don't particularly enjoy number three.

Anyways, rather than be dissapointed at the two month layoff I experienced with this blog, look at it this way. Summer has not even started yet. I actually have a head start on Boston's summer food, as beach season doesn't begin until Friday June 21st, at 9:24am. And this summer will be my first as a resident of Beantown.

I have not exactly waisted my time or ignored food for two months either. I dropped one of my two boring summer classes and replaced it with "History of Boston." This course is tougher than I thought, but most of the quizzes are based on walking tours of Boston. On these tours, I have learned an incredible amount of history, but I have been paying close attention to the restaurants lining each and every area.

Here are some ideas I have for this summer. How about a trip to the older restaurant in Boston and in all of America, the Union Oyster House? I plan on checking out 28 degrees, and the Italian restaurants along Beacon Hill's Charles Street, which many say are better than the North End's best. On a nice day, I plan to check out the steak at a restaurant located on the site of the first public school in the United States. And then I will jump way ahead of time to spots like 28 Degrees, perhaps the most futuristic restaurant of all, with its maze like, mirrored bathrooms lighted only by candles and your own reflection.

In conclusion, these last months I have not spent idle. I have been looking and learning, exploring parts of Boston I had never seen before. And as stated in my first blog entry, looking and learning about Boston is exactly the purpose of this blog experiment.

I passed by Lala Rokh Restaurant, located around historical Beacon Hill at 97 Mount Vernon Street (also known as Mount Whoredom because of the sexual activities that once occured on this hill, one of the three hills of "Trimount.")

Class Concluded and the Boons of Blogging

First, I want to say that this post is not the conclusion of my blog. This post is an essay assignment commenting on my reactions and experiences to over three months of blogging.

Another semester is about to pass me by, and my college career is officially more than half over. I have completed all but one of my journalism major requirements, and yet I have had the time to take a few great journalism electives like Sports Writing and Online Journalism. I found both projects in online journalism to be fun, entertaining and rewarding at the same time.

Blogging was not something entirely new for me. Although I had never kept an official blog, I had written in a personal website (like Xanga, LiveJournal, Facebook, etc.). I had also written various reviews on Amazon.com and other websites for my own benefit and pleasure and also to assist other consumers with similar interests.

In a way, my goal when writing for Amazon was similar to my goal when I created “Not So Fast: Food For Thought in Beantown.” As I mentioned in one my first posts, I wanted to get out and explore Boston more this year than I had in my first two years living in the city. Previously, I felt unfulfilled and ashamed of how little I knew of my hometown city. When I would go out, I would see places, or even sections of the city, that I had never even laid eyes on before. I figured this food blog would not only entice me to explore different sections of the city but also allow me to practice writing reviews and other comments about food. “Not So Fast” has helped me to fulfill both of those needs, and I have enjoyed the process.

I discovered a lot of restaurants and other food outlets around the city. I was exposed to different cultures. I learned how to gather food news on the internet. This has enabled me to follow not only news but also various trends, openings and chefs. The opportunity and the possibility to write more and more grew increasingly obvious as the semester progressed.

After the first few weeks, the realization kicked in that I was a college student paying half of my tuition and rent and all of my utility and other bills and for food of course. This made it difficult to dine out a lot, especially at the higher scale eateries. But with the flow of news, combined with an occasion trip to dine out and other cheap or free experiences around the city, I was able to learn how to maintain a fairly constant flow or at least a good drift of blog posts.

Even when I have been able to pour in post after post, the comments have usually remained infrequent and dry. I assume this is an obvious and common result, due to the lack of exposure, advertising and writing experience in general. All but a few of the comments I have received have been from family and friends that I shared my blog with. They all seem to enjoy it and often give me comments and suggestions that I find helpful.

My most interesting experience with comments occurred when I was asked by a start-up company to join a network of blogs by people like myself seeking additional exposure. I took the opportunity, not solely for the chance at additional exposure but also as yet another added incentive to keep the blog up and running and ever-more interesting. It all comes back to my original desire for beginning a food blog: to explore and appreciate Boston while learning more about the city and cultures within it. And what better way than through a free blogging service? I think blogs are an easy-to-use, entertaining and informative way of getting information and ideas out to the public these days.

