.::|TheDish|::.

An Amazing Christmas Gift

Congrats to Dave and Annie on their new beautiful son, Luca, born Christmas Eve at a healthy 8lbs and 5oz. Check out proud Uncle Mike on Christmas day:

Merry Christmas Eve to all...

... from the bountiful land of West Sutton!

Real Holiday DRAMA

The falling Christmas tree is now far from my definition of holiday drama; I have experienced the real deal! Saturday afternoon, I was out and about completing my holiday shopping when I received a frantic call from my neighbor instructing me to get home... NOW. To make a long, and rather painful & dramatic story short, a sprinkler was ruptured by a contractor doing renovations to a unit upstairs from ours; the result was a massive flood of the forth and fifth floor units. Unfortunately, our unit suffered the most damage of all 10 or so affected (at least that's the consensus at this time).

I was not there during the better part of the flood (but trust me, I have seen enough). Apparently, my overly generous neighbors were in our place with buckets, pots, pans towels and mops busting their asses to get the water out the front door, awaiting the crew of firemen who arrived shortly thereafter; fish could swim comfortably in our entranceway and the ceiling became a series of shower-heads steadily gushing water, if that paints a picture. It's a complete disaster area.

Special thanks to Tim & Renee (and to Renee's brother & sister-in-law who b-lined for our Christmas gifts under the tree and saved them all!!!) as well as Patricia, Kevin, Peter and Amy and to everyone else who helped dry us out that day. Thanks to Jay and Zoe for putting a roof over our heads last night, and to Jane for offering-up her place to Mike tonight (I am comfy at home with the folks!!). Where we will be living post-holidays, who knows!!

I will never forget this Christmas, and those of you who went out of your way for us; in times of need, you always know who the good peeps really are.

Here are a couple post-drama photos that I think provide some real color to the amount of damage our unit suffered.

Vodka and Caviar at Brix

'Tis the season for tastings! BRIX, my favorite wine shop in Boston, is turning four tomorrow and celebrating with a (free!) Zyr vodka, caviar & champagne tasting. You know where I will be, so I'll see you there? Here's the det's:

Zyr Vodka, Caviar & Champagne
Thursday, December 20th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

BRIX
1284 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
617.542.BRIX (2749)
brixwineshop@verizon.net

Yet Another B-Day Surprise!

Last night, Mike surprised me with this absolutely stunning pair of diamond and platinum earrings! They are from the Hearts on Fire collection, a Boston-based diamond company that I think has by far the most amazing cuts; the diamonds sparkle like no others. Thank you baby for making this b-day unforgettable, and for this overly generous gift! And thanks to all my girlfriends for helping Mike select the perfect pair; you guys are amazing. As a friend puts it, "you got a good guy (and friends with good taste don't hurt)". That's the truth.

Thank You!

A special thanks to my family, for the fabulous gifts I received last night:

Mom and Dad, thanks so much for the scarves, the adorable top, and the Hayden Harnett Hudson Hobo:

   

Jon and Megan, thanks to much for the William Sonoma Slate Cheese Board and Wine and Food book (perfect for my dinner party tomorrow night!!!!):

   

And last but definitely not least, thanks to Mike for my pre-birthday "teaser" presents... A bottle of CAIN 5 (YUM - a fav!!!) and some fabulous Thyme Eucalyptus salts and scrubs from Aunt Sadie's ...this is enough babe!

Thank you to you all, for making the last 32 22 years (ha!) of my life so amazing. I love you!

A (Pre) B-Day Dinner @ Hamersley's

Rating: 4 forks

Tonight I dined at Hamersley's Bistro with my family for my birthday celebration (the real day is not 'til Wed, 12/12 but its a full week of holiday/birthday celebrations!). The meal was fantastic! I haven't been since the night I turned 21 (yes, 11 years ago, so do the calculation!) and had the first glass of "legal" wine with my Mom at a bow front window. This year, we shared a couple bottles of Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel and...

