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So. many. vegetables. The bounty of summer was all around us this past week as a group of friends visited Alden & Harlow for one of their Whole Farm Dinners. On this night, they were partnering with The Food Project for the dinner, and the beautiful seasonal produce presented to us did not disappoint.

We enjoyed a multi-course meal with wine pairings in the restaurant’s atrium-style seating area. Whole Farm Dinners are limited to 10 people, and we took up seven of the seats.

The food was really beautiful and served in abundance; with the exception of some egg and anchovy slivers, it was vegetarian, which was a little bit of a surprise, but overall worked out.

House made pickles

{House Made Pickles}

Dinner kicked off with pickles instead of bread, something that always makes me very happy. These pickles were crunchy and tangy and perfect, one of my favorite ways to see local cucumbers used.

fried shishitos, anchovy, grated egg yolk

{Fried Shishitos, Anchovy, Grated Egg Yolk}

Our first course was bright and colorful, consisting of fried shishitos and beautiful crudité with the most addictive anchovy oil ever. We could not stop talking about the oil (bagna cauda), which went with the fresh veggies and added the perfect rich, salty, umami flavors to the course.

This course paired perfectly with bubbly , a Cote de Mas Cremant de Limoux from the Languedoc that kicked off our meal. Pink bubbles with citrus notes and the saltiness of the anchovy in both dishes went so well together.

A white wine was also poured, a Grechetto Poggio Della Costafrom Sergio Mottura. Aged in stainless, the wine exhibited notes of tropical fruit and was crisp but with a nice bit of body.

assorted vegetable crudite, bagna cauda{Assorted Vegetable Crudite, Bagna Cauda}

seared japanese eggplant, basil, sheep's milk cheese, fregola & garlic

{Seared Japanese Eggplant, Basil, Sheep’s Milk Cheese, Fregola & Garlic}

The next course was my favorite because it featured a melt-in-your-mouth eggplant dish bursting with garlicky flavor and crunch. We also had a rich ragu of pole beans, tomatoes, and bread. This course was paired with a Syrah/Nebbiolo blend from Wind Gap. This pink wine was full of flavor, super dry, with a nice body and notes of tart cherries. It was lovely with the rich tomatoes with the beans and the salty, nutty cheese with the eggplant.

stewed pole beans, cherry tomatoes, torn croutons

{Stewed Pole Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Torn Croutons}

kale creste de gallo, egg, fresh milled tomato

Our final savory course was our carb course, a pasta that I thought was a little chewy and bland and a grilled potato dish with Za’atar Aioli. The potatoes were perfect, so tender and so summery. The wine pairing for this course was a 2012 Heitz Cellars Grignolino, a light red with strawberry notes, extremely yummy and drinkable.

{Kale Creste de Gallo, Egg, Fresh Milled Tomato}

apricot parfait

{Apricot Parfait}

I  was full when dessert rolled around, but we were treated to an apricot parfait with a rich cardamom cream. I could only eat a few bites, but those apricots were simply summery perfection.

We all agreed the food was very, very good. Alden & Harlow took exquisite produce and dressed it up creatively, and the wine pairings were interesting, delicious, and expertly paired with the food.

Since this was a special farm dinner with a nice price tag ($60 for dinner, $30 for wine pairings, plus gratuity), we had hoped there would have been a little more of an introduction, some information on The Food Project, on the pairings, a visit from Chef, etc. Other farm dinners I have gone to (Post 390 Farm to Post) have been informational; that personal touch is what differentiates a meal from being just a regular night in the restaurant and makes it worth booking far in advance.

Service was not very warm; there was a little bit of an overall attitude. It could be because we were a chatty group of ladies, but it made us all a little uncomfortable. With all of that in mind, I don’t know that I would go out of my way to book one of these dinners again, which is unfortunate because I love the concept and have heard so many great things about the restaurant

Either way, I loved that we got to spend the evening enjoying the bounty of a local farm. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Tags: cambridge, Dining out, dinner, farm dinner, farm market, farm to table, Restaurants, summer food, vegetables, Vegetarian

Let me start off by admitting I went to the new Legal Oysteria twice in two days. It’s that good, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty close to my office.  I didn’t spend much time at Olives, the restaurant previously in its space, except for the epic reopening party, where it seems Todd English spent all of his money on a seven hour open bar. . .

But I loved the space and location, and well, while Todd doesn’t seem to have a love for Boston, Legal does, and I had a feeling they would get it just right.

