Monday, February 6, 2012

I love exactly three things

And they are buffalo chicken, cheese and honey mustard.

Essay on buffalo chicken to follow.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

C'è di più a North End che la pizza, gli cannoli e piatti di pollo

That means "there's more to the North End than the pizza, cannolis and plates of chicken."

And yes, it is true.

I've been working as an intern at a magazine in the North End for almost a month now. In these four or so weeks, I've gained a newfound appreciation for the neighborhood and the people who live in it. Everyone knows everyone, everyone knows where all the good food places are, and everyone's welcoming and wants you to love the North End as much as they do. Maybe that last one is only true because I'm Italian – like everyone else up there – but hey, it's working for me.

And it's a great place to eat. Not only are there some pretty awesome restaurants in which to enjoy a super fancy dinner, but there are also some awesome delis and coffee shops where you can grab a delicious (and quick) bite for lunch. One of these places is Hot Tomatoes, at 227 Hanover St. The restaurant, which had a North End location years ago, recently reopened in its original neighborhood. More details about that later – I have an interview with the owner in about 40 minutes for The North End Business Journal. What I do know right now is that their food is bomb.

My new favorite thing is what I like to call a "loaded" salad, which is basically a salad with a ton of toppings. It's all part of my new quest to lose weight before I embark on a weeklong spring break cruise to the Bahamas with three friends – yesss. My theory is it's okay to eat a salad with a ton of different veggies and protein in it because I'm avoiding the carbs I would have otherwise eaten in a sandwich (especially since most sandwiches come with fries.) Hot Tomatoes has a bunch of "loaded" salads, so there were plenty of choices.



This is the farmer's market salad. One bite and it's May again and I'm at the Copley farmer's market, buying fresh peppers for sauteeing and big juicy tomatoes for salsa while nibbling on a just-baked loaf of bread. There's a little bit of pasta in it, which I know contradicts my whole no carbs thing, but that's okay – it was filling. In addition to the pasta, this salad is packed with yellow squash, cucumbers, little cubes of cheese and a little bit of goat cheese (there are tomatoes too, but I ate around those.) Delicioso.

ANCHE. At the bottom of my bag, there was a little ball of tinfoil. Curious, I unwrapped it, and, to my delight, discovered these little treasures:



If those aren't the cutest little garlic knots you've ever seen, we need to have a conversation. They're so freaking adorable it's unbelievable. So cute I almost didn't want to eat them. But, of course ... I did.

Anyway, check out Hot Tomatoes if you're ever up here on Hanover Street (who doesn't want to be on Hanover?) You will not be disappointed. I will be back.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

THERE IS A GOD

READERS. Pinkberry (or at least the one right off the Harvard Square stop) has brought back the green tea flavor I wrote an obituary for a couple of months ago. They also brought back my second favorite flavor, peanut butter. Aka, reincarnation is real. Made my day. Now get out there and eat them.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Back to the drawing board

I'm sitting in a cafe in the North End where I am slowly becoming a regular. It's my second day (and third glass of wine) here this week, and I'm feeling pretty good about it. I'm also on my second cupcake and third cannoli of the week, but that's besides the point. Life is good.