Taking Massachusetts

Good evening, 

It has been quite a while since I have added anything to this blog, but I'm back and I have news.  After many a conversation with my boyfriend regarding restaurants in and around the state that he or I "just HAVE to try" (whether on our own culinary bucket lists or at the insistence of the other) we have come up with an ambitious edible endeavor: eat in every city and town in Massachusetts.

We each bring to the table a couple dozen gems - he has a place for dinner in Hyannis, I have a place for breakfast in Brewster, we might get Kane's Donuts in Saugus & Dairy Joy in Weston - not every stop will necessarily be a full meal and some we may just happen upon.

While we will be scrapbooking and tucking away souvenirs and photos at each place, this seemed like a worthwhile reason to return to blogging.  351 towns and cities in MA should keep us busy for a while & we've already crossed two off.

1. Greenfield (B) Our first outing was my choice and since we were having a nice, leisurely day, I opted for a scenic drive down Route 2 to The People's Pint which I have previously blogged about.
    We ordered quite a bit of food - the Special Ploughman, sausage plate, I had a pulled pork sandwich with maple butter yams (never going to skip the yams) and Taylor assembled a custom mac & cheese with mushrooms and garlic and feta.
    I made the mistake of trying a bite of his meal & consequently had a bit of food envy.  I generally order the same thing every time I go to The People's Pint but this time I left the comfort of my usual order and I won't say I regret it because the pulled pork was still moist & flavorful, but there was a quality to the barbecue sauce I didn't love.  Cloves, perhaps? 
   The People's Pint remains in the repertoire & as the weather (hopefully) improves and we find ourselves doing some exploring out West, I'm sure we'll return.

2. Amesbury  (T) This was an opportunistic stop on our way to Portsmouth, NH.  We were running ahead of schedule & thought we would stop for something light.  We were disappointed to find our original Amesbury destination had gone out of business, but the square was adorable and we quickly found Market Square Bakehouse.  
    Taylor got an espresso & a ham and cheese croissant and I had a huge cup of coffee and a little pastry that I can't name but was light and buttery and just barely sweet.  If the weather had been better, that cute little town certainly deserves a closer look.

Market Square Bakehouse 

 

The Linden Store - Wellesley, MA

A Wellesley staple since 1933, if you haven't had a sandwich from The Linden Store, where have you been?  Living under a rock?  

At the office I used to work in, everyone was in on ordering lunch when it was from The Linden - and they don't deliver, but it was worth the trip.

Now, let's break it down.  You can't go wrong with a Linden Special - similar to an Italian but with marinated sweet peppers and fewer meats - and of course their Italian is fabulous.  When you go in for a sandwich, you can see them slicing your meats for your made-to-order sandwich.  It is always bustling and there are several folks behind all the counters and usually a line.  At lunch time, be prepared to wait.

I usually prefer dark meat in my chicken salad, but theirs is all white meat and it's so good.  I like to order a chicken salad sandwich on a wheat wrap with tomatoes and banana peppers, myself.

They have a daily sub special that used to include a Meatball with Provolone alternative on two or three days but it is so popular that it is now an alternative special every day of the week.

They recently renovated their building as well as revamped their breakfast menu, which is so exciting.  I am not a morning person, but if Linden breakfast is a motivator, I will get up.  They have delicious breakfast sandwiches and smoothies and now omelettes and pancakes!  Unfortunately, I only have a photo of breakfast but that is probably because I was waiting for it to cool. 

The Linden Store 

 

The Hangover Pub - Worcester, MA

Do you love bacon?  Personally, I could take it or leave it, but at The Hangover Pub, it is their passion.  There is bacon in just about everything, even the salad and the drinks!

Now if you, like me, are a person who researches a restaurant's menu before visiting, let me give you this disclaimer - a friend and I decided to visit The Hangover Pub after watching a segment recorded by a popular restaurant critic which showcased Pork Belly & Goat Cheese Rangoon, a Fried Chicken Po' Boy, a Double Bacon Burger made with Wagyu beef and a huge slab of local bleu cheese as well as a handful of other delicious dishes.  So you can understand our frustration when none of those three items were on the menu.  (This is actually not the only time this has happened to us, so now I am more diligent about checking seasonal menus.)

Although I had my heart set on the above mentioned burger, I ended up ordering their Brisket Burger (which as of this post still appears on their menu.)  It was very flavorful and nicely cooked.

