Au Revoir and Bon Appetit, Boston

With my departure quickly approaching, I know I will be nostalgic for various gastronomical indulgences that only Boston can provide. Therefore, I want to share some of my favorite restaurants in Boston that I have worked so hard to find. I love little out of the way hole-in-the-walls and I hope you give them a try and enjoy them as much as we have.

Neptune Oyster - Quite possibly my most favorite restaurant EVER. I have been accused of being a California food snob but this little restaurant in the North End might halt my gloating of California's culinary superiority forever (well at least for a few days after a meal here). This small restaurant does not take reservations and has an extensive and impressive oyster bar. The oysters are generally from the East Coast and have great descriptions to help you decide what you would like to try, there is even one that tastes like popcorn! The lobster roll is AMAZING and will haunt my dreams for years to come.

Fuji 1546 - I think this Sushi restaurant was the dining establishment I frequented most often. Located on the South Shore, I have spent many evenings after work at this restaurant. The food is wonderful, one cannot go wrong with any of the choices. My personal favorites are the Avocado Salad, the Spicy Tuna Roll, and the Tempura Udon soup. The restaurant has an oddly hip vibe with karaoke at night, and be sure to look for the TV that is in the bathroom mirror (I swear, it's really there!)The availability of a Scorpion Bowl is just an added plus.

Ten Tables - A European inspired restaurant in Jamaica Plain offers a fantastic wine and food testing menu. A four course meal is $39/person and has different themes featuring wine from various regions. The food is locally grown and produced and the flavors are simple yet sophisticated. The small restaurant has an open kitchen so if you are as enamoured with cooking as I am, you will enjoy watching the chefs as they prepare your amazing meal. A great place for a romantic date night.

El Oriental de Cuba - Cuban food in a restaurant that will make you feel like you are in another country due to the laid back atmosphere. People come here for the Cuban Sandwich but the entrees are authentic (so I'm told) and superb as well. This place is also easy on the wallet.

El Pelon Taqueria - It takes a lot for this California girl to appreciate a burrito outside of the Golden State but this place puts out a respectable burrito. The El Guapo Burritto includes steak and plantains which is a great combo. My personal favorite is the Pescado Burrito. Big chunks of fish with breading perfectly seasoned for the burrito. Watch out for their extreme hot sauce!

Jim's Deli - I can't help it if this little hole in the wall makes me feel right at home with it's crowd of blue collar workers and hung over college students looking for a little greasy cure all. While not vegetarian friendly, this hidden jewel was suggested by my mechanic with the promise that "Everything is good at Jim's". Right he was indeed. The place has no nonsense burgers, wraps, salads, entrees, and breakfast that are simply GOOD. Take your friend and suggest the Fat Boy burger, watch him eat it, and continue to make fun of him the rest of the day.

3 Scoops - It doesn't quite have the buzz of JP Licks or Emack and Bolios but this small unassuming little place makes the best milkshakes/frappes! There is always the same guy working the counter, he's quiet, always reading a book, but very polite and obviously qualified to make an awesome shake. The milkshakes are thick and creamy and they offer really interesting flavors. Personal fave is the Chocolate Peanut Butter.

Shabu Zen - A little hot pot will always warm the heart on a cold day. Or hot day too if you are as addicted as I am. If you're not familiar with hot pot, you order your own meat and it comes with a plate of assorted veggies and noodles. On your table you have a pot of boiling hot broth than is flavored to your liking (either Kim Chee or Tom Yum, spicy or extreme) and you dip your meat and veggies in the broth to cook it, then dip in a dipping sauce and enjoy! It's a great place for groups, beginners get the hang of it pretty early on, and their fruit shakes are also wonderful. Try this place if you're looking for something a little different.

Suvarnabhumi Kiri - Generally I am weary of places that claim to have multiple Asian cuisines (e.g. Thai, Japanese, Korean etc) and even more weary of restaurants with names I cannot pronounce. However, Kiri exceeded all my expectations and is a restaurant with a cozy atmosphere and great Thai, Cambodian, and Japanese fare. This place never disappoints! The Crispy Duck or Chili Duck is delicious. Wash it all down with a Sake Bomb!

These places are great, but what made them so good is the wonderful time I had breaking bread with my friends. Thanks for everything guys, you're the best.

A little bit of Home

Before all the rage about organic and locally grown produce and eating "real' foods, growing up I was privy to all those things. My mom made wonderful meals from fresh ingredients, local produce, and never anything processed or whipped up via microwave. Living 3000 miles away from my parents has really inspired me to continue the family recipes that my Mom and Grandma have mastered and shared with family and friends alike.

