I have been drinking more tea recently and have been having trouble living up to the delicious brew I get while out eating Chinese food. Even though i walk past the Tea Zone all the time, I've never been in. I'm kicking myself, cuz it looks awesome.
>> If you can’t find good tea, start your own store: Tea Zone offers 150 flavors
In honor of soup month and Chowder day, Legal Seafoods will be giving away free chowder on Jan 15th.
Legal Seafoods restaurants will be serving free cups of clam chowder to anyone who comes to their take out counter between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.I'm gonna be honest its not my favorite chowder, but it is free food...
Sadly-the following event passed. It was today, and i failed you devoted readers. I wrote this post 2 weeks ago, and meant to publish it last week. Between work, and the holiday season right here, right now, it slipped mine. As did the whole blog in general. Sorry for the lack of updates, I will try to be better this week. I am going to post this cupcake write up anyway. I know you aren't getting free cupcakes anymore, but now you can see how they tried, and remember Lyndell's is awesome! You should go to Ball Square and buy their baked good all the time.
Lyndell's Bakery in Ball Square is celebrating 120 years of business. To show their appreciation, they will give a free cupcake to anyone that visits the bakery. Before heading over here is some history.
Established in 1887, just 15 years after Somerville was incorporated as a city and before the Boston Red Sox were playing baseball, Lyndell’s has served generations of families with freshly made breads, pastries, cakes, and cookies.Free Cupcakes
Today, Lyndell’s is New England’s oldest “scratch” retail bakery, Greater Boston’s favorite place for half-moons, and one of Somerville’s greatest institutions.
Their amazing success and longevity is attributed to the bakery’s commitment to quality and freshness saidBill Galatis, the fourth and current owner of the sweetspot.
He estimates that more than 10 million people were served over Lyndell's history. People have purchased 18 million cupcakes, 15 million danish pastries, 10 millions loaves of bread, and 2 million birthday cakes.
Giving away a cupcake is our way of paying tribute and saying thanks to the previous owners, our past and present workers, and the thousands of customers that visit us each and every year, Galatis said.
Drove past the old Benjapon location and noticed that Joey's Thai Cafe is now open. Seemed like it was a really quick transition to the new place. Will have to check it out soon.
>> Bye Bye Benjapon
I could always use more shady in my life, as well as a good down to earth place to grab dinner and a beer. Just came across this review of La Hacienda in Somerville and it looks right up my alley.
But while it indeed is seen by many as simply a dive bar, it really is more of an Italian-American restaurant that serves a wide variety of dishes. The surprisingly extensive menu includes such familiar dishes as ravioli, lasagna, veal marsala, chicken piccata, shrimp scampi and the like.Added to my list of places to go - Check.
While diners often come to La Hacienda to order full dinner entrees, what many others come here for is one thing, and one thing only: Bar pizza. The bar pies at La Hacienda are simply tremendous.
I recently posted about Ball Square Cafe and Breakfast. In it I mentioned I had plans to go to Sound Bites next door, but was drawn away due to the line outside in the rain. My review was pretty great, so I find it only fair to now add Sound Bites point of view.
I went to Sound Bites on a Sunday morning. 9:30am in hopes to beat a rush. Surprisingly went well. As we were being seated I looked out and the line had formed down the building. There was only two groups ahead of us. Point! for being seated as a group of 6 in a timely fashion.
Point! When you are in line, you can take turns with your fellow breakfast eaters, to run in and grab a coffee from the self serve station and go back outside with it. They also have some pretty delicious flavors. Snickerdoodle, Chocolate Raspberry, Pumpkin Spice, as well as all the usual suspects.
NEGATIVE! They make your hot chocolate for you, which is completely acceptable, EXCEPT, they make it taste like hot water. I was so disappointed. I had to in addition get a coffee.
The food was delicious, I don't know if I can make it a point though because it was the same chef who started both.
NEGATIVE! They are quick to get you out. I like to linger and chat and take my time. Luckily the owner did not snap at us, they were just quick to take plates, but they asked every time if we were done before grabbing them. I had expected so much worse. What I think was funny was an obvious regular commented to the owner when he came to get their plates "You are not yourself today"
Which would I go to? It is hard because i got VERY different things each time. Once i got stuffed french toast. Another: an omelet with sausage. So both places have great food, I think I would alternate. The atmosphere is definitely chicer at Ball Square Cafe. Thats my two cents, now everyone else can decide which they prefer.
Here is the fun part, there is rumor to be feud between the two. The chef left to go next door and now they hate each other. I need facts people-who has them! Comment, please let me know.
