Mediterranean Grill

Mediterranean Grill
10 School Street
Freeport, Maine
(Visit their website and check out the full menu!)

This is the best restaurant in Freeport. Go to L. L. Bean or wherever you want in this shopping paradise but be sure not to scarf down too much of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream because you’re going to miss out on a real treat. Whenever I’m in the area, I just have to drop by the Mediterranean Grill. The owners are really friendly and I think they also own the famous “China Rose” restaurants in both Freeport and Brunswick. This expansion into Mediterranean cuisine allows them to demonstrate a whole new range of tastes for the hungry shopper.

Definitely start your meal off with the Sigara Borek. This is a terrific dish with meat, cheese, and parsley wrapped in fillo dough and fried to perfection. It is served with a Caesar dressing-like sauce that compliments the dish. Flakey and crunchy, the Sigara Borek is so good you’ll want it to be your main dish. But there are better treats in store.

My all-time favorite is the Shepard Sautéed. Tender, bite-sized chunks of lamb stir fried with mixed vegetables including zucchini and potatoes served over some buttered rice just make the meal complete. Though the portion is pretty large and you’ll probably have leftovers, you end up wishing you could eat more and more of this delicious meal. I highly recommend it.

The specials vary but these guys know how to do lamb just right so you probably can’t go wrong with any of their dishes if you just want to spin the wheel and see what special treats the chefs have come up with that day.

End the meal with a wonderful custard and some Turkish tea. The custard is a favorite of mine but it’s always a race to see if there is any left by the time I’m done with the main course. Reserve a slice early on and you might just be lucky enough to have this wonderful, tender, and not too sweet custard as your dessert (topped with chocolate sauce!). The tea comes in cute little glass cups and finishes off the meal perfectly. I can’t praise this restaurant enough. Well worth the price and, with a cozy and stylish atmosphere, this place is just a great place to dine.

(Images by AG)

John Harvard's

John Harvard’s
33 Dunster Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(Try this or other locations!)

This is one of my favorite spots in Harvard Square. Though I did not try one, I am told that their beers, which they brew themselves, are very good. JH’s is a special spot since it is also where I first had a “fuzzy navel,” which, apparently some places like Typhoon can screw up rather badly.

The drinks may be fine but JH’s also has some excellent food. The mushroom Swiss burger was one of my regular dishes. The fries are a great treat though they are not entirely healthy for you. The dish I most often get, however, is probably the sesame shrimp salad. This dish comes with greens, tomatoes, a fine Hoisin vinaigrette and fried wontons. The grilled shrimp comes on a skewer and is mighty tasty though you are constantly thinking that the dish is a bit overpriced. Come to think of it, is there a salad anywhere that isn’t overpriced?

The grilled meatloaf is also very good. With a hint of sweetness and a dash of the red wine sauce, this is a fine meal but you better be hungry. The garlic mashed potatoes are not particularly special and they can weigh you down afterwards.

Sorry, no pictures from JH’s as it is a bit dark inside. It is a pub so expect it to be loud, particularly after work.

Metropolitan Bakery and Cafe

Metropolitan Bakery & Cafe
4013 Walnut St.
Phildalphia, PA
(Check out their website!)

this chain of Pennsylvania bakeries is a fine establishment if you want a good pastry, cup of coffee, or a sandwich. I'm not sure if each of the branches has a different menu but the one I tried in University City was pretty good. The menus are not extensive but they offer a pretty good selection. They do breakfast bagels and toast and salads but I was in the mood for lunch. I ordered the roast beef panini and this came with grilled onions, smoked Gouda, and Dijon mustard. A fresh mixed green salad came on the side with balsamic vinaigrette. All items tasted very good.

My dining companion had the roasted red peppers panini and this was served the marinated artichokes, goat cheese, and black olive tepenade. Generally I don't care for goat cheese but the mix of flavors really blended well. She also had the lemon vinaigrette on her salad and that had a zesty taste to it as well.

One complaint though. The panini were too crispy for my taste. Though my dining comrade tells me that the panini was well done as it wasn't greasy, I have to disagree. The crispy bread did a number on the inside of my mouth and I'm still feeling the scratches.

Brasserie Montiel & Coffee House

Brasserie Montiel & Coffee House
2001 Commonwealth Dr.

Charlottesville, VA

Brasserie Montiel: well lit and well decorated.