We started off with a couple of appetizers - "Mancandy" and House-Made Parmesan & Bacon Potato Chips. 

"Mancandy" is 4 strips of house-made slab bacon candied and blow-torched, served in a glass with maple syrup for dipping.  For someone who doesn't love bacon, it was surprisingly good.  A nice balance of salty and sweet.  

As for the potato chips, I have to say we were once again disappointed by the expectation the video gave us and what we really received.  In the video there is diced bacon all over the top of the chips; we had a few pieces lingering at the bottom.  Of course, things are staged to make them look more appealing on camera but I would think you'd at least try to serve the same quality when it counts.

The Hangover Pub

The People's Pint - Greenfield, MA

The People's Pint is always a special treat for me.  Greenfield is a bit of a hike, so I don't get there as often as I'd like to.  Of course, the food at a restaurant is what keeps you coming back, but here, it is about so much more than the food.

The People's Pint is big into the environment as well as the local community.   They source their ingredients from local farms and purveyors, and because they are committed to creating as little waste as possible, their brewery grains and go back to local farms as feed.  They recycle and compost everything they possibly can. They have a long-running bicycle commuting program which offers discounts to diners who keep track of the miles they've biked instead of driven.  They even participate in a local currency.

As far as their beer is concerned - I have tried the Natural Blonde and Hope Street Amber from a friend's flight - but I am not a beer drinker.  Everyone I have ever brought there who was a beer drinker, though, has been very impressed by the range of beers that they brew and has enjoyed heartily.

I was once waited on by a young woman I would still like to thank - there were meads on the board and I was intrigued though I had never had mead before.  She advised me to try a sample instead of ordering it outright and I am so glad because it was not for me.  They do generally have ciders (once a Golden Delicious Cider that should be the gold standard for cider if I do say so myself) as well as hard ginger ale and house-made root beer and ginger ale which are non-alcoholic AND delicious.

My favorite entree is The Squealer, which is a burger made of beef with TPP's house-made bacon ground into it.  It is served with a chipotle mayonnaise and last time I got a side of maple-butter yams which were just sweet and buttery and delicious.

The only small gripe I have is this:  TPP used to have my favorite dessert.  I would talk about it far more often than I ever got to eat it.  Tried to recreate it and failed.  And it has since been re-imagined and no longer exists in the form I onced loved.  What is now listed on the menu as Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae with Caramelized Bacon used to be Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies with vanilla ice cream.  Therefore, the bacon used to be in the cookies, giving them a salty something extra and they were served warm so the ice cream would just melt and it was perfect.  Now the bacon is more of a garnish on the sundae.  I'm sure it is still good but nothing will ever be AS good.

If Greenfield is a bit far for you too, make a day out of it.  Visit Shelburne Falls and check out the Bridge of Flowers.  Go to Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in Greenfield or dip your own candles at the Yankee Candle flagship store.  Franklin County is beautiful, go explore!  

The People's Pint

 

The Quahog Republic - Onset, MA

I've noticed a theme in my posts that I frequently say 'I don't usually like such and such BUT' and maybe that is the point.  Maybe the fact that some folks can turn ingredients into a masterful dish and make me enjoy something I never have before is exactly what I should highlight.

A Cuban sandwich is by definition "a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich...made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard..."

In other words, a Cuban sandwich is full of things I don't like.  I have never liked ham.  At Easter, my mom made a turkey.  And Swiss cheese?  To me, it has always tasted like rubber.

So, I'm not sure what made me order a Cuban sandwich at The Quahog Republic, but it was the start of a love affair.  Once again, unbeknownst to me, The QR has a few locations.  The one I have visited, is their "waterfront" location on Onset Avenue, technically just across the street from the beach.

On a nice beach day, you can leave your chair in the sand and take the short walk across the street for a margarita or a cold beer.  With Quahog in the name, you know there are plenty of seafood offerings - a lobster roll, fish & chips, the obvious stuffed quahog - but that Cuban sandwich.  You've gotta have that Cuban sandwich.

The Quahog Republic 

 

The Oregon Club - Ashland, MA

I recently celebrated my best friend's son's college graduation (way to go, Ben!) at The Oregon Club.  He chose it because of its cool history as a speakeasy back in the 20's and probably also because it was a special occasion meal and therefore a justified splurge.

