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WBUR + Legal Sea Foods = Dinner!

July 30, 2020November 22, 2015 by Lisa Johnson

Maybe a month or so ago, I was driving and listening to WBUR, a local NPR station. They were fundraising and giving out Legal Sea Foods gift cards for donations. A great idea for dinner!

I’m already a sustaining member, so I didn’t think I’d be eligible for anything. Then they said that even a tiny increase in the monthly amount would be enough to get a gift card. Since that fits my budget, I thought it was a nice excuse to do some good and go to Legal Sea Foods.

Last night, my mom and I went to dinner at their new Braintree location. It had been a while since we went out to dinner together, so it was real treat for us. The service was excellent and so was the food.

We both enjoyed our seafood dinners, but I was focused on dessert from the beginning after reading that they were featuring a cognac pumpkin cheesecake. It was delicious! The size was rather small, which was both good and bad. I wanted more, because it was so good. But I also didn’t feel as guilty eating it since the portion was quite reasonable.

My mom ordered the Boston Cream Pie and I had a taste. Okay, a few bites. I loved it too! Trying Boston Cream Pie at different locations, like Bostonia Public House and Parker’s Restaurant, is becoming a thing with me. I wonder what place prepares it the best? That will take some diligent research and remembering to order when it comes time for dessert when I’m out at dinner.

I like seeing the different variations of our official state dessert here in Massachusetts. Earlier today there was a nice segment on CBS Sunday Morning about Boston Cream Pie, which is actually a cake. I’ve never made it myself. Maybe that will be a thing at some point too.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

{You Pick Six} An Interview with Public Relations Consultant: Chris Lyons

July 30, 2020September 21, 2015 by Lisa Johnson 3 Comments

If you’ve enjoyed learning about the latest restaurants, recent grocery store openings, and generally all things food related in the New England area, Chris Lyons Communications might have been behind the news.

She is a public relations consultant and entrepreneur who knows how to get things done and spread the word. She gets us bloggers involved and sometimes feeds us too!

I always enjoy learning more about the local food scene from Chris, so let’s learn a little more about her for the fourth part of the interview series, You Pick Six.

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What is a favorite simple recipe to prepare at home?
Make your favorite meatloaf recipe, but instead of just pushing it into a pan, flatten in into an oblong (on wax paper) and layer on whatever vegetables and cheese you have in the fridge. Last week I used whole leaf spinach, sauteed leeks and burrata. Using the wax paper, roll the meat into a thick cylinder, seal the edges, and bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Slices prettily and is good cold too.

What is a favorite dessert?
Anything made with cooked milk: dulce de leche, caramel, butterscotch.

What is a favorite snack?
I always crave sugar, never salt, and prefer things that are chewy. I love fruit leather, gummies and gumdrops, salt water taffy, DOTS.

What are some of your pet peeves in the kitchen?
I hate peeling things — apples, potatoes, cukes, etc.

What is a favorite cookbook?
Anything written by Cathy Walthers, a private chef and multi-cookbook author based on Martha’s Vineyard. Her “Raising the Salad Bar” is a minor classic.

Tell me about where you grew up.
I was born in Brooklyn and grew up mostly on Long Island, so the foods I feel most connected to emotionally are deli meats (I still adore olive loaf), full dill pickles, seeded rye bread, bagels, diner breakfasts and halvah. I’m the most Jewish WASP you’ll ever meet.

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Thank you so much for participating Chris!

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Photos provided by Public Relations Consultant Chris Lyons.

Patty Chen’s Dumpling Room

July 30, 2020August 16, 2015 by Lisa Johnson 2 Comments

You never know when you’re going to find food blog inspiration. While I was driving yesterday, I noticed this smart car driving in front of me. It’s one of very few times that I hoped for a red light, so I could take a picture of the car. I was intrigued. Dumpling Room? Were dumplings being delivered? Where was this place? An investigation was needed.

As you may know, my curiosity often gets the best of me. So I looked up the website and found that Patty Chen’s Dumpling Room is in Central Square. You can order online and they deliver in the Cambridge area. But sadly not in Quincy. I called to confirm. The car belongs to a family member of the owner who lives here.

The Dumpling Room looks like a really cool place, that I would like to check out at some point. They cater and have a Dumpling School. But it’s not a school, it’s a party!

You can get together with friends, family, colleagues or any group and have fun learning to make dumplings! Looks like a good time!

Has anyone been there? Or tried their dumplings?

