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This month is going to be jam packed. I'm starting out in Charleston. Shortly after that Liam is coming for a visit. Then Michael and I are going to Montreal. It's also CSA season so hopefully a lot of healthy cooking. And between all that, I need to find some chowders for the chowder quest. Get ready for lots to read.
July 1
I had hoped to visit a distillery in Beauford on my way out of Hilton Head, but it isn't open on Mondays. That was disheartening. We took a long drive and tried out Johnson Creek Tavern. We had coconut shrimp. Then I had a cup of gumbo and Kelly got a po' boy. The service was friendly, but the food was average at best. Certainly not worth the drive for that.
Dinner on the other hand was excellent. We visited Delaney Oyster House which was right next to our hotel. They have a great martini list so I started with a Hat Trick Martini (gin no. 069). After that, I tried two new gins from Mississippi, Bristow Gin and the 4 year aged version. to eat, I started with chilled peel and eat shrimp, then had blue crab rice with more shrimp, and finally split a lemon pound cake with peach jam. Everything was delicious.
July 2
I started my day with a donut as I waited to board the ferry to Fort Sumter. It was a peaches and cream donut from HERO which I fully intended to split with my wife, but she was happy with the blueberry cake donut and we both just took a bite of the others.
That tided me over until dinner at FIG. We took the advice of Lee at Delaney Oyster and got ricotta gnocchi and tomato tart tatin. We also got the steak tartare. For our main course we got schnitzel which they divided for us. And for dessert I had the sticky sorghum pudding which was amazing.
July 3
I had hoped to go to a distillery in Beaufort and missed the chance, but I enjoyed my Hat Trick Gin so much that I took advantage of my last few hours to go to High Wire Distilling. It turned out that on top of good gin, they have good food too. Along with a bourbon tasting, we got the ham sliders and liked them so much that we also got the fried chicken sliders. On top of that I picked up a bottle of Jimmy Red Bourbon and Hometown Vodka.
July 6
I helped Michael with some work around his new house. We took a break and went to go get some lunch at πita. I got a gyro with s spicy feta spread. It wasn't great. I don't think I'll go again. For dinner we went to Summer Shack so we could try their chowder. I also got a fish sandwich that wasn't very good, just a big gloppy mess. Not a good day of food.
July 8
I cooked dinner tonight. I made some roasted chicken thighs which were very good and had left over potato salad that I made yesterday. I also braised cabbage from my CSA along with red onion and carrot. It turned out a little dry for my taste. I'd try it again, but I need to adjust it somehow.
July 9
I had lunch with my friend Gretchen today. We always go to Il Massimo and I feel like I have had everything on the menu there. Today however I got a meatball sub. It was very cheesy and really good. After that, I took my wife out for a cocktail at Karma, a scorpion bowl for two. She hadn't eaten so I stole a few bites of her food including spicy tuna maki.
July 10
Today is the first time I got to pick up my CSA from Verrill Farm, but my nephew is coming tomorrow so I'm not going to have many opportunities to cook vegetables. I used up carrots, onions, and arugula. I roasted the carrots and onion with pork tenderloin. Then dressed the salad lightly with oil vinegar and a sprinkle of parmesan.
July 11
My godson Liam came to visit and so we are going to be eating a lot for the next several days. We started with a trip to Bedford House of Roast Beef so that he could try a classic north shore roast beef. I got the junior three-way as usual. We both enjoyed them.
For dinner we went to Karma of course because that's where we always take out of town guests. We got shumai, gyoza, general gao's chicken, sushi, and crab rangoon. It was his first time trying sushi so he just thought it was ok, but he loved everything else.
July 12
I took Liam into Boston today. He rode the T for the first time, it was actually his first time on any subway. We went to Casarecce in the the North End to get some Italian food. I got Spaghetti Carbonara and he got Lobster Ravioli. From there we walked around Boston and eventually found ourselves at Boston Burger Company where we got BBQ Chicken Tenders. Then we went to the Royals-Red Sox game at Fenway, but all we had was a lemonade. As we made our way back home, we stopped in Harvard Square and got a slice of pizza at Joe's. The pepperoni was great but the pizza was just ok.
July 13
Today we all headed to NYC. We drove to New Haven to catch the Metro North to Grand Central. While there we stopped at Louis' Lunch and got burgers. I got some potato salad as well. It was my first time trying it and I was surprised by the amount of boiled egg in it, but still enjoyed it.
For dinner we went to Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen. How's that for a name? It received a Bib Gourmand from Michelin and well deserved it. We got dumplings, scallions pancakes, and duck bao. We also ordered tea which comes from the tea shop two doors down. It was a fabulous meal.
July 14
We started out this morning with a trip to Paris Baguette to get some breakfast. Even though they didn't do a good job putting it in the bag, that was an amazing donut. But really, get a box. That thing never should have gone in a bag.
For dinner we went to Keen's, a favorite of ours. This was my fourth visit and second time getting the mutton chop. I liked it a little better last time because it was slight rarer, but it was still a great meal. We started with crab cakes and shrimp. Along with my mutton chop, we had mashed potatoes, carrots, and french fries. I meant to order creamed spinach and forgot, but the host overheard me and brought me some on the house! Now that's great. We finished off with cheesecake for dessert.
July 15
We got a slice of pizza before leaving NYC. We went to a crowded little place near Rockefeller Center called Abitino's and had a picnic at a table overlooking where they set up the ice rink.
July 16
Today we went to Kimball's, mostly to play mini golf, but also so that I could try another chowder.