This coffee house and restaurant is a superb place for breakfast, brunch, and lunch. The place is rather new but there is no learning curve necessary for the chefs here. Well decorated with bright colors and filled with light, Brasserie Montiel is just a really nice spot for a leisurely or fast meal. Here, my companion and I tried the crepes and we were not disappointed. The Nutella and banana crepes are terrific. The crepe itself is soft and well made. Some places just don’t care about the batter but these guys know how to make a good crepe that is soft, not burnt, not greasy, and tasteful. The crepe can certainly hold its own without any toppings like Nutella. My dining companion had the orange crepes and they were just as good. Another plus is that these guys use actual fruit. None of that slimy, overly sweet preservative! These are fresh fruits that really mix well with the crepe.

Tasty crepes: orange on the left and bananas with Nutella on the right.

The coffee here is also very good and I’ve enjoyed more than a few tasty cups. But what about the other breakfast items? The three-egg omelet is great too. You have your choice of cheeses: Cheddar, Mozzarella, or Boursin. Add to that chopped tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, spinach, peppers, bacon, or ham. The omelet comes with toast and hash browns. Now, are they too heavy and greasy like at most breakfast joints and diners? Not at all. These omelets are gourmet. They taste good and they’re not greasy. I don’t know how they do it but these guys have made a terrific meal that isn’t too heavy and leaves you feeling very good. Here, I’ve had an omelet with Mozzarella, spinach, onions, and ham. OK, the ham may be a bit salty but that’s a minor criticism of this really great place.

(Images by AG and MB)

Penang (Philadelphia)

117 N. 10th Street
Philadelphia, PA
(Visit their website!)

This chain restaurant is pretty tasty. Some of the menu items may be missing depending on where you go. The quality across stores, however, seems to be consistent. I have been to the Boston and the Philadelphia branches and have been impressed by both. I think I have had a slightly better experience with the service and tastiness of the meals in Boston though.

In Philadelphia my dining companion and I treated ourselves and ordered the Hainanese chicken with rice. The rice is nicely seasoned with oil (or butter?) and the sauce that accompanies the chicken is a very mild soy sauce of some sort. The texture is terrific but I wish there had been a choice of dark or white meat on the chicken. The problem with white meat, again, is that it is often cooked too dry. The secret is in the sour, spicy orange sauce that you dip the chicken in or mix with the rice. Overall, the dish is a good one.

Delicious!

The chicken with rice should have been the entire meal but we also had the mango fish. We were both expecting to get the whole fish on a platter but they served us with deep fried chunks instead. Now, they gave us a choice of catfish, red snapper, or striped bass but what does that matter if they were going to deep fry it beyond recognition anyway? The mango itself wasn’t ripe enough and it was a bit hard to get through. The whole dish was covered in this really sweet and somewhat tangy sauce, which, I’m sorry to say, did not aid the flavor. The basket (fried wanton?) it came in was nice but it didn’t really offer any taste of its own.

My dining companion and I also had the Chinese broccoli stir-fried with garlic. The dish was OK but it lacked punch and wasn’t as filled with garlic as we would have preferred. My companion, who had been here before, introduced me to the coconut rice (rice cooked in coconut milk?) and that was a nice, sweet treat.

Maybe I’ll give their noodles a chance next time.

(Images by AG)

Dahlak

Dahlak Restaurant & Bar
4708 Baltimore Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
(Visit their website!)

This restaurant is situated amidst a bunch of other African restaurants in this cute Philadelphia neighborhood on Baltimore Avenue. The inside was a bit dark at night so I couldn't take any pictures. Most of the seating areas are traditional - short, backless chairs and basket-like tables.

I was with a bunch of friends and one commented that it was odd that an Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant would have Italian food. Of course, we came to the historical reason for this at about the same time and it was a pretty funny bit of dark humor. Do most Ethiopian restaurants have spaghetti?

We ordered a bunch of dishes. The fish of the day was quite good. I'm not sure what fish it was but it was cooked with garlic, onions, and spices. Someone else ordered the chicken tibs, which were OK but not spectacular. the lamb chops (bite sized) were OK too much they might have been better if we didn't have to watch for the bones. The injera was OK too although not spectacular. The food, overall, was decent enough but I had a bit of a problem with the price. So, there were four of us and we ordered four dishes. All the food came on one tray and the presentation was typical of Ethiopian restaurants. But there seemed to be too little of it. At the end, after having consumed much of the injera on the bottom, we were still somewhat hungry. Was this Ethiopian food or tapas?

I think I would go to Dahlak again but there are also other restaurants in the area to try.

It's Only Natural

It's Only Natural Restaurant
and
It's Only Natural Market
386 Main Street
Middletown, CT

http://www.ionrestaurant.com/
http://www.itsonlynaturalrestaurant.com/

It's Only Natural is a restaurant and market in downtown Middletown offering scrumptious vegetarian and vegan food. The restaurant is deservedly known for its sweet-potato fries, which are thick, homemade, and utterly delicious.