The Mission Bar and Grill

I wanted to expand briefly on the Mission Bar and Grill, which I may add, stands in place of the. Choppin' Block. The transition from the CB to the MB&G is a good example of how the Mission Hill area is slowly but surely becoming nicer.

As far as I have seen, the Mission Bar and Grill is the nicest bar in the Mission Hill area. It might even be the best looking bar in the entire Northeastern area. Upon walking through the entrance, which is in view from the Brigham Circle T stop, you first spot the beautiful wooden bar and the two flat screen TV's to the right and left (sports fans). Considering I haven't actually sat at the bar, I am going to focus on the food (although I've heard good things about the Ipswich Ale and other British beers and ales). The cuisine also may very well be some of the best in the Mission Hill/Northeastern Area.

I already wrote about the cola-flavored steak tips and the curry mussels, both of which I consider to be some of the best I've ever had of their kind. On my first visit to MB&G, I also had the steak salad and the clam chowder.

Now that I've also had the steak tips, it makes perfect sense that the salad was great too. The salad was huge, came with a fair amount of the excellent steak. The chowder was atypical in a very rich and creamy way. Unlike your normal chowder, which usually appears to be white or off-white in color, this chowder had a reddish tint.

The salad and mussels at under $8 each are more than enough to fill up two people and have you into the night not down but $20.

The service was also superb. Although our waitress was kinder and quicker the first time around, both experiences were above average.

Seriously, It's the Best Restaurant in the World

I wish I could personally say so. It's called Ell Bulli. Located in Roses (appropriately), Spain, this restaurant is literally the best in the world. THE best. It was official on Tuesday when 560 food critics from around the world annually in charge of a top 50 world-wide restaurant list named Ell Bulli "top of the table."

I happen to be overdue for a trip to Europe, but chances are the timing that hasn't worked out over the past three plus months won't work out in the next three either. If it does work out, Spain could be one of my highest priority destinations (for Barcelona and Madrid, not just Roses). Of course, the waiting list at Ell Bulli is over a year long. That's right. An entire year to eat a meal. Now is the time to sit back and dream a dream about what kind of place Ell Bulli is. I would expect something along the lines of the best food in the world of course, walls made of waterfalls, gold and diamonds, and nude waitresses.

In the Tuesday CNN article titled Weird sounding food top of the table, it was reported that the chef, Ferran Adria, "told CNN that creating these unusual dishes requires him to be a scientist and chemist as much as a cook, combining science, art and haute cuisine."

This isn't very surprising, considering that there are dishes like "pistachio truffle cooled in liquid nitrogen" and "air of carrot," and a dessert called "finely spun caramel." The dream progresses.

Back to reality. I personally have a problem with the ides of one restaurant being given the titled "Best in the World." I mean, naming the best restaurant in Boston would be an arduous task. And in the world? I know it's CNN, and I know "best" or "top" lists are fun, but this sort of claim could never justified, much less proven.

Or maybe I am just jelous that Ell Bulli seems more like heaven than a restaurant I may ever have the opportunity to write about in or beyond this blog.

Fenway Foul

A Patriot Ledger article titled, LEDGER EXCLUSIVE: The ICK factor at Fenway, written by Karen Eschbacher on April 11, has revealed several health food violations at the beautifuly renovated Fenway Park. These violations, cited during the 2005 season, included the following according to the Patriot Ledger:

"Rodent droppings and fruit flies; Cheese, burgers, potato salad and other food not maintained at the right temperature; Lack of proper access to handwash sinks."

I guess none of the accusations, true or not, were any more shocking than seeing David Wells get walloped last night. But with the Red Sox in the midst of their first homestand of the season, and with hockey season coming to a disappointing end for the Bruins, and with my 21st birthday in the near future, trips to Fenway Park may become the usual. And if I do begin to frequent Fenway, I may be more cautious with the food for more than just financial reasons.

