The Terrace @ Aragosta

I hope everyone had wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! Mine was pretty tame and thankfully felt as long as it was. There was some major relaxation happening (spa day! + reading in the park), just a hint of productivity (loads of laundry + a few errands) coupled with some amazing eats (Backyard BBQ, dinner at Citizen Public House) but best of all, here in New England we were finally able to welcome summer weather. I'll have a post up in a few days, but for now enjoy my recap of last weeks patio party....On Wednesday evening I visited one of Boston's newest waterfront dining destinations, Aragosta Bar & Bistro located in The Fairmont Battery Wharf. Aragosta replaces the former hotel restaurant Sensing, completely revitalizing the outdoor space with tables overlooking picturesque Boston Harbor and plush couches surrounding cozy firepits. Deep brown wicker patio furniture combined with rust colored umbrellas and fabrics set the scene as bloggers trickled into a private tasting of Chef David Daniels contemporary Italian cuisine and specialty Italian themed cocktails. Making a lasting first impression is an especially inventive cocktail, starting off sweet and finishing with a punch the Yellow Pepper Limoncello Sour pairs the classic Italian liquor with vodka, agave nectar, lemon juice and fresh chive. Also up for sampling was their well poured Moscow Mule starring Grey Goose Vodka with pureed ginger, freshly squeezed lime juice and club soda. More traditional is the Mule, great for those who can appreciate a strong bite from the fresh ginger. Platters of Hand Crafted Salumi, Caponata, Hot Cherry Peppers & Crusty Bread were waiting for us upon arrival. Along with some loaves of soft and chewy bread accompanied by olives in olive oil. I didn't hesitate to dig right in. Shortly after, the Tartufo Fries cooked in duck fat and truffle oil swept us off our feet. The Lobster & Truffle Crostini with a white bean puree is definitely an appetizer I would recommend, boasting thick chunks of succulent lobster accented by luxurious earthy truffle in every bite. The sweet velvety Lobster Bisque was inviting and comforting, even when sipped on a warm summer evening. Aragosta is Italian for lobster and living up to its namesake it certainly was. The Sautéed Calamari Salad served with baby arugula, San Marzano tomato, balsamic and an olive tapenade would be an excellent start to a summer meal, the variety of flavors in this dish highlighting the cool toothsome squid. The evening only went uphill from here. Our waitress was more than happy to take additional drink orders, so a few of us chose the intriguing Settana Cinque described on the menu as the Italian version of the “French 75”; a cocktail that “hits with remarkable precision”, it combines Aperol liquor shaken with freshly squeezed lemon juice and adds Prosecco for a burst of bubbly finish.Somehow I missed sampling the Braised Veal & Pancetta Meatballs with soft polenta and arugula, but they sure looked good. Once the appetizer bites were through, plate after plate of small entree portions were delivered. We ooed and aahed our way through the delectable homemade pasta courses and stuffed ourselves even more with a heartier New England seafood dish and a Pork entree after that. I couldn't believe how much food we tasted! Pappardelle Bolognese, Veal Cheek & Ox Tail Ragu, Porcini Powder. The thick coils of pappardelle pasta were exquisite, the flavorful ragu of shredded veal cheek and ox tail accompanied a melty hunk of brie cheese. This felt like a winter time entree to me, probably because I always crave a thick hearty Bolognese when it's cold out. That's not to discourage if you were in the mood, the components still hold up on a warm summer evening, easily. Orecchiette, Broccoli Rabe, Pancetta, Capers, Preserved Lemon. Now this is one that beckons summer on a patio to me, definitely the pasta entree I am craving the most and would order upon my return. Bursting with salty, lemony flavors, those little pockets of perfectly shaped orecchiette delicately cradled the pancetta and capers, the crisp broccoli rabe rounding out the dish. Gnocchi, Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder, Rosemary Citrus Jus, Asparagus. A thoughtful pairing is gnocchi with lamb and asparagus, as opposed to just plain old gnocchi, this dish steps it up. The dense cushions of potato pasta get coated in a thick creamy cheese sauce and a dusting of breadcrumbs, while the entire dish relishes the potent rosemary citrus jus. Lobster Ravioli, Wilted Pea Greens, Fennel Pollen, Cauliflower – Truffle. (Well, there was Cauliflower accompanying this ravioli at one point!) There's that heavenly lobster and truffle combination again. The lobster filling was good but I'd personally go for the Crostini appetizer or the bisque over this to get my lobster fix. However, the menu should only benefit from this dressed up Italian staple as it is a dish that has lasting mass appeal. Seared Tuna, Roasted Fennel, Marcona Almonds, Golden Raisin Puree. Each piece of sushi grade tuna came perfectly seared on the edges. When paired with bites of the candied marcona almonds, sweet golden raisin puree as well the contrasting bite of fennel, it worked well. For typical tuna lovers, this is definitely an interesting maybe even risky combination at face value. PT Farms Pork Chop, Fontina, Pancetta, Algre Dolce Peppers. A well cooked pork chop coated in glistening, melted fontina cheese? With more of that intensely firm and salty pancetta? I could eat a dish like this any night, truly satisfying and immensely flavorful. Somewhere in between all this I ordered a glass of Prosecco, happily sipping it in the comfy confines of the terrace couches with good company, as the sun went down and the cooler night air set in. The tasting wrapped up with a Marscapone Ice Cream and what I think was a golden raisin filled tart dusted with powdered sugar. The ice cream stole the show. Each dish with its own unique flair offered a beautiful presentation using fresh seasonal ingredients. I would also like to note that while this tasting was complimentary, the price points clock in with first courses between $10-15, pasta entrees start at $17 and seafood entrees average around $30.It's not often that the North End sees a new restaurant opening, much less a waterfront destination. Seems the new spots are always popping up in Cambridge, or Back Bay, the South End, or Liberty Wharf (everywhere but here, basically) so we deserve this one! I have a strong inclination to return to the Terrace already! Sipping cocktails and watching the sunset over the harbor never really gets old. Visit Aragosta just steps from The North End's Hanover Street at Three Battery Wharf. Special thanks to Suzanne Wentz, the Regional Director of PR at Fairmont for the generous invitation and for putting together such a fantastic event.

