The Gallows

To celebrate a recent success I was surprised to be taken to The Gallows, one of the South End´s newer culinary endeavors. Describing itself as "an extension of your own kitchen, only better", the Gallows offers reasonably-priced hearty fair from local cheeses and meats to poutine, burgers, and chicken and dumplings.

Being a celebratory occasion we started out with cocktails. A dirty martini drinker I couldn't resist the "Mother's Ruin", which consisted of gin, cocchi, house-made pickle juice, dill, and lemon essence - yum! Also sampled was the "Tar & Feather"consisting of vodka, cherry heering, black tea, ginger - also really tasty. At $9 they weren't obscenely priced, and I'd definitely be interested in returning for the "Abbatoir" (French for "slaughterhouse") - batavia arrack, veal stock, caramelized onions, lillet, and port! As for an amuse-bouche we split a hefty Scotch Egg - I mean, how can you go wrong with a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage mixture, coated with breadcrumbs, and deep fried? Other options of interest included a trout and bacon pâté, citrus sunchokes, and marinated mushrooms - next time!

We decided to skip a first plate, but some of the options sounded delicious like the smoked scallops with braised lettuce, pearl onions, peas, warm carrot dressings, and the "hangtown fry" - a fried egg, fried oysters, house smoked bacon, and red watercress. For my main meal I had a taste for a burger and chose the "Carpetburger", which came topped with fried oysters, american cheese, and remoulade. I had ordered it medium rare but the waiter, a medium-rare burger guy himself, suggested I get it done medium since the beef used at The Gallows lent itself more toward longer cooking. I wasn't disappointed. Also ordered was the "Wicked Early Spring Veg Shepherd´s Pie" with a potato-horseradish crust, mushrooms, barley, peas, pearl onions. Both dishes were great. The burger was nice and juicy with a satisfying amount of fried oysters in remoulade on top. The shepherd´s pie was pretty standard, though the nice surprise of plump, juicy pearl onions in every other bite really added to it. Along with my main dish I had also ordered a "red beer", which appeared on the draft menu. I had anticipated a red ale of some sort, but it turned out to be their version of the Latin American michelada, PBR with tomato juice, lemon, and spices, a purported hangover cure. I wasn't hungover, but sure! It ended up going quite nicely with the burger, actually.

After all of that we were ready to be rolled out of there. For unpresumptuous but delicious and satisfying comfort food, I'd definitely recommend a stop by The Gallows. Though it wasn't crowded on a Tuesday night, they only take reservations for 6 or more, and on the weekends I've seen it with a line out the door, so get there early if you can!

The Villa

We were so excited to try the Villa the other night. We'd hear good things about if from the Dean, and she and Adam have been before and loved it. So, on a rainy night, hungry for Italian food, we made our way over to Wayland. As we walk in, we were greeted and immediately sat in a small booth. Taking a look at the full parking lot, I was worried we would have to wait, but luckily we didn't.



Peter and I both were craving chicken Parmigiana for some reason, so that's what we ended up getting. Sometimes, you just want comfort food! Peter got the Chicken Parm special, and I got a combo with Chicken Parm and Baked Lasagne. The Chicken Parm was good, but my favorite was their Lasagne.

Adam got the Prime Rib special and absolutely loved it--and it was only around $14!

Also, for dessert, they had quite an assortment of desserts "made in the North End." I also saw that they had Spumoni, which is one of my (and my family's) favorite Italian desserts. Their version was not my favorite, but it was still good.

http://www.villarestaurantwayland.com/

The Villa Restaurant
124 East Plain Street
Wayland, MA 01778
Tel: (508) 653-8570

Church

Church is a comfort-food  restaurant with a hip trendy atmosphere and attached music venue in the Fenway area.  The decor is relaxed and pleasant with tea-stained walls and brown leather chairs.  The restaurant is low-lit with many small candles on the tables and larger candles that sit in front of mirrors on the wall.

