November is actually my favorite month. The morning air is usually crisp. You can wear a sweater and vest and usually be comfortable. Thanksgiving is my husband’s favorite holiday…all eating and no expectations of gift-giving. I have been making the same turkey and stuffing recipe every year since we we were first married; a recipe from cooking light circa 1998. Some traditions you just don’t mess with.

11/6/2022: First up: #26

Sunday my husband and I ventured to Cambridge to try #26 on the list, Puritan & Company. Yeah to DATE NIGHT!

The atmosphere cozy, the deep blue hues of the bench seating divine. The restaurant was a little chilly, but the wine, Fiasco, by Field Recordings, recommended by our server, warmed my soul right up. We started with the swordfish pastrami, mentioned in the magazine. I had to ask…is it swordfish…or pastrami? Apparently, this appetizer has been a staple on the menu since the restaurant opened and it is a must-try. The pastrami was melt-in-your-mouth good, with a subtle horseradish creme and pickle. Perfect for sharing. My husband had the swordfish which was perfectly grilled and served atop a savory white bean side. I had the fusilli topped with a mouth-watering short rib ragout which was the perfect pairing for the wine. Sharing dessert is always a must so we ended the evening with a chocolate crème brûlée. No phones, just conversation, something my husband and I are trying to do more of. If you are looking for a lovely dinner with a casual, relaxing and inviting atmosphere, I highly recommend #26.

11/13/2022: Next up: #50

Yesterday was mandatory family fun night by heading to Watertown to try #50 on the list, Branch Line!

A very hip vibe; great for a family dinner…they make noshing on rotisserie chicken a real delight. It is never easy to take your children out to dinner anymore…especially teenagers. So for our family outing, at least 1 out of the 2 were happy to be there since it is soooo hard to put your device down and actually engage with your parents, I mean really. To ease the parental pain, I chose a glass of Spanish Sangria which did the trick. We started with the sticky ribs (recommended by our awesome waiter as a must try) and the sugar snap pea salad mentioned in the magazine. If you venture out to this establishment, this is a firm YES to having both of these to start! The ribs were fall-off-the-bone succulent and since there were 4 of us and 4 ribs, it was a perfect little taster. I am a lover of sugar snap peas so I was really excited to try this salad. It did not disappoint. The peas were a deep green and chilled perfectly, chopped up as a salad…I never would have thought of this, dressed with a almond vinaigrette, a hint of mint and a few small dollops of ricotta…it was really something.

As I am sure many can relate…I have a 19 year old son who is willing to try almost anything….and a 14 year old son…well, let’s just say he is a food skeptic. If this is your family…Branch Line will not disappoint! I mean you just cannot go wrong with a rotisserie chicken, perfectly seasoned and juicy with amazing shoe-string rosemary fries.

We also could not resist the mac-n-cheese with peas and managed to throw in some broccolini, just to balance the carbs which was so good and garlicky. Since we must have desert, we tried the brownie sundae (another must have) and the strawberry shortcake, with it’s fluffy almost croissant like pastry shell, light cream with again, a hint of mint. Absolutely Del-ish!

The restaurant is very open, but the ceilings are so tall, that the acoustics were good, and although it was busy, we were able to have good family discussion without shouting at each other. We even managed to start planning our family vacation for next August. We also learned that the restaurant cooks roughly 40-50 chickens an hour and manages to sell about 200 a night as they have take-out available. Parking was free which was a plus. All in all, a much more exciting way to have rotisserie chicken then grabbing one at Costco!

11/19/2022: Impromptu birthday celebration at #45

My birthday was last Thursday. I usually never fuss over my birthday and since I was working until midnight, I “celebrated” with my work family and it was a real treat to actually get out of work on time! My husband and I decided to try a place in our own hometown that was is on list in Brookline: Blossom Bar!

Boy was I glad that we could walk there! We have lived in Brookline now for almost 3 years and I am amazed how many restaurants exist in my own back yard that we have not tried! Blossom Bar is one of many. It may be because we do not usually venture out for Chinese food and I really do not eat spicy food, so the idea of Sichuan would not generally cross my mind…well that stopped here. This is one of the many reasons I have chosen to try all top 50, to explore new places and new foods. If you are ever in town, I highly recommend this place. First off, the award winning cocktail menu itself is a treat! I tried the Duan’s Whip mentioned in the magazine…like a boozy delicious adult slushy and the perfect compliment to all things spicy!