Legal Oysteria maintains that same bright, open layout and design that Olives had, with a beautiful white marble bar and a variety of types of seating, including a dining area, bar, and high tops.

The cocktail menu offers many aperitif and digestif type drinks; a number of them have bitter elements like Amaro. I started with a Prosecco Cocktail, a refreshing and too-easy-to-drink blend of Prosecco, Aperol, Aperitivo Rosa, Citrus, and Soda. The paper straw it came with was cute, but it disintegrated pretty quickly.

prosecco cocktail

Legal Oysteria is the perfect place to dine with friends who are up for trying lots of bites. Every single one was delicious, and we filled up before we had the chance tp even look at the entrée menu!

calamari

{Crispy Fried Calamari, Salsa Rossa}

Tender, salty, perfectly crisp, the calamari was a surprise. I often try calamari that I don’t love, but this one really was perfect.

caponata

{Eggplant Caponata with Grilled Focaccia}

I love eggplant, but I love it even more when someone else cooks it for me. This caponata was dotted with sweet raisins to provide a flavor contrast, and the bread was fluffy and buttery,

grilled oysters with fennel butter

{Grilled Oysters with Fennel Butter}

This is possibly the most heavenly and decadent way to eat oysters ever. Warm fennel butter mixed with plump grilled oysters was a combination new to me, but it is something I want to eat again and again.

 

ricotta fritters with spiced honey

{Ricotta Fritters with Spiced Honey}

These little fritters reminded me of donuts. They were awesome, but I think they might belong on the dessert menu.

shrimp and chickpea fritters

{Chickpea and Shrimp Fritters}

I had these both nights at Legal Oysteria. I loved the mix of shrimp and chickpeas in a piping hot fritter, and the spicy aioli was a perfect addition.

clam pizza

{Roasted Clam Pizza, Garlic, Oregano, Mozzarella, Pecorino}

The roasted clam pizza was our main course, and it was delightfully crispy and garlicky, the perfect end to the meal and the bite that put me over the “too full” edge.

Legal Oysteria is an excellent addition to the Boston dining scene, and I am certain it will become an after work favorite for me and my colleagues.

Tags: Boston, Charlestown, cocktails, Dining out, Food, oyster bar, oysters, Restaurants, seafood, summer

Happy Monday! Did you have a good weekend?I feel like they keep getting faster and faster. We have had some gorgeous summer weekends, and we have been spending as much time as possible outside. This includes boating, drinks and dining on patios, and pool time at our friends’ new house. When Sunday night rolls around I am seriously bummed, so it’s always nice to sit back and reflect on all the good things we’ve experienced.

Over the past couple of weeks we have had a number of great meals. Below I have included a few favorite bites and sips from our wanders out and about.

What bites and sips have you loved lately?

 

smoked salmon eggs benedict

Leisurely brunch is on of the best ways to spend a Sunday morning, and this weekend after a charity paddling race, we went to Bistro du Midi. Their small patio is perfect for people watching, and their House Cured Salmon Benedict is to die for. I have always been a fan of Bistro du Midi, so it was nice to return.

Armsby Abbey

On our way out to Tanglewood on July 4th, we stopped for lunch in Worcester at Armsby Abbey. It was pouring and chilly, and a pub lunch with an endless selection of brews was perfect. I had the  Kimchee Grilled Cheese with Pulled Pork Soup. The food was so delicious! I thought Pulled Pork Soup sounded both amazing and odd, and it was a bit of both. Mostly it was a spicy, rich pork soup, perfect with a salty, tangy grilled cheese dipped in. I wish Armsby Abbey was closer to Boston. I would visit often!

dollar oysters

Cocktails and dollar oysters at Smith & Wollensky Castle on a Friday night. . . perfection. I love the old Boston look and feel and history of this Smith & Wollensky location. The cocktails are fun (and strong), the staff is great, and the oysters were flowing. This is a perfect place to kick off a night out.

Old Cuban Cocktails

Over the 4th of July weekend, we enjoyed some cocktails with friends in Newton. Sycamore is their go-to, and it has become a fast favorite of ours. The food is always amazing, and the Old Cuban cocktails are my favorite in the city.

Precinct Boston

Boston patios are one of my favorite places to spend a summer night, and the patio at Precinct is fabulous. Beautiful faerie lights, great drinks, and friendly service make Precinct a perfect place for people watching and spending a long night out with friends. I look forward to returning for food!

Tags: beer, Boston, cocktails, Dining out, Food, Restaurants, Worcester

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