Boston: Pauli's

Location:

65 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113

The North End of Boston is one of my favorite parts of this city, it's great for photoshoots and of course, for the food. So, I couldn't believe I had never been to Pauli's before.

Guys, it really is WICKED fresh and CRAZY GOOD!!

The lobster grilled cheese sandwich was not only massive, it was chockful of fresh and huge chunks of LOBSTAH and lots of melted cheesy-goodness (don't worry, I Lactaid-ed myself out).

The catchy "Pauli-tician" sandwich caught my eye, for it's name and for its ingredients (chicken cutlet, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar). Those are my must-haves for literally everything, plus, it's approved by Paul himself! I could eat it again, right now.

Another not to be missed sandwich is the Vito. Why? Because it was created by the "Vito" from The Sopranos.

That's right.

Looking for breakfast? Lunch? Dinner? Pauli and his team have got you covered. If that's not enough, they also have a full catering menu, as well. Want to order online for delivery? They've got you covered there, as well. I knew the battery powered bikes were there for a reason!

And the team there? They're awesome!

Thank you Paul and the team for treating us to an incredible dinner!

DIY: Create a 3-tier Stand

This is the best Martha Stewart idea I've ever implemented into my own parties. It's the DIY 3-tier stand for cupcakes or sandwiches!

It's ridiculously easy and looks fantastic in any table setting, especially when covered with pretty edibles. (This can also be done with paper plates, if you wish)

You will need:

3 plates of 3 sizes, large to small

2 bowls of the same size, but smaller than the plates

1. Take a large square plate, (can be square or round, I prefer square)

2. Place one bowl upside down on the 1st plate

3. Add a smaller sized plate on top of the upside down bowl

4. Repeat with remaining bowl and smallest plate, TA DA!

If that wasn't the easiest thing, ever, I don't know what is!

Add whatever fancy finger foods to each tier, and there you have a 3-tier stand!

Greece: Athens, Breakfast: Makriyianni 3

Location:

Makriyianni 3, Athens

Nile Guide

It's time for breakfast + the Acropolis! 

Who knew we'd have a view of the Acropolis from our breakfast nook situated on Makriyianni street?

Splendid. As was the sandwich and croissant. Greek coffee is going to take me some time getting used to though.

Great little cafe/deli, with a fantastic vantage point of the Acropolis. I'm happy to see the Nile Guide agrees!

New York City: Brooklyn Diner

Location:

212 West 57th Street  New York, NY

www.brooklyndiner.com/menu.htm

On our way to the hotel in NYC, we passed by the Brooklyn Diner and immediately decided to try it out sometime. Turned out our hotel was only a few blocks from it, so we walked back for lunch. The place was packed with what looked like business men with heavy mid-sections. After seeing the menu, then our dishes, it was easy to know why. The portions are massive, quite like their prices. $18 for a sandwich? Um. Okay. Tourist trap, likely.

I chose their "famous tuna sandwich", mainly for the Ezekiel bread which I've always wanted to try. 

N got the turkey sandwich, which was basically Thanksgiving dinner in a sandwich. 

The tuna sandwich was greasy, yes, but good. Ezekiel bread was delicious, although covered in butter, taking away it's health factor. The fries were perfect. I don't eat turkey, but the mashed potatoes and gravy were divine. 

It's easy to see why this place is so popular, but if I were to eat here everyday, the Ezekiel bread won't help none. 

Boston: Francesca's Cafe

Location:

564 Tremont St, Boston, MA

Everyone talks about the South End, so we made it there this past Sunday - it was cold you guys, and everything was closed! Why do they do that? Made it to Francesca's Cafe in a frozen state and thawed out nicely with a hot chocolate, tea and a tuna melt (apty named for this occasion). Oh, a pretty cupcake made the cut, too.

Boston: Tea at The Courtyard

Location:

700 Boylston Street, Boston

My sister, niece and I went to The Boston Public Library's The Courtyard for Tea after the the Fall Fashion presentation by Roopal Patel at Neiman Marcus.  

The Courtyard restaurant is set within the gorgeous Boston Library courtyard, which is one of the most beautiful places to have lunch - quiet and serene, as if transported to another era.

It was before 2pm and tea hadn't officially started (Wed-Fri from 2-4pm) but they seated us graciously and even made vegetarian accomodations for my sister who is vegetarian (and I also don't eat chicken, but my niece does).  They were able to switch out the smoked salmon canapes for more cucumber/cheese ones.

Our server was really sweet.

The teas were excellent - ranging from Earl Grey (who else?), Ceylon Indian and Raspberry Herbal.

Although the sandwiches were tasty, we were surprised at the quantity, which was very little.  We each perhaps got 2.5 sandwiches (that's in the quarter size that it's cut into) and 2-3 tiny pastries each.

