Sofra we meet again & Summer Reading

I first visited the traditional Mediterranean bakery and cafe located in West Cambridge just a short distance from Harvard Square for lunch last summer. I raved about Sofra's Turkish and Lebanese inspired Sharbat drinks, Meze bar offerings and food in general. What I didn't rave about was the dessert because I was too "full" to sample some. What a shame that was. This time around, when my sister and I stopped in to grab some meze spreads to take home on Friday evening, I made sure not to omit the sweet course. But first, the appetizer spreads, which we paired with sesame crackers and a fresh loaf of bread. The Muhammarra is a fantastic combination of red pepper, walnut and molasses. The bright pink spread would be a heavenly Beat Tztatzki. Both alone are worth a visit to Sofra. They cost $4.25 each.For dessert, a crispy, flaky, buttery baklava. But not just any baklava, one loaded with rich dark chocolate and crunchy toasted hazelnuts. I was on the train ride home from my sisters apartment and couldn't resist digging in.I highly recommend the Chocolate Hazelnut Baklava if you ever find yourself faced with the tough choice of which confection to order at Sofra's bakery counter. And I'll say it again same as I did in my last review: I wish this place was located down the street from me, even in all my Italian pastry shop and cannoli filled glory!

On a completely unrelated note, the other day while running errands Downtown, I popped into Borders remembering I had a gift certificate! Given to me as a birthday present back in February, I happily put it towards the purchase of summer reading.The only questions remains - which one to read first?The book that is all the buzz because it was recently made in to a major motion picture starting Reese Witherspoon and Edward Pattinson? Water for Elephants is a movie I really want to see, but I think I'd rather read the book first. Or the book everyone already read last summer or the summer before that? I figure I might as well see what all the fuss over The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is about. Or the one that caught my eye at the last second, a memoir by Piper Kerman who spent a year in prison after she was busted delivering a suitcase full of drug money? Orange Is the New Black should prove an eye opening read.
Have you read any of these books? Which one should I read first?

Orangette & A Homemade Life

Orangette is a food blog that was on the scene long before I knew how to cook and years before I discovered that I had any sort of true passion for food. Molly Wizenberg created this blog six years ago. Yes, the year was 2004 and I was a Sophomore in college. I drank Keystone 30 racks, Bacardi Limon by the handle, and the only thing I knew how to cook was Ramen Noodles and Kraft Easy Mac. (You can't even call that cooking, I realize this.) I found out through one of Molly's latest posts titled "Ours Now" that her book which came out last year was just released in paperback. After having read only a few blog posts and her FAQs, I determined she was a pretty incredible writer and so I decided to purchase: A Homemade Life - Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table. A New York Times Bestseller and quoted on the cover as "A mouthwatering memoir", I had a feeling I was in for a good read.

I also learned from the Ours Now post, Molly would be appearing for a book talk and signing at one of my favorite local bookstores, The Brookline Booksmith.
I used to shop here often when I lived in Brookline. A Monday night at 7pm was do-able so I decided I was going make the trek out to my old neighborhood to hear what Ms. Wizenberg had to say.

P.S. How cute is this bookstore?
In addition to books they sell handmade jewelry, gifts and other quirky household decor items.

They hold the book talks and signings in the used book cellar. I've been taking my time reading the book, really enjoying letting it all sink in slowly. A Homemade Life is developed so that each chapter is more like a short essay independent of one another, yet they do have a flow to them. It's a coming of age journey detailing Molly's intimate relationships with family and food, maybe not in exact chronological order, but more or less so. I never thought I could enjoy reading recipes as much as I am. Literally, I'll read every ingredient on the list, while attempting not to drool on the pages. I didn't grow up reading cook books for fun, this is new to me. I didn't used to think that cooking or trying out recipes was fun, at all. But a young girl named Molly in Oklahoma City did. You quickly learn that sitting down to meals are very poignant memories for Molly. Watching the reactions of those who eat what she's created, is just as important as the cooking itself. That is what "ties it all together" and brings Molly a huge sense of satisfaction. I loved listening to her talk about the moments when she realized that her families obsession with food was just that - her families obsession. This is not what every kids life is like?! What do you mean your family doesn't cook breakfast, lunch and dinner from scratch?!

