puritan & company

 homemade brioche + butter

 bratwurst stuffed quail w/ lentils, tomatillo, eggs

  chicken liver mousse w/ sourdough, dilly beans, mustard

roasted kurobuta pork t-bone w/ mustard greens, spaetzle, cider

hay-roasted carrots w/ charred scallion, fresh cheese, roe

VENUE //  Puritan & Company is a shiny, beacon of yum located in a more run-down part of Inman Square.  Puritan & Company is a glorified, 21st century version of a New England Farm -- spacious, high ceilings, clean / sleek interior paired with light wooden paneled walls, antique figurines and a mason jar chandelier.  The first piece of antique equipment I noticed when I walked in was the owner's grandma's oven that has been transformed into the hostess stand.  Overall, the venue is surprisingly large but lined with cozy small tables for a more intimate feel.

FOOD //  I was initially a bit disappointed by the menu when I realized that a lot of dishes that I wanted to try (from Yelp pictures) were not available.  However, disappointment turned to delight after my first bite of the homemade brioche.  Speckled with sea salt, these homemade buns do not disappoint.  From the starters to the mains, the dishes are fresh, simple yet complex (kind of like grandma's cooking on steroids), and portioned well.  I didn't actually try the bratwurst or the pork t-bone but would have to say those looked the most appetizing! The pate was good but not extraordinary, and I could have passed on the carrots.  Overall, I would say the food is above average, but I would be willing to give it another try when the menu changes.

DRINK //  Again, I was looking forward to trying the lavender cocktail, but it was unavailable.  Instead, I ordered the Church which was okay.  

If I had to rank the above categories, I would say that I appreciated Puritan's venue the most.  Unlike any other restaurant I have been to, Puritan has done an exceptional job in blending the old with the new.  Although I appreciated certain aspects of the dishes we tried, I wasn't overwhelmed but would be willing to come again when the menu changes.

Puritan & Company

1166 Cambridge Street

website

7 layered mediterranean dip

I recently hosted a small party for one of my co-workers who is moving to Dallas next month.  Given her vegetarian diet, I whipped up some vegetarian-friendly party foods including this jazzed up hummus dip.

If you want to get super fancy, you can make your own hummus and pesto, but I decided to take it easy on myself and used store-bought hummus and pesto.  It took me all about 15 minutes to assemble this 7 layered mediterranean dip, and it was a crowd pleaser!  This recipe is cost/time efficient, requires no extra utensils and is sure to impress your guests!

7 Layered Mediterranean Dip

2 cups hummus
1 cup pesto
1/2 diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced sun dried tomato
1/2 cup diced feta
1/3 cup diced olives
1/4 cup pine nuts

Spread hummus on bottom layer of serving dish.  Spread pesto on top of hummus, making sure not to combine the two.  Sprinkle remaining ingredients on top of hummus/pesto layers.  Serve with pita chips or other chips of your choice!

franklin cafe

bread + hummus spread

crab + corn fritters ($11) 

steak frites ($20) 

cioppino ($18)

VENUE //  I usually place a lot of emphasis on venue and ambiance when dining out, but definitely can overlook this aspect because the food is just so darn good at Franklin Cafe.  Franklin Cafe is a narrow space divided right down the middle with a full bar on the left side and ten or so booths along the right side.  The atmosphere here is definitely more pub-like than cafe, with an equal number of people drinking and dining.  My only knock on this place is that there is no waiting area or hostess stand so you are constantly moving around to avoid the servers walking down the restaurant and standing over other diners.  Oh, and be prepared to wait!

FOOD //  Great food at great prices.  The hummus dip is addictive.  The corn + crab fritters are meaty, lightly breaded and served with old bay seasoned sour cream.  The steak is tender, juicy and marinated in port.  Served with crispy fries and roquefort (blue cheese) butter, the steak frites here might be the best I've ever had.  The tomato fennel broth of the cioppino is delicious and perfectly complements the fresh hake, mussels and clams.

DRINK //  To be honest, my boyfriend and I came here because I wanted some hot soup to cure a prior night's hangover so we didn't do too much drinking here.

SERVICE //  Minus the wait, service here is great, and the food is served quickly.

Overall, Franklin Cafe is a no frills, quintessential South End neighborhood establishment that serves great food at great prices.  We will definitely be back for late night dinner and drinks.


Franklin Cafe
278 Shawmut Avenue
website