Gingerbread Construction Company

Gingerbread Construction Company
52 Main St
Wakefield, MA

This morning I was strolling around Lake Quannapowitt, and I stopped at the Gingerbread Construction Company to have their signature muffin, the Gingerbread($1.85) . This is one of their most popular muffins and it is filled with a cream cheese icing in the middle. One bite of this muffin and you can taste it’s cinnamon sweetness. The only problem with these muffins is that once you have one, you will keep going back for more (trust me I know)! There are over 20 different types of muffins and they also carry gingerbread houses, cookies, muffin loaves, and coffee.

The actual store only has a couple of tables, but there are many benches along Lake Quannapowitt making it a perfect picnic spot during the summertime. There is also another location in Winchester MA.

Service is friendly but they do not carry calorie information, not that I really want to know :-).

Strega

Strega
379 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113
(617) 523-8481
Cuisine: Italian
Vegetarian Options: Vegetarian Selective
Price: $15 - $35
Food:
Service:
Ambiance:
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My friends and I decided to head out to the North End for dinner. We did not have any reservations but we wanted a good and inexpensive meal. We passed by Strega and it seemed cheaper price-wise (for the vegetarian dishes) than the surrounding restaurants and had a few vegetarian options so we decided to check it out. I’d noticed Strega advertises a lot (good restaurants are usually recommended by word of mouth) and because of this I have always been a bit skeptical about the quality of food at this establishment but to my surprise we actually had a decent meal and a fun time.

The ambiance of Strega is fun, lively, colorful and maybe even a bit flashy. The restaurant is loud so if you are looking for a quiet romantic evening than this might not be the place for you. The place is small and the tables are fairly close together but you just can’t help but smile at the singers who come to your table and try to serenade you. I thought the live music was a nice touch and I have not been to many restaurants in the area that offer this.

The service was okay, it was prompt, but when we asked the waiter a few questions about vegetarian options, he did not seem to understand us.

I ordered the Casarecci Di Marina (15.95), a baked pasta dish with sun dried tomatoes, eggplant and fresh mozzarella in a light tomato sauce. The dish was good but very simple and the only thing wrong with it was the cheese. It was a bit hard and instead of being baked in the dish it was placed on the side. The pasta however tasted fresh and the sauce was sweet and flavorful.

Overall Strega is a good choice if you are looking for a relatively inexpensive meal in the North End and want a festive and fun dining experience. The food here is good, not excellent, but the live music adds to the ambiance.

The Purple Onion

The Purple Onion

44 Inn St

Newburyport MA

Cuisine: Cafe

Vegetarian Options: Vegetarian Friendly

Price: $7-$11

Food:

Service:

Ambiance:

Looking for a nice summer day trip not too far from Boston? Check out the Purple Onion, a small hole in the wall café, located in scenic town of Newburyport MA. This inexpensive café offers many vegetarian dishes that are different than your standard sandwich and salad affair. Outdoor seating is available, making it a great place to sit back and relax in the summertime. I ordered the black bean and lime rice bowl ($6.95) a dish made with black beans, white rice, sautéed onions, tomatoes, lime juice, and topped with sour cream, guacamole and a touch of hot sauce. This dish was unique but it had too many tomatoes and onions and it was a bit spicy for my liking. Although I did not love my dish I would go back to try the other vegetarian dishes and to enjoy the beautiful views in Newburyport MA.

http://www.thepurpleonion.com/

Cucumber Raita

Growing up in an Indian family, Raita has always been a favorite of mine especially in the summertime. Raita is great as a snack or a side dish that complements the spicy flavors of curry dishes. I have been cooking Indian food since I was 14 ( thanks to my mom). Here is my recipe for Cucumber raita. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 Cucumber, peeled, grated or diced into small pieces
1 tsp Coriander power
1 tsp Chili powder ( as desired)
1/2 tsp of grated Ginger (Optional)
1 tsp Cumin powder
2 cups Nonfat Plain Yogurt
1 tsp Sugar
Salt & Pepper to taste
1tbsp fresh coriander/cilantro leaves (Garnish)

Serves : 4-6

Beat or blend two cups of yogurt and add water for desired smooth consistency. Mix all the ingredients together and add salt, pepper and sugar. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve chilled.

Hints: If you can find roasted cumin powder this makes this dish even better. My mom makes this at home by roasting cumin seeds in the toaster oven or a pan and then blends the seeds to create a powder. Gives this dish a bit of a smoky taste. You can also add tomatoes and onions to this dish as well as a spoon of mint green chutney if you have some.

Sorellina

Sorellina
1 Huntington Ave
Boston Ma 02116
617-412-4600
Cuisine: Italian
Vegetarian Options: Vegetarian Selective
Price: $25-$50

Food:
Service:
Ambiance:
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Sorellina, located on Huntington Ave in Boston, serves Italian-Mediterranean food in a trendy setting. I went to Sorellina for a work meeting and had a delightful experience. The décor of Sorellina is old Italy meets contemporary America - the restaurant screams sophistication. The mural at the back of the restaurant adds a sense of mystery to the dinning experience.

As an upscale restaurant, I was surprised to see a few good vegetarian options on the menu. The waitress worked with me to create a meal that was overall exquisite. For an appetizer I opted for the Mushroom brodo soup for $14, a mushroom broth based soup with spring vegetables that can be made vegetarian upon request without the prosciutto. The soup was okay as it had a tad too much oil, making it too greasy for my liking. It reminded me of a soup that you could buy packaged in a supermarket. The Insalata, for $15, was a mixed green salad with goat cheese and walnuts was pretty standard.

Now the pasta at Sorellina is where this restaurant separates itself from the rest. Instead of getting one pasta dish, I ordered two different half orders of pasta, each for $17. The fettuccine mixed with mushrooms, black truffle butter and parmesan cheese was simple yet fresh and tasty. The Ravioli stuffed with a smooth blend of mint and sweet pea, bathed in a light tangy cream sauce with almonds was outstanding. This dish is normally made with crab meat but it can be made vegetarian upon request. I was amazed with this dish; the stuffling of the ravioli reminded me of a mild sweet version of the Indian mint green chutney.

I had a great time at Sorellina and although the restaurant is expensive I would be back for a special occasion or nice night out on the town.

http://www.sorellinaboston.com/