Lunch at Russell House Tavern

Believe it or not, I haven't been blogging as much! It might still seems as though I am, but I've been posting 2 to 3 times a week lately as opposed to a whopping 4 to 5. I've skipped out on a lot of potential restaurant reviews; at home I haven't felt much like writing (more like decorating our tree and wrapping Christmas presents!) and when I'm out I haven't always been lugging my camera with me. Oh well. That's what the iPhone camera (and Instagram app) comes in handy for. Anyways, today I'm back with a fun restaurant post!

A solid option for lunching in Cambridge is at Russell House Tavern, this Harvard Square gastropub operated by The Grafton Group (Temple Bar, Grafton Street, Redline) opened a over a year ago with much fanfare, and I still had yet to make my way in. Along with my Mom and sister, we were famished and in serious need of some quality grub to appease our holiday shopping induced appetites. My sister had previously been in for dinner and drinks, and was happy to return to check out the lunch menu. I was excited to finally pay them a visit in general.

We wandered in, shopping bags in tow, down a wide alley/brick patio space off of bustling JFK Street. Crossed electrical wires with exposed light bulbs dangling overhead added a touch of ambiance before we even set foot inside. A hostess greeted us right away at the upstairs entrance (where a smaller bar area resides) and we made our way down a wide black staircase done up in evergreen boughs and white lights to the sprawling, polished basement space. Here, another hostess warmly welcomed and ushered us to a table just as quickly, offering to take our coats along the way. Our amicable waiter met us with waters once we settled in, and impressed us with his knowledge of the menu and swift service for the duration.

I started with a Bloody Mary, this classic brunch standby over a formidable sounding craft cocktail was chosen more out of necessity! (Holiday Stroll + Delux + Beehive = hungover.) Our waiter mentioned that the bartender used to run the cocktail program at Drink - so I didn't doubt his prowess in the mixology department. I decided to forgo the classic BM for the Maria Basilico ($10) (the MB!) made with Basil Infused Sobieski Vodka, Meletti Amaro, RHT Bloody Mix and a cucumber garnish. If you were looking for the typically bold and spicy, this one is not for you. The Meletti Amaro, which is a dry tawny liqueur combining anise and saffron added sweet and herbaceous notes which tempered the typically spicy mix. I appreciated this variation on a classic, it's definitely fun when bartenders try new things and take some risks. We started by slurping two oysters each from the raw bar, it was East coast all the way with local briny Island Creeks ($2.50) for my Mom and sister, while I opted for one of those and one of the West coast varietal, a plump, ultra clean flavored Kushi ($2.50). The oysters came with a duo of equally appeasing sweet pickle mignonette and Old Bay cocktail sauce.

My sister and I both chose from the array of sandwiches, accompanying them are your choice of fries, greens, or half portions of each. Pleasantly surprised by this option, once we got our plates we noted the halved french fry and salad portions could have easily been a full serving! The greens were fresh and lightly dressed, the brown crispy fries nicely seasoned and served with ketchup and a really tasty garlic infused mayo.
Leah enjoyed her Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($11) with melted talleggio, pickled red onions, local tomatoes and arugula while I chose the Hickory Smoked Pork Loin Sandwich ($11) with melted sharp cheddar, crispy onions, sweet apples and a ginger maple aioli. This sandwich was flawless in every way, exploding with comforting flavors and piled high with well executed ingredients, which still managed to stay nicely contained by the soft bread. The thinly sliced pork, tender and juicy took to the crispy onions like bread to butter while the red apples added contrast, imparting the perfect touch of sweetness. The ginger maple aioli was inventive and delicious, and the melted sharp cheddar played its part to seal the deal.

The Dirty Caesar ($8) with Chicken ($5) ordered by my Mom proved a well rounded salad. Spicy anchovy croutons were a major highlight laced within a nicely dressed bed of crisp lettuce and grilled chicken strips.

Executive Chef Michael Scelfo's locally sourced and seasonally focused American fare is crowd pleasingly classic with a contemporary edge. The reputation that precedes this trendy tavern is well justified, with a warm welcoming staff and a clean, comfortable space; for lunch this afternoon I was nothing short of impressed.

