All Star Sandwich Bar

Local ingredients. Bubbly personalities. Innovative menu items. Welcome to All Star Sandwich Bar.

Last weekend, Z and I biked over to the Inman Square sandwich shop for lunch. The generous folks at All Star had invited us to come in and try some of their menu items – although Z and I had dined there before, we were excited to try some of their new creations (their menu changes frequently, thanks to the local/seasonal ingredients they use).

We had just beat the Sunday rush, and got seated right away. The tiny eatery was packed, but we were assured by our waiter – and Johnny Diamantopoulos, the co-owner and chef – that it was a slow time of year for them. The crowd was not too surprising, however – the staff and atmosphere at All Star Sandwich Bar are ultra inviting, and the open kitchen, chalkboard menus and free Oreos (on your way out) don’t hurt, either.

Since it was about 100 degrees outside on this particular day, Z and I eagerly ordered Arnold Palmers ($2.50) to sip with our meals. 

For our appetizer, we ordered the fried pickles, which were a special for that day. 

These were plump, delicious fried pickles. The breading held tight to the still-crisp, hot pickles, and the accompanying cool, zesty sauce complemented the chips beautifully.

For our side, we got the Pile of Fries ($3.95), which were thin, perfectly salted and dangerously addictive. 

For our sandwiches, we went with two of the few vegetarian options on the menu (our waiter actually told us he doesn’t “get” vegetarians – so meat eaters, expect some meaty creations. Vegetarians, the Grilled Falafel Burger ($8.95) is also delish). I opted for the vegetarian special of the day while Z got the Veggie Cubano ($8.95), made with grilled eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, roasted peppers, portobello mushrooms, Jack cheese, Swiss cheese, cilantro aioli and Dijon mustard. I really liked how the chef knew we’d be sharing and gave each of us a plate with half of each sandwich (complete with homemade coleslaw and a deli pickle). 

The cubano was just how it should be - warm, bursting with gooey cheese, and filled to the brim with delicious ingredients - while the cheese acted as the "glue" to prevent the sandwich from falling apart with each bite. My sandwich was also fantastic, but the creamy, zesty sauce that was slathered inside of it stole the show. Due to the hot temperatures on this particular Sunday, Z and I favored my sandwich the most out of the two because it was lighter on the stomach and served cold.

Overall, our experience at All Star Sandwich Bar was a positive one. I love chef Johnny's devotion to local and seasonal sources, and his innovative culinary ideas. Him and his brother own the shop, and have really found a way to take their niche and turn it into something pretty incredible (and popular, based off the Sunday lunch crowd we saw). Stay tuned, because in October (tentatively) Johnny and his brother are opening a pizza shop right across the street from their current Sandwich Bar. Be prepared for the same passion, just behind a different food.

Johnny also admitted to us that he’s looking for new sandwich ideas – personally, I’d love to see some crazy-delicious grilled cheeses or egg salad sandwiches on their menu. What sandwich(es) would you love All Star Sandwich Bar to have on their menu?

Disclaimer: All Star Sandwich Bar was kind enough to let Z and I enjoy our meals for free. Despite their generosity, the views expressed in this post are honest and 100 percent my own. 

For the Love of Beer

Is there really anything better than beer?

I can't think of anything - which is why I was ecstatic when the kind folks at Alexander Keith's beer company asked if I'd like to sample three of their new beers that are now available in the United States.

"Alexander Keith was born on October 5, 1795, in Halkirk, Scotland. At age 17, his father sent him into a brewing apprenticeship in Sunderland, England. After a five-year apprenticeship, Keith was certified by the Worshipful Company of Brewers, becoming the first person to hold such qualification upon his arrival in Nova Scotia, which means 'New Scotland,' in 1817."

The three new beers that recently hit the U.S. market are: the Nova Scotia Style Lager (5.4% abv); the Nova Scotia Style Pale Ale (5.4% abv); and the Nova Scotia Style Brown Ale (5.4% abv). Brewed in St. Louis, MO, Alexander Keith's new beers are available in 22 states across the U.S., including Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut and New Hampshire. 

The first beer out of the three that I sampled was the Brown Ale. 

