Tag: Boston

Sweet Cheeks BBQ: A First Look

Looking for porky goodness? We found it last weekend at Sweet Cheeks in the Fenway. We had to pick up an item at the Landmark Center, so we checked our "restaurants to try" list for that area and decided on lunch at Sweet Cheeks. Smart move!



We grabbed two seats at the bar and put ourselves in the very capable hands of Rich who guided us through our meal, and saw that our every wish was granted two seconds before we thought of it. Phenomenal food with fantastic service. This is our kind of place.

The menu calls for decisions. Ed was too hungry to make many of those, so he went for the pulled pork sandwich on a bulkie roll (rather than Texas Toast) and added a hot side of collard greens. They were served in the blue mug.

Here's a close up on that pulled pork.

Penny went for the tray of ribs and chose her hot side as BBQ beans, and her cold side as the farm salad. There were also two slices of white bread and a pickle pile on the tray.

If this photo is not one of her best, it's because the aroma of those ribs were a serious distraction, and she was trying to hand the camera off to Ed so she could pull that pork off those bones. Ahhhhh! Smoky, sweet, salty, pork candy.

And, that salad! As those of you who follow BostonZest know, Penny is not a salad person. She seldom orders one, but this promised brussel sprouts and she does love spouts. It was a delight and might be a side she would return to Sweet Cheeks for, even if they didn't have all that incredible BBQ.



It may be dangerous that this place is within walking distance of our home. Having Marshall's Fenway Farm Stand a few doors away will only add to our excuses for a replay. We're already planning a table for 8 to fill one of the big hightops and to try the rest of the menu.



This is a Fenway spot, so get out there and enjoy it before baseball season has many of us staying away from anything in this area. Make it a winter of warm, wonderful BBQ from Sweet Cheeks.

Tomorrow, Ed will tell you about his beer and how it matched both meals right down to dessert. If you came in later, here's that post:.)

Here are a few follow up visits to Sweet Cheeks Q:

Salt & Pepper Potatoes at Sweet Cheeks Q

Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

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Details:

Sweet Cheeks

www.sweetcheeksq.com

1381 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215 (map)
phone: 617-266-1300
email: info@sweetcheeksq.com

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 12, 2011
Sunday Dog, Featuring “The Amazing, Cian!”

Presenting the “Amazing, Cian”– the Welsh Terrier who can read minds!

"You’re thinking, 'What a cute little guy.' Right?"

Besides meaning “amazing,” Cian (KEE-in) is Gaelic for “ancient.”

“What’d You Call Me?"

Whoa! Down Boy! You’re not quite two, so there’s no way anyone could think you’re ancient. But, your breed, is!

“I don’t have to listen to this!"

Born on St. Patrick’s Day 2010, this not-so-ancient Welsh Terrier, full name Cian Finn (in honor of his person’s dad) is said to be “the oldest existing dog breed in the UK.”

While originally raised as a hunter, today’s Welsh Terrier is more at home in the show ring and looking “extremely” handsome just posing for his adoring fans.

"Ya know, I think I’m starting to like this guy.”

Cian’s favorite toy is “any ball.” He plays fetch, knows: rollover, paw, heal, and halt.

This energetic terrier likes people & dogs but HATES SKATEBOARDS! And, he isn’t a big fan of delivery guys wheeling “big” hand trucks either.

Besides being very protective of his person, this pup has learned that good things are often hiding inside stuff, so you always have to sniff out the treats.

"Found it! My favorite cookie!"

Thanks for being our Sunday Dog, Cian. You are truly “amazing.”

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

Time to get ready to take our dogs out in Boston's winter weather. We recommend tucking those toes into Pawz dog boots. They're Maggie tested and BostonZest approved. Miss Maggie also has pals who prefer Musher's Secret. That's another way to protect paws from salt and ice damage.

Details:
Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people that are part of the places and services we cover. Often, those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 11, 2011
Make Way for Penguins!

Across Beacon Street from the Public Garden is this holiday gathering of penguins. They are marching across the front yard of a home that always adds some whimsical, seasonal interest to their garden and window boxes.

