August 30th 2024: Banh Mi Oi, Waltham

 Today, while in Waltham, we decided to check out the Banh Mi Oi location in town. Much nicer than in West Roxbury.

We got the Cafe Sua Da (Viet Latte)

and the BBQ Pork Banh Mi (Vietnamese baguette sandwich, spread of house made egg yolk aioli, pickled medley, sliced cucumber, cilantro, jalapeno and our BBQ Pork.).

I have to say, the meat for the sandwich was really good. Good choice for a quick bite on the way home.

August 25th 2024: Hiking in Upton and Eats in Milford

 Today, we started out with a hike at the Peppercorn Hill area in Upton, this time entering from the end of Taft Street. The path we took this time is shown below in black.

Other than the views of the marshland

at the powerlines, 

the trail was a little on the overgrown side, forcing us to backtrack the way we came. Will need to check out the Snow Family Conservation Area next time.

For food, we headed into Milford, first getting a Strawberry ice cream

and a Kid's Grilled Cheese and Fries.

from TJ Cafe and Games, a board game cafe in town.

Interesting place, although the oil for the food was definitely old.

Not satisfied with the meal, we decided to get more at the Oasis Patio, located at the Doubletree Hotel in town.

There was a band playing outdoors while I got the Legends Burger, which definitely comes from the Legends Sports Bar and Grille restaurant inside the hotel.

Really good though, like the pasta I had the last time we were here.

August 21st 2024: JJ's Ice Cream Shoppe, Upton

 Today, we decided to stop by JJ's Ice Cream Shoppe, an outdoor ice cream place in Upton,

getting the chocolate flavor.

Good enough that my little one got ice cream dripping everywhere in the car.

August 17th 2024: Lunch and Dessert in Brookline

 Today, we started out with lunch at Bess's Cafe, a small Chinese place in Brookline,

getting the Pork and Chive Dumplings, Crispy Chicken Noodles Soup

the Chicken Dumplings with Sichuan Sauce (spicy)

and the Beef Scallion Pancake Wrap.

The wrap was ok, but everything else was really underwhelming, with everything being really bland and the chicken not being crispy at all.

For dessert, we went to Japonaise Bakery and Cafe in town, the old Boston location of which I visited a long time ago. Brighter here than in Boston.

We got the Azuki Cream and the Totoro Pan (chocolate custard).

The former I did not get to try since my other half gobbled it up, while the custard bread was just so-so. Count on my little one for picking the cute dessert. Overall, not very good picks today for restaurants in Brookline.

August 16th 2024: MOTW Coffee and Pastries, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to check out the newest cafe in Shrewsbury, MOTW Coffee and Pastries. Really nice inside, with a really good humanitarian concept too.

We got the Blueberry Crumble,

the Biscoff Milk Cake,

the Date Cookie and Baklava Finger,

and the Date Cardamom Latte.

Not bad overall, might come back again in future

August 14th 2024: More of The Sole Proprietor, Worcester

 Today we decided to have dinner at the Sole Proprietor in Worcester, getting the SEAFOOD SAUTÉ (Lobster meat, shrimp and scallops sautéed in garlic, leeks, and clam juice served over squid ink pasta) ,

which came with a MIXED FIELD GREENS SALAD (House-made cider vinaigrette over mixed field greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and pickled shallots).

Perfectly cooked seafood, almost never a disappointment here all these years. 

August 11th 2024: Second Time at The Coop, Westborough

 Today, we decided to have lunch at The Coop in Westborough, this time getting the Sweet Potato Tater Tots and Jamaican (Sourdough, Honey Jerk Dress, Jalapeno, Tomato and Lettuce.)

Pretty good from this place as always, although the tater tots were a little on the salty side today, but the sandwich hit all the right buttons, spice and all.

August 10th 2024: Hawaiian in Newton, Brazilian in Framingham

 Today, we decided to have lunch at Mochiko Hawaiian, a hippie Hawaiian restaurant in Newton,

getting the Mochiko Chix Plate (chopped chicken, miso glaze, gochujang mayo, furikake, soy crackers and mac salad),

the Kalua Pig Plate ("Kalua" style pork, sesame seeds, toasted sesame oil, furikake, braised cabbage and carrots, hoisin jus)

and the Pineapple Li Hing Mui (fresh pineapple dusted with salted plum powder).

I wasn't a fan of the salted plum powder, and the pork could have used more sauce, but somehow the crispy chicken really made up for everything else.

For dinner, we decided to check out Boteco do Manolo, the new Brazilian restaurant in Framingham that replaced China Gourmet, which we visited in the past. It has many other locations in Florida and Brazil. As nice as I remembered it from before.

The views of the Foss Reservoir are getting more and more obscured by the trees though.

We got the Cashew Regular Juice

and the Mineira's Grilled Top Sirloin Steaks (steaks served with white rice,  mashed black beans, farofa of yuca flour and eggs, sauteed collard greens and yuca fries and pico de galo).

Really big portion I must say, we couldn't even finish half of the food. Really good though, not too salty like at other Brazilian places, and the meat was perfectly cooked and tender. Will definitely be back in future.

August 7th 2024: Bertie's Creative Creamery, Milford

 Today, while in Milford, we decided to check out Bertie's Creative Creamery, an ice-cream place in Milford with other branches in Massachusetts. Pretty nice inside.

We got the chocolate flavor,

which was pretty good, although the gummi bears didn't go well with it.

August 3rd 2024: House of Noodles, Newton

 Today, we decided to have lunch at House of Noodles, a small Chinese place in Newton,

getting the Cumin Lamb Rougamo,

the Braised Beef Rice Noodles Soup (秘制牛肉米线 Rice noodles米线 in beef broth，braised spicy beef)

and the Hand-pulled Biang biang noodle with spicy cumin lamb (孜然羊肉干扯面 Freshly made Chinese style hand-pulled noodles served with spicy stir-fried cumin lamb and fresh coriander.).

Delicious day for Chinese food in Newton. For dessert, we headed to Flourhouse Bakery in town,

getting the Lemon Meringue Cruffin

and the Chocolate Chip Muffin.

Just alright in my opinion, although the cruffin was interesting stuff.