Resembling an Irish red in color, the brown ale had delightful hints of caramel and hops in flavor. Although I tend to be a fan of richer, darker brown ales, this was a great light ale to have with dinner on a hot, humid evening. 

Next up was the Pale Ale.

I always love a beer with a bubbly, foaming head, and it didn't hurt that Alexander Keith's Pale Ale was light, crisp and oh-so refreshing. I'll admit there was nothing entirely special about this brew, but if you're a fan of lighter beers (think Coors Light, but with a little more flavor and body), then this beer's for you. 

The final beer I tried was the Lager. 

I'm not usually a huge fan of lagers - I've had some bad ones - but Alexander Keith's version was surprisingly well-bodied, and easily quenched my thirst. I could definitely see myself picking up a six-pack of this for a barbecue, or to enjoy at home with dinner (without throwing the whole six-pack down in one sitting, of course. Ahem).

Although Z has turned me into quite the beer snob, I must say that I was very pleased with Alexander Keith's new beers. During the summertime, I really can't throw back too many heavy brews, and I found these light, crisp beverages to be perfect for sipping on hot summer evenings. 

If you're a beer drinker, what's your favorite brew to sip during the summertime? 

Cupcake Coma

It's moments like this that make me proud to be an auntie...

Blogger Dinner on the Odyssey

On Friday night, I was fortunate enough to attend a Boston Blogger dinner on the Odyssey Cruise ship (out of Rowes Wharf) with 10 other food bloggers. The event was put on by Rachel, and we enjoyed three courses and one beverage while enjoying the views of Boston (tax and additional drinks were not included).

To start, I enjoyed a glass of 2005 Westport Brut "RJR," which was a crisp, refreshing glass of bubbly. It actually reminded me a lot of sparkling cider, but with just a hint of apple flavor.

For my three dishes, I went with all of the vegetarian options, starting with the Mixed Greens with Apples and Strawberries. The salad was described as including candied pecans, grape tomatoes and crumbled blue cheese in a raspberry vinaigrette, but the pecans and cheese were almost nonexistent. 

For my entree, I had the Roasted Vegetable Napoleon, which consisted of a ragout of tomato, zucchini, eggplant and summer squash, layered with a white bean puree between crispy Lavash and served with basil marinara sauce. Despite the fact that the sauce tasted fresh from a jar, this dish was not half bad - and I really enjoyed the garnish of crispy asparagus spears. 

For dessert, I had the Raspberry Mousse Cup, which was served in a dark chocolate cup and "finished with homemade whipped cream." The whipped cream was clearly lacking, and the mousse was obviously made with artificial raspberry flavoring. I actually commented that it tasted like a Smart Ones dessert. 

The crowd aboard the Odyssey on this particular night varied from large parties to groups of friends to couples on date nights, and there was live music complete with a dance floor for the brave souls aboard the ship. The ambiance is a nice change from the stationary restaurants in the city (and the views on the top deck of the ship didn't hurt, either) but the food was seriously lacking. The menu descriptions make the dishes sound out-of-this-world, but, unfortunately, they weren't entirely impressive overall. Our waiter, who has been working on the ship for seven years, also served us the wrong plates several times throughout the evening. However, the views of those brave souls on the dance floor did provide some fun, live entertainment - and if you aren't prone to motion sickness, the Odyssey does provide a nice escape from land for a few hours.

Side note: Congrats to Daisy - she won my Tommy Doyle's giveaway! Daisy, please email me to claim your Save!

Disclaimer: The generous folks at the Odyssey let us bloggers enjoy their dinner cruise plus one alcoholic beverage free of charge (tip and additional drinks were not included, and the typical cost of this dinner costs around $90). Despite their generosity, the opinions expressed in this post are honest and 100% my own.

Olive Oil Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Danyelle and I have been best friends since second grade. She's seen me at my worst, she's seen me at my best, and I know, no matter what time of day it is, I can call her when I need a friend. Danyelle also happens to be one of the strongest people I know - she's a mother of two young boys, and her husband, Scott, is currently serving in Iraq. She's got a lot on her plate - and, well, so does her husband.

