I am a pork lover. I love any iteration of pork, but especially bacon and ham. I refuse to accept that ham can only be eaten around Christmas, so I asked my husband to pick up a good 10 lbs-er when at the grocery store. He picked up a gluten-free brand, but neither of us thought about the glaze that would go on the ham. After a little research, I found out that most glaze packets are made with wheat. Boo-urns. The best part of a ham is the crackly glaze, and my mother's pineapple topping just didn't do that crackly thing.
So I started experimenting. Ham went into the oven at 275, tightly covered with tin foil, at about 15 mins per pound. And here's the glaze that I used:
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tbsp yellow or Dijon mustard
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
I took the ham out and uncovered it about half an hour before it was ready. I whisked it all together and spooned it over the ham, then popped it back in at 300 without the tin foil.
The result? A wonderfully crackly and perfectly savory-sweet glaze to go with the ham. I plan to use this versatile glaze the next time I broil up some salmon or some pork chops, too.
Obviously, we didn't just eat ham. We had some brown rice, and I fine chopped some fresh Brussels sprouts to pair with the sweet and salty ham. I cooked them down in EVOO and salt, with some grated garlic, then deglazed the pan with some apple cider vinegar. It paired really nicely with the ham glaze!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Forum in Boston
I did my first official review for TableCritic.com. My wonderful editor, Carol, has embraced my situation and is assigning me restaurants that can cater to my dietary restrictions. See what I have to say about Forum on Boylston St. in Boston. It replaced Vox Populi, and boy, am I glad it did. What a waste of real estate that was. Overpriced drinks, crappy food, and cougars all over the place. Forum is a welcome replacement to that mess.
It did not have a dedicated gluten-free menu, but most of the menu was gluten-free already, thanks to the chef making everything from scratch. I was also thrilled with how educated the server and management were about celiac disease.
Read my Forum review on TableCritic.com.
It did not have a dedicated gluten-free menu, but most of the menu was gluten-free already, thanks to the chef making everything from scratch. I was also thrilled with how educated the server and management were about celiac disease.
Read my Forum review on TableCritic.com.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
How My Health (and Body) Has Changed Since Going Gluten-Free
When I was diagnosed with celiac disease, it was not a surprise. My brother is also celiac (actually, both of them are), and has been living gluten-free for three years. I knew this was genetic. However, I didn't have symptoms. My choice in getting tested yearly was not due to intestinal distress or issues, but instead because of my brother's celiac disease. I had a blood test every year, and this was the first year it came back positive. As a result, I had an endoscopy and biopsy to confirm.
I read a lot of forums where people say how they feel SO much better since going gluten-free, and that they no longer have stomachaches and pains. I wish I could say the same. I suffer from abdominal migraines (related to my own chronic migraines) and have been getting treatment for them from both neurologists and gastroenterologists, but they are unrelated to my celiac disease. I keep a dutiful journal of my migraines, and being gluten-free has not affected their frequency. I was secretly hoping that gluten was triggering these migraines, but alas, it is not the case. Maybe things will change as I am gluten free for a longer period of time -- one can always hope!
However, while I don't feel a huge difference in my digestive system and intestines, I have had overall health improvement. For the past three years, I've had severe eczema on my legs that two dermatologists have been unable to treat. I was at the point where I would wake up with my legs bleeding from scratching in my sleep. I was on the strongest prescription steroid cream available, and wrapping my legs in Saran Wrap after coating them before bed. I've long since given up on trying to treat it -- nothing seemed to make it go away completely. Now, after going gluten-free? My eczema has gone from bloody and scaly broken skin to pale pink healing skin, and it no longer itches.
I also feel like I have tons more energy. I just wasn't digesting my food properly, and not reaping the benefits of the nutrition. Now that I'm digesting food properly, I am more alert and energetic all day. With this energy, I have been more motivated to exercise and work out.
Best of all? I've lost two inches on my waist. I haven't lost any weight or body mass, but I didn't realize that the gluten was bloating my midsection. I am a fairly skinny person, but I always had an oddly large waist that I would hide under empire-waist shirts and dresses -- I chalked it up to being apple-shaped. Since going gluten-free, I've noticed (and others have too) that my natural waist has shrunk. My apple shape has gone to a more feminine pear shape, and it's pretty awesome.
So if you have celiac disease and no symptoms, don't feel like giving up gluten won't change how you feel. It may improve your health in unexpected ways.
