So it's been awhile. But I'm still determined to do this challenge. So without further adieu, here is review #2.
Picco specializes in pizza and ice cream. Because who doesn't love pizza and ice cream (besides those unfortunately stricken with lactose intolerance)? And like Parish and its sandwiches, Picco adds class to these staples of the American diet, and offers it in a casual environment. Good food doesn't have to mean "jacket required".
"Well done" is usually reserved for burgers and pieces of meat ordered by children and people with bad taste. I'd never heard of well done pizza before. But that's the way they do it at Picco. And it's worth a try. It comes out hot enough to melt your face, but once it cools a bit, it's got just enough of that brick oven taste burnt into it. Try the Alsatian, creamy with gruyere, carmelized red and white onions, bacon, garlic, shallots and a sour cream drizzle. Or go classic with the Pepperoni, spicy enough that I didn't need to add my usual pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
Few things make me happier than freshly made ice cream. And Picco has some of the best. I rock the Sampler, your choice of three flavors, because I'm indecisive and I love variety. I tried the cinnamon chip, coconut chip and caramel flavors. Although delicious, I will be avoiding any flavor with "chip" in it in the future. The consistency is just so much more pleasant in the chip-free varieties.
My first visit to Picco had me feeling like I was visiting a friend's house. When the host greeted my party, he was so inviting that I thought we may have met previously. Our waiter was also super friendly, but not in that fake TGI Friday's, let-me-kneel-down-and-lean-on-your-table way. It was genuine, something all too rare these days. My second visit didn't recieve as warm a welcome, but the service was still good.
With a carefully selected beer and wine list that pairs well with the food, it's a great place to sit back with a draft and a slice. And when the weather cooperates, there's an abundance of patio space.
Mainly I love the convenience. No other place kills 2 of my biggest comfort food cravings better than Picco.
Picco: Pizza & Ice Cream Company. 513 Tremont Street, South End. Sunday-Saturday, 11 am to 11 pm. 617.927.0066.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Challenge - Review #1: Parish the Thought
I had somewhat of a hard time deciding which restaurant should start off The Challenge. Should it be the Buttery, the place that started it all? Should I go alphabetically? Something fancy? Something casual? I had no idea.
Thankfully, the decision was made for me. Lilly, future Gastronomy masters student and Queen of All Things Fabulous, was in town and Jason chose The Parish Cafe as our pre-karaoke dinner destination. Whew.
Somewhat hidden amongst the handful of furniture & interior design stores in Boylston Street's 300's, as well as currently being partially obscured by scaffolding, it's not the most conspicuous of eateries. In the warmer months, there's ample patio seating out front, perfect for a leisurely pint and people watching.
Boston has its fancy places, but food that is simple, familiar and comforting is more this city's style. Like the sandwich. And that is what Parish is known for. Of course, these aren't your mama's PB&J or ham & cheese. Each sandwich is created by the best chefs in Boston. That said, no changes can be made to their creations. But trust me, you don't want to.
I love Parish because you can sample the cuisine of the best restaurants all over the city in a chill atmosphere for little money. The menu also changes seasonally so there's always something different (don't worry, old favorites are put into the specials rotation).
Choosing the sandwich for my review required serious deliberation: how do you choose when each sandwich expresses a completely different restaurant, cuisine and chef? There's the SDLT from Geoff Gardner of Sel De La Terre, an amazing smoked duck BLT with applewood bacon and caper mayo on rye. Or you have Rowdy's Famous Chicken Sandwich courtesy of Rowdy Bessey from Flash's, the crispiest, least greasy but moist breaded baked chicken with melted swiss and cheddar, chipotle mayo, bacon lettuce and tomato on a roll. And 10 others. Needless to say, I was torn.
Until the review gods smiled upon me. Chilling at the bottom of the menu was a sandwich created by the chef of Parish Cafe, Sean Simmons. The Chipotle Meatloaf Club embodies all the familiarity of mom's version but with a punch of smoky heat. Served on white with melted Jack cheese and chipotle mayo, it's the perfect blend of Southwest flavor with pure Americana. And of course there's the mandatory side of mashed potatoes, which are nothing special, with a beef gravy that's reminiscent of that powdered stuff from a packet. Trade them in for the potato salad (it's some of the best I've ever tasted), and you've got a winner.
Parish also has a great selection of wine & beer, as well as some fun martinis. Lilly was excited to see the Lulu B pinot noir, a hard-to-find-bargain-priced-yet-quality wine.
With limited seating and a shortage of waitstaff, service can be slow and confusing. You don't have a specific waiter; basically flag down anyone in a black apron and hope for the best. But once my sandwich arrives, I don't really care that my water glass isn't refilled more than once. These portable culinary creations are something I can't live without.
