Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•Roadfood chimes in with their thoughts on the way controversial The Upper Crust. [Roadfood]
•Exactly how much Manischwitz ice cream from JP Licks will we eat this high holiday season? Answer: as much as possible. [Brookline TAB Blog]
•On a much more serious note, our thoughts are very much with the families of the firefighters who lost their lives battling the blaze at West Roxbury's Tai Ho. [Universal Hub]

[Photo: Flickr: momo617]

•MP: Chicago got us craving Thai crab.
•MP: Philadelphia made our taste buds work overtime with a description of some very cheap rice noodles.
•MP: San Francisco taught us that "the ocean's peaches" is perhaps the most appealing phrase in the English language.
•MP: South Florida showed us a breakfast that is, like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way.

Diner's Agenda is planning a lazy weekend.

Friday, August 31
•It's Labor Day weekend, guys, and you know what that means. No, not the end of wearing white (eff that noise!), but the end of summer festival season! Get your celebration on one last time at the Newport Waterfront Irish Festival at the Newport Yachting Club this weekend. Things kick off at 6:00 tonight with a concert by The Fenians and Screaming Orphans and last through Monday. Tickets are a mere $8 ($5 for students), so what are you waiting for? [Newport Waterfront Irish Festival]

Saturday, September 1
•Three words: Formaggio Kitchen cookout. Need we say more? Alright, fine. Although the cookout technically runs from 11am-2pm, we'd advise getting there by 11 to avoid the mob. [Formaggio Kitchen]

Sunday, September 2
•All summer long, Lineage has been delighting diners with $55 three-course lobster dinners on Sunday nights. This Sunday marks your last chance to ride the lobster wave, so make your reservation today by calling (617) 232-0065. [Lineage]
•Chillingsworth, the ne plus ultra of fine dining down the Cape hosts their annual Champagne dinner at 5:45. $135 gets you a Champagne reception, dinner, and plenty of wine. Call (508) 896-3640 to save your spot. [Chillingsworth]

Midwest Grill: so good!
Brazilian buffet is meat
"extravaganza."

51 Lincoln
goes Argentinean. Yum!
Great chimichurri.

Prezza chef makes good...
...pulled pork sandwiches, that is.
They sound so divine.

The Copley Square market is open today and may well have brilliant treats like these cranberry beans. Don't they just cry out to be made into a salad for dinner tonight?

Fresh Cranberry Bean Salad [Epicurious]

[Photo: Flickr: synaesthesia]

Welcome to The Buzz, a new feature where we look at what the Internet is saying about brand new restaurants. It's too early for a review, but when has that ever stopped anyone? This week we're taking a look at Gaslight, which opened last Thursday.

Judging by this blog's statistics, Gaslight is Boston's most anticipated restaurant in quite some time. It's no wonder, really. The Aquitaine Group is one of the city's most successful restaurant groups and bistros have always been what they do best. The prices are reasonable (entrees top out at $19.50) and the space is both gorgeous and conveniently positioned on Harrison Ave, which, if you believe the hype, is totally the next Washington Street. The internet is going nuts about Gaslight. Let's see what they're saying, shall we?

The Good: Chowhounder hsquare2southend, who has the distinction of being the first person to weigh in on Gaslight, gave it an almost-rave: "The menu has nice variety, and is perfect for all-day and late-night dining, with several sandwich items (burger, croque-monsieur) that looked yummy. ... The steak frites is the priciest entree on the menu, at $19.50. I am not even a regular fan of steak frites, but this one was delicious. It can be ordered with butter or bernaise sauce. I chose the latter, which was out of this world." 'Hounder litchick was inclined to agree: "Overall impression: I loved it. The aesthetic is great ... It feels like a fancier place than the prices would have you expect, which is really quite a nice way to dine -- you feel like you're really getting a deal. The price point is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and the Boston dining scene in general, and if they hold steady without raising the rates, I can see this place being packed all the time. They were full to the gills last night, but the din was minimal, which I appreciated. I feel like this can be a great neighborhood joint, and I expect to go back often." Perhaps our favorite rave comes from Yelp's Deepa C.: "You know those girls, 8 feet tall, with long blond hair, perfect make up, Manolo's and that pencil skirt from Turtle you know you could never afford nor fit into. It took a lot of time to look like that, money, research and intuition. And inherent class. All that is embodied into Gaslight."

The Bad: Although reception has been overwhelmingly positive overall, Gaslight does have some detractors. The Missus of On Common Ground reported a lot of first week jitters that she hopes will improve: "The sound in the place was AWFUL ...I have to question the "freshness" of some of the food. I ordered the beet salad as a starter. The beets tasted "tinny" and old. As though they had maybe been prepped and roasted the day before... Which, quite frankly, is unacceptable." Many are less than pleased with the entirely en Français menu. Blogger pahkcah02 advises diners: "Better brush up on your Francais if you're planning to dine here. While some of the menu offerings are pretty simple to figure out (eg: Poulet Rotisserie), it would be a lot more helpful if they described the meals in English." Finally, in what might be a sign of trouble for the restaurant in a few months, the Globe's Devra First wrote a post on Dishing calling Gaslight "a mash-up of just about every French cliche there is" and complaining of onion soup with a giant lump of cheese floating beneath the bread, threatening to choke a diner with its chewy strands; duck confit that was dry and suspiciously way-too-hot (microwave?); frites that were good in that they looked and tasted exactly like McDonald's; skate in gloppy sauce that resembled airplane food."