...as an app, my bro, Mom and I a each had:
Mixed Autumn Greens with Sherry Vinegar and Cold Pressed Virgin Olive Oil 11
… with Crispy Goat Cheese  14

My Dad's app:
Grilled Mushroom and Garlic Sandwich on Country Bread  15.50

And Mike had:
Rabbit Terrine with Prunes and Armagnac Compote
… Mustards and Toasts  12

And for dinner:

Me:
Fennel Dusted Seared Scallops with Braised Leeks, Pickled Pumpkin and Cider Vinaigrette  28

Mom:
Haddock and Clam Roast with Bacon Braised Greens, Big White Beans and Black Trumpet Mushrooms  26

Dad:
Rabbit Braised in Pinot Noir with Wild Mushrooms, Bacon and Pearl Onions  27

Mike:
Roast Chicken with Garlic, Lemon and Parsley  26

The service, the food, and the overall experience was fabulous; the ambiance is rather mellow with a classic French bistro flair; its definitely not a "scene" place, but the perfect spot, thats rich in history, to enjoy a dinner with friends and family. We will be back soon & thanks to my family for celebrating with me!

Holiday Party Menu - Comfort Food

We are throwing a holiday cocktail party this Tuesday night and am expecting about 20-25 of my colleagues and a few significant others to attend. The menu consists of some staple apps like a cheese and sausage plate with fresh figs & grapes, seared flank steak with carmelized onion and horseradish cream on mini toasts, and smoked salmon, dill, caper, & cream cheese "lollipops". However, I am testing out some comfort food tidbits, to help coat the bellies as we sip champagne splashed with pomegranate. Here are the new additions:

Italian Cocktail Meatballs with Herbs and Ricotta (above pic)
Ridiculous Truffle Mac & Cheese

I love testing out new recipes; if they are a flop, there's always pizza delivery :)

Christmas Tree DRAMA!

I can't believe that this is our second Christmas together in our home; how time flies! This year, we picked out our tree from the same tree shop as last year, on the corner of Tremont Street and Berkley Street; and although the selection and delivery process was flawless, the set-up was definitely not! We decked the tree in all the Christmas glory: white lights, silver balls, and many beautiful glass ornaments. Well, the trunk was not centered, and as we stepped away after admiring the completed tree and patting our backs for a job well done, CRASH! The 8-foot tree fell over, the lights abruptly went out, glass shattered, and a pool of water ensued on the floor, surrounding the pitiful corpse-like tree; what a mess and a sure way to the drown holiday cheer (I so wish I took a photo of this!).

We managed to pull the tree upright, salvage most of the ornaments, and secure the tree in what I hope to be a more steady and balanced position. My fingers are crossed that it stays put, eek!

Happy *Belated* Thanksgiving!

The day was a total SUCCESS! The meal was spectacular, thanks to the help of my family... Wow, am I wiped. Check out some photos here, and more to come!

Thanksgiving Menu

And my 1st Thanksgiving menu is now final:

Hot toddy
Whiskey-spiked mulled apple cider

Small Dishes:
Carmelized onion, seared flank steak, horseradish cream on mini toasts
Smoked wild salmon, dill cream cheese, caper "spoons"
Goose liver pate, cornichon, toasted cracker
Assorted cheese

The Starter:
Maple butternut squash soup, fried sage, breadstick

The Main Dish:
Carlemized onion sweet potato gratin, pecan crumb
All American mashed potatoes (with "lumps", for Dad)
Truffled mashed potatoes
Green beans, brown butter, pecans
Perled onions, cream
Mom's Sausage stuffing
Butter massaged turkey, gravy

Dessert:
Mom's homemage apple pie, vermont cheddar
Traditional pumpkin pie

[image courtesy of lakejunaluska.com]

New Table & First Thanksgiving

Our new dining room table just arrived from CB2! I am so excited. What this means, aside from finally filling the void in our condo and opening the door to multiple dinner parties (oh and the end of my complaining), is that we are also throwing our first Thanksgiving feast. It will be a small crowd - just my immediate family - but we are very excited.

Here is the Envelope Table (seats up to 10!):

The Zebra Chairs will be arriving next week:

If anyone has personal tips on how to be successful at your first Thanksgiving, please let me know!

Labor Day Weekend in Rockport

A few pics to share on this glorious weekend that marks the end of the summer:

 

Happy (Belated) 2nd B-day, Jack!

Yesterday we gathered at my brother & sister-in-law's home in Spencer, MA to celebrate my nephew Jack's (belated) 2nd Birthday.

Check out the adorable pics here.

