November 30th 2018: Making Chocolate Chip Cookies at Sur La Table, Natick

We had a cooking class today at Sur La Table in the Natick Mall to learn how to make chocolate chip cookies, but before that, we decided to grab food at Sbarro and Melt Gelato and Crepe Cafe, getting the Sausage, Pepperoni and Bacon Stromboli

and the Shrimp and Avocado Crepe (avocado, shrimp, onion, tomato, cheese) respectively.

The stromboli was not too bad for what it was, while the crepe was a little on the bland side, made worse by the onions present, and even took longer than the former to come.

With that, it was on to the class, which was held in a pretty modern kitchen.

We got free samples of cheese which is so hard to find,

then it was time for class to start, with the cooking ingredients set out in front of us.

After mixing everything together,

we put the cookie dough on a tray in little balls using an ice cream scoop.

After being in the oven for a bit, they came out just perfect.

Sadly, they were rock hard by the next day though.

November 29th 2018: Visiting the Bolton Historical Society, Bolton

Today, after  passing through Boylston,

Old Apostolic Lutheran Church,
84 Main Street

I decided to get takeout from Brother's Pizza at 165 High Street in Clinton, getting the Regular Stromboli (ham, cheese, pepperoni w/ sauce).

Pretty tasty meal before I headed to Bolton to visit the Bolton Historical Society. An alright place I guess.

Recommended Places to Visit: Ashburnham

Recreation

Water Bodies

Lake Winnekeag
Ashby Road between Stowell Road and Holt Road

Ward Pond
Rindge Turnpike near Ashby Road

Factory Village Pond
131 Fitchburg Road

Upper Naukeag Lake
150 Lake Road

Lower Naukeag Lake
116 Sherbert Road

Sunset Lake
10 Sunset Drive

Stodge Meadow Pond
20 Stodge Meadow Road

Wallace Pond
180 Rindge State Road

Museums
The Frederick Historic Piano Collection
30 Main Street


Hiking
Tried:
Whitney Pond
99 Gardner Road

Recommended:
Mount Hunger
Holt Road near Ashby Road

Mount Watatic
Rindge State Road and Old Pierce Road

Lincoln Pond
247 Hastings Road

Architecture

Monuments

Town Common
~32 Main Street

Cannon
40 Hastings Road

Places of Worship
Ashburnham Community Church
84 Main Street

St. Anne's Church
162 Center Street

People's Church
56 South Main Street

Apostolic Lutheran Church
315 Winchendon Road

Schools

Cushing Academy
39 School Street

Town Facilities
Stevens Memorial Library
20 Memorial Drive

Town Hall
32 Main Street

November 28th 2018: Visiting the Gardner Museum, Gardner

I headed into Gardner today, getting a Chimichanga

From Taco Rey Coliman, a Latin American restaurant in town.

Surprisingly crispy and flavorful, for a somewhat hole in the wall place.

From here, I still had some time before the Gardner Museum opened, so I decided to head to Ashburnham to go in search of Whitney Pond, where the path I took from 99 Gardner Road on the supposed Ashburnham Rail Trail is shown below in black.

The pond itself was not bad, but the path is not even developed, and I had to thrash a little, but the snow cover helped I guess.

From here, I headed back to the Gardner Museum, where they were having the Festival of Trees. I unfortunately did not have cash on me, but the kind lady let me through anyway.

Not bad for a short amount of time between work.

November 26th 2018: Pizza from Go Grande Pizza, Worcester

Today for lunch, I decided to get pizza from Go Grande Pizza in Worcester,

getting the Chicken Cordon Blue (creamy white sauce, mozzarella, ham and grilled chicken).

Bland, though creamy. Not something I would go back for.

November 25th 2018: Second Time at Blue Dalia, Natick

While at the Natick Mall today,

we decided to have dinner at the Blue Dalia Restaurant and Tequila Bar, which I visited once a few months ago.

This time, we got the TACO DE COSTILLA (beef short-rib, lettuce, salsa roja, white onion, Mexican crema, and cilantro),

the PESCADO YUCATÁN (achiote-marinated halibut, rice studded with peas &
carrots, black bean velvet sauce, tomato-habanero emulsion, plantains and pickled red onion)

and the ICE CREAM & SORBET SAMPLING (MEXICAN VANILLA
(vanilla with citrus notes), PIÑA (pineapple), Mexican Guava (exotic red guava)).

