The Lansdowne Pub's New Menu

A few weeks ago, The Lansdowne Pub invited me and a guest to try out their new menu. Thanks to my bike accident and some other engagements, it took Z and I few weeks to finally make it to this Irish pub in Fenway – but last week, we finally had a free night to take them up on their offer.

It was a surprisingly warm night, so we opted to sit outside. The Red Sox just happened to be playing the Yankees a few feet away, so it was also fun to see (and hear) the baseball fans walking up and down Lansdowne Street.

We started our meal with cocktails (naturally). I went for the Queen Bee ($9), which was made with Prosecco, elderflower liqueur, blood orange bitters and honey. It was slightly sweet and dangerously thirst-quenching.

For an appetizer, Z and I split the Blue Cheese Potato Cakes ($8), served atop a scallion cream. The potato cakes were wonderfully plump, chocked full of creamy, whipped potato and just enough blue cheese.

For an Irish pub, the Lansdowne has an impressive amount of vegetarian options, so Z and I didn’t have a hard time choosing what to order for our meals. I went with the Grilled Cheese ($9) and Z went with the Portabello Burger ($10). I washed my meal down with a Guinness ($6). 

My grilled cheese consisted of Irish cheddar on soda bread, and was served with a side of tomato chutney. Let’s just say this was the most decadent grilled cheese sandwich I’ve ever eaten (not to mention the most filling). The side of chunky, sweet chutney was the perfect complement to the heavy cheese and bread.

Z’s portabello burger was also a success. Served with blue cheese, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and greens on brioche, this sandwich was much lighter than mine, and packed with flavor. Z’s burger was served with thick-cut fries, while my sandwich came with crispy, salty house-made potato chips.

Although we were stuffed at this point, we knew we couldn’t leave without getting dessert. Our friendly waiter recommended the Warm Bread Pudding ($7), which was served with whiskey caramel and whipped cream. We took his word for it, and we were so glad we did. 

The bread pudding was cooked perfectly, and served with the gooey, whiskey caramel and obviously homemade whipped cream? The only word that comes to mind is sinful. Wonderfully sinful.

Just a warning: It was Thursday night when we dined there, and karaoke/a live band started right as we were leaving (9 p.m.). It was loud, so I’d recommend getting there before 9 on a Thursday if you want to eat a peaceful meal.

All in all, our meal at The Lansdowne was a successful one. We were delighted to dine at an Irish pub and still have plenty of meat-free options to choose from. It was also nice to enjoy a cocktail on their patio and watch the Fenway fans walk (or, stumble…) by. The waitstaff was also attentive, knowledgeable about the menu, and accommodating. We will definitely return to The Lansdowne for food and drinks in the near future.

Have you tried The Lansdowne’s new menu yet? If so, what’s your review?

Our food on this particular evening was complimentary – we just paid for tip and drinks. However, as always, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own.

Guinness Pot Pie

Remember this recipe for pot pie? Well, replace the 1 cup milk and 1 cup vegetable broth with 2 cups Guinness...and you'll get this:

I can sense my Irish ancestors bursting with pride from here.

As you can see in the photo above, the pot pie looks a little soupy, but the Guinness "broth" was actually pleasantly thick. I might try adding just 1 cup of Guinness next time to see how that effects the dish. Either way, this was one hearty, rich pot pie that will make anyone proud to be Irish (or...wish that they were Irish).

How do you feel about St. Patrick's Day? Are you a fan, or could you care less about the "holiday"?

Good Nachos and Slow Service at Tommy Doyle's

I’ve been to Tommy Doyle’s in Kendall Square several times before – mainly just for drinks. I love the Irish pub vibe, proximity to the other bars and restaurants in Kendall, and the economical prices. However, I never had dinner (or a full meal, for that matter) at Tommy Doyle’s until Friday night – and I have to say, I was pretty disappointed.