The menu is pretty simple flare.  Appetizers include salads, fried clams and beef empanadas.  Entrees range from pressed crispy duck to mac & cheese tp eggplant rollatini.  There is also a small sandwich menu consisting of a cheeseburger, reuben, and steak and cheese.  All the food comes in decent sized portions.  Entrees range from 15-21 dollars and sandwiches are about $12.  My favorite part about Church is the drink menu.  On top of wine and beer, Church offers 7 drinks named after the seven deadly sins.  A fun mixture of ingredients create unique cocktails that are just as much fun to drink as to order (the night we

 went, the waitress told us that they were out of "lust".  A friend told her not to worry, the table had enough of that to go around.)  For those of you who aren't familiar with the seven deadly sins I've listed them below as they appear on the menu:

GREED Using Hendricks Gin, St Germain liquer, diced cucumber, a pinch of white pepper and a salted cucumber to garnish, the White June demands it all…and who are we to stand in its way.

SLOTH There should be no rush when this one can end your night before it begins. So take it slow while sipping the Dark Ryeder, our take on a vintage manhattan. 

WRATH Back by popular demand…The Boilermaker. Bud depth-charged with Jack. Two old friends, together again. Drink back and become wrath. Sweet Mercy. 

GLUTTONY Over induldge your senses with Mother’s Milk, a rum based concoction with bananas, Thai coconut milk and mint chocolate. Mother knows best. 

VANITY Inspired by the legendary beauty herself, Sophia Loren has made a life long dedication to turning heads. Let us turn yours with The Loren, a vodka based cocktail made with fresh squeezed, sweetened, ruby red grapefruits. 

LUST The traditional sidecar driven down a different street. The Lavenderia is made with flowers and honey and buckets of Spanish brandy…a sidecar named desire. 

ENVY Made with Reyka Vodka

Last time we went to Church we ordered the cheeseburger, Reuben, garden salad, and the

 pressed crispy chicken.  On previous occasions we've ordered the mac & cheese and bacon wrapped pork loin.  While the burger is definitely one of the cheaper things on the menu, I didn't feel like 

it was that good.   I did not like the roll it was on which was very stiff on the outside.  The wrapped pork loin was delicious when I had it last and so was the mac & cheese.  The Reuben and garden salad looked and tasted good but nothing overtly awesome about them.  My favorite thing was the oil dipping sauce for the sliced bread.  The spices they used were a really nice medley and something a bit different then I was used to.  

Overall, Church is a good casual place to go to with friends.  Nothing too fancy but a nice atmosphere, decent food, good drink menu and a nice departure from the normal "Red Sox Nation" restaurants in the Fenway.

Carnival Food

This weekend we took a trip to Witches Woods at Nashoba Valley and besides getting a dose of ghosts, zombies, and goblins, we were treated to the smells and tastes of a good ol' fashion carnival.  Nothing makes you feel like a kid again quite like the smell of funnel cake on a crisp autumn night or the sweet sticky smell of cotton candy wafting over to you from across the way. 

Below is a small montage of what was being offered(notice the creepy hand-shaped funnel cakes)...enjoy!

   

 

J.J. Foley's

Having recently moved to a different section of the South End, Bryan and I were anxious to try out some of the local eateries that we normally wouldn't have ventured to.  Topping the list was J.J. Foley's for the mere reason that I heard Justin Timberlake had gone to party here (or at its sister location in the financial district) after his concert in Boston last year.  

Yesterday, the cold weather got our appetites rumbling for some pub food so Bryan, Adam and myself headed over to J.J's (do they call it that?) for a bite to eat.  From the outside of the pub, J.J.'s looks a bit rundown.  The sign is very nice though and states that the pub's been in business since 1909.  We walked in and were pleasantly surprised.

In my past experiences, I've come to realize that pubs are not known for their cleanliness.  Patrons are usually greeted with sticky floors or tables and a worn out atmosphere.  So imagine how happy I was to discover the complete opposite at J.J.'s.  The atmosphere at J.J.'s is warm and friendly.  We were greeted by both the bartender and the waitress when we entered and were told we could sit anywhere.  The pub was clean and actually quite pretty.  There was a new tin ceiling that was bright and shiny, what looked like newly shellacked wooden panels covering the walls, and the floors were tiled and very clean.  The bar had a large plasma screen above it playing the football game (not too loud I might add...a good thing for me). 

