A Week of Restaurants : Part Two

Another Restaurant Week has come and gone, and this second week of meals was even better than the first! I went to a few favorites this week, rather than trying new places, and I was so pleased with my choices.

On Wednesday evening, I met Michele and Heidi for dinner at Blue Inc. I've written about this one before, but that was a lunchtime meal that I enjoyed. I was happily surprised to see that the entire menu was featured for Restaurant Week, which meant my decisions became even harder. I wanted one of EVERYTHING! While trying to decide, I opted for a cocktail called The Anorexic Model (cognac, lychee, St. Germaine, Champagne, and garnished with a small branch of grapes)! With a floor to ceiling poster of Twiggy on the wall, I felt like it was a necessity. The drinks at Blue Inc are so cool because they use liquid nitrogen to chill the drinks, and they have a very "cool" (ha, puns!) steaming effect. For my appetizer, I decided to have the Cast Iron Baked Figs. It came to the table, fourme d'abert cheese a-bubblin', with warm, gooey figs, pancetta, aged sherry and chive flowers. It was decadently delicious, and a perfect start to the meal. Moving on to the main course, I opted for the Mussel Frites, a dish that reminds me of our trip this past November to Belgium. Creme Fraiche, lobster broth, fresh herbs and spicy fries rounded out the meal. The mussels were done to perfection, and the bowl was just piled high with them. I couldn't even finish it all! For dessert, I had a Malted Chocolate Cheesecake. It was good, but not the highlight of this delicious meal...and I was too full to finish it anyway!

The next day, I enjoyed a leisurely lunch with my friend and co-worker at Sel de la Terre. We sat in cozy lounge chairs, enjoyed a hearty French lunch and some wonderful conversation. We have a tradition of always hitting at least one Restaurant Week spot every time it comes around, and this time was no different! I started off with an Asparagus Soup with Potato Croquettes and Tarragon Creme Fraiche. This soup was delicious because the flavor was so vibrant. Now is the perfect time to make things containing asparagus, and this soup really showcased the flavor of this in-season vegetable. The croquettes just melted in my mouth too - I wish there had been more of them! For my main course, I had the House Made Ricotta Gnocchi, served with English Peas, "Hen of the Woods" mushrooms, shallots, baby carrots and beets. This was a hearty dish, and the perfect amount for a lunch time meal. The gnocchi had been sauteed a little on top of boiling, so they were a bit crisp on the outside, and tender in the middle! The surprise in this dish were the beets ... they went really well with everything else, but were an unexpected bite when the fork found a piece! I think the beets might have made that dish! For dessert, my friend decided to go with the cheese course, instead of the dessert course...and that was a GREAT choice. The platter that came out was stacked high with breads, crackers and different kinds of cheese - most impressive! I went with the Vanilla Panna Cotta with Blood Orange, Streusel Crumble and Mint. Because this was the dessert my friend was interested in as well, we shared both the cheese and the Panna Cotta and were both very pleased with our decision!

For my last Restaurant Week dinner, my group of friends that I went to Asana with, gathered again for a meal at Dante, in Cambridge. Meeting at the bar, we all ordered a drink while we awaited being seated. There was one drink on the menu that stood out to me: the Spezia. Hot orange spiced tea, spiked with rum and apricot, was the perfect drink for a cold Friday evening. It was cozy and comforting after a long week, and I could just picture sitting in front of a fire in a ski lodge, enjoying this cocktail. For my first course, I decided to go with a pasta appetizer. Chef Dante de Magistris makes a killer fresh pasta, and I couldn't visit one of his restaurants without having some. I decided to go with the Tagliatelle, served with rabbit "cacciatore," chanterelles, and green olives. What a way to start a meal! The rabbit was succulent, the pasta was the freshest, and the sauce was so flavorful, a meal in and of itself. For my main course, I chose the Lombo : a stuffed pork loin "involtini," smoked prosciutto, sage and polenta. The pictures are a bit dark but the presentation on this dish was incredible, not to mention how TASTY it was! I didn't think I'd be able to finish both a pasta appetizer, as well as a main course, but somehow I managed quite nicely! That was DELICIOUS! For dessert, I had the Torta : a chocolate hazelnut mousse cake with spiked chocolate sauce, anglaise, and caramelized hazelnuts. 