There is patio seating but it was a cool night so we ate inside.  When you enter, it is as if you're stepping through someone's parlor.  There are small rooms with a few tables and still the old bar with only 3 or 4 stools.

We started with the Gorgonzola Meatballs and I swear they melt in your mouth.  They are served with brown gravy and Romano cheese is sprinkled over the top.  Some people say the right time to stop is when you still want more, and maybe they're right, but when I tasted those meatballs a part of me wished I had ordered them as my entree.  (An order is 3 meatballs, so you almost certainly will be wanting more.)

The menu is not large but I'm convinced that you probably can't go wrong.  I had browsed the menu before our visit and already decided before we were sat but then upon looking at the menu a second time realized what I had decided on was an appetizer.  Our waitress was very accommodating and let me make it a meal - crispy duck confit, mashed potatoes, and green beans.  Everything was delicious.  The duck leg fell right off the bone, the green beans were garlicky and crisp.

I also, of course, sampled most everyone else's meal because that's what you do.  There were specials that night that included surf & turf - a filet and garlic shrimp - as well as a half rack of barbecue ribs with cornbread and some other accompaniments.  I tried the ribs which were rubbed and a bite of my best friend's sirloin strip - only after it was declared that they couldn't eat another bite.  Her steak was cooked perfectly medium rare and was packed with flavor.  The ribs were nice and meaty but I'm a sauce girl, myself.

And even though no one thought they could eat another bite, we couldn't leave without a peek at the dessert menu.  Of course, there was no dessert menu, but our waitress expertly rattled off a number of dishes.  We settled on cheesecake with caramel sauce and a cup of dark chocolate mousse.  Let me tell you, that was the richest cheesecake I have ever had and I have both made and eaten a lot of cheesecake in my life.

I was treated to this meal, but I am not ignorant as to what a generous treat it was.  I would classify The Oregon Club as a restaurant reserved for celebrating big achievements or milestones in life; not just for an ordinary evening.

The Oregon Club 

 

Caffe Nero - Wellesley, MA

I was berating myself for having lived in Wellesley for years but only recently discovering Caffe Nero.  After a tiny bit of research though, it appears to have only moved into the old Wellesley Hills train station in 2016.  Maybe I'm not losing it quite yet.

Caffe Nero is just... cool.  With armchairs and a fireplace and and cozy nooks, a writer might hole up there, scribbling notes between shots of espresso.  You might bring your laptop in and sip a beautifully decorated latte while you get a little work done.  Maybe meet a friend for a light lunch on the patio?  Usually when I've been there, there is a little of all of this going on.

The first time I visited, I ordered a hot apple cider and an Italian sandwich.  The gentleman who helped me advised that I warm up the sandwich before eating it.  I told him I absolutely would (that was a lie) and opened it the minute I got outside.  It was delicious - on a nice crusty bread, oil dripping on my chin and with a kalamata olive tapenade surprise?  I've never had olive in an Italian sandwich, nor do I like olives, but it was perfect.  If it was that good cold, imagine how much better it would've been if I had listened to the guy.

Since then I've had their salad, croissants, and Almond Cream Cake which is to die for.  

My only complaint is that parking is limited, but then I am reminded they are in a historic building and that comes with the territory. 

I was not aware until recently that Caffe Nero is a chain based in London with European locations as well as a handful of locations around Boston.  Find one near you and try something delicious.

Caffe Nero

 

Flynn's Irish Pub - Mansfield, MA

When it comes down to it, I am a burger girl at heart - and does Flynn's have a selection of burgers or what?! (Yes, they do.)

Let's back up to appetizers for a quick second because when I think about Flynn's Reuben Spring Rolls, I can taste them 30 miles away and I am salivating.  Usually when I order them I burn my mouth because I cannot wait for them to cool.

Okay back to burgers!  Flynn's has some incredible burgers on their menu and it seems they are always adding new ones.  I have had a burger with fried egg between two pieces of belgian waffle (The O'Rourke #2), a Vermont burger with cheddar and maple syrup between two pieces of french toast*, and there is a burger on the menu between two grilled cheese sandwiches (The Sligo) that I haven't ventured to try (yet.)   The Donegal is a personal favorite - with bacon, cheddar, peanut butter AND strawberry jam.

There are more traditional burgers as well as traditional Irish faire - Shepherd's Pie, Bangers and Mash, etc.

