Restaurants

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When it comes to making it to blogger events, I have been a big slacker lately. Being up to my ears in work and working from home make it easy for me to work into the evening and beyond, and even if I do finish a bit early, my tendency has been to either take a virtual Barre & Soul class (client) or sink into a hot bubble bath with a glass of wine and a book for a few precious moments. 2016 has been a crazy year.

But I love and miss the networking that goes with blogger events, and when I was invited to Ocean Prime for a social media tasting, I jumped at the chance and am so glad I did.

truffle popcorn

I arrived early (always) and snagged corner seats at the bar for me and my handsome date. We had a spot right next to Ocean Prime’s excellent live music, reason alone to make a return visit. The bar itself was just gorgeous, and the service super friendly. To go with my glass of Chandon bubbles, I received a complimentary bowl of truffle popcorn; I love a good bar snack, especially with sparkling wine!

Ocean Prime Boston

Once it was time to head to one of Ocean Prime’s private rooms for the main event, I coveted their wine walls and wondered what it might be like to have this in my house. Love.

wine wall

IMG_2542

The event itself was “Eat, Drink & Be Social” and a chance for us to mingle with other social media fanatics while sampling cocktails and seafood.

martini glassesketel one

We enjoyed a cocktail demonstration, learning how to make Ocean Prime’s most popular cocktail, Berries and Bubbles, which was just slightly too sweet for me, but tasty nevertheless.

Ocean Prime cocktails

And it’s pretty! Dry ice adds a dramatic flair. I could see this cocktail being the perfect signature drink for an event. If Sex and the City took place in modern day Boston, the Berries and Bubbles cocktail would be the new Cosmo.

berries and bubbles

Every inch of space at Ocean Prime was gorgeous, and if it had been less busy I would have taken more photos. I did love this fireplace in the private room; what a brilliant idea in this cold and windy city of ours!

Ocean Prime Boston It was the food that won me over the most. We were spoiled with towering mountains of fresh, delicious seafood paired with perfect sauces. The crab legs and oysters were my favorites.

seafood tower I am not usually a calamari fan, but one of the servers said it was a must-try item, and I found that it was to-die-for delicious. Sweet chili sauce and tender calamari, not rubbery like it so often is, were mixed with candied cashews and veggies for some great flavor.

calamari

This truffled Deviled Egg was one of the best I have ever had. I could have eaten the entire plate of them, and since it was set down on my table, it was a possibility for a few minutes. Don’t worry, I shared.

truffle deviled egg A beautiful sushi display was also part of the feast, and every piece I had was amazing.

I love that Ocean Prime has a sushi menu and that it’s really good sushi; sometimes I am in the mood for sushi but also for other types of food and feel limited by sushi restaurants’ menus. Ocean Prime gives you the best of both worlds.

sushi

 

sushi    sushi

I had a great time meeting some new bloggers and the team at Ocean Prime. Everyone was genuinely nice and welcoming, and I loved the vibe at the restaurant, which felt special but not stuffy. It wasn’t as loud as some of the similar restaurants I have been to, and it felt like a place that could both be a regular stop for after-work cocktails or a destination for a birthday or anniversary. The live music several days a week is an added nice touch, and you can bet you will see me at the bar again soon.

Thanks to Marlo Marketing for the invitation and to Ocean Prime for hosting us!

Tags: Boston, Boston blogger, Boston Food Bloggers, cocktails, events, seafood, wine

With family all over the place, we tend to travel for just about every holiday. While I love seeing family and mixing things up, it can also be a bit of a slog to always have to hop in the car for a traffic-laden ride or to deal with airport crowds during the holiday season. Making fun little stops along the way on road trips can make them feel a little less like a chore and more like an adventure.

On our way home from Christmas in New Jersey, we found ourselves hungry just over the border in New York state, and when I say hungry, I actually mean my blood sugar dropped and I needed to EAT now or harm someone. That happens to everyone, right?

We pulled off the highway in Newburgh, New York expecting to land at a Dunkin’ Donuts or diner, something that would be quick so we could be on our way again. Instead we drove right past North Plank Tavern, a sweet old house with a bright, friendly OPEN flag flying from its doorway.

 

North Plank Tavern

The cheerful outside against the gray December sky called to us, and since we had plenty of time before dinner plans in Boston, we decided to have a sit down meal and to take our time, something I am not very good at.

We walked inside and were instantly charmed by the narrow doorways and dark wood. We popped our heads in the dining rooms first and finally settled into the empty bar, where we were soon welcomed. My photos aren’t great as I was trying to not have my phone out during a meal, something I want to get better at, but they do give an idea of this historic tavern’s look and feel.

North Plank Tavern

North Plank Tavern North Plank Tavern historic tavern

According to our host and the North Plank Tavern website:

The Tavern has a storied past.  It was  originally built as a hotel along a plank road, and became a Tavern and boarding house.  During prohibition, the Tavern continued to serve alcohol and operated as a speakeasy.

