While the main issue with eating in either Boston or Providence can be deciding where to enjoy your next meal, we are also blessed (or perhaps cursed) with a bevy of suburban stars sandwiched between that make the choices even harder!

Among the newest of these is Kosmos in Walpole which, as luck would have it, is about halfway between the Hub and Renaissance City.

Headed by Greek imports Stavros and Angelos Petropolos (who trained under Boston legend Gordon Hammersley and helped open Committee in the Seaport district), Kosmos is already a local fave that is drawing fans from both states and even further afield- many of whom use public transportation so they can fully enjoy themselves (Opa!). 

Speaking of drinks, the eponymous white cranberry and vodka Kosmo is a surefire hit, as is the Kosmos IPA from Opa Opa Brewing in Williamsburg, MA. Kosmos also offers a wide range of Greek wines, Ouzos, and Metaxas. 

With the recently-revealed garden patio and authentic decor and food that make you feel as if you are on the coast of Corinth, Kosmos is a universe away from many other Greek eateries in the area and features such family-founded and family-friendly recipes as spanakopita (spinach pie), grilled octopus with Santorini split pea puree, pan-seared Saganaki cheese, chicken and lamb chops, striped bass, and Makaronia Me Kima (which is the famed Greek version of pasta Bolognese). If your family or group of friends is large, Kosmos also offers platters for at least two that feature grilled meats, seafood stew, and whole grilled snapper. Sunday brunch adds such Hellenic heroes as Spanakopita Benedict, Greek yogurt pancakes, hearty Shakshouka, and even an omelet topped with traditional Greek salad!

For those who like a sweet finish to their suburban excursion, Kosmos also has phyllo cake, multi-napkin baklava rolls, and Bougatsa custard pie with Nutella.

As I said- Opa!

www.kosmoswma.com

Summer is coming and that means it is time to start looking forward to spending more great times with two things – family and a grill.

What better time to check in with our friends the Iliades family at Farm Grill and Rotisserie in Newton?

In addition to such Hellenistic hits as their spicy Feta spread, tender grape leaves with aromatic herbs, tzatziki made with homemade Greek yogurt and Greek olive oil, flaky spanikopita, rich and hearty pastitzio, and traditional village salad with homemade dressing that you can (and should) take home, the Grill also offers everything from beef kabobs and rotisserie chicken to octopus salad on their always-refreshing (and mouthwatering) steam table. In their eternal quest to support other family businesses while offering the best products around, Farm Grill recently began offering Vermont-raised organic lamb that can be specially prepared for weddings, graduation parties, and other events either at Farm Grill or at your location with just a week’s notice!

Apparently, they may even be selling a great book about the Ivy League (www.lionstigersbulldogs.com) soon as well!

As we open up our windows to let in the warmer air, Farm Grill is also opening its doors for longer hours (another great sign of COVID recovery!), staying open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights until 9 PM and opening Sundays for on-site private events that offer all of the family-fueled flavor without any family cleanup!

And if you want more amazingly authentic, fresh, and flavorful Greek food, drink, and gifts for summer or any time of year, he sure to visit Farm Grill’s sister store, the Greek International Food Market in West Roxbury.

Either way, you are sure to bring your family something νόστιμο (“nóstimo”) every time!

www.farm-grill.com / https://greekintlmarket.com

As Matt’s Meals fans know, I am admittedly not the biggest Indian food fan, but I LOVE Shanti.

While we wait for them to come to Needham, my family and I will venture to Roslindale or even back to my old hometowns of Cambridge and Dorchester to enjoy (and I mean “ENJOY”!) their authentically contemporary tastes, like their worth-the-trip hand-baked naan and fresh and refreshing mango lassi and their amazing curry dishes, vegetable plates, and exotic meat offerings.

Speaking of great food in Cambridge , the Shanti team is planning to bring their sister restaurant, Dudley Café, from Dudley Square in Roxbury (hence the name!) to Porter Square in Cambridge as well and are asking for help by offering a great reward to fans and friends even before they open!

Using the community finance tool NuMarket, the Dudley Café crew is crowdfunding the new venue by offering a 120% return on any investment. This means that when you donate $100, you get $120 in credit to spend at the new location. And with a menu that ranges from delicious day-starters like thick and rich challah French toast and a breakfast sandwich that includes egg, sauteed spinach, cheese and the Café’s house sauce to a lunch break’s worth of rice bowls and such hand-y favorites as the PAC Man (pulled pork, Asian slaw and chipotle mayo) and the famed No. 34 sandwich (which features grass-fed local roast beef with caramelized onions, sweet potatoes, and greens on French bread), any amount of credits will be easy to spend!

In addition to offering great food, Dudley Café is also a community space that presents local artists and events that bring people together in ways that go beyond shared meals (as good as they may be!).
In encouraging donors to enjoy the fruits of their generosity, the Shanti/Dudley team hopes to build a true community of food fans who also want to support local businesses, even if those businesses are worth visiting from not-so-local locales.

Please visit ShantiBoston.com and DudleyCafe.com and join the community!

Known for such award-winning Harvard-area hangs as Alden & Harlow, The Longfellow Bar, and Waypoint, Chef Michael Scelfo is crossing the border to Somerville with his latest sure-to-be hit, Josephine. In so doing, he is also crossing a larger border (both in terms of time and space) to the kitchen of the Sicilian grandmother after whom the new spot is named.

While Scelfo has brought joy to many diners with the amazing food and fun and funky atmospheres of his current locations, when it came to his new place, he looked back at the kitchen experiences that brought him the most joy and one woman appeared in nearly all of them. In addition to inspiring his recipes and commitment to culinary excellence, Scelfo’s Nonna Josephine also inspired him as a restaurateur and family man who is already passing Scelfo traditions to his own descendants.

While the menu is sure to offer something for every family, Josephine’s focus is on pizzas that range from comfortably classic to creatively contemporary. From a  heavy hitting deep dish edition made with a butter crust and whole milk mozzarella to the Hella good Rosemary’s Baby with roasted chicken, potato, fontina, and caramelized onion to the “peppy” white pie with clam sauce, pecorino and a ton of garlic, the options are plentiful and all delicious. If you are not up for a pie, Scelfo will also be sure nobody goes home hungry with other treats like dry-aged meatballs, a smoked and chilled veal shoulder, a zesty roasted olive plate, warm Focaccia with tomatoes and Crecenza cheese, and fantastic finishers like their torched rice pudding and traditional olive oil cake.

To compliment these complement-worthy creations, Josephine’s bar offers martinis on tap garnished with flavored gelatins as well as many Italian and American wines and beers. And if these are not refreshing enough Josephine’s has an outdoor seating area with a roaring firepit for al fresco alla Siciliano!

Nonna Jo would be proud and you should be getting over for dinner soon!

www.josephinepizza.com