Hubby’s trip down memory lane in New Hampshire

 We didn’t really plan for any stops during the drive from Massachusetts to Vermont except maybe the occasional gas or washroom break. But when we started seeing signs for Dartmouth, hubby started recalling the time he spent there. So, we decided to stop and have lunch at one of the local eateries near the university. Before we started to look for parking, we went for a drive around the campus. It was vast and not as clustered as Harvard. The buildings were almost as beautiful and historic as well.

We stopped for lunch at Molly’s—the joint Hubby used to frequent after a gruelling week in school. Although I was intrigued with EBA (Everything But Anchovies), we can only choose one place to eat. Hubby says that when you call EBA for delivery, you no longer had to tell them where to bring your order. They would be able to take your pizza down to your specific room in the dorm! Now, how’s that for service?! I wonder if they can deliver breakfast in bed…

We mostly ordered from the “Molly’s favorites” where I got fish tacos. My spicy fried haddock was crispy and fresh. The serving was ample. It was good although I’ve had better guacamole. The rice pilaf and black bean corn salsa were on the bland side, too. I took a couple of bites from my mom’s shrimp risotto which had a decent serving of tiger shrimps. The risotto was well-cooked with delectable creamy garlic butter. Hubby’s Buffalo wings were just ok. I still prefer Anchor Bar or Duff’s. Meanwhile, the girls enjoyed their kids’ meal of penne with marinara. We saved some room for dessert as we were headed to Ben and Jerry’s in Vermont.

fish tacos

shrimp risotto

Buffalo wings

All in all, the atmosphere was cozy with Dartmouth memorabilia. The meals were satisfying and service was also good. No wonder Molly’s is a local favorite.

Dartmouth - Lake Sunapee on Dwellable

Tours in the Green Mountains—our trip to Vermont

Driving up New Hampshire from Massachusetts to Vermont was the most scenic drive we have had so far. Along the highways, we were surrounded by mountains and trees that we did not notice nor mind the travel distances at all.

  

We had only just discovered that Vermont offered a lot of factory tours—for coffee, ice cream, cheese and many more. We only managed to go on two. Our first stop was at Ben and Jerry’s ice cream factory. Hubby and the girls absolutely love Cherry Garcia. The grounds were expansive and we ended parking near the Flavor graveyard, where tombstones marked discontinued flavours.  

 

We headed down to the main building to get our factory tour tickets (free for kids under 12!) and to go to the gift shop. There were a lot of cute merchandise but the shirts were a bit on the pricey side.

While waiting for our tour to start, the girls went off to the playground while I lined up to get our ice cream. Wonderfully-creamy, large scoops of Cherry Garcia (their top flavour) cooled us down that hot afternoon.

The tour started with a video on the history of Ben and Jerry’s. Then, we checked out the main production line where they were making Pistachio Pistachio. Our energetic guide took us through the steps of ice cream making and the kids were fascinated with the machines. Afterwards, we went to the Flavor room to get some samples of Vanilla Caramel Fudge. The samples were not just a spoonful, but a small scoop! We’ve certainly had our fill of ice cream. It was absolutely delightful.

The next day, we took an early morning stroll in Church St. Marketplace. 

Most shops were still closed, but the fibreglass bears designed by local artists for the “Burlington bears its art” festival were on display. The girls had a great time posing with the bears. Thing was, they wanted to pose with each and every bear (there were about 17!). I guess I shouldn’t complain. After all, I’ve never had an easier time getting them to strike a pose!  



We ended our stroll at the Burlington waterfront while grandma had breakfast by the boardwalk. Being by the water is really a nice way to relax.





Before embarking on the drive home, we stopped by another factory—chocolate this time. We went to the Lake Champlain chocolate factory store. They held tours showing their chocolate-making process and had some samples as well. There was also a small café inside in case you wanted some coffee to go along with your chocolates. The chocolates were absolutely divine. Unlike the ice cream, we could take these home! Yippee! I'll be savouring my after dinner chocolates for a while...

We missed quite a few stops--a great incentive to come back. Actually, I already have the next set of factory visits lined up for our return. Until our next trip, Vermont!

Vermont on Dwellable

An early morning at Harvard Yard

 I managed to drag the entire family out at 7am to check out Harvard Yard and Square. Knowing stores were most likely closed, the university would surely be open for a walk-around. As we admired the remarkable brick buildings, hubby and I reminisced our own university days.  As well, we started planting the seed in the minds of our girls that this is where we hoped they would study someday. Well that would give us an excuse to come back to Boston often, right? We would hit two birds with one stone and I am such a stickler for efficiency!

