June 12th 2022: Bayberry Beer Hall, Providence RI

Today, while in Providence RI, we decided to check out Bayberry Beer Hall in town for brunch. Pretty nice modern decor inside.

We got the BOLT HOT COFFEE (bayberry blend), 

the WAFFLE STICKS (sourdough waffle with maple syrup)

and the HAWAIIAN BENEDICT (poached eggs, house spam, toasted hawaiian rolls, pineapple relish, hollandaise, greens, home fries).

The waffles were pretty good and crispy, especially with the syrup, while the benedict, though interesting in concept, seemed to have the pineapple flavor clashing with the hollandaise sauce. Still good though. Overall, a pretty good meal at this brewery.

June 10th 2022: Cellar Bar and Grille, Northborough

 Today, we decided to have dinner at Cellar Bar and Grille, a new restaurant in Northborough that has taken the place of CJ's Steakloft, which I visited once in the past. Pretty nice inside now.

We got the Summertime Martini (Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, Vodka, Grenadine, Fresh Cherries),

the Filet Mignon (8 oz. Medallion Filet Mignon, Bernaise or Mushroom Sauce),

which came with House-Cut Steak Fries, Asparagus and a New England Clam Chowder,

and the Almond Cake for dessert.

The food was pretty underwhelming for what we paid, the soup being salty and the cake having too much almond flavor in it. Definitely not coming back here again.

June 5th 2022: Hanging Out in Harvard Square

 Today, we decided to spend the day in the Harvard Square area of Cambridge,

Anthropologie

The Coop

 where there happened to be the Charles River Farmers Market

and the Harvard Square Open Market going on today.

For food, we started with Wusong Road, a really nice bar restaurant, 

getting the Yuanyang Tea (a Hong Kong favorite, strong Oolong tea with coffee poured over condensed milk),

the Signature Animal Bao (comes on a signature milk bao, papaya slaw, cucumber:  pulled pork, coleslaw, chipotle char siu, bread and butter pickles, and crispy chicken katsu, general gao's sauce, siracha aioli),

and the Yong Kang Beef (star anise brisket, wheat noodles, bokchoy, chili oil, shallots, beef broth).

The tea was just alright, although the baos were really cute and tasty with the meat, and the brisket in the noodles soup was really tender as well, with tea flavor in the soup. Pretty good meal here.

Next we went to the LA Burdick location in the area, 

getting the Signature Burdick Hot Chocolate (dark, blend of shaved chocolate steamed with milk),

the Hazelnut Orange Cake (flourless hazelnut and orange cake coated in hazelnut gianduja),

and a box of truffles containing White Chocolate Mouse (Dark chocolate ganache with cinnamon and port wine. Toasted almond ears. Enrobed in white chocolate), Dark Chocolate Mouse (Dark chocolate ganache blended with freshly squeezed oranges. Toasted almond ears. Enrobed in dark chocolate.), 

Milk Chocolate Mouse (Dark chocolate ganache with espresso. Toasted almond ears. Enrobed with milk chocolate.), Chocolate Penguin (Dark chocolate ganache with a hint of lemon zest. Toasted almond wings. Enrobed in dark and white chocolate.), Hazelnut (Dark chocolate and hazelnut gianduja with a touch of orange zest. Enrobed in milk chocolate), paired with Praline Croquant (Dark chocolate praline with almond croquant.), Caramel Trio (Fresh vanilla bean caramel enrobed in dark chocolate, mocha caramel enrobed in milk chocolate, French apricot caramel enrobed in white chocolate.), Macallan (A layer of dark chocolate ganache and a layer of pistachio marzipan, both blended with 12-year-old Macallan Scotch whisky. Enrobed in dark chocolate.) paired with Talisker (Dark chocolate ganache with Talisker Scotch whisky, currants, and gianduja), Fig (Dark chocolate interior with a balanced flavor of fig and port wine), Lemon Pepper Truffle (Dark chocolate ganache infused with lemons, pepper, and rum), Salted Cardamom Caramel (Salted cardamom caramel enrobed in dark chocolate and garnished with Cyprus sea salt.) paired with Salted Vanilla Caramel (Salted vanilla bean caramel enrobed in milk chocolate.),  Pave Glace (gianduja, dark chocolate, cocoa butter, butter, cognac and saffron, dusted in cocoa powder),Earl Grey (Dark chocolate ganache infused with Earl Grey tea.), Richelieu (A milk and dark chocolate interior with cherry liqueur, cherries and cumin seeds), Mango (Dark chocolate ganache blended with mangoes.), Porto Baton (A baton of dark chocolate ganache with hints of cinnamon, cardamom, and chopped hazelnuts.) and Baton Framboise (Dark chocolate ganache blended with French raspberries.),