Parish Cafe & Bar, 361 Boylston St., 617-247-4777. Full menu until 1 am daily, last call 2 am.
Thankfully, the decision was made for me. Lilly, future Gastronomy masters student and Queen of All Things Fabulous, was in town and Jason chose The Parish Cafe as our pre-karaoke dinner destination. Whew.
Somewhat hidden amongst the handful of furniture & interior design stores in Boylston Street's 300's, as well as currently being partially obscured by scaffolding, it's not the most conspicuous of eateries. In the warmer months, there's ample patio seating out front, perfect for a leisurely pint and people watching.
Boston has its fancy places, but food that is simple, familiar and comforting is more this city's style. Like the sandwich. And that is what Parish is known for. Of course, these aren't your mama's PB&J or ham & cheese. Each sandwich is created by the best chefs in Boston. That said, no changes can be made to their creations. But trust me, you don't want to.
I love Parish because you can sample the cuisine of the best restaurants all over the city in a chill atmosphere for little money. The menu also changes seasonally so there's always something different (don't worry, old favorites are put into the specials rotation).
Choosing the sandwich for my review required serious deliberation: how do you choose when each sandwich expresses a completely different restaurant, cuisine and chef? There's the SDLT from Geoff Gardner of Sel De La Terre, an amazing smoked duck BLT with applewood bacon and caper mayo on rye. Or you have Rowdy's Famous Chicken Sandwich courtesy of Rowdy Bessey from Flash's, the crispiest, least greasy but moist breaded baked chicken with melted swiss and cheddar, chipotle mayo, bacon lettuce and tomato on a roll. And 10 others. Needless to say, I was torn.
Until the review gods smiled upon me. Chilling at the bottom of the menu was a sandwich created by the chef of Parish Cafe, Sean Simmons. The Chipotle Meatloaf Club embodies all the familiarity of mom's version but with a punch of smoky heat. Served on white with melted Jack cheese and chipotle mayo, it's the perfect blend of Southwest flavor with pure Americana. And of course there's the mandatory side of mashed potatoes, which are nothing special, with a beef gravy that's reminiscent of that powdered stuff from a packet. Trade them in for the potato salad (it's some of the best I've ever tasted), and you've got a winner.
Parish also has a great selection of wine & beer, as well as some fun martinis. Lilly was excited to see the Lulu B pinot noir, a hard-to-find-bargain-priced-yet-quality wine.
With limited seating and a shortage of waitstaff, service can be slow and confusing. You don't have a specific waiter; basically flag down anyone in a black apron and hope for the best. But once my sandwich arrives, I don't really care that my water glass isn't refilled more than once. These portable culinary creations are something I can't live without.
Parish Cafe & Bar, 361 Boylston St., 617-247-4777. Full menu until 1 am daily, last call 2 am.
Friday, February 2, 2007
The Challenge
A couple of weekends ago, Jason and I were on our way to Union for brunch (one of our old standards), and we popped into the Buttery for coffee on the way.
A little note on the South End Buttery. It is a place I always mean to go to more often. Nestled cozily on the corner of Shawmut and gorgeous Union Park, entering the Buttery is like walking into the middle of one of their delicious cupcakes. Walls are painted cake batter yellow and the ceiling detail is both ornate and whimsical, as if it was piped from a pastry bag. Everything about its aesthetic is warm and inviting, from the decor to its business cards. And so is the menu. The pastry case overflows with various cakes, tarts, muffins and its spectacular cupcakes. They also serve breakfast and sandwiches. And their espresso is arguably the best in the city. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Anyway, Jason and I were on one of our all too rare sojourns to the Buttery. As I was ordering a non-fat vanilla latte, I noticed a book on display by the register. It was the eat.shop guide for Boston. I had never heard of this series, but I was immediately drawn to its clean design and "luscious" (their word, but so true!) photography. The eat.shop guides feature 90 locally owned restaurants and retail stores (45 of each) located in the heart of the city. So of course I had to buy it. We drank our Buttery coffee and ate our Union brunch and then I headed home to immerse myself in the guide (both restaurants receive mentions, by the way).
Reading any sort of restaurant guide or review makes me crave its contents, but this one was different. Each entry gets a two page spread, the left page with the the vitals (name, address, hours, type of cuisine, price bracket, etc) and the right page with a paragraph or two of description, crisp photography and what you've got to try. It's extremely accessible and gives the reader everything she needs. And with only 45 restaurants and 45 shops, it's hardly daunting.
