Lady Gaga Boston

Well, technically, we were with Lady Gaga today if you stretch the definition of "with" to mean being within 100 feet. You'll see the whole thing here in the video except for the disappointed faces of well over 100 little "monstahs" who barely had a glimpse after waiting for hours in the hot sun, afraid to move for fear they'd lose their spot and slightly concerned they were going to get fired or written up for being late to work. Some of them even crouched down to peer under the car and get a glimpse of her shoes! Just listen to them. It was definitely a cool, fun group, though. Perhaps the smartest were that family from Maine (I am not kidding) who gave up a day at the beach for this but cut their losses short and left early to get in at least half a day of real fun. Send an email or comment if anyone was there. I'd love to hear from you.



Oh well, the silver lining is we visiting Joanne Chang's sparkling new Flour 3, just a block away, and will run that post tomorrow!

Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

Being the coffee lover they know I am Starbucks recently invited us for a preview taste of the limited edition Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. True coffee aficionados wait for such events as this and Kate Johnson, Manager of the 350 Newbury Street location, informed us that customers have been inquiring about it for weeks.


The rare coffee variety will only be available in six markets nationwide (of which Boston is one, of course) and even there only in locations with the patented Clover Brewing technology, which she was happy to demonstrate. Did you know that Boston now rivals Seattle as one of the country's top coffee spots?


The Clover Brewing system combines the deep, full flavor of the coffee press with the clarity and technology of a vacuum press.


As many of you may know most of the flavor of the coffee bean comes from the oils in the bean. Using a paper filter in the brewing process actually filters out some of that oil and, therefore, the flavor. The Clover uses no filter and produces an amazing cup of pure coffee.


The ideal growing conditions, terrain and 5,000 feet altitude result in a balanced, ultra smooth flavor for s trong coffee. There is a very slight but perceptible citrus note and a more discerbible chocolate finish that intensifies as the coffee cools. The intense aroma does not, however, translate to an overpowering or acidic taste.

A bit on the pricey side, keep in mind the coffee is, indeed, rare (it's only been offered twice before) and available beginning today through August 30, 2010, or while supplies last. $5.00 for a Grande (16 oz.). $40.00 for a half pound of whole beans. If you are a coffee gourmet, however, this one is hard to beat.

Summer is Sweet

We turned the corner and ushered in Summer 2010 this week and that means Summer foods, picnics, barbecues, beaches, outdoor grilling, snacks, ice cream and, of course, a slew of new flavors at SWEET cupcake bakeries. As usual, we tested out their new treats and our top two picks are: The Pina Colada and the Pink Lemonade. By the way, did you know that SWEET just opened up a brand new bakery on Newbury Street?



These new flavors are available at SWEET cupcake bakeries from June 21st through September 21st:

Lemon
Sweet's refreshing lemon cake topped with Sweet's signature frosting and finished with a sugared lemon candy.

Lemon Raspberry
The traditional summer favorite stuffed with homemade raspberry preserves and topped with a ripe red raspberry.

Pink Lemonade
A SWEETer twist on the summertime classic with a hint of cherry juice and its very own straw.

Pina Colada
Sweet's virgin version of the classic cocktail. Sweet vanilla bean cake, with a shot of pineapple preserves and topped with coconut infused buttercream frosting. Comes with its own umbrella. Cheers!

Bubblegum
Sweet cake topped with bubblegum infused buttercream frosting and topped with a colored candy gumball.

Caramel Macchiato
Sweet's famous espresso flavored cake filled with traditional vanilla buttercream.
Topped with cappuccino frosting and drizzled with melted caramel.

Red White and You
Maybe the SWEETest cupcake ever! The vanilla bean Sweet cake filled with berry bash jam and topped with homemade vanilla buttercream.

Strawberry Shortcake
Madagascar bourbon vanilla bean Sweet cake filled with
our own strawberry preserves topped with whipped cream and a sliver of strawberry.

GREEN TEA
Vanilla bean Sweet cake infused with freshly brewed green tea and peppered with green tea leaves, finished with vanilla buttercream and topped off with honey to your own personal taste (squeeze honey bottles available in-store only).

ICE CREAM CONE CUPCAKE
Delicious vanilla Sweet cake or rich chocolate cake baked into a classic wafer cone and finished with Sweet's lickable buttercream frosting, nostalgic rainbow sprinkles or a chocolate ganache "dip." Available in store only while quantities last. Not available for delivery.

