December 17th 2017: Eating in Allston

We wanted to check out the dessert place, C Fruit Life in the Allston area of Boston, but as it was not open for the day yet, we decided to go across the street and try out Iron Kitchen, a small hole in the wall Chinese place serving mini pot and cast iron rice plates, while we were waiting.

We got the Spicy Beef Pot (Napa, beef, pork intestine, clam, fried tofu skin, beef ball, quail egg, enoki mushroom, fish ball, fish tofu, pig blood curd, tofu puff, instant noodle, preserved vegetables, green onion, cilantro),

Which was actually really good. Glad luck brought  us to this place.

C Fruit Life is definitely better in terms of decor,

and has a great variety of Hong Kong Style desserts, of which we got the Durian Sago Ice Cream Float on Milk Custard

and the Sphere's Edge.

Very well presented, and excellent combinations of flavors and textures as well. Glad we waited for this place to open today.

December 16th 2017: Dinner with a Friend at Cafe Sushi, Cambridge

My friend was in town for the weekend, so I decided to meet up with him for dinner at Cafe Sushi in Cambridge, which apparently has the best sushi in town.

We were early though, so we decided to check out Zinneken's, a small waffle place nearby,

Getting the Liege Waffle (soft and chewy, made from a dough with caramelized Belgian Pearl sugar)

and the Brussels Waffle (light and crispy, made from delicate batter).

The only 2 types of waffles on the menu, the first being sweeter, while the second being airier and crispier. Simple menu, but delicious.

From here we headed to the Cafe Sushi, which was already crowded, but thankfully had a table available when my friend arrived. He got the Chiraishi (9 pieces assorted sashimi, japanese pickles over sushi rice),

while we got the Ceviche Maki (octopus, shrimp and avocado, topped with salmon, grape, tomato, lime juice, salt and cilantro),

the Spicy Citrus Roll (top, baked spicy salmon, shrimp and cucumber, topped with ao nori and thin sliced lemon) and Futomaki (eel, snow crab, egg, kanpyo, gobo, oshinko and cucumber).

I can see why this place is so popular now. Reasonable prices, innovative sushi and tasty too.

We decided to go elsewhere for dessert, choosing Tatte Bakery and Cafe, which was a little further down the road from Zinneken's. We headed up to the second floor, where thankfully we had space to sit.

My friend got the Raspberry Cheesecake Cup,

while we got the Pear Tart and Goat Cheese Panna Cotta.

I did not take to the almond taste in the tart, or the goat cheese, but I did not hate them either as neither was really strong. Overall, I think this place is worth coming back to to try other stuff. With that, our night of eating in Cambridge was at an end. Good catching up with my friend from Florida. Not sure why he came into the freezing cold here though.

December 14th 2017: Exploring More of Cumberland RI

On my half day off, I decided to head south, passing by Grafton,

308 Providence Road

Northbridge,

Riverdale Mills

Mendon,

West River Pond, 68 Northbridge Street

Woonsocket RI

St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center

Boys and Girls Club of Woonsocket

and Lincoln RI

Highland Falls, 2 School Street

Traffic Light, School Street and Briarwood Road

World War I Memorial, School Street and Berkshire Drive

St. Ambrose Catholic Church

Lincoln Center, 132 Old River Road

Ashton Dam, George Washington Highway

Christ Church Episcopal

St. Jude's Church

Moffett Mill

Butterfly Pond, 7 Breakneck Hill Road

before heading into Cumberland RI for the rest of the day.

Blackstone Valley Baptist Church

Old Church, 491 Bound Road

St. John Vianney Church

Arnold Mills Church

Providence Zen Center

Albion Bridge, End of Albion Road

Albion Dam, End of Albion Road

River Lofts at Ashton Mill

Ashton Viaduct, 51 Front Street

St. Joseph's Church

Calvin Presbyterian Church

Four Corners Community Chapel

Edward J Hayden Library

Blackstone Valley Church of Christ

Cumberland Veterans Memorial, 1464 Diamond Hill Road

Cumberland Senior Center

St. Aidan Church

Cumberland Community Christian Church

Ann and Hope Outlet Shops

At this point, I decided to get some food, stopping by Everybody's Favorite Family Restaurant, a diner in town, getting the Breakfast Special (2 eggs, toast and homefries).

An alright meal, but nothing special.

A pretty good day of exploring Cumberland, even with all that snow.