Whiskey, Carrots, and a Few Greek Dudes

I'm lucky to be able to say that I work with a bunch of fun 20-somethings who are always up for grabbing a drink when the clock strikes 5.  Last Friday, we hit up a spot in Somerville called Daddy Jones and ushered in the weekend in style.  I had never been before, but a few of my coworkers raved about the place and I'm happy to report that they definitely knew what they were talking about.  I think that it's pretty rare to find a place with great atmosphere and fabulous food and drinks, but Daddy Jones really delivered.  The dim, romantical lighting got us all in the mood.....for cocktails, and a bunch of us started off with their version of a whiskey sour, made with bourbon and carrot marmalade.

I know what you're thinking.  Carrots?  In a cocktail?  But I promise you, the marmalade gave the drink just the right amount of zesty sweetness, and it disguised any hint of the harshness of the bourbon and made for one smooth drink.  Very dangerous indeed.  And perfect for a Friday night.  Some of the drinks come in mason jars while others come in really interesting, retro glasses that look like they were pulled straight out of your grandmother's kitchen, which adds to the charm.

All of the food on offer has a Greek flair, and we began by sharing an order of roasted red pepper dip and pita and sweet potato fries smothered in honey and feta.  I am still dreaming about those sweet potato fries......hot and savory and sweet, all in one amazing app.  And look at the fun plates that they give you for them!

I could have happily kept the sweet potato fries coming, but my voice of reason told me that I should perhaps strive for a more balanced dinner than whiskey sours and fries and order an entree.  Everything sounded so good though, so S and I decided to order the Chicken Souvlaki Wrap and the Burger and then split them.  I'm so fortunate to have a work wife who will share food with me.

The tzatziki in the wrap was delicious and it came with a Greek salad that was just as good.  Also, the wrap had fries INSIDE of it.  Can you ask for a higher level of perfection? As it turns out, yes, you can.  And it comes in the form of this burger:

Smothered in gooey cheese and garlic aoili and cooked to perfection.  I believe that S and I contemplated ordering a second one (or maybe that was just me), but in the end we refrained.

I did not refrain, however, from ordering another drink.  Wanting a more dessert-y option this time, I went for Daddy Jones' version of a White Russian, which they call the Greek Dude.  I may have ordered a few of these before the night was out.  I may also have taken a ridiculous amount of pleasure and amusement in asking our waiter to bring me more Greek Dudes.

The Greek Dude was less creamy and more coffeeish than other white Russians that I've had, which made it seem lighter but just as warming as its usual incarnation.  That coffee ice cube was a nice touch as well.

More drinks were poured, we caught up and laughed, and it started to feel like the weekend had truly begun.

On a final note, if you're not yet convinced that Daddy Jones is a cool place, then I also have to tell you this: they were playing Quantum Leap on the tv throughout the night.

My tipsy self was thrilled and transported back to my childhood.  If there's a night of the week when they play old MacGyver episodes, then we're really in business.

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Alta Strada

Last weekend, after a marathon day of shopping, GK and I found ourselves in the vicinity of the town of Wellesley, Mass., and in dire need of some dinner.  Not being super familiar with the culinary options in the area, we whipped out GK's iphone, did some quick searching, and decided on Alta Strada, an Italian restaurant that seemed to have a promising menu and good online reviews.  The place was packed, which we took to be a good sign, but luckily a table for two opened up quickly and we were able to sit back and ogle the menu while admiring the cozy, warm atmosphere and loud din of cheerful people enjoying good food.

A large chunk of rustico Italian bread with olive oil for dipping was immediately brought to our table, which was just enough to hold us over until our other dishes arrived.  The bread was that perfect combination of soft and chewy on the inside, but crusty and hearty on the outside. 

After the bread had perked us up a bit, we ordered prosciutto with fig jam and crostini to share.

 The presentation was lovely, with two long pieces of crostini that were covered in the jam and surrounded by a generous dusting of prosciutto.  The crostini was toasted to perfection and would have been delightful all on its own, but why not eat of a huge portion of proscuitto when its right in front of you?

GK and I quickly demolished the starter and then moved on to pasta.  It was a difficult decision to make with so many tempting options on the menu, but GK went for Veal and Spinach Agnolotti with brown butter and roasted tomatoes:

and I chose the Linguine Amatriciana with pancetta and caramelized onions.

