Very Sad News on the Boston Locavore Front [Boston Food & Whine]
Verrill Farm Catches Fire, Burns Down [Boston.com]
Verrill Farm [Official Site]

[Photo: Verrill Farm]

“Lyndell’s has the best cupcakes around so it was an obvious choice”

-Somerville resident Jay Bell on why he chose to propose to his girlfriend using a window display at Lyndell's Bakery

Groom-To-Be: My Love is Like a Lyndell's Cupcake [Wicked Local: Somerville]

[Photo: We'd say yes. via theRealRosie]

Home to the Tanglewood Music Center, Canyon Ranch, Shakespeare and Company, and countless other cultural institutions, the Berkshires serve as the summer destination for countless urbanites. When the sun goes down, the restaurants are flooded with hungry vacationers looking for delicious food and drink. We were delighted by our dinner at Bistro Zinc, and clearly we aren't alone. Everyone from Deval Patrick to Ivana Trump has stopped in for dinner, and we can understand why. If you're looking for a quick bite with a drink, try the shrimp and salt cod fritters, accompanied by a creamy caper aioli dipping sauce. If you bow down at the altar of goat cheese like we do, you'll be in heaven with Zinc's fresh mixed green salad that comes with goat cheese the size of a hockey puck, wrapped in a crust of panko breadcrumbs meant to be cut up and sprinkled across the salad, which is filled with juicy cherry tomatoes in a vinaigrette sauce. Also, we can't neglect to say that the pommes frites are out of this world.

So if you're looking for relaxing getaway from hectic city life, or even a family vacation away from shuttling back and forth to school and soccer practice, do yourself a favor and visit the Berkshires. And while you're there, stop by Bistro Zinc for authentic French cuisine. We zinc you'll love it. In fact, we know so.

Bistro Zinc [Official Site]

[Photo: Bistro Zinc]

Jazz brunches: Stuffy, a bit upscale, not for everyone. That’s how we might think of the jazz brunch, but at Johnny D's, right in the heart of Davis Square, Somerville, you will find a laid-back jazz brunch that will keep you coming back. With a children’s menu, and even a collection of toys for the kids to play with, you can tell right off the bat that this isn’t just for adults. The jazz being played is not just typical jazz standards, but also a variety of modern day pop songs converted to a jazz guitar. Since there are eight regular mimosas to choose from, plus the weekly special, this is definitely a place to cut loose a bit.

The absolute best thing about Johnny D’s jazz brunch, though, is the food. The home fries are, like, wow! Seasoned with garlic and salt, it is almost impossible to leave any behind. Their omelettes are fluffier, and stuffed with more food than at most breakfast joints. Most of the dishes come with home-made oatmeal, and you can always add on some cheddar grits. Johnny D’s is great for your vegan and vegetarian friends as well, stocking soy milk for the coffee, and offering a vegan breakfast scramble. So come on into Johnny D’s (note: Saturday afternoons are not as crowded as Sundays), get a Summer Cha Cha (chocolate milk with blended bananas and ice), and try one of the many specials (like the shaved steak-and-eggs breakfast quesadilla, pictured above with a chipotle ranch sauce), or get a classic breakfast like the Belgian waffles with candied pecans!

Johnny D's [Official Site]

Openings

Boston: Potbelly Sandwich Works is opening in Boston for those of you looking for the perfect toasted sandwich and milkshake. [Craigslist]

South End: Rumor has it Stephanie's on Newbury is opening another branch where Garden of Eden was located. So now will they call it Stephanie's...on Tremont? [Chowhound]

Watertown Square: Comfort promises to provide, what else, comfort food. Sounds much better than eating Kraft mac and cheese in your sweats on the couch. [Zagat]

West Roxbury: The Local Scoop Ice Creamery will offer everything from low carb ice cream to specialties such as the ice cream pizza, which feeds 10 people, or one female recently dumped by her boyfriend. [Parkway Blog]

Closings

Downtown: James Hook and Co. unfortunately went up in flames on Friday. Luckily nobody was hurt, but 60,000 lbs of lobster was a casualty. [Boston Globe]

Back Bay: Boston Public, housed in the Louis Boston building, has closed due to financial reasons. Hundreds of European socialites are planning a memorial service. Designer sunglasses are mandatory. [Boston Globe]

[Photo: Edweek]

We consider ourselves to be relatively knowledgeable in the area of French food. Having just returned from Paris, the staples of French cuisine are fresh in our minds (and on our palates). Feening for Bostonian substitutes, we take to the streets.

La baguette: This is not a stereotype. When in France (even though this loaf is not a French native), one must have a nice and crusty bread to have on the counter, in case of emergency (or spontaneous company). Alternatively, one may desire a delicious sourdough. Might we suggest a boule from Roslindale's Fornax Bread Company?

Le pain au chocolat: While we may not have found the perfect copy of the croissant aux amandes, many a local bakery has taken a well-aimed stab at this delectable pastry. Iggy's Bread of the World in Cambridge never ceases to delight. While you're at it, you should try their brioche. Formidable!

Le sandwich: Have the aptly-titled Parisian specialty sandwich at Harvard Square's landmark Cardullo's. On a baguette, green apples cut the rich taste of creamy brie cheese with your choice of mustard. Feeling fancy? Try the Catherine the Great, with sevruga caviar and creme fraiche, also on a baguette. Pretend you're having a pique-nique on the Champs du Mars.

Fornax Bread Company [Official Site]
Iggy's Bread of the World [Official Site]
Cardullo's [MenuPages]
Cardullo's [Official Site]

In this week's edition of the Tuesday Report, three restaurants take crucial steps to expand and Sweet Finnish has a not-so-sweet finishing. Do you have a hot tip about a restaurant opening or closing? Let us know.

