scraps to scrumptious

Craigie on Main, Central Square, Cambridge

I have heard of Craigie on Main for a while, and have passed it many times on my way to Tosci's Ice Cream or to Tatte in Kendall, but never got the chance to eat there until my boyfriend decided to take me by (semi) surprise! We decided to go for the six-course chef's tasting menu, and as you can tell from my previous posts, I have been treated extremely well this year with some truly delicious feasts! 

Let me just cite a few points before delving into how amazing this restaurant and experience was: 

(1) Chef Tony Maws is a James Beard Award Winner for Best Chef, NE

(2) Zagat rated this restaurant one of the Top 100 Wine Restaurants in the US 

(3) Combines French-inspired "nose-to-tail refined rusticity"

Known for their amazing pork and local ingredients, Craigie on Main really makes Cambridge a destination for food. I heard that their brunch is amazing, but if you can go for dinner, I think that will prove to you that Cambridge/Boston definitely has something to offer.

My favorite savory dish was the Slow-Cooked Scottish Sea Bream with cara cara orange, roasted beets pomegranate, and ginger. Mostly because I love savory dishes paired with a citrus burst of surprise (especially cara cara oranges) and earthly juicy beets. Not only was it a surprise that Craigie on Main could execute a seafood dish, but it was especially nice with fruit. It was not fishy at all! 

The dessert was another surprise: Praline and Nougat with milk chocolate, caramel foam, malted milk ice cream. Pralines are big in the south, and my boyfriend who is not normally a big dessert person LOVED this. It was the cool ice cream, the foam, and the soft compacted nougat that really pleased me. The three different textures and the rich praline flavor really wrapped up this meal for me, making it one of the best meals that I have ever had in the Northeast. 

I must note: Service was incredible. Not only are they thoughtful, but they try to make it a memorable experience. My boyfriend and I wanted to save the wine bottle, and when we told that to the waiter, he took it away and we thought we would never see it again. And when we asked for a copy of the menu, we thought he didn't hear us...But when we picked up our coats, we got a bag of three things: my leftover pork (too rich for me and glad that he packed it up), a scroll of the chef's tasting menu, and the empty wine bottle in a clear plastic bag. It was extremely memorable and sweet for them to do for us. 

Bergamot, Somerville, Boston

This was such a surprise. My sister bought a Groupon for a 7 course meal for 2 people. I went on a Monday night and was very pleased with the nice and simple service (not too overbearing) for a long day at work. 

Bergamot has a heavy emphasis on local ingredients in the Northeast region. When we went, the fall season was getting quite serious, and I started to notice the earthy, local vibe of ingredients at the supermarkets. I appreciated this emphasis coming from NYC, Houston, Paris, and Florida just previously. 

Out of the seven courses, my two favorites were the Rabbit Risotto and the Butternut Soup with Bacon and Smoked Mussels. These were very impressive, but the dessert really missed the mark. I thought there was way too much cranberry, for the portion size. It didn't feel balanced at all. 

Area Four, Kendall, Cambridge

You can make reservations online now! I did not know that before coming here twice now. (With the first time being a 45 min wait.. And deciding to go to Tatte again.) The decor is really warm and chic. I love these two dishes that we decided to go for: 

We opted for the skillets, but really wished that we ordered a side of English Muffins or Bread because it got so soppy that it needed some carbs to clean up the skillet. This is a great meal to treat that hangover from the night before. 

The coffee from Area Four is definitely a notable piece. This restaurant also has a cafe adjoined to it, which has decent options for breakfast pastries and coffee. The benches and newspapers make it a wonderful place to squat and start the beginning of the day. 

Cheeky Sandwiches Update: The Token Cole Slaw

I covered this hole in the wall a couple of weeks ago, but this past experience really deems another post...

Before I get onto a bus back to Boston, my boyfriend and I like to stop by Cheeky to grab dinner together. And the most surprising thing happened: As my boyfriend started ordering the chicken biscuits without cole slaw... the chef interrupted the cashier taking our order, "Have you ever tried the chicken biscuit WITH the cole slaw?" We shook our heads and my boyfriend told him that we don't like cole slaw very much. He responds, "It is the rule of the house that you guys have to try it my way once. If you don't like it, I will make it your way for free." 

CHALLENGE ON. We were so surprised that he made this request to us, but we decided that we would win either way so we said, "Okay, we will try it your way." And judging by the pictures and the fact that I am writing this post, you must know... Cheeky's Cole Slaw is KEY. 

The simple red cabbage slaw added a level of texture/crunchiness that would otherwise make this biscuit quite one noted (but extremely well made). The balance of the acidity with the savory gravy makes this biscuit sing...or makes people silent eating with complete content. 