of which I got to try the Caramel Trio, the Lemon Pepper Truffle and the Earl Grey. Really liked the caramel, and not so much the other two. The drink was too chocolatey for me too, although the cake was pretty tasty with orange flavor.

For dinner, we headed to Bosso Ramen Tavern, a new izakaya in town. Pretty modern looking inside.

We got the Sakura Saku (ruby red grapefruit, elder flower),

the Umami Chicken Karaage,

the Umami Ramen (flavored egg, charshu pork, black garlic oil),

the Fried Shrimp Tartare,

the Takoyaki (octopus takoyaki ball) and Yuzu Scallop (ikura cod roe, scallop, yuzu), 

and the Japanese Sweet Potato with Black Sesame Ice Cream for dessert.

The drink was really light, and the ramen was not bad though a little salty, but the chicken was really crispy, and the sushi was flavored just as it would be in Japan. The sweet potato went really well with the thick, creamy ice cream as well. Overall, a really good meal here.

With that, an end to a day of fun in Harvard Square.

June 3rd 2022: More New Dishes from Doragon Ramen, Ashland

 Today, we decided to head to Doragon Ramen in Ashland, which we have been to quite a few times in the past.

This time around, we got the Ika Sansai Salad (Tender squid tossed with wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, red bell peppers, ginger, sesame oil and rice wine served over a bed of spring mix.), 

the Shrimp Wontons with Peanut Rayu (Shrimp Wontons in a umami packed peanut chili rayu, topped with scallions and slice of lime.),

the Tanmen Ramen (From the Midnight Diner Japanese TV Show! House chicken stock, fresh ground pork saboro, sweet green cabbage, carrots, crispy garlic, sesame oil and scallions.)

and the Kaeng Khiao Wan - Green Curry Ramen (Creamy Coconut Green Curry broth made with house chicken stock | pork belly chashu | summer squash | wood ear mushroom | snow peas | Thai basil | matsutake bean sprouts and nori.)

Excellent meal again here, especially the curry. Glad they keep changing their menu.

June 2nd 2022: Hiking in Princeton, Dinner in Westminster

 Today, we started out with a hike at Boylston Park in Princeton, where the path we took here is shown below in pink.

The beaver pond here is nothing much to look at though.

From here, we headed to dinner at the 1761 Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster, which I visited once before in the past. This time around, we got the Roast Country Duck (Slow roasted duck with an apple and pecan stuffing topped with country gravy.),

which came with a Garden Salad,

and the Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo (Pan-fried Italian breaded chicken breast, sautéed with penne pasta and broccoli in Alfredo sauce.)

In my opinion, the food was just alright this time around, although the corn fritters and pecan rolls that came as starters were still as good as before.

June 1st 2022: Checking Out Water Bodies in Waltham and Newton

 Today, we started out in Waltham,

Howard Clock Building,
260 Charles Street

Logan Park, 120 Woerd Avenue

Purgatory Cove,
2 Forest Grove Road

then went to Newton,

Blue Heron Bridge,
End of Albemarle Road

going on a short hike at Dolan Pond Conservation Area, where the path we took to try to find the water body I missed out on the last time I was here is shown below in pink.

The last water body was too swampy to get to though.

Finally, we called it a day, going to get my other half's purse, then getting some takeout from What Da Chick, a sorta hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant in Watertown specializing in Thai style chicken rice.

We got the Roasted Chick Rice ( Ginger Rice - Grilled Chicken - Daikon Soup - Tamarind Sauce)

and the Spicy Chick Rice (Ginger Rice - Fried Chicken Mixed With Spicy Lime Seasoning - Daikon Soup - Sweet Chili Sauce).

I have to say the flavors for both dishes were so good that I will actually recommend this place, especially the lime flavored crispy chicken. With that, an end of a day of looking for water bodies in Waltham and Newton.