October 28th 2023: Brunch and Dessert in Needham, Doughnuts in Natick

 Today, we started out with brunch at Fresco, a diner in Needham,

getting the Single Pancakes

and the Steak and Eggs (6oz sirloin steak).

Nothing special about the pancake, and the steak was dry. Not coming back again.

Not satisfied with our meal, we headed across the street to French Press Bakery and Cafe, which we were at two weeks ago, this time getting the Raspberry Pistachio Tart (pistachio frangipane, raspberry ganache, raspberries, sable tart, creme chantilly, toasted pistachio),

the Pistachio Macaron

and the Coconut Kouign Amann.

Really good pastry from this place, I must say.

Later on, while at the Natick Mall,

we decided to check out Mochi Dough, a new donut place inside,

we got the Fruity Pebble, Taro and S'mores flavors.

not too bad, though a tad sweet.

Overall, nice day for trying new places in Needham and Natick.

October 14th 2023: French Press Bakery and Cafe, Needham

Today, we decided to have lunch at French Press Bakery and Cafe in Needham, a pretty popular place in town.

We got the Cappuccino (espresso with steam milk and lots of foam),

the EGGS BENEDICT (duck and crispy onion),

the Tartine (Socca and Eggplant, herbed chickpea flatbread, tomatillo relish, grilled eggplant, roma tomato, crispy harissa chickpeas, fresh basil)

and the Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Pretty flavorful. Can see why this place is so popular.

September 30th 2023: Arts in Common, Westborough

Today, we started out with lunch at Little Spoon, a Thai restaurant in Needham affiliated with Four Spoons in Newton, which we tried a while back. Nice decor inside.

We got the Chive dumpling (Chives, rice flour and Thai seasoning, served with ginger sauce),

the Shoyu Ramen (Ramen noodle with shoyu broth, soy sauce, Cha Shu pork (marinated braised pork belly), sesame seed, Edamame, Japanese bamboo marinated with sesame, marinated soft boil egg, scallion, sweet corn, and nori)

and the Drunken Noodle (Egg, onion, carrot, cauliflower, sweet pepper, Thai basil and flat rice noodle).

Pretty good I must say, although my other half bemoaned the lack of vegetarian options. Seeing the chive dumplings pop up everywhere as well.

Later, after checking out the Arts in Common event in Westborough,

we headed to Bertucci's nearby for dinner, this time getting the White Sangria,

the Eggplant Parmesan (Thick cut crispy eggplant topped with house-made marinara sauce, marinated tomatoes, fresh basil, Pecorino Romano & mozzarella, served with spaghetti)

the Fettuccine Alfredo (Fettuccine tossed in Pecorino Romano cream sauce).

and the Tiramisu (Ladyfingers, coffee liqueur, mascarpone, cocoa).

Pretty good meal today. At least I got to use my coupon this time around.

September 23rd 2023: Blue on Highland, Needham

 Today, we decided to check out Blue on Highland, a pretty nice bar restaurant in Needham.

We got the Mediterranean Bowl (baby spinach, quinoa, cucumbers, tomatoes, roasted artichokes, chickpeas, kalamata olives avocado, feta, creamy Greek)

and the Short Rib Grilled Cheese (Texas toast, slow braised short rib, American, cheddar, mozzarella cheese, fresh cut fries).

Pretty tasty actually, although the service was slow today and we were late for our next activity.

Recommended Places to Visit: Needham

Recreation

Art and Crafts
Arte Mozzafiato
31 Thorpe Road

Waterfalls
Cochrane Dam
South Street near Fisher Street


Water Bodies

Rosemary Lake
Rosemary Street near Tillotson Road

Walker Pond
156 Charles River Street

Museums
Needham History Center and Museum
1147 Central Avenue

Hiking
Recommended:
Charles River Peninsula
Fisher Street near South Street

Needham Town Forest
High Rock Street near Robinwood Avenue

Needham Reservoir
470 Dedham Avenue

Cutler Park
Kendrick Street near 3rd Avenue

Eastman Conservation Area
1155 Central Avenue

Hemlock Gorge Reservation
1 Hamilton Place

Tried:
Ridge Hill
Charles River Street near Whitman Road

Architecture

Historical Buildings
The Travel Center
60 Dedham Avenue


Monuments

Town Common
Higland Avenue and Great Plain Avenue

Vietnam Veterans' Memorial
End of Sunset Road

Memorial Park
92 Rosemary Street

Places of Worship

First Baptist Church
885 Great Plain Avenue

First Parish Unitarian Universalist
23 Dedham Avenue

Presbyterian Church in Needham
1458 Great Plain Avenue

St. Joseph Church
1382 Highland Avenue

Congregational Church of Needham
1154 Great Plain Avenue

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
543 Greendale Avenue

Christ Episcopal Church
132 Highland Avenue

Carter Memorial United Methodist Church
800 Highland Avenue


Schools
St. Sebastian's School
1191 Greendale Avenue

Needham High School
609 Webster Street

Town Facilities
Town Hall
1471 Highland Avenue

Public Schools Administration
1330 Highland Avenue

Public Library
1139 Highland Avenue

Fire Department
88 Chestnut Street

Fire Station #2
707 Highland Street


Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Thai

Little Spoon (chain)
952 Great Plain Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Chive Dumpling

