Initially, I was going to include a disclosure with this blog post.  I was going to tell you that while this is supposed to be a healthy food/lifestyle blog, most of the food you were going to see was by no means healthy, and something that should be consumed on a regular basis.  And then I realized, the dinner I had was mouthwateringly delicious, satisfying and each and every morsel was savored.  Thus, there was no need for an apology or a warning.

Image Source – flickr.com

A couple of weeks ago, FHC (Father Healthy Chow) invited me, Patrick, my sister and her boyfriend to dinner out in Chinatown.  While I love me some Chinese food (not Chinese-American food), I have a tendency to go a bit overboard and stuff myself silly.  It’s really quite hard to have self-restraint when everything tastes so dang good!  Plus, I like seeing the proud look on FHC’s face when he knows he’s ordered too much and then has to listen to us all moan, “Oh man!  How in the world are we going to be able to eat all of this?”  And then, I love watching him laugh when all of the dinner platters have been cleared – completely.

Being that there are so many restaurants in Chinatown, and to be perfectly honest with you I can’t tell the difference between them all, I let FHC make the selection.  He chose New Golden Gate Seafood Restaurant.  We had all been there before and had a wonderful meal, so no one had any objections to this being our dining destination.

The place was crowded!  Fortunately, FHC knows the management of the restaurant and was able to get us a big table.  Score! The waitstaff was rushing around taking orders and bringing out food, as their hungry patrons slurped up their meals and warmed up their bellies.  I pretended to peruse the menu, even though there was not a snowball’s chance that I was going to do any of the ordering.  FHC knows what we like, and we know we’re in good hands when he’s at the food ordering helm.  And while I was chitchatting with my sister and her boyfriend, I must have stopped paying attention for a split-second because all of the sudden, I saw an enormous sea creature coming towards me.

The one and only FHC!

People gettin’ their grub on!

They don’t call it a ‘king’ for nothing…

Oh yes!  It was an Alaskan King crab!  This is most certainly a delicacy (and an expensive one at that!), and one we only devour enjoy on special occasions.  This crustacean was big enough to feed a small army.  It was served three different ways: steamed with garlic, wok-fried with ginger and scallion, and poached (in its shell) with egg and pork.  They were each unique, and insanely scrumptious in their own right.

Steamed with fresh minced garlic

Wok-fried with ginger and scallion

All together…

Poached with egg, ground pork and scallion – ah-may-zing!

A lil’ bowl o’ deliciousness…

Next, came the vegetable (sadly, the only veggie of the night, but at least it was good!).  It was sautéed Chinese broccoli with Chinese sausage.  Chinese broccoli tends to be a bit more bitter than its American counterpart.  However, the Chinese sausage was salty and mildly sweet, which complemented the veggie quite nicely.  And if we didn’t have enough seafood already, soon arrived our deep-fried flounder.  My sister and I had asked for it to be steamed, but the waiter declined and advised that having it fried would serve as a much tastier version.  OK, twist my arm! The flounder was soft, succulent and fried to perfection.  Along with some soy sauce and fresh scallion slices, this could have been dinner on its own (but lucky for us, it was NOT!).  And just when we thought there was enough fried goodness to last us a lifetime, there was more in the queue.  However, Michelle and I requested our final dish to be ’sweet and sour pork’, and FHC heard ’salt and pepper pork’.  Not that the salt and pepper pork was something we’d send back to the kitchen, but the sweet and sour was something to which the table was looking forward.  This dish was a tad too salty, and really tasted more like batter than pork.  But who am I kidding?!  I ate it anyway!  Hehehehe!

Chinese broccoli with Chinese sausage – love that shade of green!

Crispy-fried flounder – hey fishie, fishie, fishie…!

Salt and pepper pork

At least I was eating off of an appetizer-sized plate!

We shared all of the dishes, as they were served family style.  There isn’t any ‘excuse my reach’ or ‘can you pass me that?’ going on at this dinner.  We simply Chowed and grabbed what we wanted to eat.  Dinner with FHC is usually relaxed, entertaining and filling.  That night’s dinner was no exception.  The food we enjoyed was exceptional, and the service we received was fast and attentive (I think FHC may have had something to do with that).  But, my favorite part of the night was seeing my dad and spending time with him.  He truly is one-of-a-kind.

Hi Dad!

To end our meal, we were served a warm and sweet red bean soup.  If you’ve never had this, you’re missing out.  It’s made with azuki beans, tangerine peel and brown sugar.  The combination may sound odd, but once you taste it and feel the warmth inside your tummy (and on top of all that food), you won’t find anything strange about it.  In fact, it’s said to aid in digestion.  Perfect!  And of course, no Chinese meal would be official without the fortune cookie.  Both of these sweet treats were a great way to finish our savory dinner.  I was happy as a clam (which is yet another dish FHC tried to order, but we quit while we were ahead)!

Warm red bean soup – good for digestion and for your taste buds!

Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of the actual fortune!

I hope you appreciated my recap of all the indulgent and delectable dishes we feasted upon in Chinatown.  It’s such a treat when I am able to dine like this, and I always look forward to it.  I get to have dinner with some of my favorite people, happily gorge myself on lip-smacking good food and enjoy a fun family night out.  When the night is filled with such wonderful things, how can I be sorry?

***Would you like a chance to win a new kitchen accessory?  If so, check out Meghan’s blog for her incredible giveaway!***

Do you like seafood?  What’s your favorite kind and your favorite way to prepare it?  If not, why not?

Namasté,
Nicole

I love my husband.  And while I know he loves me, I know he also loves his food.  Patrick will try and eat anything I make.  He has his favorites, he’s been the guinea pig for some of my ‘not-so-ordinary’ creations and he has even compared one of my dishes to tasting like fast food (but in a good way!).  But sometimes, Patrick just wants what he wants.  And sometimes, Patrick just wants a cheeseburger.

Image Credit – cafepress.com

Now, don’t get me wrong; there’s nothing wrong with a cheeseburger.  In fact, I enjoy eating them myself.  However, I can’t remember the last time I had a real cheeseburger.  I usually opt for a turkey burger or a veggie burger.  I think the last time I had a beef burger, it didn’t quite agree with me and thus, I’m now a bit leery.  So the thought of having a burger for dinner, would not be my first choice.  But the last time I ‘denied’ my husband of a meal, the restaurant ended up shutting its doors.  Lesson learned.  That said, we were off to satisfy Patrick’s craving.

Four Burgers is a cute little restaurant located in Central Square, Massachusetts, that serves, you guessed it, four different kinds of burger.  I first heard of this burger joint on the Phantom Gourmet, and I remember the rave reviews it received.  Since I’m a believer in the Phantom and this restaurant was only about 10 minutes away from our house, we figured we’d give it a go.

Cute, huh?

Notice the four circles?

This is such a fun and cozy place!  The four burgers that Four Burgers serves are all natural beef, vegetarian, turkey and wild salmon (they also had a lamb burger on special the day we were there).  I loved the decor and how the ‘four burger’ theme carried throughout the restaurant.  In addition, I really appreciated Four Burgers’ mission: To become the most “unique” and “original” burger concept in the market by providing top quality burgers and service. We are dedicated to making burger lovers out of everyone! Four Burgers also has some admirable core values.  Some of my favorites are that they use only the freshest, high quality, local products whenever possible, and they are mindful of their impact on the environment and the community.  And if that isn’t enough, their menu didn’t look so bad either.

Who needs a bigger menu?

Patrick took all of two seconds to figure out what he wanted to order (grass-fed, all-natural beef hamburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon and mushroom).  I couldn’t decide if I wanted a turkey burger (with apple & cranberry chutney, lettuce, tomato) or an organic vegan black bean burger.  They both sounded beyond good, but finally, I decided to go the meatless route.  And of course, no burger meal (meat or veggie) would be complete without a side order of french fries.  But in our case, we ordered what Four Burgers called, the ‘half & half’, which was half regular french fries and half sweet potato fries.  In our case, the side was more of an entrée!