Lemon Pepper Tuna Burgers

I've seen a few different versions of tuna burgers on various food blogs lately.  When I was searching for inspiration for a healthy but flavorful lunch, I decided to try to create my own version and ended up making Lemon Pepper Tuna Burgers.

I only used three simple ingredients:

• 1 can of tuna
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup lemon pepper panko

I drained the water from the tuna and mixed the tuna, lemon pepper panko and egg in a bowl with a fork.

I warmed up a frying pan on the stove with a tablespoon of vegetable oil.  I shaped the tuna mixture into two patties and gently placed them on the pan. 

I cooked the tuna burgers on medium heat for about four minutes on each side until there was a nice golden-brown color to the burgers.  Although I did have some hamburger buns in the freezer, I decided to eat this tuna burger bunless with some leftover romaine salad. 

The tuna burger was incredibly moist.  The lemon pepper panko provided a lot of flavor, which is good because I didn't add any additional seasoning.  I topped the burger with Stonewall Kitchen Champagne Shallot Mustard and this lunch definitely hit the spot!

Tell me, what is your favorite type of burger to make at home?

Seven's - Beacon Hill

On Friday night Nick and I wanted to go out and watch the Bruins game, but were not interested in getting into the mess near the Garden.  Instead, we went to the Seven's Ale House, a very local Beacon Hill watering hole located right on Charles Street.  While I have been there to enjoy more than a few drinks from their fairly extensive beer menu (no hard stuff here) and played (or attempted to play) darts at the back of the long and narrow space, I have never actually eaten there.

I have attempted to watch games at the Sevens before, but it can be difficult to get a good space because the bar fills up quickly and the space does not lend itself to standing when its crowded.  Since the game started at 8:00 and it was one the first super nice days out, Nick and I headed over around 7:30 and had our pick of most of the tables in the bar.  We really were ready to settle in for the long haul and have a few drinks and a bite to eat. 

The menu offers a variety of sandwiches and wraps all at a great price point - nothing on the menu is over $10.  Considering this is Charles Street in Beacon Hill, that is pretty amazing!  Nick ordered the breaded chicken sandwich with a homemade honey mustard and Havarti on toasted wheat bread with a side of potato salad.

Seven's Chicken Sandwich

The Havarti and the honey mustard offered a lot of flavor and really kicked up the taste of what could have been a chicken and cheese sandwich.  The potato salad was good - really creamy with a bit of a sweet flavor. Nick liked it, but not being a mayo person, it was not for me.
I went fairly straight forward and got the hot pastrami sandwich with Cheddar cheese on sourdough bread with a side of chips.

Pastrami Sandwich

I love pastrami sandwiches and I love it even more when you can order just the pastrami and cheese. Rarely do you see them on menus - most of the time its a Ruben.  There was plenty of tasty meat on the sandwich and it hit the spot perfectly.  Both sandwiches made for a nice Friday night gearing up for the game.

There were plenty of people arriving over the next hour to watch the Bruins clinch the series!  The crowd was a combination of Beacon Hill locals and Beacon Hill prepsters - plenty of good people watching opportunities, that is for sure.  I may have to make a few more trips just in case it was our being at Seven's that allowed the Bruins to get the big W!

Crawfish. Boil.

Matt and I spent the long weekend in New Orleans. Crawfish were consumed.

The Grill At The Blue Room

If I must go to work (and believe me, my bank account tells me I must), I figure I need to have some things to look forward to, like lunch. While Kendall Square has been steadily filling up with more and more restaurants, one of my favorite lunch spots has always been the grill at The Blue Room. The grill is only open during the spring and summer, so once the weather gets nice, I constantly check The Blue Room's website for those magic words: "The grill is open!"

This year the grill opened at the beginning of May, and I convinced my coworkers (who am I kidding, I merely asked and they eagerly agreed) to come to lunch with me that very first week. I shouldn't give away all the tricks, but it's best to get there early to get a table and avoid the line, so we trekked over at 10 of 12.

I was thrilled to see the chalkboard out front listing the day's options (even though I had already checked them out on Twitter). It's there every day the grill is open, and the offerings range from salmon to chicken to pork to steak to something vegetarian. Each dish is usually $7 to $9 and includes two sides of your choice. An extra dollar gets you iced tea or lemonade (or if you mix them, an Arnold Palmer).

While I always enjoy any of the main offerings, one of my favorite things about going to The Blue Room at lunch is the sides. There's always rice, pasta salad, green beans, salad, black beans, and tomatoes and cucumbers to choose from.

Besides the food and the low price tag, the ambience also brings me to The Blue Room. I like sitting at the outdoor tables and soaking up as much sun as possible before heading back to the sealed window, over-air-conditioned office. For that brief hour, I am completely happy, filled with good food, good conversation with friends and coworkers, and plenty of vitamin D. It's sort of my little oasis.

Do you have a favorite summer lunch spot?