49 social

I had been to 49 Social once before, right after it opened, and promised myself I'd never go back. My experience was less than pleasurable, as was the experience of the only other couple in the restaurant at that time...which was seated right next to us. Oops. I lied to myself, I went back.

1

We were planning on going to a nearby pub, but the wait was at least 1 hour...no thanks, I don't do well when I'm hungry and waiting. So for the safety of all in the area, we stumbled into 49 Social. It started off well, people were there, stocking were hung with care, and holiday tunes were spilling out of the speakers.

We were seated in the same area I had been before, under the stairs, nice & cozy. We weren't very hungry as we had just had our hot chocolate at the pop-up a few blocks away, so I went with two apps (the latter being quite large for an app!) and a tasty tasty drink.
 

My first app I had had before, the lobster ravioli with poached lobster tail, crispy leeks, and a lobster cream sauce. I loved the cream sauce and I loved the leeks & the ravioli, but I didn't love the lobster itself. A large hunk of tail meat with a few bits of shell snuck in, I looked past the meat to the rest of the combination that worked very well together.
 

For my second app I went with the braised short-rib sliders on brioche with local aged cheddar, crispy leeks, and a horseradish aioli. Enough of an app for 3...I was very full. Again I was in love with the crispy leeks, and who can say no to aioli? Although tasty & a nice conventional combination, I was uncomfortably full after two app-sized dishes.
 

 

I'll be back for some bar bites, unsure if I'll go for a meal again...but I will go back for the cocktails. Still serving "spring cocktails" I went with the Spring Break, a mix of absolute citron, compari, guava and passion fruit juice, muddled chervil and club soda. A strange combination with the Christmas music playing in the background...I felt like I was on a tropical island...around Christmas time.

1: Boston Eater

 

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backbar

I rarely make trips to Union Square in Somerville, as I'm not a big fan of buses and there is no nearby T, so my choices are left with walking, driving, or biking. Driving it is. I headed out to backbar before a friend's album release at the new Cafe Tango down the street. I have had backbar on my go-to list for a bit now, after it's opening in late 2011. It is the slightly-younger sister of Journeyman, a tasting-menu restaurant run by foodie-friends focusing on seasonal ingredients. backbar has recently been in the news a few times, having their bartender Sam Treadway winning Boston's best bartender award and being featured at Zagat's 30under30 event. I brought T along to this newish craft cocktail utopia with a few friends for a quick drink & snack before the evening's event.

Down the alley we went...to the nondescript orange door. We headed in down a dark hallway hoping we were heading the right way. Our spirits were raised when we found the backbar sign, opened the door, and were greeted to a quiet & calm hideaway.

 

In we went, we plopped down on one of the wall-length comfy couches and admired the graffiti wall & the hand-drawn daily menus of food & drinks. (Apologies for the dark pictures, the sexy mood-lighting got me!)
 

 

I went with the union mule with Beefeater gin, apple brandy, St-Germain, citrus, ginger, and spice with a pork belly bun as a snack...but you can find more information about their menu, location, and background here.

 

 

After a tasty strong drink & a snack, we headed out to our friend's event, where I ate my weight in delicious churros (both chocolate and dolce de leche) at the newly-opened Cafe Tango. If only Union wasn't so high-maintenance and difficult to get to...**hint hint MBTA!**

 

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simple weekend recap: edition 11

Friday after work I met up with a friend to try the Boylston location of the Parish Cafe (information here). A minute-walk from the Arlington T station, the Parish Cafe uses recipes for sandwiches provided by chefs all across Boston (along with an amazing cocktail menu). I went with the L'Espalier, created by the chef & owner of L'Espalier, Frank McClelland. A tasty combination of fresh Maine crab meat mixed with a homemade remoulade served open faced on toasted brioche topped with sliced avocado and mango. Served with Cape Cod potato chips and salted greens. I also opted for the Stella al fresco, absolut Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka mixed with fresh lime juice, simple syrup and Ruby Red Grapefruit juice. Shaken and served straight up with a splash of Sprite. Delicious & generously strong.

Saturday, Erin & I spent some time with the leaves and pumpkins...

 

 

 

...before heading out to a friend's new place in the South End. We went to Aquitaine for an early dinner with their prix fixe menu that is offered from 5:30-6:30 nightly. A 3-course meal with a glass of wine for $29.95, a steal for a large-portioned French dinner in Boston! I will definitely be back for the regular menu.

We slept in and started the day on the right foot

 with a BLT with baby spinach and grape tomatoes... 

...before a walk through the dog park with Erin on a perfect fall day.

 

 

 

When the sun began to set, we headed home for a dinner of squash 

risotto and some pumpkin carving (and seed toasting!)...

 

 

 

before ending the weekend with a dessert snack 

of homemade banana bread and tea.

 

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the hawthorne & the secret rooftop garden

This week I checked out the newest addition to the bar/lounge scene in Kenmore, The Hawthorne. The teams behind Eastern Standard and Island Creek Oyster Company have created this suave joint filled with calming colors & mood lighting. The nearby BU students may not be fully aware of the gem of a cocktail-scene they have right under their noses. The hours are 5pm-2am daily, and they are right next to the Kenmore stop. When you walk into the Commonwealth Hotel's front doors, turn right and step down the stairs to your newest go-to cocktail lounge. They have an outdoor area with a daily-changing cocktail booklet, along with extensive wine & beer menu. Also offered is a food-menu filled with differently-sized plates, from small bites to lunch-sized portions. I went with the thinly-sliced chips with green onion dip (since I can't turn down a good portion of chips)!  

 

After we had our fill of chips & drinks, we headed out over the Charles to the secret garden at Kendall Square. At the Hotel Commonwealth's entrance we were reminded, once again, that Boston loves their dogs!

We headed towards 4 Cambridge Center, Cambridge (a .1 mile walk from Kendall/MIT T stop, if you aren't in the mood to walk across the city)...the location of the roof garden! Head to this address and take the elevator to the top floor, to the garden that is opened from dawn to dusk as a nice respite from the busy ultra-modern Kendall Square below.

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