BRB

We are in the process of giving Just Add Cheese a much needed face lift. Check back in about a week or so for a fresh new look!

Thanks so much for helping us out with this, JSGD!

Food Porn Friday | Parma Prosciutto & Cheese Tortelli | Rialto

Parma Prosciutto topped with Parmigiano Reggiano, arugula, aged balsamic vinegar and a cheese tortelli — that my friends is how you start your weekend off on the right foot. Get it at Rialto (my favorite home away from home).

Boston Chops | Fresh Meat in the South End

Boston Chops, I am picking up what you’re putting down. The whole ‘Urban Steak Bistro’ thing is definitely working for me. I’ve been avoiding steakhouses for so long that I almost forgot how much I love steak! Boston Chops Does. It. Right. You don’t have to order a massive portion to enjoy it either – the menu is big enough to accomodate those out for a special occasion dinner and those who just want steak frites on a Monday. Hey, it happens. Fairly often actually.

Chris Coombs is exceptionally talented (as anyone who has ever been to Deuxave can attest to) but what I love about him most is that fact that he serves bolognese at Boston Chops (sadly haven’t tried it though), Deuxave and dBar, and none of them are Italian. I MEAN, soulmates?

The meal starts with homemade popovers! Best news ever. And I obviously got way too excited about noticing the personalized knives. That happens to everyone, right?

The Crimson – blood orange margarita

Equatorial Iceberg Salad with blue cheese, house cured bacon, fine herbs, walnuts

Crispy Oxtail Croquettes with red pepper mostarda

French Onion Soup – spanish onions, comte, beef broth

Steak Frites with Rib Eye Roll and Boston Chops Sauce – their housemade version of A1. SO good.

Poutine Style Twice Baked “Loaded” Potato – this potato is actually injected with poutine gravy. That is all.

Has anyone else tried it yet? Can we all agree that Chris Coombs can continue to open whatever restaurants wherever he wants? So long as they are in Boston of course. DON’T EVER LEAVE US, CHRIS!

Food Porn Friday | Garlic Shrimp | Taberna de Haro

Just when I think I’ve tried all the Tapas in this ‘big city’ of ours, Taberna de Haro comes strolling in all like Meesh where you been at gurl? I honestly have no idea. This place is adorable though, and they just expanded into the space next door on Beacon Street. Now they have twice the tables and a bar that offers daily $4 tapas specials. The dishes are on the more traditional than modern side of the tapas spectrum, which to me means one thing: garlic shrimp. Maybe four. And of course fresh bread to mop up all that sizzling hot garlic juice. It’s the best. If you don’t like garlic shrimp, you got problems!

Happy Friday!

999 Beacon St
Brookline, MA 02446

Fried Ricotta Gnudi with Spinach and Pancetta

According to Boston menus as of late, gnudi is the new gnocchi. I’ve been seeing them everywhere! The Sinclair’s version are especially to die. For those of you who are unfamiliar with gnudi, they are basically gnocchi but with ricotta instead of potato. Or you can think of them as ravoli, but NUDE, meaning no pasta shell. So yeah, little balls of cheese, prepared just like pasta…naturally I am obsessed.

When my brother came to town a few weeks ago we made some gnudi for ourselves. We went with a fried version, which makes the final product more of an appetizer than an entree. They are super easy to make and you can use any kind of sauce or topping you want.

This photo has nothing to do with gnudi. I just needed a snack while I made them because there is no way in hell I could hold off that long before needing to eat some cheese…

Fried Ricotta Gnudi with Spinach and Pancetta

Ingredients:
– 2 cups fresh ricotta cheese – drained of all excess moisture
– 3 egg yolks
– 1/2 cup of all purpose flour and more as needed
– 1-2 cups semolina flour or enough to cover a baking sheet
– 1/2 lb pancetta, diced
– 3 cups fresh spinach
– 1/4 cup olive oil and more as needed
– 1/4 cup canola oil and more as needed
– 1/2 cup of grated parmesan cheese
– salt and pepper

Mix the ricotta and egg yolk, then add the all purpose flour until the dough is solid but still sticky.

Mold the dough into mini meatball sized gnudis, then place each dough on a semolina flour covered baking sheet so each ball gets completely coated with semolina.

Heat up a pot of salted water. When the water is simmering (not yet boiling) add the balls (in batches if you need to) – simmer for about a minute and a half, or until the balls rise to the top of the water.

Let the gnudi cool for a few minutes.

Heat a skillet with half olive oil, half canola oil on high (olive oil for flavor, canola provides a higher smoking point). There should be enough oil in the pan to cover about half the height of the gnudi. When oil gets hot, add the gnudi. Fry them in batches until they have a golden fried exterior.

In a different skillet, heat the diced pancetta on medium high heat until some of the fat renders out.

Add the gnudi, the spinach and salt and pepper to taste – keep in mind the gnudi might already taste salty from the salt water and pancetta. Cook together for a few minutes until spinach is wilted. 

Transfer to a serving tray of some sort.

And then….Just Add Cheese! Sorry had to say it. It really does apply to everything.

Food Porn Friday | Belly of the Beast | Underbelly, San Diego, CA

Could there be a more perfect meal for a day like today? NOPE. There is so much beef packed into this bowl, I can’t even handle it. The Belly of the Beast ramen bowl from Underbelly in San Diego has beef broth, smoked brisket, oxtail gyoza, AND hoison glazed short rib. Not to mention noodles and a slow cooked egg.

