CELTS v Smogsville

 

Even though the Celtics De – wait for it – ….STROYED the Lakers on Tuesday, Boston fans are still beaming from the win.  The Rolling Rally is creeping through the streets of Boston as we speak and Doc Rivers is certainly tearing up at every father/son duo he sees.

If you are like me, a total bandwagon fan, then you have spent the last few weeks nodding and grinning as people talk to you like you have any clue about the NBA. Gasol, Rondo, Powe, I had no idea what name went with what team. I have never cared about professional basketball, except knowing that I love Larry Bird, so it has been a shock to myself at my EXTREME excitement during the Celtics v. Lakers series. 

I just moved a year ago from Los Angeles (aka the Worst city in America) to Boston (the GREATEST city in America)!! Yay! The rivalry of these two cities being played out on the court of the NBA finals was an outlet for me to finally cheer, out loud, a true competition of coasts, one has been dueling in my head for the last 6 years.  I was for sure the first to hit the streets to buy my Green BEAT LA! Shirt. For a short while people didn’t stare at me like I am mentally challenged when I chanted - BEAT LA. BEAT LA, on every T car. I put a Celtics flags on my car antenna. I taunted my friends in LA endlessly and even (at some points) had them leaning towards the light…the GREEN light that is. This fervor of Celtics pride seems as if it has come out of no where, but that is not true. This insane spirit is just a way I can finally wear my Boston pride on my sleeve and walking around with a sense that I (we) really stuck it to LA. As a citizen of Boston I can’t help but feel that we should get more recognition for having two world championship teams.  Like personal recognition. Maybe Los Angeles city officals could personally call everyone in Boston just to say…”You are the best??” Just an idea.

For me, I will never forget watching the Celtics obliterate the Lakers, and for that I want to thank Peanut.

 

Starbucks – Great Idea!!

Today I strolled over to Starbucks to get some tea to enjoy during my morning walk (I drink the green ginger tazo tea. It’s the best). As I reached for a stirrer to distribute my 4 packs of Equal, I saw a curious cup with writing on it. It looked like a tip cup but with a lid and a straw. The cryptic message scribbled on the cup read “Look what I can do…No more spills.” After the third re-read and my eyes darting back and forth from the cup to the tiny pile of green sperm like sticks, I finally put two and two together.

Starbucks has actually taken action! They actually developed and produced a small plastic stopper to avoid the horrible burping spillage that comes while walking/driving with a piping hot coffee or latte. I took a second to think about this. While, I appreciate the effort and the recognition of the fact that it is SOOO annoying to pay $3.50 for a latte and then 30 seconds later have it explode all over your hand and sleeve, I find it counter productive towards our cultures “global green-planet” goal. How much damage to the earth are these sticks causing just so we can grab our skinny latte, jump back in my car and bob and weave through traffic without our Starbucks cup spewing all over our spring brights? (effort to be politically correct).

The REALTY to the issue is about laziness and the risk aversion theory. Puzzled? Continue…While using this spill stick this morning I found it very annoying to hold the cup with my right hand  lift my left arm to hold this small stick up to snag a sip of tea.  Like all normal Americans,  I like to drink my coffee while trying to accomplish several other taskes. Which is why it is so annoying to get spilled on because it not only stains but takes attention away from my multi-tasking and forces me to just do clean-up.  So I face a quandry…

According to risk aversion theory – when i use the spill stick it is certain that I won’t get burned but also certain I must engage my left arm in activity.  My risk-averse side says take the stick – a garuntee to be spill free and I must ignore my lazy arm. But, my risk-seeking (lazy arm) side says take the chance!!!!! Yes, I might get splashed and burned and YES that makes me very angry but there is STILL a chance that I won’t get burned AND I won’t have to engage my left arm in stick holding. 

Like any good econimist or financial consultant would tell you being risk averse, gets you a savings account and a good credit score. Good thing I am a true stock market thrill seeker, and say bring it on RISK!! And while my anger boils as hot as that burbling coffee, I say NO to Starbucks small sperm stick. I take the RISK because  I want to save the environment! Because my left arm has more important things to do. Like applying my mascara and holding the steering wheel.

 

Check out all the Starbucks gossip on this blog!!

http://starbucksgossip.typepad.com/_/2008/04/starbucks-quiet.html

 

H2Oh NO

Scandals in the water industry are causing a huge stir. Poland Spring, Dasani, Nalgene: these are the real corporate monsters this country should be taking action against. Talk about terrorism! Purified plastic water companies are the REAL terrorists. Water in this country is going to kill us all…slowly and very indirectly BUT WATCH OUT.

How often does someone jump on their high horse to spew the gospel of pure drinking water. This cowboy is a Brita water filter freak who even has a purifier on their canteen and doesn’t miss a day of getting their full 8 servings of 8oz of pure water. Wagging a finger at the tap they scoff, saying “you might as well be drinking from my horses trough” (smirk).

