Natalie told me that Petit Robert Bistro is the most authentic French food in Boston.  She would know: Her father is from France. She spent her childhood having tea parties in Paris.  She lived in France for a year and got married there in 2009.  She’s the expert!

My table mates shared Moules Marinières (mussels) for an appetizer while I selected a bowl of Soupe à l’Onion Gratinée (onion soup) overflowing with ooey gooey cheese.  The soup was warm and comforting and so delicious.

Our table of 4 shared two amazing bottles of red wine from Bordeaux.  I’m kicking myself for my photographing the bottle so I could’ve purchased more bottles to keep at home.  We also devoured several baskets of fresh bread.  It was served with butter that tasted wonderfully salty.  I love Italians and their dipping oil, but nothing can top a slice of bread and butter.

While everyone else at the table ordered Steak Frites (steak and french fries), I opted for the Roasted Half Chicken.  The chicken was cooked in its natural juices and was moist and flavorful.  I also enjoyed sides of carrots, broccoli, and mashed potatoes.  My meal was absolute perfection.  It tasted rich and indulgent.  When I took the last bite I could manage, I was more than satisfied.

I was visiting Petit Robert to celebrate a friend’s birthday.  The birthday boy selected Creme Brulee for his special dessert.  It was served with a candle and a white chocolate rectangle that read “Happy Birthday.”  Aww!  The rest of shared Profiteroles filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with an exorbitant amount of chocolate syrup.  I couldn’t eat much, but few bites I managed were decadent!

The food and the warm atmosphere at Petit Robert Bistro was wonderful.  I constantly proclaim, “J’adore France,” and now I can add, “J’adore Petit Robert!”

Tonight Jared and I finally used a gift card to the Cheesecake Factory and enjoyed a nice meal out and about after hiding from the storm all day.

Our closest Cheesecake Factory is in the Prudential Center.  Normally it’s jam packed with tourists and with people staying at the hotels in Copley, but I hoped that with today’s snow, the crowds would be at a minimum.  I was right.  We walked in and were immediately seated at a booth in the very back of the restaurant.

I started my meal with 2 pieces of bread.

Jared and I both ordered glasses of Mark West Pinot Noir.

Biggest. Salad. Ever!

Jared actually asked the waiter, “Is that all for one person?!?!”

I knew I wouldn’t be able to finish the whole thing so I just ate until my stomach felt comfortably full.

I’ll be able to enjoy the 2nd half of this salad for lunch tomorrow.

I don’t know how Jared had room for cheesecake; he devoured his entire plate of Mahi Mahi.  But he was so excited about the Red Velvet Cheesecake so I agreed to split it with him.

Mmm, layers of red velvet cake and cheesecake with cream cheese frosting and white chocolate shavings.  Between the two of us, we ate a little bit more than half.  It was so rich and filling!

It was refreshing to escape the apartment after spending the day sitting inside, alternating between working at the computer and watching TV on the couch.  FYI: Repo Man is a really gory movie, but surprisingly I enjoyed it.

(Thank you to my aunt, uncle, and 4 cousins for the Cheesecake Factory gift card!  I know you guys have probably been waiting for this post since Christmas time.)

I went to the Gallows last night for the Boston Food Bloggers Launch Party with Urbanspoon.

There are so many food bloggers in Boston!  I met quite a few new people, and saw a few familiar faces.  Including my college adviser who is now a low-carb food blogger.  What a small world!

SoCo Creamery was scooping 4 different flavors of their ice cream, fresh from their micro-creamery in the Berkshires.

I tried a cone of Espresso Cookie, a strong coffee flavored ice cream with oreo style cookies folded in.  It was delicious!  I was surprised that it paired so well with the glass of Barbera wine that I was drinking.

The Gallows was closed to the public so that all of the food bloggers could take over.  Wait staff was passing appetizers and I sampled a cheeseburger, fries drizzled with gravy, and buffalo chicken livers.  Everything was really good and now I can’t wait to go back to the Gallows so I can sit down for dinner.

Natalie and I were not quite ready to promote the Boston Day Book, but we had so much fun meeting people at the Boston Food Bloggers launch party and promoting our individual blogs.

The party ended all too quickly and Natalie, our dates, and I weren’t ready to call it a night just yet.  We decided to go to Union Bar and Grille to enjoy a sit down meal.

