Bean Town Imbibing: Boston, Massachusetts

This blog is dedicated to my Mom, Tina: the toughest, kindest, most willful and perseverant person I've ever known. She is immensely missed.

​There are five crucial questions a journalist must ask (and, ideally, answer) when researching and developing a story: Who, What, Where, When, and Why. These Five W's, along with a bonus "How" for further clarity, will preclude each blog post to provide proper insight into this weird, wild nomadic journey. ​​

The Five W's + H:
Who: The peripatetic Pages: Christina (MY WIFE), Sophia (MY CAT) and DJ (MY SELF)
What: Top 5 places to drink up 
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
When: April 2021 - October 2021
Why: Having already spent three months in Baltimore, it was time to move on to the nearest major "B" city in the alphabet. The opportunity to explore another east coast hub that neither of us had been before was one we could not pass up. 
​+
How: This was a third consecutive relatively quick trip at roughly nine hours and 450 miles. We rode gallantly northeast: hugging the coastline, heads protruding out of each window, gleefully announcing "The Pages are coming! The Pages are coming!" Countless confused glances later, the Pages arrived for a mini-vacation in a small town off the coast of Rhode Island. After our brief vacay in Easton Bay, it took only about an hour and a half to make it to our final destination: Brookline, MA. All-in-all, we passed through seven states: Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and finally Massachusetts. Despite the relatively short drive time, our compact trek hammered home the fact that the Northeast is jam packed together.

(Note: Despite the fact that literally anyone can get the vaccine quickly, easily and completely free, the plague continues to rage on and impede a normal lifestyle. Luckily, Massachusetts (and most of the Northeast as a whole) is one of the most vaccinated areas in the country. We continued to exercise caution while eating out at the restaurants on this list, as we dined predominately outdoors and only indoors a handful of times with the restaurant at open air. Mask up, stay safe and, most importantly, get all the damn jabs already so we can return to normalcy safely.)

Five Places to Drink Up: Boston, MA

Blossom Bar (295 Washington St, Brookline MA 02445)

Quotable: "Family style Sichuan meets award-winning cocktail concoctions."

A second-generation family eatery, Blossom Bar is a seamless blend of old school and new. The menu is stocked with traditional Chinese dishes, along with some American favorites, too. These plates are served family style, and a few must-haves include the Eggplant with Garlic Sauce (Japanese eggplants, green peppers and spicy house garlic sauce) and the Chinese Broccoli (Scrumptiously, yet simply, seasoned with garlic, chilis, peppercorn and salt). Pair with a hearty side of starch like the vegetarian Fried Rice and/or House Lo- Mein and you're set to feast. 

The cocktail list is where Blossom's new-school approach really shines. The Gloria (Bacardi Cuatro Anos, passion fruit, lime, cinnamon, coffee, Mascarpone) was among 43 finalists of Bacardi's 2019 Legacy Global Cocktail awards. The rest of the drink menu is no slouch, either. The Broken Spanish (pictured above) consists of Don Julio Blanco tequila, avocado, coconut, Thai basil, and lime that evokes nostalgic waves of beachside sun and fun—even when it's a 20-degree, blizzard-esque April day in Boston. My personal favorite on the drink menu, The Diamond Heights, is infused with Grey Goose, Yuzu (Asian citrus), pink peppercorn, grapefruit and house tonic that's light, breezy and goes down smooth. ​

Lolita (253 Summer St, Boston, MA 02210)

Quotable: "The essential Mexican restaurant experience in Boston."

I'm a Mexican food snob. I can admit it. So when I discover delicious south-of-the-border cuisine on our travels, I feel an obligation to blab (and blog) about it—and Lolita in Boston is worthy of discussion. Located on the Fort Point Channel just southwest of Boston Harbor, the patio scene itself is reason alone to stop by, but the elevated Mexican fare and expertly mixed margaritas will have you coming back for more. 

(Note: Many of my favorite restaurants do me the favor of having a paired-down menu with a select number of specialities that are done well. I mean, who really wants to pull out a Cheesecake Factory-level, Lord of the Rings-size novel of a food list and have to guess what's actually good. I enjoy the simplicity of a minuscule menu, and Lolita's two-page length listings are a welcome sight.)

An excellent way to start your meal here is with the Spicy Artichoke Empanadas. Jalapeño, queso fresco, pickled corn and chickpea bubble below the surface of this tasty, crispy, crusted treat. The Hot Queso Dip's blend of three types of cheese, green chili, cilantro and taco spice had me reminiscing about the Tex Mex queso I know, love and miss dearly. Another appetizer staple is the Corn and Lobster Hushpuppies, deep fried to perfection and infused with charred Jalapeño and smoked cheddar.

On to the entrees, the Lobster LTA quesadilla (pictured above) is packed with spicy tomato, corn, avocado, queso, mango chili chamoy (a thick, sweet condiment commonly found in Mexico) and chunks of fresh Maine lobster. One of the more interesting and eclectic items on the menu is the Mexican Fried Rice, brimming with spicy sofrito, black beans, cotija (Mexican cheese), sesame, sour cream and salsa to create a meticulous mishmash of Asian and Mexican flavors. 