Al Fresco Dining at Rialto

In 1992 Esquire Magazine named Jody Adams one of America’s best young chefs to keep your eye on. Four years later Bon Apetit named Rialto one of the top 25 hotel restaurants in the country. In 1997 she won a James Beard Award. Clearly, people took Esquire's advice because that list goes on. And on. And present day, over fifteen years later, this amicable chef is still delighting restaurant goers and Charles Hotel visitors with her simple yet sophisticated approach to Italian cuisine. Inside, Rialto's peaceful dining room with sweeping gauze curtains and soothing color tones overlooks Harvard Square. It was here where I first experienced not only Jody's cooking by way of a three course lunch; but her warmth and generosity as a person and prowess as a chef through a demonstrative cooking class. This time around, I was joined by my friends Amy, Emily, Megan and Bianca for dinner on the terrace. Equally as relaxing, and relatively new to the scene (opened last spring) is the shaded outdoor space defined by an orange awning, those same wispy curtains and strands of small white light bulbs. We started off with cocktails, I ordered an Equinox ($11) Hayman’s Old Tom gin, Aperol, grapefruit & lemon bitters.Aperol is my latest go-to, this Italian Apertif delights with its presence in various cocktails both in taste and in presentation (that bright orange color, swoon!) In addition, we were greeted with a glass of bubbly poured by Rialto's Wine Director, Allie Foote. To eat this evening we shared a little bit of everything. The appetizers began with Lourdes’ Burrata ($15) served with pickled greens, sliced fava beans and spiced anchovy. I love the understated whimsy to the presentation, the colorful elements forming a little circus ring around the burrata.A salad appropriately named Simple Lettuce ($12) consisted of frisee and pickled melons coated lightly in a lemon chardonnay vinaigrette. I do think $12 seemed overpriced for a small salad, but I did enjoy this as a light starter.

Once our waitress described the Cod Cheeks special, we quickly added that onto our order. Delicate batter encased morsels of fresh cod served with a creamy elevated tartar sauce, radishes and ramps, this was one of my favorites!

The Prosciutto di Parma ($16) was excellent, beholding a soft stinky blue cheese, arugula, thinly shaved beets and walnuts.Off the bar menu we couldn't pass up some Crispy Fried Calamari ($7) with your standard pepperoncini, lemon and olive oil.

I am so glad Bianca convinced us to order the Roasted Duck Sandwich ($12) loaded with Gruyère, gingered figs and hand cut fries. The fries are more like chips, but they are truly sensational, as is the sandwich. On the other hand, $12 was a pretty reasonable price for this sandwich, proving the bar menu extremely worth while if you're dining on a budget!

The chef sent out three complimentary side dishes. The first was Local Barley ($8) which I didn't care for - I guess I'm just not a huge barley fan?

However, I loved the Pan Seared Mushrooms ($8) flavored with herbs, shallots, white balsamic and served in the cutest mini cast iron cauldron.

I was also a fan of the Spring Vegetables ($8) which were cooked until tender in shallots and parsley.

Rialto's pasta dishes are remarkable. They are offered in half portions, ideal for those of us who like to sample and share. The Lobster Bucatini ($16/$30) is made with green and red tomatoes and seasoned with chilis and saffron.

The Orecchiette ($15/$28) has greens, garlic scapes and housemade sausage. The pastas embrace a delicate elegance and both prove incredibly satisfying.

You will want to linger over dessert at Rialto, where pairing fresh seasonal fruits with expertly constructed pastries and a dusting of nuts are the main focus. The Rhubarb Rose Meringue ($12) with pistachio and strawberry-rhubarb sorbet was a flawless example.

Sfogliatelle ($12) was sent out with the chef's compliments. The raspberry mint sorbet and pine nut sauce was a refreshingly unique combination.

The Summer Fruit Crostata ($12) with brandied blackberries and a peach ice cream to finish off the trio was equally as exciting.

Rialto proved tonight why it continues to stand out among a crowd, whether you narrow it down to the Harvard Square scene, broaden the scope to include Cambridge and Boston dining alike, or look to the vast category of Hotel Restaurants and Bars nationwide. As with my lunch and cooking class last November, I will fondly remember this summer evening on the patio!

Long Weekend in the City

[Friday Night]

It was a warm evening on the cusp of a long celebratory weekend ahead. Adam and I ventured up to our buildings roof deck to kick things off. Minus my actual camera, thankfully the phone took better photos of the spread than it did the scenery. We snacked on Brie and smoked Gouda cheese and crackers, pancetta and a bowl of olives.And I sipped on the classic Italian beer, Peroni. After a few hours of basking in the late evening sun and since it is a common roof deck, hanging out with some neighbors, Adam and I headed to the bar at Antico Forno. A glass of the house red and one of their brick oven pizzas with house made ingredients always hits the spot. Indeed they make some of the best pizzas around, I know this is definitely not the first you've heard me rave about them. We enjoyed the La Capricciosa ($15.50) with homemade Italian sausage, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and fresh homemade mozzarella with a plum tomato sauce.

