May 31st 2015: A Day of Fun South of Boston

My friend and I started out today in the town of Canton, visiting a yard sale at the Canton High School before heading for breakfast at the Ruta Raw Juice Bar. Our original intention had been to go to the Amber Road Cafe right next door, But as it had a long waiting line, we changed our minds and we're walking away when we noticed the existence of the nice cafe we ended up going to.

For drinks My friend got the Pick Me Up (Carrot, ginger, apple, lemon), While I got the Raspberry Cream Smoothie (Raspberry, Blackberry, Mango, Yogurt).

My drink was pretty good, though a little on the sour side.

For food, my friend got the Nutella Banana Crepe

While I got the Lobster Roll (bacon, Arugula).

Pretty delicious stuff. Not sure why the negative reviews on Yelp. Although one of the waitresses was Pretty grumpy.

After our brunch, We wanted to walk around town for a bit, but as it started to rain, we decided to head into Norwood, where we were to have our Jewelry making class with Luke Adams Glass Blowing Studio.

I have been here a few times in the past for glass blowing sessions, but this was the first time I was making jewellery here, although I have done this kind of jewellery making before in Needham.

When we finally got started with the class, I decided to make earrings, while my friend decided to go with a Pendant. 

We were provided with several boxes of different coloured glass,

and the tools provided were similar to the ones I used in Needham.

Eventually, we got our pieces ready for the kiln, although the finished pieces can only be picked up a week later.

This is in stark contrast with what I did in Needham, where the pieces were done a few hours after we sent them into the kiln. Still, it was interesting to learn how to differentiate between the metal coated side of a piece of coated glass, by pressing the tip of a pen against the glass. If the reflection touches the pen, that is the coated side of the glass.

Leaving the place, we were on our way to the Franklin Park Zoo when we happened to pass by Legacy Place in Dedham and decided to go there instead, a blessing in disguise as it was to start raining for the rest of the day soon after.

We decided to get some food from Genki, a Japanese restaurant with branches in Brookline and Boston as well.

We settled for appetisers, getting the Coconut Punch drink,

The Naruto (Shrimp, crab stick, avocado, Flying fish roe rolled in cucumber with spicy mayo on top),

The Salmon Mushroom Soup (salmon, mushrooms and Broccoli served in Salmon broth)

And the Grilled Salmon Salad (Grilled Salmon, flying fish roe, crab stick, Spicy mayo and Scallions served with special sauce).

Everything was really good, especially the soup which was a joy to drink, and the sauce for the Salad, along with the vinegary sweet flavour of the cucumber Roll.

I even got a sip of the drink, which tastes very much like Yakult back home.

After lunch, we got some chocolates to bring home from Chocolate Therapy, the Framingham branch of which I have been to in the past, and then went for a bowling session at Kings, where I lost to my friend, even though I was using my own ball. I blame the lack of positioning doors on the lanes for that, although my friend would think otherwise.

Finally, we went to watch the romantic comedy "Aloha" at the Showcase Cinemas De Lux Legacy Place next door. I did not think that it was that good a movie though.

As we headed for home, we happened to pass by a Fried Chicken Place in the Jamaica Plain area of Boston, my friend had a sudden craving for buttermilk chicken, so we resolved to go have some. Unfortunately, every place we tried to go to was closed tonight, and when we finally found parking on Washington Street in the South End area, we decided to walk to Boston Chops nearby, but along the way, as it was raining, cold and windy, we dodged into The Gallows instead, pretty much by accident as my friend had thought we had already reached our destination. It's a good thing we did though, as this pretty chic place 

actually serves Nashville Style Fried Chicken (cayenne brown sugar glaze, wonder bread, pickles), which we absolutely had to get, of course.

Really Crispy and delectable, though really Spicy as well.

Other things we got were the Out of Control Poutine (Hand cut fries, fresh cheese, gravy with Brussels sprouts and Bacon)

And the Pulled Pork Corn Muffin ( jalapeño Pepper Jelly, avocado, pickled red onion).

Both were excellent as well, especially the Corn muffin with jalapeño flavour, although we could not finish the huge portion of fries given.

Overall, I'm really glad that we stumbled onto this place, and that we had a really fun day.

May 30th 2015: Learning to Arrange Flowers in Boston

I started out this morning with breakfast at Dempsey's Breakfast and Lunch, a typical diner in the town of Everett.

I got a Hot Chocolate as always,

And the Irish Benny (Two Poached eggs on an English Muffin, over Corned Beef Hash, dressed with Hollandaise sauce, served with home fries).

A decent start to this morning I guess.

After breakfast, I headed into Boston, and as I was pretty early, I had the time to go find a free parking spot. After that, I headed to Wired Puppy, a small Underground cafe on Newbury Street

to kill time before my flower arrangement class, getting a Caffe Freddo and a Carrot Raisin Bran mini muffin.