>>My Ball Square Cafe review.
Apparently Benjapon's in Davis has closed down and will be replaced by Joey's Thai Cafe. The only thing that was really original about this place was the benjurioto or whatever those Thai burritos they had were called. Really could anyone ever be at a loss for a burrito in this area? As long as they have decent Thai Ice Tea and Pad Thai I'll be happy.
>> Davis Square Business Comings and Goings
Of course, I have heard great things about Sound bites, so I was headed over there. I found parking a few blocks away, and it was pouring outside. Stupid nor'easter in November. I had heard there would be a crazy line outside , but I thought, seriously? today? No way. I was wrong. The line wasn't long, but it was definitely outside, and did i mention it was pouring? As my friends and I stood outside for a few minutes we realized we were standing next to Ball Square Cafe and breakfast. It looked nice, but i think what drew us in was no line, and it was dry.
Entering Ball Square Cafe and breakfast was a great choice! Upon entering, the owner greeted us and pointed us to a table. They had granite/marble tables with a dark look. It had exposed brick, which i think is classy. In addition, they had black paper napkins. Now I understand they were still paper napkins, but the black added a little more to the class scale.
For food, it was delicious! It was not your regular diner menu. Think of it as omelette's for dinner. An omelet with peppers, spinach, and feta. Or how about some borsin? I myself chose the banana stuffed french toast. The portions are huge! I definitely over ate. Another bonus was get your own beverage. They had a coffee station with tea as well as a cooler with soda, juice and other cold drinks. The waitress will make espresso and hot chocolate, and it seems like home made whipped cream.
If you grew up in Somerville, you will know the owner. He apparently knows everyone! We mentioned we were from Somerville and he actually said "no you're not." He welcomed everyone that came in, and most of them by name. Very personable and friendly.
HIGHLY recommend this place. Have yet to be to sound bites, and i will make it there someday, but i just find it hard to stand in line for some place that they will yell at you, when there is a pleasant atmosphere just next door. Literally.
Ball Square Cafe and Breakfast
708 Broadway
Somerville
For those of you that are hidden under rocks, the Red Sox made the World Series. They played an amazing game Wednesday night and a pretty good game last night. No matter how you think about it-they won both! 2 to go. Why is Ellsbury on my mind you ask? Minus the fact that Rachel hearts Jacoby-he successfully stole 2nd base last night. That means (drum role) Free taco for all of America! Not any taco any day.
1 taco on Tuesday 10/30 between 2p-5p.
Myself, not a big fan of Taco Bell, but i will probably go get a taco-cuz i can! Now here is the question, someone steals a base tomorrow, does that add equaling two taco's? Or do they do free taco's again on Wednesday? or is it just null and void and only get one taco on Tuesday no matter how may bases are stolen? Answers?
A festival of FOOD! Union Square plaza hosts the most amazing festivals! This upcoming weekend it is one of tasty treats. Experience locally grown veggies, as well as exotic foods.
Hankering for some kimchee with your curry? Craving chilis with your cheese puffs? Ever wanted to try chucchitos? Or bitter melon? At ArtsUnion's first ever food festival, you'll now have the chance to indulge and explore all your culinary desires.Other reasons to attend?
As if there isn't enough burrito places as it is, a new one is opening up in Harvard and Davis: Chipotle. Try all you want, but I doubt you will replace my beloved Anna's.
>> There’s a New Burrito on the Block
Thats right...you know! It's time for the 90th anniversary of Fluff! Archibald Query didn't spend many a day and night creating this magical substance. Personally, crappy thing to eat, but seems like a fun substance to play with!
Which is what I think this day is all about. There will be activities galore along with musical and theatrical performances. Rumor has it there will also be fluff martini's and a pool of fluff. I just don't know if such fun is true!
What the Fluff
Celebration of a Union Square invention
Union Square Plaza
Saturday 9/29 4p-7p
Rain Date 9/30
>>What the Fluff
It's been confirmed! Miracle of Science owner, Chris Lutes, has signed a lease for the old Greenhouse property. 3 Brattle St. prime Harvard property. It has been four months since Greenhouse closed its doors. Hopefully we will see something soon. Will it be another Miracle of Science? There are no definite answers yet. Lutes also owns Cambridge 1, the pizzeria on Church St. in Harvard.
Some things that need fixing? There was no public restroom in Greenhouse, nor was it handicap accessible. Hopefully with the new renovations, this will change. Having worked at Greenhouse for appx. a month, I was a little sad to see it go. They had the best french fries and honey mustard sauce, but it was a killer to ask for extra feta. Something like $2.50 extra.