The entrees tend to go for $10-14, and at that price they're a bargain. All of the sandwiches and burgers are served with a side of the amazingly delicious sweet potato fries. The Bella Burger, a vegan portabella mushroom burger served with red peppers, onion, soy mayo, and lettuce on wheat or focaccia bread, is particularly good, although you may have to resort to a knife and fork to finish it off.




The classic Veggie Burger is also exceedingly well done. I don't know how they make their soy mayo, but it beats the hell out of any regular mayo I've ever had! Any of the burgers can be served with ION's vegan cashew Parmesan cheese. I highly recommend it.



The beverage menu is impressively diverse, offering such items as China Cola, Carrot Juice, Fruit or Rice Smoothies, and Italian Sodas.

Other items of note on the menu include the Sweet Potato Enchiladas, vegan Pirogi, the Macrobiotic Plate, and vegan Chili.

The dining area is attractive and the service is attentive. Happy hour is from 4-6 on weekdays, when you can order $2 pints of beer and $2 sweet potato fries (I always avail myself of the latter).

A To-Go Menu is available, and they offer catering for special events.

Down the hall from the restaurant is the ION market, where you can purchase all sorts of vegetarian and vegan groceries. They offer not only an impressive variety of food, but also all sorts of natural toiletry and health products. Their website even features a health reference library.

Overall, the ION restaurant and market is an exemplary purveyor of vegetarian and vegan foods. Whether you're a vegetarian looking for a great place to eat and shop for groceries, or a carnivore in the mood for a delicious meal that's also healthy, ION is a terrific place to go.

Kebab Factory

Kebab Factory
414 Washington St.
Somerville, MA 02143

This Indian spot in Somerville isn't terrific. The decor is interesting (check out the tables with the seeds and grains) but the food didn't really impress me. This chicken dish was pretty watery and the chicken itself was sort of dry inside. That's what happens when you don't cook chicken breast meat properly. The drinks were OK and the service was pretty good. Overall though, I think there are better Indian places in the Boston area.

The tables are cool.

(Images by AG)

Pho Cafe Saigon

Pho Cafe Saigon
4248 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(Between S. 42nd and S. 43rd)


This is an avocado milkshake and it is delicious. I don't know if it is actually Vietnamese since it seems like many stores serve it but this particularly good one is at a Vietnamese restaurant. The "bubbles" are actually tapioca balls. They don't have a taste in and of themselves but they absorb the flavor of the avocado and when you suck them in and chew on them, you're rewarded with just a terrific dining experience. Yes, they make this from real avocado. From what I could see, they just scooped avocado into a blender and mixed it with crushed ice and added the "bubbles." (Did they add a bit of sugar?) This can be a meal in and of itself. Tasty and filling and healthy too. Oh, the cravings I've had for this wonderful treat. Of course, if you don't like avocado, they also have other options like mango and pineapple.

(Image by AG)

Himalayan Fusion

Himalayan Fusion
520 E. Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902

This recent addition to Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall is gaining quite a following. The menu posted outside this restaurant plus the rave reviews it got from people who had been there lured me inside even though I generally don’t’ like Indian cuisine. Of course, this isn’t exactly Indian cuisine. Whatever the difference, it makes Himalayan Fusion much tastier.

Their buffets are pretty awesome. Go on weekends and get free soft drinks and some special dishes too (for a bit extra). The general buffet isn’t bad though. Still, I’m sold on the weekend meals. Their vegetable dishes can vary in taste. I can’t remember what I had the first time but it was pretty delicious. The broccoli with mushrooms (pictured here) aren’t special but they’ll do. The salad is a bit bland with lots of onions. But their strength is in what do they do with their meats and noodles. I don’t know what they put in these stir-fried noodles with vegetables but the taste has you wanting more even though you are completely stuffed.

The fish curry is pretty good although I think there was one with more coconut milk, which was a lot tastier. Still, the meat is nice and tender. The rich flavor can be a bit overwhelming but that’s where the nan comes in. The problem is that they often run out of nan and they don’t put it in the buffet as much. Sometimes they’ll tell you that they’ve run out or that the chef is working on making more. With a staple like nan, you should have tons on hand. Does it go bad if it is left out too long? Their nan, however, is worth the wait and it is tasty.

How much nan can a person eat though? The waiters will sometimes bring you a basket of nan when it’s not available in the buffet. But the deal with the buffet is that you can police how much nan you consume. Here, I had to waste a few wonderful pieces just because I was already stuffed. They should certainly reevaluate their nan policy.

(Since originally writing this review, I have gone back to there and they seem to have taken note of the waste of nan and so it seems to now be in the buffet line.)

In the past, service has been poor but recently they have made additions to their wait staff and I have no complaints about them. One last point, they should vary the dishes in the buffets. I love chicken but I’m sure there are other meats that these folks can make scrumptious.

