Spanish Trio

Solea, Tapeo & Kika  - what is there not to like about Spanish restaurants in Boston?

1. Great first date option
2. Variety of tapas to choose from
3. Sangria
4. Authentic Spanish ambiance

I haven't tried Kika yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Boutique or Not-So-Chic?

Bokx109 is located in the boutique Indigo hotel in Newton.  The atmosphere was a mix: cougars, hunters/ole-timers(is that the male version of a cougar?), business travelers, and locals.  We had cocktails and apps at the bar.  I struggled a bit with the menu, but their asparagus appetizer was good.  Kinda pricey for the portions.

So far, not so swanky for a boutique style hotel.  Well at least not inside.  Until a glowing light outside caught my eye. Of course I had to explore!

Wait a minute - did I just leave boston and enter South Beach?  I made my way to the cabanas in harmony with the rhythm of the lounge tunes.  Not as picturesque as the Shore Club or Delano, but not too shabby for metro Boston.  Oh and don't be thrown off by the front of the hotel.  I'm pretty sure it was a hospital in a former life. Indigo hotel isn't super 'boutiquesque' but beggars can't be choosers in the 'burbs' of boston. 

Let me sail, let me sail, let the Orinoco flow

When it was decided to go to Orinoco restaurant, all I could think of was the song from Enya:


Enya - Orinoco Flow by WBRNewMedia
Good song by the way!  So I had no idea what to expect from Orinoco.  Let's just say that I was pleasantly surprised!!  I went to Orinoco for lunch for the first time and loved it.  It is a small, yet authentic restaurant nestled on one of the side streets in the South End.  Once inside, I felt like I was in South America. Seriously I almost ordered in Spanish.  The decor was simple, but had a rustic feel to it.  The Latin music playing in the background completed the experience.

Priced inexpensively, the portions were modest, but perfect size for lunch.  I had the Orinoco salad (forgot to ask them to leave out the onions) and some yuca(yum!).  Next time I will definitely try an Arepa- traditional Venezuelan grilled corn pocket sandwich. Oh and the service was excellent.

Amen to The Brahmin!

The old 33 Lounge on Stanhope received a face lift, and is now known as The Brahmin. I paid The Brahmin a visit on a friday night for a friend's birthday, and it was a great scene.  Music was odd at times (rare mix of 80's-90's remixes), but then it found it's way back to the 21st century.  Last but not least...the tall bald bartender made the best bellinis.

Here are some more reviews on yelp:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-brahmin-boston#hrid:a-3I3NrJDqBr2XzujyG-9w

Is it The Pumpkin or The Wine?

What is it that makes this sangria recipe taste so good? 

Pumpkin Sangria
Serves fifteen to twenty

Ingredients
4 bottles cabernet sauvignon
1 bottle pinot grigio
½ bottle brandy
½ bottle ruby port wine
1 lemon peel
1 orange peel
5 cinnamon sticks
2 sugar pumpkins
½ oz. cloves
1 l water
½ lb. brown sugar
¼ lb. white sugar
1 oz. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. butter
1. Pour the wine, brandy, and port into a large container.
2. Add the lemon and orange peels and three cinnamon sticks.
3. Let the wine mixture sit while you make the pumpkin puree.
4. Peel the pumpkin. Scrape out the seeds and strings and discard.
5. Wrap the cloves in cheesecloth (to make them easier to remove later). Cut the pumpkin into small pieces and place in a large saucepan with water, brown and white sugars, and remaining cinnamon sticks, vanilla extract, butter, and cloves.
6. Cook over low heat until the pumpkin slices are very soft.
7. Remove the cinnamon and cloves. Blend until smooth.
8. Strain the puree through a fine strainer. Use the wine mixture to thin out the puree and make it easier to strain.
9. Refrigerate 1-2 days before serving.

Enjoy a laborless glass of pumpkin sangria through November 30 at Grafton Street, 1230 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard Square (617-497-0400)

When The Moon Hits Your Eye...

like a big pizza pie, that's (not) Fiore!!

If you are ready to battle your way to a rooftop seat, then this is the place for you.  It's certainly a scene on the roof deck of Fiore, but not the scene I was looking for.  No lie, I had to position myself strategically to get in line for a table.  The couple occupying the table was paying the bill, and just about to stand when a bachelorette party pranced on in.  Oh no, they were not going to take my table!  I was not letting this happen.  Just because you have a veil on, doesn't mean you get special seating privileges.  I had to do something, so I tapped the girl on the shoulder and kindly let her know that we were waiting for the table.  Whoa where did that come from?  Must have been my screaming feet, in 3 inch heels, that made me do it.  Fortunately the bridal posse stepped aside. Thank goodness - I'm definitely not into cat fights.

But was it worth all the fuss?  Here's the situation:  the waitress was a complete space cadet.  It took her 20 minutes to bring us menus, and we lost count waiting for our drinks.  When she arrived to take our order, she had a pizza that was scorching hot she could no longer hold on to it.  Somehow it ended up in my hands - ouch!!  I'm not sure if the pizza incident happened before or after she dropped someone's beer on the ground next to us.  After our less than average appetizer, we kindly asked for the check and ended up at Il Panino for dinner.  As luck would have it, the bachelorette party was seated right next to us at Il Panino. Sooo awkward!

A Little Taste of Brazil in Waltham

I've driven by Panela de Barro for the past 4yrs with curiosity.  Finally I satisfied my curiosity/hunger and ventured in one afternoon to see what this modest Brazilian establishment had to offer.   Once you walk in through the front door, you are faced with a buffet.  Anyone that has traveled to Brazil would understand.  They love buffets!!  To bad Ponderosa still isn't around.  Or is it?  I'll let you know shortly.

