Who could have guessed i would have the most AUTHENTIC mushroom burger with homemade guacamole at a raw VEGAN restaurant!

I went to the North end for lunch with a relative from Boston, Donna. Although Donna was a native of Boston, We were both trying this restaurant for the first time. Unlike Donna, i have never been introduced to a raw vegan restaurant before. Although a bit hesitant, i figured i was a vegetarian and could take whatever wild entree the restaurant located on 69 Prince Street had to offer.

Grezzo is the the vegan restauarnt we went to. This was an dining afternoon i had never experienced before. First of all, i could have ordered ANYTHING on the menu (this is the first time EVER). 

Everything was unique to the original recipe. Just simply, sitting in the small box that was decorated with flavorful decor, we were able to grasp the history of the restaurant and understand the reason for being Vegan and how our meals were "cooked." 

The servers gave a description of the meals that we ordered

TO name a few... the popular falafel, sea salad with wasabi vinaigrette, and my favorite the BROWNIE SUNDAE. I was impressed with everything that came out on the plate in front of my dining guest and myself.

Although we did not order wine or cocktails, Grezzo offered an array of whites and reds as well as homemade organic cocktails with sake and other unique flavors. 

Grezzo also offers classes if you want to learn how to "cook" and make the raw vegan appetizers and entrees that are so tasteful you can convince your boyfriend he is eating a modern version of a slice of pizza

Lesson: Go out of your dining comfort box, you will be surprised. It never hurts to try! Worse comes to worse, you can grab a burger on another street. 

Although i will NEVER fully convert to raw vegan, i will, without any doubt be back at Grezzo and another recommended vegan restaurant on Beacon Street, Grasshopper. 

Danielle Marie

CARMEN Restaurant was rated top 5 Italian restaurants to go to in Boston by Zagat...

While wondering through my Zagat book thursday evening i decided to pick an upscale top five Italian restaurant on the North End that was recommended by Zagat, Carmen's. 

I went with my new dining buddy and Boston roomie, Courtney. Clearly, Carmen's being a top five Italian pick... we were eager to dine on Friday and had very high expectations. 

Our reservation was for 8:30 pm and we showed up fifteen minutes later and it was CROWDED. (they only can fit 32 guests)/.. so there was nothing we can do except order the cheapest bottle of Pinot Grigio (only $30) that was on the menu. It was so refreshing after our sprint in four inch heels trying to find the restaurant around the North Square. 

The wine satisfied our dehydration but we were starved especially since the time was ascending toward 9 pm. We asked for bread which was not even sub par. (Panera Bread baguettes are so much better). Anyways we finally sat down by 915 pm.

Carmen's being recognized with highly professional servers was not what my dining guest and i experienced. We had to wait about 15 minutes before someone came to our table!  i finally  asked the hostess if we even had a server that evening.

We ordered and our food came out within ten minutes (things were getting better). Court to no ones amazement (if you knew her) ordered the Scallop Risotto dish and i ordered the only entree i can eat on the menu (being a veggie and all) the Haddock Francese. 

It was disgusting. It was rubber. I was displeased with the fish but loved the Spinach. Unfortunately, i had to ask for the fish to be cooked more. I got the fish back and it was still not right. (but, maybe it was me, and a reminder to NEVER order Haddock again) Carmen in a sense ruined any potential future i would ever have again with Haddock. 

The sores on my feet from my heels last-night were definitely not worth the dinner at Carmen's. 

Unmemorable. 

Lesson: Do not always trust Zagat's top five choices for restaurants...

Danielle Marie

The BEST PART OF MY DAY: The New Cavit

Today while getting off the T at Cleveland Circle, i decided to stop by the Reservoir wine and liquor store. The first bottle that caught my attention was the Cavit Pinot Grigio, clearly (that might have been the first words that came out of mouth as a toddler)

Anyways,  i saw that the 2007 and 2008 Cavit were priced the same but the 2008 looked taller so i firmly grasped it from the shelf.

As i was about to make my initial step towards the cashier, i decided to make sure there was not a bottle that might have been more delightful this evening to go with my reduced fat cheddar cheese (lets be honest, i just wanted to search around for the 1.5liter Cavit than the 750ml)

GOOD THING I DID because i found MY FAVORITE wine when i was abroad in NZ in Fall 2007. 

It is called Banrock Station Chardonnay. They have two versions of chardonnay so make sure you do not get fooled! Banrock has a Semillan Chardonnay and a regular. The regular is PURE BLISS and CHEAP... it was only 6.99$, in NZ it was only $5.00 (wonder how many bottles i collected during my 6month period abroad...countless)

 

Let me add that tons of wine stores sell Banrock (which is from the Eastern part of Australia) BUT it is imaginable to find this fine Banrock Station Chardonnay (i have only seen Banrock reds sold )! or at least i was looking in the wrong spot.

This is by far making my Boston summer even more perfect. Banrock is also the best wine to have on budget and can satisfy everyone's taste buds. I HIGHLY recommend it! and if you do not like it, you only spend about $7. 

And for all you Go GREEN lovers, it is recognized as a good earth wine! Go To the Website if you dont believe me! (www.banrockstation.com)

So next time you go to the wine store pick up a bottle of Banrock Station Chardonnay, Coming from a college student who has experienced fine dining with fine wine...this cheap treat should not go unnoticed!