The taco and the fish were simply excellent, especially the mole sauce. Unfortunately, the dessert was really a letdown, with all the flavors tasting a little weird, the pineapple with mint flavor, the vanilla with notes of rose, and the guava just tasting fake. Overall though, the food is still coming back for anyway,

November 24th 2018: Takeout from Domino's, Shrewsbury

Today for lunch, we got takeout from the Domino's in Shrewsbury, getting the BBQ Wings (Marinated and oven-baked and then smothered in BBQ Sauce. With Sweet Mango Habanero and Kicker Hot Sauce)

and the Honolulu Hawaiian Pizza (Sliced ham, smoked bacon, pineapple, roasted red peppers, provolone and cheese made with 100% real mozzarella).

The pizza was not bad, but the wings were soggy. Not getting them again.

November 23rd 2018: Dinner at Thai Tamarind, Westborough

We decided to have dinner at Thai Tamarind, a new Thai restaurant in Westborough.

We got the Kao Soi (Steam yellow noodles, then boiled with broccoli, carrots, cabbage, snow peas, onions, lemon grass, lemon leaves and lime juice in a coconut curry sauce, then topped with crispy noodles)

and the Beef Steamed Noodles (Steamed rice noodle cooked with beef frank and meat balls mixed in roasted garlic, seasoning, ground peanut, and chili. Served with beansprout, scallion and cilantro).

Pretty tasty meal, although the Kao Soi was a little on the tangy side. Definitely more authentic than Thai Place too.

Recommended Places to Visit: Groton

Recreation

Parks

Carole Wheeler Memorial Park
Groton Road and Townsend Road

General Field
400 Farmers Row

Museums
Historical Society
172 Main Street


Canoeing/Kayaking
Nashoba Paddler
398 West Main Street


Beaches
Sargisson Beach
150 Whiley Road


Water Bodies
Lost Lake
Lost Lake Drive near Redskin Trail

Knops Pond
End of Island Road

Baddacook Pond
810 Martins Pond Road

Wattles Pond
Paquawket Path and Longley Road

Hiking
Recommended:
Bates Conservation Land
Old Ayer Road near Peabody Road

Duck Pond
Lost Lake Drive between Pine Trail and Groton Road

Skinner Forest: Whitney Pond
Lost Lake Drive between Pine Trail and Groton Road

Groton Place Wildlife Sanctuary
387 West Main Street

Groton School Pond
74 Smith Street

Groton Town Forest
End of Town Forest Road

Bertozzi Wildlife Management Area
731 Townsend Road

Talsey Conservation Restriction
Riverbend Drive, 42.610788, -71.596948

Blackman Field and Woods
End of Indian Hill Road

Tried:

Mason Back 100
447 Old Dunstable Road

Gamlin Picnic Site
Fitch's Bridge Road, 42.624604, -71.600421

Shepley Hill

Sand Hill Road, 42.632495, -71.575791

Rocky Hill
Robin Hill Road

Architecture

Monuments
American Legion Post #55
75 Hollis Street


Places of Worship

St. James Church
13 St. James Avenue

Christian Union Church
37 West Main Street

First Parish of Groton
1 Powder House Road

Union Congregational Church
218 Main Street

First Baptist Church
365 Main Street

New England Shirdi Sai Temple
99 Shirdi Way


Bridges
Fitch's Bridge
End of Fitch Bridge Road

Schools
Groton School
282 Farmers Row

Lawrence Academy
26 Powder House Road

Groton Dunstable Regional High School
703 Chicopee Row

Boutwell Early Childhood Center
78 Hollis Street

Town Facilities
Public Library
99 Main Street

Town Hall
173 Main Street


Historical Buildings
Bancroft Castle
Lowell Road near Shattuck Street

Kalliroscope Gallery
264 Main Street

Old Building
11 West Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western
The Tavern (closed)
94 Lover's Lane
Recommended Dishes:
Cheese Fries
Beer Battered Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Marmalade

Groton Publick House

94 Lover's Lane
Recommended Dishes:
Crispy Chicken Tenders

House Smoked and Pulled Pork Sandwich

Classic Chopped Cobb Salad

November 21st 2018: Visiting the Groton Historical Society

I headed into the town of Groton today

New England Shirdi Sai Temple

To check out the Groton Historical Society, which has a decent set of exhibits.

For lunch, I stopped by Dickie's Grillin', a decent looking restaurant in Fitchburg, although the menu is somewhat simplistic.

I got the Rodeo Burger (blackened grilled burger glazed with BBQ sauce, topped with onion rings, bacon and cheddar cheese).

Not bad for a quick meal. The menu is a bit of a letdown though.