Bella Note Thursdays @ Aragosta

Presenting Bella Note Thursdays at Aragosta Bar + Bistro; where from 5:30 - 10 pm ladies can enjoy a drink and an appetizer paring for $20.
The Fairmont Battery Wharf 's signature restaurant kindly put together a preview of the event for Lin, Meghan, Elina, Bridget, Megan and myself. At the chef's counter where the glistening tigers eye bar overlooks the action happening in the kitchen, the six of us where treated to a sampling of the Bella Notte menu. Guests chose from five signature cocktails or a subset of red and white wines and from eight of chef David Daniels's favorite appetizers. We watched and photographed as him and his sous chefs prepared everything in front of us using fresh ingredients and refined techniques, it was quite a treat! The Yellow Pepper Limoncello Sour is a particularly creative cocktail from which to choose. Limoncello liquer is shaken with vodka, freshly squeezed lemon juice, agave nectar and garnished with a fresh chive.The chef started us off with some crusty bread and olives in olive oil before a splendid showcase of the apps! The Truffle Rigatoni (half portion shown) is a unanimous crowd pleaser. Comforting and elegant, warm goat cheese foudue is laced with fragrant truffle among extra wide tubes of rigatoni that benefit from a few minutes under the broiler. The creamy white pasta is plated and served with a stroke of tomato, the sweet red sauce adding a dash of contrast. The Margherita Flatbread was exceptionally thin and crispy, fully loaded with red, yellow and cherry tomatoes, torn burrata, parmesan and fresh basil. The juicy tomatoes pop with sweet flavors while the soft burrata cheese melts into whole basil leaves and warm tomato sauce. Don't overlook this simple ingredient flatbread as you debate over the bella note menu, it proves a substantial and delicious contender.I've had the Lobster and Truffle Crostini in the past, it was one of the appetizers I highly recommended! I really enjoyed the sweet crustacean meat teamed with white bean puree the first time around, but in this instance I found it lacking. Certainly the lobster was piled high but there was noticeably much less bean puree. Others commented that their batch was over salted. In choosing your appetizers wisely - note that this one can be hit or miss. At this point I've transitioned to a glass of Zonin Proseco. While the kitchen before us was dishing out appetizers, our waiter took care to offer drink refills promptly. The first glass of prosecco certainly wasn't the last! The Hand Crafted Selection of Salumi, Caponata and Hot Cherry Peppers tasted every bit as good as I remembered. If you're in the mood for some house cured meats, this board is a fine offering.The Baked Veal and Pancetta Meatballs were something special. Served in a mini cast iron skillet with soft polenta and fresh mozzarella, four meatballs offered plenty of comforting, hearty bites. The Warm Black Mission Figs cater to the sweet tooth, this dish was easily our "dessert"! The ripe candy sweet fruits benefit from a sandwiching of tangy, savory gorgonzola dolce on the bottom, while whisps of crispy, salty prosciutto are layered on top.On their own, cocktails begin at $11 and the appetizers showcased range in price from $12 to $18. So this deal (exclusive of tax and tip) priced at $20 will technically save you anywhere from $3 - $9 depending on what you order. Plates are ideal for sharing, so take advantage of Bella Notte with a group of girlfriends and each order something different. The relaxed scene on the North End waterfront inside a cozy bar and bistro is a perfect way to spend (or kick off) a Thursday night out!

Fig Infused Vodka Martini

I decided on a whim to make a small batch of infused vodka using some dried black mission figs I had on hand. I simply placed four of the figs into a wide-mouth mason jar, poured vodka over them, covered the jar and let it steep for about two weeks at room temperature. I shook the infusion about once per day. I also took care to store it away from direct sunlight.

On Saturday night, my first attempt at a homemade infusion was ready to take center stage in none other than.....a martini!! The drink making process was quite an experiment, but the final measurements below depict an equal balance of sweet to sour to bitter.

Fig Infused Vodka Martini

2 1/2 shots fig infused vodka - (about 2 ounces)
1 squeeze of fresh lemon juice - (about 1/4 lemon)

1 dash Angostura bitters- (about 1 teaspoon)

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice. Strain into martini glass and garnish with half a fig slice.

The about measurements are depicted in parenthesis because I wasn't technically measuring the ingredients. Originally I juiced half a lemon into the shaker and whoa, it completely overpowered the martini. I have been known to underestimate the strength of a lemon, but I also love a citrus counterpart. I easily tempered this by topping the drink off with more of the vodka, which is delightfully figgy and sweet, but not intoxicatingly so.As far as the bitters are concerned, I purchased my first bottle for the occasion. Angostura is the most basic of cocktail bitters and a tiny bottle will only cost you about $8. Despite the fact that this was my first time crafting a cocktail with it, I knew a little dash would go a long way. The fig infused vodka lends a depth and potency while the lemon some brightness and the bitters serve to balance these equally sweet and sour parts. If you follow me on Instagram, (daisy21) you saw what my Saturday night consisted of firsthand! I was perfectly content to stay in and sip this while watching Sweet Home Alabama on TV. Have you ever infused vodka or another type of liquor? What did you make with it?

Swanson Organic Foods Review

Awhile back I was contacted by Swanson Health Products asking if I would be interested in reviewing $25 worth of their online products of my choosing in exchange for an honest review. The company sells discount vitamins and supplements, organic foods, natural skincare products, homeopathic remedies and more. Since I review food products on this blog - (although infrequently, it's still something I've enjoyed doing) I decided to accept the e-gift certificate and I was off shopping away in the Healthy Foods section of the website in no time. I spent my $25 on three different products and was extremely pleased by the promptness in which they were delivered and the quality of the food.