So how did our burgers taste?  One word.  Phenomenal.  I’ve had my share of veggie burgers, and this one was one of the best I’ve had in quite some time.  It was flavorful, moist, thick and filling.  And, it was green in tint!  I’m guessing this was from all the fresh herbs that were inside.  My veggie burger also came with lettuce, guacamole and salsa (I could have also ordered it with mango BBQ sauce) all within a fluffy whole wheat bun.  While I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner, Patrick was on cloud nine with his.  To quote him exactly, “This is soooooo good!  The burger is juicy, has a slight char-grill taste, which you know I like.  And, the bacon is crispy.  You know how I like my crispy bacon!  I can’t believe we didn’t come to this place sooner!“  Um, yeah.  I think it’s safe to say Patrick really liked his dinner.  And what about the fries?  Perfection.  Both the regular french and the sweet potato were so, so, delicious!  I really hate to admit this but, we polished off the whole plate.  They were so worth it!

YUM!

My black bean burger close-faced…

And, open-faced…

Patrick’s ultimate cheeseburger…

Look at all of those layers!

Drooling…

Patrick and I give Four Burgers, four stars and four thumbs up!  The atmosphere was excellent, the food was excellent and the fact that they only use the highest quality ingredients and are environmentally sound is excellent.  We couldn’t have been more pleased with our meal.  While the menu was simple (in addition to the four burgers, they also offered an all natural hot dog, a mesclun greens salad, as well as a few sweet treats), the taste was nothing short of extraordinary.  But then again being able to provide great food with friendly service, coupled with a good conscience, doesn’t have to be complicated.

Pretty cool, huh?

(these might be the noisiest chairs on the planet!  just sayin’…)

What’s your favorite kind of burger?  What toppings do you like to put on your burger?

Namasté,
Nicole

Do you have a favorite place to eat?  Maybe it’s a restaurant that your parents used to take you when were a kid?  Perhaps it’s a cozy little café in the city where the atmosphere is almost as wonderful as the food?  Or, a mom and pop diner that makes the best breakfast in the world?  Could it be an upscale bistro that knows just how to make your drink and where you know your friends will be on any given weekend night?  Well for me, it is a family-owned restaurant that is literally a stone throw’s away from my house.  It’s a place that has never disappointed me and along with my mouthwatering meal, I always receive the most courteous and friendly service.

However, this past week I realized that the place where I thought would always be open and ready to feed me with good belly-warming food, closed for business.  To say the least, I am devastated.  After 29 years of business, my beloved Chef Chang’s has shut its doors and in turn, my heart feels as if it’s going to shut down.  And I never even had the chance to say goodbye.

Chef Chang’s was a restaurant specializing in Szechuan cuisine.  While many of the dishes served there were absolutely scrumptious, a good portion of them were also not of the healthiest of nature.  And because their food was so tasty, I definitely did not hold back whenever I dined there.  For that reason, I began limiting my visits.  I knew that as soon as I walked in their doors, their chicken fried rice, hot and sour soup, General Gau’s chicken, Peking ravioli, crab rangoon, chicken fingers and boneless spareribs were going to take me hostage for the evening.  I loved me some Chang’s, but decided it was best reserved for special occasions (much to Patrick’s dismay).  And because I was trying to start the new year off on the right track, I was being more restrictive than normal.  Thus, I had not dined there in months.  And the last time I had eaten at Chef Chang’s, I stuck with the more bland foods and the items that I felt were ‘healthier’ for me.  I left still on the ‘hungrier’ side and not exactly ecstatic with my meal.

When Patrick came home the other day after attempting to drop by Chef Chang’s to grab lunch (they had some great lunch special deals), he couldn’t stop shaking his head.  All Patrick could say to me was, “I can’t believe it!  Chef Chang’s is closed for good and we never got to enjoy our last meal there.”   I then realized that because I had been so crazed about not wanting to go there due to my inability to control my overindulgent eating ways, I had missed out on bidding farewell to a place that meant so much to me and Patrick.  Close to 10 years ago, Patrick and I had our first ‘real’ date at Chef Chang’s.  I think it’s safe to say I fell in love with the food there that night, and even more so with Patrick.  We just had the best time eating good food, having great laughs and making even better memories.

I wish I had the chance to enjoy one more meal at Chef Chang’s.  I would have savored each and every bite and ordered whatever I wanted on the menu.  I wouldn’t have worried about a single calorie.  But unfortunately, I am too late.  All the worrying about eating too much and eating the wrong things now just seems sort of silly to me.  While I know losing Chef Chang’s is somewhat trivial, and fortunately it is not a loved one or something of a more serious nature, I have been taught an important lesson.  Life is unpredictable and it’s short.  I always assumed my favorite neighborhood restaurant would be open for business.  I never once thought in a million years it would be gone for good.  When you spend so much time worrying and stressing over little things, you begin to miss out on the fun.  I know health is important and eating well is something in which we should all partake.  However, it shouldn’t consume (lame pun unintended) your life and prevent you from enjoying the things you love.

Goodbye Chef Chang’s.  I love you and miss you.  I’ll always hold you near and dear to my heart.  Patrick and I will be eternally grateful for your delectable food and the lasting memories you’ve given us.  Thank you for all your wonderful years.  Until we meet again…

And while we’re on the subject of things Chinese, I wanted to conclude with some pictures of the closing ceremony for the Chinese New Year.  On our walk through Chinatown yesterday, we watched some of the dragon dances.  Grrr!  It’s the year of the tiger!

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If there was one food you could eat for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Why?

Namasté,
Nicole

I know it’s been cold all around the country, but it seems it’s been especially cold up in the Northeast.  I mean, when you’re wearing two pair of gloves, two pair of pants, two fleece jackets and a winter coat and you’re still numb, that’s not good.  Fortunately, this bitter cold spell is ending and we’ll soon have just regular winter temperatures.  Phew!

Other than practicing yoga in a hot and humid studio, drinking absurd amounts of hot water with lemon and herbal tea, never taking off my Snuggie (just kidding.  I don’t have one, but right now, it doesn’t seem like a bad idea!) and soaking in a bubble bath until I start looking like a prune, the only way I can stay warm physically and mentally is by eating vats of steaming hot soup.  Can you blame me?

Image Credit – mediabistro.com

Last night, I had a big bowl of broth on the brain.  I just couldn’t let it go.  All I could picture was that warm and toasty feeling in my stomach and how happy I would be.  I had to have my soup.  But, just any soup wasn’t going to do.  I had a hankering for Thai.  I needed soup from one of my favorite Thai restaurants, Dok Bua.  It’s just too bad that the timing of my soup hunger had to coincide with the Celtics/Lakers game.  And we can’t forget that I am married to Sport Billy.

Lucky for me, Patrick was also in the mood for Thai.  However, we had to make a deal.  We could have dinner at Dok Bua, but it had to be quick so that we could make it back for the last quarter of the Celtics game.  Done and done.  As long as I could have my soup, I didn’t mind having to rush back home to see the end of the game.  Healthy Chow knows how to compromise!

Dok Bua is a charming, little Thai restaurant in Brookline.  The prices are great, the food is delicious and the service is always prompt and exceptional.  While I have many favorites at this place, without question, I had to have my chicken noodle soup (guay-tiow-kai) tonight.  It’s simple, hearty, delectable and a nice bang for your buck.  Plus, soup takes me a good 10 minutes longer to inhale eat than a noodle dish would, and being able to eat slower is always a bonus for me.

Because we were dining on the earlier side, we were one of the only patrons in the restaurant.  Thus, our food was served immediately.  Obviously, Patrick was psyched about this as he was trying his hardest to make the end of the game, and I was psyched because I could finally eat my soup!

My chicken noodle soup was perfect.  The broth base was savory and bursting with flavor from the fresh scallion and cilantro.  The rice noodles were plentiful and the chicken gave this dish just the right amount of protein.  To top off my soup, I was given fresh bean sprouts and Thai basil.  I love adding bean sprouts to my soup as it gives a healthy crunch and adding Thai basil to anything is always wonderful.  It’s fragrant, sweet and has a mild licorice flavor.  It definitely made my soup even better, if that was even possible!

Patrick seemed to really enjoy his meal as well.  He ordered the chicken pad-si-ew dinner special, his all-time favorite.  Pad-si-ew is sautéed wide rice noodles in a spicy and savory brown sauce.  The dinner specials at Dok Bua come with a cup of tom yum soup, two egg rolls, two fried pork dumplings and steamed jasmine rice.  Needless to say, this is a lot of food, but certainly one of the best Thai food deals you can get in town.  Now you know why we love this place!