As a token of gratitude from the chef after he won the challenge, he served us up with the best mini beignets that I have ever had (especially since my trip to New Orleans). Freshly made and warm, it was such a memorable experience that I will probably remember this biscuit and hole in the wall for the rest of my life. 

I am beginning to understand why these hole in the walls in NYC are so lovely. They are intimate and staffed with passionate chefs who truly believe in their food and want to provide us with an experience that their customers will truly appreciate. Our one-on-one chat with the chef and his confident challenge made us appreciate this so much more. I definitely will be back and spread the story of this to all of my friends. 

Cafe Art Science, Kendall, Cambridge

It didn't quite wow me as the article from the Boston Globe states and maybe I didn't order the right things, but I went twice and was not blown away with any liquid nitrogen or interesting foam... Instead, I would say that this food is beautiful and executed extremely well. Of course, it is pricey, but it deliciously reminded me of my time in Europe when I discovered the beauty and flavor of food. 

The decor was really unimpressive as well. Developers of the building were probably not prepared to account for or design for a contemporary restaurant on the bottom floor. Awkward lighting with incredibly high ceilings and strangely partitioned off space for private events to the sterile bathrooms were just disappointing. The cool product showcase at the front along with the bar were lovely glossy white eye-candy, but the rest of the space was just unimpressive. There lacked a cohesive theme. Did they hire an interior designer or architect to help them out? I don't think so. 

I am not going to delve into the food too much, but I will say that judging by these photos, you can tell that there are gorgeous plates of food here, with an incredibly French flair, which made it such a nice meal. I want to stress that the second time I went, the desserts were quite amazing (don't try to the WikiPearls). The Huckleberry and Lime Creamsicle had a range of ingredients that I had never tried before like the Ras el Hanout Sponge Cake, which tasted coarse and looked like it washed up on the sand from the sea. The savory main dish that really spoke to me was the Veal Loin en Crepeniette (Pancetta, Gnocchi Parisienne, Grilled Cabage) was delicious. The gnocchi was incredibly surprising because it was a little fried but the interior was just the gooey soft texture that was incredibly surprising. 

City Girl Cafe, Inman Square, Cambridge

This is one of the coziest and delicious brunches that I have been to in the Boston area. The space probably only seats up to 20-25 people max, and the fairy lights only add to the appeal. Come here late in the morning or early afternoon because it will be pretty tough to get a seat at any typical brunch hour. 

What makes this place so special is the vintage glow: paintings and antiques, mixture of marble and wood tables, and variety of cups. The waitress was incredibly nice, and it was basically open seating by the time we got there. 

The Verde had pesto, spinach, tomatoes, and potatoes (they had me at pesto), and it was so well-seasoned and balanced. I always love having bread on the side to spread my eggs on top of. The single piece of cantaloupe was a nice palate-cleanser fr this flavorful plate. And my partner-in-crime tested their Asiago biscuits with sausage gravy and fried eggs, which were then sprinkled with some hot sauce (just how he likes it). It tasted even better with my hash!

He ordered his usual coffee, which came in a translucent glass with a slight wash of pink on the bottom. And I tried out the rosemary lemonade. As a HUGE rosemary fan, I found this extremely delightful and would be more delightful on a nice warm summer day.... (I already miss the summer.) 

BAO NATION, within Dosa Factory in Central Square

I have been to two other bao joints (BaoHaus in NYC East Village and Fat Bao in Houston on Kirby), and I have to say, this one was the most memorable. And not because I was in love with the food. 

We weren't super hungry when we sought this place out and were very surprised to find that it was inside an Indian supermarket and fast-food joint (Dosa Factory - I had never been to and hope to report it next time). It was a little sketchy without food in the trays in front of the counter, but we were quickly greeted by the owner (?). He took our order: recommending everything above the $3 baos: Harvard Bao, Chinatown Bao, BBQ Pork Bao, Bird Bao, and Central Bao. They were put inside a box, and we were not sure if we were identifying the right bao... but we gobbled them up inside the shop (which is close to the door that leads you to the back of HMart). 

My two favorites: the Harvard Bao contains ginger and yogurt marinated grilled chicken, dry coconut, peanut, cayenne pepper, fried onion, cilantro, and creamy tomato dressing. I think the peanut sprinkle and the dressing did it for me. And the other one that I thought was impressive was the Bird Bao: a boneless crispy-fried soy-milk soaked chicken wings, pickled onion, cilantro, peanut powder, roasted cumin, spicy lemongrass sauce. I think the cumin was surprising and the lemongrass sauce was just refreshing. 

