Storm of Thoughts

Wordless Wednesday: Dreaming of Summer Trips

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Favorite Restaurants

As much as I like to cook, I also enjoy going out to eat. Growing up, we didn’t eat out that often, except for special occasions - and we didn’t need to, since my mom was always making some kind of restaurant-quality food at home. But being in Boston (and being busy) provides a good excuse to eat out more often than we used to. And, although I usually enjoy trying new favorites, there are some good ones we always end up at. Here are my recommendations:

La Galleria 33
As I mentioned last week, the North End is one of my favorite places in Boston. And for some reason, we usually end up here. Actually, there are a number of reasons - they have good service, reasonable prices, and really good food. Every time we go, Pete orders the Veal Paradiso. And, since it’s some of the best veal we’ve ever eaten, we also recommend it to everyone we take/send there. Plus, the restaurant is very cute, with brick walls, exposed beams, and little tables by the windows, looking out on the usually busy streets.

East Side Bar & Grill
For pizza on the weekend (like yesterday, actually) or a more casual Italian meal, we usually end up here. (Its convenient location helps.) At first, I was amused by all of the Rat Pack pictures and Sinatra music, determined to bring my dad (who has Sinatra CDs on replay at home all summer long) to eat here. But now, it’s really grown on us. Family-owned, you quickly start to recognize them and they start to recognize you. And the grilled meatloaf is oh so good (and a great idea!).

The Melting Pot
Some chains you hate just for being chains. But The Melting Pot is unhate-able. By now, most people have been there, but if you haven’t, you should go. It’s more for special occasions (not being inexpensive), but they usually have good coupons and deals. The atmosphere is also really nice, and the layout of the seats makes you feel more like you’re in a private area than a crowded restaurant. And, if you don’t want ALL of the food, just stick to cheese and chocolate fondue - what else do you want, really?

Cottonwood Cafe
This southwestern restaurant is in a good location and has good food and margaritas, all of which make it a staple on our list of favorite restaurants. We’ve eaten in the bar, at the restaurant, and even during special occasion prix fixe nights - and we’re always glad we went.

Parish Cafe
The Parish Cafe is all about the sandwiches. The recipes are created by chefs in local restaurants and many of them rotate on the menu - which is a good reason to keep coming back. You can usually count on a wait, unless you come at an off time, but you can also count on being impressed. Each time, there are several sandwiches we can’t choose between, and we often end up ordering two to split them just because we can’t decide. They’re all so good! This is another place we tend to bring our visitors. (Another great sandwich place we have noticed more recently is the All Star Sandwich Bar in Cambridge. Their sandwiches are also really good, they have a special sandwich for each day of the week, and they say that “A Good Sandwich is Like an Old Friend, which makes me like them.)

Top of the Hub
Okay, we’ve only been to this one once. It’s certainly not an everyday kind of place. But it was, hands-down, some of the best food we’ve eaten in Boston, if anywhere. It’s expensive, but not when you consider the quality of the food and the service, which were both incredible. And the views? Number one reason to go (see above).

What are your favorite restaurants? Do you stick to old favorites or try new ones?

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A Mouse in the House

Yes, our house. We have a mouse. Actually, we know of at least two mice. (And, the fear, of course, is that there are more.) I’m disgusted just saying it. And a little embarrassed to admit it. Before you point any fingers, though, let me point my own. Sure, we have crumbs. (Don’t you??) But we’re clean. We vacuum. (Actually, Pete vacuums a lot, which is one of his many great qualities. Right up there with dish washing.) There isn’t too much for a mouse to want in our house. Which is why we (and everyone we’ve talked to) agrees that they came from the apartment downstairs. Where there may or may not be crumbs, but we assume there are plenty, and where the back door, right next to the garbage bins, is always open. Besides, no matter where they originate, everyone deals with mice at some point, right?

Now that I know you’re not judging me, let me tell you that I’m more disgusted by all of this than you are. I hate mice. I know some people think mice are cute, but I don’t understand these people. I would be much happier if I didn’t have to imagine mice running around on their little mice feet in and out of our bedroom at night while I was trying to sleep. (I also imagine a barefooted run-in during the middle of the night as I cross the kitchen to get to the bathroom and a mouse frantically tries to get out of my way.)