While my dinner tonight was most enjoyable, it was quickly coming to an end.  The Celtics were up and the clock was ticking.  But there’s always time for fortune cookies.  It’s just the right amount of sweetness to curb my post-dinner sugar craving.

“The future is the most expensive luxury in the world.”
“There is no reference for beauty.”

We got home just in time to catch the last few minutes of the game.  Literally, Patrick was running from the car into our condo building.  I don’t know why, but I thought this was the most hilarious thing!  Unfortunately, our night did not end in a ‘win-win’ situation.  While my giant bowl of soup was able to keep me warm and take some of that chill out of me, the Celtics lost their game to the Lakers by one point.  Oh well.  Nevertheless, we had a great dinner out and this was a relaxing way to end our frigidly cold winter weekend.  When you have wonderful company that warms your heart and a hot meal to warm your belly, how can you complain?  It’s just what the dok-tor ordered!

Better luck next time, C’s!

How do you keep warm during the winter?  Are you a soup person?  What’s your favorite kind of soup?

Namasté,
Nicole

Back for some more New York City action, huh?  Well, I can’t blame you!  In yesterday’s post, I gave you the lowdown on our first day and night in the big city.  Boy, did we have a great time!  We checked into our lovely and fabulously located hotel, we had a quick and delicious lunch at Cranberry Café, we witnessed the grandeur that Times Square has to offer and we enjoyed a laugh-filled dinner at Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant.  But that was just the tip of the iceberg! Thank goodness, we all got our much needed beauty rest.

After getting a good night’s sleep in preparation for our Sunday celebratory festivities, we were refreshed and had a full tank of gas, just rearing to go.  With our breakfast scheduled at 9:30am, I knew we had to be up by no later than 8am to get our day started.  However, I’m not sure if it was the cool temperature in our hotel room or the fact that I was electrified by the fact that we were in the New York, but I was wide awake at 7am (that’s not a normal thing without an alarm clock for Healthy Chow).  Patrick must have been on the same sleeping pattern as me, because he was also ready to greet the day before the alarm went off.  That said, we jumped into our workout clothes and made good use of the hotel’s fitness center.

The Millennium Broadway Hotel’s fitness center was pretty impressive.  There were two separate areas to work out in: one was for weights and weight training and the other was for cardio.  The gym was clean and had multiple televisions available for use.  Other than two other people, Patrick, David and I were the only ones in the gym.  It was great! No lines and no incessant yapping from other guests.  Plus, I got to stare at the tops of the New York City buildings as I was speedwalking and working up a good lather.  With a few yoga stretches, 25 minutes of speedwalking and regular walking on the treadmill and some cool down stretching, I was completely energized.  While I got a good workout in, I probably could have pushed myself further.  But, I also didn’t want to be tired (or sore) for the rest of the day.  My quick cardio session was just enough to get my blood pumping and to do some much needed detoxification.

Wow, it looks like we both worked up a good sweat!

After quickly showering and getting dressed, we only had a few moments to spare before it was breakfast time.  And this wasn’t just any ordinary breakfast, it was a special breakfast for a special girl.  In addition, breakfast wasn’t going to be served at just any ol’ restaurant, it was being held at a place that is undeniably, a little girl’s fantasy.  For Casey’s 5th birthday party, Lisa and David planned a breakfast at none other than American Girl Place.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but when we arrived, I was blown away.  To be able to see all the children so giddy with excitement and joy was truly endearing.  Plus, this place was amazing and huge! There were about four or five floors filled with shopping, activities for girls and their dolls, a restaurant and more shopping.  I could not believe how popular this store was – it was filled to the brim with families and dolls! Crazy!

Our breakfast destination!

Not only did the guest of honor, Casey, have a blast at her birthday party, but we all did as well.  The staff was hospitable, friendly and prompt.  In a large restaurant with so many customers, one usually expects and receives less-than-stellar service and not-so-great food.  This was the complete opposite!  Our main server, Anthony, couldn’t have been more accommodating and polite.  Plus, the menu offered more than ‘kid friendly’ options and everyone seemed quite pleased with their selections and the quality of the food.  The decorum of the dining area was also fantastic.  I felt like a doll living in a dollhouse or at least, a big (but not that big) little girl having her dreams come true.  As the conversation flowed, the coffee flowed and the good times and laughter were continuously being rolled out much like our hot breakfast entrées.  There were even souvenirs (a hair elastic with a hot pink bow) for all the guests and fun little conversational question cards available at the table.  It’s truly a blessing to be able to spend time with your family and to be able to be in the presence of such wonderful company.  I can only imagine the greatness that both Dan and Ellen felt just watching their family interact and have such a joyous time and knowing that this all stemmed from the love they created 40 years ago.

The guest of honor with her dolls

Taylor with her Papa

Taylor with Grammy

Who’s the bigger doll?

Everyone smile for the camera and say, “Healthy Chow!”

How’s that smoothie?

The American Girl Breakfast Menu

My Breakfast: Eggs Benedict Florentine - poached eggs served with wilted spinach and English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce (I had mine on the side) and accompanied by home-style potatoes and fresh fruit

Flower Power Pancakes with Fresh Bananas and Whipped Cream – served with fresh fruit and sausage links (and some Country Breakfast Eggs)

Country Breakfast - scrambled eggs with home-style potatoes, onions, sausage and peppers topped with cheddar cheese and served with a side of avocado, salsa and sour cream

Classic French Toast – topped with warm apples and cinnamon fresh fruit kabob, served with a side of apple wood smoked bacon and maple syrup

Chocolate Mousse Flowerpot with Butterfly Cookie

The whole gang

Question: Who would you want to trade places with for one day?  Why?

Taylor’s Answer: “I pick you, Nicole, because you’re a lot of fun and you look like a teenager.  For real!”

Too much!

Once breakfast was over, the gang broke free to explore the rest of American Girl Place.  While the little ladies got their shopping on, I managed to check things out and get a lay of the land.  Holy moly, words can’t describe the magnitude of this place.  If you have an American Girl doll, this is the place to go for your doll.  There is everything and anything you could possibly want or need here for your American Girl.  I think both Taylor and Casey were more than happy with their purchases.

An hour and a half?!

The Doll Hair Salon

After getting back to the hotel to drop off our purchases, we freshened up and decided to make a trip to the Empire State Building.  While most of the group was in on visiting this tourist attraction, some decided to make good use of the amazing weather and make a visit to Central Park.  Since my MIL and I love shopping and enjoy each other’s company (we share the same sense of humor!), we decided to branch off from the group and have some mother-in-law and daughter-in-law time.  We ventured off and hit some of the nearby shops as the rest of the group made the trip to the top of the Empire State Building.  Patrick was in the Empire State Building group and thus, became the interim photographer for my blog.  He did a pretty fancy job snapping some great pics.  Thanks Patrick!

By the time all of our tours were over, it was late in the afternoon.  But with our dinner reservation at 6:30pm, we had only a few moments to rest and recharge.  But when you’re in New York, who needs to rest, right?  For our final dinner and celebration in the big city, we decided to have dinner at the Italian restaurant, Becco (thanks for the recommendation, Billy!).  Becco was about a ten minute walk from our hotel, which was key since it was about 6:15pm by the time we left.  We made it just in time and with even a few minutes to spare! While we all congregated in front of the restaurant, we decided it was the perfect time to take a group photo. Don’t you love it when you can grab a complete stranger off the street and ask them to take a picture and it actually turns out well?

What a night to remember!

Becco’s menu was incredible! There were so many delectable sounding choices and quite fairly priced for a New York City restaurant.  After much deliberating both to myself and out loud, I finally chose the Pesce Spada (grilled swordfish paired with spaghetti squash, stewed cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds & pumpkin seed oil).  It was divine and certainly had its fair portion of both vegetables and fish.  Not to mention the swordfish was grilled to perfection and the stewed cherry tomatoes were deliciously sweet.  While I originally thought I had ordered ‘the best’ entrée on the menu, I soon questioned my belief after sampling some of Patrick’s Sinfonia di Paste (Becco’s renowned unlimited table side service of Becco’s Chef’s Three Daily Pasta Preparations) and David’s Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef (brined double cut pork chop grilled, topped with figs poached in Apianae & roasted fingerling potatoes), I soon realized that there was just more than one ‘best’ entrée at Becco.  Actually, everyone was more than thoroughly pleased with both the food and the service at this restaurant.  You really could not go wrong with any item ordered off the Becco menu.  Our waitress, Anne, was a pleasure and was gracious throughout our entire meal.  And while the food was excellent, the restaurant itself was quite charming as well.  It had a rustic feel and almost felt like a North End restaurant with it’s exposed brick and close fitting dining area.

