Tag: Central Square

  • Riley’s Coat from Blue Ledge Farm, Vermont

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    Blue Ledge Farm's Riley's Coat is another of those cheeses we buy whenever we see it. Recently, on a walk home from a meal in Central Square, we stopped into Central Bottle Wine + Provisions and there it was again!

    Somehow a lovely, raw goats milk cheese that was named after a dog sticks in our memory banks. In additon to talking about this cheese, cheesemonger Anne Saxelby suggests it would be great to be reincarnated as a dog at a cheese farm since those pups often get to eat the test batches!

    IMG_4681 - Version 22012-02-16--reillys-coat-cheese- vermont-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    Riley's Coat is a bit different each time we taste it. It's flavored by what the goats are browsing. Buying each new piece brings back memories of the last. And, even though we know the cheese and know it will be very good, we can't resist having a taste right there in the shop. Often, that nibble increases the size of the wedge we take home. 

    Related Posts:

    Here's our Cheese Collection!

    Here are a few of our favorite books on cheese. But, click here for many more choices over at Amazon.

     

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 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 add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Mary Chung Dun Dun Noodle Craving– Satisfied!

    IMG_4675 - Version 22012-02-16-mary-chung-dan dan-noodles-chicken-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    All you have to say is Mary Chung and Penny starts craving Dun Dun Noodles. (The noodles are hiding under all that lovely, spicy topping in the photo above.)

    Last week, the crew over on Boston Chowhound began a discussion of Chinese and Chinese-American food, so of course Mary Chung was included. That was enough to put it on our lunch list. We arrived at 12:30 pm and had to wait a few minutes for a table. It's good to see an old favorite still filling the seats on a Thursday afternoon.

    We're convinced that the Sichuan pepper in those Dun Dun noodles is addictive. It numbs your mouth just enough to make you receptive to the chili oil and other heat-makers in the dish. You have to make yourself stop reaching for the noodle bowl so you can try the other dishes on the table. 

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    In our case, this included one of the daily specials, this wonderful, fresh, crisp plate of aspargus and pork. While the printed menu is giant, always check the daily specials taped to the register area up front. 

    IMG_4664 - Version 22012-02-16-mary-chung-stir fry-peking-ravioli-© 2011 Penny Cherubino

    And, we did have to take home the leftovers because we couldn't resist starting with the pan fried Peking ravioli.  

    This Central Square, Cambridge institution has been delivering great Chinese food for years. Reviewers mention that it's been around since the early 1980s. And, this is a perfect place to gather a group and fill one of the big round tables with shared food. 

    Do you have a favorite Mary Chung menu item? Please tell us, we want to get out of our ordering rut and work our way through the menu!

    Tips:

    • Check those specials.
    • They do a type of Dim Sum on weekends.
    • You can reserve a table for a group, and if you want it on a weekend, call early.
    • Order rice if you want it.
    • They only take cash so come prepared.
    • They do serve beer and wine, but somehow the pots of tea they put on the table seem perfect with the food.

    Related Posts: Here's more about Food & Drink!

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    Details:

    Mary Chung Restaurant

    464 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139-4132 (map & reviews)

    (617) 864-1991

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 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 add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.

  • Wasn’t it a Great Weekend?


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     We saw:

    • Newbury Street filled with shoppers on Sunday. 
    • Happy diners eating outside at La Voile and at Tasty Burger(Warning: There's music on La Voile's site.)
    • Students studying on the Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
    • Lots of spring plants sprouting in Back Bay gardens. The snowdrops have been up for weeks and some crocuses, pansies, and heather are already in bloom.
    • (Click a thumbnail to choose an image in any order you like. You'll stay right here on this page.)

    Sometimes the freelance life lets you stretch your long weekend by an extra day or, at least, fit in more fun around your work hours. It was that kind of weekend for us. 

    We began with a trip to Central Square, Cambridge for lunch on Thursday. The afternoon began at Mary Chung Restaurant for a bit of Szechuan heat. (Stay tuned! Details on that will pop up tomorrow.)

    We strolled home with stops at Central Bottle to stock up on cheese, bread, beer, and wine for the weekend and Flour Bakery for two pieces of their fabulous Boston Cream Pie cake to honor a friend's birthday. (And, to tease him with another reason to miss Boston from his new home in San Francisco!)

    Friday afternoon found us at Coppa enjoying a few of our favorites– including this Italian Grinder

    Saturday, we shared a tray at Sweet Cheeks Q and added a new favorite side dish that will also be featured here in the days ahead.

    We ran into lots of friends in lots of places and had some down time at home with a bit of great wine and home cooking. It was a good weekend to spend in town enjoying some of the great things Boston has to offer.

    Related Posts:

    Sweet Cheeks Q- Great Northern Brisket

    Sweet Cheeks Q: A First Look

    Friday Lunch at Coppa, an Italian Seduction

    Bourbon Beer? at Sweet Cheeks

    Celebrating the Start of Summer at La Voile

    How to Extend >>> Your Birthday!

    And The Winner is….

    What a Weekend!

    What's on your weekend get-away shopping list? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     


    Details:
    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2012 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 add a great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you.