Let me start off by saying I didn’t expect a mind-blowing meal at this place – but I did expect decent pub grub and service.

We started off our meal on a high note with the Nachos Grande ($8.99), which were actually very good.

The cheese and toppings were generous and well layered throughout, and the side of homemade guacamole ($2.50) was fresh and tasty. I washed my nachos down with a pint of Sam Adams Octoberfest, which was good, but tasted like the keg line might have been a little dirty.

I wasn’t super hungry, so for my meal, I ordered the Paddy the Greek salad ($9.99), which was a bit overpriced for what it was.

The olives, feta and cherry tomatoes were abundant throughout, but the salad was dripping with dressing. Next time, I’ll be asking for it on the side.

Overall, our meal wasn’t terrible, and we ended up staying for a few more beers and met up with some more friends who were in the area. Again, I like the vibe at Tommy Doyle’s. The real bummer, though, was the service – although it was friendly, it was painfuily slow, and we had about five waiters total throughout the evening. The place also wasn’t crowded, so there was no real excuse as to why the service was so slow and disorganized. I had to go up to the bar twice just to get someone to come to our table (quick side note: we weren’t sitting in the dining room – we were at a high top table in the bar area).

Tommy Doyle’s is definitely a fun place to grab a drink or two and enjoy a quick snack (I’d definitely go back for the nachos), but just be warned that you might be waiting a while to get anybody to come to your table.

Waxy O'Connor's in Lexington

Last night, my friend Paul - who lives in Connecticut - was in Burlington for work. Z and I planned to meet him somewhere close to where he was so we could catch up over a few drinks. After a little deliberation, we stumbled upon Waxy O'Connor's, one of the few bars in Lexington.

Z grew up in Lexington, so on the way to Waxy's, I got the tour of his childhood hometown. It was great to learn a little bit more about his old stomping grounds. However, neither of us expected to find Waxy's where we did - tucked away in an industrial park, Waxy's is a large, obviously-newly-renovated colonial home. Odd, but inviting - and the massive parking lot was packed at 9:30 p.m.

Z, Paul and I were seated at a booth in the crowded, yet spacious, bar. Waxy's beer menu was so-so, with draft and bottled varieties (they also have a red and white wine list). I decided on a Shipyard Export for my first (and second) drink.

I love Shipyard Export. It's a lighter beer with some great body, and a very smooth finish. 

Since Z and I had already eaten dinner, we split a (giant) cone of Waxy's Fries ($2.95).

The fries were tasty and perfectly salty (I like my fries to have obvious salt on them), but were a little too under crispy for my liking. Paul ordered the Corned Beef Reuben ($8.95) with sweet potato fries, which he really enjoyed.

Z and Paul were embarrassed with my picture-taking for the evening, but a blogger's got to do what a blogger's got to do, am I right?

I would love to go back to Waxy's to try more of their menu - the place was spotless (minus the bathroom...ahem), the service was decent, and the atmosphere is just laid back and fun. Plus, my Irish blood can never not enjoy a local pub!

On the subject of beer...do you have a favorite spring/summer-time beverage you love to sip on? I'm looking for a new drink this year! 

Guinness Dark Chocolate Brownies

Some things just belong together.

On Wednesday night, I knew I wanted to make something delicious - and "special" - for St. Patrick's Day, but I also didn't have a ton of time to do so. Z had a bunch of our friends over to celebrate the holiday, and there was one item that everyone was expecting: Guinness. I searched online for some dessert recipes involving the brew, but only came across some made-from-scratch varieties. I finally decided to take matters into my own hands, and made things simple.

Here is the easiest recipe ever for some of the most decadent brownies you will ever try: Buy a mix of Betty Crocker's Dark Chocolate brownies, and substitute the 1/4 cup water for 1/2 cup Guinness. Add a 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, and bake according to directions on the package.

Once the brownies have cooled, spoon a little bit more Guinness over the top to make them extra moist (I hate that word...but "wet" just won't work here).