The Balthazar Comparisons: When we're in New York, we have breakfast at Balthazar fairly frequently. Although many of Balthazar's patrons are now tourists, it was not too long ago one of New York's hottest restaurants and played a major role in making American takes on French brasseries so incredibly popular. Take a second. Check out Balthazar's website. Now look at the site for Gaslight. Eerie, right? It's no surprise that Gaslight has been getting its fair share of Balthazar comparisons. Yelper JC remarks that "If you have been to Balthazar in NYC, you will love Gaslight a lot. ... Gaslight is a Balthazar of Boston." Chowhounder jpeso is a bit more skeptical: "The place looks nice. But doesnt it look like a complete replica of Pastis, Balthazar, Schillers? It does to me down to the uniforms too. I know that those place are mere replicas of parisian classics as well, but perhaps a slightly new take on it."

Gaslight [MenuPages]
Gaslight [Official Site]

Beehive has great scene
but is the food great as well?
Eh, it's good enough.

Belmont's Shangri La:
Chinese food made to order.
Fresh and delicious!

dbar's patio:
food and scene are both quite good
and very lively.

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. Today's entry focuses on Boston College, where first-year orientation starts today.

BC could certainly be more conveniently located. Nestled into a nook of land between Brighton and Chestnut Hill, it's the only area school besides Wellesley and Brandeis where having a car is a gigantic asset. Though the walk to great food may be longer than at other Boston area colleges, it is possible to eat very well indeed in the BC area. Below, our top picks in each of the four major food groups of your college years.

Delivery: Moogy's has long been a BC staple and for good reason! They serve breakfast all day, crazy cheap sandwiches and subs, and fluffernutter sandwiches. Best of all, delivery starts at 4:00, which is perfect for those days when you can't quiiiiite wait until dinner.

Study Break Snacks: When that 25 page treatise on phallic imagery in Macbeth has got you down, make the hike to Rosie's Bakery for some coffee and a sweet treat. Hint: the chocolate orgasm brownie really does live up to the hype.

Hangover Food: We're not going to lie to you. The Breakfast Club (270 Western Ave, Allston) is a trek from BC and involves taking the B line to Warren Street and then walking. It is totally worth it, even in the depths of a malicious hangover. The John Hughes theme will soothe you and the spectacularly awesome diner food will kickstart the long, slow process of revitalization.

On Your Parents' Dime: The Metropolitan Club combines elegant food (don't miss the giant foie gras ravioli) with a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere. Your parents will marvel at your new city savvy and everyone will have an excellent meal.

Boston College [Official Site]
Moogy's [Official Site]
Rosie's Bakery [Official Site]
The Metropolitan Club [Official Site]

[Photo: Grad Profiles]

Potbellies Kitchen:
cheap comfort food in Southie's
bistro slash diner.

Ratatouille thoughts:
except for the final dish
Nadeau quite liked it.

Yummmm, Eastern Standard.
The frisee aux lardons rules.
We already knew.

The always-charming blog The Knowledge For Thirst alerted us yesterday to perhaps the most exciting thing we've seen since MP: Chicago showed us this grocery store/amusement park hybrid. Guys, it's a soda train! A soda train! Perhaps we are childish, but we cannot think of any beverage that would not be improved by being transported to us via train. Pizza King, come to Boston!

The Knowledge For Thirst [Official Site]
Wasn't Grocery Shopping Already Amusing Enough? [MP: Chicago]
Pizza King [YouTube: audreykittridge]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•Grilled cheese and gazpacho at The Ivy! [Anali's First Amendment]
•Turkey clubs at Petrillo's in Newton! [The Garden City]
•Profiteroles at Aquitaine Bis! [Cave Cibum]

[Photo: Flickr: knobelsp]

Hey! It's a bike trip!
The Dig tours local farms.
Lots of juicy fruits.

Eco-friendly gin
still smells like a Christmas tree.
Vodka smells like bread.

Diner's Agenda's favorite New Kid was always Jordan.

Wednesday, August 29
•Looking to upgrade your dinner with a fancypants cheese course? Head over to Vinalia, where tonight's diners will get a complimentary wine and cheese tasting. What a lovely way to get over the hump! [Vinalia]
•Bargain alert! Tonight at 6:00, Avila hosts a celebration inspired by Dionysis, the Greek god of wine, revelry, and theatre. There will be lots of yummy Greek food and wine for a mere $20! Call (617) 267-4810 to save your spot. [Avila]
•Pembroke's British Beer Company gets even more British tonight when they host the fine folks of the UK's Samuel Smith Brewers for a five-course beer dinner tonight at 6:00. Tickets are $50, which breaks down to $10 per course. Not too shabby! Call (781) 829-6999 to reserve. [British Beer Company]
•Donnie Wahlberg is having a birthday party tonight at The Estate. Are you down? Are you a cover girl? Do you have the right stuff to attend? Walk down there step by step and spend some time hangin' tough. Please don't go girl after 11:00, because admission is free from 10pm-11pm. [Going]

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. Today's entry is Tufts, where first-year orientation starts today.