We took our own walking tour (as tours did not start until 10am) and admired the halls and libraries inside the campus. Most of the buildings, if not all, had their own interesting history or trivia. For me, the grandest structure is the Widener library. This library contains about a third of 16 million books in the university, the largest library system in the world. Any book lover would be in euphoria!

Widener library

We also posed alongside the John Harvard statue, aka “The Statue of Three Lies.” Apparently, while the statue reads, “John Harvard, Founder 1638,” John Harvard was not the founder, it was founded in 1636, and the image is not of John Harvard. I am inclined to think that the statue was placed there to challenge the mind to see beyond the obvious. Or it may very well be just a joke--we hope to find out when we go back for my kids’ freshman orientation day—hahaha!

John Harvard's statue

As predicted, most stores were still closed at Harvard Square, but we managed to check out a couple of early bird shops. We ended our stroll near the Lowell House, one of the undergraduate houses at the university. Its tower, which houses the Russian bells (rung on specific times and during special house events), can be seen from our hotel room across the Charles River.

Lowell House

view from our hotel room

And while Harvard is known to be a center for academics, we saw first-hand that the students are also into extra-curricular activities. Every morning on the Charles River, one will see rowers paddling their way along. We probably would have had a better chance of finding our way around the river by kayaking than by walking around in the streets of Cambridge. Does one need a “Hahvahd” education to navigate the city?

Boston on Dwellable

Boston road trip from Toronto—our cup of tea!

We’ve heard a lot about how nice Boston is, so we decided to go on a whirlwind road trip for my summer birthday. We were on the road by 5am and after a number of stops in NY, we finally arrived in Massachusetts at 7pm. It was a long trip, but a fulfilling one given our stops at Finger Lakes and Skaneateles.

We had another early start the next day starting with a walk around Copley square. We checked out the Back Bay area, took in the sights of the Boston Public library and relaxed near the Trinity church. The architecture was just fantastic; the buildings were masterpieces.  

Boston public library

Trinity church

One thing we realized, though, was that the streets of Boston are not in a grid! There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the layout of the streets, and we had to cross some pedestrian walks in a zigzag just to get to the other side. Folks who drive in this city must be masochists!

Well, because we’re not into S&M we decided to take the “T” (the city’s public transit system) to Boston Common where the Freedom trail begins. It took us a while to work things out. After determining from the map that we were in the right line and that we were headed in the right direction, we had to figure out the fare system. And as there were no attendants in the booths to help us, we stood in front of one of the ticket machines for over 15 minutes before we finally worked out how to get our rail passes.  



"T" station at Copley

By the time we got off at the Park St. station, we really didn’t care too much about finding our way back.  We thought we’d leave that problem for later.  We got our bearings and found our way to the beginning of the Freedom trail.

The trail was marked by a red line on the ground—either painted or made of brick.  It started from the State House across from Boston Common and on the top of Beacon Hill.  

Boston State house

The red line traces a path that runs through historic landmarks.  There were free guided walking tours of the Freedom Trail, but we decided to do it on our own and at a kid-friendly pace.  We passed the Park Street Church on to the Granary burial ground where three signers of the Declaration of Independence and the victims of the Boston massacre are buried. We then stopped at Faneuil hall which had a large meeting room on the second floor. This meeting room became Boston’s official town hall, a scene of many meetings leading up to the American Revolution. 

"Cradle of Liberty" at Faneuil hall

The lower level of the hall served as the market place. Just behind the Faneuil hall building, we had lunch at Quincy market (watch out for my blog on Boston eats) where dozens of food stalls are located along with retail kiosks. 



Quincy market

We veered away from the red line to stroll around the shops in the North and South markets and down to the Boston harbour. Beautiful yachts and boats lined the docks, just waiting to be brought out into the deep waters.  Once the site of the famous Boston tea party, the harbour is now home to cruises and take-off points for whale-watching.

Boston Harbor

Going back on the Freedom trail, we didn’t make it all the way to Bunker Hill, but only up to the North End. It was very humid and we were all tired from walking in the heat. Plus, we still had to figure out how to get back to the hotel! So, we retraced our steps to the train station and saved some adventures for another time.

