May 10th 2016: Meals in Braintree and Quincy

Today, we decided to check out Tennessee's BBQ in Braintree for lunch,  getting the Oink, Cackle and Moo (Memphis Ribs, BBQ Chicken and brisket), with BBQ Beans, Baked Sweet Potato and Killer Corn Bread for sides.

The sauces provided were pretty good actually, and the Meats themselves were not bad either, though not amazing. Of the sides,  only the beans were really flavorful,  while the others were just so so.

Probably not worth coming back here again.

Dinner was at Royal Hot Pot and Sushi, a nicely decorated hot pot and sushi buffet place in Quincy.

For the hot pot, we got the Korean Kimchee and Chinese Herbal broth, and a lot of meats.

On the sushi side, we got some sashimi and the Crunchy Eel Roll (tempura flakes, avocado, crabmeat topped with whole toasted eel).

The hot pot was alright I guess, with frog legs and crab on the menu as well. The sashimi on the other hand was not at all fresh, and the sushi was just so-so. Not coming back again.

May 8th 2016: Mother's Day Dimsum at Ming's Seafood, Malden

Today, we had dimsum with family for Mother's Day at Ming's Seafood in Malden. This time around, we got to try much more dishes than before,

Excellent stuff as always.

May 7th 2016: Meals in Everett and Saugus

We had breakfast today at Carol's Cafe, a pretty popular diner in Everett. We got a Hot Chocolate,

3 eggs, bacon, toast and home fries,

and Apple Cinnamon Pancakes.

The potatoes were pretty flavorful and crispy, while the pancakes did not ave too much cinnamon, although I still needed to douse them with maple syrup before eating. Overall, nothing special though.

For lunch, we were in Saugus, so we headed to Angela's Coal Fired Pizza, a restaurant
 serving pizza and wings roasted in a coal oven.

 Naturally, we ordered the Signature Oven Roasted Wings (jumbo chicken wings marinated in olive oil, fresh rosemary, lemon & garlic. Roasted in coal fired ovens and served on a bed of homemade focaccia bread. Topped with caramelized onions)

and the Sicilian Pizza (San Marzano tomato, oilve oil, oregano, provolone, parmesan, fontina and asiago cheese) with BBQ Chicken, Mushroom, Roasted Eggplant).

The wings were a little sour for our liking, and the pizza was nothing special. Overall, not worth coming back here again.

May 6th 2016: Dinner with Family at My Sister's Crawfish, Boston

Dinner tonight was with my family at My Sister's Crawfish, a small Vietnamese restaurant in the Dorchester area of Boston that is right next door to Saigon Seafood, which I have been to before.

We got the Crawfish of course, in Twister flavor,

the Bun Mam (Vietnamese Special Homemade Noodle Soup),

the Banh Xeo (Vietnamese crepe), Bun Mang Vit (Vermicelli with Duck Meat and Bamboo Soup) and Com Chien Chi Toi (My Sister's Fried Rice).

The noodle soups were actually really good and authentic, while the crawfish was fresh as well. The fried rice was just so-so though. Overall, not a bad Vietnamese meal.

May 5th 2016: Dinner at Yama Zakura, Northborough

 Today, we decided to have dinner at Yama Zakura in Northborough, which I have visited once, long before I started writing this blog.

This time, we got the Crabby Turtle (half an avocado stuffed with baked blue crabmeat, topped with panko, sweet lemon sauce, Zakura sauce and tobiko),

the Lobster Bomb (cucumber, avocado and panko roll topped with baked lobster in a sweet lemon mayo sauce, drizzled with Zakura sauce, panko, and tobiko)

and the Yama Coco Noodle (steamed rice noodles and ground peanuts in a spicy coconut curry sauce).

Excellent stuff, as can be expected from this place.

Recommended Places to Visit: Nantucket

Recreation

Events
Nantucket Daffodil Festival
77 Easton Street

Bicycle Rentals
Nantucket Bike Shop (chain)
End of Straight Wharf


Farms
Bartlett's Farm
33 Bartlett Farm Road


Beaches
Brant Point Beach
End of Easton Road

Siasconset Beach
End of Gully Road

Sesachacha Pond Beach
End of Sesachacha Road

Children's Beach
Harbor View Way near Easton Street

Ladies Beach
End of Bartlett Farm Road

Francis Street Beach
Francis Street and Washington Street


Museums
Nantucket Whaling Museum
13 Broad Street

Architecture

Monuments

Brant Point Light
End of Easton Road

Sankaty Head Light
End of Baxter Road

Fountain
Main Street and Fair Street

Places of Worship

St. Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Church
3 Federal Street

Unitarian Universalist Church
11 Orange Street

First Congregational Church
62 Centre Street

Summer Street Church
1 Summer Street

St. Paul's Church
20 Fair Street

Town Facilities

Coast Guard Station Brant Point
2 Easton Road

Nantucket Atheneum
1 India Street

Post Office
5 Federal Street

Town Hall
16 Broad Street

Commercial Buildings
Nantucket Hotel
77 Easton Street

Cliff Lodge
9 Cliff Road


Historical Buildings
Loines Observatory
59 Milk Street

Old Mill
50 Prospect Street

Old Coffin School
4 Winter Street

Vestal Street Observatory
2 Vestal Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Dessert

Petticoat Row Bakery
35 Centre Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fruit Danish

Western
Central Street Bistro
29 Centre Street
Recommended Dishes:
Shrimp and Polenta Ravioli
Risotto of the Evening
Chocolate Marquis with Coffee Ice Cream

Breeze Bar and Cafe
77 Easton Street
Recommended Dishes:
New England Clam Chowder
Mushroom Flatbread

Station 21
21 South Water Street
Recommended Dishes:
Guava Parfait
Braised Lamb Shank
Grilled Shrimp Romesco

Met on Main (chain)
38 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Jacques Burger

Tried:
Seafood

East Street Cantina
2 Broad Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fish Taco
Fried Full Bellied Clams

Dessert
Sconset Market
4 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Peach Ice Cream

May 1st 2016: 2nd Day on Nantucket

We started out today in the downtown area of Nantucket, walking around to several points of interest

Francis Street Beach,
Francis Street and Washington Street

Old Mill

Summer Street Church 

Old Coffin School

St. Paul's Church

Fountain, Main Street and Fair Street

Vestal Street Observatory

before settling for lunch at Met on Main,  an upscale place with a location in Natick that I have been to before.

We got the Jacques Burger (hash brown potato / bacon / Swiss cheeses / truffle mayo / buttered potato roll / fries),

and it was at this point that we realized we had a boat to catch, so I ran back to the hotel to pick up our luggage, and we ran all the way to the boat. Thankfully, we were still on time, although we had to sit outside in the cold. It was only then that I was able to savor my burger, which was actually pretty good, even though it was a little cold by then.

Back in Barnstable, we went to check out the Cape Cod Mall for a bit,

getting a Froyo-Nut from Sweet Kiwi,

which was absolutely horrendous as the donut itself was not fresh at all.


Along the way home, we decided to stop at Mango Tree, a Thai restaurant in Milford

for dinner, getting the Thai Fisherman’s Soup (Special Thai hot and sour soup with assorted of fresh seafood), which came in a cup,

and the Pumpkin Curry with Salmon (Thai Pumpkin curry in coconut milk with pumpkin, butternut&yellow squash, zucchinis, green&red peppers, and carrots).

Both dishes were pretty decent and flavorful, though still very Americanized, and nothing really special. With that, our holiday on Nantucket island came to an end.