All in all, I'd say this was a successful Restaurant Week(s)! I had lots of delicious meals, at lots of wonderful places, and enjoyed good times with friends! It's time to get back into the swing of things, cooking at home (and writing more often than once a week!) I've posted a new menu for the coming week, and we're also going to learn how to make our own chicken stock! Stay tuned, and keep on cookin'!

Blue Inc.

My co-worker/friend and I visited Blue Inc. today for lunch, for the first time. We were celebrating her birthday, as well her proclaimed "Mere-Day," which represented my birthday and Administrative Assistant's day, which took place a few months ago! I had told her that I really wanted to try this restaurant since it's recent opening in June, and so today, we finally took a walk down to Broad Street, and got ourselves a table. It's a good thing I made a reservation since every table in the place was booked as we enjoyed our meal! The atmosphere is fun and modern, getting most of their light from the giant windows at the front of the space. Gordon Ramsey's autographed picture greeted me as I walked into the outer vestibule, since Jay Santos, chef/owner, was runner-up on Hell's Kitchen a few seasons back. The blue-haired culinary master opened Blue Inc, after leaving his gig at Gargolyes on the Square early this year.

My friend saw a deliciously-pink drink arrive at a neighboring table, so when we were asked if we'd like something to drink, we ordered two of those! They turned out to be cranberry lemonade, which was tart and sweet at the same time, and wonderfully refreshing! The best part? They came around with a pitcher of the lemonade every few minutes and refilled our glasses!

The lunch menu boasts sandwiches, salads and burgers, with a special section on the menu for liquid-nitrogen milkshakes. While I didn't try one this time around, that Butterscotch and Black Truffle milkshake is calling my name for my next visit, I'll promise you that! We decided to start with a dish that doesn't seem to be on the online menu: Lobster Arancini. Oh my goodness, these are delicious! If you've read my blog before, I'm sure you are well-aware that I love lobster, in all it's shapes and forms. This appetizer was right up my alley, and did NOT disappoint. The four arancini came lined up in a lovely boat-like dish, on a bed of delicious dipping sauce. They were crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside, with recognizable chunks of lobster in each bite. They were the perfect temperature, and the dish was definitely meant for sharing!

I was torn between a few things on the menu, but I think I made the right decision in the end. I went for something called "The Ultimate Grilled Cheese." This, too, is not listed on the online menu, so I think it's safe to say the menu changes frequently, according to the seasons. Nothing to complain about there! I love a rotating menu! The "Ultimate Grilled Cheese" is yummy, gooey cheese with chunks of braised short ribs and sweet, warmed apples. It is sandwiched between two pieces of hearty raisin bread that adds another unique element of sweetness to a very savory sandwich. The short ribs were tender and flavorful, just spot on! On the side of the plate, I found some chunky slices of pickle, and a small slice of jalapeno. Jalapeno-infused pickles? Oh yes, my goodness! They had the perfect amount of heat to leave the taste of jalapeno on your lips. It was not overdone at all, and they were delicious!

I will definitely be frequenting Blue Inc on a regular basis. It's affordable, delicious, and offers a lovely atmosphere for a break from the hub-bub of a work day! I'm looking forward to trying their dinner menu as well...the entrees look amazing, and I think the first thing I'll try is Grilled Salmon, served with Parma ham wrapped salsify, wild mushrooms, warm mussel and herb salad, and a vanilla veloute. I am absolutely intrigured by the creative flavor profiles that this menu offers and I can't wait to go back!

Blue Inc can be found at 131 Broad Street. You can reach them at 617-261-5353, or go to Opentable.com for a reservation.