Walking on the Freedom trail allowed us to take only a quick dip into Boston’s rich history. There is still so much more to explore, so much more to discover. From the “T” to “tea” and many other points of interest beyond and in between, this historical (and gastronomical) adventure is only just waiting for our return.

Charles river at night

Boston on Dwellable

Upstate New York: our side trip to Finger Lakes and Skaneateles

On our first road trip to Boston, we decided to go via upstate New York all the way to Massachusetts. Although not exactly on route, we stopped by Belhurst castle in Geneva to check out one of the wineries in the Finger Lakes region. If you had been following my blog, you would know that I would stop at one of these, right? Anyway, the place does deserve to be called “one of the most romantic places in the New York state.” The grounds are an idyllic setting for a wedding on the shores of Seneca Lake with the stone castle nestled in the background.

Having a full history from back in the late 1800’s, Belhurst Castle is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The trigger-happy photographer in me was pleased. Sadly, we didn’t have time to follow the Seneca wine trail (one of several wine trails in the Finger Lakes) so I settled for some be-medalled Riesling to bring home instead. The winery and gift shop of Belhurst offered many award-winning wines of the region along with other delightful pairings.

After taking in the sights and tastes, it was already time for lunch. We continued east and took a side trip to the original location of Doug’s fish fry in Skaneateles.

We ordered a couple of fish dinners, fried scallops and some seafood chowder. The fish was fresh and the batter was light and crispy. The fried scallops were fantastic especially with some tartar sauce. The hefty portion of the fried fish sandwich and fries was big enough to share.

The seafood chowder we got for the kids was not that great, though. Good thing we were headed to New England area to make up for this. While we have not been to a NY State Fair where Doug’s is supposedly a staple, we were happy we got to taste it. Awesome meals and good value for money--we’ll take this detour anytime!

Finger Lakes on Dwellable

Delicious Summerlicious—10th event and some tips

This year marks the 10^th annual Summerlicious event, of which we missed the first three. For our 7^th Summerlicious, we went to Boiler House at the Distillery district. We wanted to get a patio seat but it was chilly.  Plus, there was a risk of showers so we settled for indoor seating.  It worked out alright as the indoors were quite cozy.

Hubby and I opted for the same starters and main course.  It was only dessert for which we had different choices. We started with Morrocan black mussels. The aroma of the tomato chermoula (marinade) brought promises of tasty dishes to come!  And tasty it was indeed! The mussels were well-cooked and plump, not at all rubbery. The bacon (more of cubed pork belly, actually) stood out without drowning the taste of the mussels.  And the cilantro further highlighted the flavours.  It could have used less salt, but since I am a bacon-lover, I didn’t really mind.

Next, we had char-broiled AAA striploin from Alberta. Cooked medium-well, the steak was perfectly seasoned and juicy. The sweet pea and tarragon risotto was creamy and not paste-y-- a good side dish, but I would have liked some Bearnaise sauce with my steak. I now wonder if the chef would have been insulted had I asked for some…Anyway, the steak was a good size and well-worth this Summerlicious meal.

For dessert, hubby chose the blood orange crème caramel which he regretted ordering. It was blah and, really, nothing beats my mom’s leche flan (her version of crème caramel)! I ordered coffee toffee frozen parfait which was delightful! The crunchy toffee bits provided the nice texture to the smooth coffee parfait. It was a great dinner and hubby swears the company was even better Jhaha. We capped the night with a stroll around the Distillery district (and some take home chocolate from Soma).

For the past 6 years we have been going to restaurants participating in Summerlicious (and Winterlicious). Some years we go to 2 or more places--well, because it’s summer! I don’t need a better reason than that! Below are our past Summerlicious adventures starting from the best (IMHO):

1.       Auberge du Pommier—this is one we highly recommend. Watermelon gazpacho is perfect for summer!

2.       Sassafraz—wonderful striploin (I love steak so this is what I often order)  with chipotle foam capped with our favorite dessert, Tiramisu (with Kahlua)

3.       Tundra/Canoe/Far Niente—great ambience and good food but no stand outs

4.       Bier Markt--awesome mussels!

5.       259 Host—so far the best Indian we have had

6.       Trappers—food was ok but service was great!  We brought our eldest, DD#1, along on our date and they offered to prepare a nice fetuccine carbonara for her while we had the Summerlicious dinner.