For dessert on the walk home, a stop at Gigi Gelateria! The first gelato of the season tastes like heaven. I'm always mixing and matching flavors, tonight I got Vanilla and Pistachio. [Saturday Night]

We met friends for dinner at Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar. It was my first time at this Fenway neighborhood tavern opened in October 2010 by the same owners of the beloved Franklin Cafe in the South End. Trendy, hip and casual, I was into the ambiance and definitely impressed with the caliber of food and drink. Enjoying the company of friends we had not seen in awhile, and considering the dark atmosphere, I kept the camera flashing to a minimum and took one photo and one photo only:

DUCK FAT FRIED GAME HEN | $19

w/truffle corn spoonbread, gravy

How could I not? I mean, seriously, fry anything in duck fat and I'm instantly a fan - i.e. the Brussel Sprouts at Craigie on Main, the French Fries at Aragosta, who knew the next temptation would be a game hen? The duck fat appeal is one that gives a rich, distinctive flavor to anything it touches. It elevates an otherwise average meal or ingredient to something phenomenal. Crispy skin encases the succulent and juicy meat of the hen, just as you might expect; but the duck fat adds a silkiness more varied than butter, a new depth of savory when compared to alternate seasoning methods. In short, it makes this dish one worth bragging about. The truffle corn spoonbread and gravy wasn't hurting its cause either. Considering this is an oyster bar, you better believe that one each of the daily bivalve offerings preceded my hen. There was a Summerside from PEI, Canada, a Ninigret Cup from Charlestown, RI, and a Penn Cove from Hood Cabal, WA. The oyster is certainly celebrated here as these were freshly shucked and tasted truly sensational. Their is no lack of love in the cocktail department, either. They've got Swizzles & Smashes, Highballs & "Down" Drinks, Shots & Combos, 75 types of Whiskey and more. I had a really tough time deciding but eventually it was the Granny Smith Gimlet ($11) from the "Up" Drinks menu that I happily sipped. Combining Reyka Icelandic Vodka with fresh green apple, ginger, fresh lime juice and demerara syrup, it was a blend true to granny smith in all her green apple glory. They also boast a worthy selection of draft beer and for my second drink I sipped the Pretty Things Seasonal - an East India Porter with amber roasted malts and bold hoppy flavors. Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar alone is worth a trip to the Fenway neighborhood. The spacious sidewalk of 1310 Boylston Street offers al fresco dining at its finest, indoors a circular bar is flanked by large comfy booths, banquettes and even a gas fireplace. If I lived nearby I would happily become a regular.

[Sunday Afternoon]

Clover Food Lab is pretty awesome. It you find yourself hungry in Harvard Square looking for an affordable, fast, healthy lunch option, look no further than the infamous Boston food truck turned permanent food lab located at 7 Holyoke Street.The menu is small, the food is all vegetarian and mostly organic, the space is clean and the staff is helpful and efficient. I ordered a Basil Limeade ($2) to drink. This just-made batch wasn't too sweet, nor too tart, it struck a nice balance and was especially thirst quenching on an 80 degree day.To eat I ordered their signature Chickpea Fritter ($5) which is basically falafel rounds that come loaded with pickled onions, carrots and cucumbers stuffed into a soft chewy whole wheat pita and drizzled in a tangy yogurt sauce. I ate the entire pita, and did the best I could on an order of the Rosemary French Fries ($3).For $3 you get a ginormous portion of just cut PEI potatoes hand tossed with rosemary and sea salt. These fries alone could make a meal. While not your ordinary fry, they actually embody a soft and very potato like quality - think less traditionally crispy, more baked potato-esque texture. At least, that is how my batch tasted and I throughly enjoyed it.

Don't worry, traditional Memorial Day grilling even though it can't happen where I live, went down in the suburbs (Adam's parents house.) Steaks, corn on the cob, potato salad, watermelon, the works!

I can't believe it's Thursday already! Hope your week is flying by and it is onto another beautiful weekend....

Garden at The Cellar...Finally!