Our waitress for the day was a feisty woman with an Irish brogue (points for authenticity!).  She was extremely pleasant and took our order, refilled our drinks and cleared our plates without delay.  She even offered us some Irish mustard to try (we did and it was good).  The menu at J.J.'s is simple pub food at decent prices.  The burgers are about 9 bucks and so are most of the sandwiches.  I ordered the taco burger that came with guacamole, salsa, sour cream and a side order of fries.  The burger was good and so were the fries.  I was completely satisfied.  Bryan ordered the blue cheese burger and he liked it as well.  Adam ordered the potato skins (you get 3) and the Reuben which he commented to the waitress that it was probably one of the best Reubens he's ever had...she ventured to say that it was  perhaps even the best corn beef in Boston (one can only dream!).  The only complaint I have about the whole experience is that we were charged for our refills on our soda (2 bucks a glass) without being told they would cost extra.  After two refills though, they stopped charging so maybe that's the rule?  Or maybe the waitress was amazed we could drink that much soda and felt pity on us?  

Overall, we had a great experience at J.J. Foley's in the South End and would recommend this location to anyone in the area craving friendly service, good comfort food and a cozy local hang-out.

Easy Crumble Crust Apple Pie

If you're like us, you probably have a huge bag filled with apples sitting in your kitchen that you can't seem to make a dent in just by eating them one by one. Take the opportunity to use your extra apples from apple picking to make this easy apple pie with crumble crust. Enjoy!

Recipe makes 2 pies

Bottom Crust:

I use the frozen store bought kind. Life's too short to make your own bottom crust!

Apple Mixture:

(It's always good to use a mixture of different types of baking apples. We get our apples from my family's small orchard so we stick to the Macintosh, Liberty, Jonathan, and Freedom varieties but feel free to experiment!)

6 Tb all-purpose flour
1 tsp lemon zest

1Tb fresh lemon juice

1 tsp ground Cinnamon

1 tsp ground allspice (about 12 cloves if you grind them yourself)

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/3 cup sugar

5 lbs apples, peeled, cored and cut into slices

Mix apples and ingredients together in a big bowl. Using your hands is probably the best way to make sure all the apples get evenly covered.

Divide the apple mixture in two and Scoop into the two pie crust bottoms. Set aside.

Crumble Crust:

2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter chopped into cubes

Combine ingredients and then pulse together in a food processor so the mixture resembles coarse cookie crumbles.

Press the crumbles onto each pie until all the apples and tops are covered.

Bake on a cookie sheet (to catch the drips) at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn down to 375 and bake for 40 additional minutes.

Let the pie cool and settle for a few hours. Serve with a fresh dollop of vanilla ice cream.

"Fall"-ing Back to Basics: Apple Crumble

Here is a quick and easy apple crumble recipe that's really very good. I've made this a few times when we had an overabundance of apples from my father's small orchard. Serve by itself or with vanilla ice cream for a basic Fall treat everyone will enjoy.


Apple Crumble

Preparing the Apples:
4 large golden delicious apples peeled and sliced 1/8 quarter inch thick
½ lemon squeezed for the juice
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons flour


Mix ingredients together and place in glass Pyrex pan (the pan size should allow the apple slices, when spread evenly, to almost reach the top)

Topping mixture
1 ¼ cup of rolled oats
1 cup flour
1 cup walnuts chopped roughly
½ cup brown sugar
Pinch of salt
Teaspoon cinnamon

Mix up ingredients and then add:
1 stick cold butter chopped into little pieces toss into topping mixture

Dump topping over apples
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes

Moogy's Sandwich Shop

Unless you went to Boston College or have lived in Brighton, chances are you've never heard of Moogy's Breakfast and Sandwich shop. For those of you that have been to Moogy's, you know that it's home to some of the best breakfast and sandwiches in the Boston area.