Last weekend, I had time on my hands and wanted to make Scott something special - hoping that this package I sent to him would bring a glimmer of light to his day. I perused numerous dessert recipes, and finally stumbled upon this one. The photos, description and recipe told me right away that these cookies were fit for a hero.

Olive Oil Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Yields: About 17 cookies
Adapted from The Crepes of Wrath 

-2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
-1 1/2 teaspoons salt
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1 cup granulated sugar
-1/4 cup brown sugar

-1 teaspoon honey
-2 eggs
-1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of soy milk
-1/2 cup each of milk and white chocolate chips

Directions: 
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
2. Combine sugars, vanilla, honey and olive oil. Beat in the eggs one a time. Gradually beat in the flour mixture, then add in a tablespoon of milk to make the dough a bit firmer.
3. Roll the dough into balls with your hands (I used an ice cream scoop) and place on a greased and/or lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden and set. Allow to cool for a bit on the baking sheet, then move to another surface to finish cooling.

Of course, I had to taste test one, and I was pleasantly surprised with the end result. I have to admit, I was skeptical that olive oil in place of butter would produce delicious chocolate chip cookies. But thankfully, the cookies came out moist, almost fluffy - the texture was unlike anything I've ever had before, at least in cookie form.

The combination of white and milk chocolate didn't hurt, either. I hope these cookies brighten Scott's day like they brightened mine.

Since I’m a huge loser and only one person entered my Tommy Doyle’s giveaway (thanks, Daisy!) I’m giving EE readers one more chance to enter. I’ll leave the giveaway open until TONIGHT at midnight EST, and will announce the winner on Monday. Good luck!

Tommy Doyle's and Eversave Giveaway

I’m part Irish, so I grew up eating a lot of corned beef, boiled cabbage and (once I turned 21) Irish coffees. Through food, my parents made us proud of our Irish heritage, although I will be happy to never eat corned beef again. Sorry, Mom.

Because of my Irish pride – and my love for my day job at Eversave.com – I instantly said yes when Colleen asked if I wanted to giveaway a Tommy Doyle’s Save on my blog. Eversave in Boston is running a deal today for $30 worth of food and non-alcoholic drinks at Tommy Doyle’s in Kendall Square, Harvard Square or Hyannis – but it only costs the customer $15. Today, EE readers have a chance to win a FREE Tommy Doyle’s Save! Here’s how to enter:

1.) Leave a comment on this blog post about your heritage and why you’re proud of it.

For additional entries:

2.) Tweet: "I want to win a free Save to Tommy Doyle’s from @MichellePC and @EversaveBOS!"

3.) “Like” Eversave Boston on Facebook and comment below saying you did so

4.) Follow @EversaveBOS on Twitter and comment below saying you did so

The giveaway will end tonight at midnight EST. I’ll announce the winner tomorrow morning. Good luck!

Worth the Splurge: Oleana

Some meals are worth emptying your bank account for. Meals, for instance, that are made with quality, fresh ingredients with beautiful presentations served by knowledgeable waiters in a comfortable, lively environment. Meals, for example, that are served at Oleana Restaurant in Cambridge.

Z and I have been dying to try Oleana, and we finally had the opportunity to do so a few weeks ago when Z’s parents generously treated us to a birthday dinner (Z’s birthday is six days before mine – on July 4th!). We all sampled a variety of tapas that evening, including Warm Olives with Za’atar ($5)…

The cheese plate ($11), which came with homemade string cheese, fresh mozzarella and Shanklish with spiced figs….

And numerous other dishes that were all magnificent – including the Spinach Falafel with Tahini, Yogurt, Beets and Crinkled Cress ($12). However, the most notable dish of the evening was the Chickpea Terrine with Apricot, Pistachio and Tahini Sauce ($9). This gem was one of the best dishes I’ve ever tasted. Hands down.

The dish itself is innovative, but the textures, flavors, spices and ingredients were all 100 percent spot on. I could easily eat this dish everyday for dinner for the rest of my life and die a happy woman. It was that good.

Oleana’s inventive menu, attentive staff and amazing use of flavors and spices (not to mention their dedication to local ingredients) makes this Cambridge spot worth every single penny.

Have you ever been to Oleana? What's your review?