Girls Night Out: Hard Rock Cafe in Boston

July 30, 2020August 7, 2015 by Lisa Johnson 4 Comments

Last Saturday was a girls night out! Two friends and I wanted to get together and just relax. Have a simple meal and some summer cocktails.

I learned that Hard Rock Cafe has special tropical inspired drinks for the summer in mason jars. Who doesn’t love mason jars? Plus, when you order one of these drinks, you get to take a mason jar home! It has a cover and a hole for a straw. I’ve already used mine several times.

So many drinks to choose from!

Summer Splash Daiquiri – BACARDI Limón Rum, amaretto, Finest Call Mango Puree, sweet and sour mix and strawberries.

Hard Rockin’ Mai Tai – Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, BACARDI OakHeart Spiced Rum and amaretto mixed with made-from-scratch lemonade, pineapple juice, grenadine and splash of Sierra Mist®.

Summer Fizz – BACARDI Gran Reserva Maestro Rum and Cointreau Orange Liqueur shaken together with muddled fresh raspberries, Black Cherry Reàl and lime.

Summertime Blues – Fresh blueberries, mint and Blueberry Reàl muddled together with made-from-scratch lemonade and topped with Red Bull Yellow Edition.

Back Porch Tea – BACARDI Superior Rum, Bombay Sapphire Gin, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, iced tea, made-from-scratch lemonade, muddled basil and mint with a hint of Monin Cucumber.

My friends had the Summer Splash Daiquiri and Summertime Blues. I was intrigued by the Back Porch Tea.

It actually had a cucumber in it! Mine was not too sweet, plus nice and minty.

We all enjoyed our drinks and our mason jars to go! Our meals were delicious too. The servings are huge, so you won’t leave hungry.

For dinner, I had a veggie burger and parmesan fries.

The parmesan cheese sprinkled on the fries was a nice touch. The veggie burger was remarkably good.

I’m often hesitant to try veggie burgers when I eat out, because they can be quite bad. This was such a pleasant surprise. It was made of black beans, but didn’t have a bean consistency. If I recall correctly, the burger was topped with a huge mushroom and roasted tomato. It was quite divine actually and I’d definitely order it again.

This Hard Rock Cafe location is right across the street from the Millennium Hotel. If you’re staying there while on vacation or business, you’ll have a convenient and good place to eat.

If you’re a local and want to go, it’s right around the corner from Haymarket on the Orange and Green lines, if you’re taking the T.

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After we ate, it wasn’t very late. The night was still warm and there were many people milling about.

Music was playing and Faneuil Hall was just steps away. So we walked around, then sat on a bench and talked. And talked. And talked.

It was nice catching up and enjoying being out. We still remember the winter well and want to make the most of what is left of the summer.

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Disclosure: While our meals were free, we truly enjoyed them!

Getting Your Falafel Fix In Boston: Pita

July 30, 2020July 29, 2015 by Lisa Johnson

I love falafel far more than it loves me. Hummus is one of my favorite things to spread on a sandwich or use as a dip for a chip.

Chickpeas can do a number on my stomach, but I can’t resist them or foods made with them. So I have to eat them in moderation. Considering the health benefits and my love for them, it’s a shame that I cannot eat chickpeas to my heart’s content. But alas, it cannot be so.

So when I decide to treat myself to some falafel and more, I have found a place that gets it right every time: Pita.

While working in the Financial District, I used to go just around the corner from my building to Pita on Summer Street.

This week, I was meeting someone for lunch and she suggested we go to Pita on Albany Street in the South End. It’s right on the corner of Union Park Street and there is a cute little park across the street.

You can sit and look at the nice plants and flowers, while enjoying eating your meal outdoors in this lovely summer weather.

There is metered parking in the area, if you are driving. So bring a few quarters. But be careful. I drove down Albany Street from Mass. Ave. and was not sure of the exact location.

If you are driving in that direction, turn around before you get to the corner of Union Park. If you don’t, you can get swept up in traffic.

I should have taken the left at the light to make the loop around to get back on Albany. Instead I ended up back on the Expressway! Not fun! At least I didn’t end up on the Pike!

Anyway, the food at Pita is delicious and reasonably priced. For lunch, I ordered a small side of tabouli, which is a very generous portion. I added two falafel to that and I was all set for my meal.

The one down side was the Moroccan mint tea, which was just okay. Not sure that I’d order it again. Other places where I have ordered it, you get a vary large portion and it is very minty and sweet. This was neither.

I tried taking a picture of my meal, but it was so sunny and there was such a glare that I couldn’t even see to take it. Anyway, I highly recommend Pita and know that I’ll be going again!