I read a lot of forums where people say how they feel SO much better since going gluten-free, and that they no longer have stomachaches and pains. I wish I could say the same. I suffer from abdominal migraines (related to my own chronic migraines) and have been getting treatment for them from both neurologists and gastroenterologists, but they are unrelated to my celiac disease. I keep a dutiful journal of my migraines, and being gluten-free has not affected their frequency. I was secretly hoping that gluten was triggering these migraines, but alas, it is not the case. Maybe things will change as I am gluten free for a longer period of time -- one can always hope!
However, while I don't feel a huge difference in my digestive system and intestines, I have had overall health improvement. For the past three years, I've had severe eczema on my legs that two dermatologists have been unable to treat. I was at the point where I would wake up with my legs bleeding from scratching in my sleep. I was on the strongest prescription steroid cream available, and wrapping my legs in Saran Wrap after coating them before bed. I've long since given up on trying to treat it -- nothing seemed to make it go away completely. Now, after going gluten-free? My eczema has gone from bloody and scaly broken skin to pale pink healing skin, and it no longer itches.
I also feel like I have tons more energy. I just wasn't digesting my food properly, and not reaping the benefits of the nutrition. Now that I'm digesting food properly, I am more alert and energetic all day. With this energy, I have been more motivated to exercise and work out.
Best of all? I've lost two inches on my waist. I haven't lost any weight or body mass, but I didn't realize that the gluten was bloating my midsection. I am a fairly skinny person, but I always had an oddly large waist that I would hide under empire-waist shirts and dresses -- I chalked it up to being apple-shaped. Since going gluten-free, I've noticed (and others have too) that my natural waist has shrunk. My apple shape has gone to a more feminine pear shape, and it's pretty awesome.
So if you have celiac disease and no symptoms, don't feel like giving up gluten won't change how you feel. It may improve your health in unexpected ways.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Things I Miss the Most
Since switching to the gluten-free lifestyle, there are certain things that I miss the most. I'm sure I'm not alone here, so I've compiled a list of most-craved items, and how I satisfy that craving.
1.) Fried chicken. I have yet to try fried chicken-on-the-bone at home yet, but I did make delicious fried chicken tenders using corn flour. I dredged the tenders in corn flour, then egg, then more corn flour.. then more egg, then more corn flour. The corn added a really nice texture and flavor to the chicken, actually. It was better than the ones I used to make with flour.
2.) Pasta. This is a common one. But the more gluten-free pasta I try, the more that I like. We really enjoyed corn pasta, and brown rice pasta. My next goal is to try to make homemade fresh pasta, gluten-free. I have a pasta press, so I will be sure to blog about that when I give it a shot. I am planning to give Paparazzi a try -- I hear they have gluten-free pasta dishes.
3.) Pizza. I. love. pizza. Who doesn't? Cheesy and wonderful, crispy crust.. there's nothing like it. I miss it. However, there are plenty of good gluten-free options out there. The best one I've found is at The Grilling Greek in Natick, on Route 135. This place quite frankly deserves its own review, because it is my favorite place to order takeout. The tiny unassuming shack churns out some of the best food you will ever have -- pita baked to order, fresh gyros, all for incredibly reasonable prices. But now with my gluten allergy, I order their gluten-free pizza, especially the White Greek pizza -- feta, roasted red peppers, grilled chicken, and roasted garlic. The pizza is wonderfully crispy and chewy all at once, and the best part? It heats up well the next day. I have yet to find another gluten-free pizza that lasts a day. If you aren't in the area, Wicked in Dedham also has excellent gluten-free pizza that heats up well the next day. It's pricey, but tasty.
4.) Toast. I didn't think I would miss a simple thing like my slice of toast in the morning. I used to eat, every morning, multi-grain toast with peanut butter and dried cranberries. Instead, I now eat oatmeal. Be warned, many oatmeals are processed with wheat. So I had to order the Glutenfreeda brand from Amazon. There are also some celiacs who cannot eat oats. However, research shows that the majority of celiac sufferers can tolerate oats just fine -- it's best to check with your doctor. Either way, I get a packet of plain oatmeal, add honey and dried cranberries, then some boiling water. Breakfast is restored!
5.) French fries. Who doesn't love a crispy crunchy fried potato? I am a sucker for French fries, and giving them up has really sucked. Admittedly, it makes me order a healthier side when at a restaurant, but most restaurants simply don't have a dedicated fryer for their fries, meaning they are contaminated with gluten from the other battered items in the fryillator. However, the saving grace? McDonald's. That's right. The best French fries in fast food are, in fact, gluten free. McDonald's does in fact list a gluten byproduct in the beef flavoring put into the fries (yeah, they put beef flavoring in their fries... why do you think they taste so good?). However, tests have shown that the beef flavoring is SO processed that the amount of gluten left is negligible and not enough to trigger a reaction in celiacs. And Mickey D's has dedicated fryers for just their French fries! Amazing. I'll stop into McDonald's for a hot fudge sundae (also gluten-free) and a big side of fries for a treat. Obviously, this is a once in awhile thing.