(Images by AG)

Candy

Happy Halloween.

(Image by AG)

Frank Pepe

Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
157 Wooster Street
New Haven, CT
(Visit their website!)

My dining companion really wanted to try this place so we took a trip into New Haven to see if it was any good. Frank Pepe's claims to be the first place that served pizza in the U.S. OZ said that the plain cheese and plain tomato pizzas were good. Apparently, this is how one is supposed to judge a pizza. I had the sausage and mushroom one (half) and shrimp with garlic (other half). Pretty decent but not particularly spectacular in my book. The pizzas were a bit greasy but that is to be expected. They gave us really small soda glasses and didn't offer to refill them so I'm led to believe that the sodas are overpriced. That's not fair given that everyone needs soda with pizza. Pizzas came in large metal trays, hot out of the oven. I'll just say that there were plenty of leftovers and those leftovers were terrific. What is it about cold pizza that makes it so good?Here's the medium mushroom and sausage and shrimp with garlic.

(Images by AG)

Greek Lady

Greek Lady
222 S. 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA
(Check out their website)

This busy hangout for Penn students is also a good place to get lunch or dinner. The restaurant has both a well-lit and stylish inside seating area and a comfortable spot for those who want to be outside. The marble (they look like marble!) counter tops are shiny and attractive while the roasting spits of lamb and beef behind the cash register are just so tempting. They have a grill and cooking area behind that so you can see the sizzling meals as they prepare them. Don't worry, the ventilation is pretty good because the place does not smell of cooking food at all. The place gets excellent marks for atmosphere.

On my first visit I tried the mousaka, which is ground beef with eggplant and mashed potatoes topped with bechamel sauce. This came with a side of lemon roasted potatoes and roasted peppers. Now, the latter is OK but this place has terrific lemon roasted potatoes. I don't know where they've been my whole life but these spuds are just wonderful. The lemon flavor teases your taste buds and then the well-cooked potato just brings it home. The mousaka itself was OK but not spectacular.

My dining companion and I also shared a salad of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, onions, a hard boiled egg, and stuffed grape leaves. (I believe this was the Greek Lady Salad.) The salad would have been a full meal on its own and we should have known that. I was glad that we ordered the mousaka though because it really boosted the flavor of the meal. The salad isn't their specialty and it was a bit bland. All the meals by the way come with white or wheat pita. At least we had leftovers.

Here's the salad with cheese on the side. Did I mention the shiny metal trays? Classy!

I was really impressed with the restaurant on my second trip when I ordered the T-bone steak. The meat was tender and the blend of the steak with the lemon roasted potatoes, and the green beans (with tomato sauce) was just wonderful.

(Images by AG)

Zinc

Zinc
246 South 11th St.
Philadelphia, PA
19107
(Visit their website)

My dining companion and I had not intended to go to Zinc. While wandering around looking for another restaurant, which apparently no longer exists, we came across this establishment. Pressed for time and hungry, we decided to give the cute looking place a bit of our business. We were not overly impressed.

Zinc - cute enough but we were not impressed with the service or the food.

The restaurant/bistro/bar is charming enough and, for a Sunday afternoon, it was doing brisk business. Unfortunately, the management had not counted on having so many people. Otherwise, they would have had more than one server on hand. The service was slow but we were the lucky ones. There was a patron who was sitting outside, hoping to get some sun and some service. She got the sun but was ignored by the server. She came in to remind the server of her existence at least once and then just gave up and came in to sit inside.

We ordered water with lemon and the server basically ignored us. It was not until my dining companion ordered a beer that we saw service. By the way, the other tables got their beer, drinks, and bread, well before we did. Not fair and we were not impressed.

How was the food? I had the lobster bisque with chunks of crab meat. It was tasty enough, I guess but it was a bit heavy and a bit too creamy. There is no need to overload the diner's system, is there? My dining companion had the Trevisse Rotie Au Fromage, which was basically a roasted radiccio covered with cheese and Saucisson. She said that the Saucisson supplied the salty taste but since the radiccio was grilled and the cheese was melted, there was no balance of tastes. "It was just more salty," she said.

For our lunches we tried to Les Escargots "Pastis". They basically put cooked escargots on top of delicate, cute little puff pastries and topped it off with garlic almond butter sauce. Not a bad dish but not overly impressive either. The rest of the menu was seriously overpriced and I doubt that the portions were large.

Overall, I wasn't impressed with this place. Maybe others who are not in a hurry and just want a place to watch pedestrians while sipping drinks will find Zinc to their liking.