Fun facts about Tufts: The university's radio station is really excellent. A Tufts professor wrote the modern version of the Hippocratic Oath. His name? Dr. Lou Lasagna. According to the school's website, Tufts "may be home to the world's largest collection of elephant statues." All of these are, of course, reasons to like Tufts, but to our mind, Tufts' greatest attraction is its location. Mere minutes from both Davis "The Paris of the '90s" Square and Ball "Breakfast" Square, Tufts is ideally positioned for good eating. Below, our picks for the best bests for the four college food groups.

Delivery: Laugh at the name if you must, but Pini's Pizza (511 Broadway, Somerville, (617) 628-8668) is crazy good and crazy cheap. The vast majority of their business is delivery, so they do an excellent job at it: fast and yummy. This is by no means an artisanal place and we'd advise keeping things fairly plain (we're partial to the garlic pie ourselves), but within those constraints, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better pie for this kind of money.

Study Break Snacks: Sometimes a trip as tiny as running to the vending machine for a Diet Coke can constitute a study break, but sometimes (especially when in the throes of deepest procrastination), you want a little bit more of a trip. When you need to get off campus for an hour, head on down to the Diesel Cafe for a cookie and a latte. Oh, and maybe a game of pool. Oh, and maybe a few pictures in the photo booth. What? That's what extensions are for.

Hangover Food: O, hungover Tufts student! Drag your booze-soaked body out of bed and pad over to Kelly's Diner (674 Broadway, Somerville, (617) 623-8102) for the works: orange juice (sans vodka, in marked contrast to last night), coffee, pancakes, eggs, bacon, and home fries. By the time you finish, your hangover will be a thing of the past.

On Your Parents' Dime: You may have been subsisting on a diet of Easy Mac and Clif Bars for the past semester, but that won't do for your parents, now will it? Show the people that raised you your newfound college sophistication with a meal at Gargoyles on the Square and catch up over an excellent yet unpretentious multi-course feast.

Tufts University [Official Site]
Diesel Cafe [Official Site]
Gargoyles on the Square [Official Site]

The Grinder and Chez Pim bring us this very silly video from Japanese comedy duo Rahmens. Watch and giggle. A lot.

Ha Ha Hamachi [The Grinder]
How To Eat at a Sushi Bar [Chez Pim]
Rahmens [Official Site]
How To Eat at a Sushi Bar [YouTube: Konkaver]

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. Today's last guide is for Northeastern, where first-year orientation starts tomorrow.

Despite the fact that all our schooling between the ages of twelve and eighteen took place within ten minutes of Northeastern, we just realized we don't know that much about the school. We know they have a kickass ASL interpreter training program, that the coops seem neat, and that one summer we worked nearby and every student we saw seemed to be wearing the same outfit, although that last part certainly doesn't hold true for other Northeastern students we've met. Also, Northeastern's gym is designed in the meanest possible way. We for one don't want to look down on a food court while we're running on the treadmill. Although the gym may be cruel, it's something of a necessity at Northeastern, a campus on which delightfully junky food abounds. Below, four of our top picks for the best of the college food groups.

Delivery: Eating in is delightful at Penguin Pizza, but ordering out is almost as nice. The pizza more or less sticks to the basics, which it does very very well. The bolognaise pizza has a well-deserved cult following.

Study Break Snacks: Although Espresso Royale Cafe is a chainlet, each location manages to feel wholly unique and well-suited to the neighborhood. Also, the coffee is insanely delicious and sure to pep up even the most sleep-deprived of college students.

Hangover Food: Although Sunrise Chinese Food really doesn't look like much from the outside, it churns out reliably awesome staples until two in the morning. Call in for a double order of Peking ravioli to soak up the hangover in your belly and get it delivered so you can eat it while lying on your bed and watching a Top Chef marathon.

On Your Parents' Dime: Spend a lovely afternoon with your parents exploring the Museum of Fine Arts before settling in for a sophisticated dinner at Bravo. Foie gras roulade isn't exactly part of your day-to-day budget, but that's what parental visits are for, right?

Northeastern University [Official Site]
Penguin Pizza [MenuPages]
Espresso Royale Cafe [Official Site]
Sunrise Chinese Food [MenuPages]
Bravo [Official Site]

It's Tuesday afternoon! Time for us to discuss all the rumors we've heard over the past week, or at least the ones that pertain to Boston restaurant openings and closings. For the second week in a row, we have way more openings than closings. We'll call that a good thing. Let's jump right into it, shall we?