But what started as disgusting has slowly become maddening. The first time we realized we might have a mouse problem was when we found - well, evidence - of mice, sometimes in normal places (like the fruit bowl) and other times in nonsensical places (like on top of the printer). But, a week or so ago, while I was away, Pete had the first actual mouse sighting. It was in the kitchen. Kitchen Mouse ran out under our stand-alone island and watched Pete enjoy his dinner on the couch in the living room before scampering off, as mice do. Which explains why Pete was so apt to believe me when, over the weekend, while watching a movie on the couch, I thought I may have seen something small moving through the kitchen. Of course, I didn’t know about the previous sighting, since Pete, being as smart as he is, failed to mention it to me. After Kitchen Mouse retreated, we settled back in to our movie. But it wasn’t long before we spotted a mouse in front of our wine fridge, which sits near the living room TV.

This is where we started to get annoyed. These mice were not hiding in corners, sneaking out only in darkness in search of food and trembling at the idea of humans. They were prancing out, in broad daylight, to see what we were doing. And this was only the beginning. Two nights in a row, after we had made dinner and sat down with it (both times on the living room couch), Kitchen Mouse emerged from under the oven and ran to the island to see what was going on. Actually, we’ve settled into a routine now. Every night, Kitchen Mouse runs back and forth for awhile under the island, realizes he’s been spotted, and then heads back to the oven. Soon after, Living Room Mouse, who, unlike his brown friend, is smaller and grey, comes out to watch TV, play Wii, or check on our wine supply before heading back to his home (and, we assume, a hole that leads downstairs) under the loveseat.

I know you’re thinking what I’m thinking: “The audacity!” But just you wait, because the brazenness doesn’t end there. Ever since the original “evidence” - and again after Pete’s first sighting - we have set and reset traps, filled with peanut butter and, occasionally, cheese. (Once we even tried chocolate.) All of these traps, painstakingly set and placed in the most promising locations along walls and under cabinets, have been ignored. Each and every one. Now, at first I assumed their failure was due to the fact that the peanut butter is reduced fat. Apparently even mice can tell the difference. But now we’re pretty sure that the mice are getting their fill of food downstairs (see previous theory about crumbs, above) and venturing upstairs simply to taunt us.

And so the battled continued. (And, by battle, I mean Pete and I getting increasingly annoyed, as he stakes out their favorite spots with a flashlight while I stay safely on the couch or, sometimes, in the most dangerous situations, the bed.) We moved the traps to the most frequented areas, like under the kitchen island. We re-baited. We tried new foods. And we waited. But still, every morning, the traps would come up empty. Yesterday, we knew what to expect. We made dinner, reset the island trap, headed to the couch, and waited. Sure enough, about ten minutes later, Kitchen Mouse emerged from under the island. He walked straight to the trap, looked at the peanut butter, and it was here that I swear I saw a smirk cross his smug little face before he turned and ran back under the oven. Annoyed, Pete hatched a new plan. This time, he set up three traps all around Kitchen’s Mouse favorite leg of the island. We left the light on (as our mice don’t prefer darkness) and closed the door between the kitchen and the living room. When we returned, one of the traps had been moved by an inch or two. I assume, of course, that Kitchen Mouse (the obvious ringleader) called in Living Room Mouse in to help him play a trick on us or, possibly, to bring the trap back to his lair, disengage it, and safely enjoy a snack. I wouldn’t put it past him.

So now, not only are the mice ignoring our traps, they’re actually mocking us. Which, as you can imagine, is pretty frustrating. And we’re quickly running out of ideas. (Is it possible to be outsmarted by a mouse?) We need a good exterminator. Or a cat. Or, I guess, we could always just hand the apartment over to them. They’ve practically earned it.

Suggestions?

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The Thing About Boston Is…

I’ve lived in the Boston area for five years, which is plenty of time to get to know a place. Having come from northern New Jersey, New York has always been “the city,” which made Boston a big change. Of course, I had also never actually lived right in/next to a big city, so everything from the constant consideration of where you can (and can’t) get using public transportation to the crowds everywhere you go was an adjustment. But, now that the adjustment has been made and I’ve spent time in and around Boston, I can share with you some of my favorite and least favorite things about this city.

5 Things I Hate About Boston

1. The weather.
It’s a common complaint. After all, Boston winters are notoriously bad. Even if (like me!) you enjoy snow. (It’s pretty, after all.) Still, though, snow is complicated by actually having to shovel it to get to work. And once you’ve done that four or five days in a row, you’re ready to be done with snow forever. But, worse still, is the wind. Boston is always windy. Walking down the city streets? Windy. Taking a walk along the Charles River? Windy. Having a picnic in the Common? Windy. Furthermore, it’s windy in any kind of weather, from sunny days to drenching downpours. (For the record, rain and wind is the worst combination.) And that gets old fast. I don’t live in Chicago, after all.

