My Best of Greater Boston 2014

It was a great year for the Boston area food and beverage scene. There are countless new restaurants we are hoping to try, and resolutions like checking out the Boston Wine School to come. We need more time in our non-work lives; it would be easy to spend a week staycation in Boston alone, just discovering and rediscovering all this amazing city has to offer.

Just like in my Best of 2014 Food and Travel post, I had plenty to choose from in my Best of Greater Boston 2014 post. Of course, we didn’t go everywhere or experience everything, but here are a few favorites. Share your favorite food, wine, and cocktail moments from 2014 in the comments!

Dinner on the Farm – Boston Brooklyn Mash – We were fortunate to attend this Verrill Farm dinner as guests of Dinner on the Farm, and it was one of the best days of the year. The food and beer were amazing, and I loved being out on a farm for the afternoon. Now that I have fallen in love with Carolyn Johnson’s cooking, maybe I’ll get to 80 Thoreau soon.

The Food Project – We discovered them during a dinner at Alden & Harlow, where The Food Project was by far the best part of the night. I later got to learn more with an afternoon volunteering on the farm, and I can’t wait to help out more in the Spring. The Food Project brings so much to the table. Definitely check them out.

Hamersley’s Bistro  – Boston said goodbye to this beloved restaurant in 2014, but not before we had an incredible anniversary dinner there. Luckily we can all learn to make Hamersley’s roast chicken at home.

Merrill & Co – We ate just about everything at Merrill & Co. and loved the creative variety of cocktails on the menu. This is one of those places you want to visit again and again so you can try everything and because it feels so comfy.

Steel and Rye – The obsession from 2013 continued into 2014. Every single bite, sip, staff interaction, brunch, dinner, and drinks outing was perfect. And there were many. Brunch at Steel and Rye is the best way to spend a wintry Sunday.

Milton Fruit Center Marketplace Wine Dinners – We are still talking about this Coppola wine dinner at the Fruit Center Marketplace, one of my favorite finds in our new neighborhood. The food was something out of a top rated restaurant, the wine pairings were perfect, and we had so much fun. The value was crazy good too.

We’re unsure about the future of Fruit Center Marketplace, but we hope they will stick around and pull out more wine dinners in 2015.

Sycamore – Have you been to Sycamore in Newton? The food, the cocktails, and the food and wine expertise are all some of the best in the Boston area. You’ll find a sense of humor. zero pretentiousness, and the most perfect Old Cuban at Sycamore, one of the many reasons we spent  several great evenings in 2014 here.

Navy Yard Bistro – This little waterside gem is tied with Les Zygomates for my favorite spot for a cozy, quiet date night. Awesome location, friendly staff, friendly staff, great wine list, and delicious food make this spot one that we keep going back to.

Local wine – Wine country is closer than you think. Massachusetts has some REALLY GOOD wine from some unique and interesting wineries. In 2014 we discovered Black Birch Vineyards and their incredible Cab Franc and Traminette, along with gorgeous scenery in one of my favorite parts of Massachusetts. We also got to the Westport Rivers Sunset Music Series where we found Farmer’s Fizz, one of my favorite sparkling wines of the year. And as we have in years past, we loved visits to Travessia, along with wine club shipments. If you haven’t made the trip to Travessia, get there in 2015.

There you have it, a few of my absolute favorites in 2014. The Boston area is an exciting place to live right now; other than having to deal with winter I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else!