Grotto | Beacon Hill

The Breakdown:
- Occasion: Date night or dinner with 1-2 friends. (It's tiny!)
- Attire/ambiance: Casual/dressy; dim, cozy interior with rustic brick walls.
- What to order: For the appetizer, beef tenderloin tips with cheese fondue. For the entree, gnocchi with short ribs. And dessert, the caramel-drenched banana bread pudding. So good.
- Reservations? Yes. Go for dinner - they have an incredible daily $38 prix fixe menu.

Grotto is an inconspicuous little Italian place nestled away on the back side of Beacon Hill, MA. For being #1 on Yelp’s “romantic restaurants in Boston” list, it’s surprisingly hard to find and pretty cramped inside. Luckily, the food / ambiance more than compensate for that.

Below is a view of this historic New England neighborhood known for its colonial-style brick row houses, gas lamps, and narrow red brick sidewalks. Today, Beacon Hill is widely regarded as prime (and very pricey) real estate in Boston. 

We started off with a spinach and beet salad with spiced walnuts, goat cheese, and raspberry vinaigrette. Loved the fresh ingredients, with a nice mixture of fruity and savory flavors. 

The next appetizer was amazing - juicy beef tenderloin tips and portobello mushrooms dipped in a creamy, aromatic cheese fondue with aged balsamic and truffle oil.

My entree was heavenly - the best gnocchi I've EVER had, with melt-in-your-mouth short ribs and a rich mushroom and gorgonzola sauce. The clear winner of the night. 

Another great entree was the Fra Diavolo, or butter poached lobster linguine in a creamy, spicy tomato sauce. It was slightly lackluster though, compared to the gnocchi. 

For one of the desserts, we got the Cioccolato - a decadent molten chocolate cake, served warm and dripping with melted chocolate, paired with vanilla ice cream and a fine layer of mocha powder. 

For the other dessert, we got the Budino - banana bread pudding, caramel ice cream, and spiced walnuts, drizzled all over with a rich caramel sauce. I was already too full, but this dessert was too good to resist. 

Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the entire meal. Every dish was on point, and beautifully presented. Definitely can see how they earned their #1 Yelp rating.

Brunch at Petit Abeille | NYC

The Breakdown:
- Occasion: Weekend brunch with friends.
- Attire/ambiance: Casual, quaint / rustic European decor.
- What to order: the Croquet Madame. The salmon omelette also looked great though.
- Reservations? Nope. Expect a good 45-60 min wait around brunch time on weekends. (Worth the long line though!)

This beauty pictured above is a croquet madame from Petit Abeille, a cozy little French brunch spot in NYC with very high Yelp ratings. It may not look like a lot of food, but trust me - it was very filling and heavy. 

This dish in particular got tons of rave reviews. Didn't know this before but a croquet monsieur is basically a French grilled ham & cheese, and the madame has an additional poached egg on top (like the hats that Parisian ladies wore back in the day).

Very, very happy with my choice of the madame. There’s something deeply satisfying about mopping up rich, runny egg yolk with a thick loaf of bread covered in melted cheese...

3-Hour Dinner at Ai Fiori | NYC

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Fancy date night, anniversary dinner, etc.

- Attire/ambiance: Classy, elegant.

- What to order: Definitely the Anatra (duck) and Trofie Nero (squid ink pasta, quite unique). If you like rich desserts, then get the Tartaletta.

- Reservations? Yes. (Keep in mind: the 4-course prix fixe may take 3 hrs.)

I had my first Michelin Star experience at Ai Fiori - "Among the Flowers" in Italian, the epitome of fine Italian & French dining. I now have a much greater appreciation for the sheer level of dedication and detail that these places must maintain 24/7.

After we ordered, our server brought over a complimentary appetite-awakener. The grape was a nice touch, and balanced out the savory panna cotta cheese.

Then they presented an assortment of freshly-made bread to choose from, including multi-grain bread, sweet onion rolls (pictured), French baguettes, etc. I normally never use butter with bread, but their herbed butter was irresistibly light and fragrant.