Bottom line: I need to be eating ramen at some point this weekend.

Happy Friday!

Best Kind of Snacks | Otto Enoteca, Las Vegas

Otto Enoteca is one of my favorite spots in Vegas. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the best that the Strip has to offer: Celebrity Chefs and massive entertainment and shopping complexes like the Grand Canal Shops. Yeah, the color of the “Grand Canal” is a little off, the “outdoor dining” is really indoor, and Mario Batali has probably never even been to this restaurant that is supposedly his – but the food is great and the people watching is even better. At least once during your meal you’ll see a man on stilts and a random dance performance in Piazza San Marco. I wouldn’t go for dinner, there are much better places for that both on and off the Strip. Otto is good for a quick shopping break complete with wine, cheese and cured meats.

First thing’s first: cheese – Aged goat’s milk, Parmigiano, Burrata

Cauliflower Fritelle and Arancini

Eggplant Caponata

Prosciutto di Parma

Not pictured – The bottle of Gavi di Gavi that washed all of this amazingness down.

Otto also has a location in New York – so you don’t have to go all the way to Vegas to enjoy it.

Stay warm this weekend!

Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd S
Las Vegas, NV

Food Bliss in the Suburbs at Steel & Rye

As luck would have it, my hometown of Milton somehow managed to put itself on the map as a dining destination as soon as I’d left. For a few weeks now I’ve been hearing whispers of a new chef at Abby Park, the yummy all-natural lunches at The Plate, and a restaurant worth leaving the city for. On a recent visit to Mom’s I made it a point to check out the latter, Steel & Rye, which is located a mere half mile from where I grew up.

Plenty of small plates and yummy sounding cocktails get things off to a good start.

Saison Dupont for me please.

Today’s Cheese served with Quince Jam & Meg’s Black Pepper Bread… for $4!! Are you kidding me?!?! The ‘burbs present such a bargain.

Colorado Lamb Meatballs with Harissa, Hen Egg, Greek Yogurt, & Pine Nuts

This is around the time when “where have you been all my life” by Rhianna starts playing. In my head at least. This space has been home to ambulances for I don’t even know how many years. Yes, ambulances – it was like some sort of garage or warehouse where they were kept. Such a waste, I know. And in it’s sad, empty space, an alluringly chic in a comfortable inviting sort of way has taken over. The hardness of the industrial & steel is perfectly juxtaposed to the warm wood and plant life that decorates the space. I feel like it somehow tries to please every person, and their aesthetic preference, at once and succeeds. And of course, I instantly fell in love with the open kitchen that was lined by a bar, where a seat can be yours if you reserve in advance – they’re highly coveted.

Grilled Flatbread topped with Smoked Chicken, Vinegar Onions, Slow-Cooked Tomatoes, Fontina, & Home-Made Ricotta.

Swordfish served with Spinach, Roasted Root Vegetables, & Brookwood Farm Carrot-Red Lentil Puree.

This was one of those nights I really didn’t have room for dessert. I know it’s rare, but it happens on occasion. I took a peak at the menu and found myself eyeing the carrot cake, pear tart and semifreddo. Even the flourless chocolate cake was calling my name, served with salted caramel corn, mhmmmm. But alas, my stomach would have never forgiven me and so I had to pass. At least now I have more than a few reasons to return.

95 Eliot St.
Milton, MA
617-690-2787

Food Porn Friday | Wannabe Brownie | The Sinclair

Sit back, relax, and let the food lust set in. This limited edition brownie, that tastes more like a dense stick of rich chocolate fudge, comes from a new entrant in the Harvard Square area: The Sinclair. Located about ten feet from my place of employment – and the Squares best restaurant – Rialto, I’ve been getting hopped up on their addictive Kale Salad on a daily basis since they opened their doors just a few weeks ago. Featuring a bevy of reasonably priced snacks, small plates, and entrees it also boasts quite the inventive cocktail list, a nice selection of beers, and a music venue to boot. And if that’s not enough reason to grab a seat at one of their high-tops stat, I’ll give you a few more…… CLICK ME CLICK ME.

Ravioli Making with Wheeler del Torro (and Biz Markie)

If you’ve ever been to 3 Scoops in Brighton you know it’s more than just an ice-cream shop.  Aside from the delicious frozen offerings, including some amazing vegan options, the small space is also known for hosting fun pop-up restaurants that often include special guest chefs and plenty of tips on how to eat healthy. We have owner Rayna Verbeck and vegan chef Wheeler del Torro to thank for that. The two have put together a series of unique events throughout the year, and the most recent one was no exception – a healthy dinner with a visit from rapper Biz Markie, who is apparently a pro when it comes to cooking up vegan chili. Trust me, I tried it.

Right now Rayna is on a mission to raise money for the space so they can continue to present the community with these exciting nom-ventures. By donating to their Kickstarter page you can help them fund a project to have Wheeler del Torro serving up delicious, healthy, soul food at 3 scoops on a regular basis. It’ll also help re-design the space so it’s more capable of hosting awesome ish as seen pictured here. Homemade squash ravioli? Yes please.

403 Washington St.
Brighton, MA
617-987-0999