SWEET Locations
Back Bay: 49 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02115 617.247.CAKE (2253)
Newbury Street: 225 Newbury Street Boston, MA 02115 617.267.CAKE (2253)
Harvard Square: Zero Brattle Street Cambridge, MA 02138 617.547.CAKE (2253)

Ogunquit Challenge

Forget the apps and give us sun-filled, meaty wraps, of sandwiches in baskets, on plates that look fantastic.


Just walk along the cobblestones and taste the early morning scones then take a walk or run, maybe even evening fun.



Dip your toes, I know ... they froze. Take the OG Challenge.



The fuzzy upside-down clouds demur. I ask if you can please concur?



A stately house is praised and, so, this question raised:

Who has the BEST picnic foods? TBF challenges every restaurant in Ogunquit, Wells and the surrounding areas to prepare their best beach picnic on Saturday July 3, 2010. Yes, you will get a photo/video shoot and LOTS of people who visit Ogunquit all year long. Did you know that TBF is read by up to 30,000 people a month? If you want to participate simply email us. We will drop by on July 3 with our picnic hamper, photograph your food/dish and do a brief video interview. The picnic will be tasted by a group of foodies who will rate the best selections.

New Restaurants

Do you ever dream of owning the best best restaurant in the world? It's fun to open a place, take a chance, see what people like. The first night is a crazy whirl of people, food, friends and fun just like my vid from Mumbai Chopstix. This week Noche, Vapiano and Think Tank open (well maybe Think Tank). Enjoy the food.

Free Coffee This Friday

This Friday, June 25, 2010, Mystic Coffee Roaster in Medford Square will be giving away a free cup of their delicious fresh-roasted brew to anyone who commutes via alternative transportation. This is being done to support Green Streets, a Cambridge-based organization that promotes the use of green transportation. As many of you know I gave up my gas guzzling SUV in favor of using public transportation and cycling everywhere almost exclusively. So I am not just talking the talk. In order to get your free coffee (and it really is the best around) just show your bike helmet, T Pass or sneakers! For more information here is the link to Green Streets. Happy commuting everyone!

Mystic Coffee Roaster
30 Riverside Avenue Medford, MA 02155
Telephone: 781.391.0042
Open Weekdays 7am-7pm; Weekends 8am-4pm

Khao Yai

Food is good but I can't resist an exotic pic from a faraway place, like Khao Yai, Thailand to take me away from the local scene and make me think that there is a whole world out there we sometimes forget about. Thank you Thomas Igoe for sharing this.

Ogunquit, The Beaches

This weekend Molly McCoy of OGTtv gives us a tour of the beaches in off weather Ogunquit. Wish we got in on that video shoot as we know much better places to park! Molly is doing a great job and Ogunquit has never looked better.

Blue Moon

You know it. You love it. Its been around for years and is one of the most popular wheat ale brands with consumers: Blue Moon Belgian White. You may even have some of it in your fridge right now ... in a bottle. Fans of the brew have been asking the Blue Moon Brewing Company for a few years now to provide the stuff in cans. Well, they listened, they have and we've tried it! It's the same creamy ale flavor with the slight hint of sweet orange peel that you couldn't quite put your finger on the first time you tasted it. Only now it's available in more travel-friendly cans. Don't you just love it when companies actually listen to their customers? And then do something about it just in time for Summer!

Flo's Way

Having 'em Flo's Way.

Along Route 1 in Cape Neddick, Maine is a little place called Flo's Steamed Hot Dogs. It was begun in 1959 by Florence Stacy and since then thousands of people have flocked there to enjoy the steamed hot dogs. Flo was quite the character when she ran the place. A hardworking, laconic, no-nonsense, Yankee she had a very low tolerance for bullshit. She welcomed surfers, families, teenagers, truck drivers, retirees, the country club set and motorcycle gangs with equal hospitality and was never intimidated by anyone. She even welcomed me when I was a young boy. Everybody loved Flo but if she didn't like your attitude she had absolutely no problem ejecting you from the place, a trait envied today by Chefs everywhere. She served the best damn hot dogs ever. Not once did I ever hear her say the words: "Have a nice day!"