But the Fenway Faithful should not fret. Aramark, the company large and in charge of Fenway’s concession stands and restaurants, has reported all of last year's issues to be non-issues this year. And one would have to believe that at a venue like Fenway Park and hopefully any venue, serious health violations would not stand once discovered.

One way or another, I still prefer my soft serve at the Bruins to any fabled frank (below, the color your face may turn next time).

Junk Food Receives Another Kick In The Junk

A bill that would ban soda and various junk foods was reinstated earlier this week by Finance Committee members. Although the chances of this bill passing are somewhat slim, the ongoing discussion surrounding junk food is yet another sign of progress headed in the right direction. A future bill and a handful of gruesome children's books later, we may be in business.

More on the progess of the bill at the Connecticut Post and at the Herald&Review.

One Night Stand

I am not talking about a recent episode of course. I am referring to those restaurants, or any establishment for that matter, that hits a home run with advertisements but strikes out with product.

Based on my first experience, “Pizzatalia” (618 Shawmut Ave, Boston Mass.) would into this hit and miss category. Where have I found their menus? All over the Northeastern campus, particularly in Holmes and Meserve Hall (the journalism department) in stands right next to the stands for the school newspaper. Almost every time I have picked up a copy of the Northeastern News, I’ve seen “Pizzatalia” right next to me. And because of this ideal menu location, I have been the victim of great advertising. That is why at least five of these menus sit in my room.

The menu itself was also very convincing. With an overly long list of options, including over 45 different flavor milkshakes, seven different types of boneless tenders and an eye-catching sandwich list. How does a smoked salmon, Swiss, red onion, tomato and lettuce sandwich sound? What about chicken salad, bacon, lettuce and tomato? There are over 10 more of these sandwiches, all of which are built to eyes and mouth open wide. Every list on the menu is extensive. There are a variety of specialty pizzas, over 11 different salads, pastas, calzones and the list goes on.

Too bad when it comes to food, rarely does quantity take precedent over quality. That rare exception was not tonight. The quality was overall, a disappointment. The 10 piece boneless chicken ($8.50) was dry, but worse was that the honey barbecue sauce seemed to be nonexistent. It was just dry, sauce less chicken tenders. About five of them went uneaten.

The gyro dinner ($7.50) was not a whole lot better. First of all, we chose to have rice as the side but received fries. That forgotten, the salad was basically just a pile of lettuce, and the three slices of tomato had too much texture and tasted old. I love tomatoes, and somehow these tomatoes were not good. The gyro itself was good, not great, and not really any better than the gyros I’ve had at any other pizza joint. The fries and salad went unfinished.

The problem may be that I did have some expectations when ordering delivery from Pizzatalia. And I wasn’t let down by the delivery (30 minutes like they said). The food just wasn’t up to par, and it certainly wasn’t as good as the advertising.

If you are still tempted to try Pizzatalia, call 615-541-4044 or 617-541-4040. Most likely, you (especially Northeastern students) will be tempted not by temptation itself, but by the fact that the Pizzatalia menu will surely be one you have.

More News To Eat Up: THE Future To Fixing The Fat

I apologize for the heavy flow of posts at the moment, but as I have been sifting through food in the news, more great stuff has been brought to my attention.

Lenore Skenazy, a columnist for the New York Daily News, has just written an article titled "Supersize kids' fast-food smarts." Within this article is what I believe to be the answer to fast food troubles, and I honestly think this will work. This beast of a problem in the U.S. is inspected from its routes, childhood, inside Eric Scholosser's new book, "Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food."

Skenazy wrote:

"Because the guy behind the book is Eric Schlosser, author of "Fast Food Nation." That best-seller breathed new life into a stale topic: the fact that fast food is — surprise — bad for you (and for the animals getting nuggetized, the farmers getting 2 cents for every order of fries, and the
world getting ever more homogenized). "Fast Food Nation" may have given some grownups pause before ordering their Big Macs, but McDonald's profits never took a hit. A kiddie book, though, that's another story."