Elegantly plated appetizer - Insalata di Astice: Nova Scotia lobster, cipollini onions, celery, new potatoes, dill. There's so much going on here...Great balance of flavors.

My appetizer, the Vellutata: lobster soup, périgord black truffles, tarragon. I thoroughly enjoyed the first few bites; however, it quickly became too rich/heavy for my taste.  

My next course was their famous Trofie Nero (squid ink pasta): ligurian crustacean ragu, seppia (cuttlefish), scallops, spiced mollica (bread crumbs). The thick, crunchy, tightly-coiled pasta strands were fun to eat but over-hyped, in my opinion. 

Another great pasta option is their Risotto: riso aquarello (Italian rice), duck confit, mushrooms, marsala (wine), parmesan fonduta. They definitely didn't skimp on portion size!

The next meat dish, the Tagliata: prime dry aged strip loin, endive, potato terrine, “cacio e pepe” (basically cheese and pepper), balsamico, bordelaise. The meat was cooked perfectly, very tender and juicy, but lacked the wow factor for us.

On the other hand, we absolutely loved my meat dish, the Anatra: long island duck, apple mostarda (an Italian fruit and mustard condiment), tuscan kale, hazelnuts, cipollini onion. It was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, and the fruity sauce, nut-encrusted caramelized skin, and flavorful meat complemented each other beautifully. Best dish that night, hands-down.

Though I was much too full to even contemplate dessert, I gave in anyway to the raspberry mousse paired with a tangy peach sorbet, fresh fruit, and white chocolate.

Also fantastic but very rich – the Tartaletta: Loma Sotavento 72% ganache (a smoky dark chocolate), chocolate chiboust (pastry cream), tiramisu gelato.

Instead of mints, these delicious petit fours accompanied the check. 

Thus concludes a food coma-inducing but very memorable dinner. My only gripe would be toward the insanely slow service...We got there at around 8:30 pm but left at almost 11:20. At least the numerous courses of the meal kept us entertained. 

Lunch at Osushi | Boston

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Casual lunch, good for a date.

- Attire/ambiance: Casual, modern, Asian fusion.

- What to order: Crispy salmon roll from the lunch menu.

- Reservations? Yes.

A friend and I had a very solid lunch experience at Osushi in Harvard Square. I loved how their lunch combo consists of real miso soup (not the powdery fake stuff), a sizable salad tossed with Asian-style peanut sauce, and a large entree. We also each ordered a chilled glass of sapporo – a nice complement to the meal. 

For the entree, I ordered the $14 sushi combo: a choice of 2 types of rolls, 6 pieces each. So worth it. I would highly recommend the crispy salmon roll, which was heavenly. The tuna roll with avocado was also pretty good...but then again, anything with avocado is good. My friend got the pork katsu combo with assorted sides. The pork was a bit dry, but decent. 

Chocolate Heaven at Big Gay Ice Cream | NYC

Let’s take a moment to appreciate this close-up...

You're staring at the just-hardened magic chocolate shell encasing the "Salty Pimp" - a genius combination of creamy vanilla soft serve injected with globs of dulce de leche and sprinkled with sea salt. Each bite was a symphony of crunchy and creamy, sweet and salty flavors...delicious.

We also got the "American Globs" - vanilla soft serve studded with salty pretzel chunks and smothered in chocolate. Personally, I liked the Salty Pimp better (love the caramel) but both are great choices. A must-try if you're in the area and have 30 min to 1 hr to spare for the long line. 

French Tapas at Pair | Seattle

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Casual and/or romantic dinner.

- Attire/ambiance: Casual or dressy; quaint, rustic European decor.

- What to order: the gougeres (cheese puffs), banana bread pudding, pan-seared trout, and the risotto special - if it's still on the menu.

- Reservations? Yes.

I had my first taste of French tapas (think dim sum or assorted appetizer-sized dishes) from Pair, a cozy little wine bar & restaurant in Seattle. Perfect spot for a date night. 

Everything we tried was delicious in a very refined way. Nothing was overly seasoned, and the flavors/textures were all nicely balanced. 