Nothing pairs with a proper Mexican meal like a fresh, house-made margarita. The Broken Heart Margarita (blanco tequila, elderflower, lime, grape, raspberry) and the Spicy Cucumber Margarita (serrano pepper-infused tequila, lime, cucumber, house orange liqueur) are perfect compliments to the appetizers and entrees listed above.  

Buttermilk & Bourbon (160 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02116)

Quotable: "Southern hospitality and eats in the Northeast." 

With a name like Buttermilk and Bourbon, my taste buds had no issue bullying my brain into seeking out this excellent NOLA-style eatery. Food celebrity chef and owner Jason Santos (featured on Hell's Kitchen and Bar Rescue, if you're into that sort of thing) brings New Orleans' style southern comfort, cuisine and hospitality to the Back Bay area of Boston. 

Start your meal at Buttermilk and Bourbon with the melt-in-your-mouth, house-made Warm Honey Glazed Biscuits (pictured above). Slap on some smoked cinnamon butter and/or pimento cheese spread and you'll find yourself basking in the light of flakey, buttery biscuit goodness.

As for the entrees, the House Special Buttermilk Fried Chicken boneless thighs (pictured above), fried to perfection into tender/juicy/crispy deliciousness, are the star of the show. I'm a licensed, registered member of the Nashville Hot society (in my head, at least), but you can get these fried chicken goodies tossed with sweet and spicy, BBQ syrup or white BBQ sauce.

If the fried chicken boneless thighs are the star of the show at Buttermilk and Bourbon, the Whodi Smash (pictured above) is the director, producer and may even be the head of the studio. Russel's Reserve 10 Year Small Batch Bourbon, blackberry, mint, and lemon combine to create what amounts to a highly elevated (we're talking full on floating in Earthly orbit here) whiskey sour. 

Carmelina's (307 Hanover St. Boston, MA 02113)

Quotable: "The top spot for delicious Italian in North End."

North End Boston is known for it's authentic array of Italian eateries, and Carmelina's may just be the best of the bunch. Since opening in 2012, Boston's Little Italy staple has focused on crafting traditional Sicilian dishes to great success, culminating in being named one of Yelp's Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2020. 

Carmelina's small space and intimate atmosphere aren't exactly ideal in the midst of the plague, so they've made it a point to have their retractable front windows open (weather permitting) and even created a curbside patio on lively Hanover Street. 

As for the menu, the Risotto Caprese with arborio rice, roasted garlic, basil, parmigiano, and grape tomatoes is a satisfying starter for two. Pasta-wise, treat yourself to the Penne Gorgonzola (packed with Italian gorgonzola, sun dried tomatoes, spinach, roasted garlic, Parmigiano and cream) or the Penne Capricciose (filled with spinach, roasted red peppers, roasted garlic, and tomato cream sauce). 

Drink-wise, Carmelina's features wines from all over Italy, along with some from France and a sprinkle of old smushed grape juice from California and Washington state as well. 

Stoked Wood Fired Pizza (1632 Beacon St Brookline, MA 02446)

Quotable: "Best New York/New Haven Style Pie in Bean Town."

A big city like Boston is ripe with an array of pizza options and, as a (self-proclaimed) pizza connoisseur, I feel it's my duty to experience as many pie places as humanly possible on our travels. Of the many spots frequented, Stoked Wood Fired Pizza takes the cake (or pie, amirite? I'll see myself out) as the top pizza place in Bean Town.  

It all starts with fresh ingredients, which are delivered seven days a week from nearby Lilliput Farms in Wareham, Massachusetts and seeds lugged all the way from the Campania region of Italy. ​The crust is also what sets Stoked apart from many other pizza joints, with a soft, light, crispy outer-shell that's New York-style to the core (literally!).

Stoked also ensures vegans and vegetarians alike (shout out to MY WIFE) have a robust selection to choose from on the menu. Historically meat-centric dishes like Meatballs and Marinara, Chili, Chili Cheese Fries, Cheeseburger Pizza and even pizza topping-staple pepperoni have their own vegan or vegetarian options.

The Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pizza, a white pie topped with Impossible Burger "beef" and grilled with sweet onion, Stoked sauce, garlicky tomatoes, pickles and a super secret cheese blend, is an ideal meal for non-beef eaters craving a guilt-free doppelgänger.

Another excellent pie at Stoked is the New York White, a white pizza topped with garlic, fresh and aged mozzarella, oregano, black pepper and pecorino Romano. For the true vegetarian that despises beef-like substitutes, this hearty slice is brimming with rustic, Italian spices. 

Bonus: Barcelona Wine Bar (1700 Beacon St, Brookline, MA 02445)

Quotable: "Spanish tapas which can't be topped." 

Barcelona Wine Bar, another bustling bar and restaurant combo in Brookline, specializes in small bites and brews. With locations across the country from Massachusetts to Colorado, Barcelona's adaptive menu is fluent in both Spanish and Mediterrenean-based cuisines and features a robust Spaniard wine list that rivals any restaurant in the United States. 

Tapas are the name of the game here, with authentic Spanish cuisine in abundance. A few of the many notable standouts include the Fava Bean Hummus, Potato Tortilla, Patatas Bravas and the exquisite Baked Lamb Empanada.

Make sure to grab yourself a glass (or pitcher) of the house-made red or white (or both) sangria. Both styles feature distinct, delicious flavors—so much so that I couldn't choose a favorite, even after ingesting copious amounts of both!