After having devoured the guide cover to cover, I decided to give myself a challenge. I am going to eat my way through eat.shop Boston. So by New Year's Eve 2007, I will have experienced all 45 restaurants of the eat.shop guide. I will post weekly reviews of the restaurants I visit on the Challenge.
For a list of restaurants I will be visiting, click here. If you'd like to accompany me to any of them, let me know. I'm always looking for accomplices.
For a copy of eat.shop Boston, visit The South End Buttery or click here.
A little note on the South End Buttery. It is a place I always mean to go to more often. Nestled cozily on the corner of Shawmut and gorgeous Union Park, entering the Buttery is like walking into the middle of one of their delicious cupcakes. Walls are painted cake batter yellow and the ceiling detail is both ornate and whimsical, as if it was piped from a pastry bag. Everything about its aesthetic is warm and inviting, from the decor to its business cards. And so is the menu. The pastry case overflows with various cakes, tarts, muffins and its spectacular cupcakes. They also serve breakfast and sandwiches. And their espresso is arguably the best in the city. Check it out, you won't be disappointed.
Anyway, Jason and I were on one of our all too rare sojourns to the Buttery. As I was ordering a non-fat vanilla latte, I noticed a book on display by the register. It was the eat.shop guide for Boston. I had never heard of this series, but I was immediately drawn to its clean design and "luscious" (their word, but so true!) photography. The eat.shop guides feature 90 locally owned restaurants and retail stores (45 of each) located in the heart of the city. So of course I had to buy it. We drank our Buttery coffee and ate our Union brunch and then I headed home to immerse myself in the guide (both restaurants receive mentions, by the way).
Reading any sort of restaurant guide or review makes me crave its contents, but this one was different. Each entry gets a two page spread, the left page with the the vitals (name, address, hours, type of cuisine, price bracket, etc) and the right page with a paragraph or two of description, crisp photography and what you've got to try. It's extremely accessible and gives the reader everything she needs. And with only 45 restaurants and 45 shops, it's hardly daunting.
After having devoured the guide cover to cover, I decided to give myself a challenge. I am going to eat my way through eat.shop Boston. So by New Year's Eve 2007, I will have experienced all 45 restaurants of the eat.shop guide. I will post weekly reviews of the restaurants I visit on the Challenge.
For a list of restaurants I will be visiting, click here. If you'd like to accompany me to any of them, let me know. I'm always looking for accomplices.
For a copy of eat.shop Boston, visit The South End Buttery or click here.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
The Inspiration
Welcome to La Bella Vita, a blog about design and food from the perspective of a designer and foodie.
I live, work and (most importantly) eat in Boston, Massachusetts. So save the occasional vacation or flashback to various travels, Boston is what I will be writing about.
I graduated Boston University's College of Communication in 2005 with a degree in Mass Communication and a dream to work as an advertising art director. Instead, I do marketing for a Boston real estate office and freelance web/graphic design. Currently, I am working with two local fashion designers. I have a preference for clean, typographical design centered around crisp photography with a sprinkling of ornate detail for flavor.
I have always loved food. This is most obviously illustrated by my driver's license photo, in which I am 270 lbs. I have since shed over 80 lbs, and I have found I love food more than ever. Growing up in the suburbs of Hartford, Connecticut constantly surrounded by 3 generations of Italian relatives, I loved food in quantity. Now, a city-dwelling young professional, I love food of quality.
I will be using this blog to write restaurant reviews, share recipes, comment on the design in the every day, express thoughts on ads, signage, websites, books and other visual media, and occasionally muse on random things.
I gladly welcome your feedback in the form of recommendations, praise or criticism.
Live beautifully, all!
I live, work and (most importantly) eat in Boston, Massachusetts. So save the occasional vacation or flashback to various travels, Boston is what I will be writing about.
I graduated Boston University's College of Communication in 2005 with a degree in Mass Communication and a dream to work as an advertising art director. Instead, I do marketing for a Boston real estate office and freelance web/graphic design. Currently, I am working with two local fashion designers. I have a preference for clean, typographical design centered around crisp photography with a sprinkling of ornate detail for flavor.
I have always loved food. This is most obviously illustrated by my driver's license photo, in which I am 270 lbs. I have since shed over 80 lbs, and I have found I love food more than ever. Growing up in the suburbs of Hartford, Connecticut constantly surrounded by 3 generations of Italian relatives, I loved food in quantity. Now, a city-dwelling young professional, I love food of quality.
I will be using this blog to write restaurant reviews, share recipes, comment on the design in the every day, express thoughts on ads, signage, websites, books and other visual media, and occasionally muse on random things.
I gladly welcome your feedback in the form of recommendations, praise or criticism.
Live beautifully, all!
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