Openings
Back Bay: Word on the street is that the owners of La Voile are planning to open a cafe and boulangerie on Newbury, near the current location. Developing! [Chowhound]
Dorchester:Dot-to-Dot Cafe, a soon-to-be coffee spot on Dorchester Ave has its sign up and has started interior work. [Lower Dot]
Downtown Crossing: Temple Place is slated to get another dining option when The Ivy's owners open Stoddard's Fine Food & Ale, a "classic American" restaurant. Look for a September opening. [The Beantown Bloggery]
Fields Corner: Shabu-shabu is coming to Fields Corner with the opening of Osaka Shabu, the first-ever Japanese restaurant to open in that part of Dorchester. Bostonians: just can't get enough of shabu-shabu! [Chowhound]
North End: Rumor has it that Finale is in discussion to open a location in part of the former Martignetti's site. Because there's not enough dessert in the North End? [Hanover & Prince]
North End: The Matarazzo Family Club, a "prestigous center comprised of a daycare, an all Italian restaurant and a shopping area" will be coming soon to Purchase Street. Will this move cause the stroller brigade to migrate from the South End to the Financial District's condos? Only time will tell. [Craigslist]
Post Office Square: Z Square continues its rapid expansion with a third location in Post Office Square (perhaps in the spot planned for Todd English's doomed burger venture?), slated to open this summer. [Boston on the Go]

Closings
Allston: It was not exactly a restaurant, but nonetheless, the Paradise will be deeply missed. [Bostonist]
Central Square: Gandhi Restaurant is no more. As one Chowhounder points out, it's difficult to imagine why a restaurant named after Gandhi would offer an all-you-can-eat buffet. Here's hoping for a more appropriately-named spot to take its place. [Chowhound]
Jamaica Plain: Sweet Finnish has closed after three years in business. Rest assured, there is still no shortage of JP bakeries. [JP Gazette]
Needham: Needham's branch of Pho Pasteur has closed and is being replaced by another location of Somerville's Tu Y Yo. [Chowhound]

Changes
Jamaica Plain: The Blue Frog Bakery might be hopping from Green Street to Centre. How fiendishly clever of them to do so just as Sweet Finnish shuts its doors! [Dishing]

[Photo: Flickr: kenziebella]

When we last checked in on the escalating Ball Square Breakfast Wars, Sound Bites had just opened in its new location in Ball Square after being forced out of its original location at 704 Broadway and was being challenged for neighborhood breakfast supremacy by 704 Broadway's current tenant Ball Square Cafe. Ball Square Cafe is, of course, owned by Mike Moccia, Sound Bites' erstwhile landlord. Relations between Moccia and Sound Bites owner Yasser Mizra haven't been cordial for some years now, but in the eight months since we last reported on the matter, the situation has escalated sharply. The Somerville News reports that not only have the police been called in to mediate disputes between the Moccias and SMizra, but even Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone has noted the tension.

Now, however, Moccia is, apparently, trying to reconcile. The News reports that he recently sent a letter of apology to Mizra, who, as longtime Sound Bites patrons may have anticipated, is having none of it. Mizra curtly told the news that "I don't want to respond to his letter, I don't want to be civil, I just stay away from him." Such drama! Such strife! Will no one think of the multigrain Belgian waffles?

Sound Bites [Official Site]
Ball Square Cafe [Official Site]
Truce Offered, Rejected in "Breakfast Wars" [The Somerville News]

[Photo: Flickr: Eric Kilby]

In this week's edition of the Tuesday report, dollar oysters in Roxbury and ice cream insanity in Westie.

Openings
Roxbury: Pacific Restaurant, a new Chinese spot from the owners of Jade Pacific in Billerica, has opened in Newmarket Square. Apparently, it offers both oysters and giant scallops in the shell for a mere 99 cents each. Sounds like a good deal to us! [Chowhound]

West Roxbury: It's been a sad few years for ice cream lovers in Westie since Brigham's and Friendly's closed their doors. Now, however, all of that is poised to change as Champs Ice Cream comes to Centre near Belgrade and The Real Deal starts selling ice cream from Emack and Bolio's. Now, if we could only get a J.P. Licks up in there... [West Roxbury Bulletin]

[Photo: Flickr: SignalPAD]

There's so much exciting openings news (and no reported closings!) this week that we're barely even sure where to start, but like The Sound of Music taught us, let's start at the very beginning.

Brighton: Two very exciting developments in Brighton. Rumor has it that When Pigs Fly, the Maine-based bakery with an outpost in Davis Square is thinking of opening a second Boston-area location in Brighton Center. Look for Brightonites (Brightonians?) to get quickly obsessed with their banana, maple, pecan, and brown sugar loaf. Meanwhile, in Oak Square, the owners of Jasmine Bistro are getting ready to open up Ray's Grill, a family-oriented spot. If the food is as good as Jasmine's and the prices are reasonable, we'll be there. [Brighton Centered]
Davis Square:Ten Tables is apparently quite interested in opening a second location in Davis Square. Presumably, it will be called Twenty Tables (HAHAHA. Sorry.) This would be the most exciting Somerville development since Highland Kitchen's opening, but probably not great news for T.W. Food. [Chowhound]
Plymouth:Here's something we didn't know. Newbury Street pizza spot Croma has another location in Manchester, England and is opening a third in Plymouth. An international mini-chain! Whoda thunk it?! [Craigslist]
Roslindale:The Square Corner Cafe, located next to Robyn's (nee The Game Day Pub) is getting ready to open. [Universal Hub]
South End:How nice for the stroller brigade! Whole Foods may open on Harrison Ave. Between this and Las Ventas, Harrison is starting to shape up as the destination for those in search of gourmet groceries. [Boston Real Estate Blog]

[Photo: Flickr: deepaffairs]

After the slow doldrums (slowldrums? Good lord, Daylight Savings Time makes us tired) of last week, we've got plenty to report this week, so without any further adieu, we'll jump right in.