Cheeky Sandwiches in Lower East Side, New York is absolutely amazing. On our way to catch the Yo! Bus back to Boston after an amazing birthday weekend in New York, we stopped by this hipster spot for some delicious Southern Chicken Biscuits. This perfectly concocted biscuit with crunchy chicken and delicious gravy (I opted for no coleslaw because of personal preference) makes me want to go back each time I catch a bus back to Boston. Tastier than Popeye's (my boyfriend's usual spot after I catch the Lucky Star Bus), this place is going to make you want to sing Patsy Cline's Crazy and fall asleep happily on the bus for four hours. 

The decor was really rough and the sole chef in the back seemed legit. The service is a little slow because of this, but the overall atmosphere of this grungy place shouldn't turn you off. Think of it as a hidden gem instead. Note: My sister ordered the vegetable sandwich, and it was alright. Nothing to write home about. On the other hand, plan for your next visit for those Chicken Biscuits! 

Tatte is my favorite bakery and cafe in town right now. 

After spending one semester in Paris last year, this cafe really hit the spot. Outfitted in chic decor, this Third Street venue is an extremely wonderful for brunch. I went with my sister and shared a Pear Tart, one of my favorite things to order at the French bakery back in Boca Raton. What made this unique was the half pear that sits right in the middle of the tart. It was beautifully made, without being too sweet. 

I ordered a creamy onion, potato Shashuka with three slices of AMAZING bread. I haven't had bread like as soft and crisp since ordering baguettes in Paris (which I deeply miss buying each day). This dish is perfect for ravished brunchers who are looking to devour a thick, three-poached eggs, with bacon and potatoes dish. Dipping the bread in the bowl of the creamy sauce reminded me of Paris again. 

Food Guru Find: Okonomiaki in the Wall

Just found this old draft in my Tumblr queue from NYC. Here's a nice photo op from the experience that I had almost two years ago with Max, a fellow McMurtrian and New Yorker. He loves Japanese food, and we went to get Okonomiaki together, which reminded me of all my happy days in Japan with my host family back in high school. 

Orange peel art :)

A rainy Sunday morning found me wandering around in circles at Whole Foods Market, where I had come to buy yogurt and fruit but couldn't resist browsing through everything else in the store. I was actually surprised to run into one of my classmates who was studying in the café area - something I could never do since I would probably just take "study breaks" every 15 minutes to get cheese samples or something. Anyway, I came across brussel sprouts during this glorious 1.5 hour long grocery shopping trip and remembered that Rice's beloved Baker Servery used to serve these occasionally. Since I'd never cooked anything with brussel sprouts before, I did what any hip Whole Foods customer would do: whipped out my iPhone to search for recipes on the spot and ultimately found this one. It's somewhat time-taking (about 1.5 hours total of prep time and cooking) but is worth the effort!

Post-exam experimental cooking is totally my new hobby (and so therapeutic too).

Ingredients: 

       1 cup pearl barley 

2 cups vegetable (or chicken/beef) broth

2-3 cups brussel sprouts, halved 

1/2 of a red onion, chopped 

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup basil, roughly chopped (next time I would add even more, maybe 1/2 cup)

1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese 

vegetable oil

salt, pepper

Steps:

First sauté the brussel sprouts in vegetable oil, lightly salted, until they're tender and browned (should take 5-6 min) and set aside. You could also try roasting them in an oven to make them more tender and uniformly cooked. 

In a separate pot, mix the broth with an equal volume of water and heat it on low flame, just to keep it hot until it's added to the risotto.  

Sauté the onions and garlic until brown, add the barley, and cook for 2-3 min. Then mix in the basil.

Add 1 cup of broth, then the rest in 1/2 cup increments, waiting until the barley is almost dry before adding the next 1/2 cup of broth. This allows the risotto to stay at a stew-like consistency throughout. On medium heat, it took me about 25 min total to finish adding all of the broth. 

After the last 1/2 cup of broth, mix in the sautéd brussel sprouts and reduce heat to low. Cook for 3-5 min before mixing in the goat cheese. 

Final product (with goat cheese added): 

Glamorous Architecture Intern Lunch #1: Couscous

Last week, one of my coworkers told me that he eyed some delicious looking couscous in the communal fridge. And I told him with a proud grin, "Yes, that's mine." 

If there's one valuable lesson that I have learned in my first month in New York working as an architecture intern, it would be: "It's tough to match beauty with budget. But with persistence and passion, you can make it happen!" This lesson can very much be applied to food. Budget-friendly food does not have to be ugly and unhealthy. In fact, it can be very much the opposite, and trendy! This year, it is my goal to come up with trendy-glamorous intern homemade and budget friendly lunches, so that every time your coworkers open the fridge to grab some milk for their coffee or their own premade store-bought lunches, they start drooling looking at YOUR wallet-happy, handmade lunch.

