No. 9 Park- Boston

I must have passed by this place a dozen times but never realized it existed until my recent dinner here. Aptly named No. 9 Park, the restaurant is a stone's throw away from iconic Bostonian landmarks such as the State House and the Boston Commons. Inside, the atmosphere is dim and cozy with bountiful slabs of mirrors decorating the walls. We were seated in one of the comfy, sofa-style corner seats. The rest of the dining space is populated with wooden tables covered in white tablecloth. The decor in general is rather minimal, yet refined and our waitstaff was formal but very welcoming and friendly.

 

Grilled Calamari Confit

What a tiny appetizer and it wasn't even that good. The plate consisted of a couple (there was literally only 2) of PEI mussels, cubed chorizo bits, almonds and of course, calamari. The calamari was far too overcooked. It was like they prepared the dish at the beginning of the night and had it sit under a heat lamp until they served it up to me. The mussels were scrawny and likewise, the chorizo was dried out. I had such high expectations for this place and so far, they've disappointed.

Crispy Pork Belly

For my entree, I revisited one of my good ol' friends, the pork belly. The green is a sweet pea veloute, the white is a sauce gribiche (which is a mayo-like eggy sauce) and the dark brown is a "bacon jam." The veloute was smooth, velvety and flavorful. Then, there was that odd "bacon jam," which was reminiscent of sa-cha sauce in terms of look and texture. As for the the pork belly, the skin was in dire need of a sear because it looked like a sad block of rubber. But once I tasted the meat, all complaints of mine flew out the window. Although the pork lacked that crispy skin on top, man did it make up for itself in terms of flavor. It was extremely savory, fatty (and I say that with all the best in mind), tender and luscious. YUM!!

Ginger Parfait

Finishing off a heavy meal, I opted for the palate-cleansing ginger parfait. The block of parfait along with the small mint leaves really delivered a blast of freshness. Also present, the citric component from the blood oranges and the tart clear gel underneath, really cut through some of the sweetness from the ice cream and the little sliver of moist cake.

Petit Fours

The little Boston cream square was really good but the yellow colored lychee jelly square was just too sweet to finish.
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What my dinner date ordered:

Mixed Organic Lettuce

Clearly, my dinner date was far more health conscious than I. The bibb lettuce, as always, was very soft and buttery. The salad had a touch too much salt sprinkled on top. As for the dressing, it was creamy but light. My favorite part (though you can't really see it) was the chevre cheese, which was extremely fresh and had a texture identical to silken tofu.

Roasted Scottish Salmon

The fish was roasted to a perfect medium, leaving the inside moist and delicate. The skin was seasoned well and very crispy. Underneath the salmon is a bit of lentils, cauliflower puree and some beef jus (or juice/ sauce). I must say the lentils were a little undercooked.

Brown Butter Financier

Somebody explain the arrangement or presentation of this dessert please!! I'm telling you right now, this was how the financier was served. Perhaps I'm just not sophisticated enough to understand the plating of this dish but it seriously looks like someone just ripped through it. I wanted to like the cake but I didn't. It was unfortunately rather dry and hard around the edges. Even the center of the cake was far from moist. In fact, the little caramelized banana slices on the side outshone the star of this plate.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/no-9-park-boston

The Slanted Door- San Francisco

We paid a quick visit to The Slanted Door located in the Ferry Building for lunch one afternoon. This place is a breath of fresh air with ample space and large, gracious windows that allow for the beautiful sunlight to flood through. The mood is relaxed and carries with it a "lounge-y" vibe. 

BBQ Pork Spareribs with Honey Hoisin Sauce

Unfortunately, I wasn't terribly impressed with these spareribs. The meat was a little too charred and dried on the outside. The glaze was nice though, a little tangy but balanced by the sweetness from the honey. I'm still confused as to why they gave us a spoon for the ribs. I mean, there wasn't that much sauce.

 

Green Papaya Salad with Tofu and Roasted Peanuts

A while back, one of my girlfriends raved to me about the amazing green papaya salad that her mom throws together and ever since, I've been wanting to try it. I've had the orange-colored papaya many times before, but never the green. So when I saw this salad on the menu, I got excited (and for good reasons). Talk about a healthy and refreshing choice! Green papaya is worlds apart in both taste and texture from the mushy, sweet, ripened papaya. Because the texture of green papaya is crunchy and hard, it can be shredded or julienned. For a further spritz of acidity, the salad is dressed in a tangy lime sauce. This salad is definitely a big win and I felt 1000% guilt free after eating it.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-slanted-door-san-francisco

Ripened Papaya

Green Papaya

After lunch, I walked around the Ferry Building and came upon Miette, where I bought a few sweets. Let me tell you, the salted caramels, though they may be a bit pricey, are worth every single penny. They are creamy, buttery, smooth and the sea salt on top heightens the sweetness of the caramel.

Fleur de Sel Caramels

75 Chestnut- Boston

Tucked away in the sleepy, residential streets of Beacon Hill, you might just walk right past 75 Chestnut if you're not actively on the lookout. Their menu may not be extensive but you can find all the American classics here, from salads and steaks to burgers and BLTs. The space inside is a touch tight but creates for a cozy and warm atmosphere. 

Roasted Garlic Bread with Marinara

We started with the "75 Chestnut Tower" which is a sampler consisting of three appetizers for sharing. The garlic bread was crispy and cheesy while the marinara was warm and great for dipping.

Fried Calamari

The second appetizer in the sampler was this fried calamari which tasted pretty standard. Seeing that there's not much worth noting here, let's move on.

Sweet Potato Ravioli
This last appetizer was easily my favorite of the three. The next time I go back, I would definitely want to order the entree version rather than just a teaser. The raviolis were filled with a savory, creamy sweet potato mash. The creamy tomato-based sauce was also great for spooning on top of the bread.

Boston Bibb Salad

Ordering salads at restaurants is pretty much unheard of from a girl like myself but on this rare occasion, I went with this leafy bed of greens over a greasy, heavy, delicious burger. I figured I already had enough unhealthy options with the selection of the sampler. Anyways, I'm all for simple and clean but this salad was honestly so plain that I could have easily made it at home. The dressing used was just a simple lemon vinaigrette and the salad consisted of some basic ingredients including goat cheese, dried cranberries, slices of apple, pecans, and of course, bibb lettuce. I enjoyed this variety of lettuce which was super soft and almost "buttery"? But the lettuce being of a tasty kind is unfortunately not something that I could credit the restaurant for.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/75-chestnut-boston