Openings
•Well this is exciting! The Globe reports that Guy Martin, one of France's top chefs (which really means one of the best chefs in the world) will be opening his first-ever United States restaurant this spring in Boston! The restaurant, which will be called Sensing, will be part of the Regent Boston Hotel at Battery Wharf and will feature contemporary French cuisine with a focus on locally-produced foods. You can start counting down the minutes right about...now.
•The Boston Real Estate Blog brought us two interesting nuggets: the intersection of Mass Ave and Washington will be getting a Senegalese restaurant called Teranga. Senegalese food is delicious and underrepresented in the Hub, so this is quite exciting news. Further down Washington, Aroa, a "fine chocolates brasserie" is slated to open by month's end.
•The Newton TAB brings news that Bobalicious, a Vietnamese bubble tea shop, has opened in Nonantum. This is certainly something new for the neighborhood and we hope it succeeds, because who doesn't love banh mi?
•Word on the street is that the owners of Daedalus are opening a second restaurant. A call to Daedalus confirmed that the new spot will be a brick oven pizzeria and should open within a month, but no further details were given.

Closings
•Boston Restaurant Talk brings us the news that well-regarded North End spot La Brace has closed.
•The Hubster reports that East Boston's Caffe Italia is closing and may be turned into a Colombian restaurant. This last detail has caused quite a bit of controversy on the blog's comments. A call to Caffe Italia proved unable to provide a confirmation or denial.

Changes
•Coolidge Corner sushi spot Takeshima has quietly turned into Blue Ocean, a Korean and Japanese spot. Observant readers may remember that the Takeshima space was, at one time, set to be the home of Perpetual Oyster, the rumored Gwen Butler seafood restaurant.

[Photo: Flickr: monicamohindra]

We love karaoke. We cannot state that unequivocally enough. We are always ready to drop everything and sing (generally either Fancy by Reba McEntire, I'm The Only One by Melissa Etheridge, or Up on Cripple Creek by The Band). Fortunately, there are at least three area spots that have no regard for silly excuses like "dude, it's Monday" and offer karaoke tonight. So get out there! Drink some beers, sing some songs, and if you find a bar that has Drop the Pilot by Joan Armatrading in its catalog, let us know.

•If you don't mind a bit of a schlep from the city, the British Beer Company in Walpole has karaoke from 9pm-12am. Hone your skills tonight so you'll be ready to rock at their live band karaoke on Wednesday. While you're there, do try their chicken and leek pasty pie...delicious!
•Courtside 's giant book of karaoke possibilities is justly legendary. Order up a big platter of steak tips and a beer and start your singing.
•In an extraordinarily random development, we recently learned that the Pizzeria Uno in Harvard Square offers karaoke on Monday nights starting at "around 9 or 9:30." We can not imagine a world in which this is not awesomely weird and we recommend checking it out.

The British Beer Company [Official Site]
Courtside [Official Site]
Pizzeria Uno [Official Site]

[Photo: I Can Has Cheezburger]

Diner's Agenda is ready for lunch.

Wednesday, February 20
•In the middle of a long and dreary February, what could be better than a taste of the sun-dappled Mediterranean? Head to Vlora at 7pm for a wine social featuring seven international wines, including some available exclusively at Vlora, and a selection of Mediterranean appetizers. Tickets, which cost $40, may be reserved by calling (617) 638-9699. [Vlora]

Thursday, February 21
•The 7pm Brunello v. Vino Nobile wine tasting at Tomasso Trattoria is geared toward "wine novices and experts alike", so its perfect for you, the wine snob, and your vino-ignorant date (or vice versa!). $30 gets you up to nine wines to taste, as well as some Italian delicacies to further enrich the palate. Call (508) 481-8484 to save your spot. [Tomasso Trattoria]

After two rather slow weeks in terms of major restaurant news, we have a slew of openings and changes (and no closings!) this week. We're just going to jump right into it, because there's a lot to report.

Openings
•Wellesley fine dining standby Blue Ginger is coming up on its ten year anniversary and to celebrate, it's getting renovated and expanded. The restaurant has acquired the space next door and plans to use it for a lounge which will showcase Ming's Bings, Chef Ming Tsai's take on Asian street food. We are unspeakably excited about this development.
•Chowhound reports that Harrison Ave is set to get even more bustling with the spring opening of Estragon, a giant tapas restaurant set to come later this spring. We were going to make an unspeakably pretentious Waiting for Godot joke here, but it turns out that "estragon" is also the French word for "tarragon." Although: it's a little strange for a tapas place to have a French name, no?
•The BU Free Press reports that Kenmore Square burger hotspot UBurger is opening a second location on Commonwealth Ave near BU's West Campus, neatly filling the space (both literally and figuratively) recently departed by Grille Zone.
•Speaking of expansion, rumor has it that Somerville's Redbones is planning a second location near Fenway Park. This would be tremendous good news for those who love both baseball and barbecue. A call to Redbones confirmed that while nothing is set in stone, they're definitely looking into opening in the area.
•The Fenway area is also set to get another fast food spot when Framingham wing and music emporium The Chicken Bone (beloved by Ming Tsai...this post is coming full circle!) opens a second branch. Note to the unemployed: they're hiring!
•It's unclear whether Sofra, the Ana Sortun/Maura Kilpatrick Middle Eastern bakery and cafe will be located in Cambridge or Watertown. It is, however, clear that people (including us) are getting pretty excited.