What Skenazy writes is true. "Fast Food Nation" likely received little time in the children's eye, but a book geared for the growing boy and the self-conscious (or not) maturing girl is sure to hit a home run.

I was never given a fast food lesson growing up. And don't get me wrong. I had all the talks. Good Grades. Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. Women. I was told to eat healthy and why, but I was never sat down to talk about the rat, mouse and cat intestines that made up my six nuggets at Icky D's. I had heard stories, and those stories have kept me away from most fast food throughout my life. I probably eat McDonald's, Burger King or Wendy's less than once a week on average. And what if I had been read the horror stories of the fast food process instead of Good Night Moon before bed as a child? I would cringe at the site of a fast food joint for the rest of my life. My nightmares would guide my diet.

"Kid readers may or may not care that in the 1970s, the average American boy drank twice as much milk as soda," wrote Skenazy.

I am still that kind from the 70s, thanks to my mom, and my nonexistent love for soda. It's just not that great to me. It's not smooth. It makes you have hiccups. And it's not healthy. Yes I drink my soda, but I don't understand how people think any soda tastes better than a natural beverage like milk or OJ.

I know there have been other efforts to slow the fast food industry's domination over children and practically the entire U.S., but I think this shock effect for children is the best stuff yet. I know when my kids go to bed, and I am singing, "This little piggie...," or some other nursery rhyme related to fast food, I will add in my own verse at the end. And the first three books on my kids' book shelf: Good Night Moon, Supersize Kids' Fast-Food Smarts and The Polar Express.

Click here for McDonald's reaction.

"Trigger Time"

It's been a busy month or so and it's been quite some time since I've taken a look at food in the news. But today, a Google alert sprung me to an interesting find in the Chicago Tribune. The article is about "trigger time," otherwise known as the period of time around spring or spring break when many young women experience a heightened and obsessive feeling of need to lose pounds fast.

More interesting was the topic of blogs and personal websites, like Xanga, Facebook, LiveJournal and MySpace, which are being used as forums for these super-diet divulgers. For example, one group on Xanga was called "Bikini Coming Soon Challenge." That is one challenge sure to encourage weight loss and likely a loss of mentality as well.

While the upside of these websites is certainly limited primarily to making connections, the downsides are becoming much more severe and obvious. As frequently discussed around universities and colleges around the U.S., potential employers are using easily accessible information to judge people pre-interview. Now, more than just a few questionable likes and dislikes are being shared.

I am well aware that for college students in particular, eating healthy and maintaining a good body, good grades and a sustained job can be difficult, but it is possible. How? You can start by saving money by ordering out less, shopping at the grocery store more, and as I have suggested in past posts, visit Farmer's Market for more healthy fruit, vegetables and fish than you can handle. And with a little exercise on the side, "Trigger Time" in the spring can become your time to feast.

Daydreaming

Just this morning I found myself contemplating, actually daydreaming, about a certain food item from a well known eatery. At least well known around these parts.

UHOP, IHOP, We all hop for BHOP. OK, not really, as UHOP (University House of Pizza) is far superior to BHOP (Boston House of Pizza). That isn't really saying much since the college crowd will eat anything if it was deep fried and smothered in cheese.

One sandwich does however stand out at UHOP, right next to Punter's Pub across the street from the Museum of Fine Arts. The steak sandwich.

Not the steak and cheese that Philadelphia is famous for, but just a steak sandwich. And the best part is I am in control of what I am eating.

I always ask for mayo, lettuce, tomatos, onions and cheese. Why all the veggies you may ask? Am I on a diet? No, I am not but the crisp, cool taste of lettuce mixed with the incredible tomato flavor (my favorite vegetable) complements the warm, perfectly cooked beef steak. The mayo adds a creamy zing and as for onions, I'll eat them on just about anything.