From Tadpole - my favorite kids store in Boston - I picked up this Appaman Vintage Racing Jacket in Olive. How cute is he going to look sporting this:

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday, we threw quite the surprise birthday party at my parents house. About 20 or so of my mom's lady friends gathered to party, drink bilinis and mimosas, and celebrate her birthday in style (I am under a strict directive to not reveal her age:) ). It was quite a surprise, and despite the fact that she was feeling terribly under the weather and really wanted to just sleep after she returned from a 2-night getaway in Maine with my Dad, she was quite the sport and we all (including  Mom) had a total blast! (Pics to be posted when we return from Jamaica.)

Happy Birthday Mom, I love you!

It's Spring In Sutton

Just returned from a fabulous Mother's Day celebration with my family, in my hometown of Sutton, MA. It's spring time, and my mom's breathtaking gardens are starting to bloom (alas!). Being around family, surrounded by natural beauty, and a healthy dose of sunshine created an excitement and a sense of well-being; its going to be a fabulous summer! Here are a few photos I took of my mom's gardens today:

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my #1 mom, and to all the other fabulous mom's out there!

Mom's Day Ideas From Anthropology

If you are looking for some unique Mother's Day ideas, check out Anthropology. They have some hip kitchen accessories for Mom, like this adorable Ringa Apron, with matching Ringa Oven Mitt. If Mom is a young mother or a grandmother, throw in a matching Ringa Kids Apron for the little one. Adorable.

My Blog's Birthday!

Happy one-year birthday to TheDish!!!!

Excelsior for V-day

Rating: 5 forks
For Valentine's Day, Mike and I dined at Excelsior, the "Bold American" restaurant, that we also dined at on our first *real* date, and for last year's V-day celebration. Although the clientele at Excelsior has always been a tad bizarre to me - picture lots of makeup, mink and bling seeking out the perfect sugar daddy - the food at this Back Bay/Boylston Street upscale restaurant and bar is consistently remarkable, and the wine list is quite extensive.

I had:
Soy-Lime Dressed Tuna Tartare  19. 
Nori Seared Tuna Sashimi, Wasabi-Miso Paste, Ginger Pickled Beet 

Grilled Rack of Lamb  42. 
Kalamata Olive Salsa, Syrah Braised Osso Bucco, Fennel-Yukon Potato Pure 

Mike had:
Braised Veal Cheek and Escargot Chestnut Gremolata  15. 
Chantenay Carrots, Wood Roasted Cippollini and Hoshimeji Mushrooms 

Carved Long Island Duck Breast Seasoned with Caraway  32.  Smoked Duck Confit Pierogis, Vidalia Onion Marmalade, Goat’s Milk Fromage Blanc and Port Sauce 

And we shared:
Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon ~ Sharecroppers, Columbia Valley 2004

We dined in the bar this time and really enjoyed it. Our server was attentive and friendly, and we didn't feel rushed, unlike the prior 2 experiences in the upsairs dining room. For those not wanting a heavy meal, Excelsior also has a fabulous bar menu, and prior to 7pm, all appetizers are only $7.

I'd recommend Excelsior to all foodies in search of an elegant meal in an upbeat environment, and the people watching in the bar is like no other :)

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Happy brithday to Mike, who turns 3@ today!!! :)

Happy 2007!

I want to wish my friends and family the happiest, healthiest year... I love you all!

Here is how the last day of '06 began for me, in-home spa-style courtesy of Michael:

And here's how the day - and year - ended, at Zoe & Jay's fiesta!!! (Check out the full album here)

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!!

Christmas Trees for Urban Dwellers

Last Sunday, Mike and I picked out, and set-up, our first Christmas tree together. Through word of mouth, we discovered this great tree-shop on the corner of Berkley and Tremont Street. Along the path through the South End Berkley Community Garden, a farm up in Vermont (I think, per my Dad) has perched rows of freshly cut trees. This is a serious biz: you select your tree-of-choice, they pull it from the row, cut the base of the tree with an electric chainsaw so that it absorbs water more efficiently, pass it through a netting machine, and get this... they deliver it FOR FREE!!! Ba-bam! We managed to get a beautiful tree, about 9' or so, delivered to our door for $50 plus tip (COD too!). What a deal!

Plan to wait a tad for the delivery, especially as the holidays grow near (eek, 9 more days!!); it took them about 3 hours, but they carry it right into your condo. Ahhhhh, the conveniences of city living!

31st Birthday at L'Espalier Wine Monday

Today is my 31st birthday, and I feel like I have been celebrating it for a week now!!! Honestly, its been one of the best birthdays I have had; I celebrated this past weekend with friends, and those who weren't able to join in the festivities were there in spirit!

