Valentine’s Day Suggestions

Quietly, I’m over Valentine’s Day. I’m not really a fan , I think its overpriced and overrated. However I will make restaurant suggestions, for you lovers and friends.

1. For you and your boo AKA your boyfriend/girlfriend, husband/wife, fiancée, partner (whatever title you want):

No 9 Park- Downtown Crossing, French and Italian blend Cuisine. A Barbara Lynch establishment, you simply can’t go wrong. The great combination of: the atmosphere feel of “just you and your partner” and an extensive wine list are perfect for celebrating love.

Sorellina- Copley Area, Italian Cuisine. Classy interior design, if you’re looking to wow your loved one, reserve a table here. Try the Budino Di Riso, Truffled fries with pamgiano, Scallops or Risotto.

Oceanaire- Financial District, Nothing but Seafood. Location used to be a bank, there are remnants of  the old design which makes it incredibly unique. I’ve been here for Valentine’s Day in the past and had a wonderful experience- try the lobster bisque, Mahi Mahi, OYSTERS!!!  (picture courtesy of boston.com)

Giacomo’s- South End, Italian Cuisine. Small quaint and oh so romantic ( I have great memories here) – try the chicken parmesan, lobster ravioli and tiramisu

Helmand- Cambridge, Afghan Cuisine. This dining experience allows love birds to experience an adventure of spices and exotic blends of food with the ability to learn about a culture and learn from each other at the same time.  

 

2. For you and your platonic friend:

Elephant Walk- Fenway/BU area, Cambodian cuisine. http://www.elephantwalk.com/boston/index.html Located in the busy fenway section of Boston, this place is a retreat from all the hustle and bustle offering a variety of  selections including an extensive vegetarian and gluten-free menu.

Cafeteria- Newbury Street Boston, American Cuisine. http://www.cafeteriaboston.com/ Sip on a couple of drinks especially the coconut mojitos, you will feel like your on South Beach. (picture courtesy of clubzone.com)

House of Siam- South End, Thai Food. My favorite Thai in the city and very informal, try the shrimp bags, chili chicken and Thai ice tea. (post to come soon)

Gaslight- South End Boston, French Cuisine. http://www.gaslight560.com/ Thinking of Valentine’s Day brunch instead of dinner? Make sure and try the mussels and frites. (picture courtesy of zagat.com)

 

3. You and your buddies want to paint the town Valentine’s Day night:

Toro- South End, Spanish Cuisine. Authentic Sangria Period! Tapas style- try the grilled corn w/alioli lime or the griddled garlic shrimp or the mini burgers while keeping the sangria flowing.

Tangierino- Charlestown, Moroccan Cuisine. http://www.tangierino.com/ Watch the belly dancers shake and go downstairs to Koullshi (shisha bar), listen to some music while you smoke a few cigars or hookah.

Estragon- South End, Spanish Cuisine Tapas Style.  http://estragontapas.com/index.html Eclectic, Unique and chic. On February 11, Estragon is hosting a Anti-Valentine’s Day party

Beehive-South End, described as a Bohemian eatery. http://www.beehiveboston.com/ Sit down, have dinner and enjoy the sweet sound of the blues, the trumpet or saxophone- artists from around the world perform in this low key place.

606 Congress Street - South Boston Waterfront, American Cuisine. Located in the Renaissance hotel, with a great view of the harbor, great for crowds and moderately priced.

 

Salud, Enjoy your Valentine’s Day however you spend it…

KO Prime

Looking for a special place to celebrate?  An anniversary, graduation, engagement or maybe promotion?

In the heart of the Downtown area of Boston sits the  Nine Zero Hotel, a boutique hotel famously known for their suite designed by Britney Spears (going off on a tangent). Inside the Nine Zero Hotel is the restaurant KO Prime  90 Tremont St, Boston MA  http://www.koprimeboston.com/ 

KO Prime is a modern steakhouse that has the perfect combination of ambiance and atmosphere that brings together all sorts of people young and not so young. I got a sense that the owner’s vision is to make sure that each person’s experience creates fond memories.

To best describe KO Prime, I would say it is a mixture of class and contemporary chic; dark hardwood floors, simple wood tables covered by traditional white linens yet when you look up at the ceiling there is eclectic artwork that pays homage to classic art or if you glance in the bar/lounge area there are furniture pieces with bold patterns and textures. 

As I entered the foyer area; I was greeted by two hosts that were very friendly. After being seated comfortably, I was able to admire the ambiance but also the great view of the city.

One of the best services is having a waiter/waitress that is able give opinions, thoughts and ideas about the menu. The waitress knew the menu front to back and back to front. She was able to make suggestions about wine and cocktails… she was on point. I had the seared scallops with lobster risotto and the fingerling potatoe purée, aligote.  Both dishes were out of this world. The scallops were cooked to perfection and the risotto was such a compliment. The fingerling potatoe purée was simply heaven, if you are a fan of mashed potatoes this is a must.   

