Kick the Colonel's Ass...

I have held, for some time now, the idea that Boston is one amazing dining city. For such a geographically small town, we really have some outstanding, "world class" (whatever the hell that means) eats. Particularly after my forays into "fine dining" at every level when I was living elsewhere last year, from apple pie to yogurt to salad to heights of gourmet molecular gastronomy, I appreciate that Boston has really come to offer a stunning array of tasty snacks.

At the top of them all, in all my tries and shared meals and bottles of wine in this city, my absolute favorite has been one singular restaurant: Clio.

Clio is rockin'.

Why so I mention this?
1) I had alluded to it before.
2) I have something new and interesting to share about it.
3) I am going there for dinner (about which I will tell you) tomorrow night.

I will take mental notes and share the deets of tomorrow's dinner then.
In the meantime, perhaps you might like to join me next sunday?

You can buy me a bottle and raise a glass in my general direction for my telling you #2 above:

Fried. Chicken. At Clio. for 35 Buckeroos.
Screw you, Colonel Sanders, 'cuz weezz cun getch real chickie, chickie!

hawwww-yeah!

Check THIS out. HOLY COW. I am definitely going and you should, too.
The high cuisine of Ken Oringer goes comfort-food-recession-chic? This is clearly a must-eat.

more to follow.

Unexpected Good Eats

What I'm packin'

I believe in packing one's own lunch. At least, in theory.
Why? For a number of reasons:

It is probably more eco-friendly (assuming one limits the use of disposable packaging and buys foods that come unpackaged or in multi-serving sizes, and packs reusable guples, I tend to think it should be.)

It is definitely forces one to pre-meditate on the contents of her lunch, thereby encouraging likely better nutritional choices (there is medical evidence that, by planning a meal prior to when one plans to eat it, she is much more statistically likely to stick with a prestated nutritional plan).

It can make you feel smug and superior. (since I only pack lovely, tasty lunches, I enjoy eating my lovely, tasty food when my office mates are eating take-out chicken sandwiches AGAIN).

BUT - is it actually cheaper? If you pack what I just packed, perhaps not.

If one eats a cheap, bad sandwich and little else, then yes, it is cheaper to pack your own lunch.
But...(and I have noticed I almost never pack myself a sandwich), I was shocked to discover recently while using the fun sandwich calculator that my lunches are probably not a huge bargain, financially.

Nonetheless, packing your own lunch can be a weird homemaker-ish source of amusement for me, and now that I have a rockin' lunchbox (mine is a pink Lunchopolis, YMMV), I have even more impetus to pack a grande lunch.

For tomorrow, while my dinner was simmering, I packed:
1/2 cup of Fage total 2% yogurt with a teaspoon of raw, local honey from the JP Farmer's market

a salad, consisting of 1/2 a cucumber and a whole tomato (both brunoise) plus about 1/4 cup of flat-leaf parsley (from my husband's grandmother's garden), and a tablespoon of very finely diced raw red onion dressed with a few drops (circa 1/4 teaspoon) of olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of gray sea salt

a can of Archer Farms sugar free grapefruit energy drink (yay, Target, this is like a good-tasting, but just-as-caffeinated, Red Bull)

a single-serve bag of Almonds (Trader Joe's "just a handful...")

and some snacks that I'll prob leave in the fridge and eat as-needed over the week:
one slice of lowfat cheddar-flavored soy cheese
a berry fruit leather
an Odwalla protein bar (the protein one is the only Odwalla bar that meets my needs, in terms of its being high-protein and lower-sugar, plus all natural and good-tasting!)
a package of Kedem tea biscuits.

do you have any packable lunch ideas that are mostly natural, low-ish in fat (except for nuts, for which I make an exception), mostly free of fleshy animal protein, and low in sugars? bring it. and tell me about it!

Gimme da Bon!

I am unsure if I should be telling you this.

Let's make it our little secret.

You see, I likes da Bon (as we have come to call in my house).
Recently, I have been "Bonned" on a regular basis.
and I like it.

and one of the things I like about da Bon is that it is a hidden jewel. Uncrowded. Unpretentious. Oh, and also good.

So, as a one-time-only deal, since noone reads this anyway, I will tell you.
But don't you go and tell anyone else, mmmm'kay?

Bon Savor in Jamaica Plain.
You must go.
Just not when I am waiting for a table, mmmm'kay?

Here's the scoop:
Bon Savor, located at the corner of Centre and Pond Streets in Jamaica Plain has seemingly changed kitchen hands recently, and this is for the better. I was a bit bummed when they stopped serving breakfast daily, since I had enjoyed the upscale omelets, crepes, and fresh veggies. But now, with Bon Savor's being gently reincarnated as a French-Latin-fusion bistro, I don't miss those eggs one iota. In fact, better to enjoy the wares of the poached chef (Marco Suarez, formerly of Eastern Standard) than similarly prepared chicken ova any day. (If you can't stand it, remember that they still serve brunch of the weekends.)

In the past few visits to this sweet little space I have tasted, sniffed, tested... all up to snuff. Amazing, nummy and light ceviche (I have ordered this twice in a row, it is that good) with a little bread and wine is a meal in itself. I broke fown and tried the house-made pate terrine with crusty bread - this was paired with a strawberry mustard, a perfect bit of vegetable pickle, and a smile. I liked it so much I ate the leftovers for lunch with some frisee. The lovely, rich, and satisfying Coq au Vin appetizer had a gorgeous nutmeg note and was perfectly cooked. French Onion soup was adequate, but not great - hearty, though, and a more generous serving than T could finish, which is really saying something.

and more.

fairly priced wine list, and very pleasant, capable, and not-at-all-overbearing service. Actually, I love the chilled-out Euro-style service here, which, admittedly, may not be for everyone.

Luckily, neither is this review. So no sharin'

If you plan to go to Bon Savor, call me first. I'll join you.