Openings
•An as-yet-unnamed sushi restaurant will be opening in Brighton Center in October, at least if Craigslist is to be believed. The whole thing seems a bit strange. They're opening in November, but seemingly have not yet hired a chef, created the menu, or fully designed the space.
•Chowhounder BarmyForthrtingayPhipps is reporting an intriguing new development on Brighton Ave: a very-soon-to-open coffee shop called 2nd Cup Cafe (sadly, no apparent relation to the much-beloved Canadian chain Second Cup). Google knows nothing, but rumors are swirling on Chowhound of Wifi and tasty treats.
•More news on the aforementioned Liberty Hotel. It seems we were wrong last week...the jail-themed lobby bar is actually called Alibi. Sexy!
•We know, we know. You were just thinking "you know what Boston needs? Another steakhouse!" Your prayers have been answered, as The Beantown Bloggery is reporting that national chain Daily Grill will soon open in the old Applebee's space in the Pru.
•Finally, Cantabridgia points us toward the site for The Ice Cream Project, a vegan ice cream parlor slash space for film, writing, and (sigh) performance art slated to open in Kendall Square this November.

Closings
•Chowhound brings us the sad news that Allston institution V Majestic closed on Saturday. It will be missed by budget-conscious pho-loving Allstonians.

[Photo: Flickr: Ilya Vedrashko]

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. First up today is Boston University, where first-year orientation starts tomorrow.

We've basically liked BU ever since the departure of John Silber. We have a longstanding fondness for the Huntington Theatre and we know quite a few people who got a sweet free ride through the college and enjoyed it immensely. We are, of course, less fond of the drunken students crowding the B Line every damn night, but we will be charitable and not judge BU as an institution by the actions of a drunken few (but seriously, guys, if you're going to puke, DON'T GET ON THE TRAIN). Anyways. BU's location between Kenmore Square and Allston ideally positions students for some fine eating. Below, our picks for the best bets for the four major college food groups.

Delivery: Angora Cafe makes some damn fine pizza...as well as some mightily tasty paninis and smoothies. The delivery is, by all accounts, very prompt and perfectly suited for the very lazy. You can send an instant message to IMAngora with your order. Convenient!

Study Break Snacks: Sonny, back when we were a young whippersnapper, Kenmore Square wasn't all fancy-pants like it is now. If we wanted a snack, we had to go take our chances at Deli Haus. Also, we had to walk uphill both ways. In the snow. You young folks can simply amble over to Truly Jorg’s Patisserie and have intellectual conversations over fancy French pastries and lovely coffee. You'll go soft, I tell you! Soft!

Hangover Food: Chowhounders and commoners alike are raving about Grille Zone. The burgers are juicy, cooked to perfection, and perfect for soothing your angry stomach after your festivities the night before (festivities during which you hopefully did not menace people on the Green Line. Please! Don't be That BU Student!). The best part? The operations of Grille Zone are entirely green, allowing you to focus all your guilt on the fact that you made out with your roommate's crush.

On Your Parents' Dime: Eastern Standard is a near-miraculous oasis of sophistication in an area most frequented for pre-meal beers. Bring the parents to chow down on upscale comfort food and persuade them to indulge in the excellent drinks before dropping the bomb that you're not exactly pre-med anymore.

Boston University [Official Site]
Angora Cafe [Official Site]
Truly Jorg’s Patisserie [Official Site]
Grille Zone [Official Site]
Eastern Standard [Official Site]

[Photo: Toohey World]

We promise that this will be the last post concerning either Dunkin' Donuts or trans fats for at least a week. Believe us, we're feeling as worn down by these perennials as you are, so unless Dunkie's opens a store on the moon or trans fats are found to be secretly healthy, we shan't speak of them again in August. Really, we wouldn't have even mentioned them today, except that there is big news!

In May, we reported that Dunkin Donuts had been attempting to create a tasty trans-fat free donut since 2004 with no success. Excitingly, they have finally succeeded, as the company announced yesterday that by October 15th, Dunkin' Donuts menus nationwide will be free of trans fats. Well...mostly. As the Associated Press reports, Dunkie's is actually offering donuts with "zero grams of trans fat", not "trans fat free" donuts. The difference? Federal regulations allow any food with less than half a gram of trans fats to categorize itself as having zero grams of trans fat. The federal government is, as it turns out, a fan of rounding.

Apparently, the low trans fat donuts have been blindly taste-tested in 400 stores nationwide. The new donuts will be available in all Dunkie's by October 15. We, for one, are looking forward to trying them. What do you think? Will they taste like the regular hyper-unhealthy kind?

Dunkin' Donuts Announces Zero Grams Trans Fat Menu To Be Available Nationwide By October 15 [Dunkin' Donuts]
Dunkin' Donuts to Slash Trans Fats [Boston Globe]

As regular readers know, we don't truck with big-chain national fast food. McDonald's is, of course, the ur-fast food chain, so it receives a goodly amount of our ire (seriously, guys, read Fast Food Nation. Not to be too Natalie Portman about it, but it will change your life). Nonetheless, when we heard that the Big Mac was celebrating its fortieth birthday this year, we felt compelled to pay some sort of tribute. So, without further ado, here are some excellent questions about Big Macs from everyone's favorite British mum staffed PR site, Make Up Your Own Mind.

Question: Why does a big mac give me and my wife, excessive gas and explosive diarrhoea within 3 hours of consumption?
Answer: McDonald's food contains nothing that should make a normal, healthy person ill or feel sick in any way and all ingredients that are used are similar to those you would buy in the supermarket or use at home.