Just beware: These suckers are rich. And fabulous, if I do say so myself.

How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Memorable Irish Meals

On occasion, I still do some freelance writing for my hometown newspaper, The Nashua Telegraph. I recently wrapped up an article for their upcoming St. Patrick's Day issue regarding local people who make or cherish traditional Irish recipes - that have their own, unique twist to them.

Writing this story and speaking with several different people in the area really made me think about my own upbringing in an Irish/English/Scottish household. Every Sunday, my mother would make a big meal - that would provide plenty of leftovers throughout the week - and nine times out of 10, this Sunday dinner was chocked full of Irish fare.

This morning, I'd like to take a little walk down memory lane to give you some insight into my family's Irish dinners/recipes growing up.

Shepherd's Pie: My mother made Shepherd's Pie a lot. I still crave that comforting flavor of warm mashed potatoes, although now I'm looking for the perfect vegetarian-friendly version. My mom's version was very budget-friendly. Her Shepherd's Pie was made with instant mashed potatoes, cream-style corn and scrambled beef with jarred tomato sauce. Growing up, it was delicious.

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Pot Roast with Boiled Potatoes and Cabbage: A Sunday dinner staple in my house growing up. I remember the house always smelt so amazing on Sundays. 

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Irish Coffee: Every Thanksgiving - once I got older, and to this day - we have our own version of "Irish coffee." Our Irish coffee is made with Amaretto instead of whiskey. And it's delicious (and, when my mother makes it, very strong).

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What are some childhood food memories you cherish?

Honoring my Irish heritage at Keltic Krust Bakery

Growing up, my mother made sure we knew that we were Irish (although her side of the family was mostly Scottish – my father’s side had most of the Irishness). On Sundays, our New Hampshire cape would be warm with the aromas of pot roast and potatoes baking in the oven, while the sound of the hyperactive cabbage boiled on the stovetop. During most work weeks, a household favorite was also shepherd’s pie – made with instant mashed potatoes, scrambled hamburger, and creamstyle corn from a can. The pot roast wasn’t glamorous, either – it took me years to realize pot roast did not have to be chewed 25 times in order to swallow it safely. And I have still yet to meet a boiled cabbage that I like.

But, I have to give the woman credit for her cooking – my mother did raise four children (one who is mentally disabled – and no, I’m not talking about myself), and she always worked. We were a middle class, Irish and Scottish family in New Hampshire – so what if our staple Irish meals tasted like we were on welfare?

Regardless of the Irish dinners I ate growing up, I have grown to love and cherish my Irish and Scottish heritage, mostly thanks to my mother. So when I stumbled upon Keltic Krust Bakery in West Newton last weekend, I instantly fell in love. Perfectly risen loaves of Irish soda bread, crusty scones, and airy Eccles cakes lined the bakery shelves like hard-to-resist gems. Just walking in there made me feel proud to be an Irish fatty.

For breakfast that morning, I opted for an Eccles cake (a classic British puff pastry tea cake filled with raisins), and a decadent hot cross bun. The Eccles cake was perfectly light and airy, with the moist center and crispy sugary coating that I now crave just about every morning. Keltic Krust also didn’t overdo it on the raisins, which made this cake that much more enjoyable (and less chewy). 

The hot cross bun was downright traditional, but also very tasty. The dough was well spiced, and had just enough raisins to give it flavor and texture, but allowed the dough to be the star of this baked good. The icing on top was also thick and sweet, which complemented the almost-savory bun perfectly.

To wash it all down, I ordered a large iced coffee. The coffee, of course, was nothing special, but it was strong and brewed well – no sign of being watered down at all.

I’m already craving my next visit to Keltic Krust – there is so much left for me to gorge on. My only gripes: The décor and atmosphere were disappointing and bland, and I was confused by the gluten-free, vegan breakfast bars. Great item, but weird to have at an Irish bakery, in my opinion.