Breakfast - Moogy's breakfast is served all day long, and no matter what you're in the mood for chances are they have it and do it well. The omelets are excellent - everything from a standard ham and cheese to the 'Watchamacalit', which has bananas in it. The breakfast sandwiches are all great, too - you can get eggs, cheese, and ham, bacon, or sausage on toast, an english muffin, a bagel or a croissant. All orders of eggs dont however you like come with home fries and toast and are probably the best value. If you want something on the sweet side, the pancakes and french toast are really tasty. For something inbetween, try one of the french toast sandwiches - the 'Love Child' has ham, turkey, and swiss sandwiched between delicious french toast!

In terms of hoagies, there tons of innovative options, from the standard steak and cheese, to my personal favorite, the 'dirty birdy', which has chicken steak (shaved chicken breast), broccoli, teriyaki, and mozzarella. You can get all of the sandwiches in Small (6 inches), Medium (9 inches), and Extra-Large (13 inches). Some of my other favorites include the 'pizza steak' (steak, pizza sauce, mozzarella, oregano) and the 'Allston' (pictured to the right, with salami, bologna, mortadella, ham, spiced ham, american cheese, and provolone cheese) If you think you can handle it you might even try the 'cow meets egg', which has steak, peppers, onions, scrambled eggs, and american cheese or the 'heart attack, which has burger meat, american cheese, bacon, and eggs. You can add a number of additional toppings, for instance fried peppers, onions, lettuce, and tomato at no additional charge.

Other sandwich options include your standard deli meat options, tuna and chicken salad, burgers of all sorts, and regular and turkey reubens, among other choices.

For side orders, the clear winner is the Chive Fries - french fries with chive seasoning and served with a side of ranch. I can easily devour a large order with gusto and still want more. Other fun fry options include the Crab fries (with old bay seasoning) and the cajun fries (seasoned curly fries with cajun seasoning). You can also opt for onion rings, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeño poppers, plus a bunch of other fry options.

Lucky for you Moogy's also has a liquor license and has Harpoon IPA, Bud Light, Stella Artois, Budweiser and Busch Light on draft. Busch drafts are only $1 all the time! There's also UFO, Corona, Bass, and a number of other beers available in bottles. If beer's not your thing, you also have a number of wine choices and Mimosas, too!

All in all, if you're looking for great comfort food and a fun, chill atmosphere, head to Moogy's! Peak times are Saturday and Sunday morning, when the place can have a line out the door thanks to (annoying) BC juniors looking for a cure to their hangovers. If you're not into the weekend crowd, try coming right at 10 when they open, or wait until later in the afternoon. Otherwise anytime during the week is good.

Situated on Chesnut Hill Ave., Moogy's is easily accessible by car (it has its own lot) or T (get off @ Chiswick, walk a block down Chiswick to your right, turn right on Chesnut Hill Ave. and it's right there). Visit moogy's.com for the full menu and more information.

Tremont 647/Sister Sorel

Looking for a place where everybody really does know your name? Look no further.

No, not Cheers - Bostonians don't actually go there, by the way - I'm talking about Tremont 647, that South End stalwart that has, for nearly 12 years, been one of the most popular gathering places for the neighborhood.

Opened in December 1996 by Chef Andy Husbands, Tremont 647 - and its counterpart, Sister Sorel (named so for Husbands' sister) - have stood the test of time in an area where the loyalty of restaurant patrons can be ephemeral, at best.

The atmosphere of the establishment is relaxed and inviting, from its glass-walled facade - which in the spring and summer opens up, letting the restaurant spill out onto Tremont Street - to its open air kitchen, there is nothing pretentious about it.

Though a rainbow flag hangs proudly outside, 647 is itself a microcosm of the evolution of the South End in recent years. Just as the area lying between West Newton and Berkeley Streets can no longer be tagged solely as Boston's "gayborhood," Tremont 647 isn't a gay hangout, or a straight hangout - it's just a neighborhood hangout. On any given evening, you can find a mix of anyone and everyone: professionals, students, blue collar, white collar, hipsters and preppies of all backgrounds and orientations - dining and drinking with the sole purpose of having a good time.