We started off with the gougeres or cheese puffs - light, flaky biscuits with warm, melted cheese inside. So good. Then we had the special, a creamy duck risotto with a poached egg on top, as well as the pan-seared trout. Both dishes came with beautiful plating.

Not pictured, but we also got the steak frites, a very rich but satisfying dish of tender, juicy beef slices and thin fries covered with flavorful blue cheese crumbles. 

For dessert, we went with the banana bread pudding (which got rave reviews) with candied walnuts, dulce de luche ice cream, and caramel drizzle on top. Needless to say, it was incredible. Just look at that masterpiece...

$17 Sushi Buffet at Yamato | Brighton, MA

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Lunch with a big group (because if you don't finish, they'll charge extra).
- Attire/ambiance: Casual, a bit loud.

-  What to order: Everything, and don't skip miso soup at the beginning. Also a big fan of the white tuna and eel & avocado rolls. If you have room for hand rolls, get the salmon skin.

- Reservations? Yes - go for lunch. $16.99/person is just TOO good vs. $22.99 for dinner. Each plate takes a long time to arrive, so prepare to carve out 2 hrs for a meal.

Serious sushi-eaters be warned - this may not be the place for you. But if you’re fine with a massive amount of sushi rolls and a good time with friends (and don’t mind spending the rest of the day in a food coma), then you’ve come to the right spot!

Nine of us came here at around 1:25 pm and left at 3:40...4 plates of sushi + 9 bowls of miso soup + 5 seaweed salad orders + 5 appetizers + 2 bowls of ramen later. Pretty sure the servers were all amazed / horrified.

Favorites below: eel, white tuna, salmon, and tamago (the sweet egg roll). Not a huge fan of the surf clams or salmon roe.

More favorites: eel & avocado rolls, spider rolls, spicy tuna, salmon skin hand roll (the giant ones in the back).

Needless to say, we all walked out groaning and thinking, why did we do this to ourselves... But the weekend bus pilgrimage to Yamato has become a pre-finals week tradition for us - lots of good memories (and poor eating decisions) made here, so we'll definitely be back. 

Healthy Fried Rice | Recipe

A good food-losophy that I've tried to follow is: Be adventurous when eating out, be healthy when eating in.

One of the rare times that I've cooked at home (over winter break). For this healthy and quick recipe, you only need:

• steamed white rice and wild rice with barley (I used a roughly 1:1 ratio)
• diced mushrooms
• chopped fresh leafy greens (bok choy works well)
• coconut oil (very fragrant when cooking)
• 2-3 eggs (or egg whites, if you’re feeling anti-cholesterol)
• salt n pepper
• optional: diced carrots, green onions, sweet corn

Steps: 

1. Beat the eggs in a bowl with a dash of Chinese rice wine and salt. 
2. Heat the coconut oil in the pan and then scramble the egg mixture, taking care to not fully cook it. Remove the eggs from the pan.
3. Lightly saute the diced vegetables together, then remove those from the pan as well. 
4. Use the pan (or microwave) to heat up the pre-cooked/steamed rice. When fully heated, toss everything (rice + veggies + eggs) into the pan and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste, and you're done.

For the finishing touch, I also lobbed on a chunk of rose-flavored fermented bean curd, a popular condiment and Chinese household staple. 

Dinner at Top of the Hub | Boston

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Graduation/anniversary dinner or fancy date night.

- Attire/ambiance: Smart casual or dressy; classically elegant decor. 

- What to order: The espresso creme brulee, and also the lobster soup.

- Reservations? Yes. (Try around 5 pm to catch the sunset.)

An elegant dining experience with a killer view of the city. Great for celebrating special occasions while enjoying a creative spin on some traditional New England dishes.

Putting up dessert first because it was just so good. I was in creme brulee heaven. The custard inside was delicious – not too sweet, and flavored with espresso AND caramel, two of my favorite things. The fresh blackberries on top were also a nice touch. 

For the appetizer, we ordered their famous spicy lobster soup with creamy coconut milk, lemongrass, and a hint of ginger. Flavorful but over-hyped, in my opinion.  