There were so many tasty appetizers, entrees, and drinks.  I had a tough time deciding what to order.

Why hello there.  My name is Melissa and I blog at Crunches for Cupcakes.

I was leaning toward ordering the gnocchi but when I told the waiter that I didn’t like mushrooms, he advised against it.  I changed the game plan and ordered the Beef Tenderloin with garlic creamed spinach and Yukon mashed potatoes.  I ordered the Beef cooked medium-well and it arrived exactly as specified.  It melted in my mouth for each and every bite that I took, and I cleaned my plate!  After an ice cream cone and sampling food, I thought I wasn’t hungry.  But my stomach had just enough room for this delicious dinner.  Thank God!

I was happy to get out of the cold night air and back to the warm apartment.  Worried that my corgi had missed me while I was gone, I decided to have some puppy play time.

We played dress up!   Doesn’t Miles look so handsome in his winter hat?

Miles is the cutest little Bruins fan I’ve ever seen.

Miles was less than thrilled that I was giving him so much attention.

He really wanted to make a quick getaway, but with the promise of a treat, I convinced him to sit still and wear the hat for a little bit longer.

Awww!   I really love this little dog…and he loves tolerates me.

New York is known as the City the Doesn’t Sleep.  It’s a good thing I took a nap on Wednesday afternoon.  I was well prepared for a night out and about.

Natalie‘s good friend Ann came to join us for an evening out in NYC’s Soho neighborhood.

Our first stop? The Standard Hotel!  Jesse wanted to take us to Le Bain, his favorite night spot.  Unfortunately it was too early in the evening and Le Bain wasn’t open yet.  (Can we go there next time we visit?!?)

We still headed up the elevator, and grabbed drinks at the Top of the Standard instead.  Fun fact: This spot was formerly known as the Boom Boom Room.  Oooo. 

I ordered a drink called Rosie Melons.  It contained rosemary infused vodka, melon puree, and a splash of lime.  It was SO good.  The rosemary/melon combo was sweet without being sugary.  The drink was light and refreshing.

We all had fun photographing our cocktails, relaxing on the couch, and taking in the views of the city.  From our seats, we could see New Jersey out across the water.

Cheers to friendship!

Since I was having so much fun at the Top of the Standard, I decided to live it up and order a 2nd Rosie Melons drink.  Mmm!  Tasty, but not too strong so I wasn’t stumbling on the way out.

Cuddled up on the cozy leather couch!  I don’t think our cocktail waitress was thrilled to take our photo, but we were all in good spirits after enjoying our drinks.  Who cares if we’re dorky and act like tourist?

We didn’t stay long before everyone agreed they were hungry and ready to head out for a good Italian meal.

But first, Natalie insisted that we all use the bathrooms.  Umm, ok.  But why?

I opened the mirrored bathroom door.  Before I could even sit down to pee, I noticed something strange: the bathroom wall was made entirely of glass.  So while I used the toilet, I was treated to this amazing view of New York City, complete with the sight of the Empire State Building still lit in holiday red and green.  Unbelievable!

I hope I safely assumed that the window was tinted and no one could see inside.

The 3 of us girls definitely geeked out over these cool bathrooms.  I think Natalie and Ann snapped a dozen photos in one of the bathrooms: their smiling faces, NYC, and the toilet.  Haha!

We headed to Barolo to grab dinner.  I enjoyed a glass of Barbera wine.  I also had a slice of bread dipped in olive oil.

I had no trouble choosing what I wanted to order for dinner.  I dined on raviolis stuffed with granny smith apples and topped with a lamb ragu.  This was oh so good!  The tang of the granny smith apple filling combined with the savory lamb ragu was an awesome combination.  I practically licked my plate clean.

Barolo was practically empty the entire time that we were dining.  I wish I could’ve experienced a bigger and better crowd to get a real feel for the place.  But I’ll gladly eat alone every day if I can have those delicious raviolis.  I’m seriously going to have dreams about them.  Such a good meal!

I fell in love with NYC’s Le Pain Quotidien.  In fact, during my 3 day trip, I ate there twice.

One giant cup of Cafe au Lait please!

I was also obsessed with the Tartines, petite open faced sandwiches that made the most delicious and filling lunches both times I dined.

Natalie enjoyed the Ricotta tartine; she said it was really delicious.  I had the chicken salad tartine special and this turkey tartine topped with tomatoes, sprouts, and avocados.  Both were tasty!

