New England Food Festivals (Favorites, Not-so-much, & Dying to Try)

Faves:

Phantom Gourmet Food Festival

"Mr. T" Loves Phantom Gourmet Too!

Hampton Beach (NH) Seafood Festival

My Review: 
http://travelingfoodie2006.blogspot.com/2011/10/hampton-beach-annual-seafood-festival.html

Taste of Cambridge

Taste of Somerville

Phantom Gourmet BBQ Beach Party

Not-So-Much:

Hungry Tiger Food Festival 
(Union Square/Somerville, MA)
I actually got sick when I got home after this debacle!  The food was lame (possibly tainted) and the "FESTIVAL" as it were, was sparse!  I assumed it would be quite a selection after thoroughly enjoying the Taste of Somerville in 2010.
There is an upcoming "Foodie Run" in Union Square, Somerville coming up...not even Groupon enticed me to give it a shot!

Food Truck Festival (Framingham)
I really want to give the food truck festivals a decent shot.  I was totally turned off how unorganized this festival with all of 8-10 trucks was run.  Lines were absolutely outrageous!  I was in line for at least 30 minutes just to order and waited another 15 or so for my food to be prepared at the Brotherstruck.  The food was amazing, but the service and wait times were pretty horrendous.  I did manage to get to the Woodman's truck for clam strips before their line was too outrageous, but my with the odd heatwave and my companion's non-committal to standing in lines lead to so much frustration I took my wonder lobster taco and tilapia tacos from the Brotherstruck and headed back home.

The food truck phenomenon is quickly spreading across the nation.  Boston is keeping pace.  There are a number of trucks on my list to check out (Clover Food lab truck was first on my list-see later post), M&M BBQ, Bon Me, Mobile Home, and Grill Cheese Nation, The Dining Car (I did enjoy their crispy cauliflower at Phantom Gourmet's Food fest).

 I hear I should head over to SOWA.

Dying to Try:

SOWA Open Market
Other Foodtruck Festivals
Oyster Festivals in the New England Region     

The Trailer Park Lounge, 271 W 23rd St (between 7th Ave & 8th Ave) New York, NY 10011

Who'd have thought you could get Me to "go to a Trailer Park"...let alone enjoy myself!
The margaritas are huge...it's just the place to go for "after drinks" drinks with friends if you are avoiding all things pretentious (which is very much out of character for me :0).  The decor will keep you pointing and chuckling with friends and the staff  is decent.

Oh...and I have not had the pleasure to meet them, but I hear the roaches are pretty gregarious and unabashed.

 www.trailerparklounge.com

El Vez (Southeast/Mexican Cuisine), 121 S 13th St Philadelphia, PA 19107

El Vez is like no other Mexican/Southwestern restaurant in the U.S.
I was truly blown away by their eclectic menu.
The guacamole menu alone was enough to put your tastebuds' imaginations into overdrive.  The Bazooka Limon was amazing!
The open-faced shrimp quesedilla was spectacular as was the roasted corn soup with a pan-seared scallop atop!  I fell in love with that dish!
The taco tasting platter was a good tour of El Vez's taco menu.

I also thought the service was great!
Though we did not use the photo booth, I thought it was a unique and fun addition to the space.

www.elvezrestaurant.com

Warm Daddy's, 1400 Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19147

Warm Daddy's is another place I absolutely MUST visit whenever I'm in Philly!  The have THE BEST skillet cornbread on the Eastern Seaboard (shhh, don't tell my grandmother).

Some of my other favorites are the BBQ salmon, Mango-glazed salmon, chicken and crab corn chowder, curried chicken salad, shrimp etouffee and mac n' cheese...I can go on an on.

The Sunday Brunch Buffet is a must!  Brass Heaven definitely keeps the groove going with their brilliant "Nawlin's" Jazz!  But be prepared for the blaring instruments...this is not the place for a boring, quiet brunch.

The staff are always friendly and warm and the atmosphere entices all of the senses!

Is the rooftop is awesome!