One of the first things I wanted to learn how to make when I first moved out to the East Coast was Grandma's Shrimp Wontons. Most Asian cultures have their own version of Wontons or dumplings of some sort, each delicious in their own way. This is the recipe my family uses and it is great for adding to a clear broth for a noodle soup or frying and serving as an appetizer.

* 3/4 lb shrimp (shelled and deveined)
* 1 finely chopped Shallot
* 1 sprig finely chopped Green Onions
* 1 teaspoon sugar
* 1 teaspoon sesame oil
* 2 teaspoons corn starch
* 2 teaspoons fish sauce
* 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
* 1 teaspoon White pepper powder (or finely grated black pepper) or to taste
* 1 package Wonton Wrappers (also known as Gyoza Wrappers)

Chop shrimp either finely or coarsely depending on your preference and mix with all other ingredients in a bowl. Place a spoonful, about 1/2 a tablespoon, into a Won Ton Wrapper. Place Wonton in a frying pan and when it starts to float, it's ready.

Steps to wrapping a shrimp Wonton*
1. After placing the filling in the wrapper, fold wrapper in half into a triangle
2. Take one corner of the triangle and fold towards the top point of the triangle in the front.
3. Take the other corner and do the same thing but on the other side of the Won Ton.

* Note - As many Wontons and dumpling recipes there are, there are just as many different ways to fold it. Each family has a different style, experiment with folding techniques until you find one that works for you.

Enjoy a little bit of the Vietnamese countryside!

Not yo Mama's average Brownie

I consider myself to be more of a cook than a baker and have been dubbed "The Alpha Cook" at home. However, I live with the Beta Eater and he claims to be the Alpha Baker to compliment the Alpha Cook.

While procrastinating on a paper, the Beta Eater found this interesting recipe for brownies which is made by substituting black beans for flour. After flexing his baking muscles, the results were wonderfully fudgy and moist brownies. The flavor was very similar to a traditional brownie. The black beans were un-noticeable and offered only a healthy substitute for those who need or prefer gluten free foods. The brownies have to be kept in the fridge in order to retain their shape.

The recipe can be found in this book Baking with Agave Nectar: Over 100 Recipes Using Nature's Ultimate Sweetener by Ania Catalano.

Black Bean Brownies

4 oz unsweetened chocolate

1 cup unsalted butter

2 cups soft-cooked black beans, drained well (canned is fine)

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

¼ cup (granulated) natural coffee substitute (or instant coffee, for gluten-sensitive)

¼ teaspoon sea salt

4 large eggs

1½ cups light agave nectar (honey is a fantastic substitute)

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

Line an 11- by 18-inch (rimmed) baking pan (or jellyroll pan) with parchment paper and lightly oil with canola oil spray.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a glass bowl in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on high. Stir with a spoon to melt the chocolate completely. Place the beans, 1/2 cup of the walnuts, the vanilla extract, and a couple of spoonfuls of the melted chocolate mixture into the bowl of a food processor. Blend about 2 minutes, or until smooth. The batter should be thick and the beans smooth. Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix together the remaining 1/2 cup walnuts, remaining melted chocolate mixture, coffee substitute, and salt. Mix well and set aside.In a separate bowl, with an electric mixer beat the eggs until light and creamy, about 1 minute. Add the agave nectar and beat well. Set aside.

Add the bean/chocolate mixture to the coffee/chocolate mixture. Stir until blended well. Add the egg mixture, reserving about 1/2 cup. Mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.

Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup egg mixture until light and fluffy. Drizzle over the brownie batter. Use a wooden toothpick to pull the egg mixture through the batter, creating a marbled effect.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the brownies are set. Let cool in the pan completely before cutting into squares. (They will be soft until refrigerated.)

Makes 45 (2-inch) brownies.

Cassava Chips

As a huge chip lover, it was not surprising the other day that I was craving something salty and crunchy. On an expedition to Whole Foods Market, I discovered these chips. I decided to buy them because after reading the nutritional label, they had the least amount of calories per serving and other "bad stuff" of the chips I looked at. Cassava Chips are made from the Cassava Plant. The texture is very similar to that of a potato but has more fiber than a potato.

The Cassava Plant is a woody shrub native to South America. The crop grows in tropical or sub-tropical locations. The edible part of the shrub is the starchy tuberous root which is very high in carbohydrates.

The root can be soft boiled just like a potato and is used in many dishes in the same way as a potato. Cassava root flour is also known as tapioca flour and is used to make the "Boba" or "Pearl" in the Asian Boba/Pearl/Bubble Tea drinks.

The chip had excellent crunch, a light and airy texture, and was a very tasty treat that hit the spot for this chip lover. Ginger on Fire was the flavor I tried and it was awesome and highly addictive!