2. “Yankees Suck” chants. (I’m sorry, Red Sox fans, but you know I’m from New Jersey.)
Now let me clarify this point. I am fine with a good “I hate your team” chant when appropriate. As a Yankees fan, I appreciate the rivalry between the teams. But the classic “Yankees Suck” chant started to grate on my nerves during baseball games when the Red Sox weren’t even playing the Yankees. And then when I started hearing it at Bruins games? Well, now, come on. Let’s at least be a bit more clever.

3. The crowds.
I like visiting tourist destinations. I like taking pictures, visiting well-known spots, and seeing what everyone else comes here to see. The problem with Boston is that the entire city is a tourist destination. Whether you’re shopping on Newbury Street, visiting Faneuil Hall, or even just happen to be anywhere in the city that crosses part of the Freedom Trail, there are bound to be large crowds of (often slow-moving) people. (Of course, this also has its benefits, like the novelty of running into an army of Revolutionary soldiers outside of Border’s.) When traveling by car, this also always means lots of traffic, even if you’re only going 5 miles away.

4. The construction.
I’m sure every city has its construction. But here, people don’t seem able to deal with it. Walking down the street to find scaffolding throws passersby into a panic. Four policeman are needed to direct traffic around 4 orange cones and a pothole. And something new is always being built somewhere it doesn’t seem like there’s enough space.

5. The drivers.
For more on this sore point, please read my Open Letter to Massachusetts Drivers.

5 Things I Love About Boston

1. The size.
Boston is no New York. It’s small, which makes it manageable. It’s easy to get around on the T and explore, spend a day wandering around without getting lost or exhausted (or having to resort to taking a cab!), and get to know favorite places. It’s full of families who have been here for generations and would never want to move anywhere else. Which, if nothing else, is just really nice.

2. The North End.
This little Italian district remains my favorite place to go for dinner. (Not to mention for dessert.) Pete and I have eaten out at a lot of different places, but all of our “usual restaurants” ended up being in the North End. It’s also where I always go to eat for special occasions or when my parents are visiting. It’s full of little Italian shops, narrow roads, parades practically every weekend, and little old Italian men sitting out on the sidewalk, talking and laughing. Plus, it has the best pizza, pasta, and cannolis. And, really, what more do you need?

3. The history.
I have always liked history, especially American history. And so much of it took place in Boston. Being able to visit the Old North Church, the Old State House, the site of the Boston Massacre, graveyards full of American patriots, and so many other historical locations is one of the great things about being in Boston. Just walking down the streets and admiring buildings that have been here for centuries is pretty amazing.

4. The activities.
There is always something to do in Boston. While this is also true of New York, it wasn’t true where I grew up in New Jersey. Now, it’s just a quick trip to shop downtown, try out any number of restaurants, visit the aforementioned tourist locations, kayak on the river (or, you know, watch people on the river), or visit a comedy club. Some of my favorite events are concerts. While previously I was used to big concerts in even bigger arenas, I now know the fun of seeing bands (both new and unknown and big names) at small clubs where you can stand right next to the stage. (Note: This post’s photo is courtesy of Pete, one of those people who kayaks on the river.)

5. The Harbor.
I like being near the water. Whether dining outside at a restaurant, taking a boat trip, or simply walking by, being near the water always makes me happy. Plus, having fresh seafood nearby never hurt anyone.

What do you love and hate about your city or town? Leave a comment or write your own blog about it - I’d love to hear about some other locations!

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Recipe: Luci’s Corn Salad

My mom loves to cook. (Which, you might have guessed, is where I get it.) And many of my favorite recipes come from her. Not to mention, we constantly update each other on what we saw Giada or Rachael or Ina or Bobby make today and whether or not we both need to try these recipes out immediately. (Usually the answer is yes.) And whenever I need a recipe for a special occasion or a weeknight dinner or - in this case - my blog, she is more than happy to share. (Not to mention well-armed with her arsenal of recipes.)

This corn salad is meant for a summer barbecue. (Assuming this perpetual summer rain ever actually lets up.) The best part is that it can be made ahead of time (even the day before), and, while you can make your own dressing, bottled dressing is just as good on it. (It’s also nice to be able to use the low fat or fat free, especially when the rest of your barbecue consists of things like cheeseburgers or ribs. At least something is guilt-free, right?) And, as my mom can attest, it’s a crowd pleasure, as she gets asked for the recipe every time she serves it for a group of people. (Although I would say her zucchini corn bread is right up there when it comes to barbecue hits. I’m starting to feel a summer recipe series coming on…) Anyway, here’s the recipe. We hope you try it out this summer!

