Rosa Mexicano

I'm a complete sucker for good guacamole. It's sad but true and I probably always will be. Fortunately for me, Rosa Mexicano is going strong and will always have a rolly cart full of avocados and cilantro at the ready.












Towards the end of Boston Restaurant Week my girlfriend and I stopped in for lunch. It was close to 2:30 so there were no crowds and we were able to relax in the lounge area. Their menu is everything you hope for in a Mexican restaurant. Sopa de Tortilla, fundido, tacos- all the basic with an added flair and neon pink walls.










To my surprise and overwhelming joy, wine was one of the options on the prix fix menu. We chose the quac for two, Flautas de Pollo and Camarones Veracruzana to round out our lunch. The flautas were crunchy, the sauces were savory and the quac was the perfect amount of spicy. 

 




While reading the menu I saw they have a Lunch Crunch! Guaranteed multi-course lunch it 20 minutes.   Can't wait to go back!

Heart & Sole

Right in the center of Hanover St. is a boutique run by mother-daughter team Elaine and Gina DiGangi that makes you want to buy everything, and add something studded to your life.



On my first trip to Heart and Sole, which was at 11:05 on a Saturday morning when the shop opens at 11, Elaine was happy to welcome me in and share her favorite pieces, sale items and new additions. After talking for a bit I found out that she is from the North End originally and came back to open a store with the fashions she loves in the neighborhood she loves. Still fairly new, they opened 4th of July weekend in 2011 and have been supporting fashionistas ever since.



This morning I was fortunate to meet Gina while a wave of tourists walked in and ogled every single thing in the store. Helping each person individually, Gina was able to quickly pinpoint their varied styles and pick out the best items for everyone.









With all the jewelry under $100 it's easy to build an entire outfit from their handpicked selections from shoes up to tops.














Heart and Sole also features these killer rain boots designed buy North Ender and Suffolk student Eric Hollenberg. I experienced some serious Alumni pride for sure!









If you're in the market for something that's on trend but will set you apart definitely make your way to Heart and Sole and let these ladies take care of you!

Adara Spa Boston

Inspired by the LivingSocial commercials, I took a chance and bought a deal to Adara Spa for a sudatonic wrap and Arasys treatment and am still reaping the benefits!

Incredibly accommodating, partners Amelia Filnau and Lauren Gilbin have been in their waterfront location for almost 5 years.  They meticulously take care to ensure the total relaxation of each client from start to finish. Having to reschedule my first visit because I forgot to bring a bathing suit, they honored my deal even after the expiration date which will make me a repeat customer.

The treatment itself is an odd sensation but not painful. Amelia walked me through a step by step process emphasizing the importance of feeling contractions in the muscles but not a strain. Following the Arasys treatment, Lauren brought me to a separate room for the sudatonic infrared wrap. It was like all the warmth you want on a bitter cold February night in New England has found you. Best thing I've done for myself in months!

I can't wait to try all the other spa services they have to offer!

Espresso Love

What warrants a walk from the State House all the way to Broad St. during a half hour lunch? Homemade Oregano Vinaigrette! I happily walk out of my way for the best Greek salad in the city with extra tomatoes and extra dressing.

Can't. Get. Enough.

Espresso Love is a coffee shop based on Martha's Vineyard with a new location on Broad St. in the Financial District. Last spring I was fortunate to stumble upon the shop and went back every day for two weeks.

Everything is made in house and changes daily, something that keeps people coming back. The fall has introduced Pumpkin Chai lattes to the menu which helps you stay toasty warm while walking back to work. Even if you don't have a sweet tooth, it's hard to not to dive into the Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars with a graham cracker crust!

TJ, the manager, has made a real effort to cultivate a community in a neighborhood that is known to be cold. While raising money for Team Tom Brady he donated two $20 gift cards for a raffle I was hosting for donors without so much as a question.

To make things even better, they have a customer loyalty card! Buy 10 coffees, get 1 free! In my case, that was a free coffee every other week.

Go ahead, get yourself some love.     