Jesse ordered a cup of Belgian Hot Chocolate.

He received a cup of frothed milk and a small pitcher of melted chocolate to create his customized drink.

Look at the pretty design!  I didn’t try a sip, but he claimed it was really good.

Le Pain Quotidien was a great spot to grab a quick and affordable meal.  Plus the cozy French decor and communal table made it a great place to escape from the cold outside.

When I’m back in New York, I’ll probably go back to grab a giant cup of Cafe au Lait.

And I’ll probably order a yummy tartine too.

Once we had unpacked and settled in, our new resident New Yorker Jesse suggested lunch at Eataly.

I was in heaven!  Eataly combines dining and grocery shopping in one crazy, hectic, madhouse location.  We decided to eat at the pizza and pasta section.  During the 20 minute wait for a table, I wandered around and snapped photos.

Each of Eataly’s mini-restaurants serves a limited menu.  We chose the Pizza/Pasta restaurant.  I made sure the group knew that I was NOT interested in the seafood restaurant.  No fish for this girl!

Our server told us that there’s sometimes a line to get inside the Eataly buidling…followed by an additional 2-3 hour wait to dine at one of the restaurants.  Thank goodness it wasn’t that crowded while we were there!

Pasta in all shapes and sizes!

Mario Batali is one of Eataly’s partners.  I’d love to try his sauces.  Jesse was raving about them and plans to return to buy several jars.

I wish I could’ve bought some of Eataly’s fresh foods and created a dinner party for my friends.  They had so many fun Italian items for sale.

Shop til you drop!

It killed me to stand around and wait for lunch RIGHT in front of the racks of freshly baked bread.  My stomach was growling!

I totally caught myself drooling.

Cheese please!

Even though the menu was small, Natalie and I couldn’t decide what to order.  We decided to split our meals.  Good call cuz that way we’d get to try more.

The pizza was paper thin but surprisingly doughy, and amazingly delicious!  We ordered the simple Margarita style.  I love basil and fresh mozzarella.  Heaven!

Nat and I also shared some lasagna.  It was made with pork, veal, and beef.  The nooodles were buttery and the lasagna tasted very rich.  I was surprised that it didn’t contain very much red sauce.  Tasty, but the pizza was the clear favorite.

I wish Jesse would’ve given us girls more time to explore Eataly.

Can I go back to Eataly again soon?  Next time I’m in NYC, I’m going to bring an empty suitcase so I can bring jars of sauce and bags of pasta back to Boston!

I just crossed my fingers and hoped that the birthday boy liked Indian food too…

The 3 of us split 2 orders of meat Samosas as an appetizer.  Samosas are spicy turnovers stuffed with minced lamb and spices.  Mmm, Mela’s Samosas are my favorite.

We also shared a bottle of Gruner Veltiner, an Austrian White.  Unfortunately the bottle isn’t listed on their online menu and I did not take a photo with more specific information.

Mmm, garlic naan is also one of my favorite parts of Indian cuisine.

I’ve been to Mela several times and always order the same thing: Tandoori Chicken.  Since I know it’s delicious, I just stick with what works.  Tandoori Chicken is tender chicken marinated in yogurt and spices and baked in a tandoor.

My half order of Tandoori Chicken came with a teeny salad.

Everyone at the table shared a large bowl of rice.  I loved smothering my portion with sauce from the Tandoori Chicken.

Jared ordered the Chicken Vindaloo, boneless chicken cooked with potatoes and a tangy sauce.  (I only have 2 blurry photos of Matt’s meal and I have NO clue what he ordered.)

Both my brother and Jared love their meals.  The proof?  Their bowls were scraped clean!

After dinner, we headed to Pops for dessert: drinks for the guys, a glass of wine for me, and a round of Patron shots to celebrate the birthday boy. 

Happy Birthday Matt!!!

Well, ok… Let me correct myself:  I’m always out and about, but I rarely leave the South End/Back Bay area of Boston!  If it’s more than a 15 minute walk, T ride, or cab drive away, forget it. 

Earlier this week, Jared and I received a dinner invite that required us to hop in the car and drive somewhere! 

We met a friend at the Cottage Wellesley.

I was hesitant to go out for dinner: It was  a cold Monday night.  The Patriots were playing the Jets.  It would take 25 minutes to drive to the Cottage.

