Recent Tasty Bites Around Town: Tapas @ Estragon, Soups & Seafood @ Centre Street Sanctuary, Mussels @ The Ledge Kitchen & Drinks Dorchester

On nights when I'm reviewing new cocktails at Boston's best bars or just out with the girls, small bites are usually in order.  Here are a few of my favorite dishes around town.

Estragon Tapas Bar South End

I arrived at Estragon to sample and review the amazing Sahil Mehta's gin cocktail repertoire (read review, here).  It was my first visit to Estragon so I decided to check out a few tapas as well.  I was pleasantly surprised with the options Chef/Co-Owner Julio de Haro, of Madrid, created and with the food itself.  Lara Egger, the other owner, wrote the cocktail menu reads like a book of poetry.  Lara is a writer who recently received the Arts & Letters 2013 Rumi Prize for Poetry and wrote Estragon's whimsical cocktail menu.  It includes such descriptions as: 

Jack Gilbert: "Feeling bittersweet? This mix of Cava & Aperol gets its edge from our house “Fire-Cider”. Most champagne cocktails are ballet; ours is burlesque."  

OR

Elderflower Sour: "From the Alps to the South End, elderflower’s peachy floral notes are paired with our house citrus blend for a libation that is more balanced than your average unicyclist."

The most amazing tapa of the night?  The Pringá.  A moist, flavorful, tender mixture of beef shank, pork belly, chorizo, and bone marrow spread over grilled Iggy's bread!  The tender beef, salty pork belly, spice of the hearty chorizo, and corpulence of the bone marrow all impart beautiful flavor and texture to the dish.

The Pringá

I really enjoyed the Queso de Cabra con Tomate, warm goat's cheese and tomato on toasted bread.  There was a generous portion of warm, soft cheese spread over bright, thinly sliced tomatoes.  So simple and delicious! 

Queso de Cabra con Tomate

Last, but not the least of the evening, was another simple, yet amazing dish: Setas al Ajillo, sauteed rosemary-garlic mushrooms.  Tender, meaty thick sliced mushrooms were roasted with high quality olive oil, seasoned with finesse with rosemary and garlic.  Pure heaven!

Centre Street Sanctuary Jamaica Plain

I've reviewed Centre Street Sanctuary on a number of occasions now:  dinner review, featured cocktails and more.  I will soon interview their new chef as well!

The Portuguese kale soup was hearty and perfect for the impending fall weather.  It is made with Tuscan kale, chourico, split peas, yellow potatoes, and bread for dipping.  A perfect comfort soup, it tasted like a bit of home.  

Me being the cauliflower fanatic I am, of course I ordered up the cauliflower soup.  It's the warm version to my favorite cold soup in Maryland at The Tasting Room in Frederick only with cheese!  The soup was hot and with a richness that lingers on the palate.  Made with fresh cauliflower and smoked gouda, which I think is quite original, it was topped with roasted cauliflower spears, toasted walnuts, chives, oil, and grated gouda.  So good!

Last night, I sampled the crispy fish and chips.  The dish is made with potato-encrusted, lightly fried hake, tartar sauce, crisp, hand cut fries, and lemon.  Though the potato drench is gluten free, it is a bit heavy and does not adhere to the fish as well.  I find textural issues with most gluten-free substitutes.  Owner Adam and new Chef Tim tell me it was an incidental finding via an improper order. The hake is flaky and humongous!  It's overall a good dish.

Ledge Kitchen & Drinks 

Lower Mills Dorchester

I was pretty disappointed when I realized my favorite mussels in Boston had been taken off the menu at Ledge (read about them, here), but I was pleasantly surprised when the replacement dish was not a total bust.

Spicy chorizo mussels with mushroom, red bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, and potato.  Perfect autumnal dish!

 

Appleton Estates Sponsors Jamaican Bartenders' Brunch @ The Hawthorne for Thirst Boston 2013

Jamaican Morning Fix: Appleton Estate Reserve rum, Pomegranate grenadine, Lemon juice, Orange, and Mint

As I walk through the front door of The Hotel Commonwealth, past a few valets, and towards the door of The Hawthorne.  I overhear two hotel guests ask one another, "Hey!  I wonder what's going on in there?".  Their curiosity is piqued by the jammin' tunes blaring through the walls.  

It's cold outside, so walking into the warmth of The Hawthorne is a welcome change.  It feels as if you are stepping off of a plane in the Caribbean to begin your vacation.  
There are tons of familiar, happy faces holding beautiful cocktails with silver swizzle sticks!

Me and two of my most favorite ladies ever!  My friends Mich and Jax!

Our section.  From left to right - *A Classic aged daiquiri with Appleton Estate V/X, lime and fresh fruit; *An Appleton Rum Fizz with Appleton Estate Reserve, Appleton Estate 12 year, lemon juice, spiced black tea simple syrup, egg white, seltzer mint; & a *Jamaican Morning Fix (shown above)

The soulful music of the reggae band (out of Brooklyn) makes all the difference in transforming the swanky bar into an island retreat.

There were two bars, as is the case typically with events at The Hawthorne.  

The Main Bar featured: 

The Jamaican Morning Fix and Appleton Rum Fizz (described above)

& 

 Jamaican Iced Coffee 

 Appleton Estate 12 year, Grand Marnier, Vanilla Demerara syrup, cold-brew coffee, whipped cream, and cinnamon

Appleton Estates rum and Vanilla Demerara shots

The back bar/Swizzle & Daiquiri Bar featured:

Daiquiri (described above)

Swizzle

Classic swizzle with Appleton Estate V/X, fresh fruits & tweaks

Add ons included:

Syrups (honey, ginger, simple, or spiced black tea)

Whole Fruits (pineapple, mango, watermelon, blackberries, strawberries, and oranges)

Herbs/Bitters (mint or  Dales's Pimento)

Booze (Maraschino or Allspice Dram)

It's always a pleasure to run into Colin Asare-appiah, brand ambassador for U'Luvka Vodka in the USA and co-founder of LAB Bar (London Academy of Bar tending in London) and chat with him about the industry.  You'll always learn something new!

Me and Colin Asare-appiah

Jax, Ced, and Colin

The Caribbean-inspired food was amazing!  Juicy jerk chicken thighs, stamp & go fish cakes, sweet potato stew, salads...simply delicious!

Great times with entertaining and interesting fashion statements to boot!

Disclosure:  Though I received media passes for all events and seminars at Thirst Boston 2013, all opinions written about events and seminars are my own.