The menu here changes seasonally, with Chef Husbands and his team often adding items to all menu categories - appetizers, entrees, sides, desserts and drinks all tend to get a make-over as the weather turns. More worldly items such as braised lamb over Parisian gnocchi rotate in and out, but the full-time menu sports dishes that reflect what seems to be Husbands' passion - American comfort food, specifically, BBQ.

There is a decidedly southern influence to most of these dishes, using ingredients that are a bit alien to a northern crowd - the incredible buttermilk fried chicken is served with steamed collard greens, and a grilled biscuit with gravy.

A personal favorite is the wood-grilled flat iron steak, served up with garlicky (as in, don't expect any kisses for a while) broccolini and a side fontina-stuffed tater tots, an amazing taste that can - and should - be ordered up as an individual side if you choose a different dish.

The chef's signature rib dish - Andy's "180" Ribs - are served up with cornbread and cole slaw, with the optional add-on of...wait for it...a Pabst Blue Ribbon 16-ounce "tall boy."

Not to be outdone by the entrees, there are two appetizers that are especially worth noting. First, the lobster mac 'n' cheese is a favorite among patrons, to the point where The Improper Bostonian noted it in their "Best of 2008" issue, and rightly so. Served up in its own mini-skillet, the dish delivers exactly what it promises - a heaping portion of gooey, al dente mac 'n' cheese with chunks (not the "need-a-magnifying-glass" pieces you often find) of fresh lobster baked right in.


Second, and in my opinion, best, are the momos. For anyone unfamiliar, a momo is a Tibetan dumpling which is stuffed with any number of ingredients. At Tremont 647, the preferred preparation is fried, with a pork filling. Simplistic, but absolutely addictive, these are served with soy sauce and sriracha (ask for extra), and are often gone far too quickly. While these may seem like any fried dumpling you can get at any Asian-influenced establishment, there is something unique about this dish, and is a must-order for any first-timer.

For dessert, make sure you dig in to Andy's signature banana cream pie, drizzled with chocolate and caramel, and topped off with nut brittle.

For all the cuisine, it's the restaurant's drinks that draws many in, and keeps them in Sister Sorel (which, while connected, is primarily a stand-alone bar) late into the night. Three of the more popular mixes are the 647 raspberry vodka gimlet, made with a house-infused raspberry vodka, the Tremont Tang, blending papaya vodka and fruit juices (and a rim lined with Tang mix), and the Sidecar from Hell, which, well...is.

Trumping everything else, it's really the staff that makes the popularity of Tremont 647 what it is. From servers to chefs to bartenders to hosts, you get the vibe that no one working there is just sticking around for a paycheck - they're also having fun, which puts guests at ease, and makes for an even better experience all around. They remember repeat customers, and often go out of their way to to recognize them, whether it be with a greeting, or if you're lucky, a complimentary round of momos.

It should be noted that on weekends they host a wildly popular pajama brunch (where the staff go all out in various combinations of pajamas, robes, long johns, curlers and most anything else they can get their hands on). The brunch has its own menu, which can - and likely will - be review unto itself.

Finally, make sure you keep an eye out for special events at the restaurant. These range from small celebrations, such as the recent "F! Restaurant Week" party, celebrating the end of Boston's bi-annual, price-slashing Restaurant Week promotion (which, as the party's name insinuates, are not the most loved weeks for those in the food service industry), to the upcoming Bourbon & BBQ night on October 13th. This reservation-only night includes bourbon tastings, passed appetizers and a family-style BBQ dinner.

Tremont 647 and Sister Sorel are located on the corner of Tremont and West Brookline in Boston's South End. More information and full menu can be found at www.Tremont647.com.