So as I am writing this, my mouth is salivating, it has been a while since I've had this dish. With a side of mozzerella sticks (remember what I said about deep fried and cheese), this is a meal to be reckoned with. Filling and affordable (steak sandwich is approximately $5 and mozzerella sticks are about $4), eating this specific combination at UHOP is one of those indulgences I allow myself from time to time. And it's been some time since I have spoiled my taste buds.

That will change after within a few hours.

To Taste Tradition. Part 1: The Owl Diner

To taste tradition is to taste a family, a generation, a town, a city, a culture, even a country. This food has soul. It has energy and life. The different spices that lend to its perfection are evidence of years of work toward a taste just right.

While McDonald’s may be the actual symbol of America and many of its people, there is plenty of tradition in the millions of nooks and crannies in each and every place around.

In Lowell, Massachusetts, the Owl Diner (originally located in Waltham, Mass.) is a symbol of tradition. It began for me several years ago when my parents first introduced me to the diner, which actually looks like a mobile home. Our move from Chelmsford to Westford over 10 years made this tradition ongoing, and my last visit was just a few weekends ago.

We went on a Sunday morning (well, I believe it was around 12:00 or 1:00 p.m.) before the diner closed at 2:00 p.m. Still the parking lot, which is very small but has been extended with a nearby lot, was filled but one space. I nabbed the last spot and walked inside to find the Owl Diner still hoping at 1:00 p.m.

A bit unfamiliar with the menu, two things immediately jumped out at me: the side of ham and one of the specials, the Hawaiian Omelette. Now, I am a huge advocate of Hawaiian anything. Be it be pizza, calzone, beaches, women, or some obscure fruit, it’s all great. So after a 20 minute internal debacle, I chose the Hawaiian Omelette over the EVERYTHING omelette (kind of like a Mexican oblate with salsa and then everything else). I did request the addition of peppers and onions though to make the Hawaiian a little more complete.

The ham was served as two large, thick slices. We also got a single blueberry pancake, and as a liker but not a lover of pancakes, I was more than satisfied and took it down. I also devoured the ham, which I covered with syrup, and the omelette with much less a struggle than one would imagine.

My girlfriend filled up much faster on the Eggs Benedict, which also came served over another leg of ham, which I had some of.

Oh and the baked beans. We ordered a small side of the beans, and they were as expected. Basically just one half of that awesome childhood dish, cut up franks and beans.

The Hawaiian Omelette, which of course consists of ham and pineapple without my additions, was delicious. The pineapple added a warm sweetness underneath the ham and cheese.
After finishing off my orange juice and coffee, I sat in the old booth, which had been ripped in the center and stapled back together, bloated and hunched over like I was 10 years old again after another satisfying, traditional meal at the Owl Diner.

Ingenius, Innovative, Incredibly Delicious and Affordable

Warning: This will be a short post.

Two words, so completely different and unrelated. Two concepts, that may have never been tried before. The Mission Bar and Grill has redefined a favorite appetizer of mine.

Curry+ Mussels= Amazing Appetizer

For only $7.99, I ate over two dozen mussels drenched in a delicious and tangy curry sauce. Not once, but twice did I eat this dish in a two-day period.

Needless to say, it was amazing. Topped with three perfectly toasted and generous pieces of sliced Italian bread, this was an appetizer dream come true.

I also had the Cola Marinated Steak Tips ($11.99) but more about that later. They were also delicious, perfectly textured and cook to perfection. We asked for medium rare and there wasn't a drop of blood, and the rice that came with it along with grilled zucchini was seasoned but without too much salt or any overpowering flavors. All in all, these place is a gem, and even though the menu is small, the food is something that everyone must try at least once.

The Cheap Way To Get Your Daily Dose

I am still in an ongoing debate with myself about the better route: shop at Stop & Shop or buy subs and other fast food for every meal. Clearly, the first option is healthier, but when I spend near $100 every week I wonder whether or not I am actually saving money. I may have figured out one way to keep eating healthy while exploring Boston and saving money all at the same time.