6.) Burgers. I love burgers so much. They are my favorite comfort food, a nice burger and fries. I am sick of restaurants saying "We have gluten-free burgers!" and what they really mean is "We can serve a meat patty with no bun and call it a burger!" I've tried the gluten-free burgers at several restaurants at this point. BBC is well-known for its gluten-free menu, but the burger bun is terrible. It tastes like drywall. Not Your Average Joe's also has a gluten-free menu, with a very good bun (they also serve the bun as a bread basket in the beginning of the meal), but disappointingly, the burger itself sucks. My server didn't even take a temperature, and it came out medium well and dry. If I could somehow combine BBC's meat patty with the bun from Not Your Average Joe's... So, in lieu of this, I turn to The Cottage in Wellesley. The L.A. Burger is very tasty, and it is actually served on bread.
7.) Wings. Every Valentine's Day, my husband and I have a tradition. We watch terrible movies on the living room floor, with a gigantic order of chicken wings. We love Wing It in Allston, and even the Wings Over... chain. I just love chicken wings (on the bone, of course. Don't give me that fried chicken tender crap and try to tell me that's a wing. If it ain't flapped, it ain't a wing.) and I love getting all gross from the sauce and working for the meat on the bone. Unfortunately, most chains fry their wings in the same fryers as their boneless (and covered in gluten) counterparts. It just isn't safe to eat. Luckily for me, we live near the BBC in Framingham. They have an expansive gluten-free menu, which includes their wings -- they oven roast them in lieu of frying. So not only are they gluten-free, but they're technically better for you anyway! BBC does takeout, so we will order their buffalo wings plus entrees, and it's an affordable and delicious dinner. Do they taste as good as deep fried wings? Well, no. But they are extremely satisfying, and as close to the real thing that I can get without busting out my Fry Daddy at home.
8.) Cupcakes. I do not normally have much of a sweet tooth, but I love cupcakes. Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham has fantastic gluten-free vegan cupcakes, but more importantly, they have varying flavors. There are plenty of good bakeries with gluten free cupcakes (Glutenus Minimus, for example) that are delicious, but they only ever come in chocolate with vanilla frosting. Treat has an entire menu of gluten-free vegan cupcakes, and they do custom orders. I've even emailed with the baker to discuss their practices to avoid cross-contamination. In this picture, you can see the varying flavors they have -- chocolate with orange frosting, mint chocolate cookie with mint frosting, cookies 'n cream, pumpkin with cinnamon frosting, mochaccino, chocolate with coconut frosting and chocolate ganache.. so delicious.
So, that's it so far. Any other substitutions people out there recommend? Is there any craving you're having a hard time satisfying? I'd love to hear from you!
1.) Fried chicken. I have yet to try fried chicken-on-the-bone at home yet, but I did make delicious fried chicken tenders using corn flour. I dredged the tenders in corn flour, then egg, then more corn flour.. then more egg, then more corn flour. The corn added a really nice texture and flavor to the chicken, actually. It was better than the ones I used to make with flour.
2.) Pasta. This is a common one. But the more gluten-free pasta I try, the more that I like. We really enjoyed corn pasta, and brown rice pasta. My next goal is to try to make homemade fresh pasta, gluten-free. I have a pasta press, so I will be sure to blog about that when I give it a shot. I am planning to give Paparazzi a try -- I hear they have gluten-free pasta dishes.
3.) Pizza. I. love. pizza. Who doesn't? Cheesy and wonderful, crispy crust.. there's nothing like it. I miss it. However, there are plenty of good gluten-free options out there. The best one I've found is at The Grilling Greek in Natick, on Route 135. This place quite frankly deserves its own review, because it is my favorite place to order takeout. The tiny unassuming shack churns out some of the best food you will ever have -- pita baked to order, fresh gyros, all for incredibly reasonable prices. But now with my gluten allergy, I order their gluten-free pizza, especially the White Greek pizza -- feta, roasted red peppers, grilled chicken, and roasted garlic. The pizza is wonderfully crispy and chewy all at once, and the best part? It heats up well the next day. I have yet to find another gluten-free pizza that lasts a day. If you aren't in the area, Wicked in Dedham also has excellent gluten-free pizza that heats up well the next day. It's pricey, but tasty.
