Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown-new addition

Gourmet Dumpling House (in the former Quality Cafe space)

52 Beach Street

Boston, MA

This newly opened Gourmet Dumpling House in Chinatown had alot of customers the two times I visited this past week and weekend.

There is an extensive menu consisting of a hodge podge of dishes seafood dishes, Taiwanese (lots of stuff similar to Taiwan Cafe's menu actually) alongside with dumplings (made to order give extra 15 minutes) and tons of noodle, rice and other dishes.

The first day we got the Xiao Lung Bao (pork and crab). They were alright and I am not a XLB purist but the better ones were had at Joe Shanghai's in NYC for my mom. Of course I had some amazing ones in Shanghai. They were made to order and had a nifty hole on top to get the broth out. The dough was on the thicker side with a decent ginger, soy and vinegar dipping sauce. Then we got the eel stir fried ee noodles. They were delicious with a slightly spicy kick from Jalapeno pepper slivers in this noodle dish. The eel was not abundant but the dish was good.

Service was ok and the waitstaff did their best the first time to be pleasant, fast and good. The second time at lunch on a busy Sunday, we had three errors (thought we got a certain dish not once but three times) brought accidently to our town too. They have to work out the kinks here and there.

Third time, I got the Pork Chop Rice (Taiwanese style) with lots of crispy fried pork served with pickled cabbage, tea egg and a meatsauce over a bed of rice. UMMMM it was delicious and it is not on a loud kids sectioned off plate as they serve at Taiwan Cafe. I felt there portion was more generous and it was great fun and good. Then my friend got the seafood noodle with ee noodles (very good and simple with bits of seafood mainly shrimp and squid and no veggies). Her husband got the beef with noodles stir fried with egg noodles in a sa chay sauce. I love sa cha sauce and I loved it! My other dining pal got the mini chicken dumplings in a noodle soup opting for the thick fat Japanese Udon Noodles. The mini chicken dumplings were plentiful and good in a very simple clean broth (not laden with MSG).

This restaurant tries to cram alot of tables and chairs into this very small and humble space. Since it is new, the business has been brisk.

8 forks out of 10 forks

Wheatberry Bakery nestled in Amherst, MA

Wheatberry Bakery and Cafe

(organic and artisan goodies)

321 Main Street, Amherst, MA

413-253-1411

Last weekend, I was in town for the Emily Dickinson Musuem (located across the street at 240 Main Street) I went to get a quick bite while waiting for my 2pm tour. It is a small but warm and inviting space. With a two counters and a few chairs so if you want to dine in you can. There is a lovely display of baked goods-cookies, scones, bars, and muffins. The menu is not too cluttered with a few hot options for breakfast, lunch and snacks. There are the usual suspects for drinks coffee and teas but in addition some higher brand waters and sodas (for those who do not indulge in caffeine.)

I got the Satori drink (soy milk with apple, carrot, ginger) $3.95 which was better than I anticipated. Plus I got some good nutrients and vitamins to boot out of it! I got the Italian Panini (la Quercia Proscuitto, Genoa Salami, sopresata with marinated olive salad grill pressed on country french bread served with asiago cheese.) $6.95. I enjoyed it alot and it really hit the spot with the mix of cheese and salty Italian luncheon meats, great olives and crusty bread made a delicious combo for this ravenous traveler.

9 forks out of 10 forks

Spoletos in the heart of NOHO, MA

SPOLETOS

50 Main Street, Northampton, MA (413) 586-6313

Spoletos is a Northampton institution and the most expensive restaurant in town. This past weekend I ventured back to my alma mater for a meeting. But I was with some friends who were in NOHO for the first time. We decided to head to Spoletos for dinner.

One memorable dinner experience was when Nicole Kidman with then husband Tom Cruise was in town filming "Malice" with Bill Pullman and Alec Baldwin. I got her autograph and Tom's too (that night I had just gotten back from a long road trip from Philly.)

It was busy on Saturday night and our table of 4 was seated after half an hour wait. Our waitress was attentive and I always had my water glass filled and she asked to make sure if we wanted our more bread etc. She did give some great suggestions since there was a lot to choose from on the menu with strong recommendations for the Chicken Balsamico and the Black Peper Encrusted Duck.

We ended up getting the :

Saul's Mussels' (PEI Mussels cooked with lemon, capers, garlic butter, scallion, red chili pepper flakes, white wine and marinara served with garlic bread.)

Angel Hair Crab Cake (Crab cake served with a twist-chipotle pepper mayo)

Chicken Balsamico (Half boneless roast chicken served with roasted garlic mash, grilled portabello mushrooms, arugula and oven dried tomatoes with a balsamic demi glaze)

Black Peppercorn Encrusted Duck (fanned atop a herb parmesan risotto along with sauteed spinach and finished with a port-cardamon demi glaze)

Rainbow Trout (Farm raised Rainbow Trout cooked with lemon caper butter, juillened mixed vegetables served alongside some herb roasted potatoes)

The bread with olive oil was very good. Nice warm and crusty with lovely softness in the middle great for dipping sauces (olive oil and the mussels sauce too!). We enjoyed the hint of red chili flakes that added the intense kick to the marinara, garlicky broth that was delish! The crab cake was good but nothing special just one crab cake beautifully decorated with a good flavorful chipotle pepper mayo.

As for the entrees, our favorites were the duck and trout with the chicken coming in last. Though two waiters "supposedly" love love the chicken dish. Though it was delicious, it did not compare in taste to the trout and duck. It was a bit dry and all the good served had generous portions. Considered pricey for local area residences, for a Bostonian the costs, quality of food and quantity made Spoletos a great deal in my book. The balsamic demi glaze was intense, the grilled portabello mushrooms a dream alongside with a cannot fail garlic mash, the extra dry white meat knocked the dish down.

The rare duck meat fanned on the flavorful cheesy risotto was amazing! My friends thought the peppercorns enhanced the duck's flavor and the port-cardamon demi glaze added a nice hint of flavor. But another fave was the Rainbow trout, with the great julienned mixed veggies, flavor from the lemon and caper butter to have a great moistness and not be overly cooked or dry. This dish definitely held its own against the the other dishes.

Service--great

Food--very good

9 forks out of 10 forks