Organically Grown Black Mission Figs ($5.39) are 100% certified organic and offer a good source of fiber, calcium and iron. This product was my attempt at trying something different as I pretty much never think to purchase figs My lack of fig consumption doesn't bode well for comparison sake, but even still, I thought the dried black mission figs were quite tasty. They are dense, chewy and sugary sweet, proving themselves as a healthy alternative to satisfy a sweet tooth craving. Sold in a 10 oz resealable package, I've been munching on them two or three at a time and sealing them back up. I foresee a lengthy shelf life as there is an abundant amount in the package. I am a regular coffee drinker so sampling a product I have a great deal of experience with drinking seemed like a smart bet. I chose the French Roast Fine Ground Organic Coffee - Dark ($11.99) sold in a 16 oz package. Swanson prides themselves on selling high quality organic coffee at the lowest possible price. 100% Arabica beans are freshly roasted and fine ground using precise methods and then quickly packed in fresh locked bags. The result is a remarkably rich, robust, eye opening cup of java.Organically Grown Natural Almonds ($6.89) come in an 8 oz resealable package perfect for grab-n-go snacking. Whats not to love about an almond? These are plump in shape and fresh in quality, with a terrific taste. They're pretty much as good as it gets! While my online food shopping is typically limited to Peapod, it was a fun opportunity to sample some of Swanson's products.

Do you shop online for food?

A North End Favorite | Rabia's

Specializing in Italian & Mediterranean cuisine, Rabia's is a North End gem located at 73 Salem Street. The atmosphere exudes allure and enchantment, where large open windows draw you in with grape vines covering the ceiling and low hanging branches beckoning like something out of a storybook or perhaps an exotic wine cellar.

When my Mom visited one weekend back in November, we spent a rainy afternoon at the Institute of Contemporary Art and then walked back to the North End, where Rabia's was a warm welcome in from the cold damp city streets.

We did not have a reservation, but we were dining early enough where one was not essential. On any given night, the tiny space fills up, so I would recommend one if you are dining at peak hours. Rabia's features original seafood plates ranging in price from $21-$28. Their pasta creations made fresh daily look solid at $18 a plate. They offer from a plethora of classic Italian appetizers addition to numerous daily specials and a raw bar. We decided on a bottle of red wine to start, a Mark West Pinot Noir which was recommended by our helpful waitress. We shared a salad off the specials menu, a creation which boasted a warm spinach base piled with beets, roasted red peppers, portabello mushrooms, prosciutto and a heaping portion of goat cheese with a balsamic dressing. The flavors and textures melded to create blissful bites. The crisp fresh spinach enveloped that creamy goat cheese, while the sweetness lent from the beets contrasted nicely with the saltiness of the prosciutto. 
For the main courses, Mom and I were deliberating between a few Pesce dishes, but the pasta was not up for debate. Enter the Butternut Squash & Pumpkin Ravioli ($18) featuring a creamy gorgonzola sauce drizzled in a balsamic reduction glaze.
This dish was savory with hints of sweetness and most importantly lots of comforting fall flavors. The handmade hexagon shaped ravioli was cooked perfectly and added a tasteful element to the presentation.That would be my "I spent the day at a museum" attire. No frills, no makeup. I felt a bit under dressed! For the second dish we decided on the Risotto alla Pescatore ($24) where shrimps, scallops, clams, calamari, and mussels are sauteed with shallots in a garlic white wine sauce and served over creamy risotto.Here is my Mom looking cute as ever!Cheers! Please note it is still very early in the evening, the place was packed full about five minutes after this photo was taken. In the two instances I have dined here, I was lead each time through the aforementioned enchanting vine canopied room, and actually seated at the same exact table! The second room boasts russet orange colored walls with tree like structures growing from the floor. Interesting artifacts, such as an antler light fixture which hangs from the ceiling, looks more like it belongs in a ski lodge. The two separate dining spaces don't seem to mesh accordingly. (Edited to note - this dining room has since been re-decorated!)

The second outing to Rabia's came to be on one of the many girls weekends. I actually did not allow any bias on my part, I simply sent out an email of restaurant website menu links and let the girls choose. The menu here speaks for itself. Another similarity I hadn't realized (until now) is the gals who chose the wine, ordered the same bottle Mom and I ended up drinking. This Mark West is a popular guy. Nothing beets a full bodied Pinot Noir to wash down some fine Italian cuisine.

Cheers, once again. Girls nights are the best!

My entree this time was chosen off the specials menu and consisted of Chicken Medallions and Potato Ravioli in a Gorgonzola cream sauce with roasted butternut squash and figs

They have clearly got me hooked on that gorgonzola cream sauce. The piping hot butternut squash and figs added fantastic color and sweet flavors to the dish, which left me full and satisfied. Another entree which graced the tables presence, though I'm not sure exactly what it was, looks to be a visually stimulating seafood dish. I heard no complaints so I'm sure it tasted just as well.

The group of us received a creamy pesto gnocchi dish on the house, delivered because someone in the kitchen thought we didn't have enough pasta on the table. It was delicious, many thanks to the chef! I never did leave room for the dessert course. The first time around Mom and I decided we'd get pastries on the walk home, and the girls and I had a long night of dancing ahead of us. Third times a charm? Maybe then I'll even be seated in the unpictured room which drew me to Rabia's in the first place.

Same spot, larger table

The warm, friendly and accommodating waitstaff never linger too long but were always close by, keeping the wine glasses full and the bread and fresh grated Parmesan cheese in abundance. I often reccomend Rabia's for consistently good food and service. With an inventive pesce menu, a raw bar and pastas handmade fresh daily; the food is comforting and the dishes are well executed. The intimate setting, though a few odd artifacts here and there, would be ideal for a date. And as you've seen pictured, just as ideal to catch up with anyone, including but not limited to Mom and the ladies.