Anyhow, I'm not a huge fan of buffets at all.  The thought of everyone dipping into the same bowl just turns me off.  aka germ phobia.  yuck!

 After I got over my fear, I made my way straight to the plantains.  Nothing will compare to the plantains in Costa Rica, but I had to try for myself.  Delish!!  I also had some rice and poa de quejo(cheese bread).  I probably could have eaten the entire basket of poa de quejo, but I had to save some for the line behind me.  Oh, did I mention that I tried cashew juice?  Very peculiar, but good.

For people that want a taste of  Brazil, this is a good place.  I'm not a huge fan of meat so I passed the man, standing behind a little window,  handing out slabs of beef.  I'm pretty sure the meat lovers will be "satisfecho" at the end of their meal.  Overall the food was good, but I was hoping to see the panela de barro(pot) overflowing with traditional Brazilian fare.  

FYI - Ponderosa does still exist.  Apparently there is one in Attleboro, MA. 

Cinnamon or Nutmeg?

You don't have to go to a restaurant to find the perfect sangria, when you can make it in the comfort of your own home.

I've heard of many different sangria recipes, which include ingredients such as cinnamon, nutmeg, orange juice, brandy, lemons, limes, apples, ginger ale, soda water...  Everyone has their own 'secret' ingredient, hence the wide variety of sangria concoction.  It's really what you're in the mood for at the time.  Whether it is sweet, citrus, bubbly sangria, it all depends on your taste.

A few years ago, I made white sangria for a baby shower that I threw for a friend.  I know what you're thinking... that's so mean to make sangria when an expecting mom can't drink!  But for all of you who have endured hundreds of showers as I have, it was the best idea ever.  The gift opening process was so much more fun when everyone’s sangria-tipsy.  Guests seemed oblivious to watching her open all those onesies, burpies, genies, diapies, boppies...

At one point the supply of sangria was running low, so I had to improvise. I added any ole white wine, sprite and grapes to replenish the pitcher.  It wasn't too bad!  Not as tasty as the original sangria, but I don't think anyone noticed after their second or third glass.  In case you're wondering, the original white wine sangria recipe was from allrecipes.com.

If you prefer authentic red wine sangria, I'd recommend the following recipe: http://therecipegirl.blogspot.com/2008/02/red-wine-sangria-recipe.html

Last but not least, if you want to take the easy way out, I'll share a little secret.  If you're ever in NY/NJ, find the nearest liquor store and pick up a bottle of Don Simon.  Enjoy a taste of Spain in a bottle!

¡Salud to Sangria!

All right all of you sangria lovers... who has the best sangria in Boston?  Red, white, pink..,which is your favorite sangria?  Here are my top choices for good-but-not-as-good as Spain's sangria:  

• Solea   
• Toro
• Casa Romero
• Taberna Horo
• Cuchi Cuchi
• Emmas Pizza: random right? Their Sangria is simple, yet good like their pizza.
• Noche

I've been drinking sangria since birth, okay maybe since I studied abroad in college(but it seems that long ago).   I've sampled sangria at various places in Madrid - restaurants, tapas bars, bull fights(ole!), el parque retiro, un futbol game… I’m starting to write in spanglish. It's so difficult to forget about the good ole times in Spain.  Aside from Madrid, I've sipped sangria in Barcelona, Sevilla, Marbella, Ibiza, Granada, San Sebastian, Asturias, Leon... I'm not sure if I traveled around Spain for the sights or the sangria.?  If only I was chosen instead of Gwyneth Paltrow to appear in the series of On the Road Again Spain.

Sangria at Parador de Leon

After traveling over the mountains and plateaus of Spain, I've concluded that the best sangria was made in a lovely top floor apartemento on Calle Velasquez in Madrid.  This is where my host family lived, and my host mom Mary Carmen was responsible for my everlasting love of sangria.  I don't recall the exact ingredients, but I do remember that there was quite a bit of brandy was involved.  That was the evening I converted my sweet 'rebel southern bell' roommate into a 'discoteca lovin yankee' :-)  We'll save that story for another time.  Back to the topic - How could the Boston varieties ever compare to Mary Carmen’s home made sangria?  The bottom line? They can’t compare.

Storyville

 Looking forward to the opening of Storyville this week.  It will occupy the old space of Saint nightclub.  Apparently Storyville was a nightclub and music venue back in the 1940's in the Pizzeria Uno building in Kenmore. Who would have known?

  The new Storyville in backbay will offer a lounge-like atmosphere with dining, drinks, and dancing.  Curious to see what kind of crowd this speakeasy venue will draw. students? thirty-forty somethings?  bridge-n- tunnel?  euro?

Storyville is already getting mixed reviews on Yelp, but it's still too soon to tell. 

The Red Lantern

The exterior of Red Lantern is dismal and contradicts the chic interior decor. Once inside, it reminded me of NY's Tao restaurant (less the huge Buddha statue in the back).  Lounge music was playing, while funky red lanterns swayed over the seating area.  Finally Boston was on to something hip and classy!  Well...until I noticed people sharing Scorpion bowls. Isn't that why people go to the less sophisticated Hong Kong in Harvard Square? C'mon Red Lantern you can do better! 

On a positive note, the cocktails (Sumo Summer Martini) were yummy and my crazy Noodles were tasty.  Red Lantern has potential, but they just need to nix the shared drinks and neon straws.