November 12th 2022: Uyghur, Americanized Chinese and Brazilian Cuisine in a Day

 After spending some time in Boston today,

Boston Harborwalk

EMK Institute for the US Senate

One Congress Tower

we decided to have lunch at Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine, a small place in Cambridge serving authentic Uyghur food.

We decided to get the Homemade Yogurt (with Walnut, Raisin and Honey),

the Naan (Uyghur Style Seasoned Bread),

the Bean Jelly (Bean Starch with Special Dressing Sauce),

the Lamb Noodle Soup (Lamb broth with noodle and sliced Lamb) 

and the Dry Fried Noodles (Dry Fried Hand pulled Noodles with Veggies and Beef).

Really interesting food, with Chinese noodles mixed with Persian flavors.

For dinner, we went to the Natick Mall,

but as all the main restaurants had long wait times, we decided to eat at the food court instead, getting General's Chicken, Crab Rangoons, Fresh Mixed Vegetables Fried Rice from Master Wok

and Picanha and Sweet Plantains from Terra Nossa Brazilian Grill. 

The chicken was salty and soggy, although the crab rangoon was alright but nothing special. The meat from the Brazilian place was not bad too, but otherwise nothing special. 

To end the day, we decided to get some chocolate from Laderach.

getting the Piemonteser (hazelnut, hazelnut gianduja), Truffes Cognac (cognac truffle filling), Truffes Kokos (Truffle filling, Batida de Coco), among other truffles.

Pretty good, and I like how they price by weight rather than by pieces. With that, an end to a day of touring museums and trying different cuisines.

November 9th 2022: Second Time at BT's Smokehouse, Worcester

 While in Worcester today,

Notre Dame Health Care

my colleague and I decided to have dinner at BT's Fried Chicken and BBQ in Worcester,

getting the Triple Meat Platter as always, this time having pork ribs and Mac & Cheese. 

Good as always, the chicken crispy yet juicy, and the fatty brisket ooh so good.

November 7th 2022: Taking My Colleague to Bocado, Worcester

 Today, I decided to bring my colleague to Bocado, a Spanish tapas place in Worcester.

We got the GAZPACHO (blended fresh tomato, pepper, cucumber, garlic and onion with olive oil & balsamic),

the BIG PIG PAELLA (slow-roasted pork, roasted sweet potato, peppers, crisp pork belly, onions, charred onion bacon broth, pimenton bbq drizzle, scallions),

the CONEJO ASADO LENTO (slow roasted rabbit, mushrooms, diced tomato, onion, garlic, pimenton mushroom broth),

and the VENADO A LA PARRILLA (grilled venison, roasted sweet potato and asparagus, black cherry agrodolce, bleu cheese).

The soup was pretty good, and we got free portions as well when we tried to split, as was the venison meat, which my colleague never had before. Another good meal here at Bocado.

November 6th 2022: Chinese in Cambridge, Vietnamese in Boston

Before meeting a colleague arriving from out of town today, we decided to have lunch at Dumpling Xuan, a Chinese restaurant in Cambridge.

We got the Mini Juicy Buns with Pork and Crabmeat,

the Fried Stinky Tofu with Pickle,

the Taiwanese Style Pork Chop Noodles Soup,

and the Spicy Soup with Duck Blood Curd and Beef Tripe.

Really delicious, especially the tofu, which wasn't stinky at all with the pickled sauce. The noodles were excellent as well, the meat crispy, while the duck blood was not mushy, with lots of other ingredients in the spicy soup as well.

After picking up my colleague, we decided to have him try some authentic Vietnamese food at Pho Hoa in the Dorchester area of Boston, which has since merged with Anh Hong, which closed some time ago. Apparently, we have not been to this location before at all, despite visiting Pho Le next door several times. Better looking inside though.

We got the Bun Mang Vit (Duck Leg Bamboo Shoot Soup, duck leg served over vermicelli noodles with sliced bamboo shoot in a chicken broth)

and the Bo 7 Mon, consisting of Bo Nhung Dam (Beef Fondue in vinegar sauce, thinly sliced eye round steak cooked in a sweet vinegar sauce with fried shallots),

the Bo La Lot (Grilled betel skewer, ground beef mixed with lemongrass, garlic onions, wrapped in betel leaves and grilled), Bo Lui (grilled lemongrass beef skewer, thinly sliced eye round steak marinated with an in-house lemongrass soy sauce), Cha Dum (steamed beef meatloaf, ground beef, bean thread vermicelli, wood-ear mushrooms and black peppercorns),

the Goi Bo (Beef Salad, thinly sliced eye round steak tossed with carrots and daikon in a sweet vinegar dressing, topped with crushed peanuts and Vietnamese coriander),

the Nuong Bo (grilled beef with butter, thinly sliced eye round steak marinated with lemongrass and sesame seeds, cooked in hot butter).

the Bo Shake (avocado, ripe avocado, condensed milk, sugar cane),

and the Chao Bo (Jasmine rice soup with ground beef topped with scallions and cilantro).