Anchovies

Welcome to my review. Peter asked me to write my inaugural (and possibly only) blog about Anchovies, a cute SE bar/restaurant on Columbus Ave. Well, it’s not so much cute as it is dark, but that’s better anyway.

What I like most about Anchovies is the atmosphere. I really like little homey, neighborhoody places. They are often more relaxed, delightfully quirky, and far more interesting than most chains. They sort of give you a feel that you know something special about where you live that not every tourist or weekend trendster ever could. That’s pretty much Anchovies.

Tucked away next to the much larger and more open Giacomo’s restaurant, Anchovies is the closest thing to a dive bar you can find in the South End. It’s dark, often crowded with locals, and usually loud with conversation or commentary on whatever game is on the flat screen TV’s. But unlike a true dive, the people are friendly, it’s clean, and you don’t have to worry about getting shanked by a disgruntled customer.

Anchovies is perfect for a host of occasions. You can meet up with a friend for a drink at the bar, grab a quick bite on your way home after a long night of drinking (it’s been a lifesaver), and it also makes a nice casual place for a first date (seriously) or just a hot meal with friends. When I go, I usually go for the food and drink option because I like to sit and relax and chat. If you don’t order food though, you can’t sit at a table. If you are eating, you may have to wait to be seated as Anchovies is small and there are only a handful of booths and tables.

Anchovies has a pretty full Italian menu and nightly specials with three options: a pasta dish, usually a meat or fish dish, and the lasagna of the day. Now, living here in Boston and growing up on Italian food, I know how it can vary significantly from place to place, restaurant to restaurant. So let me say in advance, this is the hearty but greasy variety. It’s also what I would call more classic Italian: sauce, cheeses, pasta, meat, and chicken. No fancy sauces or creative takes on old favorites. If you want something more upscale, go next door to Giacomo’s. Personally, I like this better. It’s as close to home cooking as you can get.

My favorite is the lasagna. I almost always get it so I really can’t comment on much else. If I am feeling like I should be good and maybe have more protein than pasta, I will get the chicken parm. It’s good but nothing different from the norm, except that there is enough for two meals. They do not skimp on portions. Back to the lasagna. As I said before, it’s the lasagna of the day so it’s always new and usually a good combo (sausage and spinach comes to mind). And when it comes, as with the chicken, it’s huge. And covered with cheese. I mean like drowning covered. That would be my only complaint really. There is often so much cheese I end up feeling greasy and remorseful after, which is probably why I usually only finish about 2/3 of the slab I’m served. But the part I do it is amazing. Fresh from the oven, meaty, solid and not runny, and a perfect ratio of noodles, cheese (ricotta and parmesan), and meat. Filling and delicious. Oh, and you also get a salad with your dinner, but it’s pretty basic, nothing to write home about, and often has too much dressing. Tip of the day: get the dressing on the side.

So that’s it in a nutshell. A fun, friendly, neighborhood bar with good food, and reasonable prices. It may not be to everyone’s liking, but it’s certainly worth a trip to find out first hand. Enjoy!

Review by Mike

Anchovies
433 Columbus Ave
Boston, MA 02116

Open for lunch and dinner

(photos via flickr.com)

PoPs!

On a whim, Peter and I decided to go dinner last night. We wanted good comfort food, maybe a hamburger or something (I was actually just hoping to eat something without it causing my stomach horrible agony--for some reason my stomach has been bothering me lately). So, we went to Pops on Tremont Street and the food did not disappoint!


Since it opened, I have had hopes for Pops. I love the sign outside--it is flashy and backlit. Based on the sign, I'd expect something very exciting inside. To me, the inside and the outside do not match--it's much more classically decorated inside, with a black and white theme of striped chairs, detailed mirrors and glass, and white marbel tables. Its not bad, just not what I expected. We were seated on the back sun porch, which provided a whimsical setting for our dinner with chandeliers, frosted glass walls, and a view of the private back garden. I have sat in the regular dining room during brunch and I much preferred the porch. I should say that the day was slightly cloudy--I'm not sure how hot it would have been in there if the sun had been beating down on the roof, but they do have curtains providing some protection. It was very comfortable/borderline cool while we were eating.