For the entree, I got the special: herb-crusted halibut with potatoes, mushrooms, and some type of green paste…forgot what it was. Solid but not a particularly memorable dish. 

My friend ordered the braised short rib encrusted with aromatic herbs, served with creamy whipped potatoes and grilled asparagus. It was surprisingly very good – juicy, flavorful, and not overdone at all.

All in all, don’t expect mind-blowingly good food - but definitely go to Top of the Hub for the espresso creme brulee, the experience, and the fantastic view. 

Deep Dish at Lou Malnati's | Chicago

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Good for tourists but not as blatantly touristy as some other places. Also looks great for a casual family dinner.

- Attire/ambiance: Casual, dim, and noisy, lots of Chicago memorabilia. 

- What to order: A small pizza for 2 people. Add vegetables and pepperoni for a nice balance.

- Reservations: Not sure, but our wait was only 20 min for a weekday walk-in. 

Chicago deep dish and I have a funny relationship...For my first time visiting the city, my friend brought me to Lou Malnati's, a fairly famous deep dish place. 

We ordered a medium, but a small is more than enough for two! Luckily, we actually wanted leftovers since the pizza was just that good.

Imagine the thickest, breadiest, and greasiest slice of pizza you've ever had. Well, this one definitely trumps that. It had the perfect amount of gooey, melted cheese and a juicy layer of spinach and tomatoes on top. For the meat, we added pepperoni after the server told us that sausages would make it all soggy. So glad we listened to him - the combo was phenomenal.

So that was Round 1. The next day, we heated up the leftovers (which still tasted fantastic) for dinner, and that was Round 2. I could already feel the grease clogging up my arteries…

Then on the following day, I went to an orientation event which served (guess what??) for lunch - deep dish from Lou Malnati's. Commence Round 3.

The next time I'm in Chicago, I'll opt for the hot dogs. Anything but deep dish!

Easy Salad with Eggs | Recipe

This is a healthy go-to salad recipe that can be assembled with whatever is in your fridge or pantry. Mine happened to contain: 

• assorted wild greens
• cherry tomatoes
• 3 teaspoons of balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• a dash of basil
• goat cheese
• dried cranberries
• walnuts
• 1 boiled egg (leave the yolk a little runny for better taste) with light salt and pepper
• organic stone-ground blue corn tortilla chips 

Trust me on the egg: a well-done yolk and a half-cooked one with a gooey center are two worlds apart. Another tip: roughly chop it instead of slicing evenly for more texture. 

Missing croutons? Substitute those with the healthier option of organic stone-ground blue corn tortilla chips - adds a nice crunch to your salad as well as a pop of color. 

Bistro du Midi | Boston

The Breakdown:

- Occasion: Good for an anniversary dinner or fancier date night.

- Attire/ambiance: Smart casual, with elegant surroundings and cushy seating on the upper floor.

- What to order: The grilled octopus appetizer, seared duck entree, and chocolate souffle for dessert.

- Reservations? Yes.

Bistro du Midi is a classy little French spot, perfect for a nice anniversary dinner or date night. We loved our appetizer – a harmonious blend of flavors featuring grilled octopus, eggplant cavier, sundried tomato, pine nut and basil oil sauce, and pear slices. Although it was only 4 tiny pieces, each one was crisp, juicy, and flavorful.

It’s hard to say which dish was better, the appetizer or my entree. I had the seared duck breast, with chickpea croquettes flavored with lemon, black olives, almonds, grilled figs, and a fragrant lavender sauce. The flavors were great together, the skin was done to a caramelized crisp, and the inside was perfectly cooked to a tender medium.

More close-ups of the duck. (Not pictured, but we also got the wild boar ragout cavatelli pasta with pear and ricotta salata on top – a nutty and mildly salty cheese. Also amazing but very tiny portions. Do NOT expect to get full after that dish.)

For dessert, we opted for the Grand Marnier souffle instead of the more popular chocolate one. The texture was deliciously airy and fluffy, but the taste of liqueur is almost overpowering. I'd probably stick with the chocolate next time. Overall, wonderful experience.