When this whole quarantine thing began and we were told we couldn’t come back to school, I think the hardest thing for me to come to terms with was that I wouldn’t be eating my favorite foods from my favorite restaurants for the next six months. People say home is where the heart is. No, home is where the good food in Boston is, and boy have I found a few.
Since I’ll be returning to Boston in less than a month, I decided to do a round-up of my favorite foods I discovered in my first year there and put them into a little menu. If any of you are in need of a quality brussel sprout or strawberry frosting, hold your horses. I’ve got you covered. So, put your napkin on your lap and get your elbows off the table. I have a four course meal coming your way!
Drink: Red Velvet Hot Chocolate from Jaho OR Coconut Daiquiri from Sol Azteca
I know what it’s like to feel backed into ordering something, so I gave you two options for your beverage - two polar opposites in fact. I don’t even like red velvet cake, but when I say this hot chocolate is a game changer, I mean it. The color is this pinky-red and it is silky smooth going down. Perfect for a cold day in Boston. Your second option is a super sugary and sweet daiquiri (virgin of course). I tend to play it safe with the good old strawberry flavor, but I had to switch it up and boy am I glad I did. You may be sitting on a sidewalk in Massachusetts, but it will feel like you are sitting in the sand. One makes you feel like Christmas and the other makes you feel like summer - the best of both worlds!
Appetizer: Crispy Brussel Sprouts with a Miso-Caramel Dipping Sauce from Joe’s American Bar and Grill
Let’s start our meal with the thing your mother always tells you to clear your plate of: greens.
I can only recall one time throughout my childhood where I had to sit at the table, while everyone else’s place settings were cleared and put away, having a staring competition with the broccoli on my plate. I love broccoli! Not sure what point I was trying to prove, but we all know I’m dramatic and like a little bit of attention so I’m sure it was some act I was putting on. Now, I haven’t found a real nice dish of broc’ but I found something even better, even healthier: the best stinking brussel sprouts you will literally ever eat. If you need to find a way to get your kids to eat them, this is the way to go. You will NOT regret it. I told my cousins about this dish and they were a little hesitant about the caramel part but seriously, it’s no biggy. You definitely won’t confuse it with a caramel apple - it’s still your favorite vegetable!
Entrée: Pho Ga (chicken) from Beantown Pho and Grill
For those of you who are soup lovers, just wait. If you’ve never had Pho before it’s not too late. I myself was very late to the Pho game, only having it for the first time right before I went to college. You might be wondering, what is Pho, Megan? Well, it’s essentially just a broth with rice noodles, different herbs and your choice of meat. It’s like a next level, Vietnamese version of chicken noodle soup, but so much better. Hit it with a littttttle bit of hot sauce and some hoisin sauce and BAM, you’ve got yourself one big hot bowl of deliciousness. It’s so smooth going down and makes your nose run, but isn’t that the sign of a good time? If you feel a cold coming on or are just craving a nice bowl of soup, this is the dish for you.
Side dish: Truffle Tots from Grill 23 & Bar
Okay. Before you say anything, just take a deep breath in and close your eyes. Picture yourself walking into a fine dining restaurant on a Friday night during Parent’s Weekend at school with your roommate and her dad. This is not just another Friday night at Chipotle. The lemons come with little skirts on them so the seeds don’t pop out and the waiters are all dressed like it’s a black tie wedding. You take a glance at the menu and immediately spot TRUFFLE TATER TOTS. These aren’t your cafeteria tots. These are little potato pouches fried to a golden crisp, accompanied by a truffle dipping oil. Is your mouth watering? Mine is. I could literally eat an entire KFC bucket filled with those suckers. They are even featured on Food Network...so you know that they are legit. I wish I had a picture to show you but I inhaled them so fast. Naturally. So I took one from Trip Advisor. Thanks Trip Advisor!
Dessert: Birthday Cake Whoopie Pie from Mike’s Pastry OR Strawberry Frosting Shots from Little Miss Cupcape
I am a sucker for literally anything birthday cake or funfetti flavored. I don’t even like whoopie pies that much, but the second my eyes saw the sprinkle infested cake in the case, I knew I had to have it. It’s dense; I won’t lie to you. It might reside in the micro-fridge in your dorm room when you get back to eat later, only for your roommate to find it and eat it (with my permission of course), but it’s definitely a necessary purchase. Staying with the birthday cake theme, if you’re someone like me who can sit and eat an entire container of Betty Crocker frosting, not only can we be best friends but I can even help you out! I found the perfect way to control my frosting addiction: frosting shots. They are the perfect sized little to-go containers filled with different flavors of frosting. My favorite? The lemon or the strawberry. Keep one in your pocket, your purse, your car, your pencil case, wherever. They are the perfect little treat.
So, there you have it. Some of my favorite foods from Beantown or Boston. Next time you visit, make sure that you eat solely based off of my menu. Okay? Bon Appétit!
Me going “eeeeeep” before eating my birthday cake whoopie pie from Mike’s Pastry.
The Pho Ga from Beantown Pho and Grill. Yum.
Hi little frosting shots from Little Miss Cupcape!
THE Truffle Tots from Grill23
photo credit: https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g60745-d321931-i308287473-Grill_23_Bar-Boston_Massachusetts.html