And of course, the partying continued last night with my Mom, Dad, and Mike at L'Espalier's Wine Monday. This is the third such event I have attended, and the upscale, French restaurant is three-for-three! The night started off on the perfect note when I was surprised by a birthday apple martini, with a long stick-candle perched in a melon ball!! Yum! The featured wines were from Australia and New Zealand - two whites, two reds - and were paired elegantly with a goat cheese, pear and arugula tart, followed by an Asian infused wolfish, then the main entree of cranberry pork loin with wild mushroom ragout, and finished with a delightful assortment of cheeses. Of course, we had to top it off with the dessert order of a decadent chocolate fondant, an espresso-infused creme brulée, and an assortment of French chocolates. Oink!

Since 2002, L'Espalier has been holding the events just about every Monday of the year. Headed-up by Wine Director Erik Johnson and Chef Frank McClelland, the nights are an educational, entertaining and engaging food & wine experience. The food pairings range from classical to adventurous (the first event I attended served frog legs!); I think those who consider themselves risk-takers when it comes to food would enjoy this event most. Furthermore, the wines are ALWAYS spectacular. Note, if you have a sensitivity to loud-noise, this event is not for you; at times, you can't even hear yourself think never mind the person next to you speak!

All-in-all, a great birthday celebration! Thanks again, everyone!

My Pre-Birthday Party

Thanks to all my buds that came out this weekend for my (pre) b-day... it's not 'til Tuesday, but I celebrated a tad early! We started the night with dinner at Toro, then on to the Middlesex Lounge, & closed the night out at a house party in the Leather District. Below are a few pics, and here's the album

Another Holiday Nap

What would a holiday be without a photo of Mike asleep after a holiday dinner at my parents?!?!Here's tryptophan at work! I think this is going to become a yearly photo ritual :)

Thanksgiving Photos

Mike and I managed to spend this Thanksgiving weekend with both of our families, as well as great friends... truly something to be thankful for. Here are a few pics (and more here!):

My Mom & Dad:

Mike's sister-in-law, Annie, and niece Ava:

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Julie's 2U Birthday

Last Saturday, the 2U Groupies finally caught up with the band locally... well, in Quincy, MA. The last time we had seen the U2 cover band was in Stowe Vt, at Zoe's Bachelorette party. To our disappointment, the lead singer was NOT the same Bono look-alike, but we still managed to have a total blast and rock out!! Check out the video, and keep your audio up:

Birthday and Baptism Weekend

This weekend was full of family, friends and parties. Saturday I celebrated my nephew Jack's 1st birthday in Spencer, MA, with about 20 other family, friends, and quite a few little tykes! Saturday turned out to be the perfect summer day, with blue skies, puffy clouds, and temps in the low-80's; we feasted on BBQ pulled pork, brisket, potato salad, and the like. Jack, on the other hand, chowed down (and played with) his first birthday cake. How many one year olds get their own birthday cake, and get to eat it in it's entirety? How cute is this?!?!?!?!

On Sunday, Jack was baptized at the Sutton First Congregational Church... it was a beautiful ceremony, followed by brunch and a relaxing afternoon at my folks (and no, despite my initial thoughts/concerns, the church did NOT burn down when my bro and I entered :).

Check out some more pics...

A First Birthday!

Happy 1^st Birthday to my nephew, Jack Taylor Beaton!!! We love you!

A July 24th B-day

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!

4th of July Weekend

  This past weekend, we visited Manchaug Lake in my hometown, Sutton, MA; this is not to to be confused with it's neighboring lake, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (I am not kidding!).

The weather was a perfect A+, and although the lake water suffered from the chilling rains over the past few weeks, we still managed to relax in it's glory. Despite what the photos show, my family spent most of the daytime hours with us down at the lake, enjoying some collective overdue R&R.

Check out the pics here...

Pics of Father's Day

As promised, here are a few great pics from this past Father's Day at the lake at my parent's.... how cute!!

Happy Dad's Day Dad!

Today, I spent the day at the lake celebrating Father's Day. Stay tuned for photos of the scorcher, but very relaxing day :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy birthday to my Mom; thanks Mom, Dad, Jon and Jack for celebrating with us at the new digs today... what fun :)

Another Easter Extravaganza

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