See you soon Warm Daddy! ;0)

www.warmdaddys.com/

The View Restaurant-Marriot Marquis Hotel, 1535 Broadway (between 45th St & 7th Ave) New York, NY 10036

The Marriott Marquis is one of my favorite places to lay my head when I visit the city and has been for several years now, but just recently I made my way up to the 48th floor to experience The View.


The lounge and the restaurant are stellar and of course the view of the skyline was awesome. The restaurant fully revolves in an hour. I thought it was a great idea to have cocktail napkins with a map of the skyline for tourists/unfamiliar visitors.  The cocktails and buffets (cheese/dessert and dinner) are both great and the service was nice.  I will definitely head up from the Broadway Lounge from now on.

The Oak Room 138 St James Ave at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel

The Oak Room is lovely with elegant decor and atmosphere.  It presents the perfect balance of ostentation and comfort/invitation.  It feels like you are a special guest=of=honor welcomed into a intimate, early 20th Century dining room with  floor to ceiling carved hardwood paneling and classic stately draping. The maitre d' was warm and welcoming and our server efficient, though the pacing could use some improvement (our appetizers took a bit longer than I'd deem necessary to prepare).

The escargot was superb and the oysters rockefeller were absolutely  amazing with their piping buttery, foamy sauce.

My filet a beautifully tender cut prepared  rare as desired.  The merlot demi glace accompanying it was nice The salmon which my friend ordered was seasoned well and the potatoes au gratin were the best I've ever eaten...rich and creamy with a nice breaded crusting!

The cocktail prices are a bit inflated (2 wines+2 martinis + bottled flat water = $95.00), but the presentation of my Ketel one martini was creative and functional having a cute mini-carafe of vodka inside a pitcher of ice versus bringing a metal shaker for my self-refills.

Slim Goodies Diner, 3322 Magazine St New Orleans, LA 70115

Love, love, love this spot!

This is breakfast done right!  Inexpensive, laid back atmosphere with excellent service and interesting 'wall art'.

The sweet potato pancakes were THE best!
The Jewish Coonass is my absolute favorite...a fusion of NYC Jewish and bayou cuisine! Amazing!

This strip in the Garden District is also a cool shopping oasis.

Muriel's Jackson Square, 801 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70116

 
Walking into this space was like walking into a part of history with the antique formal dining room feel...which is what I find most appealing and intriguing about NOLA.






My first turtle soup du sherry was amazing.

The duck breast and seafood au gratin are great choices.

The service and wine list were both impressive.

Definitely on my list during my next visit.

Charlotte and I at Muriel's

 
Haunting side note via Food & Wine :

There is one unavailable table at this Jackson Square restaurant. It's freshly set every night with bread and wine for a previous owner of the property, Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, whose ghost has a standing reservation. Gambling ruined Jourdan in 1814, when he lost his house in a poker game. Inconsolable at having to vacate, he committed suicide on the second floor. The appropriately named Séance Lounges upstairs are where Mr. Jourdan is said to spend most of his time knocking on walls, but the staff claim that glasses have flown from behind the bar and shattered against the far brick wall three times since 2001.

W Hotel French Quarters, 316 Chartres Street New Orleans, LA 70130

I love,love, love this hotel (and  multiple other W locations actually) but I am almost as in love with this property as I am with NOLA itself. The private patio areas from off the room to second and poolside levels were beautiful. I love being so close to Jackson square, Muriel's, and Bombay Club (owned by New Englanders BTW)... a few of my fave spots in the city...in addition to Bourbon St of course. The staff are usually pleasant and you' ve gotta love being in walking distance to awesome, unique boutiques and spas along and off Chartres. See you guys again very soon!!!

Website:


www.wfrenchquarter.com

Hudson Hotel, 356 W 58th St (between 8th Ave & 9th Ave) New York, NY 10019

 Photo by Mina A.



This hotel is absolutely gorgeous!  I would expect nothing less from the Morgans Group!
I've stayed here a number of times, but even when I am not a hotel guest, I love to swing by whenever I am in the city.  The Hudson Bar, Sky Terrace, and especially the Library (with it's interesting book displays to say the least) are all fantastic places to grab a cocktail and socialize with friends and strangers alike!

 www.hudsonhotel.com