The Menu

Peter
Appetizer: Sambai Chicken Wings, Cucumber Cream ($8)
Main Course: Kobe Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy ($19)

Adam
Appetizer: Truffled Sweet Pea Ravioli in a Ginger-Scallion Sauce, Edamame, Goat Cheese Beignet ($9)
Main Course: Pan Roasted Organic Chicken with Roasted Potatoes and Mushroom Jus ($18)


The Breakdown
My raviolis were out of this world. The appetizer came with 2 big raviolis. The coating was just the right texture--not a crunchy as a fried ravioli but not limp like boiled pasta. The pea puree was sweet. The fried goat cheese, which was pure and not too salty, provided a perfect balance. I'm not a huge fan of edamame--I ate a few but left most of them in the sauce--which was very concentrated ginger sauce (similar to a plum sauce you'd get with peking ravioli--but the Pops sauce was much better!)


The Chicken Wings had a kick! The wings were presented all bundled together in a banana leaf (I'm guessing)--it made for a very fun plate. The cucumber sauce was just right to balance out the spice on the wings.


I never order chicken at restaurants. Never. However I have been having this stomach problem where I wake up in the middle of the night with the feeling like a have a bubble in my stomach. It reminds me of the Golden Girls episode when Sophia thinks she is having a heart attack. Once the doctor comes and she tells him all the Italian food she had been eating, the doctor diagnoses her with a severe case of over-eating. Go figure. So recently I've had issues after eating lasagna, Mexican food, and a feast of brunch foods at an Italian restaurant. So despite wanting to get something exciting, like the pork, duck, or short ribs, I decided to try and give my stomach a rest and go with the chicken. And guess what, the chicken tasted like chicken. But it was very well done with a very nice sear. The sauce wasn't too much for the dish and the potatoes and broccolini that came with it were perfectly fine. Maybe going into the dish without any expectations helped, as I was very happy with this simple, but well done meal.


Peter had the meatloaf which I tasted and did not like. The mashed potatoes and candied carrots served with the meatloaf, however, were VERY good. Perhaps I am just partial to my meatloaf, but I felt like there was something missing from this dish--I've narrowed it down to the spices (I use Italian seasonings) or the sweet and sour kick of the worcestershire and ketchup mixture I use provides (email me if you want my recipe). The Pops meatloaf was smothered in caramelized onions and Peter thought there was corn bread in the mix, which provided some needed sweetness. I believe Peter's review of the dish is very positive--he especially liked the carrots, which were sweet and tender.


We opted not to do dessert. We did, however, look at the menu and an assortment of cookies caught my eye--perhaps next time!


In previous trips to Pops I have enjoyed the following dishes:

Dinner
Grilled Angus Hangar Steak with Creamed Spinach, Leeks, and Pops Steak Sauce ($20)

I thought the steak was so good it could almost qualify Pops for a contender during Les Gourmands' STEAKHOUSE WEEK (coming soon!). During this trip to Pops, I sat outside on their front patio, which is a great place to enjoy a summer dinner.

Brunch
Breakfast Sandwich BLT with Fried Egg and Black Pepper Aioli on an Onion Roll ($8)
Cheeseburger with Onion Jam, Mushrooms, Bacon on Brioche with Fries ($12)

Both of these dishes have a lot of bread...but they are delicious! I was reminded of their fries last night--they are served in a large cone. The restaurant tends to be a little stubborn with their ketchup--which never makes me happy. Also, it is VERY IMPORTANT to note that coffee during brunch costs like $4! We learned the hard way.

The service at Pops is hit or miss. I have especially been disappointed during brunch--but to be fair, I usually am with a large entourage. We seem to continually get the same waiter who just doesn't care whether he neglects refills or ketchup requests. Last night, though, we had excellent service. Our waiter, Jason, was very attentive and recommended the meatloaf to Peter, much to Peter's delight. However, also last night, one of the other employees proceeded to conduct some sort of personal business transaction (possibly with a realtor). The realtor's cell phone rang LOUDLY twice and she took the call both times. Considering we were in a small sun porch, this was bizarre and rude--especially since her client worked at the restaurant. After they were done signing papers they moved to right in front of the kitchen and I happily watched as one of the waiters pushed the girls out of the way. Watching that was almost as satisfying as my raviolis. I doubt many people that work at Pops like this employee.