Changes
•The rumors are true...well, sort of. There's been a very big staff shakeup at The Biltmore with owner Rebecca Roth, chef Seth Morrison, and bartender Sean McKeown all departing. A call to the restaurant revealed that there are still a few staff members left over and it will not be permanently closing.

We have long been fond of using February 14 to celebrate not just our romantic relationships, but also our wonderful friendships. In high school, we exchanged Palentine's Day cards with our group of close friends. In college, we, along with our best friend, established The Feast of Leila and Jen's Awesomeness, an occasion on which to eat a grand meal and drink several bottles of wine that just so happened to coincide with Valentine's Day. (As both of us have been in relationships for the past few years and live five hours from each other, the holiday is now celebrated on an alternate date.) The way we see it, since there's no Friendship Day, why not celebrate your important non-romantic relationships on Valentine's Day, which, to our mind, is about love in all its forms?

We love going out for Palentine's Day dinner, but it can be tricky to figure out where, exactly, such a dinner should take place. Anywhere too aggressively fancypants and romantic can be either awkward or leave you feeling like a second-class citizen. On the other hand, it's a special occasion, so you don't just want to go to Bertucci's. Below, three spots that we think strike the right balance.

•Bella Luna is offering a special three-course menu for $40 featuring tasty treats like herb-crusted rack of lamb and wild mushroom ravioli with goat cheese béchamel. Afterwards, there will be dancing downstairs at the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes.
•Somehow, a dinner with beer pairings feels less romantic than one with wine pairings. Jacob Wirth is having a Belgian beer dinner, which sounds just about perfect. $48 gets you four courses, each with a different Belgian beer (including Leffe Blonde, which just might be our favorite beer of all time).
•Ashmont Grill's neighborhood vibe is perfect for a Palentine's Day feast. In addition to their excellent regular menu, they'll be offering special desserts.

Bella Luna [Official Site]
Jacob Wirth [Official Site]
Ashmont Grill [Official Site]

No holiday gives us more inner conflict than Valentine's Day. On the one hand, it's a cheesy manufactured holiday, but on the other, it offers a lot of opportunities to eat candy and an excuse to go out for a nice dinner. If you're interested in this last purpose, perhaps you're the organized sort and have already made reservations for you and your sweetheart at L'Espalier. If, however, you're not quite so on top of things, never fear! We've rounded up five great options that still have reservations available.

•For $75, dante will bring the romance with their outlandishly adorable four-course V-Day menu, stuffed with dish names like "menage a foie" and "love bird." Aww. Reservations for two are available at 5:30 and 9:45 (hey, we never promised to find you reservations for prime times).
•After the infamous New Year's Eve debacle at Vlora, the restaurant will presumably be on the straight and narrow for Valentine's Day....or it will be a good story to tell your friends. Either way, the four-course $45 menu looks pretty yummy. There's even steak! Seatings are available at 5:15 and 9:45.
•Get decadent at The Metropolitan Club with their a la carte menu. Guys, nothing says "romance" like langostino tails poached in butter and champagne. Reservations may be made for 5:30 and 9:15.
•We generally prefer our lobster to be as unadorned as possible, but we'd make an exception for the lobster thermidor cassoulet that's part of Bouchee's Valentine's Day a la carte menu. Reservations are available at 5:30 and 9:30.
•If you want to eat at a reasonable hour, UpStairs on the Square is probably your best bet. Reservations are available in the Monday Room any time after 8:30. The $85 five-course menu includes a delightful-sounding terrine of duck foie gras with rose-scented gelee.

dante [Official Site]
Vlora [Official Site]
The Metropolitan Club [Official Site]
Bouchee [MenuPages]
UpStairs on the Square [Official Site]

Originally posted on May 2, 2007. We miss Noho!

Sure, Boston dining is amazing, but sometimes you want a bit of an adventure. Pile in the car, kids. It's time for a road trip. Today we head about an hour and a half west to Northampton, Massachusetts

Ah, Northampton. Home of Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore, one-time residence of Smith College alumnae Gloria Steinem, Sylvia Plath and Barbara Bush (three names you never thought you'd hear in the same breath), birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nestled into the heart of the Pioneer Valley just below the Berkshires, Northampton (or Noho, as the cool kids call it) is the cultural center of Western Massachusetts, boasting scenic views, killer art and music scenes, and, most intriguingly for our purposes, great food at a fraction of Boston prices. Drive on down for a day of art galleries, record and vintage clothing shopping, and gorging yourself.

Plan to arrive just in time for breakfast at Sylvester's. Housed in the former home of graham-cracker inventor Sylvester Graham, Sylvester’s makes hand-down the best omelets in town and the rest of the menu isn't too shabby either (we're very fond of the apple cinnamon pancakes).

Spend the rest of the morning doing some light shopping along Main Street before decamping to Pinocchio's Pizza for a slice topped with a semi-bizarre but delicious combination of ingredients. We're partial to the slice with feta, tomato, and avocado, but, really, nothing tops the anti-Atkins tortellini slice. Totally worth the inevitable tummy ache. If you're craving a healthier option, cross the street to find the Haymarket Café, for an excellent vegetarian sandwich and the best people-watching in Noho.