Just okay in my opinion.

The school itself is located in a typical Back Bay area apartment house, complete with chandeliers and the like.

When the class finally started, I was one of only 2 guys in the class. Go figure.

They showed us the basics of water based flower arrangement, which involves first making a network for which to stick flowers in without slipping in the vase using leather ferns.

The design started out with putting roses in a triangle fashion,

then alternating them with carnations.

Next came the hydrangea bunch in the center.

The Peruvian lilies were next, cutting off the side flowers and sticking them in the center and sides.

I also peppered my design with lavender pink daisies and mini carnations,

giving my final design, which my friend liked when I brought it home for her.

We went to a dimsum lunch at this point in Woburn at New China Pearl,a pretty big restaurant decorated like a Chinese mansion, even from the outside.

The dimsum is brought to us on push carts,

and in general I have to say the quality of the dimsum seems much better than those in Chinatown, though a little oily at times. Definitely much better in all aspects to say the least. My new favorite dimsum place, away from the crowds in Chinatown.

May 29th 2015: Lunch at Sweet Mother's Restaurant, Worcester

While at work today, I decided to get some African food from Sweet Mother's Kitchen at 610 Lincoln Street in Worcester. This place has already changed hands several times, the last incarnation being Southern Style BBQ which I visited before.

Nothing has changed in terms of decor, and the menu is practically non existent as well. With recommendations from the owner, I got Rice and Beans, Beef Stew and a side of a spicy shrimp paste of some sort.

Pretty tasty, but the portion was way too big for me to finish everything. More leftovers I guess.

May 28th 2015: Dinner at Waxy O'Connor's, Foxborough

Today after work, I decided to head to Foxborough for dinner at Waxy O'Connor's, an Irish Bar restaurant which was surprisingly nicely decorated.

For food, I decided to just get Appetizers, getting the Corned Beef and Cabbage Rolls (Corned Beef, cabbage, Jack cheese, potato in Crispy Wonton, with Sweet chilli sauce for dipping)

And the Craic Balls (Cajun dusted mashed potato croquettes with Irish bacon, cheddar, Scallions with sour cream and Guinness mustard for dipping).

Not bad, but pretty much typical bar food.

From here, I headed to Cupcake Charlie's at Patriot Place  in town for some dessert.

I decided to get a box of 4 cupcakes, getting the Chocolate Raspberry Surprise (chocolate cake filled with a chocolate raspberry ganache filling and topped with a raspberry buttercream frosting, nonparells and chocolate flutes), the Orange Dreamsicle (Orange Zest Cake with a cream filling, topped with an orange buttercream frosting and an orange fruit slice), the Chocolate Mint Madness (rich chocolate cake filled with mint buttercream frosting, topped with a dark chocolate frosting and chocolate mint candy) and the Butterfinger Blast.

Not bad, no wonder they are doing so well with other branches elsewhere.

May 27th 2015: Dinner with a Friend at Morton's the Steakhouse, Boston

Today after work, I had dinner with a friend at Morton's the Steakhouse, located in the Seaport area of Boston.

This place is definitely fancier than Fleming's, which we were at last week.

For food, we got the Filet Mignon Trio (Sauce Au Poivre, Béarnaise and Blue Cheese Butter), which is typically only served at the bar,

the Braised Beef Short Rib and Jumbo Sea Scallop "Surf and Turf"

and the Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Cocktail.

The filet was not bad, although the blue cheese was a bit strong as can be expected. The short rib was excellent, being very tender, and the tendon was extremely soft as well, the scallops being cooked just right. Unfortunately, the  crab cocktail was not worth the price we paid for it, being just crabmeat and lettuce.

The Souffle for 2 (Grand Marnier) we got for dessert was a little underwhelming as well, although it came well inflated.

Overall though, a pretty good meal. Just don't get the crab cocktail next time.

May 26th 2015: Dinner at 3 Squares, Needham

Today after work, I decided to head to the town of Needham for dinner at 3 Squares, a pretty nicely decorated restaurant with a slight casual feel.

They had interesting glasses as well, shaped like a beer can without its top.

For food, as there wasn't really anything really interesting on the menu, I went with the Slow Braised Beef Short Rib (red wine demi glacé served with mashed potatoes and Roasted Brussel Sprouts) for my entrée

And the Crispy Fluffernutter Brownie Square (Brownie smothered in Chocolate and Peanut butter crisps, laud with Marshmallow fluff) for dessert.

The meat was really good, falling apart with the slight touch of my knife.

The dessert was sinfully delicious as well.

After dinner, I went to get some pizza takeout for tomorrow's lunch from Islington Pizza in Westwood, getting the Thai Chicken Pizza (Fresh chicken, thai peanut sauce, pineapple, fresh mozzarella cheese blend).

I shouldn't have bothered really. Pretty awful.