Flo has passed on like so many of the Aunts, Uncles and extended family members who took me there on rainy Summer afternoons. The spot is still owned and operated by her family. The steamed dogs are served on steamed buns with a variety of condiments including the typical relish and mustard, which is silently frowned upon. True aficionados will only order them "Flo's Way", with a generous spoon of their patented hot sauce, a dollop of mayo and a sprinkle of celery salt.


Flo's hot dog relish with "secrets locked inside".

After decades of requests the family finally made the famous hot sauce (the only term they use for it despite the word relish on the label) available to the public a few years back. They now sell far too small jars of it at the stand and online.

I visited a few weeks back and, other than the fact that two of us were now checked in on FourSquare, everything was exactly the same. The place was mobbed. The line extended far beyond the familiar, creaky, screen door at the entrance. The business cards from patrons the world over are still strewn about. I was the only one, however, to get an extra smile and a nod and that's because no one else had ordered their lunch "Flo's way."

You can order the famed hot sauce at the website here: Flo's Hot Dogs.

Flo's Hot Dogs
Route 1
Cape Neddick, Maine
Flo's is still proud that they have no telephone number.
Hours: 11:00am - 3:00 pm daily. Closed all day Wednesdays.

Dining On The Go

Dr. Mok Oh, Founder of EveryScape.

Mobile apps are where it's at. That's why were were excited to be invited to lunch at Upstairs On The Square yesterday to celebrate the launch of the new Boston edition of EveryScapeEats.com. This new iphone app not only finds you a restaurant but also actually takes you on a visual stroll through the place so you get a real feeling of being there. You can see the dining rooms, decor, window views, bar areas and even the entrance and surrounding neighborhood venues. It also uses geolocation if you're in an area where the eats are unfamiliar and you want to find out what's nearby.


Pulled pork sliders, steamed asparagus, house made kettle chips and beef on crostini.

I was lucky enough to be seated with the Founder of the company, Dr. Mok Oh, which meant for fun and interesting conversation about social media and restaurants. We laughed as we both sat down and checked in on FourSquare. Then he demonstrated the site for me on his ipad. The tours of the restaurants will also directly link you to CitySearch reviews so that you can read immediate citizen journalist reviews by CitySearch contributors. The on-the-go visual search content is unique and impressive. Boston is the first City to have the app which will eventually roll out across the country.


The buffet luncheon spread at Upstairs On The Square.

And although the ever gracious Mary Catherine Deibel may not be there to greet you at the door you can still take a stroll through Upstairs by clicking on this link to preview the service: Upstairs.


My dessert selection: mini cupcake, rumball, cookie and eclair.

Needless to say the food was great, especially the mini lobster rolls. The rolls are soft inside with that buttery crisped outside. I could have eaten a whole plate. The spicy shrimp served on skewers were also a standout, as well as the mini pastries. You may remember from a recent post That Upstairs abandoned all print advertising in 2010 in favor of using social media so this evolving new field is definitely a force to be reckoned with, especially in the hospitality field which are all basically social venues by nature. We look forward to keeping you updated on more interesting apps and doings in the field in the months ahead. In the meantime we are adding EveryScapeEats to the Open Table and Foodspotting apps already installed on the iphone.

Something For Everyone

The winner of our coffee contest is Elizabeth Jarrard! Elizabeth can't wait to try Rusty's Hawaiian 100% Ka'u Coffee from RoastE, the sponsor of the contest. She will receive a coupon for $15.00 off any order, which will get her a full pound of organic, Fair Trade coffee. Enjoy!


And because nobody is a loser at TBF our friends at Jer's Chocolates are offering all of our readers a 20% discount on any order of their handmade gourmet chocolates through the end of July! Just in time for Father's Day gifts to indulge Dad's sweet tooth. Visit the website here: Jer's. The coupon code is: hrblog.

Congratulations Elizabeth and thanks to everyone who participated!

Elegant Paris

Every once in a while we like to feature a unique European city hotel and the Hôtel de Sers is just such one. The boutique hotel, once an elegant 19th century mansion, boasts some of the most fantastic views of Paris and is just steps away from the famed Champs Elysées, in the 7th arrondissement.


With only fifty rooms in total, the hotel boasts true luxury in addition to it's stellar location, richly appointed rooms and full amenities.


As with all luxury boutique hotels, the price reflects the standard, not an economic choice but quite definitely the splurge for the lifestyle you deserve (at least when in Paris).