Corn Salad
Serves 8-10 as a side

3 cans mixed white and yellow corn niblets (Green Giant is our standard)
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
3 stalks celery, cut length ways 3 times, then chop
2 bunches of scallions, diced
4 slices red onion, diced
Your favorite light or fat free bottled Italian dressing (or make your own)

And, as my mom said, “Are instructions really necessary? Mix all this goodness together and stir gently. Then sit back and enjoy the compliments!” And the barbecue. And the fact that you did all of this prep the day before and can actually relax for once. Although, again, only after the rain stops.

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Happy Father’s Day!

In honor of Father’s Day, I found some quotes that reminded me of my dad. Just like on Mother’s Day, I can’t be home to celebrate with him, but hopefully he knows how much I’m thinking about him! And I know that he’ll also be thinking about his own dad, which is what makes Father’s Day such a good opportunity to remember all of the important men in our lives. After all, few people have a greater impact on one’s life than their dad.

He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
-Clarence Budington Kelland

A father carries pictures where his money used to be.
~Author Unknown

Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis.
~Jack Handy
(Well, okay, that one’s not serious.)

And one more:

There’s something like a line of gold thread running through a man’s words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.
~John Gregory Brown, Decorations in a Ruined Cemetery, 1994

And even though plenty of quotes make me think of my dad, he has a number of his own quotes too, the type of sayings that define him and will always stick with us (like it or not). Little words of wisdom like “Sabrett’s are the best,” “Make your money on the buy,” and, the most important, “We’re always proud of you.”

I’m proud of you too, Dad! I love you!

And here’s one more photo, which you may have seen on my blog before; Father’s Day, a few years ago.

Happy Father’s Day to everyone!

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Wordless Wednesday: I Found a Lighthouse

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Beautiful Day (or Night): A U2 Themed Boat Ride

This past weekend, Pete planned a surprise for which he bought tickets. Which meant that, for two days, he heard a relentless stream of questions like, “Will we drive or take the T to the surprise location?,” “How many people will be there?,” “When did you find out about the event?,” “Is it around every weekend?,” and, perhaps the two most important questions, “What should I wear?” and “Will there be food?” Most of which he patiently answered. Unlike Pete, I enjoy a surprise. After he announced that the plans were a secret, I would have been disappointed if he’d told me. W

But guessing is totally different. He assumed that once we got off the T and I saw where we were, I would have a pretty good guess as to where we were going. I, in turn, assumed he was putting too much faith in my directional sense. But, when we got off at the Aquarium stop and headed towards the harbor, the answer could only be: on a boat.

And not just any boat. This was a combined harbor cruise and concert with The Joshua Tree, a U2 Tribute band. Which was a really fun way to spend to spend 3 hours.

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Recipe: Sausage and Beans over Rice

This recipe is based on one designed for a slow cooker. We love to make it, but, of course, you need several hours. By cooking it on the stove, you get almost the same meal in a much shorter amount of time. In our case, it also helped that we had the sausage already cooked when we made it, which was perfect for a weeknight meal that tastes like it was cooking all day.

Ingredients

4 sausages
White or Brown Rice, cooked according to instructions
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
2 bell peppers, roughly chopped
1 large onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cans beans (or about 2 cups if you want to soak and cook dry beans), any kind (we used two cans of cannellini beans and one of cranberry beans; kidney beans, pink beans, great northern beans, and navy beans would also work well)
1 teaspoon fresh parsley
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
salt and pepper to taste

Drizzle the sausage with olive oil and cook in the oven at about 400 degrees for an hour or until done, turning every 15 minutes or so. When done, set aside. Heat oil in a large sauce pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Cook onion, peppers, and garlic until soft. Add in broth and wine and let heat for a few minutes before adding in the beans. Bring to a boil and then simmer, uncovered, until about half of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Halfway through, use a potato masher (or any other tool that will work!) to mash some of the beans. After the mixture has simmered, slice the sausages and add them to the pot, then season with spices and let cook for about 5 minutes more. Serve over rice.

Note: The bowl is a slate blue “Cargo” pasta bowl from the Calvin Klein Khaki Collection, my new favorite dinnerware. These wide, shallow bowls come in incredibly handy!

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Wordless Wednesday: Cherry Season

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