For me, it is easy to relate to the realizations Molly speaks of. I grew up with a Mother who was a talented cook, baker, grill-master, hostess, all of the above. My parents threw dinner parties, and BBQs, and drank lots of good beer and wine. Heck, they were even certified scuba divers and literally brought lobsters caught that afternoon from the Cape Cod Bay or Nantucket Sound floor to our dinner table that evening. Same thing went for fishing - fresh caught stripped bass for dinner? Yes please. As year-round Cape Coders our summer weeks were booked out from the Fourth of July thru Labor Day with cousins, Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents visiting from all over the map. Hosting and cooking is definitely in my parents blood and Cape Cod was the place everyone wanted to be. I didn't realize it until this post started flowing, that Molly recounting her childhood through food, has inspired me to want to do the same. I could totally (maybe) write a memoir about the giant Igloo coolers my parents packed for the Crows Pasture four-wheel drive beach excursions or perhaps for Wellfleet Beachcomber days where we adorned wetsuits and boogie boarded for hours. Or the kids gathered after sunset 'round the bonfire-in-the-sand roasting marshmellows and making a mess of ourselves eating smores. The lazy days spent boating on Bass River, the Old Camp weekends with trips to the penny candy store and eating breakfast in the graveyard....oh.my.gosh. Molly, seriously, look what you started. Who wants to know more about Old Camp? What - you and your family didn't have a summer tradition of eating breakfast in a graveyard? I digress (for now.) Back to the book talk already. Did I mention I lucked out with a front row seat? 

Molly was engaging and very well-spoken, with her wavy strawberry blonde hair pulled back in a pony tail and her pale skin flushing pink at times.
After she finished speaking, she read Chapter One titled A Place To Start. She had a calm intensity about her. You can tell she is humbled by all this fame, and is genuinely pleased to meet her fans and followers. She has no qualms that we all know so much about her life through the blog. And there is so much to know about her - her father died from Cancer too young, she writes a monthly column for Bon Appetit Magazine, her and her husband opened a restaurant in Seattle 7 months ago, her and a good friend recently started a podcast to name a few poignant points. She is a girl with a past known to us all, and a woman of many talents. She responds thoughtfully to all questions. "That is such a good question" she would state a few times while clearly pondering her answer.
Her passion and enthusiasm in person and in her writing are both really really powerful. I was so happy to have been able to meet her, and of course, have her sign my book.
I highly recommend you purchase yourself a copy of A Homemade Life. You could borrow mine but I'd make you give it back. And then you wouldn't have all the recipes on hand.

The Friendly Toast: Love Runs Deep

I attended college at the University of New Hampshire, located in the small town of Durham in the Seacoast Region. Breakfasts back in those days were typically spent at one of the many dining halls on campus, and on special occasions the 15 minute drive due east to Portsmouth to eat at the infamous Friendly Toast. Many post-grad girls weekend mornings to follow, longing for the college days, but loving that we could foot the bill no problem-o. Warning: the following pictures taken during the midst of a hangover while consuming creamers full of Baileys and coffee. Presenting the Portsmouth Toast. My love runs deep.

Need I say more? The FT rocks.

That would be a mimosa in a pint glass. They aren't the type for champagne flutes.
That is just a small taste of the wacky decorum that fills the walls and pretty much every nook and cranny of the joint. When word got out that the owners were expanding to a new location in my neck of the woods it was almost too good to be true. The Cambridge Toast in Kendall Square opened its doors in late May of 2009. It has only taken me 10 months to get my butt over there. From the girl who claims she doesn't venture over to Cambridge, I've been to Central, Harvard and Kendall Squares respectively within the last month. I'm eating my words and setting new personal records. On the way there we stopped at Borders Downtown and I got us Lattes from Seattle's Best. I planned this in my head at the time, I could have my coffee fix on the way over and be ready to booze at brunch.
A vanilla latte for Adam and I decided to try the advertised white orange bliss. It was sweet and delicious with strong hints of orange.
I also bought a book. Such an impulse buy. I watch the Hills so why not? It was only $6.99 with my Boarders rewards card.
We made it to Kendall Square and found the Friendly Toast thanks to a large sign on a building pointing us in the right direction. The wait, not to my surprise, was 45 minutes. It ended up taking an hour but whose counting. I headed to the bar and scanned the drink menu. BAR you say? The Portsmouth location was not fortunate enough to be blessed with a bar.
Smart thinking on the owners part this time around. I finagled my way in to snap some pictures while I waited for the bartenders attention. The girl was slammed. Every bar stool was filled and for every full seat there was someone waiting behind to claim it next. This is quite possibly the coolest decoupaged bar I have ever seen. I could stare at it all day. The product labels are a parody on the real thing. Check them out.