Both dishes were the stuff of foodies' dreams.  All of the flavors in the agnolotti were so fresh and complemented each other so well, while the amatriciana sauce on the linguine had just the right amount of heat.  After finishing off most of what was on our plates, we sadly had to throw in the towel as we were both too stuffed to order dessert (How embarrassing.  This is not usually a problem that I have).  I'd love to go back soon though and give it a better go......try some of the other pasta dishes, work my way through the antipasti options, explore some of the desserts, or just linger with a bottle of wine and people watch.

It would be the perfect place to hole up with a nice velvety red, lots of carbs, and good friends to keep you happy and warm on a chilly autumn night.  Maybe I'll see you there?

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Max and Leo's

When I'm in the mood for pizza (which, let's face it, is nearly every other day), I either want college-style greasy crap or really goooood pizza.  No mediocre middle ground for me, thanks.  So, last week, when A and I decided to try Max and Leo's, we were delighted to find a homey little place that sold the really gooooood variety.  Specializing in coal fired, artisan pizzas, Max and Leo's has an extensive menu of specialty pies and you can also create your own combination and choose a sauce, cheese, and toppings to your liking.  After much deliberation (we are notoriously bad decision makers, especially when it's about something important, like pizza) and despite the waitress' assurances that one pizza would be enough for two people, we ordered two because we couldn't choose just one.  We went for the "Blue Ribbon," with BBQ sauce, pulled pork, caramelized onions, and smoked mozzarella and the "Pesto Chicken" with pesto sauce, chicken, tomatoes, and mozzarella.

The Pesto Chicken was good, but the real showstopper was the Blue Ribbon.  I would have never thought to dump pulled pork and BBQ sauce on a pizza, but it definitely worked.  The pork was really flavorful and the BBQ sauce gave it just the right amount of zing.
Both pizzas also had a great smoky flavor (I'm guessing that comes from the coal oven) and the crusts had just the right thickness (not too thin and not too doughy) and texture. 

If you decide to go, you'll have to be okay with a cozy dining experience.  The restaurant is really small and only has two tables along with some bar seating.  The close proximity to other diners and the friendly staff give the place that warm, friendly, neighborhood pizza joint vibe though.

They don't take reservations and seating is first come, first serve, but the pizza is ready pretty quickly, so you shouldn't have to wait too long, and it will definitely be worth it.  One pizza would certainly be enough for two people, but if you're indecisive like me and A and order multiple, then you'll have awesome leftovers for lunch tomorrow.  You'll be the envy of your office come lunchtime, I guarantee it.

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Masquerade

On Friday, GK invited me to attend a Masquerade at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, part of their First Friday events which feature cocktails, djs and art on the first Friday night of each month.  Since I had failed miserably at any attempt to come up with a costume for Halloween this year and had always wanted to go to a Masquerade, there was no way that I could refuse.  GK and I met up after work and headed to the Seaport.  Not wanting to spend too much time on dinner and delay the evening's festivities, we grabbed grilled cheese at South Station's Cheeseboy location.  I love the current trend in making fast food with quality, delicious ingredients.  Cheeseboy sandwiches are creamy, tasty, and always turn out so much better than when I make grilled cheese at home.  I think its something in the type of cheese they use or in the way that they grill them.....but they certainly are creamy and divine. 

GK and I both went for the Classic: white American cheese on Italian bread with basil and tomato.  Just look at that gooey amazingness:

We scarfed our sandwiches while watching the train travelers go about their journeys and talked wistfully about how romantic and glamorous train travel seemed back in the day.  We consoled ourselves with the thought that those people didn't have such glorious grilled cheese though....

When there were only crumbs left and despite being in a bit of a cheese coma, we made our way to the ICA and took in the spectacle that awaited us.  People in full costumes as well as just masks roamed the floors while bartenders served drinks, music blared, and performance artists captivated the crowd on the first few floors of the museum, against the backdrop of the waterfront.

GK and I soon started to feel left out since we didn't have any masks.....see?

But luckily, there was an art station where unprepared peeps such as ourselves could make their own.

Donning our masks, we now felt like we could join the dance party that had erupted in the lobby of the ICA.

We soon acquired some even more fabulous masks....which may or may not have been part of the decor....

Enjoying the air of mystery that our masks provided, we danced until the dj played the last song and then walked along the water, taking in the view of the city at night.

Fancy a night of art, drinks, and dancing?  We'll see you on the first Friday of December at the ICA.  Masks are optional.

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