Latin American

Latina Kitchen and Bar
30 Dedham Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Mojito

Peruvian Spit Rotisserie Chicken

Fish

Tequenos

Coconut Quesillo

Western
3 Squares
669 Highland Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Slow Braised Beef Short Rib
Crispy Fluffernutter Brownie Square

Blue on Highland

882 Highland Avenue

Recommended Dishes:

Mediterranean Bowl

Short Rib Grilled Cheese

Deli
Stacy's Juice Bar
1257 Highland Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Veggie Chili
Signature Raw Veggie Lasagna
Tropical Power Smoothie

French Press Bakery and Cafe

74 Chapel Street

Recommended Dishes:

Chocolate Chip Cookie

Tartine

Eggs Benedict

Raspberry Pistachio Tart

Pistachio Macaron

Italian

Sweet Basil
942 Great Plain Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Lentil Stew with Cucumber Yogurt
Chicken Broccoli Ziti

Stone Hearth Pizza
974 Great Plain Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Bacon Corn Chowder
Macaroni and Cheese
Bacon and Blue Pizza
Chicken Pesto Pizza

Sweet Tomatoes Pizza
320 Chestnut Street
Recommended Dishes:
Luxe Potato Pizza
Veggie Pesto Pizza

Indian

Pronti Bistro
11 2nd Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Spicy Potato Cauliflower Soup
Patriot Maharaja Pronti
Lucknow Special Pronti
Mango Lassi
Jammu Jamun

Masala Art
990 Great Plain Aevnue
Recommended Dishes:
Cauliflower Soup
Lamb Tawa Gosht


Tried:
Dessert
Swizzles Yogurt
1450 Highland Avenue

Fresco

35 Chapel Street

Recommended Dishes:

Single Pancakes

Steak and Eggs

Western
RFK Kitchen (closed)
30 Dedham Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Wings

Faroe Island Salmon

Japanese

Fuji Steak House
1430 Highland Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Tiger Eyes
Ikamura Bar-B-Q Squid

April 4th 2021: Looking for Martini Junction in the Needham Town Forest

 Today, we decided to go on a hike at the Needham Town Forest in Needham, which I have visited before in the past, this time to look for a mini train set called Martini Junction. The coordinates for it are 42.270702329369875, -71.24998541583334, located on the trail between junction 11 and 27. The path I took today from the end of Robinwood Avenue is shown below in pink.

It seemed like forever before we found our target, although there started to be signs that we were on the right track.

Finally we found it, and it was not bad a sight, though a little smaller than I had hoped.

From here, we did a detour to try to locate the water body I missed out on the last time I was here, but it was toally dry today.

Lunch was at Latina Kitchen and Bar, a new Venezuelan restaurant which has taken over from RFK Kitchen, which we visited 4 years ago. Really nice decor now.

We initially sat outside, but decided to move inside when we realized it was too windy and cold.

We got the Strawberry Mojito (barcardi rum / lime / mint / strawberry puree / club soda),

the Tequeños (queso blanco wrapped in crispy dough / spicy cilantro),

the Fish (plantain crusted Mahi-mahi/latin slaw / sweet plantain tajadas with queso fresco), 

the Peruvian Spit Rotisserie Chicken (half roasted organic giannone chicken / sweet potato & butternut squash mashed / seasonal vegetables / spicy cilantro sauce / jus )

and the Coconut Quesillo for dessert.

The mojito was much tastier than the last one I had, and the meats were very tender and juicy, especially the chicken. The flan was a little firmer and stickier than expected but that's how Venezuelan flan is. Overall, a really delicious meal here in Needham, after visiting Martini Junction.

November 20th 2018: Visiting the Needham Historical Center and Museum

Today after work, I headed to the town of Needham to visit the Needham History Center and Museum.

In the midst of a renovation, but still decent I guess with 2 floors of exhibits.

After leaving the museum, I headed to Newton to get pizza from the Stone L'oven Pizza Company, which has taken the place of the terrible Waban Kitchen which I visited a while back.

Decor looks the same as what I recall.

I got the BBQ Chicken (BBQ chicken with chipotle marinated tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, scallions),

which was just average in my opinion for a pretty expensive pizza.

Next, I went to Cambridge for my next meal at Beauty's Pizza, getting the Green Peace (Marinara chicken with broccoli, pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese).

Not even as good as the first pizza, but at least still palatable.