Food

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Fox and Hound

March 30, 2012 in Food, Restaurants by traveleatlove | 11 comments

As much as I love going out in downtown Boston and Cambridge, I love discovering great places to eat outside the confines of the city. Last weekend, we were down in Quincy to get started on boat preparations for Summer 2012. First up, the hull needed to be scraped clean of barnacles. Barnacles attach themselves to the bottom of the boat, then other things like seaweed get attached, and suddenly you are burning about three times as much gas than is needed. Barnacles are bad. There’s nothing quite like laying on the cold ground scraping dead sea life off of a boat, but I know it will be worth it when we haul it back into the water. Next up is sanding the bottom paint and then repainting with a barnacle-resistant paint (which will still attract barnacles).

Fascinating.

Since I was apparently such a sport about the boat work, my husband offered to take me out to lunch. I did a quick Google search on my phone and found that Fox and Hound Wood Grille and Tavern, a place we had passed on previous trips, was right down the road.

The exterior of the Fox and Hound is super cute, all red and cream and looks like a little old house.

The inside is warm and cozy, with exposed brick and an array of brown accents. It felt comfortable, and was the perfect place for lunch.

As the marathon gets nearer, I am trying to be better about getting all of my nutrients, so, in addition to a Newcastle Brown in a frosty pint glass, I ordered this warm spinach salad. It was topped with goat cheese and a fruit and onion compote, brought together with a warm, lemony dressing. I stirred the goat cheese in so it coated the lettuce, and I dove in. Since I was chilly to begin with, this was a great option, warming me up but also offering the health benefits of a salad. I loved it.

I also had a cup of clam chowder, which was delicious. It was nice and thick with tender clams and lots of potatoes. You can’t beat a good clam chowder.

Since we had a really hard time deciding on what to order, I also had some of my husband’s fish Reuben and fries. I love Reuben sandwiches, and this one had a creative twist, combining fried fish with Russian dressing, cole slaw, and Swiss cheese. Yum.

The restaurant was pretty quiet for lunch, and our waitress was friendly and helpful. We wanted to try so many menu items that we will definitely be returning.

I am so happy it’s Friday. I have not been a happy camper this week, and all I want to do is sleep. Next weekend we will be away for Easter, and the following is marathon weekend, so this one will definitely be for rest and some time alone.

What are you up to this weekend?

Congratulations to Daisy for winning the Edible Arrangements giveaway! Please email me with the address you’d like the basket shipped to next week, along with a phone number that the delivery person can call. Thanks to everyone who entered! I have another giveaway coming up Monday so stay tuned!

Tags: chowder, Food, Quincy, restaurant, salad

Sunday Dinner

March 29, 2012 in Food, recipe by traveleatlove | 11 comments

Carb loading? Why yes, yes I am. It’s Boston Marathon season, and the best part of carb loading is the beer pasta!

I’m actually not a huge fan of carb-y things in general. I skip the bread basket and don’t go crazy for bread or pasta unless it’s really good and usually homemade. But every now and then I get a pasta craving, and a chilly Sunday afternoon was the perfect time to let a pot of sauce bubble away.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I unexpectedly ended up having a VERY frustrating work day on Sunday, and going into the kitchen to chop onions and pound chicken tenders was the perfect release. It’s been a week of business lessons for me, the main one being, get everything in writing. Everything.

I wanted to make a really rich and delicious tomato sauce so I started with some anchovies. This was actually my first time cooking with anchovies, and I was surprised that they didn’t smell at all.

I melted them down in a bit of olive oil with a ton of garlic and onions. Ahhh. . . the sizzling sounds and the garlicky, nutty smells. They truly transformed me from my funk, at least until I checked my email again Smile .

When the onions were soft, I poured in a can of crushed tomatoes and added a few spoons of tomato paste. I also added a few pinches of salt and a hefty shake of crushed red pepper.

Next came the chicken. I wanted chicken cutlets, but I accidentally bought these tenders. They were just fine; I took some of my frustration out on them to get them the same thickness, then dunked each one in flour, egg, and Italian bread crumbs.

After browning them on each side, I popped them in a 350 oven to cook through while I got my pasta going. I love these little pasta nests.

My chicken came out golden brown, the pasta perfectly al dente, and the sauce packed a flavorful punch.

I topped my bowl with some parmesan cheese, curled up on the couch, and enjoyed a leisurely Sunday evening.

What’s your favorite Sunday dinner?

Tags: chicken, dinner, Food, pasta, recipe, sauce

Beignets and Bubbly

March 28, 2012 in Food, Restaurants, Travel by traveleatlove | 10 comments

Happy Wine Wednesday! How about a post about our adventures in wine country? I promise, I only have a few more to go. And I have to admit, I wish I had many, many more. I love writing about this stuff more than anything.

Let’s rewind a bit, shall we? On a warm, sunny Sonoma Saturday morning, my husband and I had breakfast, set out for massages at a spa on the Sonoma Plaza, and then hit the road to meet our friends over in Yountville. Before we went wine tasting, we had to fortify. Technically we had already eaten, but when invited to the sleek, swanky, and LEED Certifed (one of three hotels in the US) Bardessono with a Napa Valley local and other fun friends, you just don’t turn it down.

We’re no strangers to Yountville, and so we ended up arriving early and wandering around for a bit. The lines out of Bouchon Bakery were bananas, and in general the little town was bustling. You just can’t beat a blue sky day in Napa Valley.

On the way into the property, I snapped a photo of their sleeping vines, just waiting for bud break.

We checked out the beautifully designed patio, a great place to grab a cocktail after work. Bardessono is a spectacular property; I hear the rooms are incredible, though I will likely never see the inside of one; I did a quick search and the cheapest room was $800 a night.

Our friends were inside having brunch, so we joined them and each had a glass of Schramsberg Blanc de blancs. We were going to stick with just that, until we learned that the special of the day was freshly made beignets. Now, I am not one for a sweet breakfast, at all, but luckily the egg and bacon sandwich, banana, and yogurt I had eaten earlier were my breakfast. Beignets? Just a little snack.

The hot beignets were coated with sugar, offering a satisfying crunchiness as we bit into the hot, soft centers. The beignets were served with strawberry jam, chocolate sauce, and caramel. Not a crumb was wasted. And, of course, they went perfectly with the Schramsberg.