Tag Archives: North End

Cuisine - Italian, Places - Boston

Review: Dolce Vita

Dolce Vita ExteriorOn our last edition of “Write the Caption,” we showed the picture of this guy (see right.) The winner of caption challenge is Pam with:

Sir, may I take your umbrella?

Well, this guy can be found outside one of my favorite spots in all of Boston’s North End, Dolce Vita (which means the “sweet life.”) Owner Franco Graceffa welcomes everyone into his home for an unforgettable meal.

With so many restaurants claiming they are the best in this little neighborhood, Dolce Vita is our go-to place when we want to savor a hearty Italian meal. Franco does just about everything at the restaurant from seating you to taking your order. If you don’t see something you like on the menu, he’ll work with you to create something that you will love.

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Cuisine - Desserts, Cuisine - Italian, Places - Boston

Review: Mike’s Pastries

Mike's Pastries ExteriorThere are some places where you will always remember the first time you visited. Mike’s Pastries in Boston’s North End is one of those places for me. Every time I walk through the doors, I am reminded of the summer of 2004. It was my first summer in Boston during grad school. My fellow Emersonian and friend Angela and I had been spending the summer break from school experiencing some of the city’s best food finds like the produce market at Haymarket near the Boston Garden (the Fleet Center or whatever it happened to be called at the time).

One of the destinations we wanted to try most was Mike’s Pastries. We had heard stories about their fantastic cannolis with their crunchy shells, smooth ricotta cheese interiors and chocolatey coatings. Finally, one day we made the trek.

I remember ordering a chocolate-chocolate cannoli (chocolate ricotta cream filling) in a fresh shell dipped in chocolate, and then chocolate chips adorning each end. Our little treats were bundled in the signature Mike’s Pastries white box with twine. We proceeded to walk along the Rose Kennedy Greenway to Christopher Columbus Park. As we sat along the waterfront watching boats and tourists pass us by, we indulged in these intensely sweet treats.

Mike’s Pastries is a memory-making kind of place. From the time you walk in the doors, you’re welcomed by the sugary aroma of so many different types of desserts from mousse cups to cupcakes and gelato to petit fours. There is a little something for everyone in this historic place that I think everyone should try.

Let’s step inside for a closer look:

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Food - General

Taking a Little Breather

Dear friends,

I want to take this opportunity to, first, thank you for continuing to visit my blog. This has truly been an interesting endeavor that has also proved to be a learning experience and, at times, a struggle. My goal when I first started writing last June was to bring new content to you at least several times each week. Unfortunately, recently I have not been able to live up to those expectations due to some personal health concerns. Please do not worry about me!

It has been a tough decision to make but I have decided to take a short hiatus from the rigorous schedule of blogging. I have been taking the last few weeks to recharge my batteries and refresh my mindset toward the blog. I want to be able to bring you new, exciting content about food for a long time and feel that this is a necessary break for both my personal health and the health of the blog’s future.

In the coming days and weeks, you’ll still see posts. Starting next week, we will have a series from the fabulous AJ Wolfe at DisneyFoodBlog.com. AJ takes us behind the food on Disney Cruise Line’s new ship – the Disney Dream, which Brett and I will set sail on in early December. AJ’s series marks the 200-day mark to our embarkation date. We will also have some planning articles on making those Disney ADRs (advanced dining reservations), as our 180-day mark makes its way. Also coming up from the Boston realm, we have reviews of some North End staples: Dolce Vita and Mike’s Pastries.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my ramblings and being supportive of this writing experiment. I want to continue to bring you fun photos, videos, reviews and recipes to enjoy with your family for a long time into the future.

♥

-Christina

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Cuisine - Italian, Places - Boston

Review: Pizzeria Regina in North End

The masses of people tend to hover around Hanover Street in Boston’s North End, a little Italian escape within walking distance of the Garden, Faneuil Hall and Charlestown Navy Yard.

Of course, there is some great food to indulge in on this main thoroughfare, but if you wander the streets of the neighborhood for a bit, you enjoy some of the best people watching and you can find some hidden gems.

Gelato on Hanover Street in North EndPictured above: Gelato shops like this one pop up all over North End’s Hanover Street. The area is bustling with people heading to the cafes, restaurants and bakeries. But sometimes, you need to veer off the beaten path to find something to fill your tummy.

Pizzeria Regina isn’t so much a hidden gem off of Hanover Street, but a Boston institution. Since 1926, this little spot (which has now spawned locations in shopping malls and in the ‘burbs), is small, cozy and an experience that everyone should try. The line for a table or a booth waits outside under the heat of a warming lamp. It quickly can wrap for a block with large parties ready to enjoy some of these oven-baked jewels.

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Cuisine - American, Places - Boston, Recipes

A Tour of the USS Constitution

USS Constitution gang plankOne of the things I love the most about living in Boston is the history. It’s a city that’s rich heritage dates back to the 1600s when Puritan colonists from England were seeking a new life.

There’s no way around avoiding the city’s history and heritage. Take for instance The Freedom Trail. A red line that dots its way around downtown along cobblestone paths, passing historic churches and homes, and intersecting with 21st Century life.

A few weeks ago, we traveled the northern part of the trail around the North End (Boston’s “Little Italy”) and up towards Charlestown’s Navy Yard to visit the USS Constitution near Bunker Hill.

OK, so why the history lesson, you ask?

Well, even on an old battleship like the Constitution, you can find some great food finds!

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