For $22.50 per person, we were expecting a bit more.  Even the scones were small.  My sister who has had afternoon tea all over Boston (and Toronto) and I, who's had it all over Ontario were not satisfied with the portions.

Might have worked well for someone like my niece and her friends and their doll-size proportions of high tea.

Seems like their lunch portions are much larger, but for a high tea experience, this is probably not the best place in Boston for it.  

Boston: Towne Stove and Spirits

Location:

900 Boylston Street
Boston

towneboston.com/

I had a lunch date with fellow Boston Blogger Style'N at Towne earlier this week.  I didn't realize until I saw the building again that it was the same place I'd spotted one evening in the myriad of street lights, after shopping at the Prudential and thinking, what is that place, I want to go to there.

Huge and cosy interior.  Friendly, unintrusive staff.  Really tasty meal.

I had the daily pasta - rock shrimp in a red sauce.  

Style'N had the cheese & bacon sandwich with tomato bisque.

After the disaster at Kashmir (review coming soon), this was a welcome change. 

NEW: L'eat

Location:

410 Adelaide St W

www.leatcatering.com/home.htm

In the cursed location where Zimbel's Cafe and before that,  Mosaic used to be, L'eat Express is the newest addition to the building beside Toronto School of Art.  Herbal Infusions is faring quite well so far, so maybe there is hope for L'eat (such a difficult name to wrap my head around.  Sometimes I think "teat", wrongly, of course).

I hear the brownies are amazing, but I walked by earlier today and the door was locked!  Will try again in a bit and keep you posted.

** So went back with some co-workers but they were still closed.  Someone did inform us that they were open this morning for a training session which included free pastries and plan to open again later this afternoon for another training session.  We were told they'll be open again tomorrow, so fingers crossed!

*** Went back on Friday and they were OPEN!  Found out a few things. 

Most importantly it's pronounced "ELITE", literally pronounce the letter "L" and the word "EAT".  I feel so much better, now. 



Owned by Tony Loschiavo with hand-crafted  goodies and gourmet meals made by Chefs Christopher Palik and Eric Walker, L'eat Express looks promising, especially with their original full service catering business (started 1983) in full swing at their Bathurt location.  I DID try the brownie, and it did not disappoint.  Shared with several co-workers, it was a huge hit! 



The complimentary bran muffin and double chocolate fudge cookie I scored was equally as satisfying, although I have to admit the cookie can't compare to Le Gourmand's chocolate chip walnut cookie which still reigns supreme. 





The teas on hand are from Language of the Leaf, which I love and which Neeta Khanna had sent me a package of teas to review in 2009.  I've also heard great things  about Paese, the sister restaurant to L'eat on King St W.

 

 

I really hope L'eat Express does well in this district, it's such a beautiful space and after speaking to Christopher, Tony and Rahim about their vision for this location, it looks like it's got all the ingredients to being as successful as the original.

Open Monday - Saturday (7:30am - 7pm)

TRAVEL: Paris: Paul's

Location:

Outside the Louvre.

Paul, the French bakery (since 1889) came highly recommended by our friend A, so when we discovered a kiosk outside the Louvre, we stood right in line!

I must say, eating a chocolate chip baguette and tomato, mozzarella and basil sandwich under the shade of a tree in the Carrousel Gardens was one of the best experiences of the whole trip.

Sandwich Box

Location:

67 Richmond St W., Toronto

www.sandwichbox.ca

This is just to report that directly across from Lunchbox...our favourite frugal Chinese food spot, is this fancy sandwich-in-a-box place....which is neither frugal (unless you get the simple egg salad which is $%{{87%{{90%{{%{{dc90ee4e-724f-44f6-a28%{{c942393c-356c-4719-980d-140c7a8faa3c}}-1dd012185e69}}f6418d6-db7e-4f1e-bdc4-9b457ce48fec}}da1bc-fa1e-4e33-a809-cdeb5cdb820e}}46b71-73aa-436b-b330-6f5159730ed9}}.50) nor .....chinese.

I've yet to try it because Lunchbox always steals my lunch money, but here are some images of what my friends have gotten there.

Bar Wellington

Location:

520 Wellington St W, Toronto

Oh, Bar Wellie, how you've changed.

View

Okay, not to be quite so dramatic, but we really had some good times Bar Wellie and I. Once upon a time, when the service was nice and friendly, and I had my first taste of Leffe beer. Let me tell you, it was something else.  Now it really IS something else.

The service is sloooooooooooooow and rude and the food is, well, okay, so the food was never really THAT good.  The club sandwich, really dry and the pizza bland.

Club Sandwich

Pizza



It does have a big outdoor patio though, but size isn't all that matters.

I guess we will always have Leffe Beer.