Jack Frost

I know winter doesn't seem like it's around the corner with Boston's recent good luck of 60 degree weather. But remember, New England weather strikes unexpectedly and varies greatly, and you should be prepared. It will sleet and snow one day and the sun will be out the next- so don't stow away lighter clothing just yet. But you should be looking for that thick winter jacket that will withstand frozen rain and the occasional noreaster/blizzard if you haven't already. Be prepared!

My Dog’s (and my) favorite dog parks

My dog loves playing with her own kind. Here are two of our favorite dog parks and why we like them:

Zero New Washington Park
0 New Washington Street
Somerville, MA 02143

· New and well maintained

· Lots of free parking

· Obstacle course

· Happy pups
* Dog walkers arrive between 12-2pm, so come and wag your tail with lots of other dogs!

South Boston Bark Park
1600 Columbia Rd
(between K St & Ticknor St)
Boston, MA 02127

• Awesome name
• Community of local dog lovers and their four legged best friends
• Cozy
• Across the street from the board walk

* This park has an official website: http://www.sbbarkpark.org/

What’s your favorite dog park in Boston?

Find a true bargain at Haymarket

Is the food from the chain store supermarket eating away your budget?
If yes, you might want to check this out!

Haymarket will definitely be a good place for you to find a good bargain.

The market offer every kinds of food in extremely low price, which it is hard for you to spend over ten dollar for one purchase, no wander a lot of people bring their luggage to carry their food home.

Although the food in Haymarket is already cheap enough, there are still some tips for you get the perfect price.

First, don’t act on an impulse and buy the food from the first vendor you see, but spend you first round walk to compare the quality and the price from different vendors, or else you will end up feeling regret when you see the better offer in another stand.

Second, if you enjoy haggle over the price and bargain with the vendors, start your hunt at 4 or 5 o’clock before the market is going to close, because the vendors will try to sell out all their food at that time and will be even more generous to offer you a bargain.

Third, better bring you wheel basket or luggage to carry your achievement since the price is so low that you will try your best to bring as many as possible food home.

Finally, the market only opens at Friday and Saturday and close around 6, so don’t go there at the wrong day and the wrong time!

See you next time and good luck to your food shopping!

Thanksgiving!

Everybody's favorite holiday is coming up- where you can eat, eat, and eat some more! I'm talking about Thanksgiving of course! Time to get ready for all the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatos and gravy, cranberry sauce, and comfort food that you can eat!


But why stop there? Plimoth Plantation is a great place to visit to see how it all came to be with the first colonial settlers. Its a great destination while taking in the foliage and building up your appetite!

http://www.plimoth.org/

Meet the ‘Mami’

If you are in Cambridge area and looking for a great taste and cheap Japanese restaurant, ‘Café Mami’ is exactly where you’re looking for. It is located in Lesley university building at Porter Square, Cambridge, Having less than 15 seats, Café Mami is very small yet crowded especially from 6 to 9 every day. Receiving five stars rating from Yelp.com guarantees how popular the restaurant is.

1815 Massachusetts Ave

Cambridge, MA 02140

T Station: Porter Square

(617) 547-9130

Hungry?? Looking to eat something exotic?!! Late at night?

Azama Grill in Allston is the place to go!!

Azama Grill in Allston provides a big selection of Middle- Eastern cuisine including popular selections such as Hummus, Tabouli and Baba Ghanouj along with grilled lamb/ beef and chicken plates or roll-ups in fresh pita bread. The Mediterranean Burger which is called Kofta should also be tried. Azama also cater Falafel and vegetarian dishes that come with a good selection of delicious Middle-Eastern appetizers (get the stuffed grape leaves). Finally, don’t forget to ask about the deserts they have yummy rice pudding, baklava (Layers of buttery and flaky Phillo stuffed walnuts or pistachio and drizzled with honey) and vanilla custards.

