Frosty Fun Frozen Yogurt

Since it’s almost summer and the weather is getting warmer, you might find yourself wanting something cold and delicious. If you’re sick of the same old ice cream, I have got something different for you that you have to try.

There are a handful of small takeout places in Boston that offer frozen yogurt with an unbelievable number of mix-ins and flavors. The best place that I have found is Angora Cafe on Commonwealth Ave. Their custom blended frozen yogurt creations are great and they have over 65 flavors that you can mix and match.

I got a coffee butterfinger, caramel vanilla frozen yogurt. Yum.

There’s cheesecake, cookie dough, coconut, Kit Kat, Reese’s, Milky Way, Walnut, Mint Chocolate, Peppermint, Fig Newton, Cinnamon, Grape, Peanut Butter, Granola, Pumpkin, White Chocolate, Pineapple, Ginger Snap, Butterscotch, Oreo, Almond, and MANY MORE!

Angora Cafe is located at 1024 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215 – http://www.angoracafe.com/

Pho Sure.

You’re probably wondering what Pho is. Pho is a very popular Vietnamese noodle soup.

According to our friend Wikipedia, Phở is served as a bowl of white rice noodles in clear beef broth, with thin cuts of beef (steak, fatty flank, lean flank, brisket). Variations include tendon, tripe, meatballs and chicken.

If you’ve never had Pho, you definitely want to head over to one of the many great Vietnamese restaurants in and around Boston. Chinatown is a great destination with many good Vietnamese restaurants where you can get really fresh and flavorful homemade food at a very cheap price. Usually, none of the dishes are over $10 and they are very filling.

One of the most non-Asian friendly restaurants and most well known in the Boston area is Pho Pasteur with 4 different locations. Here is their website for more information.

There’s nothing quite like a big steaming bowl of pho…So, don’t be a phool and get yourself some pho.

Kinsale Irish Pub

My friend introduced me to this really great place the other day. Theres a good amount of Irish pubs around, but not all of them are great. However, Kinsale Irish Pub near Government Center is a great place to eat and get together with friends.

The Kinsale was designed and built in Ireland so the interior is very warm and cozy with beautiful craftsmanship.

Although the atmosphere is extremely nice, people go to the Kinsale for the consistently good food. A friend of mine makes a point to travel there every weekend and you’ll want to too.

The menu is diverse mixing good old pub food like nachos and mozarella sticks with gourmet entrees like Apple bacon wrapped filet mignon and lobster ravioli.

I went with a small group of friends. We ordered the nachos as an appetizer, which I highly recommend. These aren’t your regular pub grub. They came in a heaping plateful with tri color tortilla chips, salsa, melted cheese. Be sure to substitute the creamy spinach artichoke dip for the chili. They’re messy, but worth it. They call them “Boston’s Best Nachos” and I think they might be right.

I ordered one of the specials on the menu, which was a haddock stuffed with proscuitto in a lemon caper sauce with garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. I didn’t think it was possible, but it was as delicious as it sounds. My friends had the steak tips which were tender and flavorful and the classic corned beef sandwich, which was piled high and tasty. They also have a great selection of salads and other dishes.

Another reason to go to the Kinsale is for the live Irish music that is played every night. And, of course, don’t forget their large rotating selection of beer!

The prices at the Kinsale are a little higher than the average pub goer might want to spend, but you don’t mind spending the money for the quality of the food that you get. Dinner entrees can range from about $10-20. If you want something a little cheaper, you can always just order off the pub menu, which has sandwiches and salads and other dishes which are very reasonable, some under $10.

So if you feel like having a little taste of Ireland right in the heart of the city, head over to The Kinsale.

Check out their website for their other restaurants, locations, and menus.

Stop & Shop at Super 88…

If you haven’t been to a Super 88, you need to go. This supermarket will change the way you shop.

Super 88 is the leading Asian supermarket chain in the Greater Boston area. It specializes in Asian vegetables, tropical fruits, and fresh, live seafood. When was the last time you fished for your own live crabs at Stop and Shop?