Question: Surely Big Mac is a misrepresentation under the Trade Descriptions Act. They're really small, and they don't contain any 'Mac'?
Answer: The Big Mac is a McDonald’s classic, and has not changed in shape, size or recipe since its conception. It remains one of the most popular and well-recognised items on the McDonald’s menu throughout the world. The Big Mac sandwich contains two 100 percent beef patties, lettuce, onions, cheese, dill pickles and the special Big Mac sauce. Made with careful preparation and attention to detail, McDonald’s expects the Big Mac will be around for a long time to come.

Question: why does a big mac taste like plastic?
Answer: There is nothing in McDonald’s food that would make it taste of plastic as only high quality food ingredients are used. McDonald’s believes its food tastes good and it is enjoyed by the millions of customers who visit McDonald’s restaurants every year.

Question: are big macs big?
Answer: Yes!

McDonald's [Official Site]
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal [Amazon]
Big Mac Celebrates 40th Birthday [WCVB]
Big Mac - What's In the Food? [Make Up Your Own Mind]

[Photo: United Mask & Party]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•Belmont's Select Cafe is a hidden gem. [Tish's Dish]
•Marty's Donut Land in Ipswich makes a damn fine donut. [Roadfood]
•Ed Levine spills the beans about Mattapoisett's Oxford Creamery. [Serious Eats]

[Photo: Flickr: ConfessionalPoet]

Yesterday's Globe featured a fairly terrifying story about health violations in some of the Hub's finest restaurants. All the usual disgusting culprits are involved: mice in the dining room, roaches in the kitchen, improperly stored food, workers preparing salads without gloves. We have a fairly high tolerance for minor health code violations (we don't freak out if, for example, the bathroom doesn't have a sign saying that employees must wash hands and we couldn't care less if a light bulb or two happens to be out in the kitchen), and we understand that the occasional mouse happens to the best of us, but some of the stories in the article are ridiculously disgusting. At one restaurant we will not name (for names, visit the article), a fruit fly infestation last summer caused one bar patron to swallow at least three flies with his drink. Gross!

The specific stories of restaurant negligence are horrifying, but perhaps the most interesting part of the article concerns the fundamental incapacity of the Inspectional Services Department to properly do its job. The department is underfunded, which results in less inspections than are required by law. Restaurants are meant to be inspected three times a year but, as the Globe reports, the reality is that they're inspected about half that frequently. In perhaps an even more troubling revelation, the results of restaurant inspections are not readily available to the public. When the Globe requested copies of reports for 47 restaurants, the city informed them that would cost $2,039. In contrast, New York makes the inspection reports for every restaurant in the city available for free online. There is no good reason why consumers shouldn't be able to see restaurant inspection reports easily and for free. If you feel strongly about this matter, it might not be a bad idea to contact your elected representative. After all, cat poo is one thing, but no one wants to eat mouse droppings.

High End Fare, with Side Order of Violations [Boston Globe]
Restaurant Inspection Information [New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygeine]

[Photo: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

Diner's Agenda feels inspired by fall.

Monday, August 27
•Making pasta from scratch is one of our favorite activities. When done solo, it can be very meditative, but when done in a group and accompanied by wine, it's hilarious and quite social. Experience the good times tonight at Marco, where chef Matthew Abdoo will be teaching an informal class on the making of "pici, orecchiette, gnocchi and more." $95 gets you admission to the class, dinner, and wine. Class starts at 6:30 sharp, so make sure to save your place by calling (617) 742-1276. [Marco]

Tuesday, August 28
•As we mentioned this morning, it's tomato time. UpStairs on the Square will be holding a five-course dinner at 6:30 honoring the lycopene-packed treat. It promises to be a delicious evening and, at $65, a relative bargain, but only a few seats are left, so call (617) 864-1933 ASAP to reserve. [UpStairs on the Square]
•The New England Aquarium continues its series of sustainable food dinners at 6:30, but this one has a twist! All three courses will be paired with Sam Adams beers instead of wine. Beer and fish are lovely together, so it should be a lot of fun. $75 gets you a cocktail reception, dinner, and dessert. Reservations may be made online. [New England Aquarium]
•Are you bored bored bored with your home cooking? Looking to spice things up in the kitchen? Head on over to the Boston Center for Adult Education to learn chef Andy Husbands' (of Tremont 647 fame) secrets to adventurous American cuisine. The $80 fee includes plenty of food and cocktails in addition to the class itself. Registration may be done online. [Boston Center for Adult Education]

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. Today's entry is Wellesley, where first-year orientation starts today.

We're going to level with you. We went to Smith, so Wellesley is technically our rival. Student orgs at Smith regularly make good money selling shirts with slogans like "Friends Don't Let Friends Go to Wellesley" and "Wuck Fellesley." That being said, every time we've found ourself on the Wellesley campus, we've marveled at how insanely pretty the buildings are and, when it comes down to it, our women's college pride extends to all surviving Seven Sisters schools, so go Wellesley! As the college's name implies, Wellesley is, indeed, located in Wellesley. This is a boon for Wellesley students, as there is plenty of good food to be found within the Wellesley town limits. Below, our choices for the four major college food groups.