Inspired by my medical-business student sister, I wanted to make something that was both elegant enough for my office culture, healthy enough for my body, and CHEAP for my wallet. Couscous can be bought at the store for roughly $2-3. One box is about 3-5 servings, which translates to potentially three to five delicious, mouth-watering dinners or lunches. The best part of couscous? As my sister would say: seeing it "fluff like no other". Watch little small grains burst into a bountiful meal!  

Ingredients for your couscous: 

Pesto

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Mixed Greens

Tomato

Cucumber

Avocado

Spring Onions

Raisins

Little bit of salt

and/or Oven-heated chicken strips

I'm not going to state exactly how much of each ingredient, you should put in because everyone cooks to their own liking. Buy what ingredients you think would be best, but I would suggest creating textures: crunch (cucumbers) with juicy (tomatoes). When you prepare your lunch in your tupperware, don't mix yet! Put the mixed greens down first, layer with some couscous, and finally put in the mixture of cut vegetables pesto, sprinkle with raisins and spring onions. Mix when you get to work (shake the capped tupperware or gently mix with forks and utensils). It will make you feel like a pro. 

An Artichoke Pie

Pies? Yeah, up in the Northeast, pies = pizza! I thought about it, and in New York City, they SHOULD be called pies. They are so much more elaborate than your Papa Johns Works Pizza (yeah, suburbanites, there are better pizzas out there). They actually have toppings that you have seen in elegant salads, or gourmet entrees, but never on a pizza! Artichoke is one of the most fantastic toppings you can possibly get on a PIE, but what's more impressive is the creamy and rich sauce topped with a seemingly overwhelming amount of cheese. 

Trust me, it's worth the calories because... 

Just walk it off on the Highline. The Highline is absolutely beautiful on a nice summer day in NYC. My first full day in NYC, I wanted to see what the Highline was all about. I had talked about it with my friends, urging them to go when they visited NYC, and then constantly heard about it during my four year of architecture school BUT never went! It was the first landmark I wanted to experience, and I have to say, it is the best family location in the day, and the most romantic spot in the evening. The sheer flexibility of the Highline to accommodate all types of program during any part of the day, just shows how successful this project is. New Yorkers are tough on the arts and architecture, but they definitely love this one. 

OH! I had to include a little snippet of what many of my friends feel like when they wait for me to take a picture...

Artichoke Basille's Pizza 

114 Tenth Avenue

New York, New York 10011

A Taste of Argentina in Houston

The Original Marini's Empanada House 

Everyone knows what empanadas are, folded bread with meat, cheese, vegetables, fruits, or sweets in the middle. Popular in Latin America, variants of empanadas exist in other countries: samosas in India, calzones in Italy, or meat pies in Ghana. Coming from a Chinese background, they reminded me of my mom's very own Curry Chinese Pastries, which are absolutely delicious and easy to make, just using refrigerated pie crust dough and Japanese curry powder with vegetables and chicken. I remember glazing each one with egg yolk and using a fork to "seal the envelope". So empanadas were not a huge surprise to me, but after hearing about my suitemates raving about this one place in Houston that takes roughly 30-40 minutes to drive there, I just had to see what the fuss was all about..

My three wishes came on a bright green plate: Las Pampas, the Humita, and the CHIO Surprise. Before I go on with the details of each empanada, something important needs to be discussed. If you ever pick up a fork and knife to "dissect" your empanadas, expect some dirty looks from your friends, other customers, and the owners. There is an adorable picture of a young chef showing you how to eat an empanada the proper way. Follow it, but be careful not to burn yourself! These empanadas are extremely hot. Restrain yourselves... 

Las Pampas (savory): Ground beef, onions, spices, avocado, and Italian mozzarella cheese. The beef and onions, combined with the avocado wasn't heavy. But the flavor was a little lost with the overwhelming amount of cheese.

La Humita (savory): Corn, cream sauce, onions, mozzarella, provolone cheese, and spices. A traditional empanada in Argentina, the Humita is the shining star on the menu. Although heavily pumped with cheese, this emapanada's corn and cream sauce combination was incredibly tasteful and delighting.

Chio Surprise (sweet): Diced banana, Ghiradelli chocolate chips and dulce de leche. The rule stays true. Anything with the word "Surprise" in it, is a risk, but a risk worth taking. The ingredients sounded wonderful, but all together, it was too overwhelming. The amount of chocolate and dulce de leche flooded out of my empanada, and was a constant struggle to maintain. However, the warmth of the empanada with the chocolate was delightful. Advice: Keep a cup of water on hand. 

Overall, I am impressed with this restaurant and can see it opening another branch by Rice. These affordable and large empanadas would easily satisfy the taste buds and busy schedules of college students. 

The Original Marini's Empanada House 

Carillion Shopping Centre

10001 Westheimer Road 

Houston, TX 77042