Walking into one of the Super 88 stores is an experience in itself. One of the first things you’ll see is “Rice City,” a wall of 25-pound bags.

You’ll notice the huge produce section with its spread of crimson apples, yellow-green plantains, tan lotus root, purple Chinese eggplant, dark mustard greens, and orange sweet yams. Here, you will find almost every fruit and vegetable imaginable.

The first time I stepped foot into a Super 88, I was very overwhelmed, confused, and somewhat afraid. I didn’t know what the pointy purple fruit was and if I was supposed to fish for my own seafood in those huge tanks. But, I got used to it and now I can cruise the aisles with the best of them.

You don’t have to be from Saigon or Vietnam to enjoy all that Super 88 has to offer for ingredients and food. The owners’ goal is to appeal to a broad range of shoppers and become a “melting pot” of a supermarket.

Super 88 also has some of the cheapest prices around for seafood, fresh produce, and other items. Take a look at the chart which compares Super 88 prices with those of other big competitors. (Super 88 vs. Shaws)

One of reasons I love Super 88 is the bakery and butchery areas that they have in every store. Follow your nose to the smell of fresh baked buns and pastries, which are only about 80 cents each. You won’t find this stuff at any Stop & Shop. Some of my favorite things to grab and go are the buns, which come in a variety of fillings, both sweet and savory. There is the delicious and creamy custard bun filled with sweet yellow cream or the hot dog bun as a quick lunch. Or, have the butcher cut you up some nice pieces of fresh peking duck or soy sauce chicken.

If you want to really eat the world, take the T over to Commonwealth Ave for the Super 88 in Allston, which has a Food Connection food court attached to it. My goal is to try every little food stall in this place, and I’m almost there. Theres chinese food, dim sum, Thai, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Indian, Korean and bubble tea all under one roof. My favorite is the Korean place called Misono Wok which has the signature Korean dish called “Bibimap.” (Keep reading for more about the Super 88 Food Connection in a future post).

The most obvious reason to come to Super 88 is to do your food shopping and get some items that you wouldn’t know exist and won’t find anywhere else. I always go to get some of their frozen items like pork buns, fried rice, and microwavable dinners. One of the best items that I have found is a microwavable wei-chuan “Beef don rice bowl.” It could blow a hot pocket right out of its pocket.

Anyway, if you have never been to a Super 88 because you didn’t know what they were, thought you weren’t allowed, or were too scared, head over to Malden, Dorchester, Allston, Quincy, or Chinatown Boston for a cheap and tasty shopping and dining adventure.

If you want more information and all the locations, visit the Super 88 website!

Roast Beef, Seafood, and Sandwiches Since 1951.

Head just 10 minutes north of Boston and you will be in for the best roast beef that Massachusetts has to offer. Kelly’s Roast Beef has been a Revere Beach landmark for over 50 years and it is easy to see why. So if you’re hungry for some good Roast Beef, don’t settle for Arby’s or one of those small places in every city with “famous” in the name.

Service at the original Kelly’s location is eat-in-the rough, grab-and-go style. Place your order at the big window, wait for your name to be called, grab your food, and head over to the beach to find a place to sit and eat. Keep a heads up for swooping seagulls who would love to have your clam box, roast beef sandwich or onion rings. If sand and seagull droppings aren’t your idea of fine dining, Kelly’s has 4 other locations, in Saugus, Natick, Danvers, and the newest one in Medford.

The roast beef, available in a small or large sandwich, is always tender, pink, thinly-sliced, and piled high on a butter-toasted, sesame-seed bun.

Although their namesake is their roast beef, I would argue that the reason to go to Kelly’s is their fresh seafood and burgers. The fish and chips could rival any in Maine. The fish is moist and crunchy, heaped on a plate with French fries. The fried clams are even better and you will be overjoyed to find that they always overflow into the bag. They are golden-brown, toasty-flavored, and fresh with the flavors of the ocean. A clam plate includes French fries, sweet onion rings, and homemade tartar sauce.