4.) Toast. I didn't think I would miss a simple thing like my slice of toast in the morning. I used to eat, every morning, multi-grain toast with peanut butter and dried cranberries. Instead, I now eat oatmeal. Be warned, many oatmeals are processed with wheat. So I had to order the Glutenfreeda brand from Amazon. There are also some celiacs who cannot eat oats. However, research shows that the majority of celiac sufferers can tolerate oats just fine -- it's best to check with your doctor. Either way, I get a packet of plain oatmeal, add honey and dried cranberries, then some boiling water. Breakfast is restored!
5.) French fries. Who doesn't love a crispy crunchy fried potato? I am a sucker for French fries, and giving them up has really sucked. Admittedly, it makes me order a healthier side when at a restaurant, but most restaurants simply don't have a dedicated fryer for their fries, meaning they are contaminated with gluten from the other battered items in the fryillator. However, the saving grace? McDonald's. That's right. The best French fries in fast food are, in fact, gluten free. McDonald's does in fact list a gluten byproduct in the beef flavoring put into the fries (yeah, they put beef flavoring in their fries... why do you think they taste so good?). However, tests have shown that the beef flavoring is SO processed that the amount of gluten left is negligible and not enough to trigger a reaction in celiacs. And Mickey D's has dedicated fryers for just their French fries! Amazing. I'll stop into McDonald's for a hot fudge sundae (also gluten-free) and a big side of fries for a treat. Obviously, this is a once in awhile thing.
6.) Burgers. I love burgers so much. They are my favorite comfort food, a nice burger and fries. I am sick of restaurants saying "We have gluten-free burgers!" and what they really mean is "We can serve a meat patty with no bun and call it a burger!" I've tried the gluten-free burgers at several restaurants at this point. BBC is well-known for its gluten-free menu, but the burger bun is terrible. It tastes like drywall. Not Your Average Joe's also has a gluten-free menu, with a very good bun (they also serve the bun as a bread basket in the beginning of the meal), but disappointingly, the burger itself sucks. My server didn't even take a temperature, and it came out medium well and dry. If I could somehow combine BBC's meat patty with the bun from Not Your Average Joe's... So, in lieu of this, I turn to The Cottage in Wellesley. The L.A. Burger is very tasty, and it is actually served on bread.
7.) Wings. Every Valentine's Day, my husband and I have a tradition. We watch terrible movies on the living room floor, with a gigantic order of chicken wings. We love Wing It in Allston, and even the Wings Over... chain. I just love chicken wings (on the bone, of course. Don't give me that fried chicken tender crap and try to tell me that's a wing. If it ain't flapped, it ain't a wing.) and I love getting all gross from the sauce and working for the meat on the bone. Unfortunately, most chains fry their wings in the same fryers as their boneless (and covered in gluten) counterparts. It just isn't safe to eat. Luckily for me, we live near the BBC in Framingham. They have an expansive gluten-free menu, which includes their wings -- they oven roast them in lieu of frying. So not only are they gluten-free, but they're technically better for you anyway! BBC does takeout, so we will order their buffalo wings plus entrees, and it's an affordable and delicious dinner. Do they taste as good as deep fried wings? Well, no. But they are extremely satisfying, and as close to the real thing that I can get without busting out my Fry Daddy at home.
8.) Cupcakes. I do not normally have much of a sweet tooth, but I love cupcakes. Treat Cupcake Bar in Needham has fantastic gluten-free vegan cupcakes, but more importantly, they have varying flavors. There are plenty of good bakeries with gluten free cupcakes (Glutenus Minimus, for example) that are delicious, but they only ever come in chocolate with vanilla frosting. Treat has an entire menu of gluten-free vegan cupcakes, and they do custom orders. I've even emailed with the baker to discuss their practices to avoid cross-contamination. In this picture, you can see the varying flavors they have -- chocolate with orange frosting, mint chocolate cookie with mint frosting, cookies 'n cream, pumpkin with cinnamon frosting, mochaccino, chocolate with coconut frosting and chocolate ganache.. so delicious.
So, that's it so far. Any other substitutions people out there recommend? Is there any craving you're having a hard time satisfying? I'd love to hear from you!
Gone Gluten Free
I've been absent from this blog since I began writing for TableCritic.com (I didn't want to be competing with myself), but my recent diagnosis of celiac disease has brought me back to blogging for myself. My life as a foodie has completely changed since being diagnosed a month ago, and it's hard to say if it's for the better or the worse. For those of you who don't know, celiac disease is when gluten (found in all wheat and wheat byproducts) creates an autoimmune response in the intestines, eroding the intestinal lining. Untreated, the disease leads to malnutrition, osteoporosis, and even cancer. The only treatment? Cutting all gluten and gluten-contaminated products out of your diet.
