December 31st 2016: Shopping at the Cambridgeside Galleria, Cambridge

We started out early today,  avoiding the usual crowds at Life Alive, a vegan restaurant in downtown Cambridge,

getting the Dandi-Blend Coffee Substitute (mix of dandelion, chicory root and Beet)

And the Goddess (Ginger Nama Shoyu Sauce nurturing carrots, Beets, broccoli, Kale,  Tofu and sprouted legumes,  Gracing short grain brown rice).

The "coffee" was surprisingly good, having the smoky flavor,  but no bitter aftertaste. The food was really tasty as well because of the sauce.  Which probably explains why this place is so popular.

After spending some time shopping at the Cambridgeside Galleria,

We decided to grab a bite at World of Beer, a new bar restaurant inside the mall,

Getting a Beer Batter Pancake (Served with Maple Bourbon syrup)

And the Florentine Benedict (Sautéed mushrooms and Onions,  Garden tomatoes and wild arugula, on a house Baked Buttermilk biscuit with Poached eggs and velvety Pesto hollandaise sauce. Served with fries).

The Pancake was really good with the slight beer flavor, while the Eggs were pretty tasty with the Pesto flavor as well,  despite the onions. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner fare some time.

Dinner was with family at Pho Le, a Vietnamese restaurant in the Dorchester area of Boston, where I have been to a few times before in the past.

We got the Goi Vit (Duck tossed with Shredded cabbage in ginger and Fish vinaigrette),

The Ca Nuong Da Gion (whole oven roasted Catfish,  topped with Scallion,  Fried shallots and Roasted Peanuts. Served with Vegetable platter,  vermicelli, Rice paper for wrapping and pineapple anchovy sauce),

The Com Hen (Spicy Rice bowl with Baby Clams, Crushed Black Sesame Rice crackers, Shredded lettuce,  Mango, Green apple,  taro stem and Banana Blossom, topped with Whole roasted Peanuts. Served with Clam broth on the side and Mam ruoc sauce to taste)

And the Kem Flan (Caramel custard) for dessert.

The salad was a little disappointing,  although the sauce did help to save the dish,  and the fish was not bad.  The Clam Rice was really flavorful with all its ingredients,  while the Flan was really interesting with a topping of frozen Vietnamese coffee. Overall,  a pretty good meal to celebrate my Grandma's birthday.

December 30th 2016: Breakfast in Stow, Lunch in Saugus

After scraping off the ice from my car after yesterday's snow storm, I set off East,  passing through Stow,

Gravity Rock Gym

Where I stopped at Emma's Cafe, a nice looking Cafe in town serving sandwiches,

 of which I got the "Adult" Grilled Cheese (Cheddar and Brie melted with Bacon, avocado and tomato).

Pretty good sandwich actually, because of the brie, my favourite cheese.

I think I might come back here if I'm ever in the area.

Lunch was in Saugus at Polcari's,  an Italian chain restaurant affiliated with Regina Pizzeria.

We decided to get the Rotisserie Chicken and Dill Havarti Flatbread (Pesto sauce, fresh tomatoes, grilled red onions)

And the Italian Spumoni (Layers of creamy Italian ice cream, cherry and Pistachio. Glazed with claret sauce).

The Pizza was actually pretty tasty,  even with the onion) , although the ice cream was not to my liking because of the cherry sauce. The crust was pretty tasty though. Overall, I might come back for other stuff on the menu. I just hope the service won't be as bad next time though.

December 28th 2016: Northern Rhode Island

A day of exploring northern Rhode Island started out with breakfast in the town of Douglas,

East Douglas United Methodist Church

Post Office

at the Picket Fence, a pretty decent looking diner.

I got the Egg and Cheese with Pastrami Sandwich,

which was pretty good for a hungry guy.

From here, it was on into Burrillville RI,

Our Lady of Good Help Church

Burrillville Seventh Day Adventist Church

Sucker Pond, 31 Broncos Highway

Crystal Lake Golf Club

Nichols Pond, 219 Colwell Road

Tarkiln Pond

where I walked along the Harrisville Pascoag Pedestrian Path on the route shown below in pink from the end of Foster Road

To get to the Duck Pond,

Which wasn't anything much though.

Other places of interest in town were the Shrine of the Little Flower

And Slatersville Reservoir,

Which stretches into North Smithfield RI,

My next destination

Slatersville Mill

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

Trout Brook Pond, 198 Tifft Road

Slatersville Congregational Church

Town Hall, 1 North Main Street

Forestdale Pond, 98 School Street

High Rock Apartments

The Beef Barn

Before a quick lunch at Casa Burrito,

A Mexican takeout place across the state border in Blackstone MA, where I got a Barbacoa (steamed lamb) Quesadilla,

Which was nothing to speak of.

From here, I moved into the town of Woonsocket RI,

Polish National Catholic Church of Our Savior

Woonsocket Depot Square

City Hall, 169 Main Street

St. Anthony's Church

Church of the Acts

Old Grove Street Elementary School

Mount St. Charles Academy

St. Agatha's Church

Armed Forces Park

Fire Department

Sylvestre Pond, 124 Cumberland Hill Road

Cass Park

St. Joseph Catholic Church

St. John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church

Visiting the Rhode Island Museum of Work and Culture.

Not too bad a museum about the rise and fall of mills in Woonsocket.

With that,  a day of exploring northern Rhode Island was at an end. Don't think I will be doing anything tomorrow due to the snow storm.