The ducks in the window boxes must have a closet inside for their ever-changing wardrobe.

We always make a point of stopping to enjoy the witty fun at this address.

It's not too late to get a great deal at Amazon!

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 10, 2011
Holiday Pops 2011– Where to Dine and Park!
Readers and friends who have tickets for one of the Boston Pops Holiday Concerts are already asking, "Where can we dine around Symphony Hall?" And, once the conversation is open, it's followed by, "Where can we park?"

Please add your favorite spots for dining and parking around this area in the comments below. And, if you try one of our suggestions, let us know how it worked for you.

Here's our primer for a great visit to the BSO or Boston Pops at Symphony Hall.

We say, make dining and parking a joint decision. Our first suggestion is always to leave the car at home or at a park & ride and take the MBTA to the concert.

But, if you must have a car at hand, the Prudential Center is our favorite parking place to recommend in the city. It has its own exit off the Mass Pike. It's connected to mass transit, has taxis available at the doors, and there's a great choice of dining options within the complex. And, best of all, Google estimates that Symphony Hall is a 6-minute walk down Huntington Avenue. (map )

Prudential Options

For wonderful food and great service at a reasonable price, we send friends to Sel de la Terre on Boylston Street for pre-concert dining. If you're driving, simply enter any Prudential parking area or use the restaurant's valet parking service.

You could even return for dessert and post-concert conversation and then have the valet bring the car around. Please, call the restaurant to confirm the details, especially if you're reading this months from now.

If a splurge is on the menu, L'Espalier is right next door and shares that valet service. If a mini-splurge is more in line with your budget, reserve a seat in their Salon for a glass of wine and a bite before the concert, or dessert and a cheese course after. Both restaurants are accessible from inside the Prudential Center via the Mandarin Hotel.

Newbury Street

Park at the Pru and dine on Newbury Street. After dinner you can even walk to Symphony by reentering the Prudential Center and making part of your walk to the concert through their climate controlled corridors.

Since we walk all over the city, we would consider a few of the restaurants on Newbury close to symphony. La Voile is a great choice for French Bistro food.

And, we love to stop into Tapeo for a few tapas at the bar or a table full of choices to share with a group of friends.

Another Great Choice is Brasserie JO

We also recommend that concert goers consider a Boston gem that's often overlooked– Brasserie JO at The Colonnade Hotel. This place always comes through with French flair, great service, and a good meal. It's also a short walk on that same map, because it's across from the Prudential Center.

Ethnic Options for less formal dining.

If you want an ethnic meal or a quick bite before the show, we have a few favorites to recommend.
- Moby Dick – our friend Francine Crawford pointed us to this little gem. It's one of her favorite pre-concert spots.
- Pho Basil on Massachusetts Avenue does Thai and Vietnamese food and pleases us with both cuisines. Here's a post on some of the dishes we really enjoy at Pho Basil.
- Lucy Ethiopian Cafe is across the street from Symphony and is fun and delicious. But, give this choice a bit more time. The pace of this cafe's warm hospitality and made-to-order food is a bit slower than many places. They also have wonderful coffee and a selection of desserts for after the show.
- India Samraat on Massachusetts Avenue between Commonwealth and Marlborough is a bit further away but still within walking distance, especially if you park near Newbury Street. This is a restaurant we enjoy sharing with friends.
- Chili Duck, right across Boylston from the Pru, is a hidden gem and another great spot if you're meeting the gang.
Other resources and opinions:

"Where to dine for Symphony?" is a question routinely asked of the crew over on Chowhound's Boston board. Here are a couple of recent conversations with some options that we haven't tried yet.
- Quick bite near Symphony Hall
- Craft cocktails near Symphony Hall?
Here are maps to help you find more options.

Other parking around Symphony Hall

Other restaurants around Symphony Hall

If this type of information is helpful to you, consider saying thank you by starting your next Amazon shopping trip from here. They have the things you want including Boston Pops music and a full line of MP3 Downloads.

Details:
Symphony Hall
301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4557 (map)
(617) 266-2378

www.bso.org‎

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photo: Courtesy of the Boston Pops (Photo Credit: Stu Rosner)
December 5, 2011
Sunday Dog, Taco – Country Boy Discovers City Life!