While away your afternoon checking out the galleries lining Main Street and the Smith College Museum of Art. When you're ready for dinner, mosey on over to Del Raye, widely regarded as Northampton's best restaurant. Although the prices are steep by Northampton standards, they aren't too bad to the Bostonian eye. If you've managed to go Sunday-Thursday, you can grab a $28 prix fixe. Don't have too much money to burn? Try Viva Fresh Pasta Company, where $6.95 gets you an ample portion of their house-made pasta and sauce. Go for either the egg linguine dressed with the near-perfect alfredo or the sweet potato ravioli with romesco. Head home, happy and full.

Pinocchio's Pizza, 122 Main St, (413) 586-1468
Haymarket Cafe, 185 Main St, (413) 586-9969

Sylvester's Restaurant [Official Site]
Del Raye [Official Site]
Viva Fresh Pasta Company [Official Site]

Is it just us or does it seem a little bit like the openings and closings of our great city's restaurants have fallen into a bit of an update-filled week/slow week pattern? We've got a grand total of three pieces of news today and two of them involve closings. Sigh.

Openings
•The Newton TAB Blog reports that a branch of Fitchburg-based mini-chain Parrot Pizza has set up shop in West Newton. The site advertises a "unique menu", which...eh. It looks like pretty standard kid-friendly fare to us.

Closings
•It seems that the Chowhound we mentioned last week who asked if The Spotted Apron was no longer was on to something. The restaurant has closed, although rumors of a relocation continue to abound.
•The unfortunately named Trani has closed its doors. No longer shall ice-cream-infused cupcakes be available to North End residents! A second location of Bacco will open in its space.

[Photo: Flickr: Bart Hanlon]

Diner's Agenda can't believe it's already Friday. Awesome!

Saturday, January 26
•The Greater Boston Food Bank's Super Hunger Month continues with the justly legendary Super Hunger Brunch. Over twenty of the Hub's best restaurants will be offering prix fixe brunches from 11am-2pm on Saturday and Sunday at prices ranging from $25-50 per person. Call the restaurant of your choice to reserve. [Greater Boston Food Bank]
•This weekend's installment of the Fairmont Copley Plaza/Boston Center for Adult Education sponsored Celebrity Chefs series sticks very close to home for its teacher. Laurent Poulain, executive chef at the Fairmont, will be holding court from 1pm-3pm. As always, tickets, which are $60, may be reserved online. [BCAE]
•Hey, we're not sure you've heard or anything, but it turns out there's kind of a big football game next weekend and it seems like a New England team is playing. Might be a fun thing to check out! In the meantime, Gordon's is offering a class called Soup-er Bowls. Maybe the two things are related? The Gordon's class runs from 1pm-3:30pm and tickets, which cost $50, may be reserved online. [Gordon's Fine Wine & Culinary Center]

Sunday, January 27
•We're still tackling the conversion of all our foods to organic stuff. We haven't even started thinking about wine yet (do they even sell organic three buck Chuck?). If you're a little more advanced than we are, you might want to check out the organic and biodynamic wine dinner at Rialto at 6pm. $60 gets you a fine meal with eco-conscious wine pairings. Call (617) 661-5050 to reserve. [Rialto]

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.

•Truly, there isn't much better than Santarpio's Pizza. [Roadfood]
•Breakfast for two for under $15?!?!?! [Lower Dot (Lower Dorchester)]
•Even self-professed beer-haters will find a brew to adore at Sunset Grill & Tap. [We Are Not Martha]

[Photo: Flickr: pineconekaty]

There aren't really any major openings or closings to discuss this week, so we thought we'd visit our good friend Craigslist for our semi-regular feature wherein we find you a job in food service. You're welcome.

•This is actually a legitimately hot job. Daniel, Daniel Boulud's eponymous New York restaurant, is seeking an Assistant General Manager. This is a chance to work at one of the country's very best restaurants and if you're interested in that sort of thing, we'd recommend checking it out...even if it means leaving our fair city.
•This Craigslist posting is so insane that we felt the need to quote it verbatim, that it may be preserved on the internet long after the post itself expires:

I'am looking for a business partner/ company to produce and manufacture the best new cereal for decades to come! If you dont believe me , try me! What do you have to lose? This industry thrives on new products, and this 100 percent belongs on the shelf. It would sell itself based on what it is, guarenteed. Your probably wondering what it is and saying no way it will be the best, but it will be. If anyone can get me in touch with ceo's of General Mills, Quaker Oats, Kellogs or any other major cereal producing company , I will give you what you want at your price. These company's wont except new offers unless its direct to the chairmans. I've tried everything to get to the top. Now its just pure luck. Unless your a company that is willing to go into business please email me back and we will talk business if your interested. Anybody that can help service me feel free to emial me and we will go from there.

My product is very flavorful with many different changes that can be made for years down the road. Most important it is very very cheap, which is the most important part to making it profitable.

Assistant General Manager for Chef Daniel Boulud [Craigslist]
Best New Cereal of 08 Want to be a millionaire [Craigslist]
Roll with Us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [Craigslist]

Diner's Agenda has the flu.

