Hot Plate

Tango's molleja

KENJI ALT — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:33:31 GMT

Salty smoky sweeties
The molleja act as carrier for the intense flavor of the grill and boasts a crisp, salty, nearly blackened crust.

Audubon Circle’s habanero-infused guava margarita and grilled shrimp with citrus dipping sauce

KENJI ALT — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:34:05 GMT

Red-hot summer
They start with the world’s hottest peppers and let them soak in white tequila for three days until a mere whiff puts tears in your eyes.

Taiwan Café’s braised pork with peanut and pickled mustard greens

KENJI ALT — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:05:56 GMT

Chinatown on a roll
Taiwan Café’s $6.95 lunch-special menu eschews standard Chinese-American fare.

Uni Sashimi Bar’s Sakuramasu

KENJI ALT — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:06:35 GMT

Get fresh
Go to the Eliot Hotel’s Uni and, unless you’ve spent time working as a fish buyer in Japan, you’re going to see things on the menu that you’ve never heard of, let alone eaten.

Garden at the Cellar’s All-Day Egg Sandwich

KENJI ALT — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:27:44 GMT

No, it’s not two for $3, and yes, it’s worth every extra penny
Anyone with a passion for whiskey knows it’s easy to argue until closing time about the respective merits of Scotch and bourbon.

Zoe’s Gourmet Chinese’s braised-beef filets and vegetables with hot chili

KENJI ALT — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:01:36 GMT

Pleasure to burn
It’s hard to imagine that there’s any decent food — much less decent regional Chinese food — to be found on the barren stretch between Inman and Porter squares.

Craigie Street Bistrot’s ragoût of venison sausage and mushrooms with slow-cooked egg

KENJI ALT — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:42:23 GMT

When bringing home the bacon’s just not good enough
Surely, you think, this is the end of the rainbow. Not at Craigie Street.

Bin 26 Enoteca’s grilled Mediterranean sea bass

KENJI ALT — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 22:05:54 GMT

Simple’s the new fancy
Where else in the city can you get haute Iranian cuisine served in a modestly elegant setting?

Myers+Chang’s Tiger’s Tears

KENJI ALT — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:43:15 GMT

No reason to cry
In my personal opinion, Pan-Asian restaurants are a bad idea.

Sichuan Garden’s ox meat and tripe with roasted-chili peanut vinaigrette

KENJI ALT — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:08:36 GMT

Hot stuff
Decades of bad choices made by diners have made it hard for non-Chinese-speaking eaters to gain the respect of a cook in a Chinese-American restaurant.

KO Prime’s Bone Marrow

KENJI ALT — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:43:47 GMT

Bones to pick
For the past decade or so, I’ve been of the mind that you can always judge a restaurant by the quality of its bread and butter.

Montien’s en-toon-mor-fai

KENJI ALT — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:05:43 GMT

Ring of fire
Walk in and ask for a table at Montien in the Theater District, and chances are you’ll be fine with the menu.

O Ya’s kinmedai with white soy ginger, myoga, and lemon oil

KENJI ALT — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:43:39 GMT

Decadently understated
O Ya chef Tim Cushman is not a monkey.

Toro's lengua con lentejas y salsa verde

KENJI ALT — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:09:02 GMT

Bite your tongue
When it comes to exciting members of the animal kingdom, it’s hard to beat a bull.

The Beehive’s Eggs Shakshuka

TERRI RUTTER — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:34:55 GMT

Comfort food, Moroccan-style
The Beehive’s jazz beat is grooving a little earlier on Saturday and Sunday mornings these days.

Rocca’s smashed almond bark

TERRI RUTTER — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:49:48 GMT

'A very nice thing to munch on'
While smashed almond bark is indeed a very nice treat with which to end a meal or an evening, it can also be a delightful beginning or a good bar snack.

Matt Murphy’s Farmhouse Plate

KENJI ALT — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:51:12 GMT

Pâté gone astray
We’re all familiar with French charcuterie.

Craigie Street Bistrot’s Spanish octopus à la poêle

KENJI ALT — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:54:43 GMT

Wrap your tentacles around this one
When was the last time you cooked an octopus that came out of a washing machine?

Chez Henri’s Conch Yaniqueque

KENJI ALT — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 02:57:00 GMT

Have your Johnnycake and eat it, too
Usually when I go to Cambridge for a taste of the Latin-inspired French-bistro cuisine at Chez Henri, I sidle up to the bar for their signature combo meal.

Beacon Hill Bistro’s Gnocchi Parisienne

KENJI ALT — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 03:01:57 GMT

Gold Bond
Chef Jason Bond has never been one to shrink from tradition.