much needed update
i haven't updated this thing in months & i apologize
so...
1) the cheesesteak shop
the farthest back i can remember that i never said anything about was the cheesesteak shop...there is one on university ave. & it's a chain so there's probably one near you...
pierre got the pizza cheeesteak & i the spinach mushroom. both were dripping w/ juices as we bit into it & both were very good. it was a lot better than i thought it'd be. plus you get a frequent sandwich card thing to win a free one after 10 or so...
2) maggiano's
pierre came down to visit me at home & we went to maggiano's...we got the bombalina platter because i was very interested in tasting the other appetizers everyone seems to love...everything was yummy on the platter but i have to admit that zucchini fritters are still my favorite (i dunno if it has to do w/ the memories or taste)...we also got the chopped salad as usual & the large Farfalle, Chicken, Asparagus, Spinach, Parmesan Broth...the pasta was way too big & even pierre couldn't eat anymore...i was stuffed beyond belief i probably gained 5 lbs that night...
i probably won't get a pasta again because it kinda gets boring since it's so much of it but i still love maggiano's
3) pizziolo
chris was up in berk working w/ the improv group & so we got dinner together...it was raining & it was an hour wait but we're dedicated eaters so we waited:P plus it gave us the opportunity to go to bakesale betty's which is a few doors down...
we got the fritta misto (?) for the appetizer, greens with housemade sausage and red onion pizza & braised beef w/ roasted butterball potatoes, fennel, carrots & roasted pear w/ creme, caramel, and chocolate sauce...
the fritta misto was basically a fried platter but fried so lightly & crisply...there were brocolini & lemons & artichokes &...i can't remember but i know it was served w/ a lemon aioli:)...super tasty
the pizza was very very thin & crispy yet still chewy it was very good but i don't know if i'd say it was my favorite..the crust was sprinkled w/ sea salt which was very nerdily cool for us & gave it a nice crunch...
the braised beef (i forget the exact description because i forgot to take the menu!) was really good oh yea..it had a horseradish cream drizzled over it & it was a very good amount of food on the plate...the roasted vegetables were my favorite part..i don't think i've had fennel before but this definitely left a good impression...& we agreed this was probably a better deal than the pizza
the dessert on the other hand was amazing...chris & i argued over whether the pear would be sliced or whole & i won...(it was whole) haha...it was super good...tender but not mushy & the caramel & chocolate & creme were perfect compliments...
we actually sat at a communal table in the back (for a shorter wait) & we had run into chris' theater rice friends so we talked a lot & they had gotten pizza ala pizzaiolo (the chef does whatever he wants & they got red onions & pancetta & egg i think?) & this mushroom pasta thing (& part of the reason why they ordered that was cuz the mushroom's name sounded like fag) & sorbet w/ cookies..they said everything was yummy
4) Bakesale Betty's
let me just start out by saying that chris & i want her life...
she & her husband run the place a few doors down from ex-colleague at chez panisse at pizzaiolo & she lives literally in the apartment upstairs...she just comes down in the early morning & starts baking
she gave us samples of the lemon bar (which i found out were the same as the ones i had the night before at pierre's sister's bday party & i didn't know!)..they're super tart...but i can't say they're my favorite...the crust is a bit too crispy for me
she was sooo super nice..telling us recs for pizzaiolo & talking to us about everything food related
i had heard about their sticky date pudding w/ caramel sauce from chowhound so i got that ($12) it was kinda pircey but after i realized it lasts forever (cuz it's so many servings) it wasn't so expensive...
chris was REALLY excited because she doesn't use nuts in anything & he doesn't like nuts & raisins...which i kinda forgot about...
so he got a loaf of banana bread & we got a cookie each that we split (one chocolate chip & the other ginger) i loved the choc chip but i loved the ginger even more...
she asked out names & everything
i really want to try the chicken pot pie & the fried chicken sandwich everyone seems to be talking about...
basically w/ all the samples she transforms you into a bakesale betty loving machine! it's evil! but oh so yummy
5) Ruen Pair
I went w/ pierre to ruen pair for the 2nd time & i'm reminded again how good that place is...like i know it was good but when i think about it i'm like oh it was ok i guess nothing special...but it's soo freaking good...like i didn't know thai could be so yummy
we got the grilled thai sausage, veggie green curry, pineapple fried rice....
the pineapple fried rice was soo good...i didn't know it could taste like that (i mean i like it already but it was different) it had curry & pineapples & cashews & raisins & shrimp & chicken & onions (both green & white)..i plan to try to make it myself...but i told my mom & she said she tried to make it once & my brother & i refused to eat it...so maybe if she can't replicate it, i can't either:P
the green curry was good but not spectacular i guess & the thai sausage was yummy though i dunno how to describe it...
6) Bread Workshop pizza crusts
last time i was at berk bowl i saw rosemary pizza crusts made by bread workship i was curious so i bought them..they were about $2.69 for 3 small crusts...i LOVE them...i've never used those premade ones before & it's fun...i made mine zachary's esque w/ spinach & mushroom & chicken w/ chunky basil tomato sauce & just piled it on...tasty:) a bit messy though but that's part of the fun
7) Julie's Healthy Cafe
this is not a great food whatever but it's always been a place of comfort for me since freshman year i dunno why..it's probably cuz of the chili & the nice ppl...the chili is't even that great..it's just pretty healthy cuz it's basically all beans & tomato....& they have the best cornbread i've had in berk thus far...granted i've only had a few...but it has the kernels of corn which i like..
oh yea i passed by epicurious gardens & they are very very close to done w/ that place & i'm super excited:)!
anyways..that basically sums up my food adventures for the past month