a n h - m i n h . c o m

We got back late last night from Boston, where it was actually a bit warmer yesterday than it is here in the Bay Area. The purpose of Jon's visit was to attend meetings at his high school, located about an hour outside of the city. My purpose was to eat and explore and eat some more.

A few notes from the weekend:

• Sometimes, when we go out to fancy dinners, I don't feel like consuming alcohol. So I'm always appreciative when there's a good grown-up non-alcoholic beverage on the menu — such as Navarro's grape juices.* Even better though? L'Espalier offers a juice tasting: pear puree, pomegranate lime, apple cider Earl Grey, Concord grape and maple fizz.
• Yes, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum are great. But I really loved the Gibson House, a historic museum in the Back Bay. Tours are only given at 1, 2 and 3 o'clock, so you have to pretty much show up on the hour (or wait outside). I was the only one on the 2pm Friday tour, so I got to spend the hour asking the guide lots of questions.
• The lobster rolls at Neptune Oyster!!! Jon ordered his cold, I got mine hot and dripping with butter. We got lucky and arrived when there were open seats at the bar, but if you do have to wait, at least you can browse the seriously cute store Acquire — which I think is just a couple of doors down.
• If I had a kid and lived in the Boston area, I would probably take them to the Museum of Science every other weekend. That place is so cool. (Even for people without kids.)
• While at Louis Boston, I came across some Madeline Weinrib napkins. I had no idea she made table linens, but apparently it isn't really news. (Food&Wine's blog reported on this a year ago.) I purchased a set of the chevron pattern napkins in orange. (Arbitare carries them in camel, black and grey.)

A couple of photos from the weekend:

* I always keep Navarro's pino grape juice on hand at home. I usually mix 2 parts grape juice + 1 part sparkling water or club soda, then add in a few sliced strawberries. (I borrowed this idea from Flea Street Cafe.)