Chau Chow City in Chinatown - Boston

Every so often, my friends and I like to venture into Boston for some Chinese grub at Chau Chow City.

Last friday, we were in the area and made plans with friends for dinner.  We started off with some drinks and a couple rounds of Scorpion bowls with the Bacardi 151 flaming in the center.

Chau Chow City Scorpion Bowl 

Tapas at Masa's Woburn

I used to go to Masa's in Woburn ALL THE TIME when it first opened its doors a couple years ago. We met up with the Mo's siblings and uncle for drinks and dinner on a Tuesday night during Boston Restaurant Week.

We started off with the Tapas Combo which included 10 morsels of the tapas of the day.  Since we sat in the bar area, the plate only set us back $ 5.00 per a platter since we were dining between 5-7 PM or all day on Thursdays.  I was so excited that they had the bacon wrapped dates and ordered a couple of extra pieces at 50 cents just so I could indulge.

Masa's Woburn Tapas Combo $ 10.00 / $5.00 during Special Times

Yow Hon Cambodian Hot Pot at New Happiness Restaurant - Lowell

The Mo's uncle from out of state was in town and invited all the nephews and nieces for a family Hot Pot Yow Hon Dinner at New Happiness Restaurant in Pailin Plaza on Branch Street in Lowell.  There were almost 20 of us so we grabbed 2 tables.  I loved that the venue was BYOB and we were able to bring two magnums of wine for dinner.  During the summer, the restaurant is also open until 10:00 PM, which is really convenient for those wanting a later dinner.

We started with the fried calamari which was served with the Cambodian pickled vegetables on the side. The batter and texture was great.  It was so good, we actually ordered 4 orders of the appetizer, total.

New Happiness Restaurant Fried Calamari 

Anniversary Dinner at Gibbet Hill Grill in Groton

Oh my, how quick a year goes by! This time last year, the Mo and I were celebrating our matrimonial bliss with loves ones as we drank and danced the night away.

To celebrate our anniversary, the Mo and I made dinner plans to go to Gibbet Hill Grill, a "Farm to Fork" fine dining establishment in Groton, MA.  A few months ago, we received a very generous gift certificate from the Broads who also live in the area and recommended the unique dining venue.

Besito Mexican Restaurant - Part "Dos"

My coworkers and I anxiously awaited the opening of Besito Mexican Restaurant at the Burlington mall.  It was probably not the best idea that we went for lunch on the 2nd day the restaurant opened.  Our lunch took over an hour to prepare and we basically had to eat soggy tacos at our cube.

(What's really important to note is that the management team took really good care of us. The manager comped our meal that day and even gave us a $ 50.00 gift certificate.)  They didn't have to do that. It was really nice of them but I know that they also want to make a good impression.

Although the restaurant is located at the mall, the storefront of Besito stands out.  It's modern, elegant and beautiful.

Best Chicken Noodle Soup at David's World Famous in Woburn

One of the salesmen at the office was feeling a bit under the weather and wanted a nice bowl of chicken noodle soup for lunch.  I quickly Googled "Best Chicken Noodle Soup Burlington" and David's World Famous  in Woburn ranked at the top of my search results.

We got a bit lost getting to the eatery since it's tucked away in a heavily industrial/commercial on Commerce Way.  It was quite the "hidden gem" alright!

We arrived to a small shop with 6-7 tables and a window to place your order.  The menu featured regular deli meat lunch staples along with unique items like Chinese Duck Breast, Grilled Shrimp sandwiches and a Middle Eastern Falafel Roll-Up.  They also have Sriracha Hot Sauce as one of their "spreads". I thought that was so awesome! 

My favorite part was that they offered soup and sandwiches combos for a FRACTION of the price you would pay at Panera.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I always feel like I spend so much money at Panera. (Not that I was paying...)  At David's World Famous,  a cup of soup and 1/2 sandwich it was $ 7.45 and for a bowl of soup and 1/2 sandwich it was $ 7.95.  

The 1/2 sandwich options included:

• Roast Beef
• Turkey Breast
• Caprese
• Homemade Chicken Salad
• Tuna Salad

Although the soup is on a rotation basis, I looked ahead for the rest of the week and it seemed to remain "Grandma's Chicken Noodle" and "New England Clam Chowder."

David's World Famous Chicken Noodle Soup
CUP $ 3.95 / Bowl $ 4.45

A Scrumptous and fun filled Bar Harbor Wedding Reception

Shame on me, it's been nearly 2 months since I did the post on Angel and Bryan's Oceanfront wedding ceremony in Bar Harbor Maine.  Although time has elapsed, I still remember the day vividly; the taste of the succulent Maine lobsters, the beautiful flower arrangements and details and all the fun and excitement on the dance floor and most importantly how beautiful and happy the newly weds looked.

Margaritas and Mexican Sampler at El Potro in Downtown Lowell

It was a beautiful Friday and the Mo and I headed towards Downtown Lowell for an evening stroll. Our intent was to grab dinner at one of the food trucks at the Lowell Wine and Food Festival  but the options were limited to only about 4 trucks serving meals.  Sam's truck, Spiceventure was present and was the most popular truck with the longest line.

We nixed our plans and walked by different restaurants in the area with outdoor patio seating. Although the atmosphere was lively, we didn't really want to pay the premium prices for food and drinks at Cobblestones  or Fuse Bisto.

We heard about El Potro Mexican Bar and Grill from our friend Bryan, who lives in the downtown area. He mentioned that they had fish tacos and that the food was reasonably priced and good. Although we're not die hard fans of Mexican cuisine, we decided to give it a try!

The restaurant was happening on a Friday night.  All the patio seats were taken and the indoor seating was nearly full.  After a short wait, we were able to grab a table outside.

Food Stalls at the Lowell Folk Festival

Every year the Mo and I attend the highly popular Lowell Folk Festival.  We don't visit to take in the global musical performances and admire the artists; we go to eat the food and drink the booze.

Since there are three different setups for the ethnic food tables, it's hard for us to make it to all of them. We try to get one or two staples from each tent and share.  Pricing is really reasonable with heavenly appetizers starting at $ 2.00 each to dinner entrees in the $ 7.00 range.

To say the least, we started our food tour starving and felt like we needed to be carried out on a wheel barrow by the time we left.

Although Lowell has had a bad rap in the past, the city has transformed into an up and coming city with great restaurants, art studios and unique shops in the downtown area.  The state university has earned many prestigious awards and recognition and the city's arena and stadium has attracted many visitors over the past decade.

Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour and more!

After a fill filled weekend at Jay Peak celebrating the wedding festivities of Angela and Chandler (aka "Changela", we headed to Waterbury, Vermont to take part in some touristy attractions.

First we headed to Cold Hollow Cider Mill which is known to have amazing apple cider and the best cider donuts.  Until then, my favorite cider donuts have been from Parlee Farms in Tyngsobro, MA.