Weekend Update

Thank God for Trader Joe's Pasta Medleys

Ok, I didn't do anything food-related this weekend. Sorry guys. I did go to Ikea though and then spent about six hours building a bookcase today. Note: You think that furniture is hard to assemble? Try doing it hungover and on four hours of sleep. I'm lucky I didn't build the thing backwards...Anyways, I have some fun things coming up that don't involve booze, sleep-deprivation, and people I went to high school with. Stay tuned!

Bruce Springsteen, Style Icon Style: GQ.com

Bruce Springsteen, Style Icon Style: GQ.com


Uh can someone dress as Bruce Springsteen for Halloween? Please?

A Tale of Two Cities, Sorta...

 












                   In Brussels circa 2007 and at The Publick House circa Monday 

I've been on the hunt for a good bar since I moved to Brookline last month. The only place anyone mentions is The Publick House. This is also the recommendation for any restaurant/date-spot/hang out/late-night spot in the area. Apparently all Brookline has to offer is good schools, nice homes, Old World bakeries, and The Publick House. So be it. I finally made the trip a few nights ago and was delightfully surprised to find that The Publick House is a Belgian restaurant. In case you didn't know, I love Belgium. Here's why:

I've only been to two countries outside of North America (three if you count traveling through France on the Eurostar): England and Belgium. Yep, Belgium. You see, I was studying abroad in London for the summer so naturally, my mom came for a visit. After a week spent taking in the sights and eating lots of delicious curry, we decided to take advantage of the Continent's close proximity and go away somewhere for the weekend. So, I was given a choice: Paris or Brussels. As much as I love my mother, I wasn't too thrilled by the idea of spending my first visit to the romance capital of the world with her. I was also suffering from a broken heart at the time, so I was even more emo than usual. City of Lights, no thank you. City of Beer and Chocolate? Yes, please!

Overall, it was a decent trip. Brussels is an interesting city and quite beautiful in parts, though I got really tired of it smelling like urine everywhere. But it was the food that made the most lasting impression. Honestly, Brussels had the most delicious fries, waffles, and chocolate I've ever had anywhere. The best part was how cheap everything was. Sure, you could pay an arm and a leg for chocolate at Godiva or pay a quarter of the price at some neighborhood chocolate shop and it will still be better than anything you've had in the U.S. Hands down.


The Publick House's frites. Get the mustard sauce. If you don't, lie to me and say you did. So. Good.

Anyways...what was the point of this post? Oh, right: The Publick House. Basically, it's as close to Brussels as you're gonna get without a passport. It'll definitely cost you, but it won't smell like urine. Besides, who doesn't like drinking in a bar that resembles a medieval dining hall?

Pumpkin Everything

Fall is my favorite season for many reasons: there's my birthday, the fact that I can wear tights again without sweating, the air has that delightful crisp smell, and everyone puts pumpkin in everything. Pumpkin donuts, pumpkin beer, pumpkin coffee, and now I can add pumpkin polenta to my list. Yep, that's right. Pumpkin polenta. I had a belated birthday dinner with my mother recently at Cavey's in Manchester where I enjoyed the beef short rib with pumpkin polenta pictured above. It was fantastic. I had never even heard of pumpkin polenta, but a brief internet search revealed a beavy of recipes. Man, this whole time I've been eating cheesy polenta like a chump! I've written about polenta before and noted that basically, the trick to making amazing at home polenta is to let it cook sloooowly for several hours. The longer it cooks, the better it gets. This sounds like a yummy recipe and one I plan on trying the next chance I get. My only suggestion is to cook it for around three hours instead of thirty minutes. You will be rewarded for your patience with a flavor explosion in your mouth. Maybe some other places too...

Basket of Toast: The New Breakfast of Champions

For reasons I can't explain (booze) I found myself in the Huron Village area this morning, a place I haven't been since I moved to the other side of the river last summer. However, I was happy to find myself at Hi-Rise Bakery Co. Their specialty is bread, and lots of it. You can watch them make it on site or peruse their assortment of delicious homemade jams while waiting in line. I kept things simple by ordering the basket of toast which comes with a selection of toasted breads, butter, a couple of jams, and maple butter. Nothing clears up a night of over-imbibing like munching on toast, sipping Earl Grey, and listening to Billie Holiday. The place got hopping around lunchtime and I'm sure their sandwiches are equally delightful. I plan on returning for "The Sin Sandwich"--which is basically grilled nutella and chocolate. Sounds right up my alley! The only downside is the place is rather pricey, even for Boston-area bakery standards. One can easily walk out $20 dollars cheaper, with nothing to show for it save a jar of blenheim apricot preserves and a loaf of challah. Granted, there are less delicious ways to blow a twenty but bread and jam still seems a bit excessive. That being said, it's now 8 hours later and all I want is another basket of toast. Bread or crack, whatever Hi-Rise is selling, it looks like I'm buying.

Hot, Hot Toddy

What? This picture is relevant. The hot toddy's in the cup. I'm not a narcissist. Shut up.

Today I walked into my classroom and declared that it was icky outside. Two of my Chinese students looked confused and asked me to explain what 'icky' meant. Eventually, after much gesticulating and the use of an electronic dictionary, they got it. To combat this icky day I decided to make a hot toddy, then write about it. I came up with this idea around 10 o'clock this morning, which should give you an idea of the kind of week I've been having so far...

Anyways, nothing takes the chill out of a rainy day like a hot toddy. I'm rather partial to Grendel's hot mulled cider (it certainly thawed me out on many a snowy night last winter--heh) but was fairly confident I could make a reasonably good substitute. I decided to use that bottle of honey mead that Katie got me in Amish country and mix it with some tea and lemon. The owner of the winery she purchased it from mentioned that it tasted great in earl grey tea, but I couldn't find a decaf version at Trader Joe's so I used decaf green tea instead. I'll be honest: It doesn't taste that great. I blame the green tea. Something about that earthy taste mixed with the mead does not a good hot toddy make. Luckily, there's mead in it, so I'll finish it anyways. But I still learned a valuable lesson: always listen to the people who make your booze.

This is why I haven't posted in a week...

Yes, that is the view from my new bed and yes, I still haven't put the sheets on. Whatever.

I moved to a new apartment yesterday. I figured four months was long enough to take advantage of Katie's hospitality. So, I've traded the futon for a Sealy Posturepedic and the South End for Brookline. I almost feel like a real adult! Right now things are a little sparse, to say the least. But pretty soon I'll have things in order and get back to posting about things I like to eat and places I like to go. Side note: during the move yesterday Katie surprised me with that sweet panini from Flour. Luckily, none of my roommates were around to watch me inhale it in the kitchen.