On their website, they call themselves "The diner of the 21st century." I'm not sure I would go that far, but Pops certainly provides both a brunch and dinner menu full of tasty comfort foods (perhaps a little overpriced). Request Jason and the back porch when you go in and don't miss out on the sweet pea ravioli!

Pops gets a B/B+

Pops Restaurant
560 Tremont Street
Boston (South End)
(617) 695-1250
popsrestaurant.net

Livermush

If the title of this article makes you want to turn around and run the other way, just calm down. Okay, okay, I know that "livermush" might not be the most appetizing of names, but believe me when I say that it is delicious.  I grew up on the stuff; and, living in Boston now, I miss it quite a lot.

Livermush--and that's pronounced "mush" [ mʌːʃ ] as in 'rush' not "mush" [ mɤːʃ ] as in 'push'--is a delicacy made in the region of North Carolina where I was born and raised. Made of pork liver--and other pork products--spices, and cornmeal, it is cooked together and molded into brick-shaped loaves.
(I just found this on YouTube, and I think this young lady explains it quite well--even though I don't think they really put the tail or the appendix in livermush!)

Basically, it's pâté; but since we Southerners fry everything, when it's served to you, it won't look like the schmanzy-pantsy pâté one might spread on a little piece of pain d'épice. Nosiree! What you'll get is a 3"x5"x0.5" piece of dark and crispy heaven--dark and crispy, that is, on the outside; smooth and delicate on the inside. Smack that sucker on a fresh biscuit, and you're good to go. (I also put mayonnaise, but others are partial to mustard--and apparently grape jelly?! ...cf. video below)

While my absolute favorite is a spicy livermush homemade in Harmony, NC, the city of Shelby, NC probably has the most commercial livermush producers in the state (I don't have the figures in front of me, but I'm pretty sure that's the case), and the Livermush Festival is held there every year. Marion, NC also produces a brand I quite like; but, Neese's out of Greensboro makes the crème de la crème in my opinion. Delivered fresh in their fun little green trucks, the most popular livermush is actually called "Liver Pudding." (I don't know whether you think that name is any better...) Neese's Liver Pudding is somewhat smoother than your standard livermush--I think due to a smaller amount of cornmeal.

Whether you eat yours with mayonnaise, mustard--or grape jelly (?!), the next time you're in North Carolina, stop by your local greasy spoon and order the livermush. You'll be glad you did--even if it was  just for the adventure of it!

Photos courtesy of Google Images.

Crazy Waiters, but a good atmosphere

Listen up my friends!
Fancy restaurants aside, no denizen of the South End can go without a local chain restauarant every now and then. It's good for the checkbook, and sometimes you just want comfort food. That being said, what's more comforting than cheesecake? And to celebrate their 30 yr anniversary, their having a sale on Cheesecake. How fabulous is that?

The Cheesecake Factory Serves Up a Delicious 30th Anniversary Celebration!; Celebrating “30 Delicious Years,” The Cheesecake Factory is serving up several sweet initiatives throughout 2008.

To kick-off the anniversary celebration and in commemoration of National Cheesecake Day on July 30th, 2008, The Cheesecake Factory restaurants will offer every delicious slice of its more than 30 varieties of cheesecake with a dollop of nostalgia by featuring all cheesecakes at $1.50 per slice, limit one per guest, dine in only, on that day—as they were when the restaurant first opened in 1978.

In addition, a special, limited edition cheesecake, the 30th Anniversary Chocolate Cake Cheesecake, will be introduced on July 30th with $0.25 from the sale of each slice sold this year benefiting the national hunger-relief organization, America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. Additional activities will be announced throughout the year.