I say finally with an exclamation point because for over a year now, I've had a gift certificate burning a hole in my wallet and I'm not quite sure how it sat around for so long. Given to me as a birthday gift from two of my dear friends back when the blog was just a baby (barely a month old!) and up-and-coming chef Will Gilson was just a name in an article that Lisa handed me along with the gift certificate. Since then, I've heard nothing but fantastic reviews of Garden at The Cellar and constant praise for Chef Will Gilson. Now hes up-and-come; there is no denying locals know this James Beard Award nominee chef by name. Whether for his dedication to cooking with local, sustainable food and family grown herbs, or his successful efforts to rebuild his mothers greenhouses, or his recent embrace for the Pop Up dinner trend, his name gets around. Joined by my sister this past Wednesday, we experienced firsthand his creative cuisine in the relaxed unassuming gastropub situated in between Cambridge's Central and Harvard Squares. They take limited reservations for parties over six, otherwise seats are on a first come first serve basis. The place was fairly busy around 7:30 but we managed to get seated right away at an open copper top cafe table in front of some overflowing succulents and potted herbs. I spy a recycled St. Germain Bottle behind the aloe plants.

We started with two slices of bread each and some herb infused butter. A nice touch with the herbs if you ask me!We got down to business with a Dark & Stormy ($7.50) each as we studied the menu. (Made with Gosling's Black Seal Rum & Ginger beer, oh yes.)The $7.50 price tag didn't have me wincing. Actually, all of their cocktails clock in at a reasonable $7 - $10. We chose two appetizers to share. The Seared Scallops ($12) presented three wonderfully cooked garlicky scallops reaping the benefits of thick brush strokes of earthy black trumpet puree. Contrasting bites of Meyer lemon in tiny gel form added small punches of bright zesty flavor. With a crisp sear that fades into golden, these scallops are something to marvel at up close. The entire plate was a work of art. Speaking of work of art, the Foie Gras & Doughnuts ($13) was a whimsically plated far fetched idea pairing two delicious ingredients together at random. It works. And amazingly well at that. Fluffy round balls of cinnamon sugar become a vessel for rich, buttery bites of seared foie gras. With cocoa nibs, orange and ginger creating fascinating flavor combinations and texture profiles, it was like a carnival for the taste buds. Quite the adventurous dish fully of whimsy and fun, I was really really impressed. I took a close up of "this" and I put "this" in quotes because I honestly have no idea what it is. It tasted like an adult version of a fruit rollup and looked like a dragon!

Leah ordered the Grass Fed Hanger Steak Frites ($26) without hesitation. The generous portion of hanger steak came perfectly cooked and well seasoned plated over a bed of parsnip puree and garlic spinach. But it was the thin cut rosemary truffle frites that we were both immediately drawn to. These are the epitome of a perfect fry; crispy and buttery seasoned with sophistication and restraint - just an accent of rosemary and truffle oil. Leah wasn't too keen on the texture of the steak, stating even though it was cooked to her liking, it was awkwardly chewy. Unaware at the time but now looking back at the menu, I'm thinking that might be attributed to the fact that this is grass fed beef. Better for the environment, the cows and us humans, it's usually a win-win-win situation, right? Perhaps the taste takes some getting used to, and perhaps it is just not for everyone. Despite her distaste for texture, she still enjoyed the dish, raving about the parsnip puree and spinach every bite of the way. I debated between the Buttermilk Poached Chicken ($23) and the Duo of Heritage Pork ($26). I asked my waitresses for a recommend hoping she'd be able to offer some insight and sway my decision one way or the other. She remained indifferent, and without exclamation or passion stated "they're both good." (Well obviously they're both good! Thanks!)I went with the pork. It was a good call. This is a dish I'd get excited about and tell you to order if I were waitressing here!! The meat was unbelievable, bursting with rustic flavor and the execution was top notch. The ramps are a springtime vegetable with a pungent oniony taste, they served to add some sharp contrast to the white heavy meal of pork and potatoes.

Plated over a violet mustard sauce, the thinly pounded cutlets were cooked scallopini style with garlic and black pepper. Two cutlets were one too many for me, but for a someone with a larger appetite you get a generous amount of food. The grilled belly was extremely tender with a rich glaze atop the crispy skin exterior.

The earthy fingerling potatoes were a simple yet exciting element of the dish. I don't know about you but I just love that satisfying moment of cutting into a perfectly roasted potato, the snap of the skin that you can actually hear - these potatoes had it going on.

There was definitely another round of Dark & Stormys ordered during the meal. These drinks go down way to easy. I guess that's why I love them so.No dessert menu here (bummer!) but they look to satisfy your sweet tooth with a plate of Taza Chocolates (redemption!) Showcasing local food in creative dishes without the luxurious atmosphere or price point, Garden at The Cellar remains affordable and relaxed. No matter what, I would not hesitate to order a side of those rosemary truffle fries and to remember that adventurous eating most definitely pays off at this modest neighborhood gastropub.