Delivery: Welleslians (is that the correct word? We've heard that they call themselves Wendy Wellesleys, but that can't be true, can it?) are the backbone of business for Lemon Thai (555 Washington St, Wellesley, (781) 237-6995) and business is good indeed. An order of mango fried rice hits the spot beautifully on nights when the dining hall is serving overcooked pasta again.

Study Break Snacks: You've been cramming for your art history exam all morning and if you have to look at one more slide, you're going to scream right in the middle of the library. Step away from the syllabus, call your friends, and mosey on down to Truly Yogurt for a dish of Cookie Delight. By the time you finish, you'll be rejuvenated enough to remember why you decided to major in art in the first place.

Hangover Food: Whether you did your imbibing at Harvard, MIT or right in your own room, the after effects are the same: an achy head and a tummy that is crying out for help. Heed your stomach's call at Comella's (288 Washington St, Wellesley, (781) 235-6800). Pick up one of their trademark "messes": appealing piles of pasta, sauce, and a variety of fixings from meatballs to eggplant. Your tummy will thank you.

On Your Parent's Dime: Blue Ginger is indisputably the star of the Wellesley dining scene. Let your parents treat you to Ming Tsai's innovative take on traditional Eastern flavors while you wow them with tales of your academic prowess.

Wellesley College [Official Site]
Truly Yogurt [Official Site]
Blue Ginger [Official Site]

As you are doubtless aware, it's the height of tomato season. Farmers markets across the state are brimming with heirloom varieties and the majority of specimens are sweet, juicy, and perfectly flavored. Seriously, even if you're not a regular farmers market shopper, we cannot encourage you strongly enough to get down to your local market for some tomatoes in the next few weeks. The ones in the grocery store simply cannot compare.

One of our favorite food writers, Melissa Clark, wrote an excellent piece in last week's New York Times documenting her effort to make a week's worth of tomato dishes. While her recipes were, as usual, fantastic, we were a little surprised that she didn't make one of our favorite summer tomato treats: fried green tomatoes. Fried green tomatoes are a Southern treat that is, well, exactly what it sounds like. Green tomatoes are dipped in buttermilk, coated with cornmeal, and fried in vegetable oil. The end result is delicious: a little bit tangy and totally addictive. We harnessed the power of the MenuPages Find-a-Food search to find three of the best places in the hub for fried green tomatoes.

•Stephanie's on Newbury serves fried green tomatoes as an appetizer on their excellent lunch menu. Nosh on tomatoes nestled on a bed of spinach and topped with pecans and balsamic maple vinaigrette as you watch the endless parade of Newbury Street fashionistas passing by.
•Fried green tomatoes make their appearance at Sibling Rivalry as part of chef Bob Kinkead's Sunday lunch menu. Cajun eggs are served on tomatoes and topped with shrimp, crawfish, artichoke, and bearnaise.
•Stephanie's and Sibling Rivalry are great for lunchtime fried green tomatoes, but what about when your craving hits at dinnertime? Never fear, for Magnolia's offers the tasty treats as an appetizer on their dinner menu. The tomatoes come with a fiery tomatillo salsa. Yum.

So Many Tomatoes to Stuff in a Week [New York Times]
Stephanie's on Newbury [Official Site]
Sibling Rivalry [Official Site]
Magnolia's [Official Site]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•There are too many steakhouses in Boston! [Dishing]
•The service at The Neighbourhood in Somerville is too leisurely! [Somerville Blog]
•All Star Sandwich Bar is always packed! [Roadfood]

[Photo: Flickr: BehindDarkEyes]

Here's the deal folks. Match each post title to the appropriate MenuPages blog: Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, or South Florida. The first person to email us the correct answers wins a toothy smile of approbation (with distinction, even!). No cheating. We'll know...we have eyes in the back of our head.

1) Snails, Snails, Snails
2) Boy "Linked" To Sausage Assault
3) As Mandated By The Pre-Nup
4) Vegetables Make Great Faces
5) It Rained on Pepe's Parade
6) Spork Provides Good Food, Chuckles
7) Food Blogs Proliferating; Old Media Unable to Keep Up
8) PETA Urges Local Cannibal/Murderer To Give Up All Flesh

Diner's Agenda needs a double espresso, stat.

Friday, August 24
•This weekend marks the last North End festival of the season and it promises to be a veritable doozy of deliciousness. The feast honors Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lost things (poetic!). The feast starts tonight at 7:00 and continues through Sunday. Go! Load up on sausage and fried clams...after all, it's your last chance this year. [Saint Anthony's Society of Boston's North End]
•It's going to be a hot weekend. You don't really want to cook, do you? We didn't think so. Head to Cafe Fleuri and indulge in their special a la carte BBQ menu, which they'll be serving tonight and tomorrow. Call (617) 956-8751 to reserve. [Boston Chefs]

Sunday, August 26
•Continue your international weekend by moseying on down to Kendall Square for the Cambridge Carnival parade and festival. There will be music, dancing, and plenty of delicious Caribbean food. The parade gets underway at 12:30...be sure not to miss it! [Cambridge Carnival]

Cottonwood Cafe
celebrates fifteen great years,
has chocolate nachos.