Farmer's Market (pictures a few entries back) has just about every fruit and vegetable at prices that are almost never even one-third of the price of the same item at a grocery store. I took a few pictures of my winnings when I got home from the market a few Sunday's back. The results were astounding. I got the following items for the grand total of $20.50: a triangle of Brie Francais ($3, typically $5-7), another round of a cheese ($3, typically $5 plus), two boxes of strawberries ($1 each), two boxes of blueberries ($1.50 each), a box of blackberries ($1.50), two mangos ($.50 each), three bins of tomatoes (three for $5), one watermelon ($1), one bag of purple grapes ($1). That is 14 fruit and vegetable items for $20.50. This same collection of food would likely run you near $50 in a grocery store.

If you are lucky, certain vendors are even kind enough to run out back to get you the most ripe or most fresh items they have. This was the case with the watermelon. I do have one warning for those happy to take advantage of the prices, like myself. One dollar items quickly add up and before you know, you have over ten bags of fruits and vegetables that you may only have a week or less to consume. It's a daunting task, one I was not successful with, and there aren't all that many feelings worse than throwing out food, nonetheless fruits and vegetables so rare in college student's diet. Still, the market is undoubtedly the best one (or near one) dollar store in or around Boston.

A bonus for this entry. In my first appearence in the food blog, I hoist up the $1 melon below.

Solstice Cafe's Failure to Launch

Located at 1625 Tremont Street just a few seconds walk from the Brigham Circle T Stop is a cute little place called the Solstice Cafe. My dad had actually pointed it out at a recent visit in Boston. He marveled at the fact that I hadn't tried it or even taken notice of it to this point.

Well I kept the cafe in mind after he pointed it out, but after reading the menu on the door last Sunday, I was shocked to find the door locked. The hours posted on the door clearly indicated that Sunday brunch was served until 4:00 p.m., yet they we were around 11 or 12 that morning and the door was locked. I even tried calling the number (617-566-5958) posted on the door and got a message confirming that the hours posted were indeed correct. I had the option of leaving a message but declined to do so.

I just now read a few reviews of the Solstice Cafe, and the results were promising. I will certainly make another attempt considering it is right down the street from my apartment, but hopefully I won't strike out again. After all, strike one led a miserable experience at Flames.

Boston.com reviews.

Pizza's Reward For Exploration, As Ernesto's Meets Its Match

I am still yet to blog on Ernesto's, which until a few weekends ago, stood as my uncontested single favorite pizza place of all time. And while that blog will eventually come, I want to write about some nearby competition. Before I dive into the competition, I want to add one quick thought. For all those people, including many of my friends, who still maintain that Pizzeria Regina makes the crème de le crust, please read this blog. And if I can’t convince you here, then simply go to google.com, search “famous pizza Boston,” and look at the results. Enough said. Ernesto’s comes up as the first two entries. Pizzeria Regina requires a scroll down to numbers seven and eight. Now, I will get back on track.

Located at 106 Blackstone Street (617 723 8585) in Boston amidst the open air farmer's market (the market is every Saturday), Haymarket Pizza appears to be a dump. It is tucked back and is easily missed by the many people scrambling around the market. On that note, many people who do find their way in probably find their way out just as fast. Inside, there are more pigeons than people, meaning only one thing. Pigeons must know good pizza.

The place was full of young kids, adults and the market-goers, and there were no seats left. We chose a corner by the video games, which a few young boys attempted to play without any change. There we stood to indulge in the two slices of pizza, and a Dr. Pepper, for $4 and some change (if I remember correctly). One slice was onion and the other was broccoli and tomato. The toppings were fresh, the slices still hot, and the crust right in between the soft and hard state you would want. And you have to keep in mind; slices are never as good as a pie out of the oven. I am sure this is the case at Haymarket Pizza as I have found it to be at Ernesto’s and everywhere else. Still, the slices were grade A slices.

Haymarket Pizza is a hole in wall without a doubt, but it is also another example of the small, hidden wonders of Boston that without a little exploration would go on unfound and unappreciated.