Boston Food Bloggers at Flemings, Boston

This past Thursday I had the privilege of being invited to a dinner for Boston food bloggers at Fleming's Steakhouse in Boston. Our hosts, Michael Dearing (Operating Partner) and Jason Carron(Head Chef and Partner) were very generous with their food and time, allowing us to try a good portion of the menu. In addition, it was a wonderful opportunity to dine with the authors of many food Boston Blogs including: BellyGlad, Cave Cibum, The Leather District Gourmet, Forays of a Finance Foodie, Fork it Over Boston, and Grow, Cook, Eat. Clearly a Boston Food Blog community is beginning to form, and it is exciting to be a part of it. Hopefully there will be more events like this in the future.

I tend to avoid steakhouses for a few reasons. First, I prefer a quick grill in the backyard to heading out to a stuffy, simple meal of heavy dishes. If I am going to eat out it is far more likely to be an inexpensive Vietnamese or Thai restaurant (such as Rod Dee) where the total bill will range around $20.00 and we can take the kids. Flemings is definitely not inexpensive, nor is it a place to bring young children (no children's menu). So this night was even more of a treat for me. The reality is that Flemings is a warm restaurant with a menu which veers off from the more traditional steak house fare in a variety of creative ways.

As for the food, we began with an enormous array of appetizers beginning with a chilled seafood tower (crab legs, lobster tails, shrimp). This was followed by a delicious tenderloin carpaccio.The shrimp cocktail and seared ahi tuna were light, while the lobster and vegetable tempura and crab cakes were definitely on the heavy side. My favorite appetizer was the most simple: homemade crostini served with goat cheese that was infused with cabarnet.For a main dish, I chose the recommendation of the chef and enjoyed the New York strip steak on the bone. It was perfectly cooked and seasoned and was enough meat for multiple meals. However, my diminishing appetite may also have been due to the enormous range of side dishes: "Flemings" potatoes, two types of mashed potatoes, sauteed corn, delicious potato strings, onion rings, sauteed mushrooms, sauteed spinach, creamed spinach and, my favorite: chipotle mac and cheese. The chipotle added as smokiness and complexity to the dish. Overall the dishes were good, though again they were quite dense.

It left little room for the desserts: a chocolate lava cake, vanilla bean creme brulee and New York style cheesecake.

Another strength of the evening were the drinks. I enjoyed an unusual lemon and basil martini. The floral fragrance of the basil was a perfect foil for the tang of the lemon. Flemings offers 100 wines by the glass and I enjoyed the light 2006 McMurray Pinot Noir.

Overall, Flemings is a great choice if you are looking for comfort food, for a twist on the steakhouse restaurant and for personal service, warmth, a good steak and glass of wine. For me, while I will remember the meal fondly, I am off to exercise the night away...and then to return to Rod Dee! My son, on the other hand, downed the leftover fries the next day, while my husband happily finished off the steak.

The ICA and Dim Sum at Chau Chow City, Boston

When I told a friend that we were taking our boys to the Institute for Contemporary Art in Boston, she said, "But how can they appreciate it?" It was a great question, but for us, taking the boys, just 1 and 3 years old, to art museums serves many purposes. First, I think giving them the opportunity to see that art can be fun can start the process of demystifying museums as boring places. Second, my husband and I love art, so we can trade off who is with the kids and thus we can actually see the exhibits. Finally, it is all about preparation-enough snacks, finding art or spaces the kids will enjoy and then taking the plunge.

The ICA is fabulous for kids. When you walk in there is a great space to share a pre-exhibit snack and to make faces...in color! The elevator alone can create excitement in a child as it is completely made of glass so you can watch while you go up. Upstairs, at the end of the main exhibit is a terrific spot-a corridor that extends over the Boston Harbor. My sons could look for birds, barges, boats and watch the planes take off from Logan. And, yes, they could have another snack!

Despite eating their way through the ICA, by 11: 30 we were all hungry. So, we headed to dim sum in Chinatown. I have enjoyed Dim Sum at China Pearl and Hei Lei Moon. But today we miraculously found a parking spot outside of Chau Chow City at 83 Essex Street in Boston. Even better, there was no wait. I think Dim Sum is the perfect food with kids-from the minute you sit down the food arrives. At these 3 restaurants, carts come around with a huge range of dishes and you can point, try and get a range of foods. We order items that we know our toddler will love which often means chicken wings. But then we also order a range of other items. This time we had a delicious sauteed vegetable dish with pin noodles, dumplings with lotus seed, tofu skins wrapped around more vegetables, greens and more. My 1 year old loved the tofu with ginger syrup so much that he literally grabbed the cup and tried to suck it all down! The scene can be chaotic which diminishes any fear that your child's tantrum will disrupt the dining experience of others. Finally, although the little dishes can add up, I am always so full afterwards, that dinner preparation is easy-a plate of fruit for all!