Craigie Street Bistrot's
ricotta gnocchi. Yummmmm.
Chef Tony Maws rocks.

Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe
now has healthier options,
like this bean salad.

...Except to say that Peking ravioli is totally an acceptable breakfast food, right? Right?

[Photo: Flickr: flooznyc]

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. First up is Brandeis, where first-year orientation starts tomorrow.

To be 100% honest, we don't know all that much about Brandeis. Like so many people of Jewish descent, we have a cousin that went there, but not a close one. Everyone we've met who attended Brandeis, however, seemed to really like it, so we're sure it's a lovely school. Brandeis is, of course, located in Waltham, which is rather fortunate for the Brandeisian (?) foodie. Waltham's reputation as a dining destination is fast-growing, and with good reason! Moody Street is packed with excellent restaurants and the food shopping options are second to none. Below, our suggestions for the aforementioned four major college food groups.

Delivery: Gourmet pizza recently arrived in Waltham with the opening of a branch of The Upper Crust. On those nights where you simply don't have the time to take a break from writing that term paper to run to the dining hall (or you can't tear yourself away from that marathon of The Hills), rejuvenate your spirits with a pie loaded with toppings (we're partial to sundried tomatoes, pesto, and ricotta).

Study Break Snacks: Don't let midterms sink your spirits! Grab your favorite study buddy and mosey on down to Moody Street for a sundae at Lizzy's. If a few scoops of chocolate orgy topped with some hot peanut butter sauce doesn't de-stress you, we don't know what will.

Hangover Food: It is a truth universally acknowledged that tacos are the world's best hangover food. Pad on down to Taqueria Mexico (24 Charles St, Waltham, (781) 893-2205) for a Chowhound-sanctioned festival of meaty, spicy deliciousness that won't break the bank.

On Your Parents' Dime: The Elephant Walk consistently turns out some of the city's most delicious and refined food. Your parents, who remember when you used to steadfastedly refuse to eat anything besides pizza, will be very proud to see you noshing on French-Cambodian fare.

Brandeis University [Official Site]
The Upper Crust [Official Site]
Lizzy's Homemade Ice Cream [Official Site]
The Elephant Walk [Official Site]

[Photo: Answers.com]

"Earthy" KO Prime
balances classic and new
for well-heeled Hubsters.

Deli After Dark,
Dedham's secret nightlife spot,
has some yummy food.

Sage is crazy good
even if the bar's TV
doesn't show the Sox.

It's that time of the year again. College students are about to return to the Hub in full force and though they can drive full-time Bostonians a little nuts, they make the city more energetic, so let's welcome them, shall we? We'll be offering a series of posts for various colleges over the next week, highlighting our top picks for delivery, study break spots, hangover food, and dining on a parent's dime. First up is MIT, where first-year orientation starts tomorrow.

We have no aptitude whatsoever for or interest in math or science, but we still think MIT is pretty neat. We're obsessed with the OpenCourseWare program, the designer buildings are just plain crazy, and the radio station has moments of total brilliance. If you're into, you know, technology, we imagine that MIT is a pretty nice place to go to school. It's definitely a nice place to eat! Not only are the Student Union's dining attractions far better than most (guys, there's an Anna's Taqueria in the student center!), but MIT's location is also supremely convenient to both Kendall and Central Squares. How lovely! Below, our pics for the four major college food groups: delivery, study break snacks, hangover food, and food purchased by your parents.

Delivery: The beauty of Beauty's (forgive us) is that their gorgeous gourmet pizzas appeal equally to vegetarians and carnivores. This means that your pepperoni-loving self and your roommate who just started listening to the Smiths and totally realized that meat is murder can happily order together.

Study Break Snacks: A good study break spot should be a little bit of a hike from school, so as to extend the procrastination for the maximum time possible. For this reason (as well as for the reason that it's crazy delicious), we recommend heading to Toscanini's Ice Cream for a nice cone during the warmer months and 1369 Coffee House when it's a little colder. Either should take you a little while to get to from campus and allow you plenty of time to bond with your new friends.

Hangover Food: No matter what preconceptions others might have about MIT students doing chemistry experiments for fun on a Friday night, the students themselves know the truth: MIT has a huge Greek scene and come Friday night, students are more likely to be knocking a few back at one of the frat houses on Mem Drive. When you've indulged in a bit too much and you simply can't deal with one more super burrito from Anna's, head to Mary Chung Restaurant for a full meal of Chinese delicacies. It's good for what ails you, even if what ails you is ale (we cannot stop with the punning today, for some reason).

On Your Parents' Dime: Hey, when your parents are in town, you have to show them a good time, right? Getting a stellar meal for yourself is just a fringe benefit. Your parents will be sure to be floored by your good taste when you make reservations at Rendezvous. Students and parents alike will thrill to chef Steve Johnson's innovative take on Mediterranean cuisine.

[Photo: UAI 2006]

Red Sky: meh. It's fine.
Better than most in Faneuil,
but that's faint praise, no?

