La Brasa

My boyfriend and I stopped in at La Brasa in Somerville a few weeks back before a movie at Assembly Row. We started with an icy, spicy cocktail from their creative cocktail list and the bread service with fresh ricotta - four enormous slices,  (two kinds of bread)  fresh, fluffy, crunchy bread with a mild and creamy ricotta, expertly dressed with delicious olive oil, diced olives, and chili flake. 

The menu - organized into snacks, small plates, and main dishes - offers a variety of Peruvian inspired dishes, many vegetable focused, but not without enticing meat heavy mains. I put together a makeshift meal with their kale salad with jalapeno dressing and Parmesan cheese - funky, yet strangely addictive and their menu staple,  savory and comforting, but lacking salt on this night, Mexican Fried Rice.

My boyfriend started with the Lentil & Fennel Sausage Soup paired with a waffle. The soup would have benefited from a bit more time cooking and the waffle separately seemed odd, but paired impressively well with the soup.  The steak was smoky and to temperature with a tangy sauce, charred onions, broccolini - altogether satisfying

La Brasa remains a pleasure to have nearby. A dependable standby for a savory bite in a hip environment outside of the city.  Perfect for a date night or a celebratory dinner with friends.

 

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Overnight Trip to Maine

I want to quickly share our list of activities for a late-summer impromptu weekend trip to Maine because it was a delightful epicurean adventure.

We headed straight to Portland, ME,  got in line at Eventide Oyster just before their 11am opening, snagging one of the last tables in this first 'shift'.  We started with an assortment of oysters followed by a selection of small sea creations - Salmon Poke, Fried Oyster Bun, and the Brown Butter Lobster Roll -all starring their impossibly fresh seafood.  I've heard mutterings of a possible journey down south to Boston and couldn't be more excited.

No longer starving, but not yet full.  We headed over to the ever-booming Duckfat and ordered a large fry.  While we waited for our deep fried Belgian goodies, we downed a quick beer next door at the East Ender's bar.  Minutes later (hot, aromatic fries in hand) we drove over to Maine Mead Works - one of Portland's hidden gems.  Each with a glass of the summer's seasonal mead, we sat and enjoyed our fries alongside the refreshing libation.

Soon, we headed in the direction of Ogunquit, stopping only at Tandem Coffee Roasters to grab a quick latte and the most delicious chocolate chip cookie I've had in forever.  Arriving in Ogunquit shortly after we took along walk through the town center - in the direction of our dinner destination, Northern Union.  About halfway there, we stopped in at Brix + Brine - a tucked away little outdoor bar and restaurant with a delightful cocktail menu.  We shared a tasty fresh ricotta appetizer, a fresh cocktail followed by their daily rose selection.

We continued down the road and enjoyed a light dinner at Northern Union - a beautiful restaurant in a converted home.  We finished the evening off back in the center of town at The Front Porch, with too many glasses of Chardonnay and never enough showtunes.

 

Salmon Poke at Eventide Oyster Co.

Salmon Poke at Eventide Oyster Co.

Cheese Plate at Northern Union

Cheese Plate at Northern Union

Apple Pie

Mid-October my boyfriend and I spontaneously joined our friends for a quick apple picking excursion.  It was a perfect fall day made complete with cider donuts and warm apple cider.  When we arrived home we quickly realized the surplus of apples we had and I decided to throw together my favorite apple pie recipe.  The all butter crust is always crisp and flaky combined with copious fresh apples, make it a fall must. (I use about 2 apples fewer than the recipe calls for).

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Little Donkey

The Donkey Punch

The Donkey Punch

Mexxology

Mexxology

Razor Clams

Razor Clams

Charred Avocado

Charred Avocado

Cucumber Salad

Cucumber Salad

Pickle Brine Fried Chicken Sandwich

Pickle Brine Fried Chicken Sandwich

Red Lentil Kale Dal

Red Lentil Kale Dal

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

When Little Donkey opened in Cambridge, my sister, mother, brother-in-law and I were excited to stop in for a summer Friday dinner.  It was their first week open, inevitably things have evolved, but I'm very glad to have it in Cambridge.

The exciting cocktail list did not disappoint with the Donkey Punch, which arrived in a real grapefruit bowl. While lacking a pronounced grapefruit flavor and a bit on the sweet side, I gleefully drank down my pretty treat. 

The menu offers small pates from around the world and an impressive raw bar. We began with 4 fresh, briny Beausoleil oysters and a bright tuna poke that vanished in seconds.  The razor clams arrived next; another perfect balance of sea, citrus, and herbs. 

We then enjoyed the Cucumber Salad, arguably the best dish of the night with spicy peppers and a creamy labne, dressed with deliciously assertive feta. From there dishes starting arriving in quick succession; a tiny Charred Avocado, adorned with tangy and salty dressings, an equally teensy Pickle-brined Fried Chicken Sandwich - one of the crunchiest fried chickens I've had, whose roll crumbled into a sweet soggy patty under the pressure. Soon after, the Red Lentil Kale Dal arrived, with familiar Indian flavors, savory and comforting, but dismissable after a few tastes. We finished with a playful cookie dough dessert, served on the whisk, yummy yet not quite the real thing.