Each tier of waters snobs is worse than the next. There are the simple 8 servings people, no big deal. Next are the water bottle people, they have millions of empty Poland spring bottles all over their desk, backseat and recycle bin, again, still advertising their hydration but not throwing it in my face. The next tier are the water jug carrying people, I can not even comment on how ridiculous this is. Lastly the Nalgene people. This crowd is top tier, grade A, water snobs. They not only tote their Nalgenes to accrue their required water allotment, they also are “saving the environment” by reusing a hard plastic bottle. They feel superior for having such an item that shows off their ability to not only continuously hydrate but also maintain ownership of one single bottle that has traveled every step of their overly hydrated adventures. The Nalgene has collected stickers and scratches maybe even a carabiner, this indestructible companion is their lifeline…. or so they thought.

This expose by the TODAY show has just flip the water industry upside town. NO water drinker is safe!

At the conclusion of this video, all we know is that WE DON’T KNOW ANYTHING! NO water vehicle is safe. Even if you are putting your water in a glass it probably came from water that has been in plastic. The effects could be deadly, or insignificant, we don’t know for sure. That is why I only drink diet coke.

 

Casa Romero = me gusta mucho!

True story: in an alley off Gloucester Street between Newbury and Comm Ave, lies a little gem that you may not be aware of. I wandered down there recently to experience Casa Romero, a delightful Mexican restaurant that is carefully carved into the side wall of Le Espalier. The whole experience of trying to find this place leads you up to a massive door that’s recessed about two feet into the brick building and gives you the feeling that some Oz munchkin is going to interrogate you and ultimately deny you entry. You and that magical color changing horse will be eating scraps out of a trough by the kitchen.

But enter you shall. The restaurant is basement, or in Back Bay terms “garden,” level, and gives you the distinct impression that you’ve stumbled through customs into another country. There is not a stuffed cactus or string of chili-shaped Christmas lights to be had. Nor will you be ordering a pizza-sized-cheddar-stuffed-”quesadilla.”

The food is authentic mexican food, simple and delicious.

We recommend:

• Chips and Salsa (I know, duh, but it’s an entirely different world from that El Paso-and-Tostitos-mess you used to devour in college)
• Enchiladas Verdes (chicken enchiladas drenched in tomatillo sauce, cheese and garnished with sour cream..yum!)
• Wash it all down with a carafe of their insanely good Sangria
• Bonus: they offer an early bird special where you get a 3-course fixed price menu for $21, as long as you order by 6 and are out by 7pm.

Ole!

Casa Romero, 30 Gloucester Street, Back Bay

 

Sibling Rivalry

Sibling Rivalry.

Oops Shiloh makes reservation at Sibling Rivalry in Boston without realizing Restaurant Week is still going on in Boston. Phew! with my family in tow I was glad that the prix fixe menu did not disappoint!! I love this place, and so did Brad and Angelina (my parents). The food was fantastic, but even better were the memories of the real sibling rivalry of 1994-98 between WestCoastApple and myself. Ahh, those were the days!

WestCoastApple was smart and well read. She had some tricks up her sleeve but mostly wanted nothing to do with me. Her lack of interest resulted in lack of motivation to produce true sibling suffering. As a younger sister, I had the luxury of time and passion to be at max annoyance 100% of the time.

If you are in the business of being annoying, please take notes:

A taboo buzzer can be a very handy tool. First think of how annoying this device is during an actual game of Taboo. NOW use your imagination to think of yourself locked in your room trying to use the new cordless phone to talk to your nerdfriends. What could be worse that a younger sibling laying at your door with the taboo buzzer in one hand and spare batteries in the other. Nice, right!!!? Point: Shiloh

Car rides. Prime annoyance time. WestCoastApple LOVES to read. That child read books like she was going to end the Gulf War. During long trips to various points on the US map was my chance to break her concentration and sanity in the backseat. The details are foggy but I remember really being able to rile her up.

Lesson three. Eat food off her plate. This still works like a charm. As WCA sits down to a family meal, I am sure snatch my fork and scoop up some noodles or veggies off her plate before she is finished pulling in her chair. This one is sure fire to spur a sibling rivalry and still puts a look in her eye that sends me into hysterics.

As for our diner at Sibling Rivalry tonight there was more sharing than stealth scooping. All the dinners had a nice presentation and fantastic flavor. We recommend this South End hot spot!!

• 525 Tremont Street, Boston, MA

 

douzo = dream!

 

Have you guys been to Douzo? Please say yes.

I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to post about our fave sushi restaurant! Douzo is the BEST sushi in Boston. It’s our absolute favorite and we would go everyday if we could.

Douzo means “Come in,” in Japanese, and if you’re anything like us, you will obey their command. The decor is very clean and open, it’s much more upscale than most of the sushi restaurants we’ve found in Boston. (Read: there are no little pools with golden retriever sized fish staring up at you.)