No bread, pasta, wheat noodles, cakes, cookies, etc. The obvious stuff. But there's also the not so obvious stuff -- some kinds of vinegar, soy sauce, shredded cheeses, processed foods, fried food from restaurants (the oil is often shared with battered items), and even makeup and toothpaste. This really required a full-life overhaul for me.
That being said, I was prepared. My brothers also have celiac disease, and my nephew has severe food allergies (dairy, egg, nuts, mustard), so I cook Thanksgiving dinner and it's a gluten/dairy/egg/nut/spice free meal. If I can cook that, I can deal with just a gluten allergy. Since my brother was diagnosed 3 years ago, I've made it a point to educate myself on the disease, so I had a better starting off point than most people diagnosed with celiac disease. The other difficult thing for people who go gluten free is giving up beer -- however, I gave up beer and alcohol years ago due to an allergy, so I have already won half the battle!
So anyway, this will be the new direction of the blog. I've hated how long I ignored this blog, but now I have a focus that will help differentiate from what I do for TableCritic.com. I plan to blog about trying to live gluten free in the Boston area, and review gluten free items. If there's anything you'd like me to address, please let me know!
No bread, pasta, wheat noodles, cakes, cookies, etc. The obvious stuff. But there's also the not so obvious stuff -- some kinds of vinegar, soy sauce, shredded cheeses, processed foods, fried food from restaurants (the oil is often shared with battered items), and even makeup and toothpaste. This really required a full-life overhaul for me.
That being said, I was prepared. My brothers also have celiac disease, and my nephew has severe food allergies (dairy, egg, nuts, mustard), so I cook Thanksgiving dinner and it's a gluten/dairy/egg/nut/spice free meal. If I can cook that, I can deal with just a gluten allergy. Since my brother was diagnosed 3 years ago, I've made it a point to educate myself on the disease, so I had a better starting off point than most people diagnosed with celiac disease. The other difficult thing for people who go gluten free is giving up beer -- however, I gave up beer and alcohol years ago due to an allergy, so I have already won half the battle!
So anyway, this will be the new direction of the blog. I've hated how long I ignored this blog, but now I have a focus that will help differentiate from what I do for TableCritic.com. I plan to blog about trying to live gluten free in the Boston area, and review gluten free items. If there's anything you'd like me to address, please let me know!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Brazzille in Framingham, MA
When I think Brazilian food, I think of men carrying meat on swords and going from table to table, a la Midwest Grille in Cambridge. While my meal at Brazzille was full of meat, it was at a more reasonable price than Midwest Grille, though I'd argue not quite as tasty.
Parking in the area isn't the greatest, as it's right on 126, but on a Wednesday night, we didn't have a problem. The restaurant was pretty dead, as we were one of three restaurants the whole night, but they were running a post-work special of 10 cent wings to try to boost business. More on the wings later.
I started by ordering a frozen mango juice, which is probably one of my favorite beverages ever. I almost threw up from the first sip. Someone had used SALT instead of SUGAR to make my drink! It tasted like ocean water with a kick of tropical fruit. I brought it to the attention of our waiter, and he quickly remedied it and brought me a new, much more refreshing one. He explained to me that someone had put salt in the sugar jar. How nice.
For appetizers, we tried ten wings, and an order of the Brazilian sausage with chicken and yucca fries. When asked if we wanted the wings spicy or mild, we went for mild. Unbeknownst to us, that meant that there was no sauce on them. I wish we had tried some spicy, but the mild sauceless wings were perfectly crispy and juicy. I will definitely return for 10 cent wing night.
The Brazilian sausage was weirdly deep fried, but tasted good nonetheless. The chicken was deep fried as well, with an awesome garlic kick and the skin still on. Loved it. The yucca fries tasted like pretty much any other yucca fries I've had.
For entrees, I had the shrimp. My meal came with hearts of palm salad, potato salad, chicken salad and rice. The shrimp were beautifully cooked, with a tangy chunky tomato sauce on top. The hearts of palm salad couldn't really be called a salad, as it was just diced hearts of palm with a cured meat. The potato salad was full of potatoes, carrots, peas, corn and raisins, but I did find it had a bit too much mayonnaise. If it pulled back slightly on the mayo, it would've been supreme. The chicken salad was ironically dry, and could've used a little mayo. The rice was well cooked, but I found it oversalted.