Except for the porridge which was bland in my opinion, everything else was pretty good, especially the butter beef. My other half still thinks Pho Le is better though.

November 4th 2022: Spinach Pizza from Dean Park Pizzeria, Shrewsbury

 Today, being very hungry, we decided to get takeout from Dean Park Pizzeria in Shrewsbury, getting the Spanakopizza (Regular, Pizza Sauce, Pizza Cheese, Onion, Feta and Spinach.)

Not bad, if not for the onions.

November 2nd 2022: Spending Time with the Little One in 3 Different Towns

 Today, while in the area, we started out with a short hike to Hemlock Pond from 45 Young Road, where the path we took here is shown below in pink.

Decent view of the pond, although Young Road seems to be a private road.

From here, we headed into Newton,

The Village Bank

Hamilton Field,
10 Cornell Street

Lower Falls Community Center

then into Wellesley,

Warren Park,
94 Washington Street

getting a quick bite from CK Shanghai, a Chinese restaurant in town.

We got the Five Spices Beef Noodle Soup,

which was pretty tasty and not too herbal. A nice day spending time with the little one in 3 different towns.

Recommended Places to Visit: Weston

Recreation

Water Bodies
Nonesuch Pond
333 Winter Street

Stony Brook Basin
End of Gate House Lane


Parks

Town Common
Townhouse Road and Boston Post Road

Lamson Park

30 Town House Road

Museums
Golden Ball Tavern Museum
662 Boston Post Road

Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum
235 Wellesley Street


Hiking
Recommended:
Highland Street Forest
200 Highland Street

Doublet Hill
End of Doublet Hill Road

Cat Rock
End of Drabbington Way

Riverside Park
Recreation Road near I-95

Sears Land
~251 Crescent Street

Weston Reservoir
Ash Street between Beech Road and Newton Street

Norumbega Reservoir
Glen Road near Oak Street

80 Acres Conservation Land

End of Indian Hill Road

College Pond

276 Concord Road

Hemlock Pond

45 Young Road

Tried:

Pine Street Town Forest
200 Country Drive

Coburn Meadow
End of Lantern Lane

Jericho Town Forest
Ripley Lane

Ogilvie Town Forest
481 Concord Road

Skiing

Weston Ski Track
198 Park Road

Architecture

Monuments
Massachusetts Viking/Norumbega Tower
Norumbega Road near River Road

Weston Veterinary Clinic
152 Boston Post Road


Places of Worship

Blessed John XXIII National Seminary
558 South Avenue

St. Julia Parish
374 Boston Post Road

First Parish Church
349 Boston Post Road

First Baptist Church
657 Boston Post Road

First Church of Christ, Scientist
439 Boston Post Road

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
150 Brown Street

Westgate Church
100 Winter Street

Campion Renewal Center
319 Concord Road

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
320 Boston Post Road

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
57 Brown Street

Congregational Church of Weston
130 Newton Street

Schools
Regis College
235 Wellesley Street

Meadowbrook School
10 Farm Road

The Rivers School
333 Winter Street

Weston High School

444 Wellesley Street

Country Elementary School

2 Alphabet Lane

Field Elementary School

16 Alphabet Lane

Town Facilities
Public Library
87 School Street

Weston Memorial Pool

6 Alphabet Lane

Town Hall
11 Townhouse Road

Fire Department
394 Boston Post Road

Fire Station #2
290 South Avenue

Weston Community Center

20 Alphabet Lane


Historical Buildings
Old Weston Library
School Street and Boston Post Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Breakfast
Bruegger's Bagels (chain)
31 Center Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hot Chocolate
Everything Bagel
Honey Walnut Cream Cheese
Albacore Tuna Melt

Chinese
Dumpling Daughter
37 Center Street
Recommended Dishes:
Braised Pork Belly Taiwanese Buns
Three Day Pork Ramen
Petite Chicken Dumplings with Slow Cooked Sichuan Sauce


Tried:
Breakfast

Ye Olde Cottage Restaurant
403 Boston Post Road