Danielle Marie 

Never Just go to any Sushi restaurant....

Before i begin my new adventure in Boston, i want to end my journey in NY with the ideal Sushi restaurant, Ace. 

The restaurant is located in Thornwood, NY, right outside of my best ski buddy's, Lauren's, villa in the notorious Jewish (J.A.P) community of Chapaqua. 

When you are thinking about sushi for the evening never think about hitting the local Japanese sushi restaurant, think about a sushi restaurant that has much more to offer than a white rice california roll OR simple veggie roll from your grocery store... 

GO further to discover the ultimate and creative sushi appetizer and entrees in your area. 

I love sushi and the Japanese - FRENCH inspired cuisine that Ace offers gives its clients the best experience of dining out when one is in the mood for sushi. 

The rolls are wrapped in cucumber and fish skin as well as fruit. The menu can satisfy anyone and everyone's taste. Ace also takes into consideration any special orders that would satisfy a diner's pallet. 

Lauren and I usually get three rolls and split a roll that we have NEVER tried before. The rolls are large and french influenced which adds to an even greater dining experience THAN their counter sushi restaurants in the area.   

For an appetizer i ALWAYS get the house salad because unlike the mainstream sushi restaurants, Ace's salads are large with an array of veggies from the local farmer's market and my favorite, the ginger dressing is out of this world. 

Lauren usually goes a bit more exotic and tries the most bizarre appetizers they are offering that day as a special. A dinner guest, like my ski buddy, Lauren, always adds to the ultimate dining experience because they will go even further out of their comfort zone to order the most abstract selection on a menu. (I have seen Lauren eat Octopus at a sushi restaurant at an airport in Portland, Oregon). 

 

Lastly, our wine selection is always light at this French inspired sushi restaurant, because we usually are ordering raw fish and want a light beverage to wash it down with. Especially on HOT summer days, Ace has outside (patio) seating and their crisp, cold, house, selection of Pinot Grigio adds to the perfect summer evening. 

Lesson of today: when going out for sushi always try to pick a restaurant that is inspired by another popular cuisine. AND always choose your dinner guest wisely in order to create the overwhelming experience that one can get when dining out. 

Danielle Marie

The Best way to go: The Prix Fixe Menu

Recently, I* went to Blue Water Grill with my second in command: Emily. She just came back from abroad and i wanted our dining experience to to be "Special," i also did not want her to think i lost my touch on picking the best restaurants in NYC.  

Anyways, Blue Water Grill was recommended so we jumped in a taxi, with a half full water bottle of wine in hand and wondered downtown. 

Luckily, Blue Water Grill is a Seafood Restaurant and i was ready to pick in choose the best option on the menu but, after my father spent $200,000.00 sending me to college i do not think an $85 meal would be such a great Thank you to the pops.

This was the first time i got introduced to a Prix Fixe menu that i was able to utilize (being a veggie and all). Emily, of course, was a bit hesitant but we took the step together and ordered our appetizer, entree, and dessert. For all three courses it was $35, and was the best $35 i have spent out of college (I have only been out for 3 days).

Clearly, i am missing something. . .

OH YES OUR WINE SELECTION. The cheapest wine was $40, it was a very VERY dry Chardanny because we knew the fish that we had ordered was NOT heavy enough to be compared with a tough red beverage that evening. 

We told the waitress that "we want a bottle, but a cheap bottle" (staying close to my new motto: if you go to a nice restaurant, the wine will be nice) The lady was a bit naive about the white selections so Emily and I took initiative and just ordered the what looked most dry and that would best complement our meal. The lady took our order than after getting the wine asked for our ID's!!! Seriously, this woman had to get her head together... on our side was the evaluation of our dining experience. The waitress was not a positive factor. 

Long Story Short: Prix Fixe Menus are the way to go: Some recommendations in BOSTON from Zagaat:

_L'Espalier

_Radius

_Little Q Hotspot

_Upstairs on the Square

_Sandrines

_Elephant

_Lotus Blossom 

...just to name a few

Danielle Marie

Consulting with Windows on the World

Firstly I Danielle Marie, would like to introduce myself to the college student or recent college alumni (such as myself) who would prefer to spend their money or weekly allowance fine dining in the attractive major cities, such as Boston and New York City.

Although I am a five-year vegetarian (and let me add does eat fish), I am one of those former students who would prefer to throw $50 on a honey drizzled teriyaki salmon filet with a side of veggies compared with a dry Chardonnay... any cheap dry Chardonnay (because lets be serious if you go to a popular ZAGAT choice restaurant there better be GOOD WINE).

Although my mother could convince anyone that a Cavit Pinot Grigio can go with any entree... it can not!

Anyways, now, on BUDGET I am going to still keep up the routine that made me so notorious around my household and throughout my college career.

I will consult with the wine book that my boyfriend claimed to have bought me for both Christmas and my birthday, "Windows of the World: The Complete Wine Course" as well as discuss my own experiences abroad to convince that comparing a Tuna steak with a Merlot DOES work.

I will ADMIT i do NOT know that much, but i do know four star restaurants, orgasmic food, great wine and know how to share it with good company.

danielle marie