Dinner @ Shojo, 9A Tyler Street, Chinatown Boston

I'd heard the greatest things about Shojo since it's relatively recent opening and was excited to check it out.  While I enjoyed portions of our meal there, I wasn't blown away as I anticipated and a few things were a let down.

The service was wonderful.  Our host and server (forgive me for not remember his name) was high energy, funny and helpful.  The Oolong tea infused vodka caught my eye.  Usually served as a teapot cocktail for two, I really wanted to try the vodka neat, though I was discouraged by the bartender.  I'm a bit of a bitter freak at times, so I kindly declined the warning and went for it.  I found it to be tolerable in the bitter department and actually quite interesting in flavor.  I enjoyed it chilled.

We started with the pork bao.  Everything I love about steamed pork buns was missing with Shojo's.  The bun was not break away tender and moist and neither was the pork.  I found the pork to be dry and a bit tough, more like an old boar versus the advertised suckling pig.  The sauce served as a small redeeming factor.

Suckling pig bao

Our duck fat french fries were bound to be unappealing as I don't care for shoe string cut fries.  They had good flavor and were served with a spicy, creamy dipping sauce, but could have benefited from a bit more draining before serving, as hey were a bit oily.

Duck fat french fries

The mushroom-corn fritters featured a number of great flavors and textures.  The savory coating was thick with a serious crunch while the filling was sweet , rich and tender.  Kernels of corn popped between your teeth just before the earth mushroom flavors intervene.  We were encouraged to incorporate the sweet, sticky red bell pepper marmalade into a few bites and it paid off.  The creamy, horseradish  sauce drizzled over the fritters pillowed a tangle of sprouts.  This was my favorite appetizer of the evening.

Mushroom-Corn fritters

I had nothing but praise for the char siu pulled pork ravioli with house smoked bacon, Chinese celery, shiitake mushrooms, and shaved pecorino.  I was actually jealous that I didn't order it as my entree.  One bite and I wanted to devour the plate.  The pork filling was perfectly braised and tender.  The veggies were generous and stewed in a bright, rich sauce.  Simply amazing!

Char siu pulled pork ravioli

I went out on a limb and ordered the shrimp and grits entree.  The shrimp were slightly overcooked and definitively under-seasoned and bland.  The grits had a surprisingly creamy mouth-feel, though they were coarse grains.  The tomato based sauce was simply, but not incredibly impressive.

Shrimp and grits

There were some clear high and low notes of our meal at Shojo, but I am not willing to write them off.  I am looking forward to another meal there soon, perhaps lunch.  I hear their cocktails are pretty impressive and creative as well.

A Tasty Breakfast @ Johnny's Luncheonette, 30 Langley Road, Newton Centre, MA

Voted "Best of Boston" for a number of years, we decided to head over to Johnny's Luncheonette in Newton Centre for a bite and see for ourselves.  

The food was good quality, simple diner food.  Flapjacks, breakfast meats and breads, potatoes,  fresh juice and coffee, Johnny's is the quintessential breakfast joint with great service and a friendly, bustling atmosphere.

We kept things relatively simple and ordered a few items to satisfy our morning munchies.

Pumpkin pancakes

While I was disappointed that the pumpkin pancakes were devoid of anything reminiscent of pumpkin spices- nutmeg, cinnamon and the like- they were moist and fluffy.

Homefries

The homefries were slightly too underdone for my taste but were cut into large chunks which is exactly the way I love them.

French toast platter with eggs, potatoes, and ham

Delicious huevos rancheros with tender black beans, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, tortillas

Classic crisp potato latke with apple sauce and sour cream

We washed breakfast down with fresh squeezed orange juice, coffee, and a couple of cranberry mimosas with lime (what Johnny's calls a Poinsettia).

Chef Michael Schlow's Original Mexican/Southwestern Venture: Tico ( A Follow-up)

After less than a year of Chef Schlow's Fenway spot Happy's Bar+Kitchen, which didn't present the same clear culinary direction as Alta Strada, Tico, Via Matta, and Radius, we have said goodbye to HBK earlier a couple of weeks ago.
But do not despair, the neighborhood will not gain another empty building for very long.  Chef Schlow plans to replace HBK with a Mexican restaurant and if Tico is any indication, I for one, am looking forward to it.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I decided to splurge on a rare lunch away from the desk.  Tico was the obvious choice for contemporary Mexican, Spanish, Southwestern fusion satisfaction.

One afternoon we nibbled on a few of my favorite apps before diving into Tico's uber tasty and creative tacos.

Crispy Fried Manchego Cheese with Spicy Pomegranate Honey

Tico's fried Manchego cheese (sheep's milk cheese from the Manchego Region of Spain) is beautiful!  A creamy center and lightly crusted exterior served with a sticky, spicy pomegranate-honey sauce which balanced the moderate piquancy of the cheese.

Crispy Honey-Cayenne Chicken Wings

The juicy, crispy, honey-cayenne chicken wings do not boast much heat, but have great flavor!

Tuna Tartare Tostadas with Lime, Serrano and Cilantro

On this particular day, I didn't particularly enjoy the tuna tartare.  I found it to lack the richness that typically accompanies a well marbled tuna.  I not sure if toro was served on previous orders, but something was off on this day.

The highlight of the meal for me was one of Tico's beautiful non-traditional taco: 

Crispy Fried Chicken with Fennel Slaw and Spicy Buttermilk Dressing

The Fried Chicken Taco: a perfect, moist piece of fried chicken with a crisp coating was elevated with a tangy, aromatic shaved fennel, red chili pepper, and carrot slaw and a generous pour of spicy buttermilk dressing which added both heat and richness.

Bacon, Cabbage and Green Tomato with Chipotle Sauce

Another favorite was the bacon, cabbage and green tomato taco!  Smoky cuts of bacon were drizzled with a complimentarily smoky chipotle sauce, then topped with shredded cabbage and a cool, flavorful layer of pureed green tomato.  An simple and amazing dish with a flattering combination of ingredients.

Spicy Shrimp, Bacon, and Avocado

The delicious, spicy shrimp taco (above) rivaled the first two.  Smoky bacon makes another appearance along with a pureed bean (maybe pinto or black eyed) component, pickled red cabbage, and dollop of avocado.

Pork and Spicy Cucumber

The tender, juicy braised pork had cinnamon notes and was topped with spicy, fresh cucumber slices.

Head over to Tico and try some of their other amazing tacos and entrees.

Also, check out their impressive tequila and rum selections at the bar.

Also, during warm months, their cozy outdoor space is a must.