Author: Gail

Dining Outside the Home: W Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts 

Dining Outside the Home: W Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts! For an upscale lounge experience filled with modern decor, electrifying colors, heightened entertainment, and effervescent spirits, this chic barroom located on the corner of a busy intersection makes it a perfect spot for leisurely socializing. Grab a table for two after a day of walking The Freedom Trail and kick back for a refreshingly cool cocktail. Whether you choose a Hennessy cucumber-lime concoction or a D’usse elderflower-lemon spritzer, the W Boston completes the adventure. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter O

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Onion Basil Bread! You have got to try this! Tasty Vidalia onions are unbelievably sweet and mild. They are grown locally in the state of Georgia, yet recognized all over the world. You begin to see them pop up in the neighborhood markets from mid-April to mid-June. Their unique fresh taste makes them an outstanding option for eating raw or cooking in recipes. Packed with nutritional value makes them a bonus. Become a believer; discover why Vidalia onions are all the buzz!
ONION BASIL BREAD
Ingredients:

Loaf of sesame artisan bread

1/3 cup olive oil plus 2 tablespoons 

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon marjoram

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1 large size Vidalia onion, sliced

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1 cup Jarlsberg cheese, shredded

2-3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

Fresh basil
Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 400°. Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut the bread in half, then length-wise, and quarters. Dredge the cut sides in 1/3 cup olive oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, marjoram, and sea salt. In a skillet on medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add onion slices and seasoned salt. Cover and cook one minute. Stir, reduce heat to medium-low and cook until the onions are caramelized, about 12 minutes. Watch carefully to reduce scorching and stir if necessary. Meanwhile divide Jarlsberg cheese equally over the face of the bread. Top with caramelized onions. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil. 

Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts “Where Everyone Knows Your Name”

Cheers in Boston, Massachusetts “Where Everybody Knows Your Name”.  Located at the edge of the Public Gardens, on Beacon Hill, is a popular watering hole-turned-landmark in Boston. The friendly neighborhood bar attracts visitors from all walks of life. Could it be the fact that for over a decade the sitcom catapulted this local pub into the mainstream? Week after week its down-to-earth cast of characters brought light hearted laughter into our own living rooms. No wonder others still gravitate to this local hangout. You should, too, the next time you’re in Boston, Massachusetts. Cheers. 

Dining Outside the Home: Abby Lane in Boston, Massachusetts!

Dining Outside the Home: Abby Lane in Boston, Massachusetts! Located in the heart of the Theater District of Downtown Boston, this neighborhood restaurant opens its wall of sliding windows to make the open-air dining room an inviting experience. Each unique crafted cocktail delights the palate with signature favorites like The Abby: a blend of fresh lemon, elderflower liqueur, and grey goose la poire topped with a splash of dry sparkling bubbly. Yes, please. Every seat offers a perfect vantage point of the chef’s kitchen where top-notch skills make cooking look effortless. It’s easy to turn off the cell phones and mingle with others. You never know when a celebrity may pop in. At the table next to ours Julian Edelman, of the New England Patriots, dropped by for an appetizer sampler. Memories are made of this! For an atmosphere of warmth and cheer, take a walk to Abby Lane. 

No One Can Take a Bath For You

“There are times when I have to take, 

I call it a ‘silence bath,’ 

where I shut off all 

of the external gadgets. 

I go walk around, 

talk to people, 

and just live for a while.” 

~ Patton Oswalt

Dining Outside the Home: The Library Restaurant and Pub in Indianapolis, Indiana! 

Dining Outside the Home: The Library Restaurant and Pub in Indianapolis, Indiana! It’s not every day you can have dinner in a new age French chateau surrounded by impressionist art. Step inside past the elegant Venus’ fountain into a European world others simply dream about. Inhale the exceptional aromas that drift by on open platters for hungry patrons awaiting that first bite. House specialties are worth exploring. The grande finale to a fabulous meal is the Venus Delight! Indulge in this crisp pastry shell filled with vanilla bean ice cream overflowing with cinnamon apples sautéed in a brandy reduction sprinkled with toasted walnuts. What a romantic dessert perfect for sharing. Bon Appétit! 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter N

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Norwegian Jarlsberg Cheese Spread! Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. Jarlsberg cheese originated in Norway as a buttery mild cow’s milk cheese with a sweet nutty flavor. In some photos it may appear similar to Swiss cheese, full of holes, but in essence it is much smoother and richer. Don’t believe me? Order a grilled cheese sandwich made with semi-soft imported Jarlsberg cheese sometime and try not to faint when you are asked to pay a much higher price for this gooey better-than-generic extravagance. 
NORWEGIAN JARLSBERG CHEESE SPREAD 
Ingredients:

4 ounces Neufchâtel cheese

4 ounces Jarlsberg cheese, shredded

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 tablespoons red onion, chopped

1 can (4 ounce size) stuffed green olives, sliced

Sea salt, to taste

Cracked black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup chives, chopped

1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped
Instructions:

Mix together Neufchâtel cheese, Jarlsberg cheese, and mayonnaise until well blended. Stir in red onion and green olives. Add sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste. Form into a log. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour. Roll cheese ball in chopped chives and pecans bits before serving. Spread into crackers or bagel chips. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter M

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? All the Buzz: Mandarin Orange Side Salad! Whenever I serve this colorful side salad to my guests, they rave about the dressing. I create my own version of infused garlic oil, but it can be purchased at your local grocery. Dark, leafy watercress can also be found at the area Farmers Market this time of year. A little bit goes a long way in adding a surprisingly light peppery taste. When partnered with oranges and tomatoes, it refreshes the palate for the next course. If you like a tastier and fresher alternative to an ordinary garden salad, give this one a whirl. 
MANDARIN ORANGE SIDE SALAD
Ingredients:

1/2 head romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces

1/2 cup watercress

8 cherry tomatoes, halved

18 mandarin orange segments 

1/4 cup bacon pieces

1/4 cup almonds, sliced

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved
Instructions:

Divide the romaine lettuce, watercress, cherry tomatoes, mandarin oranges, bacon, almonds, and cheese evenly between 6 salad bowls. Serve chilled with dressing. (See dressing recipe below.)
Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup garlic vegetable oil

3 tablespoons wine vinegar 

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 

1/4 cup red onion, chopped
Instructions:

Combine garlic vegetable oil, wine vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, sea salt, dry mustard, and onion. Whisk well until blended. Refrigerate one hour before serving.