Crest = Crust
Band Aid = Band Ache
Heintz = Hurtz
Tootsy Roll Pop = Tipsy Roll Pop
Peter Pan = Peter Pain
Fluff = Flunk
I could go on. You get the idea.

Then I noticed Mahjong Solitaire tiles lining the outside edge. How funky! Plus, I love that game! I kept it simple an ordered a Bloody Mary ($7). This one had a good kick, spicy but not too much so. I made my way over to the funky retro lounge and passed the time snapping pictures to my hearts content. I'm really diggin' the Astro-turf and matching bright green walls

Oh look a rotating Schlitz globe!

An Ex-Lax thermometer. So random and yet so cool.

My drink again, why not.

Scored a seat...

Next to a giant grenade

The lower edge of the walls are lined with a collage of back-in-the-day advertisements. Too cool.

The mob scene.

Have I taken enough pictures yet? Don't worry, there are many kitschy artifacts left un-photographed to discover should you decide to visit. Soon enough, a welcoming Kelley green diner with 1950's dinette sets including twinkling vinyl chairs ushered us in.
Our waitress approached the table right away. The standard "you must have an area of your body covered in tattoos in order to work here" quota was met. She was bubbly as can be. For some reason today, I had a lot of questions on the menu. She was very knowledgeable and answered them all with a refreshing honesty. I needed an opinion on the mojito frappe and what kind of booze should I add in it if ordered. She told me it was a weird drink overall and probably not my best bet.
We decided on our food orders relatively quick. Then I scanned the cocktails menu and realized (thanks Adam) all drinks are creatively named after Alfred Hitchcock movies.
I decided on the Vertigo. The food came before my drink. In this case I really didn't mind. a) I knew how ridiculously busy the bartender was and b) The waitress was so sweet about keeping me updated on the drinks whereabouts, I knew she never actually "forgot" it and it was somewhat out of her control. She had delivered waters right off the bat, so I was happy to have that to sip with my meal. PS is our sugar packet container a poodle or a lamb?!

Adam had a coffee, black.

F-O-O-D. Finally.

Sunrise Scramble ($10) for Adam

Huervos Rancheros ($10) pour moi.

Runny poached egg goodness sat atop two slices of their homemade anadama bread and what was the most avocado I have ever seen on a breakfast dish in my life. This was all topped with a thick layer of melted cheddar cheese and fresh chunky salsa. A pile of crispy home fries came on the side.
I devoured the first egg, stopped for a breather, and took my time attempting to finish the second.
This dish was unbelievably satisfying. Well worth the wait. Oh and speaking of worth the wait, my Vertigo arrived!!

Goslings Rum. chocolate ice cream. Grand Marnier. pomegranate molasses.

The waitress apologized once again on behalf of the bartender saying they felt really bad. To my complete surprise, she comped the drink. (Does she know I'm taking notes on her every move?) I mean, I've had waiters and waitresses forget drinks a time or two and not gotten them for free. Friendly Toast, you have made my afternoon.
Well make that Adam's afternoon. Our entire bill came to $23 pre-tip.
I can't even describe to you how good this was. If you go here, GET THIS. Cold, frothy and chocolaty, the ice cream blended with the sweet orange liqueur and pomegranate flavors to create a combo unlike any I've ever experienced. And do I ever adore Goslings Rum. I savored this while Adam paid the bill upfront.
I took a few more pictures as we departed. I mean come on, The Hamburglers distant relative could not go un-photographed.
Neither could the disturbing potted heads in the vestibule.
It was another dark cold rainy day in the city. If it was nicer out we would have walked off the food comas and enjoyed the outdoors.
Instead it was straight back to the Kendall Square T stop and home to digest our meals on the couch.