This place is opened until 2 am so try to stop by after partying so you can treat yourself. It is located on 57 Harvard Ave, Allston MA 02134 Tel. 617 779 0003.

Moenes

Visit a castle and swim in Pleasure Bay, all in Boston!

I saw the fortress for the first time from the airplane landing in Logan, a quite beautiful granite structure erected on a green hill by the blue water. I knew that I wanted to have a closer look at this site.

On a sunny Sunday, I went with my friend Sam and my dog Sugi to explore Castle Island and Pleasure Bay. This site, in South Boston, is excellent for couples who want a romantic spot, people who want to walk their dogs next to the ocean and families with kids who want to play in the sand or at the nearby playground.

The structure we see nowadays, known as Fort Independence, is the 8th fortress built here and was completed in 1834. It was mainly used as a military station.
Read more about the rich history of CI

If it's too cold or far away, you can see Castle Island on the virtual tour provided by the CIA (Castle Island Association)...

Eat Like Thais (Part I)

Craving for Thai food?...

If Thai food is your favorite food, make sure you have a chance to try authentic Thai food in Boston. “Rod Dee”, which means “good taste” in Thai, is one of the best Thai restaurants in Boston. It was selected from Boston Magazine to be the Best Thai restaurant in Boston. The restaurant is located at the Porter Square station.

Here are some original Thai dishes that you must try at Rod Dee!

1) Kway Teow Leur (Boat Noodles) It is a very popular dish that you’ll see everywhere on the streets of Thailand. With an intense brown broth, meatballs, slices of beef and plenty of rice noodles, Boat noodles bring out the classic Thai balance of spice, sour, sweet, and salt.

2) Pad Kra Pro Gai. (Stir fried chicken with basil) A default menu for every Thais. It is an all time classic dish. And if you would like to have it in traditional style, you should order it with a fried egg.

3) Pad Thai (The Original)

Forget every Pad Thai you had. Adding Shrimp paste makes Pad Thai at Rod Dee more tasty and spicy and original. Make sure you order ‘Thai Style Pad Thai’

4) Kaow Pad Kra Pao Gai Tod. (Fried rice with spicy crispy chicken) This menu might give a hard time for any of you that cannot handle spicy food. However, if you would like to try, having it with number 5 below will help.

5) Thai Iced Tea No words can explain, you have to try it yourself!

Rod Dee Restaurant: Cambridge, MA 02140 (Porter Square station)

Tel. (617) 374-9252 www.roddee.net

A Flavor reminding me of my grandmother—Dumpling Cafe

The feeling of homesick is getting stronger since the winter has begun.

Although there are numerous of Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants out there in Boston, it is not easy to find the authentic restaurant that reminds you the exactly taste in your hometown.

Fortunately, in a big and highly foreign immigration city, some authentic Chinese restaurants do exist in Boston area and people who are dying to have some hometown flavor or just curious of what the true Chinese dishes taste like do have their chance to find some traditional Chinese food.

As a Taiwanese, the first Chinese restaurants on my pocket list which I highly recommended is the Dumpling Cafe



Instead of ordering dumpling, I will encourage everyone to try some exotic dishes that represent the true Taiwanese food.

The following are the dishes I recommend:

Chinese watercress with garlic: This is a really traditional and common dish in regular Taiwanese family. ...and sorry about inaesthetic picture bucause one third of the watercress are already in my stomach…


Szechuan style flounder: Spicy and hot, better order some rice and noodles while tasting this dish.
Chicken leg with 3 essences in hot pot: the dishes that grandmother or mother usually made for their family members when they need nutrition or winter is coming.


Also, The “lightly breaded fried pork intestines” and “Taiwanese style rice cake with veggies and pork” are ranked highly but I forgot to stop my friends and took pictures before they engulf all those dishes………..

Can’t Wait to gather all my friends to enjoy all those dishes in the weekend again, and wish all of you can go and try some warm and delicious Chinese/Taiwanese food in this chilly season.



Please leave some comments and see you next time!