For a country boy who’s spent his formative “months” romping in the open spaces of north central Massachusetts, Sunday Dog Taco is learning all about city life. This gorgeous, red merle, Australian Shepherd, originally from Ashburnham (about an hour west of Boston), is a very friendly one year old who loves other dogs.

This Aussie’s stunning coat is only surpassed by those captivating eyes– very useful for a any herding breed.

We met Taco as he was sniffing out the landscape…

A Little Bit of Country Right Here in the Big City!

Getting to know a new place always takes some time and can be a bit lonely in at first. Taco’s person told us that he loves doggy daycare and has met a number of dogs, which has been helpful.

Like most Australian Shepherds, this guy is full of energy and needs a lot of activity and stimulus. He loves to play and is always on the lookout for a new playmate.

Because Aussie’s are very intelligent and learn quickly, it’s no wonder they excel at search & rescue, detection, and as service dogs.

Taco got to know us quickly, letting us photograph him– almost posing at times. He loved getting the attention as much as we loved showering him with it.

We left our Sunday Dog with a goodbye pat as he greeted more new friends. I think our country boy is made for the city.

Get to know all of our Sunday Dogs at Boston Dogs.

And, learn more about Aussies at Checkerberry Australian Shepherds.

Looking for a deal to check an item off your holiday list? Here's a link to the latest deals at Amazon.

Details:
Words: Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people that are part of the places and services we cover. Often, those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 4, 2011
Here’s to All Who Trim with Taste!

Here's a thank you toast to all those who spend time and money adding a bit of zest to the holiday scene. Think of the collective work it takes to make the city beautiful for the winter holidays.

If you see an outstanding bit of holiday cheer you'd like to share, add the address and a link to a photo, if you took one, in the comment section.

For our part, we give an extra tip of the BostonZest cap to those who show restraint and refinement in their decor. We love to see a well arranged window box like this one.

And, with the Garden Club of the Back Bay's Wreath Week coming up, we'll walk the Back Bay and Beacon Hill to admire the incredible work of that crew of volunteer decorators.

Get that last minute order in today, if they are not already sold out. Remember, as they explained here, "You may be able to visit our workshop at The First Lutheran Church of Boston, 299 Berkeley Street, December 5 – 8, and purchase a plain wreath, or a wreath with one of our amazing bows, but we cannot accept orders for fully decorated wreaths once we are at the Church."

Shopping AMAZON from here is a great way to say you appreciate the work we do every day, all year.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 3, 2011
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Dining in Boston 2011
You've Reached an Old Post! Go to:

UPDATE: Where to Dine on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2015 in Boston

It's time to make your reservations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meals, if you're planning to dine at one of Boston's fine restaurants over the holidays.

If you have inside info on a local restaurant's plans or a favorite Christmas Holiday tradition, add it in the comments below!

What's open on Christmas Eve?

This year Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday night. A quick check of Open Table for a 9 pm reservation found far more restaurants open than I might have expected.

As with any holiday reservation ask what is being offered. Some places will present their normal menu, some will have a restricted prix fixe, and some will add special items inspired by the holiday. And, don't be surprised if a non-refundable deposit and credit card number are required to make a reservation.

Holiday Traditions

Our friend, Jackie Blombach and her husband always have Tea at the Taj on Christmas Eve. She calls it, "My Favorite two hours of Christmas!"

Traditional Feast

If you hurry and grab one of the spots at the table, you could indulge in the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes at Grotto and sister restaurant Marliave. (Both will also offer a limited menu in addition to the feast.) The Grotto website says:

"The Feast of Seven Fishes, a traditional meal served on Christmas Eve throughout Italy. The Feast dates back centuries and the common belief is that participating in the Feast will bring good luck and fortune in the year to come. Marliave and Grotto will once again be offering our version of The Feast of Seven Fishes. The Feast is served over three courses and utilizes the great abundance of seafood available to us in Boston… "

Need a Holiday Food Break?