Another Great Meal at Dante

Returning to a great food find brings the anticipation of fondly remembered dishes, service and atmosphere. But there can also be the faint hesitation that the second time might not match the memories. We had a wonderful meal in August when we went to Dante in Cambridge. (Click here for the post). In fact, a recent visit proved that it is pretty fantastic. Overall, we were struck again by the wonderful location (a perfect view of the Boston skyline and the Charles River), the excellent service and the delicious, well-crafted food.

Again, we were impressed by the service. Our waiter, Johnny was warm and disarming. It was clear that he enjoys his job and knows the food. He answered our questions informatively without being pretentious. We appreciated his honesty and his knowledge.

The food, a twist on "modern Italian", was delicious. Each plate was made of high quality ingredients that were served in an understated way-never being too fussy. We loved the new starters, known as as sfizi. (You can easily make a meal of these and they are currently being offered for $1.00 each between 4pm and 7 pm, Monday through Friday). We had a great assortment of four which complimented each other. We started with buratta cheese (a cream filled mozzarella) with candied pistachios which was one of the most wonderful things I have eaten. The cheese is homemade in house and was so tender. Somehow it was completely decadent without being too rich. But it was the candied pistachios that put it over the top. I could eat this again and again. The funghi (confit of wild mushrooms) was also delicious. The oil was so good that we mopped it up with the bread. Next we had two different types of bruchetta: pepperonata (sweet and sour peppers) and pickled eggplant. Again they were perfectly cooked and savory. The final was listed as "roast pork loin on tuna sauce" and, honestly, I am still surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The sauce was creamy without being overpowering. The dish was cool and light-a great contrast to the other dishes.

Dante is currently offering a 3 course special for $35.00. So, as part of our meal, we really began with the spaghetti a la chitarra. It was served carbonara style with incredible guanciale (air-cured pork jowl!). I loved the texture of the pasta, toothsome and hearty. The guanciale added another layer to the dish with a smoky, sweet, chewy taste.

For my main dish, I had hake from Maine roasted and served with both artichoke chips and artichokes braised, Roman style with white wine. The chips were earthy and crisp while the fish was perfectly cooked and light. My husband returned to the hanger steak, which is pictured at the top of this post (a testament to how much he enjoyed it both times). The frites (french fries with garlic and parsley) are fantastic and although we enjoyed the truffle ketchup it is can be overpowering after the first few bites. Our waiter highlighted the homemade lemon thyme aioli which was even more delicious and a better compliment for the overall richness of the dish.

For dessert we couldn't resist the fritelle pictured at the top of the post. I am truly not a donut person, but these are just incredible. They are perfectly fried and absolutely rich and tender. The four sauces, each clearly homemade are just as good-a deep dark chocolate, pure pureed raspberries, a dark caramel and my favorite, a ginger creme anglaise. (I will admit to actually being tempted to lick the plate!). They were worth every calorie.

The chocolate-chestnut semi-freddo served with homemade mint oil were very good. The texture was similar to a cross between ice cream and a frozen mousse. I would have preferred more dominance from the chestnut, but the mint was a nice contrast. The lemon panna cotta with fruit gelee was the weak point of the evening, tasting too tart.

Finally, we are also excited about the opening of Dante's next restaurant, Il Casale in Belmont, sometime this spring. The plan is for it be more rustic and to truly reflect the food of his families hometown in Candida, Italy. We will be at the new place when we can!

Petsis Pies and the Harvard Museum of Natural History

Picture above from the Harvard Museum of Natural History

Winter in New England can feel particularly long for energetic toddlers (and their parents!) So Raphael and I were thrilled to discover the free Sunday mornings at Harvard's Museum of Natural History in Cambridge. While stuffed animals wouldn't be for everyone, there are a range of great wonders that made us both smile with glee. Raphael enjoyed seeing animals that he had only read about in books (moose, dinosaurs, etc.) I was amazed by the mastodon skeleton, the beauty of mineral rocks, the artistry of the glass sea anemones and flowers. Raphael had fun using a magnifying glass to check out bugs, seeing a bright blue (live) frog, and reaching up to try to touch a moose's head. Their little store had some particularly fabulous finds, such as children's books with beautiful art.

It seems like we can't make a trip without a stop at a bakery (so much for a New Year's Resolution to work off those post-pregnancy pounds!). And Petsi's Bakery in Somerville (there is also a Cambridge branch that is closed on Sundays) is worth a stop and the calories. I officially declare that her pies are the best I have had. I am particularly fond of the cherry, the mixed berry and the pecan. Each one is so clearly handmade. The crust is flaky without being heavy. The fillings are genuine-without thickeners or fillers. But, the muffins and scones, too are simply heavenly in fabulous flavors like chocolate-hazelnut (which has huge chunks of hazelnuts, rather than simply globs of Nutella), raspberry-ginger and pear-Gorgonzola. The Somerville location is perfect for stopping by on the way to the museum as it is designed as a take out place with just a few chairs. If you have more time, the Cambridge location has more seats, as well as breakfast sandwiches and lunch specials. They even have free Internet if one is without children and has time to write.