Our coat check tag and table reservation number from breakfast- both were 40, like Dan and Ellen’s anniversary!

Fresh mozzarella with roasted red peppers, toasted pine nuts & golden raisins

Fresh prosciutto

Caesar salad – very tasty but way too much dressing for my liking…

Now that’s a meatball!

Pesce Spada – Grilled swordfish paired with spaghetti squash, stewed cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkin seeds & pumpkin seed oil

Costolette di Maiale alla Maniera dello Chef - Brined double cut pork chop grilled, topped with figs poached in Apianae & roasted fingerling potatoes

Sinfonia di Paste - Becco’s renowned unlimited table side service of Becco’s Chef’s Three Daily Pasta Preparations

Trancio di Salmone – Pan-seared salmon with braised cauliflower & extra virgin olive oil

Bistecca – Grilled Black Angus rib eye, dry-aged & rubbed with porcini mushrooms
with garlic mashed potatoes & seasonal vegetables

Of course, we had to have dessert!

Happy 40th Anniversary!

Once dinner was over, we made our way through Times Square once again to get one last look at the the city lights.  They were as bright as ever and the city was even more jammed with people than when we last saw it.  I saw a bunch of cameras and even brighter lights at the center of Times Square and people clamoring around as though there was something being filmed.  As we made our way over, I realized that it was Entertainment Tonight’s The Insider being filmed.  With my MIL, Ellen, being a huge fan of The View, as soon as I realized it was Star Jones sitting on stage, I just knew this would be one of the highlights of her trip.  Not only was Ellen excited to see Star, but she was even more thrilled to see that the guest anchor was none other than Levi Johnston! Ellen, I will have to admit, Levi was pretty cute!

Hey there!

Our trip to New York City was certainly a memorable one.  We shared as many laughs and smiles as we did bites of food and dessert.  When you’re in a special city celebrating occasions such as a wedding anniversary and a birthday with your entire family, everyone is lucky enough to receive a gift.  I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful family and to have been able to be a part of the New York trip.  It is sure to go down as one of my favorite family vacations.  And while we were able to see so many sights and do so many things in the city, there was one common theme that remained throughout and that was love.  Like the lights in Times Square that brighten up the sky morning, noon and night, and guide the city’s people, it is the love of family and the love between an extraordinary couple, like Dan and Ellen, that remains a constant and continues to fuel the fire of life.

What’s your favorite city you’ve ever visited?  Do you wish you could live there or would you rather keep it as a favorite vacation spot?

Namasté,
Nicole

No, this isn’t a post on the 2009 World Series Champions, The New York Yankees.  I think my family, both immediate and extended, would definitely might give me a stern talking to if that were the case.  This past weekend, my family and I traveled to New York City to celebrate two very special occasions, my mother and father-in-law’s 40th wedding anniversary and my niece Casey’s, 5th birthday.  Not that we need special occasions to celebrate in order to go to New York, but since they happen to occur on the same day, it just makes the trip that much more extraordinary.

(sidebar – Guess who I saw while waiting to board my flight to New York?  Ellie Krieger! Can you believe it?  I so badly wanted to take her picture but since she was VIP, she boarded before anyone else and I missed my chance.  But, when I walked by Ellie to get to my seat, I smiled and she gave me a head nod.  Then I shouted, “check out HealthyChow.com…”  Just kidding, I wish I had the nerve to say that!)

While Times Square was our meeting place and where our hotel was located, we were all coming from different directions and via different modes of transportation.  Ellen and Dan, my mother and father-in-law, were coming from Springfield, MA via train, my brother and sister-in-law were coming from Atlanta via plane with my nieces, my other siblings-in-law were driving in from Boston, and Patrick and I took the shuttle.  Needless to say, by the time we all finally arrived at our hotel, The Millennium Broadway, we were excited to see each other and excited to see the big city.

On the bridge heading to Times Square

The lobby area of the Millennium Broadway Hotel

The Dolls with their dolls

Thanks to Travel Agent Pat, our hotel could not have been better situated.  We were literally in the heart of Times Square and within walking distance from anything we could possibly need.  But then again, when you have a bird’s eye view of the heart of New York City, what more could you possibly need or want?

View from our room

Another angle…

Check out all those taxi cabs!

Are those people or ants?!

I think my nieces, Casey and Taylor, love being in NYC!

Well, there was one thing we wanted and needed and that was a quick bite to eat.  We had all been up since the crack of dawn traveling, so some much needed food was definitely on the menu (lame pun intended).  With the suggestion of the concierge, the eight of us walked across the street to the Cranberry Café.  It was a hungry traveler’s dream come true! The deli offered every kind of hot and cold sandwich, wrap and sub you could imagine while there were also stands for custom made salads and pre-made sushi.  And if sandwiches, sushi and salads didn’t float your boat, there was also the largest of hot bars and a pretty hefty salad bar.  And if you wanted even more bars, there was a whole wall filled with protein/convenience bars.  Because I was overwhelmed with all the choices, I decided to make it easy on myself and went with the salad bar.  I really got a nice myriad of everything – just the way I like it!

Once we purchased our food, we ventured upstairs to the dining area and had a relaxed lunch.  It was a ’seat-yourself’ type of restaurant and we grabbed the largest table we could find and chowed down!  While we were all so excited to catch-up with one another, I don’t think a word was uttered from anyone (including the kids) for at least 1o minutes.  We really needed the nourishment and the Cranberry Café definitely fulfilled that need.

Hungry!

My lunch: romaine lettuce, cucumber slices in vinaigrette, grape tomatoes and 1 small mozzarella cheese ball, a hard boiled egg (minus the yolk), salad of chick peas, red kidney beans, peas and carrots, grapes and cantaloupe

Travel Agent Pat’s Lunch: YUM!  Nothing like corned beef on rye! Hi Billy!

After lunch, one of our hotel rooms was finally ready for us to check in and we were able to freshen up and head back out into the city.  I couldn’t believe how many people were out and about.  You would have thought it was a holiday or that there was some event going on in Times Square, but it was just an ordinary Saturday afternoon.  Because the weather was unseasonably warm, we were able to walk through the city with just light jackets.  It felt like spring and we certainly had a spring in our step.  Just to be able to be in a wonderful place such as New York with our family was enough to put a permanent smile on our faces.

David and Dan

Me and Patrick

After taking a tour of Times Square and the Marriott Marquis hotel’s upstairs lounge, my sister-in-law along with her boyfriend, and my brother-in-law along with his fiancée, arrived and finally, the whole clan was here!  Since one of my brothers-in-law and his family live in Atlanta, we don’t always have the entire group in one place, at one time.  Thus, to have everyone together in one spot was a momentous occasion on its own.  I grew up with only my twin sister and while we were always thicker than thieves, it’s nice to be a part of a large family.  I love the different dynamics that occur within a big family and I love having a large group around.  Nothing is ever boring and there’s always something new to learn about another person.  With my extended family, there are always plenty of laughs, fun, good times and a shoulder to support you whenever you need it.  It’s truly a magnificent feeling to have.

Look at all those floors!

For our first family dinner in New York, we decided to go casual and quite local.  We headed across the street to Connolly’s Pub and Restaurant.  Since this restaurant is right in the middle of the theater district, it was packed when we arrived at 7:30pm.  But since there was now 12 of us, we managed to snag the front tables and basically had the whole front area of the restaurant to ourselves.

Taylor and her grandparents

Kevin,Vanja and Taylor with Casey climbing the stairs in the background

Greg, Carolyn and Taylor - so cute!