They also have a long beer list and take care to offer a wide range of craft beers including local breweries.  I usually order Lindeman's Framboise Lambic* which is technically a Belgian Raspberry Beer but it tastes nothing like beer (hence its appeal.)  Still, for the beer enthusiasts out there, this is a worthwhile stop.

On certain nights there is live music (these are the nights I avoid because I don't like to go out for dinner and then not have the ability to speak to whoever I'm with) but there are also nights where burgers are 2/$12 or traditional Irish dishes are $9.99.

Wednesdays at 7:30 there is also trivia which I have tried my hand at a few times.  

Even if Flynn's would mean a bit of a drive for you, I suggest it.  You won't be disappointed. 

Flynn's 

Beer Float made with Framboise & Chocolate ice cream

 

Wok N Talk - Jamaica Plain, MA

If you're looking for some delicious Chinese food in the Boston area, Wok N Talk can't be beat - and it isn't just for the clever name.  If you didn't know it was there, you'd probably drive right by UNLESS it was during the wee hours.  While they do open around 4pm, I'm not sure I've ever eaten there earlier than 11pm and they are open until 3am which makes a late night craving easy to sate. 

I used to always order the Vegetable Lo Mein which is very tasty but lately I have been getting Sweet and Sour Chicken over White Rice.  While obviously sweet, the chunks of pineapple and onion and peppers give it just what it needs to not be cloying. (PS - that is 2 meals worth of food in 1 order!)

My usual date almost always gets the Ginger Black Bean Chicken and an order of Coconut Shrimp.  I do not generally like coconut OR shrimp, but I look forward to these.

Wok N Talk is a hidden gem.  A great casual place to grab some delicious Chinese whenever the mood strikes.  And while I'm bummed that I live outside their delivery radius, the people watching is really part of the experience.

Wok N Talk 

O'Hara's Food & Spirits - Newton, MA

O'Hara's is my go-to restaurant for THE BEST FRENCH DIP YOU'VE EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE.  No one else's french dip compares, period.  Every component of this sandwich is perfection: the bread, which is nice and crusty, absorbs the tastiest au jus you can imagine.  The meat is perfectly cooked with just a little pink to it, and the cheese is nice and melty but not so that it all slides out in one bite which is a fault I have found with other sandwiches. The au jus is so good, it is not to be wasted.  I usually dip my fries in it and on my most recent visit, poured some on my guest's mashed potatoes.  It is a thing of beauty.

A "Jelly Jar" to top it off is a delicious cocktail made of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and Tito's vodka.  Simple and refreshing.

Fair warning: parking can sometimes be a challenge but even if you wind up with a short walk, it is worth it.

WHEN I DIP YOU DIP WE DIP

Fleming's Steakhouse - Boston, MA

I visited Fleming's during Boston Restaurant Week when they were offering a prix fixe menu.  This meant salad, sides, steak & dessert for less than what the steak normally costs on its own.  I have to say the steak I had there is probably the best I have ever had and considering I find filet mignon a tad overrated, that says a lot.  (Give me a ribeye any day!)

They take their steak seriously, here, which is lucky for me.  You see, I often dine with a friend who likes her steak well-done.  Any color is too much color.  I, on the other hand, like a nice medium-rare; the bloodier, the better.  Often when we order steaks, mine arrives overcooked.  At Fleming's, both of our steaks arrived perfectly cooked.

I ordered mine with porcini mushroom & gorgonzola cream with almond compound butter on the side.  I'll admit I had never heard of compound butter previously but let me tell you it was the most delicious, creamy addition I could ever have dreamed of.  

My apologies that the photo is just a snapchat screenshot but apparently I couldn't hold off long enough to snap a real picture.

Fleming's 

 

Wendell's Pub - Norton, MA

If you are looking for the best buffalo wings of your life, look no further.  Wendell's Pub on Route 123 in Norton has graduating levels of their signature sauce from the weakest "Sissy" wings to the "Double Dare" wings which are so hot they are not even listed on the menu.  (Over the years I have seen many an ambitious eater order these, but I have yet to see anyone finish them.)  

I, personally, enjoy "Regulars" which are a step below the middle of the road.  Before serving, the wings are shaken, leaving them with a nice coating of sauce.  Order a basket of fries with your wings and use them to absorb the rest of that glorious sauce - you won't regret it.

Be warned - they operate out of a tiny kitchen which sometimes means a longer wait.  Be patient and have a drink or two while you wait - trust me, it will be worth it.

Wendell's Pub