For dessert, we had the passion fruit mousse. It was heavenly. I expected it to be a bit thicker, but the mousse was light and fluffy, and much tangier than I had expected. With a dollop of whipped cream on top, it may have been the best part of the meal.
Overall, I did find the food a bit over-salted for my tastes. But the portions are huge (I had lunch the next day, plus a little extra), the service was friendly, and the prices were right. For 2 apps, 2 entrees, a dessert, and two drinks, our bill was around $45 with tax. I can't wait to go back for more 10 cent wings.
Parking in the area isn't the greatest, as it's right on 126, but on a Wednesday night, we didn't have a problem. The restaurant was pretty dead, as we were one of three restaurants the whole night, but they were running a post-work special of 10 cent wings to try to boost business. More on the wings later.
I started by ordering a frozen mango juice, which is probably one of my favorite beverages ever. I almost threw up from the first sip. Someone had used SALT instead of SUGAR to make my drink! It tasted like ocean water with a kick of tropical fruit. I brought it to the attention of our waiter, and he quickly remedied it and brought me a new, much more refreshing one. He explained to me that someone had put salt in the sugar jar. How nice.
For appetizers, we tried ten wings, and an order of the Brazilian sausage with chicken and yucca fries. When asked if we wanted the wings spicy or mild, we went for mild. Unbeknownst to us, that meant that there was no sauce on them. I wish we had tried some spicy, but the mild sauceless wings were perfectly crispy and juicy. I will definitely return for 10 cent wing night.
The Brazilian sausage was weirdly deep fried, but tasted good nonetheless. The chicken was deep fried as well, with an awesome garlic kick and the skin still on. Loved it. The yucca fries tasted like pretty much any other yucca fries I've had.
For entrees, I had the shrimp. My meal came with hearts of palm salad, potato salad, chicken salad and rice. The shrimp were beautifully cooked, with a tangy chunky tomato sauce on top. The hearts of palm salad couldn't really be called a salad, as it was just diced hearts of palm with a cured meat. The potato salad was full of potatoes, carrots, peas, corn and raisins, but I did find it had a bit too much mayonnaise. If it pulled back slightly on the mayo, it would've been supreme. The chicken salad was ironically dry, and could've used a little mayo. The rice was well cooked, but I found it oversalted.
For dessert, we had the passion fruit mousse. It was heavenly. I expected it to be a bit thicker, but the mousse was light and fluffy, and much tangier than I had expected. With a dollop of whipped cream on top, it may have been the best part of the meal.
Overall, I did find the food a bit over-salted for my tastes. But the portions are huge (I had lunch the next day, plus a little extra), the service was friendly, and the prices were right. For 2 apps, 2 entrees, a dessert, and two drinks, our bill was around $45 with tax. I can't wait to go back for more 10 cent wings.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Apologies... Oga's!
So, I've been a very, very bad blogger. But I can explain!
I recently began writing for TableCritic.com. It's a site designed to promote restaurants in a review-like format. So most of my time has been spent there.
But it doesn't mean I haven't been eating at restaurants! Oh yes, I have. And the reviews will start coming again, I promise. Starting with Oga's in Framingham!
Since I've moved out here, I've noticed that Oga's is always packed every single time I drove down Route 9. It's not exactly the ideal location, in a plaza with a Blockbuster (I have no idea how those stores stay open and operating) and some cell phone carrier, so I had always been skeptical. I finally decided to give a shot, and boy, was it worth it.
The room is surprisingly beautiful, with dividers and a beautiful sushi bar. The tables were full with a lot of happy people, which is always a good sign.
The fluke ceviche with ponzu was just amazing. With thin slices of fluke garnished with shiitake mushrooms and what I think was chervil, the grapefruit-y juice turned the fluke into this wonderfully tender yet firm ceviche. I could've eaten two more plates. The raw tuna/raw salmon spring roll was delicious as well, with a black bean and garlic sauce dip.
We ordered a two person sushi boat, and ate every single bite. The fish quality is very high, and well cut. While a little on the pricey side, I would absolutely return to Oga's for a special occasion or date night out.
I recently began writing for TableCritic.com. It's a site designed to promote restaurants in a review-like format. So most of my time has been spent there.
But it doesn't mean I haven't been eating at restaurants! Oh yes, I have. And the reviews will start coming again, I promise. Starting with Oga's in Framingham!
Since I've moved out here, I've noticed that Oga's is always packed every single time I drove down Route 9. It's not exactly the ideal location, in a plaza with a Blockbuster (I have no idea how those stores stay open and operating) and some cell phone carrier, so I had always been skeptical. I finally decided to give a shot, and boy, was it worth it.