2 Chicken Dishes for the Whole Family

Home-Cooked "Sticky-Chickies"

For working parents, picking up dinner at the grocery store can be the difference between sanity and parent melt-down. Our local grocery store makes fabulous Chicken wings that my son nicknamed, "Sticky Chickies". He gobbled them up and I ended up with no dishes to clean. However, it also cost over $20.00! So, to save money and have more say in the ingredients I feed my kids, I am finding myself cooking more and more.

The reality is that there are many cookbooks that offer recipes for feeding toddlers. Many of them suggest cutting sandwiches into hearts or putting chunks of cheese on kebob sticks. My goal continues to be offering a range of delicious food that we all enjoy and that doesn't "dumb" it down.

The following 2 recipes are current hits at our house. I just discovered very inexpensive organic, free range chicken at Market Basket in Ashland and in both cases, I have prepared the sauce in advance so the dinner clean up is still pretty minimal. (Though we are still happy to take donations for a live-in cleaner!) The first recipe is by recent mom and great chef, Rachel Klein. The second is a result of trying to recreate the wings in a slow cooker. However, I realized that for the sticky, gooey coating we loved, it was just as easy to roast them in the oven. Both recipes create sauces that are fantastic over rice (sticky rice is great for toddlers) and broccoli.

Orange-Glazed Chicken Tenders, adapted from Rachel Klein, reprinted in the Boston Globe

1 quart orange juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
salt and pepper

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken cut into thin strips
salt and pepper to taste
3 Tbs oil (vegetable or canola)

1. In a medium saucepan, mix the juice, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes or until reduced and syrupy.

2. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.

3. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. When hot, add the chicken and cook without moving for 20 seconds. Turn and cook on the other side for 30 seconds or until brown.

4. Add the sauce and simmer until cooked through.

My husband and I added some tellicherry pepper from Penzey's. It was a fantastic addition (for us, not the boys!)

Sticky Chickies (Honey-Orange Chicken Wings)

Adapted from Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker

4 pounds chicken wings and/or drumsticks

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup dry sherry
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup orange marmalade
2 minced garlic cloves
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place the chicken wings in a large roasting pan (ideally non-stick. If not, put in a few tablespoons of vegetable oil.) Heat the sauce ingredients in a pan on medium heat for a few minutes until they melt together. Pour the sauce over the wings. Cook for 45 minutes. Flip them over and cook another hour. Enjoy the mess.

Museum of Science and Four Burgers, Cambridge

Toddlers are a ball of energy. This is great. This winter we have had a good amount of snow. When it first falls, the simplicity of the white outdoors is gorgeous. But when it is really cold for days on end and the toddler is starting to implode…it is not so pretty. Needless to say, a reoccurring conversation with my friends is about great places to take the kids in the winter. Many choose to take their kids to indoor gyms. Alas, although fun, the price quickly adds up.

However, with some careful planning, the Museum of Science can be an inexpensive and wonderful place to let kids expend their energy. Kids under 3 are free (as are teachers) but many libraries also have passes that can be reserved which cuts the cost from about $16.00/person to $5.00. We arrived as it opened at 9 and there was already a crowd forming. Unlike the Children’s Museum, the parking is easy and somewhat affordable ($10.00 for a few hours).

Honestly, one of my favorite parts are the long corridors that allow Raphael, our 3 year old, a chance to explore (um…run). I was excited for him to see the new Triceratops and an exhibit on frogs, but to our amusement he mostly wanted to check out the novelty that was the escalator! He liked being able to go into a space ship, but a number of the other exhibits offered too many words or were too complex for him to get very engaged.

Ultimately, the two best sections for our kids (who are 3 and 1), were the animals upstairs (featuring little monkeys called tamarins and baby chickens) and the Discovery Center that is on the main floor. This area offers a few great features. The entire area is closed off to older kids which makes it particularly safe. Then, inside there is a wonderful space for non-walkers. My one year old enjoyed the toys. My older son absolutely loved the discovery boxes: sets of dinosaurs, shells, etc. that are packaged with magnifying glasses. As he said, “I can touch everything, mommy!” In the second floor level are building blocks, musical instruments and other manipulatives.

By 11:30, the museum was packed and we were hungry. It was almost impossible to choose a place for lunch as the museum is near so many great restaurants in Chinatown, Brighton and Cambridge. However, we settled on the recently opened 4 Burgers in Central Square. The owner, Michael Bissante is both the long time owner of The Paramount Restaurant on Charles Street in Beacon Hill and father to a son. Perhaps that explains the family friendly atmosphere and great food at reasonable prices. My kids had hot dogs (nitrate free!) with homemade potato chips (called waffle chips). I am not sure which was a greater hit, but they devoured everything. Although the restaurant offers 4 types of burgers (beef, turkey, salmon and veggie) and salads, we stuck with the basic burger made from all natural meat from Brandt Beef. I loved mine-not greasy, perfectly cooked. I recommend the “secret sauce”, a sort of jazzed up French dressing. The sweet potato fries were good, but the “regular” French fries were my kind of heaven-mealy and soft inside with perfectly crunchy and salty skin-covered outsides.

We went home full and tired.