Pho Viet's Bánh mì
Only three dollars?????? God DAMN!
That's a cheap great treat.

Every August, we start feeling a little frantic about the end of summer. We love September with its crisp back-to-school feeling and excuse to wear boots and sweaters and tights, but around this time each August, we start feeling like we didn't take enough advantage of summer, like we have to grab it while we still can and engage with the season to the maximum extent possible. What's the best way to engage with the season? By eating, of course! Although blackberries are technically in season through fall, their slightly tart, refreshing flavor makes them perfect for summer's hottest month. Here are a few of Boston's most unusual blackberry dishes and drinks.

•The menu for Meritage makes us salivate just a little bit with its description of bergamot-rubbed duck breast with broccoli rabe and blackberry sauce. Berries beautifully cut the richness of duck and broccoli rabe adds a nicely earthy note.
•We're just going to give it to you straight. We hate margaritas. More accurately, we hate tequila. We've never had a bad experience with it or anything. We just think it tastes horrendous. If you're less wary than we are, however, you just might enjoy the blackberry mango margarita at Sushi Teq (the Teq stands for tequila, which is why we haven't been yet).
•The traditional course for blackberries is, of course, dessert. The peach-blackberry tart at Cha Fahn sounds like an excellent way to end any possible meal.
•In contrast to Sushi Teq, Rialto has a blackberry cocktail we can totally get behind. Their blackberry cosmopolitan is made with Ketel One, Cointreau, blackberry puree and comes with a sugared rim.
•Mamma Maria is one of Boston's nicest dining surprises. The name would suggest a tourist trap, but the kitchen puts out some of the city's most elegant Italian cuisine. Their dessert of three kinds of berries drizzled with brown sugar and sweet vin cotto is nothing less than simple perfection.

Meritage [Official Site]
Sushi Teq [MenuPages]
Cha Fahn: tea + sake + food [Official Site]
Rialto [Official Site]
Mamma Maria [Official Site]

Blogston Proper is your thrice-weekly roundup of Hub-related food writing from all over the Internet. We read the blogs so you don't have to. But you should anyway, just to be nice.

•Start the night at Wagamama, end it at Beard Papa. [Flip Side]
•This mama loves the farmers market. [What Was I THINKING?]
•Neither mamas nor papas care for Sibling Rivalry as a concept in their own families, but everyone seems to enjoy it as a restaurant. [Cave Cibum]

[Photo: Flickr: KarenMarleneLarsen]

Grilled sandwiches: yum.
We want the Pressed duck confit
immediately.

Ahlströms inspire
High & Mighty Brewery.
Surprise! They like it.

Diner's Agenda has never been to California.

Wednesday, August 22
•Somehow, we did not find out about this until justthissecond, but, guys: the Marshfield Fair is happening! It started on Friday and it will continue through Sunday. Go! See the giant pumpkins! Watch pig races! Most importantly, eat! Eat fudge and farm treats and honey sticks! Delightful! [Marshfield Fair]

Thursday, August 23
•Matt from UpStairs on the Square just returned from a trip to Napa and he brought back presents! Well, maybe not presents per se, since the tasting dinner highlighting his wine bounty costs $45, but we think it sounds well worth it, since there will be four courses and all. Save your spot by calling (617) 864-1933. [UpStairs on the Square]

The New York Times has a fascinating article today on the emergence of sustainable food practices as a religious issue. Food, of course, has always been an issue for many religions. Jews who keep kosher can't eat pork or shellfish, halal Muslims also can't indulge in pig products, and observant Hindus abstain from eating beef. The new religious focus on food isn't about prohibiting dietary items (although there is a fairly large scale Christian vegetarian movement), but rather, about adopting values more closely associated with the political left: paying workers a living, rather than minimum, wage, slaughtering animals humanely, and using organic methods to better respect the earth. There has also been a move toward eating locally as a form of environmental activism.

We think this is an excellent development. The production of food is, we believe, an issue of basic morality and, on a more practical level, this is good for the consumer. Although we definitely don't keep kosher (blame the siren song of bacon), we've long purchased kosher meat when possible because it tastes better and we know it's been raised humanely. Regardless of the reasoning behind it, increased availability of organic food, humanely raised meat, and living wages are all definitely good things.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Times article is the political questions it raises. If indeed, concerns about sustainable agriculture are on the rise among the religious, than it stands to reason that issues like the Farm Bill could impact the (highly coveted) vote of religious blocs.

Of Church and Steak: Farming for the Soul [New York Times]
The Christian Vegetarian Association [Official Site]

[Photo: Garden Services]

Or is Christopher Walken the new Paul McCartney? Hot on the heels of Christopher Walken's excellent demonstration of how to roast a chicken, Serious Eats brings us footage of Maccers himself making mashed potatoes. The idea of a knight making spuds might sound a bit odd, but really, it's really kind of ridiculously adorable and dorky and fun. The highlight occurs about five minutes in, but do watch the whole thing.

Mashed Paultatoes [Serious Eats]
Paul McCartney Making Mashed Potatoes [YouTube: queengirl2010]