lumière

I had been to Lumière once before, a few years ago during restaurant week, but hadn't had the chance to try it on a real night, until tonight. Located in Newton, Lumière (as well as chef/owner Michael Leviton) has been receiving praise since it's opening in 1999. An intimate spot with 65 dining seats, Lumière focuses on locally-sourced ingredients with a mix of classic & modern cooking.

We opened the door with the spoon handle and headed into the warmly-lit inviting restaurant.
 

 

 

For appetizers, my date went with the roasted butternut squash soup with spiced crème fraîche and peppered pumpkin seeds (which she reported was delicious) while I went with the amazing Barnegat Light sea scallops with roasted cauliflower, pine nuts, capers & currants, with a bagna cauda vinaigrette. The scallops were smooth and perfectly prepared while the cauliflower was a perfect partner for the currants.

As mains my date chose the Gloucester swordfish with brussel sprouts, apples & maple-glazed smoked almonds with a sherry brown butter vinaigrette (which she reported was tasty and hearty, and the brussel sprout side was a stand-out star). I went with the roasted Giannone Farm chicken with mashed sweet potatoes (with a bit of brown sugar mixed in), pearl onions & beef bacon and chicken jus. The chicken was perfectly prepared with the sweet potatoes making me excited for Thanksgiving this coming week! 

Heading into dessert I was hoping for an angel food cake or another light option, not chocolate, since I was so stuffed...but then I saw the menu. Within 10 seconds of seeing the menu I knew I had to get the Valrhona Manjari chocolate soufflé cake with a coconut sorbet, candied cashews and a rum caramel. The light but full-flavored coconut sorbet was a nice light & refreshing combination for the rich & intense chocolate cake. With the candied cashews sprinkled about, this dish reminded me of one an upscale version of my favorite candy bar, a Mounds (so I am obviously a huge fan of this dessert)!

I enjoyed a nice cup of Mem mint tea (with a personal timer to let me know when it was ready!) while my friend finished her glass of wine. We headed out into the chilly November night, agreeing to visit again!
 

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farmstead table

The Newton culinary scene has a new contender. Just 6-weeks old, Farmstead Table is located right across the street from the Newton Centre T stop. The farm-to-table restaurant focuses on a fresh and clean preparation. With simple rustic decor, the restaurant is small to moderately sized and offers both lunch and dinner with an ever-changing menu. As of now, they do not have a website, but they do have a facebook page.

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I started with the house cured salmon lox toast with pickled shallots with dill creme fraiche & baby greens.
 

 At just $11, this appetizer was big enough for 2 to share! Although very tasty & very filling, I could have done with a bit more cracked pepper (but I do LOVE cracked pepper, so maybe that's just me!). I chose the roast free-range chicken with parsnip puree, baby vegetables, and a thyme natural jus as my entree. I like to order chicken at restaurants, as it is a standard easy protein that just asks to be revved up with imagination. In my opinion, a good restaurant is dependent on how they are able to execute the smallest and simplest things, like chicken!

The parsnip puree was soft and delicious, while the vegetables remained crisp and fresh. The chicken was moist, but traditional. My dinner date had the special Eggplant Napolean which she reported was tasty. The best part of the evening was the dessert, almond cake with plum compote & vanilla ice cream.

 

 

 Nestled into mildly tight-corridors, we enjoyed a pleasant evening surrounded by simple farm decor of flowers and books about soil, plants, and farming techniques, reminded of the simple preparation of fresh food.

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