Succulent Sundays: A Weekly Collection of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Mazeman-style ramen with watermelon radish - The Beehive Boston

Avocado topped burger-Audubon Boston

Salted caramel and Georgia Pecan gelato - Dolcezza Washington D.C.

Eggs Benedict with Jamon - Boqueria D.C.

Pho Bo Kho - Pho Linh Quincy, MA

Succulent Sundays (Tres Gatos): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

One Autumn evening in JP at Tres Gatos...

Chickpea Fritters over Dill Yogurt, Fresh Cucumber, Cilantro, and Halved Chickpeas

Boquerones-Spanish White Anchovies, Grilled Toast, Paprika

Chorizo, Cheese, Apple Butter

Succulent Sundays (Ramen Edition): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Some of my favorite bowls of ramen over the past month and a half obsession:

Higuma in Paris, France:

Champon Lamen

Pork and Squid ramen with cabbage, carrots, onion, fresh noodle, topped with pickled ginger.

                                                                      Union Republic Jersey City, NJ                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Spicy Ramen                                                                        Chorizo, citrus yogurt, shredded daikon radish, and a soft egg

Union Republic, Jersey City, NJ
Nose to Tail Ramen
Crisped pig's ear slices, pork belly, and seared heart

Momofuku Noodle Bar NYC

Momofuku Ramen pork belly and pork shoulder, NYC

                                                                                              Shojo Boston                                  Squid Ink Ramen with Shrimp and enoki mushroom

Succulent Sundays (Bruschetta's, Gourmet-on-the-Go): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

I filled in a relief shift for a veterinary hospital in far Western Massachusetts and asked around for lunch recommendations (I never have the opportunity to leave for lunch at my extremely busy hospital, so I wanted to take advantage) and Bruschetta's was on the list.

 The veterinary technician sold me on fresh sandwiches and soups.

I pulled up to the quaint cafe on the corner at 365 College Highway in Southwick, Massachusetts. There was one bistro table nestled near the bushes to the left of the door and two on the right once you enter.  The space is small, the beautiful aroma wafting from the kitchen was tremendous.

I examined the menu featuring deli sandwiches, paninis, flatbread pizzas, soups,  "Homemade from Our Kitchen" entrees, and gourmet desserts.  

I was immediately struck by the soup du jour:  Fried Haddock Clam Chowder!

Fried Haddock Clam Chowder

 I had to see what this was about.  I decided on a soup and sandwich lunch, which turned out to be way too much food, but exciting none-the-less.  I was forced to take the black pastrami panini with roasted red peppers home for dinner!

Black Pastrami Panini with Roasted Red Peppers. 

I sat at one of the indoor bistro tables, overindulging with the grandmother's house style bowl of steaming fried haddock clam chowder.  

The other was occupied by a lady who was reminiscing with the owners about their previous restaurant "Fernando's" as she enjoyed a dish of stuffed shells.  The old Fernando's, now Hash House, a name I can't help but chuckled about after Massachusetts' relatively recent ballot question, was sold several years ago and Bruschetta's sprung up a few miles up the road.

The chowder was nothing short of miraculous!  

One of the best chowders I've had since moving to New England over 6 years ago.  I've tasted some of the annually winning chowders in Boston and nothing comes close to bold bowl of flavor!  I spoke with Executive Chef & Owner Glenn Hart while devouring my chowder and singing its praises.  He said one night he decided to plop a piece of fried haddock into his classic clam chowder, which he has been making for decades, and decided it was a great match.  He was absolutely correct!  Being a Jersey girl, I have always been shocked by New Englanders' love of/obsession with haddock and cod.  

They're just not my favorite fishes.  I love a more hearty fish, like a bluefish or porgy.  

I've sampled plenty of haddock that was fried in a weak batter.  

A light fleshed fish with a weak, wet batter is insulting, but Glenn's fry batter was crisped to perfection!  

The flesh of the fish stood up to the thick chowder, not falling apart or losing its substantial texture - one that I had no idea haddock could carry.  

I didn't dare touch the accompanying oyster crackers.  Their crunch was unnecessary in light of the haddock.  

Each component of the chowder imparted character - each tender cubed potato was bursting with flavor from the rich, creamy chowder base, bright sweet carrots dot the base and tender clam bits are encountered in most bites.  Fresh herbs and celery add greenery and depth of flavor.  

I could eat this every single day and never tire of it.  

 Unfortunately, it would require a 4 hour round trip drive.  It's definitely worth it for a weekend trip out west.  

Next time you're in far Western Mass, please do not deprive yourself of Bruschetta's and the hospitality of Glenn and his lovely wife.

Image from Bruschetta' Facebook Page

Special Editon of Succulent Sundays (Autumn Dishes): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Here are some of my favorite Autumn food dishes over the years.

Salmon filet over Tuscan kale with Sparrow Arc Farm (a 40-acre family farm in Maine) heirloom turnips, seckel pears, lady apple, and mostarda at Steel & Rye, Milton. My full review can be read, here.

Seared scallops over a bed of tender butternut squash and sauteed spinach at Piattini, Newbury Street, Back Bay Boston.  My full review can be read, here.

 

Pan-seared salmon over sweet corn, blistered shishito pepper, lemon aioli at Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks

Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto, Pumpkin Seed Brittle, Spiced Cinnamon Mascarpone and pickled whole cranberry at ArtBar, Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge.  My full review can be read, here.