From the ATL, David and Lisa

Your girl, Healthy Chow, and Travel Agent Pat

Connolly’s is an Irish pub with live music and pretty good food.  In addition to their traditional Irish dishes like beer battered fish and chips, Irish beef stew and bangers and mash, Connolly’s also serves burgers, wraps, salads and other comfort food dishes.  Everyone seemed to find exactly what they were looking for within minutes and the friendly Connolly’s staff was able to serve our enormous and hungry party almost immediately.  I ordered the Mediterranean grilled vegetable wrap with eggplant, zucchini, tomato, mushroom, roasted red pepper, carrot, romaine lettuce, goat cheese and a balsamic glaze on a honey wheat wrap.  All the sandwiches and wraps came with french fries and while they did sound and look good, I asked if I could substitute the fries for a vegetable.  The vegetable was a carrot and parsnip purée and it was delicious! I think I preferred my side dish of veggies over my sandwich.  Wow!  Those must have been some vegetables!

Once we all finished eating, we decided to have a few more drinks before calling it a night.  Since it was Casey’s birthday the next day and Ellen and Dan’s anniversary, we had a day filled with festivities planned and wanted to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.  Plus, Casey’s birthday breakfast was set for 9:30am and we could not be late for our reservation.  But we were all pretty tired from traveling, so we were ready to hit the sack.  Our first day and night in the big city was great and if it was any indication of how the rest of our weekend was going to be, we were going to have a blast.  The city that never sleeps seems to have some sort of a power over the people.  And we were ready for this city to take us over…

“These streets will make you feel brand new, big lights will inspire you, let’s hear it for New York, New York, New York…”

***BTW, while we were celebrating Dan and Ellen’s anniversary and Casey’s birthday in NYC, it was also MHC’s boyfriend’s birthday in Boston.  Happy belated birthday, Darrell!***

***Don’t forget to come visit me tomorrow to see what else Healthy Chow and the gang did in New York…stay tuned…***

Do like visiting and exploring big cities?  Do you like to have things planned and mapped out or do you like to plan as you go like me when you’re on vacation?

Namasté,
Nicole

***Thank you again for all your kind words and your concern about my blog and its ‘issues’.  I am so lucky to have such great friends and readers.  I’m truly blessed and so happy to have all of you in my life.  Unfortunately, if you commented or linked back to my blog late Sunday, October 25th or early Monday, October 26th, your comments/linkbacks did not get posted (and I wasn’t immediately notified) due to my hosting provider issues   I just didn’t want you to think that I was ignoring you – that would never happen!  I guess while Healthy Chow was down, she was really out.  But she’s back (fingers crossed) and better than ever!  Thank you again for your patience!***

Yup.  You’ve guessed it.  I’ve decided to dedicate a post about ME.  Gah!  I kid, I kid…

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the second ALLocal Dinner at UpStairs on the Square, in Cambridge.  ALL, meaning, ‘All Local & Luscious’, was hosted by the Local Food Committee of the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) and Cambridge Local First.  Local food leaders and local Cambridge business leaders were invited to attend a dinner that was going to be prepared with ingredients that would be:

• Sourced as close to Cambridge as possible within New England
• Processed by New England artisans and companies
• Delivered by New England-owned distribution companies
• Prepared and served at a Massachusetts restaurant
• Eaten by `Local Eaters’  (Outsiders were welcome, too!)

Not only was this dinner going to be prepared with some of the freshest and finest ingredients in and around New England and at one of the best known restaurants in the Cambridge area, but it was going to be a five course meal to boot!  How could Healthy Chow resist?! Plus this fabulous dinner was an opportunity for me to:

• Support local farmers, fisherman and food artisans
• Share a meal with local Cambridge business leaders and local food leaders passionate about their local community and local food choices
• Raise funds for the work of Cambridge Local First

I’m all about having a belly full of delicious food, but to know that the food that was going in my belly was actually going to be doing some good as well, now that’s a home run (it is October after all, how could I not use that lame pun?)!  And to be considered a local food leader?  Healthy Chow would be honored to call herself that! (*brushes her shoulders with the tips of her fingers*)  Usually, I’m just a food ‘eater’!

When I arrived in Harvard Square, I wasn’t quite exactly sure where this established restaurant was located.  But because it was a lovely fall night (there haven’t been too many of those lately) and your girl was dropped off early again, I decided to take my time finding the place.  After asking about five different people (no lie), I finally found it.  It’s just one of those places that you know you’ve walked by 1,000’s of times, but just can’t seem to pinpoint it in your head.  I should have just followed my nose; the smell from the fireplaces inside were beckoning me to come in.  But not before I could snap a few shots .

UpStairs on the Square had some of the funkiest decorum for a restaurant I have ever seen.  As I walked ‘upstairs’ (about three flights) to the function room where the dinner was being held, the leopard print carpeting grabbed my attention and informed me that this was not going to be any ordinary restaurant.  Inside the function room guests gathered around the lit fireplaces, meeting and greeting others as the libations flowed and were enjoyed.  After checking in and getting my name tag and table number, I looked around for some familiar faces.  Unfortunately, I did not know anyone but this didn’t deter me from introducing myself to some of my table mates, as well as taking some pictures of our beautifully decorated dining room.  The pink and gold painted walls reminded me of Alice in Wonderland, which was quite apropos considering the feeling I derived from the dining room was more fairytale than reality.

As the final guests arrived, I sat down to eagerly read the special menu for the night, but was soon greeted by a familiar face.  Jim Broderick, the founder of Teather™, was seated at the table right behind me.  As usual, Jim was his friendly and upbeat self and we discussed just how excited we were to taste our locally prepared and sourced dinner.  Within a few minutes, the guests were asked to take their seats as our first course was being served.  I think everyone, including Healthy Chow, was ready to eat since it only took one call for all the guests to sit.  To say that the food was being highly anticipated would have been a huge understatement.

To start off our five courses, the first course was Salad of Siena Farm’s Autumn Greens – Fried Green Tomatoes, Cilantro & Lime. The greens were like no other greens I had ever tasted in my life.  I couldn’t believe just how fresh they were and how fragrant they tasted.  Even though the salad was lightly dressed with a vinaigrette, it could have been eaten dry - that’s how truly delectable this salad was!  The fried green tomato was fried in a light batter that was a bit salty on first bite, but complemented the salad greens perfectly.

Our second course was easily my favorite.  We were served Creamy Long Island Pumpkin Soup – Gray’s Rhode Island Cornmeal ‘Johnnycakes’. Holy smokes, this soup was outstanding! With just the right amount of cream and spice, this soup that ate like a meal, warmed the bellies from the inside out.  But the best part was the Johnnycakes.  The table likened the Johnnycakes to be a cross between a hushpuppy and cornbread, but not as heavily fried.  I’m not sure if my table mates were right or wrong, but what I do know is that these golden pieces of goodness were like a dream.  They were so incredibly light and airy, and served as the perfect ’sponge’ to soak up my soup.  The delicately fried fresh sage leaves that garnished this orange bowl of delight were also out-of-this-world good.  I think they might have been there for sheer decoration, but I happily gobbled them up.  They were too tasty to leave behind!  Yum!

For our main course, we had a choice between a fish or vegan entrée.  I honestly had a tough deciding between the two; you would have thought I was making the most difficult decision of my life.  I finally chose the Gloucester Day Boat Cod – Vermont House-Cured Bacon, Pat Woodbury’s Wellfleet Clams, Native Fennel, Radishes & Spicy Cress.  The cod was exquisite, but definitely did not overshadow the clams.  Hidden inside of these tiny mollusks were bits of bacon that I could have sworn were the equivalent to finding buried treasure.  If I wasn’t sitting at a table filled with strangers, I definitely think I would have licked my plate clean.  However, when I saw the vegan option being served next to me, I began getting entrée envy.  The vegan dish was Savoy Cabbage Beggar’s Purse  – Stuffed with Creamy Westport Macomber Turnips, Bill’s Foraged Mushrooms & Rainbow Carrots, Braised in Col Walker’s Little Compton Tomatoes (sorry, I was a bad lil’ blogger and forgot to snap a photo of this dish; I was too busy eating). If it was acceptable, I would have dug my fork into my neighbor’s plate and had me a taste.  Healthy Chow likes to have a taste of both worlds - literally.

For dessert and our final two courses, we were served a cheese plate of Three Perfect New England Cheeses - Kimball Farms Quince & Native Honey and Baked Spiced Apple – Cinnamon Ice Cream.  Because both courses were served at virtually the same time, I couldn’t decide which to eat first.  The cheese was paired with a drizzle of honey that tasted as if it came straight from the bee.  Dipping the chunks of glorious cheese into this sweet nectar was enough dessert to end the night.  But when you have a warm baked apple sitting right in front of you with homemade ice cream, how can you say no? Well, I certainly did not say no and instead, said yes to devouring the whole bowl.  And yes, it was certainly worth it!