The boarding house was owned by Mrs. Sauer, whose name and photo can be seen in photos above. The space was enchanting; I love history and trying to imagine what things were like in different periods. It also felt a wee bit creepy; I am a strong believer in lingering spirits and always hope to encounter them in old houses! Except my own that is. . .

I love the above photo from the restaurant website, a trap door with Prohibition-era liquor underneath.

North Plank Tavern old fashioned doornautical decor

For an old tavern, I expected the menu to match, with classics and pub-type food. We were pleasantly surprised at the gourmet aspect of the restaurant.

Burrata Tomato Salad

The brunch menu featured an INCREDIBLE truffled Burrata salad with oven-roasted tomatoes. It was absolutely to-die-for and even better because it was NOT what I expected when we stopped for food.

My husband had the slab bacon (naturally) with eggs and home fries, all also excellent. The North Plank Tavern has a big smoker out back, where the bacon was made, it the bacon was delicious. So smoky, meaty, tender, so much better than regular old bacon.

The service was lovely, and the vibe was relaxed. We’ll be planning drives around meals here in the future. I can’t wait to check out the dinner menu,

Tags: Food, historic restaurant, history, New York, New York State, North Plank Tavern, speakeasy, tavern, Travel

Branch Line is one of the Boston area’s hottest new restaurants, with city folks flocking out to Watertown to get a taste of their rotisserie-focused menu. Right before I left to go home for Christmas, we got together at Branch Line with great friends to celebrate the holidays. It was the perfect choice for such an occasion; it would be perfect for just about any occasion though. This is definitely a restaurant you need to visit soon.

Branch Line Watertown

The space is beautiful, with high ceilings and an open kitchen, which we were seated right next to,  making for a warm and cozy dinner and a show. We couldn’t help but watch the kitchen action, including the rotisserie chickens rotating and getting golden.

Branch Line

Branch Line

 

When I first heard the Branch Line concept, I was a little skeptical about whether or not the menu would appeal to me, but in the end, I wanted everything. This is a good place to go with a bunch of friends who don’t mind sharing because there are a lot of small plates, sides, and meat dishes that come in good-sized portions, and you will want them all.

Branch Line menu

porchettta at Branch Line

The porchetta . . . you have to get the porchetta. I first caught sight of it and had to grab this photo, which doesn’t do it justice. It was so beautiful, sitting right there in that open kitchen, just waiting for me to run away with it. . .

 

Bubbly

But first there were drinks. Our friends’ friends surprised us with a bottle of delicious bubbly, 2004
Château Tour Grise Brut Non Dose Gourdon, a sparkling Chenin Blanc from the Loire Valley perfect for celebrating.
cheers

Cheers!

rotisserie drippings

We started off the meal with appetizers, including fresh bread and a bowl of drippings from the chicken rotisserie. Um, amazing.

fried cheese

We also shared the fried cheese as well as the heavenly grilled oysters with bagna cauda butter. I am more into grilled or roasted oysters these days, and these did not disappoint.

roasted oysters

And then there was dinner. Plates were flying around the table as we dug into our own meals as well as each others’, along with the sides that we ordered to share. I had at least a bite of everything; it was a true feast!

mushroooms

Grilled mushrooms came wading in more of the rotisserie chicken drippings, because, why not?

porchetta Branch Line

The porchetta was the best dish of the night. It wasn’t mine, unfortunately, so I had to be satisfied with a few bites, but it was absolutely insane – tender, juicy, and rich pork with a pop of flavor and crunch from mustard,  greens,  and pickled onions. Out of this world.

Branch Line chicken

 

The chicken was another star of the dinner show, as we dreamed it would be. Branch Line specializes in rotisserie, and the chicken is really a must-order.

 

roasted garlic and steak

 

My entree, the Prime Bavette Steak with an entire head of roasted garlic was a tender, mouthwatering treat with gooey, caramelized garlic to spare. Can you ever have too much garlic though?

 

roasted garlic

Pescatarians will be happy with the Baked Sicilian White Fish in a scrummy tomato sauce with olives and basil. I loved the simplicity of this dish; it’s something similar to what I make at home, only better.

fish carrots with yogurt sauce

My two favorite sides of the night were the roasted carrots which were resting atop a tangy, incredible yogurt sauce, a side that I would happily eat as a vegetarian entree. Brussels sprouts are always a favorite veggie of mine, and these were, like the rest of the meal, devoured by our group.

Brussels

I could have easily stopped at dinner and rolled out of the restaurant, but we stayed the course for espresso and desserts. The milkshake is one I would pass up next time. I found it too soupy and not much like a milkshake at all.

milk shake dessert

 

The olive oil cake and this ice cream sundae, on the other hand, were well worth the extra calories even to someone who isn’t a huge dessert fan, like me.

Service at Branch Line could not have been better. We felt relaxed and at home as each dish came out. The list of wines and beers is interesting; note that Branch Line doesn’t have cocktails, but the wine and beer selection more than make up for that. Branch Line is a definite must-visit in the Boston area, and we will definitely be back soon.

Tags: Boston, Boston blogger, Dining out, Food, food blog, Restaurants, wine

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