My good experience with my waitress rounded out the full experience of KO Prime. I never felt rushed in fact, I relaxed and enjoyed the moment…  

KO Prime is somewhere that your not watching your pockets but genuinely enjoying your time. The ambiance, hosts and waitress services and spectacular food make KO Prime the perfect place to celebrate with a loved one.

P.S- This could be a potential V-Day spot for all of those in love…

Post 390

On a snowy day in early Decemeber, Post 390 (490 Stuart St, Boston MA) http://www.post390restaurant.com/ was the location of my BFF’s birthday dinner. As we get older, we value small intimate birthday dinners instead of loud club parties…but our definition of  small intimate dinner require that the venue be just as sassy as we are…Post 390 is just that.

Ideal location but you can’t have it all. Parking is lousy so be prepared to do 1of 3 things: 1. valet the cat for about $20 2. park in a expensive lot 3. try to hustle a parking spot on columbus ave or boylston st.

Walking in, its clear that Post 390 is a hot spot in Boston. The atmostphere is vibrant and both floors are full with people chattering and laughing.

Decor is very modern-2 floors a bar on the first level and a formal sitting area on the second level. hardwood floors, fireplace for eye candy on the first floor, open floor plan, huge windows to view the city. The only thing that bothered me is that there were huge flat screen televisions playing sports on the 2nd floor formal sitting area. Not so good when your trying to having dinner and good conversation, eyes wander to the television. 

 Nevertheless brunch, lunch and dinner are served- the menu is American cuisine and pretty extensive.

Try:
Crab and Spinach Dip

Grilled Skirt Steak and fries

Jumbo lump and Maine crab cakes

House smoke BBQ ribs

Required: Dessert! Don’t leave without it!! I thought it was better than the main course meal.

Carrot Cake- best in the city

Creme Brulee-incredible

You will need to open your wallets to Post 390, so if your on a budget don’t go there.  I wouldn’t recommend it for a romantic dinner with your partner or anniversary celebration. However, Post 390 is a great place for dinner celebrations, gathering of friends, grabbing drinks after work. I’ll be back soon, this time to try the brunch menu!

Wagamama

 

Since I practically live here I should write a post. lol. For the month of November and December, Wagamama took much of my hard-earned money.

Located in the Prudential mall next to Saks Fifth Avenue, Wagamama http://www.wagamama.us/   is a good spot if you want to grab a bite to eat alone, if you want to study for school or work, if you want to have a bottle of wine with a friend, if you want something that isn’t too expensive but has a resuarant feel, or if you had a long day shopping and just want something filling. 

Wagamama has an open floor plan with minimal decoration that gives a comfortable energy. The kitchen is open so anywhere you sit, you can see the food being cooked. The food is a Japanese fusion which gives a  great variety, if you like plain and simple its on the menu, you like hot and spicy it’s also there and if you are vegetarian, no worries there are plenty of options.

 My favorites include:  

Edamame with chilli and  garlic salt

Ebi Katsu (panko-crusted shrimp)

Chilli Squid

Sweet Potato Fries

Suribachi Chicken Wings

Chicken Teriyaki

Chilli Ramen

Try any of those above and I’m sure you will be hooked just like me. There are also Wagamama locations in Fanuiel Hall, Cambridge and Washington DC.  All other locations are international.  

Wagamama: positive eating + positive living  – their registered trademark but oh so true

Berry Line

for the 2nd time in three days, I’ve had frozen yogurt with fresh strawberries. I chalk it up to a serious craving for Berry Line located on 1377 Boylston St, Boston MA ( right in the Fenway area) . Its  Pink Berry’s ( in NYC)  twin. Can I tell you that ever since I had Pink Berry in NYC , frozen yogurt hasn’t been the same. So thank you Berry Line for coming to the Fenway to satisfy my craving.

There are three different types of delicious yogurt : plain, oreo and pineapple

Toppings  are candy or fresh fruit

candy includes: snickers, heath bars, fruity pebbles, chocolate chips and  reeses pieces

fresh fruit includes: strawberries, kiwi, mango and  pineapples  

very inexpensive and healthy at the same time. you simply can’t go wrong.

Toro

Its Tapas style at Toro Restaurant located on 1704 Washington st, Boston.  http://www.toro-restaurant.com/

Toro offers diners the opportunity to experience an adventure. From the moment you walk in, there is something mysterious about the restaurant. Dimly lit, open floor plan with natural and mahogany wood seating. Loud chatter, echos of laughter mixed with a friendly live atmosphere make Toro a unique eatery and hang-out spot.  A menu that is in Spanish and English offer a  fusion of foods and traditional Spanish-style food.

The bar has an extensive list of  wine, beer and other liquor. Sangria is the specialty drink, a fan or not this is something to try. The small plates aka tapas are small but 4-5 plates will make your stomach bulge.