While every single one of the five courses wowed me and had me asking myself why I had never dined at this restaurant before, the speeches and conversation that continued throughout the night were also something that I quite enjoyed.  Because this dinner was a benefit to raise money for Cambridge Local First, as well as to raise awareness for supporting local independents, various speakers spoke throughout the night about some of the upcoming events and projects that were taking place in the Boston area.  For example, the International Day of Climate Action that took place on October 24th, which was organized by 350.org, supporting the world’s greatest bake sale – Pie in the Sky, the importance of 10PercentShift.org and the weekly vegan tasting menus that are available at UpStairs on the Square, who for 27 years has been dedicated to serving the best of local fare.  While my taste buds were being stimulated by the wonderful food being served before me, my mind was certainly not left out.  After listening to the words of the various speakers, I came to the conclusion that I could certainly do more in my part to support local business and to eat more locally sourced food.  My stomach was filled with some of the most extraordinary tasting food I’ve had in quite some time, and my head was filled with some food for thought.  To say the least, I was stuffed.

Because I’m still new to the blogging world, I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about the night.  I knew there were going to be some actual prominent leaders in local food and I wasn’t quite sure what I could bring to the table (yes, I meant that one!).  However, the guests that were seated at my table were anything but intimidating.

Fan Watkinson, Co-Chair of SBN Local Food Committee, was seated directly to my left and while she was one of the hosts for the night’s dinner and was responsible for much of the night’s organizational duties, she made it a point to get to know each guest at our table.  Fan made me feel more than welcome at the dinner and in fact, made me feel special.  We talked about my blog, social media and the impact it’s had on business and communication.  Fan is an absolute delight; I was so glad to have had the chance to meet her.  Also seated at the table was Dan Meyers, the Administrative Director of Cambridge Local First.  While Dan spoke to our table about some of the events Cambridge Local First was conducting, he also impressed us with his culinary background.  Dan was a chef in the Boston area and is an avid cook.  We discussed some of our favorite food blogs and how we couldn’t believe just how creative some people could be.  He was certainly one multi-faceted person!  And finally, two ladies from The Fishmonger market in Cambridge, talked about the seafood industry and answered my questions about mercury levels in fish.  They were certainly knowledgeable and informed me of the do’s and don’t’s of ordering seafood at restaurants.  I guess I won’t be ordering seafood on a Monday night ever again, especially after a big storm!

All in all (get it?), the dinner was a huge success.  The room was filled to capacity with guests and the food was nothing short of amazing.  I was so happy to have been a part of such a wonderful event.  To be surrounded with people who have as pure of an interest in food as myself was comforting.  Each guest at my table and at the event brought their own unique personality and contributed to the energetic vibe that circulated throughout the night.  My eyes were opened to a whole new dining experience, as well as my mind was opened to a whole new world of awareness – and there is no kidding around about that.

What was one of the most unique dining experiences you’ve had?  How much of your budget goes to buying from local vendors/businesses?

Namasté,
Nicole

I grew up on the eastern side of Massachusetts.  To get to Boston by car from my house, it would take you about 15 minutes.  All of my family lived within 30 minutes from my childhood home.  I attended college in Boston; it was about a ten minute drive from my house.  My first job after I graduated was in Waltham, another 15 minute drive from Boston.  And now I live in Boston.  Needless to say, Healthy Chow likes Massachusetts and the Boston area.  And why wouldn’t I?  Boston is a great place to be.  Suffice it to say, I never strayed too far from home.

However, when I met Patrick, I ‘discovered’ there was another side to Massachusetts.  Patrick is from Springfield, which is in western Massachusetts.  Perhaps I grew up in a box or I was just too ignorant to realize there was more to Massachusetts than what was within Route 128, but I had never been to western Massachusetts until I met my husband.  It’s a whole other world out there!  Where had I been?  What else was I missing out on?  Now whenever I go to Springfield or any other part of western Massachusetts, it’s like a pure adventure for me.  Instead of it being the other side of the state to me, I think of western Massachusetts as being the side of the state that needs to be explored.

Last Saturday when the sun was shining and the temperature was still warm enough where a coat was not needed, we decided on taking a day trip to visit Patrick’s parents.  Springfield is less than an hour and a half away from Boston and since we didn’t have much on our plate (notice the food reference) that afternoon, we figured it was the perfect time to make the trip out west.

For the car trip, I figured the most important thing other than gas was snacks (but I guess that’s gas for our bodies).  Since we were meeting Patrick’s parents for a late lunch/early dinner and I didn’t want to spoil my appetite, I only brought a few emergency essentials.

But of course as soon as we started driving by all the various rest stops along the highway and I kept seeing the signs for all the fast food restaurants, I started getting a hunger pang and immediately wanted something to eat.  Plus, since I hadn’t had my morning coffee, I knew that that was going to be on my agenda.  As we began pulling off the highway and onto the rest area to ‘rest’, I saw the most unusual thing.  It was a farmers market! Of course I jumped at the chance to go shopping (and take pics) and thus, jumped out of the car to check it out.  While the farmers market was a small one, they sold things such as locally preserved jams, raw honey, bee pollen, locally grown vegetables and fruits, flowers, fresh herbs and my personal favorite, honey crisp apples.

I really enjoyed both my coffee and fruit and yogurt parfait from Mickey D’s.  While it’s always tempting to be lured in by a hot and cheesy Egg McMuffin, I managed to stick to my guns and ordered a lighter, but still enjoyable meal.  It definitely hit the spot.  Plus, my refueling gave me the much needed energy to gaze at the beautiful scenery along the highway.  While it’s still a bit early for official leaf peeping, the trees and leaves were breathtaking and definitely ready for fall (or ‘to fall’).

I guess my picture taking and scene gazing really kept me busy because we made it to Springfield in no time.  And as we arrived at the door, we were greeted by a friendly face.  Lexi is my in-laws’ French Bulldog.  She’s only about a year and a half old (in human years) and is quite the energetic dog.  Don’t you just love that little face?

Because my mother-in-law is an avid reader and loves to clip out articles of interest from various newspapers and magazines for her children and children-in-law, Healthy Chow was armed with a healthy stack of good reading.  You know I love my recycled magazines and all those recipes you save me, El!  If you get a stack of reading material from this woman, you know she likes you.  By the looks of my stack, Ellen must really love me.  Thank you!  You’re the best, Ellie!  And no trip back to my in-laws’ would be the same if I didn’t get to check out some family photos.  I definitely found some good ones

Look at Patrick the studly soccer jock!

Awww, young love at the beach

While the sun was still shining, Ellen and I decided to take a short drive over to this newly developed shopping area in the neighboring town.  We visited a family member who works at Ann Taylor and chatted it up with her for a bit.   And then continued walking the shops and enjoying our day out in the sun.  It was such a fun afternoon and a lovely shopping area.  I’m glad I had the chance to visit.  Before we knew it, it was close to 5 pm and the ‘boys’ were at home waiting for us to have dinner.  Patrick went to watch his father referee a football game and what a perfect day it was for it.  There was not a cloud in the sky, nor a hint of a cool breeze.  It’s days like this where you cherish both the weather and the company you’re fortunate enough to keep.

My stomach was growling by the time we made it home to Patrick’s parents’ house.  So we quickly decided on one of our favorite places to go when we’re in the area.  We went to Ginger Blossom, a Chinese-American food restaurant a few minutes up the road.  It’s a cute little place that serves your standard Chinese-American cuisine, as well as sushi.  While Patrick and his dad ordered the sample appetizer platter (it was huge!) along with beef teriyaki and chicken fried rice for their entrée.  My mother-in-law and I shared some ‘lighter’ fare and opted for steamed shrimp with mixed vegetables and a lite ginger sauce on the side with brown rice.  Everything was sooooo good! I sampled a few items from the sampler platter and each bite was divine.  It’s always fun when the table shares their entrées and we can eat ‘family style’.  And my family certainly loves to share.  I’m truly blessed with having such wonderful people in my life!