The room is surprisingly beautiful, with dividers and a beautiful sushi bar. The tables were full with a lot of happy people, which is always a good sign.
The fluke ceviche with ponzu was just amazing. With thin slices of fluke garnished with shiitake mushrooms and what I think was chervil, the grapefruit-y juice turned the fluke into this wonderfully tender yet firm ceviche. I could've eaten two more plates. The raw tuna/raw salmon spring roll was delicious as well, with a black bean and garlic sauce dip.
We ordered a two person sushi boat, and ate every single bite. The fish quality is very high, and well cut. While a little on the pricey side, I would absolutely return to Oga's for a special occasion or date night out.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Fantastic BBQ in... Framingham?
So, it's happened. I moved to Metrowest. I've since been exploring the culinary landscape that is Framingham and Natick... yeah, it's not quite Boston, but there still are some great gems around here. I tried Tennessee's BBQ and am HOOKED.
The original location is in Framingham, and several locations have sprung up around Massachusetts. This BBQ joint has garnered a Best of Boston win and my respect after I tried it.
I had the BBQ sampler -- it came with the pulled pork, Memphis ribs and a Dixie chicken, along with cornbread and two sides. I opted for the collard greens and the BBQ beans. The ribs were absolutely heavenly -- the sauce was sweet and tangy and the meat fell right off the bone. These were the true highlight of the meal. The pulled pork was probably the best I've ever had, with a perfect meat/sauce ratio. I'm not a huge fan of chicken as it is, but the Dixie chicken was moist and flavorful.
The sides were also excellent. The cornbread was sweet and moist, I didn't even need to spread butter on it. The collard greens were a little spicy and cooked with bacon, so that was pretty much awesome. The green beans were also cooked with bacon. I don't know why I was surprised, this is a Southern place. The candied yams were the only bleh part of the meal. They were canned yams that were dumped out into syrup and tasted too much like marshmallows. I do put marshmallows in my own candied sweet potatoes, but I never let it be a dominating flavor.
The place was reasonably priced, as well. Lunch for two including drinks was about $30, and given the quality of the food, well worth it. I also appreciate any place that will serve a large variety of real soda in an old fashioned bottle.
The original location is in Framingham, and several locations have sprung up around Massachusetts. This BBQ joint has garnered a Best of Boston win and my respect after I tried it.
I had the BBQ sampler -- it came with the pulled pork, Memphis ribs and a Dixie chicken, along with cornbread and two sides. I opted for the collard greens and the BBQ beans. The ribs were absolutely heavenly -- the sauce was sweet and tangy and the meat fell right off the bone. These were the true highlight of the meal. The pulled pork was probably the best I've ever had, with a perfect meat/sauce ratio. I'm not a huge fan of chicken as it is, but the Dixie chicken was moist and flavorful.
The sides were also excellent. The cornbread was sweet and moist, I didn't even need to spread butter on it. The collard greens were a little spicy and cooked with bacon, so that was pretty much awesome. The green beans were also cooked with bacon. I don't know why I was surprised, this is a Southern place. The candied yams were the only bleh part of the meal. They were canned yams that were dumped out into syrup and tasted too much like marshmallows. I do put marshmallows in my own candied sweet potatoes, but I never let it be a dominating flavor.
The place was reasonably priced, as well. Lunch for two including drinks was about $30, and given the quality of the food, well worth it. I also appreciate any place that will serve a large variety of real soda in an old fashioned bottle.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The easiest sauce for any occasion
I hate dry food. I have a hard time eating white meat on chicken as it's notoriously dry, and I hate any steak above medium. So in order for me to eat chicken, I need to have a great sauce to top it with. This easy sauce, inspired by a Rachael Ray recipe, will jazz up any pork chop or chicken breast in a matter of minutes. I even use the huckleberry preserves for a scallop glaze.
Worcestershire sauce
Preserves (cherry, huckleberry, blueberry, any kind depending on what fruit you like)
Black pepper
Basil (dried)
Sriracha
Spoon half a jar of preserves into a small pot or pan and put on medium heat. Once it starts to melt and sizzle, add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Use a whisk to smooth it out, then add the pepper and basil. Add sriracha to taste -- I usually add about a pea sized amount. If using blueberry preserves, I substitute basil with thyme. Allow to come to just about a boil, all while whisking every few seconds, then turn off and allow to cool. Spoon over any kind of protein for a tangy sauce with just a little bit of kick.