Try these different dishes:

Toasted bread rubbed with tomato and garlic, finished with Spanish olive oil and sea salt

Marinated Island Creek oysters with grains of paradise, warm Tabasco saffron emulsion and lovage 

Griddled garlic shrimp 

Egg, potato and onion omelet with alioli

Mussels with chorizo and sidra

MY FAV: Grilled corn with alioli, lime, espelette pepper and aged cheese 

Fried potatoes with alioli and spicy tomato sauce

Mini burgers with smoked tomato, alioli and pickled red onion

Salt crusted Mediterranean  sea bass with fresh herbs

 

Make sure and bring your taste buds and wallets for this dining adventure.

Salud!

Eldo Cake House

Looking for a birthday cake? A congratulations cake or “Im just thinking about you sweetie” cake? Feel like you can treat yourself to a mouth-watering pastry? Or are you simply craving dessert?

Make your way to Eldo Cake House (36 Harrison Ave between Beech and Essex St) located in the heart of busy Chinatown. Don’t drive or walk too fast or you will miss this small quaint cake house.   

Now I must admit, I have never tried any pastries. Im always tempted  to buy a tart or a piece of cream cake but I always remember that the cake that I just ordered will be plenty for my waist. So my Eldo experience has been with cakes.

Walking in to pick up my cake order (I ordered it 2 days prior), Im greeted with a friendly smile. Pulling the soft sponge cake  topped with light whipped cream like frosting and fresh fruit (you can pick strawberry, mango,peach,  pineapple, apple)   from the refrigerator, the sales associate asks if it looks good; Im smiling because not only does it look so yummy but i know the person Im buying it for will be smiling too.  In green frosting she writes the Happy Birthday message.  The sales associate wraps the cake carefully and for around $17, I get a round 6′  birthday cake. 

Having an Eldo Cake not only made my waist  happy but my pockets jump for joy.  For those of you who enjoy a budget-friendly but delicious cake, try Eldo.

W Boston and Ames

 Im really excited for two things this fall:

My Bestie just reminded me today that the W Boston (100 Stuart St, Boston MA) opens its doors tomorrow October 29, 2009. This means we are headed to the new restaurant  Market. Acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has created a menu of French, Asian and Italian inspired food. All dishes are split into sections of Simply Raw, Fish, Meat and a Market tasting menu. This fusion may intimidate some but I think it will create a new buzz in the foodie world. After this Halloween party weekend, my first stop will be Market.

 Familiar with the Delano or The Shore Club in Miami? Well The Morgans Hotel Group welcomes a new baby, the Ames Hotel www.ameshotel.com. Right here in Boston. To say that Im excited would be an understatement. Im interested in the ambiance, style, and service that it will have. What will the rooms, lobby, bar/restaurant look like? My first visit will be Woodward (a Seth Greenberg creation)a bar/restaurant, that is described as a modern-day tavern. Opened 7 days a week, it will serve breakfast, lunch and signature dinner items. Not to mention, the Woodward Ale an exclusive brew that will capture the hearts of many. The combination of 7 day a week service, late night dining and exclusive brew, will spell out TROUBLE for some. Anyway, it’s located at 1 Court Street, Boston. I’ll be there, will you?

Cheers

PS- Sorry for my absence but Im back!

Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland

Sometimes in relationships, people  get into a routine… routines become comfortable and both parties forget what its like to be romantic. Small surprises turn the romance dial way up and a box of truffles is a perfect surprise.  Buy your significant other, girlfriend/boyfriend, wife/husband, sweetheart…(whatever you want to call them)  truffles on a random Wednesday. Don’t wait till Valentine’s Day to surprise your sweetie with savory truffles.  

Champagne flavored Chocolate Truffles from Teuscher of Switzerland (located 230 Newbury St Boston) are heaven on earth. Priced at $12-$168 depending on the size, it’s whatever you want. Rich and creamy, bite  into one and before you know it, the box will be empty. Im not really a chocolate person but I go out of my way to stop in the store and buy six at a time.

There are Teuscher locations all over the world but we are fortunate to have one in our backyard. So the next time, you want to surprise him/her buy a box of truffles, I guarantee some good romantic lovin.

Koullshi

Friday night was breezy and a bit cold. For anyone who knows me, knows for me to travel to Charlestown to hang out or eat…it must be the best thing since sliced bread. So Friday I turned right on Main street in Charlestown, MA  and walked on some cobblestone …there it was Koullshi Lounge. Sweet smelling aromas filled the air as I walked downstairs. Loud chatter and laughter echo but the atmosphere was laid back and cozy. Rich fabrics, eclectic table stands, Middle-Eastern music, throw pillows distracted me for a bit until I sat down to see the menu.

Double apple and sweet melon mixture was the consensus. If you havent guessed already Koullshi is a Shisha Salon and Cigar Bar. What better way to spend a Friday evening.   As I inhale and exhale the smoke, relaxation comes over my body and my body is swaying to the music. Sipping on my peach margarita, gives me a good balance of relaxation and pleasure.  No dance club or dive bar for me tonight but something different and classy.

As I walked out for the night the bouncer said,  ”this lounge is cool, its grown and sexy”  and I couldnt agree more.