July 19
Michael and I headed to Montreal today. We stopped in Burlington on the way up and tried Istanbul Kebab House for lunch. I got the Doner Wrap which was very good, good enough that I'd go back again.
For dinner we went to Au Pied du Cochon. It was my second time going there. The service was slow, even for Montreal, but the food was still good. I ordered scallops, but they came undercooked and I couldn't eat them due to my allergy so I switched with Michael and at the beef tongue which was excellent. He got the duck in a can and I got the pork shank. It was way too much food, but it was good.
I did get to try two new gins that night, Gin de Mononcle (at Au Pied de Cochon) and Romeo's Gin at (Benelux). Though technically, the Romeo's Gin took place shortly after midnight.
July 20
We started the morning with a walk on Mont Royal and I got a caramel-coconut beignet at the Cafe des Amis next to Beaver Lake. Most impressively I ordered entirely in French. For lunch we stopped at Dunn's Famous for some smoked meat poutine which was very good. I'd go back for that for sure. We also visited the CIRKA distillery where I tried three new gins and bought gin no. 100.
For dinner we went to Mon Lapin rated the number one restaurant in Canada. It was exceptional, and rather than tell you all about it, I'll suggest you read my post on it here. I did try a new gin, Comont Gin, at Mon Lapin and then two more at the Alice Bar at our hotel after dinner, Bleu Royal and Refuge 42.
July 22
Trying to catch up on my CSA. Tonight I made corn on the cob, zucchini, and steak on the grill and served it with a nice salad.
July 24
We were in Brookline this evening and decided to stop by Buff's Pub on the way home to get some dinner. They really do have the best buffalo wings in town.
July 25
I used up a bunch of my CSA today. I made peppers stuffed with pork, onion, corn, and tomato. I also made a corn and leek soup. That will be dinner tomorrow night.
July 26
I have been eating pretty light since I got back from Montreal, trying to diet in between trips. Today I cheated a little. Lunch was light, but Kelly and I shared half a piece of Delice des Deux-Sevres, a goat cheese we really love. We had it with a baguette from Bread Obsession all of which I got at The Cheese Shop. I also got a bottle of Armenian wine for my brother-in-law. It will be a surprise, but since there is no chance he will read this I can tell you all.
Speaking of The Cheese Shop, there was a notice in the paper about a liquor license hearing to transfer theirs. That makes me nervous. Is the owner retiring? What's going on? I need to find out.
As promised the carrot soup I made last night, along with more of the baguette was dinner. I garnished it with chili onion Georgina gave me. After that we had more baguette with butter and jam. We also opened the bottle of Pomelo that I brought back from Montreal.
July 27
I ate too much yesterday and even more today. Chowry and Sotheara had us over for lunch. We had a lovely Cambodian meal and even a little blueberry-peach pie that I brought from Verrill Farms.
I should have stopped there but we stopped for tacos on the way home. It was our first visit to Taqueria Sabor Chilango. Kelly and I shared three tacos: Al Pastor, Carnitas, and Cochinita Pibil. They were great and we will be back again. I just hope the town of Billerica lets them get some seating soon.
And I should have stopped there, but I took the family to get ice cream. Thomas got chocolate ice cream and put a potato chip on top. He's weird. I got a chocolate banana frappe.
July 28
We had made plans to go to brunch at The Banks several weeks ago, but had to cancel. This morning we tried again. Their chowder was named best in Boston by Boston Magazine in 2023 so of course we had to try that. I was also excited to try their burger. Sadly it was terrible. I ordered it medium rare to rare and it came out well done. Even worse, it was lean meat. I only ate a little of it and quit. The manager was good enough to take it off the check along with Kelly's lemon-blueberry pancakes that had neither lemon nor blueberry. I'd go back, but only for the chowder.
July 30
We had my father-in-law over to celebrate his birthday. I made my green chili chicken, but I made it the way I used to with canned green chilis. It came out a little runny but still tasty. What was really great though were the cubanelle stuffed peppers I made as an appetizer. They were stuffed with corn, tomato, cheese, garlic, onion, ancho, and a bunch of spices. Then they were topped with more cheese and some cilantro. They were amazing.
Best of the month
I was out of town so much this month that I hardly cooked. The best thing I made was on the last day of the month when I stuffed the cubanelles. That could be in my top 3. The pork tenderloin with carrots was also good. But the best of the month was eaten on vacation.
I finally found a five star chowder at The Banks even if the rest of the meal was bad. I had an amazing meal in Montreal and two amazing meals in Charleston. And then of course there was New York.
Overall my three best dishes were:
Shrimp and Pork Dumplings at Kung Fu
Lamb at Mon Lapin
Chowder at The Banks
hungrytommy links:
Delaney Oyster House - travel bite (new)
gin no. 069
FIG - travel bite (new)
Jimmy Red Bourbon - rest of the bar (new)
Hometown Vodka - rest of the bar (new)
Summer Shack - chowder quest (new)
Il Massimo
Karma
Bedford House of Roast Beef
Cassarecce Ristorante
Louis' Lunch
Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen - Michelin (new)
Keen's Steakhouse - travel bite (new)
Kimball Farm - chowder quest (new)
Au Pied de Cochon - travel bite (new)
gin no. 100 - the collection (new)
Mon Lapin - travel bite (new)
Buff's Pub - quick bite (new)
Delice des Deux-Sevres
Pomelo - rest of the bar (new)
The Banks - chowder quest (new)
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