My favorite item on the menu at Kelly’s is the underappreciated cheeseburger. Kelly’s burgers are big and juicy and you can have them made up your way with a choice of single, or double, with or without bacon, and your choice of toppings. I like mine with cheese, bacon, lettuce, onions and pickles.

They also have chicken fingers, which are always a good choice for the kids and picky eaters, a variety of other sandwiches like the buffalo chicken wrap, or comforting clam chowder.

The only complaints that I have ever had about any of the Kelly’s Roast Beef restaurants are that their prices are a little above average when compared to other places of its kind. A roast beef sandwich is their best value, $5.75 for a small and only a dollar more for a large. However, if its seafood that you are craving, you might be better off going someplace else if you don’t want to put a dent in your wallet. A classic New England lobster roll will set you back $16.75 and a large size box of fried clams will cost you a little over $25.
Despite the steep prices, Kelly’s is always a safe choice because you know that the food is going to be just as good as it was when they started in 1951. Kelly’s is one of the only restaurants that I can think of whose standards are still as high as they were and quality has not been compromised as they have expanded.

By the way, don’t forget to try their “frappes.” Don’t you dare call them milkshakes.

If you want to check out Kelly’s entire menu and find their locations, go to their website

Restaurant Week!

Twice a year – winter and summer – some of Boston”s best restaurants participate in Restaurant Week Boston.

During this week, participating restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe lunches for $20.08 and dinners for $33.08. This is usually a big discount from their normal prices. It’s a chance for everyday people who don’t want to spend a ton of money for an elegant meal, but still want the chance to try out restaurants they might not normally visit (or visit again).

Here are the dates for this year’s Restaurant Week in Boston:

>Sunday, March 9 through Friday, March 14.

>Sunday, March 16 through Friday March 21.

 Here is a complete list of all the restaurants in and around Boston participating in the Winter 2008 Restaurant Week, as well as sample menus.

 

Tip: It is a good idea to make a reservation at restaurants participating in Restaurant Week Boston. Call for reservations. Many of the restaurants also accept reservations online at OpenTable.com.

Wagamama Comes to the US

The first Wagamama in the United States opened right in Faneuil Hall, Boston. You might be wondering what Wagamama is and why it is so exciting that it came here. Well, let me explain…

Wagamama is a chain of Japanese noodle restaurants that became extremely popular in the UK and other parts of the world. The wagamama concept is modeled on the ramen shops popular in Japan for over two hundred years. Ramen are chinese-style thread noodles, served in soups with delicious toppings. Or you can enjoy them my favorite way, griddle-cooked (teppan-fried) There are also rice dishes, and a range of fresh juices. For the hungry, they also offer a variety of side dishes including meat and vegetable dumplings, skewered chicken, deep-fried prawns and raw salads.

My Wagamama obsession started on a summer trip to England. I had been craving it ever since I tried it, so I was extremely excited when I found out that the first restaurant was opening right in Boston.
Wagamama has a lot of things in their menu, but their specialty is big bowls of steaming japanese noodle soup called Ramen. Their Ramen is definitely top notch, but I prefer to get the noodle dishes when I eat there. I recently went there with a friend and ordered the yakisoba. It is even better than it looks and sounds…

Yakisoba – “teppan-fried soba noodles with egg, chicken, shrimps, onions, green and red peppers, beansprouts and spring onions. garnished with mixed sesame seeds, fried shallots and pickled ginger.”

I didn’t think it was possible, but it is even better than it looks and sounds.

Although the yakisoba was delicious, I think that my favorite dish at Wagamama has to be the ginger chicken udon noodles. I got this dish my first time eating at Wagamama and I keep going back for it again and again. The ginger chicken udon is a perfect blend of sweetness from the marinated chicken combined with the fresh flavors of herbs and spices. The portion is filling and it only costs about $10.

There are two Wagamama locations in the Boston area:

Faneuil Hall – quincy market building, boston, MA 02109
Harvard Sq – 57 jfk street, cambridge, MA 02138

Check out their menu at http://www.wagamama.us/food.php