A Few of My Favorite Things...

Several weeks ago, we went on an adventure outside of the city to a place called Russo's Farm in Watertown. We'd heard amazing things about this place - a large, indoor farmer's market with all kinds of weird and unusual food options. We were eager to check it out. By the time we got there (having made a fortuitous pit-stop at the tile store where we picked up some delicately imperfect Mexican tiles long sought for the kitchen) it was getting dark and packed! It being late November, people were beginning to shop for their wreaths and trees, and the aisles of this seemingly large market spaced seemed oh so cozy once you got inside. It was like being in a vegetable labyrinth... we'd plot our course from one end of the market to the next, finding the free corridors, and then quickly tackle it before someone moved back into our lane again! Whenever I paused to take a picture, I received an irritated glare - others were clearly using the same tactic and I was their barricade on a clear path to the cheese counter! Overall, I liked Russo's, but I'd like to go back on a lazy Sunday morning in the summer, when I'm not quite so hungry - or cold!

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I met up with some friends the other day in Central Square, and took this shot as I was idly waiting for them to arrive at a breakfast cafe. I used to favor the Grecian Yearning of Allston for greasy, weekend, 2pm, roll-out-of-bed variety "breakfasts," but now I try to hit slightly (and I mean, slightly) classier joints a little closer to the AM hours. There's nothing quite as comforting as going out to breakfast on a Saturday morning. Well, except for maybe eating breakfast in the sunshine on your deck. Sadly, I do not have a deck, so out on the cheap it is! The other great thing about eating out in the morning is that it's so inexpensive! The coffee may be wanting, but at what a bottomless bargain! It feels like the whole world is ahead of you on Saturday, and for such a brief period of time that it must be savored!

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Nothing makes the cooling weather more palatable than a martini in a cozy restaurant! The espresso martinis at the West Side Lounge in Somerville are fabulous. We stopped in at the end of a long day to celebrate our first night off in a while, and escape from the chilly afternoon. They also do an excellent, authentic mojito, if that's what you're into.

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Upon our Manhattan friends' recommendation, we tried a gourmet Italian pizza restaurant in the East Village called Pala on Allen Street. We amused ourselves by watching the expressions of a dog tied up outside the restaurant as we waited for our friends to arrive. Then we proceeded to spend a good two hours slowly devouring two pizzas, wine, a fava bean salad, calamari, esspressos, flourless chocolate cake, and tiramisu between the four of us. It was quite the epicurean adventure.

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Who knew the Cape also had vineyards? We discovered this road stop in Truro on our way up to Provincetown. It was a great interlude for a rainy cool morning before the weather warmed up. Five dollars each bought us tastings of five of the vineyard's dozen odd wines - mostly whites.  

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We explored a new diner this morning. Not new overall - apparently, it got Ben Affleck's vote for Best of Boston back during the Good Will years, but we'd never been. Lots of great greasy food - perfect for that Sunday morning hangover - and ketchup in bright red bottles!

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I'm not sure if this is run by the same establishment as Kelly's Roast Beef in Revere,  but I feel as though I heard that once. Anyway, I came upon it on my ramblings through Ball Square in Somerville last week and it was an unusually sunny day. I just loved the way the clouds became a blinding backdrop for the diner-style lettering. Hmm, even when I'm not wriitng about food, I'm wriitng about food. I guess it's hopeless.

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I met up with my sister for lunch at Toscanini's the other day. Prior to this, I only knew they specialized in ice cream, but when I got there, I was made privy to a sandwich special (the mozzarella/tomato on rosemary foccacia). Mozzarella-Tomato-Basil is my Favorite ingredient combo, so I was overjoyed.

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A fantastic little diner in New York City where we stopped for a late lunch (5 pm) this weekend. It was actually one of three dinners that night - poor planning on our part, but they do say the food in New York is not to be missed! I had my first milkshake in years at a table over by the window - prime spot for people watching...

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