There is plenty of seating in the dining room, but the full menu is also available at the bar, in the bar dining area, and at the sushi bar itself, where you can watch the chefs make your dinner live!

The food is a fun and funky mix of sushi and rolls, Douzo’s special rolls, and other Japanese fare, like noodle soups and tempura and teriyaki meats and vegetables.

Our favorite roll?

The Phoenix Roll: A crab roll, wrapped in seared salmon and topped with a delicious spicy mayo sauce. yummy!

We highly recommend.

Douzo, 131 Dartmouth Street, Boston MA

 

All Aboard!

Here’s a little heartshaped nugget from down in the financial district.

Decorated in the classically utilitarian French Bistro style (think Gaslight), Kingston Station is reminiscent of a Parisian railway station, offering the Suits downtown a post-work oasis – Gallic style.

I stopped there recently for an apres-work drink and will definitely be buying a return ticket.

Highlights include:

• Wine by the glass, 1/2 carafe, carafe and bottle. (our waiter recommended the Shiraz, and it was out of this world. A little pricey though – $12 a glass and $44 for a carafe! Yikes! Merci, but no merci to that second glass.)
• Happy Hour Special. 1/2 off all appetizers Mon – Wed from 5pm-7pm in the bar and cafe. Also, they offer Late Night food 11 – 1am Wed – Sat at the bar.
• The Truffle Fries. Oh. My. God. You will never want to eat anything else again. Thick cut french fries, drizzled with truffle oil and gruyere cheese. Heaven? Mais oui!

Bottom Line: It’s definitely worth a trip. If you want a great happy hour, this is your ticket. Insert more railroad jokes here.

 

Restaurant Weak?

Well, it’s the end of another Restaurant Week here in Boston, and I have to say, I have been disappointed. I used to think the best way to approach this type of thing would be to hit the priciest joint in town and snag a $33.00 dinner. In reality, this means you will go to a steak place, and they will serve you a mediocre piece of chicken. Because steak is expensive, and idiots restaurateurs are not.

In an effort to combat this experience, four of us (myself and three stunning ladies: Coco, Rowen and Grier) decided to take a chance and try something new. So we went to Rialto in The Charles Hotel in Cambridge. And we enjoyed!

Ambiance: The decor was very clean and bright. It’s a white table cloth and Gerber daisy type of place. Our waitress was adorable and had red hair.

Food: We would rate the meal, overall, a 7 out of 10.

• bread: excellent whole wheat rolls. delicious, served with olive oil and sea salt.
• appetizers: incredible. I had the gnocchi with bolognese, and it was the perfect size. The truffle risotto was also to die for. the apps were definitely the best part of the meal.
• main course: a little disappointing. our adorable waitress highly recommended the pork which both Coco and Rowan got, and it was good, but nothing spectacular. I had accidentally ordered it as well so I was euphoric when I instead was served the balsamic roast chicken, which was quite tasty. The most interesting dish was Grier’s eggplant rolls, filled with angel hair marinara. Yummy!
• dessert: very good. Coco and I took the $4 upgrade to receive the “chocolate crema” (read: lava cake). very delish!
• wine: the restaurant offered featured bottles of red and white wine. We went with the red, and we were not disappointed. their regular wine list was extremely varied and pricey, so if you’re a oenophile, hit it up!

And just when we thought we were finished, another bottle of delicious red wine was delivered to our table. Rowen’s fabulous and thoughtful gentleman friend had called the restaurant and ordered a bottle for us! Swoon!

Overall:Rialto is a really nice dining experience and we would definitely go again. Bonus: now we actually know where Henrietta’s Table is. It looked a little Cafeteria/Hotel gift shop, but we will definitely be sampling brunch there in the near future.

Restaurant Week Best: Da Vinci (short rib ravioli, yum yum) and Rialto.

Restaurant Weak Worst: Boston Public Meat and Excelsior.

 

brunch fiesta!

Brunch at Masa was pretty darn tasty, and the price tag was even better.

We recommend the Fiesta Brunch (prix fixe, $7.95) you receive:

• coffee
• a starter (like fruit salad, or granola)
• and an entree.

I had fruit salad followed by the scrambled eggs.

They were pretty good.

Their remastered eggs benedict with avocados and cheese was way better.

Next time, I’m getting that.

Also, for the non-fiesta brunchers, there was an amazing breakfast burrito. The homefries are in the burrito! dream!

Then we stopped at Flour for a cupcake.

I love Saturdays.

 

happy saturday!

Well, it’s Saturday and the weather is shitastic!

 

We recommend brunch and a movie today.

We are going to brunch at Masa. Our friends have convinced us it is cheap and delicious. We remember it being mediocre margaritas and food with weird Tabasco-type sauces. But we are known for being very good at giving second chances!

Okay, not really, but right now we’re so hungover we’ll settle for a pile of average guacamole and some stale corn chips.