Worcestershire sauce
Preserves (cherry, huckleberry, blueberry, any kind depending on what fruit you like)
Black pepper
Basil (dried)
Sriracha
Spoon half a jar of preserves into a small pot or pan and put on medium heat. Once it starts to melt and sizzle, add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce. Use a whisk to smooth it out, then add the pepper and basil. Add sriracha to taste -- I usually add about a pea sized amount. If using blueberry preserves, I substitute basil with thyme. Allow to come to just about a boil, all while whisking every few seconds, then turn off and allow to cool. Spoon over any kind of protein for a tangy sauce with just a little bit of kick.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Pre theater Teatro dinner
I've been the worst blogger ever. I'm sorry I've been so neglectful, but I've been unbelievably busy between work, buying a house, etc. Excuses, I know. But I digress.
I've been to Teatro before and always had a relatively good time. It's not particularly expensive, though it ain't cheap, but it's a good place before a show. While the tour of RENT was in Boston (one of my favorite shows), we decided to go to Teatro before going to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp.
Sadly, the meal was not all I hoped it would be. Our appetizers were nothing special -- I found the calamari to be overly chewy, though well-seasoned. As for the entrees, my scallops were by far the best dish, though the spinach ravioli was also good. My friend's chicken milanese was dry and came with no sauce, and was pretty disappointing.
The service was slow and the server seemed harried. It took a long time to get our orders in, and even longer to get our drinks. However, as it was right before I show, I understand things get busy and it's hard to manage.
The kicker was when I noticed a lemonade cocktail on the drink list. It was described as a lavender lemonade mixed with stoli and lemon lime soda. I asked for just the lemonade, and was informed by the server that they don't serve virgin cocktails. Excuse me? You don't serve virgin cocktails, at all? So if I ordered a virgin Bloody Mary, I'd be refused? I find the whole policy pretty appalling, personally, as someone who doesn't really drink. I had a soda instead, but from my experience in a restaurant, if we have the goods, we can sell it. I don't understand why I wasn't allowed to have a virgin lemonade, unless it was premixed and I didn't know about it, but why would I be refused ANY virgin cocktail?
Dessert wasn't much better. The mint chocolate ice cream was far too overly minty to eat more than a bite of, though my sorbet was solid.
The whole situation with the virgin cocktails left a really bad taste in my mouth, so I didn't have a great night anyway. I did enjoy my scallops on a bed of potatoes, bacon, corn, and some other summer veggies, though I thought it was a bit heavy on the salt. I will not be rushing back to Teatro, though I will admit that my previous experiences had all been better with friendlier service. If anyone who works at Teatro or understands their policy about the virgin cocktails, please let me know, as I'd love to better understand it. If I weren't rushing to a show after, I probably would have hung around to speak to the manager about it.
I've been to Teatro before and always had a relatively good time. It's not particularly expensive, though it ain't cheap, but it's a good place before a show. While the tour of RENT was in Boston (one of my favorite shows), we decided to go to Teatro before going to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp.
Sadly, the meal was not all I hoped it would be. Our appetizers were nothing special -- I found the calamari to be overly chewy, though well-seasoned. As for the entrees, my scallops were by far the best dish, though the spinach ravioli was also good. My friend's chicken milanese was dry and came with no sauce, and was pretty disappointing.
The service was slow and the server seemed harried. It took a long time to get our orders in, and even longer to get our drinks. However, as it was right before I show, I understand things get busy and it's hard to manage.
The kicker was when I noticed a lemonade cocktail on the drink list. It was described as a lavender lemonade mixed with stoli and lemon lime soda. I asked for just the lemonade, and was informed by the server that they don't serve virgin cocktails. Excuse me? You don't serve virgin cocktails, at all? So if I ordered a virgin Bloody Mary, I'd be refused? I find the whole policy pretty appalling, personally, as someone who doesn't really drink. I had a soda instead, but from my experience in a restaurant, if we have the goods, we can sell it. I don't understand why I wasn't allowed to have a virgin lemonade, unless it was premixed and I didn't know about it, but why would I be refused ANY virgin cocktail?
Dessert wasn't much better. The mint chocolate ice cream was far too overly minty to eat more than a bite of, though my sorbet was solid.
The whole situation with the virgin cocktails left a really bad taste in my mouth, so I didn't have a great night anyway. I did enjoy my scallops on a bed of potatoes, bacon, corn, and some other summer veggies, though I thought it was a bit heavy on the salt. I will not be rushing back to Teatro, though I will admit that my previous experiences had all been better with friendlier service. If anyone who works at Teatro or understands their policy about the virgin cocktails, please let me know, as I'd love to better understand it. If I weren't rushing to a show after, I probably would have hung around to speak to the manager about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)