(Images by AG)

Genazvale

Restaurant Genazvale
Windscheidstraße 14
10627 Berlin
Website

Georgian food is reputedly the very best food available in the land of the bear: the old Russian Empire's equivalent of French food. It is also very hard to come by in the United States; it is most likely to be encountered in Russian restaurants. It would be an exaggeration to say that I went to Berlin to find Georgian food, but my interest was quite piqued when I noticed a listing for Genazvale in my Time Out Berlin guide.

Georgia is a small Caucasian nation with two centuries history of being hitched to the Russian bear. They clearly hope this period of dependency is over now; since the recent "Rose Revolution", Georgia has sought to ingratiate itself with the West. After Britain, it is the largest troop contributor among the "coalition of the willing" (in spite of having only 4.7 million people). Russia has reacted with fury to Georgia's new course, unleashing national embargoes on Georgian products like wine and mineral water.

Russia's loss may be the rest of the world's gain. Georgia, long muzzled by the Soviet Union, is endeavoring to export its wine elsewhere. And restaurants like Genazvale may play a key role, introducing Westerners to Georgian cuisine.

Anyway, on to the food.

I had two meals at Genazvale, a cheery restaurant in the Charlottenburg district, within a quick walk of the Charlottenburg S-Bahn stop.

Genazvale's decor features images of mountains, a few balalaika hanging from the wall, and some paintings of men with Joseph Stalin mustaches (Uncle Joe is, alas, Georgia's most famous son).

I ordered two appetizers. On my first visit, I had some tasty spinach balls. On my second visit, I selected some really delicious eggplant appetizers. The eggplant came sauteed, folded over some walnut paste (Georgian food makes heavy use of walnut) and garnished with parsley. Delicious.

For main courses I had, respectively, chicken in walnut sauce (yes, they do make heavy use of walnuts) and a lamb stew. The chicken came in a tasty sauce, but came unaccompanied by vegetables - the dish was crying out for some onions at least. The lamb stew was delectable, served in a small ceramic container with a kind of inverted bread bowl on top. None of the ingredients were unknown: garlic and eggplant featured prominently, alongside the lamb and potatoes.

Alas, I'm not really a wine person, so I couldn't tell you about the Georgian wines. Order some yourself and pat yourself on the back for spiting Vladimir Putin!

Both meals came accompanied by fresh, tasty bread.

Only once did I have dessert. Here, we were on stranger ground. I ordered something described as a pudding, but it was very syrupy.

All in all, I found my trips to Genazvale worthwhile. The decor was nice. The food was tasty and different, though the ingredients were certainly not exotic and one could detect some similarities with, say, Persian cuisine. If you'd like a sample of a distinguished cuisine, still rare in the USA, this is the place to go.

Mantra - Entree

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

The salmon fillet sandwich is a real treat. I was afraid that the bread roll would be too tough and hard but I was pleasantly surprised. My dining companion could not finish the sandwich, so I had almost half to myself. The salmon is well cooked and was neatly wrapped in the roll with greens, green chili peppers, and cilantro. There was also a light dressing that I couldn’t quite identify but it complimented the meal. We had a side order of sweet potato fries, which was topped with a sweet and hot sauce. One problem with order: we were told that we had a choice of greens or fries or something else. My companion ordered the sweet potato fries but when we got the check we found that there was an additional $2.50 charge for them. What’s up with that?

Fuzzy Navel

The Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant
247 S. 17th Street
(17th & Latimer, between Spruce and Locust)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Check out their website!)

One problem with Typhoon in Boston. These guys messed up my fuzzy navel. How do you mess up such an easy drink? There's peach schnapps, orange juice, and vodka. To make a great one, add ice. That's all there is to it. Why on earth would the people at Typhoon add Bailey's Irish Cream to my drink? It completely ruined it. Sorry, Typhoon but that's a strike against you. There is an impressive bar at your place but if your bartenders can't make a simple drink, that's not good.

The folks at the Black Sheep Pub in Philadelphia know how to make my drink! Well done!

(Image by AG)