If you need a break from the whole Christmas scene, you could wander through Chinatown and enjoy an alternative to the traditional holiday menus. And, if Chinatown isn't quite the fit for your gang, but you would like to nibble your way through an Asian feast, we suggest Meyers+Chang on Washington Street in the South End. Chef Joanne Chang is planning to add some special treats for that night but assures us we will be able to enjoy an evening of great Asian food.

What Boston Area Restaurants are Open on Christmas ?

Hotel restaurants, since they must serve the hotel's guests, are normally open on all holidays. In Boston, hotel restaurants open both the 24th and 25th include some excellent choices:
- Bristol Lounge at the Four Seasons
- L'Espalier, Sel de la Terre (Back Bay) and Asana at the Mandarin Hotel
- Eastern Standard at the Hotel Commonwealth
- Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel
- Brasserie JO at the Colonnade Hotel
- Taj Boston Cafe at the Taj Hotel
- Market by Jean-Georges at the W Boston Hotel
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More information and reservations:

Here's Open Table's Christmas Day page but remember, you can go to their main Boston page and request a reservation for the 24th, 25th, or 26th and see the full list of options for the time you prefer.

Boston Chefs has set up recaps for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

Subscribe to the comment feed of this post or follow us on Twitter, and we'll notify you of updates. So far, the ChowHounds and Trip Advisor crews haven't had much to say on the topic, but we'll post links if a good conversation from one of these forums gets started.

Details:

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: from iStockphoto.com

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.
December 2, 2011
Here’s to December, “May it be a lot like November!”

Our December Toast? Bring Back November! (at least the weather part).

We’re clinking flutes to welcome a new month, staying true to Our Sparkling Resolution and celebrating with an interesting and challenging wine, but in a good way.

We popped the bottle “cap” of our l’opéra des vins les années folles (“the crazy years”) and began what I’d describe as a festive pour that created a nice, frothy mousse which quickly fizzled. Peach blush in color, more pink than rosé, but still a sparkler.

As I raised the glass to my nose…well, lets just say it’s not a wine to be pre-judged by its, uh, bouquet. Not bad, just different. My advice, take a sip, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Light mouth feel with a good tartness and a medium finish. The red wine in the blend definitely stands out. We both liked it.

If you’re up for something different in a sparkling wine, try it. With a little luck, you’ll be able to open a bottle while sitting at an outdoor table on the deck wearing your favorite short-sleeved shirt.

Thanks to The Wine Bottega in Boston’s North End for helping us make another winning selection to ring in a new month.

Check out: Our Sparkling Resolution Winner’s List

Want a great wine mentor who's willing to teach you how to taste wine? How about one of the most respected woman in the field, Jancis Robinson! Here's her book, How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine. And, with holiday parties and celebrations coming up, check your wine glass inventory, we love Schott Zwiesel Tritan Crystal Stemware Forte Collection.

Details:
Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2011 Penny Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people that are part of the places and services we cover. Often, those comments add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

December 1, 2011
Boston Area Commencement Dates Spring 2012
This is an old post here is an updated page with the current information!

Boston Area Commencement Dates for Spring Impact Hotel Prices, Availability, Restaurant Reservations and More.

With or without a Boston area college graduation in your family, you'll likely need to coordinate your dining and travel plans around the spring 2012 commencement ceremonies. We're running this a bit early, because so many readers have been making their way to last year's post.

Reservations at area restaurants will be harder to find May 11th and 12th, and scarce May 18th through 21st when 11 schools, including BU and BC, will hold ceremonies. Harvard commencement is May 24th and MIT June 8th– each of these schools is large enough to have an impact on its own. Harvard can also interfere with traffic as they move busloads of people from one place to another around event time.

To help you plan your dining options in May and early June, here are the dates of the major commencement ceremonies for your 2012 calendar.

If you know of a college or university graduation date that we missed, send us a comment.
Thanks to everyone who supports us by beginning your Amazon shopping from here. It doesn't cost you anymore but when you click on an Amazon link like this one, they put a few coins in our tip cup.

The perfect gift for a graduate!

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Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photo: iStockphoto.com
November 29, 2011