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.