Pomegranate Oolong Tea

In the mood for dessert but don’t feel like consuming the calories that usually accompany such decadent treats? Or perhaps, even if you couldn’t care less about health and calories, you just feel like satisfying your sweet tooth but don’t have the time or wherewithal to make yourself dessert. If so, Harney and Sons’ Pomegranate Oolong tea will hit just the right spot. It has enough of a fragrant, light-bodied, flowery aroma to satisfy your sweet tooth, yet isn’t so delicate that it can't stand up on its own to suit any occasion -- even when you don't crave dessert. Harney’s extra long oolong leaves are infused with flavorful pomegranate to create this unique blend. Now, what is oolong, you ask? Just a quick little tutorial before I proceed with the review: Oolong tea is a cross between green and black tea with a much more light and fragrant (and less brisk) flavor. Through repeated (and complicated) steps, oolong tea leaves are partially oxidized, whereas green tea is not oxidized at all and black tea is fully oxidized.
Anyway, I wasn’t expecting anything special from this tea, as most teas steeped with fruity undertones generally remind me of artificial gum, but I was delightfully proven wrong after my first mug full. This specific type of oolong meshes particularly well with the pomegranate flavors and leaves a pleasantly sweet flavor on the tongue after you’ve taken a swig. It tastes and smells juicy, and actually reminds me of chomping into the succulent seeds of a pomegranate. Best served by steeping one sachet in less than boiling water for five to eight minutes, depending on how strong you like your brew. Equally good when served with sweetener or without. If you do prefer sweet tea, my sweetener of choice is agave nectar! Creamer is a big no-no with this tea. Don't forget to inhale the sweet-smelling steam right before taking a sip -- the aroma greatly enhances the taste of this tea.

Mantra - Entree

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

I had the Mongolian meatballs with lomein and enjoyed it thoroughly. There was nothing particularly special about the meatballs but the combination of lomein and vegetables in a light sweet sauce was pretty good. The taste was nice and not overpowering, plus the noodles were not too dry. Good dish to order.

(Image by AG)

Mantra

Mantra
122 South 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(Visit their website!)

Willing to spend a little bit of money on lunch in downtown Philadelphia? This tasty spot is a great place to sit and relax at any time but especially when it’s over 80 degrees outside and you can’t stand being in the sun for another second. The restaurant is a bit dark on the first floor (looks like there is additional seating on the second floor) but nicely decorated. Its “pan-Asian” theme allows for a blend of decorative styles. Combining glass marbles, mirrors and paper umbrellas, they also use Japanese screens, martial arts clippings (someone is a Jet Li fan), and a few Buddha statues to spice up the place.

But I wouldn’t go there just for the décor. The place is too dark for my taste. Hey, I want to see what I’m about to put in my mouth. Even though I am seeking refuge from the sun, I still need some light. I wouldn’t mind sitting there to read but with the bits of light that make it in, I would get a headache pretty fast. Good coffee though.

The food is terrific but, as I said, a bit pricey. My dining companion and I started with the Kinki Rice Bowl Salad. This dish comes with some perfectly prepared tuna (Kinki?). The fish is almost raw in the center but well cooked and a bit crispy on the outside. The sticky rice was great and I thought they had lightly grilled it although I may have been mistaken. Rice and fish combined with seaweed and a light sweet sauce made this a great combo. There were also slices of pears, nectarines, and cucumbers to go along with the salad. Squeeze a bit of lime and you’re good to go.

(Images by AG)

Trident

Trident
338 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(Check out their website!)

Trident also offers some mouthwatering French toast. Try it with bananas and real maple syrup!

(Image by AG)

Trident

Trident
338 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(Visit their website!)

Grab a book and have a meal early in the morning. With a tasty breakfast menu, which offers diners to add salmon to their morning omelet, the Trident bookstore and cafe is a fine place to dine. With a cozy setting and a well-lit dining area, the Trident offers visitors to Boston’s Newbury Street area a comfortable place to relax, get some coffee or juice, and scarf down some nice French toast or have a healthy turkey burger for lunch. A definite plus to their breakfast menu is the availability of real maple syrup, a rarity in most restaurants these days.

Be prepared for a large meal though. The omelet especially has a way of filling you up so that a weekend meal may be better unless you want to fall asleep at work. As for items that could keep you awake, the coffee mug is a bit small but, apparently, you get free refills with meals over $4.95. (I was not aware of this at the time.)

Like all the spots on Newbury Street, this can get pricey (though there are some good deals) but if you’re in the mood for a comfortable breakfast and don’t mind spending a little bit of cash for a pleasant environment and a cool place to read the morning paper, check Trident out.

I can’t speak to their dinner menu but, glancing at it online, it looks pretty good as well.

(Image by AG)