Davis square lover? Or even a young professional who lives there and is a Davis Square hater-you are invited! DARBI is presenting its first annual Davis Square Block Party.
The Davis Area Resident/Business Initiative (DARBI) is a newly formed community organization whose goal is to maintain and enhance the quality of life in the Davis Square area through creative and strategic collaboration between residents and the business community.You will have a chance to meet your neighbors, business owners, and enjoy food from Redbones.
Proceeds from the event will support the HONK! Festival’s return to Davis Square Friday, Oct. 5. HONK! (www.honkfest.org) is a grassroots festival of activist street bands from all over the United States and beyond, playing music that celebrates progressive ideals.
My mom has been on gluten free (basically means wheat free) for a few years now. When she comes to visit it's sometimes hard to find places to grab a quick bite to eat. Come to find out, right down the street from my house the Oxford Spa has a good selection of Gluten free baked goods. I have yet to check it out, but next time my mom is up I will be sure to stop by.
>> Chowhound Gluten Free tread
Community Growing Center is hosting a food/film potluck. Bring a dish with a list of ingredients. Focus on the food, and then enjoy a movie. King Corn. Here is a plot summary by Sustainable Table.
King Corn is a humorous and touching documentary about two best friends who decide to move to Iowa to grow an acre of corn – after finding out (through laboratory hair analysis) that their bodies were made primarily out of….corn. But this is not your typical buddy picture. While it does trace a year in the life of two friends, the film is really about the history of corn in modern America and the filmmakers’ relationship with the crop they’ve decided to grow.Wednesday August 15. 6:00pm
After the somewhat shocking discovery about their bodily composition, Ian Chaney and Curt Ellis move to a small county in Iowa (where, coincidentally, both had farmer great-grandfathers) in order to find out how they (and most other Americans) ended up made out of corn. The two friends convince an Iowa farmer to lend them an acre of land to plant their corn crop. They purchase genetically modified corn for planting, and with the help of their neighbors, some heavy machinery, and lots of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, they end up growing a bumper crop of corn. But as Ian and Curt show us – this isn’t your sweet summer corn-on-the-cob we’re talking about – it’s corn bred specifically for industrial applications. The two friends decide to find out what happens to the corn they’ve grown after it leaves the grain elevator – and find that tracing their crop is easier said than done. Ultimately, however, they come to the conclusion that their corn is likely destined for one of two American industries: animal feed or corn syrup
Wagamama, a chain of noodle bars, is opening in Harvard Square today, Aug 13th.
Some interesting info about Wagamama from wikipedia:
>> WagamamaWagamama has a number of features that set them apart from other restaurants. These include:
- Orders are taken via PDAs, and wirelessly networked to the kitchen, so that as soon as an order is taken it can begin to be prepared.
- Food is delivered to the table as soon as it is ready, they sell sides instead of starters and these and the main courses can arrive in any order.
- Customers sit on either side of large tables—one table-set can seat up to 20 people.
- All restaurants are non-smoking, by Law in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Scotland and recently England.
- Green tea is supplied free on request.
- Reservations are not taken; all customers are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Wagamama merchandise can be bought in the restaurant, including a cookbook, dishes and cutlery.
Cambridge Common is holding a blueberry beer dinner on August 9th. If this wasn't 35 bucks or I wasn't cheap, I would be all about this. Not only are blueberry beers delicious, they are going to have chilled blueberry soup, which is freaking delicious. If you are a fan of that berry that is blue, check you might want to check it out.
Thursday, August 9th
$35 (excluding tax & gratuity)
Cambridge Common
1667 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
>> Blueberry Beer Dinner
Anyone who knows Rachel and I know how much we love to eat! So this event is a huge deal! The Taste of Cambridge is being hosted July 19th. Restaurants from all over Cambridge are gathering in Technology Square so everyone can get a bite!
The Taste of Cambridge is a celebration of the diverse restaurant scene in Cambridge. With cuisine from America to Japan to Brazil to France and everything in between, Cambridge is a melting pot- a tasty one to be sure- of culture and cuisine. This event features creative and abundant samples of food, beer and wine from the wonderful restaurants found around the city, enhanced by a beautiful outdoor setting, live music and a great crowd.
Somerville Public Schools announces its participation in the US Dept. of Agriculture Summer Food Program for kids. The wonderful children of Somerville can eat breakfast/lunch at the park or pool they are hangin out at for free. Children includes everyone under the age of 18. Available through August 24th.
List of Parks:
