Hidden away in the basement in a small hotel in Newton, I discovered this place purely by accident one night last week when I stayed overnight at the Indigo Hotel.
The wood paneled steakhouse specializes in beef. I wasn't in the mood for meat. Instead I had creamy mac n' cheese as an appetizer then the Scottish salmon to follow. Both were good. The mac n' cheese was a little too rich for my taste, that didn't stop me from eating it though. The salmon was cooked perfectly, a pleasant surprise. My favorite things at this restaurant weren't on the menu, but served gratis to every table.
Cotton candy was a prelude to dessert. They have different flavors daily. The cherry flavor I ate tasted oddly of Sucrets (the cough drops). Eating it stirred up childhood memories of county fairs and sore throats.
My favorite treat came in the bread basket: sweet, crisp crackers unlike any others I've ever had. They are made from a raisin nut log (with cranberries and walnuts) from Iggy's Bread of the World in Cambridge, a well known baker, similar in quality and popularity to La Brea Bakery in Los Angeles. The crackers were so good I asked for the recipe and scored a few of them for the road. I've included the recipe below for those of you who want to make them at home. These crackers go well with cheese.
Sweet Crackers
Ingredients:
1 loaf of high quality bread with cranberries, raisins and nuts (or any loaf you like)
Good quality olive oil
Organic sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Slice bread in 1/4 inch slices. If you can, have the bakery slice them on a machine, using the #2 width.
3. Lay the bread slices on a baking sheet covered with a Silpat non-stick, baking mat or parchment paper.
4. With a spray bottle, spritz the slices with olive oil, covering them lightly.
5. Then take a hand full of sugar and sprinkle sugar loosely over bread.
6. Bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees. Crackers can last approximately 1 week in an airtight container. Make sure they are cool before storing.
Bokx 109399 Grove St
Newton, MA 02462
617. 454. 3399
The counter was overflowing with luscious, baked goods, a feast for the eyes. Trying to decide what to order was nearly impossible. I settled for the Sugar Brioche Bun and their version of the Oreo, grande sized. I bought them to go and surprised my husband. He loved the sweet Oreo with soft chocolate wafers. I preferred the airy bun, butter and sugar being my sweet of choice. This is a place to return to again and again. Next time I'll have lunch there too, quiche perhaps.