7.       La Bruschetta/BLD—the food was just so-so

And while these prix fixe meals were not as expensive as what they would usually cost, they still weren’t exactly cheap. So, to help ensure that you get the best bang for your buck, here are my Summerlicious tips:

·         Check out the reviews of restaurants you want to try. Go to several sites and blogs for a broader range of opinions. You may want to narrow your choices down to a specific district or cuisine.

·         Review the menus of your short-listed restaurants. Go for what you’d like to eat.

·         Make the reservation early and enjoy!

Let’s hear it for the boys: my favorite Mexican meal at Burrito Boyz

I did mention in my previous post that I love Mexican food, right? But when it comes down to my all-time favorite burrito, in a heartbeat, I would say, Burrito Boyz. Hubby and I have been going to this burrito place for years now—even when the owners hadn’t yet gone their separate ways and when this hole-in-the-wall was still in Peter St. in downtown T.O.

Now, whenever I get a chance to go downtown for something other than Summerlicious or Winterlicious, I make it a point to time it at around lunch or dinner time just so I can have my steak burrito. At the Adelaide location, you still have to go down a few steps to this non-descript basement joint. Line-ups during peak lunch or dinner hours go beyond the door! Seating has increased from the 3 or so bar stools at the Peter St. location to about 6 tiny tables. Being so, a lot of folks tend to take out their meals. If you are a bit pressed for time, you can call in your order for pick up. And while you still have to line up to pay, your burrito would be all cooked and ready to go.

For walk-ins, you pay first and then when your order number is called, you come up to pick your tortilla (white or whole wheat) and let them know what you want in your burrito (onions, peppers, guacamole, etc). I have only tried the halibut once as it seemed to be a very popular choice. I have yet to try the quesadilla which I am sure tastes great as well. However, being the carnivore that I am, I would always end up ordering the steak burrito with whole wheat and everything in it--small. Hubby orders the large one.

The steak burrito is just packed with perfectly grilled and seasoned steak. There is no skimping on this main ingredient. Of course, the burrito is also filled with a hearty serving of rice and beans and lip-smacking guacamole and salsa. At under $6.00 for the small order, it is great value for money. The happiness it brings me is well worth the line-up.

Burrito Boyz does deserve to be hailed as one of the best places to eat in Toronto. It is definitely a Wanderlusting Mama’s favorite!

Night-it-up: the Asian Night market in Markham

Armed with fun memories of night markets many years ago in Hong Kong and Bangkok, we set off for Markham for the annual Asian night market to see how it would compare. We also brought our appetites with us in hopes of satisfying our hunger with some street food!

When we finally found parking (a long walk from the Markham civic centre), we approached the night market at the side where NBA courts and other sports zones were set up. Then, we were greeted by the aroma of stinky tofu—at least that was what we hoped we smelled since we were also passing near the port-a-potties. There were long line ups in some stalls, some of which no longer got to try (like the oyster cakes which looked absolutely delicious!). We started our food fest with some bon bon chicken on sticks with sesame ($3/stick). We wolfed this down and then promptly lined up for some BBQ lamb (3 sticks for $5) while the girls had some ice cream.

bon bon chicken

While Hubby and the girls sat down to eat roasted corn, grandma and I continued checking out the other food stalls. I lined up about 10-15 minutes for some takoyaki (Japanese dumplings made of batter and diced octopus cooked in cast iron pans with half-sphere molds) topped with mayonnaise and seaweed powder. It was yummy and filling, with six balls costing $5. The girls didn’t really care for them, but hubby and I were happy enough to eat their left-overs.

takoyaki

We saw quite a few people walking around drinking fresh juice served inside the actual watermelon or pineapple. We tried out both drinks, but opted for the easier-to-manage (albeit less fancy and sans tiny umbrellas) plastic cups. As we ate, a number of musicians performed on the stage. I caught a belly-dancing number. The sight of the flat belly of the dancer, though, made me stay away from all the desserts that night—we all know they go straight to where we do not want them to go.

There were only a few retail stalls.  This aspect is what made my memories of Hong Kong and Bangkok night markets different.  In both HK and Bangkok, I mostly went to merchandise stalls and not really food stalls. Retail therapy versus food therapy.  Each potentially offered a lot of fun, and your happiness just depended on what you set out to do.

At the end of it, we couldn’t even begin to describe how we smelled—smoke, sweat, grill, smelly tofu. All we know is that the food was yummy, the night market was fun and that it was time for a bath.