Legal SeafoodCopley Place

It is no secret that I am not a fan of chain restaurants. I would rather support a local restaurateur and cultivate a relationship with the people I live so close to. Once in a blue moon, due to the suggestion of a friend or the opinion of a group, I end up at a chain with the outlook I probably won't have a great meal.

My experience at the Legal Seafood Copley Place could not have proven me more wrong! Our server, Bryn, was able to take our group's varied comments and suggest a delicious bottle of wine that complimented our appetizers and entrees perfectly. We had both ends of the spectrum, a white drinker and a red drinker while we munched on crab dip and enjoyed the phenomenal wine bar. Bryn brought over a Riesling that met everyone's needs.  We had a few special requests that she took on without a problem, even bringing a sample of a second bottle of wine before we committed. Thankfully, since we stuck with the first one.

The manager, Barry, is one of the most personable managers I've met and made it a point to check in with each table. He came to ours just in time to answer our oyster first-timer’s questions.

With a motto like,  "If it isn't fresh it isn't Legal", I had to have the grilled salmon medium rare. Since it is sashimi grade, it was perfect! Shockingly, I can’t wait to go back!

The Funky Brunch Part Deux

The most adult thing I could possibly do to end my weekend? Brunch

I've never gone to brunch independently. I've had more days where I go to bed at 11am on a Sunday, I couldn't really imagine waking up at that time to leave my house all dressed up for breakfast. It must have been creating a 403 (b) and choosing a pre-tax health insurance plan that made this type of post-collegiate young-professional adventure possible.

If I were to go to any brunch event in the city though, I'd want to go to an Urban Legends Event. The same guys I normally trust for an incredible evening are definitely the best group to host a Sunday morning recovery. Sponsored cocktails by Svedka, a DJ and a brand new spot in the Financial District. Right up my alley.


Nix's Mate  is the new restaurant in the Broad St. Hilton with a completely new look and an even better menu. Tuna Carpaccio Nicoise with cracked olives, green beans, roasted potatoes, capers and hard boiled egg brought together with a scrumptious lemon aioli ($14) is my perfect sunlight meal. Breakfast, brunch, lunch...I could have it anytime.


My brunchmate, also my freshman year roommate, was pleasantly surprised by all the pescatarian options but decided on a classic; zucchini bread.

Since The Funky Brunch is 12-4 I'm told it doesn't really count. I disagree, this is the new era of networking brunches for urbanite young professional.

Carmen Trattoria

We all love the North End  and the delicious restaurants they have to offer. My mother gifted a Guilt City certificate to Carmen Trattoria, and I am so glad.

One of the few places I haven't gone, I was excited to test out Carmen's menu, especially their small plate offerings. In Italy, most places offer Aperitivos in the evening if you buy a drink. These are a quick stop on the way home or before meeting with friends and act as a built in networking event. I made many friends during Aperitivos and learned great secrets about the city I happened to be in. Everyone chats, grabs a little bit of this and a little bit of that then leaves not quite full. Boston is in desperate need for more Tapas and Aperitivos.


I was absorbed into the delicious homemade mozzarella with roasted red peppers and basil ($6). The perfect combination of sweet and salty layered onto crusty bread with olive oil and, of course, I had to add pepper. The marinated olives with orange rind and hot pepper ($6) were simply addicting. So many different kinds but I want more of all of them!

The Spice Cured Beef Tenderloin with Arugula, Parmigiano, Lemon Vinaigrette and Aged Balsamic ($15) sang to me immediately, I couldn't wait to taste it. Obviously the presentation is spectacular but the beef itself is a bit of a let down. The medallions were fare more sweet than savory which came as a surprise. The salad was out of this world though and I could not get enough of the vinaigrette. This was the perfect compliment to my small plates. The fresh cracked black pepper and crusty bread put it over the top.



For diner Linguine and Clams with Roasted Garlic, Basil and Fra Diavolo Sauce ($26) sounds like a great finish. The Fra Diavolo sauce was spectacular with big pieces of tomato and the perfect amount of basil but the clams were overdone and a bit gritty. Next time I am definitely going for the Black Pepper Tagliatelle with Pan Seared Shrimp in a Pesto Cream Sauce With Sautéed Cherry and Sun dried Tomatoes ($28). That sounds too good.