Wednesday, January 16
•Yeah, you've only been back from your holiday vacation for a few weeks, and yeah, you've got a three-day weekend coming up, but it's still a pretty good time for some R&R. 75 Chestnut will be offering just that at their Relax and Rejuvenate night tonight from 5pm-11pm. In addition to their regular menu, there will be an oxygen bar, organic juices, and free massages! Sounds like a pretty good deal to us. [75 Chestnut]
•Perhaps you'd prefer to relax over some gourmet pizzas, wine, and shopping? If that's the case, Gordon's Fine Wine & Culinary Center has you covered. You can chow down, drink up, and shop for free, but all proceeds from the clothing go to the MS Cure Fund, because what's more relaxing that doing good? The party runs from 6pm-8pm and reservations may be made online. [MS Cure Fund]
•You know what else is relaxing? Bourbon. Head to Tomasso Trattoria to taste a whopping five bourbons and snacks aplenty. The fun gets started at 7pm and tickets, which cost $50, may be reserved by calling (508) 481-8484. [Tomasso Trattoria]

Thursday, January 17
•Interested in wine? Have $150 to spare? Why not check out the 7pm Drouhin Wine Dinner at Top of the Hub? The ticket price may seem high, but it gets you six high-end courses (think Chablis and saffron poached lobster) with excellent wine pairings and, of course, that view! Call (617) 536-1775 to save your place. [Top of the Hub]

It's been yet another very busy week for the Boston restaurant scene with eight openings and only 1.5 closings. Niiiice. Let's see how it all shakes down, shall we?

Openings
•A Brookline TAB Blog post about the new sushi restaurant coming to Washington Square featured one of our favorite paragraphs in quite some time: "You know what Brookline really needs? A good sushi restaurant. Sushi’s so great — it’s kind of healthy, it’s easy to share, it’s fun to eat, it tastes….What?…..Brookline already has 15 sushi restaurants? Oh." Sushi restaurants are totally the new taquerias, guys.
•The South End news reports that The Upper Crust is continuing its quest to open a branch in the neighborhood. Owner Jordan Tobin had previously tried to open a location next to Nicole's Pizza, but that was shut down by the Zoning Board of Appeals. Now Tobin is set to open at Tremont and West Newton, pending approval.
•The long empty El Rancho Restaurant space in Roslindale Square finally has a new tenant and, as Universal Hub reports, its name, at least as its printed on the sign, is quite the doozy.
•The soon-to-open Hotel Indigo in Newton will house both Seth Woods venture Prime 128 and Phi Bistro, a "hip bistro." Hotel Indigo is owned by the same team behind the restaurant-filled InterContinental Boston, so we'll be keeping an eye on it.
•The Newton TAB Blog reports that Newton Highlands' Ice Cream Works has given way to Citrio, a catering/cafe operation owned by the folks behind the excellent 51 Newton. Sounds pretty exciting to us!
•Jamaica Plain's Centre Street is set to get even fancier with the opening of Vee Vee, a "New American bistro." It will be located in the old Cha Fahn space and will be vegetarian-friendly. Chowhounders are excited.
•Dishing brings us the news that Lobby Bar & Kitchen, a restaurant offering "New American cuisine with Global Influences, creative and innovative cocktails, and a worldly, affordable wine list" has just opened its doors in the Financial District. Expect trendy cocktails to abound.
•Excellent news! Rumor has it that recently shuttered venerable North End institution Cafe Graffiti is looking to reopen soon, possibly in the space soon to be left by Martignetti Liquors. Hurrah!

Closings
•Domani Bar & Trattoria in the Copley Square Hotel is temporarily closed due to water damage. It should reopen in late March.
•South Boston institution The Quiet Man's kitchen will be closing on January 25 and the whole thing will shut down on February 3. The owners have no plans to reopen in a new location, so gather ye steak tips while you may.

[Photo: Flickr: Meherban Singh]

Universal Hub recently alerted us to something pretty neat. Over on the Davis Square LiveJournal community, Boloco CEO and co-founder John Pepper has started a thread responding to people's criticisms about the Davis Square Boloco location, which is currently up for sale while Boloco explores its options. It's a really rare display of transparency from a restaurateur: Pepper concedes several major flaws with the location, including that the acoustics "suck", the location is "admittedly tough...too far from either Porter or Davis to win the convenience game" and the space itself is "far too sparse and needs to be warmed up so it doesn’t feel quite so big." Pepper has always been media-savvy (we once briefly mentioned Boloco in a post and, within two days, he had left a comment offering readers free burritos and sent us an email), but this is above and beyond any ordinary standards of engagement.

Boloco can be something of a polarizing restaurant, but regardless of your feelings on the chain, you have to admit that John Pepper is doing something pretty neat. He even seems to be going through all the comments on the thread and individually responding to each suggestion given. We suspect it's an unrealistic dream, but we would love to see this sort of accessibility take off as a trend among Boston restaurateurs. After all, from LiveJournal to Chowhound to MP's very own user reviews, the internet is full of people expressing their thoughts on restaurants. Wouldn't it make sense for more restaurateurs to listen?

Look, You Have a Choice: You Can Start Eating at the Davis Square Boloco or You Can Watch It Close [Universal Hub]
Boloco Mystery Solved! Pepper Speaks... [Davis Square LiveJournal Community]
Boloco [MenuPages]
Boloco [Official Site]

Diner's Agenda is snowed out.

Tuesday, January 15
•Way back in November, Erwin Ramos and Ivan Torres of Ole Mexican Grill were invited to the James Beard House in New York to throw a Day of The Dead celebration. Now, two months later, they're finally bringing the party back to Cambridge with a seven course dinner featuring traditional dishes from Veracruz and Oaxaca. Call (617) 492-4495 to save your place. [Ole Mexican Grill]
•There's something very appealing about throwing a tapas party, since it hasn't been done to death. Unfortunately, however, we have no idea how to make interesting tapas that are not just pieces of jamón serrano and Manchego laid out on plates. Enter Gordon's Fine Wine & Culinary Center, which is offering a 6:30pm class on Spanish tapas and wine taught by Gerald Lopez of the Elephant Walk. The $60 class will teach students how to make four different tapas, which is more than enough to throw a party. Reservations may be made online. [Gordon's]
•Between that upcoming raw foods restaurant and the new Veggiest feature on Bostonist, Boston vegans are sort of having a moment, no? Their reign of terror/glory continues with a vegan dinner at Chez Henri. $50 gets you five courses, including a "Mexican 'Chocolate' Banana Tart with Celtic salted 'caramel'." Call (617) 354-8980 to get in on the meat and dairy free goodness. [Chez Henri]
•You know what we love? The BBC. No, not the British Broadcasting Corporation (oh, who are we kidding? We love that, too.), but the Berkshire Beer Company. Church will be hosting the brewers for a five-course dinner with beer pairings at 7:30. The courses seem fairly luxurious for $45, so we strongly encourage you to call (617) 236-7600 to save your spot. [Church]

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.