Hot Cinnamon Sunset Tea

There's nothing like the right cup of tea to complement a good read, good music, or a good pie (the latter being my preferred option). Oh hell, a good cup of tea makes anything better. Hot Cinnamon Sunset is one of the more fragrant blends of the many exotic teas produced by Harney & Sons. It comes in silken sachets (stylish little baggies fashioned into pyramids that show off the blend within and allow the tea to breathe) and it doesn’t surprise me that it is one of the company's most popular flavors. Those little sachets receive an A+ from me in the aesthetic department. Even the occasional tea-drinker will notice and appreciate an artistic difference in the presentation. But do not be deceived: despite the fancy, hoity-toity packaging, this is a tea that asserts itself and packs a punch. Guaranteed to soothe anyone’s frayed and frazzled nerves, Hot Cinnamon Sunset (sometimes referred to as Hot Cinnamon Spice in their catalog) is a mixture of loose black tea leaves, three different cinnamons, orange peel and sweet cloves. It is a medium-bodied tea that can be served with sweetener and creamer if desired, but is by no means essential. Added bonus: even if you have a sweet tooth like I do, dumping massive amounts of honey into your mug won’t be necessary – it can be enjoyed on its own just as much. But beware: while comforting and sweet, this tea isn’t for the weak. The earthy pungency of the cloves packs quite a powerful bite. Leave it to steep a few minutes too long and it will turn into a potent brew suitable only for hard-core tea enthusiasts and people with a penchant for spicy cinnamon stick candy. The best way to brew this tea is to steep one sachet in approximately two to three cups of almost-boiling water for five to eight minutes, depending on how spicy you want it to taste. I recommend leaving it in for a shorter period of time if this is your first Cinnamon Sunset experience. This will be a delightful change for people who might normally fancy something less bold like chamomile or similar herbal blends, but won't be too subtle or intimidating either. For those who prefer green or oolong tea variations that just barely suggest an aroma, this won't, forgive me for using the expression, be your cup of tea. Best served, as always, in a gigantic mug.

Image courtesy of ACB.

Grand City

Grand City
128 Maine Street
Brunswick, ME

Even if you’re not over 60, you can still enjoy the quick and cheap meals at this diner in downtown Brunswick. Part of an old general store, the cafeteria is open early and closes early. That should give you a sense of its regular crowd. The food isn’t necessarily healthy but it’s good for those who just aren’t sure what to get. They make good sandwiches and hearty, thick soups but the milkshakes are what come highly recommended. Order a plain vanilla one to go with almost any meal and you’re sure to leave happy. Don’t expect anything good from the vegetable menu as you’ll find rather pale lettuce and overly cooked steamed carrots but you’re at a diner for diner food so enjoy the sandwiches and the quick chopped steaks with extra gravy.

(Images by AG)

Tokyo Rose

2171 Ivy Rd # 13
Charlottesville, VA 22903

While sushi has ascended in status from exotic fad to international staple (I think I saw tuna rolls for sale in my local Safeway last week), it remains somewhat difficult to find restaurants serving more traditional Japanese dishes. Tokyo Rose combines a solid sushi bar with some slightly adventurous takes on Japanese foods. The restaurant is hidden away in a strip mall; while it presents an unimpressive facade, the interior is pleasant, with soft lighting and a natural decor. After some discussion, my companion Mr. K and myself decided on main dishes from the entree menu, to be accompanied by a few orders from the in-house sushi bar. And I was in for a treat- though I didn't see salmon skin sushi on the menu, the waiter informed me that they would be happy to make me rolls (above, middle). I also ordered eel nigiri (above, top), while Mr K selected the Alaska roll (above, bottom), containing salmon, avocado, and cucumber.

While most Japanese restaurants I've been to serve their sushi before the meal, Tokyo Rose brought our order to the table with the entrees- a slight disappointment, if you're expecting to be able to concentrate on your fish. My salmon skin rolls, however, eliminated all disappointment; the wonderfully crunchy texture of the salmon skin was well-supported by a mix of dense rice and crisp cucumber. The eel, too, was all eel should be- mild, flaky, and lightly glazed (though perhaps a little bland)- while the Alaska roll was (I felt) good without being great.


For my entree, I chose the nabeyaki udon, which has been described as a "Japanese hotpot". The base of the dish is udon noodles in a mild stock; chefs then add a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. (I, for one, have never had nabeyaki udon without fish cakes and an egg cooked in the broth.) Tokyo Rose's nabeyaki came to the table in the traditional earthenware pot, which keeps the dish hot (and also provides chilly diners with a place to warm their hands as the meal progresses). There were, of course, thinly sliced fish cakes floating in the broth, as well as squash, mushrooms, chicken, an number of plump shrimp, and the requisite egg, which I attacked with abandon. While the broth was more heavily seasoned then I was used to, I found it to be a pleasant counterpoint to the dense udon noodles rather than a nuisance. My only quibble with the dish was the chicken, which was too sweetly seasoned for my palate, and contrasted oddly with the rich, meaty tone of the broth. Soup and stew in much of Western cooking is frequently an opportunity to use cosmetically flawed ingredients. In contrast, Tokyo Rose takes delight in assembling a broth dish that is pleasing to both the eye and the stomach.

Mr K and I finished the meal with some green tea and adjourned to Ben and Jerry's for ice cream. I'm certain we'll dine at Tokyo Rose again; when we do, we'll be sure to try the
dessert menu. And if you find yourself in Charlottesville, I'd recommend uncovering a good meal at this little secret.