Because it was still light out and we needed wanted to burn off some of the food we had just savored, we decided to go for a ride to Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse in Ludlow.  This place was so amazing!  I had no idea this place even existed.  It’s essentially a large farm stand/marketplace with a bakery, a deli, a greenhouse selling plants and flowers, a huge produce section, a grocery aisle with various gourmet and gluten-free items, a large selection of beer and wine and my personal favorite, the creamery.  The creamery was Randall’s spot to get ice cream and frozen yogurt.  They had picnic tables set-up outside but because it was now dark and the temperature was no longer ‘Indian summer-esque’, we decided to take our dessert inside.  We found an open table in the greenhouse and had some of the best ice cream I’ve ever tasted.  I didn’t order my own ice cream, instead I helped myself to shared everyone else’s dessert.  That way, I was able to get the best of everyone’s world (sorry, at this point my camera battery decided to go nighty-night.  So, you’ll have to envision some gorgeous ice cream and a gorgeous girl eating it (that would be me!) ).

What a great day it truly was!  Again, I had the opportunity to visit the ‘other side’ of the state and experience some of the things I would have missed if I had not made the choice to venture out.  I was able to spend time with my in-laws, have a lovely time shopping with my mother-in-law, enjoy some yummy food (and dessert) and visit both a farmers market and farm.  It was one of those glorious days that just sort of piece together by chance.  Who says you have to travel far in order to have a mini adventure?  If you can stay at home and have a ’stay-cation’, then you can certainly visit another part of your state or hometown and make it an ‘explor-stay-tion’.

This was a little sign I saw being sold at Randall’s Farm.  I thought it was such an appropriate notion with which to end our wonderful day…

Do you like seasonal flavored foods like the pumpkin and spiced apple flavored ice cream at Randall’s?  If so, what is your favorite?

***I just wanted to wish my mother a happy birthday!  Happy birthday, Mom!  I love you and I hope you have an amazing day!  I love you!***

Namasté,
Nicole

Are there any foods out there that you’ve seen thousands of times and have considered trying millions of times and yet still have not eaten?  Well, there are many foods that fit that description in my life but one in particular is falafel.  I know, I know!  Can you believe it?  Up until the beginning of this year, I had never had falafel.  It’s not as if it doesn’t sound appealing to me or as if I don’t ever go to Middle Eastern or Greek restaurants.  For some reason, when I am having Greek cuisine, I tend to lean towards the salad with grilled chicken or the rotisserie chicken with the hot sides (I don’t know why, but that term always cracks me up!).  I think I order the grilled or rotisserie chicken because it usually is accompanied by vegetables and/or a salad.  For years, all I ever ordered was grilled chicken with a salad because to me, that was what I considered ‘healthy’.  Don’t get me wrong; I know that it is healthy.  However, after many moons of ordering ‘the usual’, I would end up feeling unsatisfied after my meal was finished.  I would start picking at Patrick’s plate and wishing that I ordered something a little more fun or just something different from poultry and leafy greens.

About a week or so ago, while trying to figure out what we wanted to eat, we ended up driving right outside the Boston area.  You see, for Patrick and me, it’s seldom that we have an actual specific place in mind at which to dine.  We usually end up driving around until one of us shouts out the name of a place the other agrees to, or we end up just going to one of our favorites.  That afternoon, we decided to pay a visit to one of our favorites.

Esperia Grill is a Greek restaurant located in Brighton, MA.  It’s owned and operated by a lovely family and that’s just the feeling you get when you’re dining at Esperia Grill – family.  Tim manages the restaurant and does everything from take food orders, prepare the take-out/delivery meals, clean tables, walk the entrées from the kitchen to the tables and of course, schmooze with the guests.  Tim’s wife, Georgia, is the head chef and can also be seen making everything from the fresh Greek salads to the delectable moussaka.  When you walk into the restaurant, you are immediately greeted by either Tim, or one of his sons and the wafting smells from the meat roasting on the tall vertical spit.  Esperia Grill is a place where when you walk up to the counter to order your meal, you immediately start second guessing yourself because everything looks and sounds so wonderful.

Instead of ordering my usual, I decided to mix it up and order something a bit uncharacteristic for Healthy Chow.  When I was dining at another Greek restaurant earlier in the summer, I had tried the falafel and was impressed by just how tasty and filling this vegetarian dish could be.  After seeing the fresh components for pretty much all of the meals housed in the hot and cold cases at the front of the restaurant, my mind was made-up and the deal was sealed.  I just had to try the falafel wrap (plus, it even said so on the chalk board!).

There are about 12-15 tables at Esperia where guests are able to seat themselves.  Once your food is ready, it is brought over to you by Tim or one of the friendly servers.  Usually at restaurants where you don’t have a designated waiter/waitress, in my experience, the tables are usually left a bit dirty and the dining area itself is a bit unkempt.  However, at Esperia Grill, you could literally eat off of the floor (not that I would have, but I was pretty hungry).  The tables are constantly being maintained and the guests are constantly being catered to.  Plus, the atmosphere is quite eye catching.  The restaurant is well lit and has some unique decorum that will keep you interested until your meal arrives (which is not very long).

My falafel wrap was fala-nomenal (hehehe)!  I wasn’t sure what to expect, but from my previous experiences there, it was sure to not disappoint.  And, I was far from being disappointed!  Just check out those sexy grill marks on my wrap:

Talk about being hot off the press!  My wrap was filled with a thick and creamy garlicky hummus and falafel so rich in flavor, that I wouldn’t even be able to begin to guess what was contained in it.  I’m assuming it was the usual ground chickpeas, breadcrumbs and garlic but everything else I can only conclude as being ‘magic’.  The actual wrap was soft and thin and was the perfect vehicle for my Greek deliciousness.  I really wanted to save the other half for my lunch the next day, but I just could not stop myself.  I savored every last bite!

Patrick ordered the gyro on pita and while his looked as equally as divine as mine, my fork never wandered over to his plate.  I was so completely happy with my meal, that I never once wished I had ordered something else or longed for more food.  I guess it goes to show that when you order something you want versus something ‘you think you should order’, you end up being more fulfilled and simply more full.

I’m so glad that I ventured from my norm and ordered the falafel wrap.  It was such a fantastic treat for me and while it was rich and indulgent, it was exactly what my body wanted that day.  And when you listen to your body and allow it to speak, instead of always letting your mind get the first word, you might just learn something.  I certainly did that night at dinner and to that, I say “opa!”

Random question: Do you ever crave something sweet to eat after having a meal that is loaded with onions?

Namasté,
Nicole

People seem to feel badly when they forget your birthday or when they can’t celebrate with you on the very exact special day.  They always say things like, “oh, is it OK if we celebrate it next weekend?” or “sorry, I forgot to wish you a happy birthday on your birthday, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.“  Now I know I mentioned in a previous post that I’m not one who likes to make a big deal about her special day and I’m not one for celebrating for the entire week prior.  However, if someone wants to take me out and shower me with gifts, Healthy Chow says, “heck ya, bring it on!”

That said, my mother and her boyfriend, Darrell, wanted to take me and my twin sister, Michelle, out for a belated birthday dinner.  We’ve all had quite the busy summers, but my mom and Darrell just finished moving and having some home renovations done.  This past weekend was literally the first weekend we were all available.  So, we made the most of it and went to a restaurant that I’ve been dying to try.  Score one for Healthy Chow!

Gaslight is a brasserie located in the South End of Boston.  According to their website, Gaslight:

offers its guests French brasserie cuisine of impeccable quality and improbable value in an informal, old world, is new again setting. With its hand crafted Parisian zinc bar, reclaimed wood floors, mosaic tiles, beamed wood ceilings, nicotine stained walls and antique mirrors, Gaslight’s decor is warm and inviting.

We had 7:30 pm reservations and it’s a good thing we did have reservations because this place was hopping!  When Patrick and I first arrived, we were one of the few guests at the bar area.  But by the time our whole party arrived (which was only about ten minutes later), the brasserie was swarming with diners.  I really liked the vibe and pretended that people were out because they knew it was my belated birthday dinner.  Hahaha!  Full of myself, much?