•This discussion of the new Elvis ice cream at J.P. Licks reminds us that we need to get on our plans to make Elvis Brownies. [Bostonist]
•We'll eat almost anything if you tell us it's a pie. [Cave Cibum]
•Hurrah! El Pelon Taquieria will be back soon! [Burrito Blog]

[Photo: Flickr: qihuizhang.bos]

Due to the holidays, it's been an astonishing three weeks since we rocked a Tuesday Report. As you might expect, plenty has happened in the intervening near-month, so let's jump right into all the newsy goodness.

Openings
•From a Chowhound thread mostly about the closing of Truly Jorg's Patisserie (which is old news) comes news of an opening. Ciao Italia will soon open in Brigham Circle. Googling reveals nothing, but apparently, it's "very cute."
•Baffling name selection of the fortnight! Dishing reports that the people behind The Kells will soon be opening a restaurant next door. The cuisine? Japanese fusion. The name? Prive, which is French for private. While there might be a regional disparity here, the name is accurate in one respect: the restaurant will feature "banquette tables surrounded by a circulation divider that coils around the table as it slowly descends." Neat!
•Want to get some sexy illegal food in Rozzy? Head to Cafe La Lechonera on Cummins Highway, which opened shortly after Thanksgiving despite a) not having any sort of licensing in place and b) being widely opposed by local politicians. Mmmm...illegal Spanish-American food.
•What's that? You want another chain restaurant? No? Too bad! Boston Restaurant Talk reports that Vapiano, a chain of Italianish restaurants is planning to break into the Hub next year. Apparently, it's the "future of fast casual" restaurants! To be fair, it does sound cheap and decent, but we must warn you: please don't order beef carpaccio at a restaurant where the average dinner check is $13.
•Salem: it's not just for witches and Nathanial Hawthorne enthusiasts! Starting later this month when 62 on Wharf opens up, it will also be for those who enjoy Mediterranean food.

Closings
•It's a sad day for South Enders as Nashoba Brook Bakery has closed the doors of its cafe. Fortunately, their West Concord location remains operational, as does their website.
•The Brookline location of Vinny T's of Boston is no longer. Sometimes, when we're just ravenously hungry and just want an enormous quantity of food, we enjoy a trip to Vinny T's, but we can't say we're tremendously sad to see it go, especially since the Boylston St location continues to thrive.

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes
•Chowhound has some semi-troubling news about Shino Express Sushi. Apparently, all of the sushi now features brown rice. We happen to like brown rice with our sushi (we find it to be an easier way to get our whole grains in than eating brown rice by itself), but we know that's a definite minority opinion.
•Whoops! Rod-Dee Thai Cuisine isn't moving after all. In fact, reports the Brookline TAB, it's expanding! The Washington Square will be a third location, not a replacement for the Coolidge Corner branch.
•Jewel Of Newbury will soon be temporarily closing, only to return as an upscale sushi restaurant at the end of the month. The restaurant's name will remain the same.

[Photo: Flickr: Ghostwriter D.]

Originally published on April 30. In the eight months since, we've grown even fonder of Geoffrey's. Also, Nuvo is no longer.

When we were growing up in Roslindale, it wasn't much of a culinary destination. The area's dining options consisted one or two diners that seemed to cater exclusively to the area's more senior population, a truly sketchy Chinese restaurant, and a bakery. Now, a good decade and a half later, Rozzy Square (which we've never heard called "Roslindale Village" by anyone who grew up there) is becoming a destination for Boston's food lovers. Although we're tempted to let the Square's great restaurants stay a secret, we must admit that nothing makes us happier than introducing others to our beloved home neighborhood, so for your epicurian edification, a guide to the best Roslindale Square has to offer.

•Come to Nuvo Kitchen & Wine Bar for the wine and stay for the lobster ravioli at this wine bar/Irish-inspired bistro just outside the Square. Warning: you may well intend to stop in for just a glass of wine and a snack, but the odds are good that the friendly staff and pleasant atmosphere will inspire you to stay until you've consumed a large dinner and a bottle of vino.
•Step into Sophia's Grotto, a restaurant nestled into a courtyard off Birch Street and discover what Rozzy residents have known for two years: there's some damn fine food in this tiny trattoria. The well-cultivated menu takes its inspiration from Spain and Italy and the gnocchi bolognaise just might be the best in Boston.
•Village Sushi and Grill, Roslindale's only Asian restaurant of note serves up stellar sushi and pan-Asian dishes from udon noodles to bibimbop, all in an unusually relaxed and calm atmosphere. In warm weather, diners can sit in the courtyard, which is Roslindale's best spot for people-watching.
•From the outside, Romano's doesn't look like much more than a divey neighborhood pizza joint. Those brave enough to venture in, however, are rewarded by far-above-average pizza and, more surprisingly, superlative Mexican food, which has been praised by authorities like Burrito Blog and the usually-harsh patrons of Chowhound.
•Geoffrey's won many fans during its two previous incarnations in the South End and Back Bay. Now the restaurant has brought its signature comfort food (think steak tips and pork chops) to Roslindalians and early reports indicate that it's very good (and very reasonably priced) indeed.