Cote's

Cote’s
212 Maine Street
Brunswick, ME

This little ice cream stand is a Brunswick establishment. Open only during the summer months, Bowdoin College students often lament the fact that they are denied these tasty sweets while the academic year is in session. But with spring in Maine comes the opening of those two small windows and the wonderful ice cream. The smalls are pretty big so I always get the kiddie sugar cone. I can’t let go of the chocolate chip though I’m told that I’m missing out on some other fabulous flavors such as orange pineapple.

(Image by OZ)

Typhoon - Dessert

Typhoon
725 Boylston Street Lobby
Boston, MA

I ended the meal with a nice fried vanilla ice cream. The ice cream itself is not overpowering but they could use a bit less batter. The chocolate sauce mixes well and goes a long way towards making this a good solid dinner.

My dining companion had the same beef salad, tried one of their sushi rolls (very tasty) and ended with some friend bananas, which looked a bit small. He assured me though that they were just as good as the rest of the meal.

(Image by AG)

Typhoon

Typhoon
725 Boylston Street Lobby
Boston, MA
(Check out their website)

Looking for a tasty treat after walking about Newbury Street? Why not try Typhoon? This “Asian Bistro” has a delicious beef salad. I’ve never had the chance to try any of their entrees (which are not that expensive if you consider that you are in the middle of downtown Boston) as I’ve always been filled by the beef salad.

Tender slices of beef are served on a bed of lettuce topped with peanuts and a rich dressing which is both spicy and sour at the same time. I’m not sure what’s in the dressing besides some chilies and lime but it is an exquisite taste that will stay with you long after the meal is over.

My most recent visit was a bit disappointing. Was it my imagination or did the salad used to be larger? Did they also cut down on the beef? Let’s admit it, this is an expensive salad, coming in at $11 but I’ll still pay it for the flavor of that sauce and the nice people-watching location on Boylston.

(Image by AG)

Good Earth Original Tea

Good Earth Original Sweet & Spicy Tea & Herb Blend
Good Earth Teas
www.goodearth.com



I have always enjoyed a good cup of tea, but never have gone out of my way for it; tea usually has been a beverage that I drink when sick or when offered to me.

That all changed recently when I discovered Good Earth Original Sweet & Spicy Tea & Herb Blend. This delicious tea divided and conquered my tastebuds, and now I don't go a day without one or two mugs.

The flavour of this tea is unlike anything I've ever tasted. It hits the mouth all at once, with the sweetness on the tip of the tongue and the warm spice at the back of the throat. The ingredients give some indication to the tea's unique combination of sweetness and spice: the first six ingredients listed after tea are Rose Hips, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, and Papaya. It all makes for a full, bold, distinct flavour.

The tea stands well on its own; as someone who usually adds so much honey that I end up drinking some tea with my glass of honey, this is the first black tea to which I've had no desire to add milk, cream, or sweetener. The box recommends steeping 3-4 minutes, but box directions be damned; I recommend steeping for about 12-15 minutes to allow all of the subtleties of the flavor to emerge.

Good Earth Teas use only natural ingredients and flavors. What's more, the tags on their teabag strings feature quotations from notable thinkers, giving you something to consider as you wait for your delicious tea to finish steeping.

Good Earth Original is a fine tea for burning the midnight oil in one's study, or, for that matter, to accompany anything else at any other time of day. It's the best tea I've ever had. Cheers!

Pho Ha

Pho Ha
610 Washington Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19147

If you find yourself in Philadelphia’s Little Vietnam around lunchtime, check out Pho Ha. This medium-sized restaurant in a small strip-mall is a local favorite and boasts a simple menu of appetizers, pho noodles, and vermicelli dishes.

The fresh spring rolls are brimming with shrimp and vegetables but the wrap was a bit sticky. My guess is that they have these already made. The problem with this strategy is that the wrapper isn’t as soft and fresh when someone actually orders them. The price of the quick service on this front is the less-than-fresh meal. The peanut sauce is also a bit too sweet. The fried spring rolls are fine and may be the superior of the two appetizers.

The vermicelli dishes are terrific but are quite substantial for lunch. (The leftovers were just as good that evening.) There are a few options but we ordered the one with shrimp and pork. The cooks were stingy on the shrimp side, giving only 3-4 per dish. Plenty of delicious and tender slices of pork though. Not a bad combination though I wish one of us had tried to pho. It looked excellent and, with the possibility of vegetable side orders, the meal would have been fabulous.

If the place is crowded, you’ll have to share a table with someone. No big deal though. A pot of tea is provided once you sit down.

(Images by AG)