I could not tell you one thing about the liquor in this drink but the presentation was as beautiful as the taste! To start we had the sweet and pungent ribs (don’t be fooled by the name, they were amazing) and the crispy fish fillets (a salty with a hint of spice delight). Both are a must try if you happen to eat here. Sorry to report that we did not try the tripe! I had the house special eggplant which actually has minced chicken on it; something I would not normally try but it was the house special after all, so why not. It was yummy over rice, but if you are texture person, this may not be for you as the eggplant was drowned in a brown sauce. I am sure it can be made without the chicken.

Now my husband loves spicy food so he opted for traditional Kung Pao Chicken. Watching him sweat was pretty darn funny. He would tell you that the heat of the oil coats your mouth and throat which lingers even after a sip of cider. He would also tell you that he loved ever bite! Not your simple “mouth on fire just to be hot” type of dish, instead a glorious sensory overload of warm and tasty goodness. I will take his word for it.

We will definitely go back as there were so many menu options to try! Next time we will take the boys; my older son will love everything on the menu…and well, the younger will eat rice but at least we can get a family outing out of it!

Just after Thanksgiving we head to #43…stay tuned!

11/27/2022: Sunday dinner at #43

I was extremely excited to venture to #43: Alcove for dinner. Mostly because I was going to be sharing the experience with one of my dearest friends, but I also genuinely like the hanging out at Lovejoy Wharf. In fact, if you ever visit Boston, I also recommend heading to the Converse store to design a pair of sneakers to take home. Now you can add eating at Alcove to the afternoon since it is right next door.

I am not 100% clear why this restaurant made the top 50, but I can only assume that it the location and atmosphere that made it stand out. You can imagine our surprise when we arrived only to find it was pretty much empty; a few patrons at the bar and 1 or 2 tables seated. I should have paid more attention to the Celtic’s schedule! Don’t get me wrong, we had a lovely dinner. The food was pretty good even though the menu is limited and I would absolutely recommend this place and would most certainly eat there again. The view of the Zakim at night from our table was stunning.

We started with the smoked trout pate which was served with bagel chips. I was expecting something more exotic than a basic bar appetizer. Don’t get me wrong, it was excellent, but something I would reserve for a lunch appetizer, with a cold beer in summer. My husband ordered a pear and endive salad that never made it to the table. My friend started with the Furlong Bisque, which was mentioned in the magazine, This was a green-crab bisque and just might be the best crab bisque I have ever tasted. If you venture here, be sure to start with that. Also mentioned was the “mind-bending carbonara. I figured if it was mind-bending than I aught to try it. Not sure if it blew my mind, but it was very different than a traditional carbonara and it was also excellent. My husband had the skate wing, which our wait staff mentioned was a signature dish. The menu has a variety of additional sides that can be ordered to accompany your main meal. I highly recommend the smashed potatoes. For dessert, we tried the chocolate pate and the baked apple crisp, both of which were a nice finish.

The menu is not very big so if I were to dine here again, I might just sit at the bar, have a cocktail and nosh on appetizers and sides. Speaking of beverage selections, the cocktail menu is excellent. We tried the Leef Peeper, a rum, aperol and lime concoction and the Moondance mule, a twist on the traditional with the addition of sherry; both delicious.

If you are looking to host a work dinner or party, Alcove is a great venue. A chic brasserie with a large bar and private spaces. Dim and Sexy lighting with a soft blend of soothing music, a gorgeous glass-front wine cellar at the back and a view of the Zakim which made a stunning backdrop for a late-night dinner. Be sure to pick a day or evening when nothing is happening at the Garden. Parking is very expensive, despite a reduced rate at the Marriott across the street for restaurant patrons, it was still $35 for the evening so perhaps you should weigh that against the total cost of an Uber. Alcove has a fabulous outdoor space and I suspect on a summer evening, this place is hopping! All in all, not a terrible evening, especially since I was sharing it with 2 people I adore.

That wraps up November…4 down,46 to go