December 31st 2019: Wegman's Market Cafe, Northborough

Today for lunch, we decided to get it from Wegman's Market Cafe in Northborough,

getting the New England Clam Chowder (clam meat with potatoes, cream, leeks, pork, onion, celery, flour, garlic and seasonings in a clam broth),

the Cold Roasted Cauliflower (roasted with basting oil, salt and pepper, garnished with parsley), Roasted Red Potatoes (red potatoes roasted with garlic powder, salt, pepper, rosemary and paprika), Seasoned Green Beans (green beans tossed in soybean oil and seasoned with salt and pepper), Cold Butternut Squash with baby spinach and craisins (red onion, basting oil, salt and pepper), Cold Roasted Brussels Sprouts (roasted with basting oil, salt and pepper),

the Garlic Parmesan Wings, Garlic Parmesan Tilapia with Lemon Butter Sauce and Organic 3 Grain Ginger Salad (organic farro, barley, quinoa, edamame, red and yellow pepper, carrot, ginger and chia seeds mixed with organic oil and vinegar).

The soup was not bad, although everything else was just so-so. Cheap though.

December 29th 2019: Bootleg Special and Taiyaki NYC, Boston

For brunch this morning, we decided to have brunch at Bootleg Special, a bar restaurant in Boston. Pretty nondescript from the outside, but really nice on the inside.

For food, we decided to get the Strawberries and Cream Souffle Pancakes (airy and fluffy)

and the Bootleg Benedict (melange of lobster, crab and crawfish mixed in spicy bootleg sauce).

The pancakes were extremely fluffy and tasty, especially with the syrups provided. The sauce for the benedict tasted just like it would with Chili Crab, just not spicy. Excellent meal, to say the least. Will come back to try their dinner fare someday.

Later in the afternoon, while in the now very developed Seaport area of Boston,

One Seaport

Mythology: Being 2

Diversity: Wild

Harbor Way Ship Sculpture,
121 Seaport Boulevard

Diversity: Domestic

Gather

121 Seaport, 121 Seaport Boulevard

Natural Balance: Coexistence

The Scorpion Bar

Creation: Water

Mythology: Being 1

Snowport

Creation: Light

Martin's Park

we decided to check out Taiyaki NYC, a Japanese ice cream shop with many branches nearby. My other half got the Taiyaki Cone with Custard Filling with Matcha (Green Tea) and Hojicha (roasted matcha) ice cream with Graham crumbs and coconut flakes,

                             
Pretty good, especially because of the unique cone.

December 28th 2019: Cheesecake Factory, Peabody

Today for lunch, we decided to check out the Cheesecake Factory location at Northshore Mall in Peabody. Nice decor as always.

For food, we got the FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLES BENEDICT (Belgian Waffle Topped with Crispy Fried Chicken Strips, Poached Eggs and Hollandaise. Served with Maple-Butter Syrup.),

the SKINNYLICIOUS® FACTORY CHOPPED SALAD (A Delicious Blend of Julienne Romaine, Grilled Chicken, Tomato, Avocado, Corn, Bacon. Blue Cheese and Apple with Our Vinaigrette)

and the CELEBRATION CHEESECAKE (Layers of Vanilla Cake, Cheesecake, Strawberry, Chocolate and Vanilla Mousse with Cream Cheese Frosting.) for dessert.

The waffle and eggs were pretty good, unfortunately the chicken was bland. The salad was not bad, but the dessert was way too sweet for our liking. Not one of our better meals at Cheesecake Factory.

December 26th 2019: Boynton Restaurant and Spirits, Worcester

Today for lunch, we decided to have it at Boynton Restaurant and Spirits, a college area bar restaurant in Worcester. Really busy for the lunchtime crowd.

For food, we got the Shanghai Salad (Mixed greens, Asian slaw, roasted red peppers, chow mein noodles, snap peas, sesame seeds, scallions with a sesame vinaigrette),

the Smoke House Boynton Big Burger (1/2 lb. premium quality sirloin and served with lettuce, tomato, French fried potato wedges and homemade onion rings, Topped with Canadian bacon, BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese and red onion)

and the Cherry Pepper Calamari (Our famous marinated calamari breaded and fried to a crispy golden brown and tossed in spicy cherry pepper sauce, or traditional style straight up with marinara).

The salad was just alright with its sauce, but the burger and calamari were actually pretty good, especially with the cherry pepper sauce. Can see why it is so popular.

December 25th 2019: Spicy World, Boston

Today, we decided to have an early dinner at Spicy World in the Chinatown area of Boston. Small place, but thankfully we managed to get a table before it became full.

For food, we got the Red Bean Pancake (with Taro)

and the Skewer Pot (Boc Choi, Squid, Beef Tripe, Lamb, Fillet Fish, shrimp, Beef aorta),

For which we could choose the kinds of skewers we wanted to have in the pot.

The pancake was crispy, but had very little filling in it. The sauce for the skewers was delicious as well, but there was very little meat on the skewers, and the shrimp was not fresh as well. Definitely not coming back, even though they have another location in Malden. 

For dessert, we decided to get some egg tarts from Corner Cafe Bakery nearby, which we had been to before in the past. 

Good as always from this place.

December 24th 2019: Isshindo Ramen, Boston

Today for lunch, we decided to check out the new ramen place that has replaced Pikaichi in the Allston area of Boston, which in turn has moved to Medford, namely Isshindo Ramen. Decor seems pretty much the same from what I recall from the last time I was in this restaurant when it was still Pikaichi.

We got the Spicy Tonkotsu Gyokai Ramen (pork and dashi (fish) broth served with scallions, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, naruto wakame and pork char siu)

and the Chicken Paitan Ramen (savory, 6 hours chicken broth with onions, bamboo shoots, woodear mushrooms, fried chicken and soy egg).

Excellent flavor for both dishes, and the crispy chicken in the ramen, pretty good concept too. Equal or not better replacement for Pikaichi.

December 23rd 2019: Hook and Reel Cajun Seafood and Bar, Worcester

Today for dinner, we decided to go check out the new seafood restaurant in Worcester, Hook and Reel Cajun Seafood and Bar, which has taken the place of Plaza Azteca, which I visited a long time ago.
Much nicer decor now I must say,

and shrimp crackers for starters.

For food, we got The Cajun Boil (1/2 lb crawfish, 1/2 lb black mussels, 1/2 lb Head Off Shrimp)

and the Wings (breaded, cajun).

The flavor of the seafood was not bad, and the seafood fresh, though there was little of it, although the potatoes and corn filled us up quickly. The wings were crispy too, but otherwise relatively not cajun flavored. My biggest disappointment was that no one informed us that the potatoes and corn would come at an extra charge on top of everything else instead of being included. Definitely not coming back again, especially when NOLA in West Boylston is better.

December 22nd 2019: Yume Ra Arukara, Cambridge

Today, we decided to have lunch at Yume Ra Arukara, a popular but small Japanese restaurant serving udon in Cambridge, located within the Lesley University campus where Sapporo Ramen is, which I visited a long time ago before the advent of this blog. After waiting for a bit, we finally got our seats.

For food, we got the Spicy Cold Niku Udon (homemade Raiyu (chili oil), medium heat, tingly with a kick, topped with beef, negi (scallion), dried shrimp, tenkasu, spice mix, chili oil)

and the Hot Niku Udon (rich heavy soup, topped with beef, negi (scallion), dried shrimp, tenkasu, spice mix).

Both dishes were excellent, and not too spicy to boot. No wonder it is so popular.