Once dinner was served, I knew I had just been talking crazy.  Why did I have so many doubts?!?!  Dinner at the Cottage was delicious!

When the bread basket arrived at the table, the bread was nice and warm.  I love starting a meal with a slice of warm bread and melting butter, or olive oil if it fits in with the meal.

I sipped on a glass of Rioja while we waited for the food to arrive.

Warm Goat Cheese Salad: caramelized walnuts, roasted red peppers, light balsamic vinaigrette

I have a love affair with goat cheese.  When I noticed this salad on the menu, I developed a craving that couldn’t be ignored.

Artichoke Fritters: battered + fried artichoke hearts, lemon-tarragon dipping sauce

Fried pickles are near and dear to my heart; they’re one of my favorite foods.  But these Artichoke Fritters and the dipping sauce blew me away.  Yum, yum, yum!  The fried pickles have been replaced by fried artichokes.

Jared ordered Seared Swordfish: spice rub, cucumber sauce, tomato + spinach wild rice risotto.

Jared said this was delicious, the best fish he’s eaten in quite some time.

Our friend Jesse ordered Short Ribs: boneless, slow braised, merlot demi-glace, triple mashed potatoes, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

Jesse had eaten at the Cottage before and didn’t even need to look at the menu to place his order.

I ordered Meatloaf: ground beef + turkey, merlot demi-glace, whipped sweet potato, roasted cauliflower and brussels sprouts

I fell in love with my dinner.  The merlot demi-glace added a rich flavor and I was obsessed with the whipped sweet potatoes.  I can’t even begin to describe the food-gasm I had when I ate the leftovers the next day.

Besides loving the food, I was happy with the decor inside the Cottage, clean and bright with a California feel.  Plus it has an easy parking situation: a huge lot with plenty of spaces.  I’d like to make the drive back to Wellesley soon!

I love going out to brunch.  To me, brunching means sleeping late, ordering a delicious meal, chatting with friends and trying to remember the shenanigans of the night before, and sipping on an alcoholic beverage to cure the hangover.

For our brunch at Aquitaine, we started with a round of Mimosas for the table.

There were lots of tasty options available.

The waitstaff was great about topping off our mugs of coffee.

I was starving and anxiously awaited our meals’ arrivals.  I warned my dining companions that I’d be snapping lots of photos.

Jared was sitting to my right.  He ordered Eggs Benedict with Canadian bacon, Hollandaise & parsley, and brunch potatoes

I wasn’t in the mood for breakfast food.  I enjoyed a Croque Monsieur with smoked ham and Gruyere on my Parisian pressed sandwich with Tarragon mustard, watercress and Pommes Frites.  It was delicious!  The Taragon mustard was served on the side so I was able to dip my frites and apply a small amount to my sandwich.

Our friend sitting to my left ordered an Omelette de la Maison with bacon, tomatoes, and Gruyere cheese.

Boston has lots of great brunch spots.  I love going to Aquitaine‘s South End location because it’s conveniently located, I love the French bistro decor, and the food never disappoints.

Early last week, one of my friends suggested a group outing at Redbones Barbecue in Somerville,  MA.

One by one, the RSVPs trickled in and the party grew larger.  By the end of the week, one of the guys had even created an online game to race to see how many ribs you could “plow.”

We all were THAT excited for some delicious BBQ.

While we waited for our table and hung out by the basement bar, I sipped on a glass of red wine and snapped photos of the downstairs decor at Redbones.  I loved the bright, funky artwork.

As soon as we were seated, we ordered friend pickles.  Mmm!  I swear I was eating these by the handful, dipped in creamy Ranch dressing.  I love any type of fried pickles, but Redbones makes my very favorite because they fry pickle slices rather than pickle spears.

I also nibbled on a piece of corn bread.

As soon as the ribs arrived, it was a feeding frenzy!

I was stuffed from fried pickles and corn bread.  So when my meal arrived, I knew I wasn’t going to put a dent in that hearty bowl of mac & cheese and pulled pork sandwich.

I rarely venture to Somerville.  Even though it’s a fairly easy T ride away, I’m often lazy and choose to stay in my South End neighborhood.  But getting a group of friends together makes taking the trip worthwhile.  Plus getting chowing down on tasty BBQ doesn’t hurt either!