Nuvo Kitchen & Wine Bar, 4174 Washington St, Roslindale, (617) 363-9225
Sophia's Grotto, 22 Birch St, Roslindale, (617) 323-4595
Village Sushi & Grill, 14 Corinth St, Roslindale, (617) 363-7864
Romano's Pizza, 4249 Washington St, Roslindale, (617) 325-2885
Geoffrey's, 4257 Washington St, Roslindale, (617) 325-1000

Originally posted on April 23. You should really check out Bridget and the Squares. Also, Laura is now 25. Time! It marches on.

Name: Laura Bridget Regan
Age: 24
Occupation: Musician (lead singer/pianist for Bridget and the Squares)/Nanny
Neighborhood: Medford

MenuPages: What's your current favorite restaurant?
Laura: East Coast Grill isn't exactly in Boston, but it's close enough and too good not to mention.

MP: What’s your favorite meal in Boston?
Laura: I actually have three. On the cheap side of things, the Buffalo Burrito from Boloco with tofu, buffalo sauce, rice, blue cheese and celery is perfect. If I have a little more money, I love the hanger steak at Atwood's Tavern in Cambridge. With mashed potatoes and a vegetable like brussel sprouts or broccoli... tastes like mom's home cooking but not really because my mom can't cook like that. If money is no object, I crave the seared tuna with roasted vegetables at East Coast Grill with a bonus side of mashed sweet potatoes with walnuts. Oh, goodness.

MP: So, where do you do your grocery shopping?
Laura: McKinnon Meat Market in Davis Square. The meat is cheap, but it's still good and they have great produce as well. I also do Whole Foods for special stuff like goat cheese and Annie's Mac'n'Cheese.

MP: Alright, Laura. You seem like you have the whole food thing under control, so tell us: what’s the best-kept dining secret in Boston?
Laura: There are a lot of great places just outside of downtown Boston like Soundbites in Ball Square, West on Centre in West Roxbury, and Kelly's Diner in Ball Square. Oh and Haveli in Inman Square has great Indian food.

MP: Where do you go for a drink after a long day of nannying?
Laura: The Druid, Atwood's Tavern, Charlie's Kitchen, Bukowski. I like to drink. The margaritas at Redbones in Davis Square are also delicious.

MP: Okay, one last question: new Kenmore Square or old Kenmore Square?
Laura: I didn't really experience the glory of the old Kenmore Square but the new one is way too ritzy and sterile so I would have to go with the one with more character. Old Kenmore all the way.

McKinnon Meat Market, 239 Elm St, Somerville, (617) 666-0888
Kelly's Diner, 674 Broadway, Somerville, (617) 623-8102

Want to be the subject of the next installment of "You Are What You Eat?" Drop us a line.

As we were going over our notes for the Tuesday report, we were surprised to see so very many openings, closings, and changes (mostly openings, thank goodness). We were confused, until we remembered that this time last Tuesday, we were slowly sipping ginger ale on our couch. See? It all makes sense in the end. Let's hop on into all the excitement, yes?

Openings
•The Chowhound set is very excited about Saray, a new Turkish spot in Allston. Boston is sorely lacking in Turkish restaurants, so we can't wait to try Saray either, especially as the rosewater custard sounds amazing.
•Cantabridgia reports that a new Middle Eastern restaurant is gearing up to open on Mass Ave. The name? It maybe doesn't have one. Judging by the photos on the door, though, it'll probably be pretty yummy!
•Michael Schlow is getting pretty busy, no? Between Alta Strada (and its forthcoming Foxwoods branch), Radius, Via Matta, and Great Bay, you'd think he'd have his hands full. And yet! The word on the street is that he'll be opening a restaurant in the Seaport next month, complete with chef's table. We think this makes for an official Schlow empire.
•We like the Pats and all, but we don't have nearly the same attachment to Gillette Stadium as we do to Fenway Park, so we're not as annoyed by this CBS-themed restaurant as we would be if it were opening in the home of the Sox. Nonetheless, our limited experience with restaurants based on television stations would lead us to be very wary indeed of this new development.

Closings
•In some sad news indeed, the Globe reports that beloved North End institution Caffe Graffiti is not long for this world. A call to the cafe revealed that their last day will be December 31. They will be sorely missed by North Enders and espresso devotees.

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes
•Somerville Thai spot Benjapon's has apparently closed, only to be replaced by one Joey's Thai Cafe, which has the truly hilarious slogan of "happy in, happy out." If you'll excuse us, we'll just be in the corner, laughing at that for an hour or so.
•Toro has a new head chef, Roberto Hernandez. Original head chef John Crichtley has moved to Hawaii. We are duly jealous.
•Rod-Dee Thai Cuisine's Brookline location will be moving next month. The new location will be smack in the middle of Washington Square, which should be very nice for business.

[Photo: Flickr: JRyle79]

Hey, remember when Somerville used to be Slumberville? Spending a day in Davis Square now makes those days seem long gone. There's great shopping (who doesn't love Poor Little Rich Girl?), the Somerville Theatre is always a delight, and, most importantly, the neighborhood is filled to the brim with good, well-priced food. Below, a guide (complete with accompanying map) to some of the square's best dining destinations.

•Even in a neighborhood filled to the brim with burrito options, Anna's Taqueria (236 Elm St) stands out as the tastiest and the cheapest bet. Don't miss the horchata, which is truly delicious.
•Even unapologetic carnivores like us can't get enough of the Alternator sandwich from