The atmosphere at Gaslight was really different.  Not that I’ve ever been to France, but the restaurant definitely exuded a funky, hip and French feel.  While the lighting was quite dark (sorry, some of my pics might not be so great), it definitely set the appropriate tone for the ambiance of the restaurant.  Because we had a party of six, we were seated at a large table that was semi-sectioned off from the rest of Gaslight.  However, as my eyes made a quick scan as we were seated at our table, I noticed there were various types of seating such as cafe tables, booths, bar stools and larger tables like ours.  It was quite the eclectic mix and indicative of the menu.

Because I like to be prepared, I looked at the menu online before arriving at the restaurant.  Thus, I had an idea of what I wanted to try and what I was probably going to order for my entrée.  The menu had a vast variety of hors d’oeuvres (appetizers), plats du jour (dishes of the day) , les fruits de mer (seafood), assiette du fromages (plate of cheeses), plats principaux (entrées) and garnitures (trim/sides).  I really enjoyed seeing the selections written in both French and English.  And I think I enjoyed trying to pronounce each item even more (I just want to apologize to the country of France for butchering their lovely language)!

Darrell is the king of appetizers and since he and my mother have dined at Gaslight before, we let Darrell take the lead on ordering our hors d’oeuvres (say that three times fast!).  Plus, Darrell speaks French, so it was nice to hear someone actually pronounce the selections correctly (ahem, ahem).  To start,we had two orders of the fried mussels a la greque (Greek style?), two orders of shrimp cocktail and an order of escargots de bourgogne (French Burgundy snails served with garlic and parsley butter).  But before the hors d’oeuvres even arrived, we were promptly served their house bread.  But this wasn’t just any old bread, it was a pipin’ hot fresh baguette served in its own little paper bag.  I usually try not to partake in the bread basket because as you all know, I <3 carbs and can literally inhale a loaf in a millisecond, but this bread I could not resist!  It was crusty, light and airy and probably some of the best restaurant bread I’ve had in a long, long time.  And forget the butter, the bread was so tasty, it was fine au naturale!

Because we were all having such a great time chit chatting with one another and catching-up, we were almost shocked when our hors d’oeuvres arrived.  They seemed to appear on our table within seconds of us placing our order.  I guess time does fly when you’re having a good time.

The fried mussels were delicious.  I think I was expecting more of a mussel in the shell type of dish, but I was not disappointed when I tasted it.  It was quite similar to fried calamari, but not as chewy in texture.  The remoulade sauce had the perfect amount of creaminess and a little bit of a kick and the bed of greens the mussels were served on gave the dish a refreshing and light feel.  Plus, the extra sauce gave me something to dip my heel of bread into.

These were some of the plumpest shrimp I’ve ever seen!  Sometimes, in my experience, the big shrimp can be less tasty and sort of bland tasting.  Not these babies!  Patrick, who could live on shrimp cocktail, was in heaven.  Needless to say, we sat one of the orders directly in front of him.

The escargot were also quite tasty, but nothing spectacular.  I like anything cooked with garlic and herbs, so this little dish was right up my alley.  However, while I’m not a connoisseur of snails, these were just mediocre.  I dipped my bread into the snails and it tasted just like garlic bread

Here’s a picture of my sampling of hors d’oeuvres.  I had maybe one or two more of the the fried mussels.

And if we weren’t full enough just yet, our entrées were then served.  You know there’s a lot of food, when a table that seats six needs to condense plates in order to make room.  I ordered the roasted salmon fillet, which came with garlic braised escarole and vinaigrette of lemon confit.  It was just the right amount of food for my main meal.  Because I had already had a healthy sampling of the hors d’oeuvres, I didn’t have too much room left for my dinner.  Plus, I knew I wanted dessert, so the real estate in my belly was getting tight.  My salmon was roasted to perfection and not the slightest bit greasy.  I’ve ordered salmon that has wronged me on occasion due to the grease factor (sorry, TMI) but fortunately, this was not one of those times.  The escarole was quite simple and served as a light and citrusy accompaniment to my fish.  I really enjoyed the fact that my dish was not served with a rice, potato or some other carb.  If that were the case, I know I would have eaten it and that would have overfilled me.

My mother ordered the rotisserie chicken with sauce moutarde violette and garlic herbes frites.  She said the chicken was delicious, but the herbed french fries stole the show (or plate).  I’m so glad that I was able to sit next to her because it gave me the chance to steal them from her share them with her.

Darrell ordered my second choice, which was the rock shrimp tagliatelle with green onions, smoked ham, and cantal beurre fondue.  He also loved his dish and was happy as a clam (or shrimp) with both the hors d’oeuvres and his selection.  I told Darrell that the sauce in his dish would be great to scoop up with the heel of the bread.  And while I knew that that meant ‘scarpetta‘ in Italian, Darrell informed me that that meant ‘fondue‘ in French.  Merci beaucoup, Darrell! (Funny enough, I told our waiter ‘gracias‘ after he took my order and the whole table cracked up.  Hahaha!)

This picture is going to kill three birds with one stone.  Patrick, Michelle and Jonathan (Michelle’s boyfriend) all ordered the bar steak with caramelized shallots, mustard cream sauce and frites.  While Jonathan seemed to love his meal (he cleaned his plate – atta boy!), Michelle claimed that the sauce was a bit too salty for her taste.  Patrick really enjoyed this selection as well, but thought there were a few too many shallots for his liking.  He also wondered why he had plain frites while my mom’s were herbed.  Don’t worry, Healthy Chow slid him over a few!

Dinner was quite delightful overall.  We all seemed to thoroughly enjoy our meals, but not as much as each other’s company.  I honestly can’t think of a time when I wasn’t laughing or someone else wasn’t cracking up.  The conversation flowed and the relaxing vibe of the restaurant must have seeped into the food.  We were all in such a mellow mood and sat around that table for six for nearly two hours.  What a fantastic way to spend my belated birthday dinner!  I love being able to try new restaurants, and it’s even better when they turn out to be a hit and when I can enjoy them with my loved ones.

Goodness, my mom just doesn’t seem to age – ever!

And finally, what would be a birthday dinner without dessert?  Well, it wouldn’t be complete in my book!  We ordered two for the table to share: gateau aux pommes (apple and caramel cake with vanilla ice cream) and molten chocolate cake with crēme chantilly.  While I wouldn’t kick either out of bed for eating chips (hehehe), the apple and caramel cake definitely reigned supreme.  I think I’m really a sucker for anything à la mode.  But the buttery caramel sauce and the soft cinnamon-y apples was what took the cake (I’m on a roll…).  The molten chocolate cake wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t ‘molten-y’ enough in the center.  I think if we had another scoop of vanilla ice cream for the molten chocolate cake, it would have been much better!

This was our waiter for the evening.  He told me my French was ‘absolutely melodic‘.  I think he might have been lying to me…

And if hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, lotsa gabbing and tons of laughing weren’t enough, I also managed to get a few belated birthday gifts.  My sister and I have had the recent tradition of exchanging ‘mini’ gifts on our birthday.  Rather than buy each other fancy presents on our day, we just give each other a little somethin’, somethin’.  I gave her a cosmetic bag, a toe separator for home pedicures and some trail mix on our actual birthday and that night, she gave me some Trader Joe’s goodies (raw almonds, wasabi, wow! (wasabi peas, nuts and dried fruit mix) and fruit leather – she must think I’m nuts and a bit fruitty).  My mom gave me a cute paisley top along with a card with love (aka cash).  Decent haul, Healthy Chow!

Dinner at Gaslight definitely gets the green light!  It was the ideal place to have a carefree, yet delectable meal.  The brasserie had fast and friendly service, delicious food that was moderately priced, many options to choose from and free parking.  Now that’s a true find in the city of Boston!  I guess that helps to set the tone for your dinner.  If you don’t have to stress about parking, you’ll walk in relaxed, in a good mood and ready to eat.  I was relaxed and in a good mood because I truly treasure the time I spend with my family.  I am so blessed to have such extraordinary people in my life.  These are people I honestly love and adore and want to spend time with.  I’m not sure if it’s my age that’s making me sappier, but I went home pleasantly pleased.  My belly was full, as well as my heart.  While the evening was meant to celebrate my birthday, it was really a celebration of my family.  I may have received some great birthday presents, but it’s the time I have with my loved ones that are my true gifts and ones I’ll cherish forever.

What’s your favorite French food?  Or, French dessert?

Namasté,
Nicole