Succulent Sundays (Piattini Wine Cafe): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Repost: I'm sure Piattini will rise above after the recent building fire!

Meeting up with Josephine Oliviero Megwa (Owner of Piattini Wine Cafe) is always a treat and it had been way to long.  During our catch us session, in between her being the fabulous hostess she naturally is, she sent out a couple of amazing small plates. 

 I'd just had a relatively large brunch date with my girlfriends, but couldn't resist the beautiful seafood in front of me.  

Lobster, with it's glowing sunset colored split shell and tender, sweet, inviting flesh set upon perfectly cooked risotto.  The lovely clams, bathed in white wine sauce and diced tomato served as a reminder that summer is beautiful, but fleeting and that tomatoes are definitely back in season!

 

Check out my numerous reviews and an interview with Josephine here, here, and here.

Succulent Sundays (Rare Home Cooking Moments): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

I very rarely cook at home, like maybe 5 times in the past year, rare.

Here are a few snapshots of my favorite home cooking moments.

Roasted salt & pepper asparagus

Homemade chili with ground pork, buffalo, and beef.

Naan pizza with pancetta, arugula, goat cheese, and pesto

Watermelon, goat cheese, and pesto salad

Spicy skirt steak tacos with sauteed spinach, roasted asparagus and cherry tomato

Succulent Sundays (Riverside BBQ Series): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Riverside BBQ Series

Allston, MA

Harry Parker Boathouse

Restaurants:

Hungry Mother

West Bridge

Chef Barry Maiden of Hungry Mother's chicken bbq sandwich

 

West Bridge's beautiful pickled things

One of the Bands:  

Tigerman Whoa

Succulent Sundays (Pigalle- Now Closed): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Pigalle (Now Closed)

Boston, MA

My full review, here.

 Asparagus soup, served piping hot (not chilled) over butter-poached lobster claw and tail meat, shiitake mushroom, and asparagus tips.

Succulent Sundays (Hamersley Bistro): A Weekly Celebration of My Favorite Personal Food Photography

Hamersley's Bistro

South End, Boston, MA

Chef/Owner: Gordon Hamersley

Check out my dinner review, here.

Check out my Chef Interview, here.

Skillet-Cooked Swordfish with Roasted Cauliflower and Pickled Fennel Salad  with Port, Red Currant and Black Truffle Sauce

4th of July Week 2014 @ Hingham Beach house with the Girls

Beach house

4th of July Week with my Girlfriends

Hingham, MA

Our sunset view from one of the balconies.

Because I love them dearly, I decided to cook for my girlfriends on our first evening in the beach house during the week of 4th of July 2014.  I modified a recipe for summer seafood stew that I heard about on NPR just days before.

Once we were over the shock and awe of the beautiful, all white interior (reads intimidating) home on the water that one of my lovely clients loaned me for the week, we hit Trader Joe's and Ralph's Wine & Spirits Shop to prepare for the week of eating, imbibing, and enjoying each others' company to the max!

After a bite at Wahlburgers Hingham

Who can resist a man in a uniform???  Not I!

I purchased all the seafood (mahi, jumbo shrimp, scallops, and steamers), veg (heirloom potatoes, tomatoes, corn, shallots, garlic, summer squash, and asparagus), chicken sausage, and herbs (dill and basil) from Trader Joe's.  The white wine for the base (along with veggie broth) I purchased from Ralph's.  The shopkeeper helped me pick a pretty nice Pinot Grigio for my stew.

My Summer Seafood Stew

PREP

Shallots and purple potato

For the days leading up to 4th of July, we ate and drank extremely well!

Everyone else in the house took turns with breakfasts and grilled dinners.  We laughed and bonded over delicious food and the sound of high tide.  We sunbathed in peace and went out on the water on a neighbor's boat.  It couldn't have been a better week to relax and enjoy your girlfriends!

Here are a few shots of the week:

We focused a lot on breakfast, snacks, booze, and sun!

Trader Joe's Cold Brew Coffee was quite amazing.  I am a bitter-palated girl all the way and eventually drank mine without adding water to the concentrate...just ice and soy creamer!

So, agave syrup turns into candy in iced coffee...this should not be a surprise, but it was pretty

Time in the sun and on the water in a neighbor's boat was priceless!

Bulleit bourbon...it doesn't get more "Merica that that!

My version of "Lunch atop a Skyscraper"- the iconic photo of ironworkers lunching on a steel beam of the unfinished RCA building (now the GE tower) at Rockefeller Center, NY, NY.  Mine is the 'staycation version'.

 The Original

Lunch Atop a Skyscraper

Some of us were too adventurous with combining land and sea...I'd make a fab "paparazzi in a bush"

  
More yummy pics...Grilling on the 4th...Rain? What rain?  Let's just roll out the awning on the lower balcony...

Michelle's prep for the pasta salad,

 

Summer squash with coarse black pepper and smoked Spanish paprika

Final product:  grilled squash "steaks"

Imagine whiskey-soaked grilled peaches!  Never got around to placing them on the grill, but it will go down one of these days!

Finished product: bbq chicken marinated overnight, pasta salad with tuna and summer veggies, grilled salmon, grilled summer squash

Great times with great friends!  Can't wait to do it again!