Hôtel de Sers
41 Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie
75008 Paris, France
Telephone: 01 53 23 75 75

Free Coffee Contest

It's time for a free pound of coffee for a lucky TBF reader! Our friends over at RoastE have generously agreed to provide the prize. Simply visit their website and take a look at the many organic, fair trade selections they offer then email us with the one you think you'd like best. Everyone who responds will be entered and the lucky winner's name will be drawn and announced on Friday June 11, 2010. The winner will receive a promo code for $15.00 towards any purchase on the site. Happy brewing!

Here is the link: RoastE

Frills Restaurant in Ogunquit

Even when I am supposed to be on vacation I always find ways to work. It's not like one can ever really get away from food and, in the end, I truly enjoy talking about it, writing about it and photographing it. So when we stopped in for lunch at Frills in Ogunquit last weekend I just knew I was going to have to share the experience.


Frills is a small alfresco dining restaurant, located on Shore Road, with open air patio seating and a canopy over the bar/lounge area.


The bar seemed to be a very popular stop off for a cool beverage after a day spent at the beach or in the sun.


Although we have seen long lines here before we had no more than a five minute wait. The service was good and the prices are reasonable for this casual dining spot.


Karen went with the turkey club with thick slices of freshly roasted turkey and crispy bacon served on a croissant. I tried one of the kettle chips and they were excellent.


Peter went with the lobster salad, a generous mound of lobster meat in a creamy mayonnaise served over a plate of greens.


I went with the scallop salad, one huge scallop wrapped in a crispy applewood bacon slab served over greens and artichokes. The salad was fresh and the dressing was great but I have to say I was expecting more than just one large scallop.


Kate slept under the canopy the entire time but did enjoy her first trip to the Maine Diner later in the week!

Frills
49 Shore Road
Ogunquit, ME 03907
Telephone: 207.641.0601

Eggland's Best Contest

Our friends over at Eggland's Best have offered us a prize pack to one of our lucky readers which will include coupons for free eggs. All you have to do is become a follower of TBF on Twitter (@TheBostonFoodie) and sign up as a fan of the Eggland's Best page on Face Book. That's it. Once you're done simply email us and let us know and you will be entered into the contest. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday June 7, 2010. Good Luck!

Yelp and Chowhound

The Boston Foodie ©

Apparently, and not to my dislike, I have been caught up in the Yelp/Chowhound controversy in a Boston newspaper article today. I tried and abandoned both of these post sites due to erroneous information and the time-consuming frustration spent sorting out fact from rants. It's kind of exciting to be involved in social media in the many levels of the Boston food atmosphere. Technology, content and people connections. You need all three and that's why people read here. Anyway, here's the quote:

Some restaurateurs and staff who do not have a favorable view of these sites spoke to me under condition of anonymity. “There’s sometimes a faceless nastiness on the sites,’’ says one. “People will sometimes attack chefs personally in a way that’s baseless and cruel.’’ A well-known restaurateur who refused to put a Google sticker on his door says, “They collect personal information and sell it. Why should I help? They can manufacture popularity with these sites, but it can go the other way.’’

Talented civilian reviewers who outgrow review sites are creating alternatives. Successful writers on Chowhound and eGullet (a popular bulletin board for food discussions), have gone on to create compelling food and restaurant blogs. In this area, there’s North Shore Dish (www.northshoredish.com), Eat Boutique (www.eatboutique.com), The Boston Foodie (www.thebostonfoodie.blogspot.com), Fork It Over, Boston (www.forkitoverboston.blogspot.com), and Table Critic (www.tablecritic.com).

Here is a link to the full article: Boston Globe

Canteen in Cambridge

We stopped in at Canteen, the new, casual cafe located between Harvard and Central Square, last week to check it out during their soft opening.


Clean and bright, it offers breakfast, lunch and dinner with a surprising social media twist. They do run a daily special but don't bother to ask about it at the counter. The only way to find out what it is is to go to their website or Face Book page. Interesting. The space is small and service is good. It seems to be designed for those popping in for a quick bite to eat.



We decided to try the Crafty: Roasted Turkey, fresh avocado, North Country bacon, cherry pepper mayo, and caramelized onion jam on a warm ciabatta roll. Quite good and it went well with their "Moss" drink, a light, gingery lemonade. We also liked the idea of being served a pickled pepper with the sandwich.



Canteen
983 Mass. Ave.
Cambridge, MA
Telephone: 617.547.5477