Restaurants

A Century of Plenty: Volante Farms makes locavor-ism easy and DELICIOUS (Originally posted 12/15)

Posted by

With the increasing popularity of the “buy local” movement and increasing demand for fresh, locally-sourced produce, dairy, meats, and other provisions, many families spend entire weekends going from farm to farm, often digging in the dirt themselves in order to ensure that their meals are the most organic, GMO-, gluten- or other special dietary necessity-free around.

Those in the Needham area find themselves especially fortunate in this regard, as they have been able to enjoy the full bounty of the region for nearly 100 years by going to one place – the family owned and operated Volante Farms (http://volantefarms.com).

Continue reading →

A Great Place to be Tied to: MAST’ has deliciousness in “abundanza” (Originally posed 12/15)

Posted by

 

No bar and grill, this. MAST’ (www.mastboston.com) at 45 Province Street in Boston’s quickly re-flourishing Downtown Crossing entitles itself as a restaurant and “drinkery.” And whether you look around the comfily swanky multi-leveled venue or at the broadsheet menu, you will easily see how this name came to be.

Continue reading →

Tasting Japanese: Ogawa brings flavors of “sister city” to Boston (Originally posted 11/15)

Posted by

The Kingdom of Japan has brought many amazing, market-leading developments to our shores- from the economical car to the personal stereo. Now, the Land of the Rising Sun brings us a new gift with which we can greet the sun each day or savor its setting.

 

Based in Boston’s sister city of Kyoto, Ogawa Coffee (www.ogawacoffeeusa.com) has planted its first States-side flag in the Hub of the Universe with a beautiful and flavor-ful establishment on Milk Street.

Continue reading →

Both Sides NOW: Pair of restaurants revives both sides of Main Street in Hudson (Originally posted 11/15)

Posted by

When a new restaurant comes to town, there is always a bit of excitement. This is especially true when the restaurant brings something new and different or, in rare cases, unique.

It is especially rare, however, for a pair of venues to engender such excitement; even more so when they are both run by the same talented team and both offer such one-of-a-kind experiences.

Such is the case, however, in Hudson, MA, which has been blessed with the road trip-worthy one-two punch of Rail Trail Flatbread Company (http://railtrailflatbread.com) and New City Microcreamery (http://newcitymicrocreamery.com).

Continue reading →

The Top Basement Around: 51 Lincoln reveals Tasting Room (Originally posted 11/15)

Posted by

 

For nearly two decades, Chef Jeff Fournier has quietly established his reputation as one of the area’s most creative and confident chefs. From his famed watermelon steaks and cookies and milk palettes to the bold paintings with which he decorates his pair of popular Newton eateries – 51 Lincoln (www.51lincolnnewton.com) and Waban Kitchen (www.wabankitchen.com) – “Chef Jeff” combines his own French-Armenian heritage and with culinary explorations from Asia to Italy to Latin America. Throw in training from such legendary colleagues as Hans Rockenwagner and Lydia Shire and the best of what local farmers and purveyors have to offer, and you have the fixin’s for one heckuva dining experience!

Continue reading →

On the Money: No matter the time, Village Café has the tastes (Originally posted 10/15)

Posted by

Money may make the world go ‘round, but the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

Such seems to be the overriding motto of Tony Mirogiannis, owner and chef at Newton’s Village Café (www.newtonvillagecafe.com) who, after years in the financial industry, followed his own heart (and his brothers, who own the North Ave. Diner in Wakefield) into the role of filling other people’s stomachs.

Continue reading →

The Best of Most Possible Worlds: Brothers Restaurant offers a lot of what makes Coolidge Corner great (Originally posted 10/15)

Posted by

“Honey- What do you want to eat tonight? American?… Italian?… Mexican?”

“Yes!”
“Do you want a good meal or a place with live music?”
“Okay!”

“I know the PERFECT place!”

 

While Brookline’s Harvard Street is known for a wide array of impressive ethnic eateries – from the Kosher Mecca of Rubin’s and the Kosher-style legend of Michael’s to the authentic Mexican flavor of Anna’s Taqueria, the savoir faire of Paris Creperie and the non-faux Vietnamese of Pho Lemon Grass to the sports bar with a BIG difference known as the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse and the upscale American class of Lineage and on and on – none combine so many flavors and tastes with so much passion as Brother’s Restaurant (www.brothers-restaurant.com)

Continue reading →

Way More Than Six Slices or Eight: Hearth Pizzeria offers many choices, but all are great! (Originally posted 9/15)

Posted by

 

In any town in America, pizza is always readily available.

While that may be convenient, it can also be concerning. After all, who knows what is going into and on top of that pie?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a place to go where you can be certain that the ingredients are all fresh, local, and as healthy and healthful as can be?
For those around Needham (and the many who make the well-worth-it trip), there is!

Hearth Pizzeria (www.hearthpizzeria.com) is the new creation by long-time pizza pro Ivan Milan-Pulecio. And even in a town that has many good pizza shops, Hearth has already established itself as a slice above by offering items made with ingredients that often come from as nearby as the farmers market a block away and that often go into creative combinations that others simply do not offer.

Continue reading →