While each dish on its own was balanced and tasty-- some more so than others--I found myself not wanting these flavors together. The avocado left me longing for an earthy grain salad by its side, the dal, cripsy dosas.  I'm never against an appetizer round of chips and salsa followed by spaghetti and meatballs, but the dishes in their own right were exciting enough to want more like them or at least more space between them. 

I appreciate and am excited by the multifarious menu and its limitless possibilities. While I may put a bit more planning into the dishes I choose next time, I will return, especially if my dining companions and I can't quite decide between thai and italian.

 

Rosé Slushie

This summer I came across this recipe and thought, "it's hot out, I love rosé" and I had to make it. I was not in the mood for the fruity, so I skipped the sugar and the strawberries in this recipe and just froze my rosé and used the suggested blending technique. Then, to add a little sweetness back in, I put a splash of Aperol in the glass before spooning in the "Frosé".  Enjoy!

Guacamole Night

This year for my 'friend birthday celebration' I opted for a low-key night in with friends, snacks, and drinks. I decided to go for my favorite snack in the entire world - guacamole and to compliment - margaritas (obviously).

Despite the fact that we made way more guacamole than we needed, due to some last minute cancellations, we still managed to finish all 8 avocados worth of guac, between 7 people. You do the math.

Guacamole is my most favorite and I pride myself on my recipe. Please find said recipe below (not that it is revolutionary or anything, I just really believe in it).

Note: I don't put this many limes in my guacamole, if that's what you're thinking.  My roommates kindly juiced all these limes x4 to contribute to the mass amounts of margaritas we also served. They are not pictured here because I have yet to own a real pitcher and they were therefore served from a large bowl (not a punch bowl, just a super cool, down-to-earth, plastic mixing bowl).

Guacamole (serves 4-6)3 large, ripe Haas avocados1/4 Red Onion (sm-med) diced very small1/4-3/4 Jalapeno - depending on how spicy you like, and how spicy the pepper your using is2 tsp Salt1 tsp Black PepperJuice of 2.5-3 limes - to tasteA handful of…

Guacamole (serves 4-6)

3 large, ripe Haas avocados
1/4 Red Onion (sm-med) diced very small
1/4-3/4 Jalapeno - depending on how spicy you like, and how spicy the pepper your using is
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
Juice of 2.5-3 limes - to taste
A handful of washed, chopped cilantro (about 1/2 cup unpacked)

Place avocado meat, red onion, jalapeno, salt, pepper, lime juice, and cilantro in a large bowl.  Mix until avocado is creamy and solid ingredients are mixed, but there are still a few avocado chunks. Add salt/lime juice to taste.

I don't add garlic, I don't add tomato - on purpose.  You also see that a lot of these things are to taste as it will depend in the potency of your onion and the chili to your pepper. But when in doubt, go a little extra lime and make sure it's nice and salty - don't depend on the chip for salt. But it is a delicate balance. Taste taste taste.  Enjoy!
 

Providence: Redfin Crudo

Grapefruit Margarita

Grapefruit Margarita

Quesuco Ahumado España

Quesuco Ahumado España

Coles de Bruselas

Coles de Bruselas

Lulas (Calamari)

Lulas (Calamari)

Earlier this summer my sister, brother-in law, and our friend Grant were invited down to Providence to surprise our friend Katie for her birthday.  We rode the commuter rail down (which was a breeze) and had a couple hours to kill, so we decided to head over to Redfin Crudo.  We'd heard great things and who doesn't like tapas?

My hopes were high and I was not disappointed...also not blown away. The drinks (a Grapefruit Margarita, followed by Sangria) were tasty.  We consumed a few very fresh oysters, enjoyed our Calamari appetizer with Pickled Jalapeno and Amarillo Tartare and devoured the Crispy Brussel Sprouts with a tangy Sherry Glaze (my favorite, I kept coming back for more).

We then ordered Jamon and Queso croquetas,  a couple of cheeses, and Peruvian Fries.  The Croquetas were fried ham and cheese balls in a sweet and tangy aoili (hard to go wrong), the impossibly thin sliced cheeses were did not fail to be cheese and, therefore, I loved them.  Finally the Peruvian Fries. Possibly the item on the menu I was most excited about.  Never have I met a potato product I didn't like. I wanted to love them and tried going back for more, but something about the lack of crispiness and the odd flavor to their dressing, left me comfortable putting my fork down after a few bites. I rarely do this when it comes to potatoes and when I say rarely, I mean never.  I wouldn't say they were off-putting, but there was something lacking-maybe I'm just not into more tartar with my potatoes (the calamari had us covered in that department) .

Overall, a beautiful night, surrounded by the loveliest company (later in the evening we met a dog) and yummy food.  I'm not running back to Red Fin, but when I'm in Providence again it will certainly be on my list.

I took this on our walk to Red Fin Crudo from the train station - such a pretty sky!

I took this on our walk to Red Fin Crudo from the train station - such a pretty sky!