boston getaway

i usually can't stand red-eye flights. i can never sleep on the plane, and just feel grumpy about standing in security lines at the crack of dawn- "waddaya MEAN i have to stand here barefoot as you scan my bags??!!". but i braved TWO red-eyes in the past 4 days (not to mention time away from the hubs), just so i could spend some time in bean town with good friends. this post is going to read like a food journal, but what can i say- my friends share my love for good eats :)
i rolled into boston around noonish on thursday, and was met by jen- one of my best friends from high school. she met me at the airport and eased me into the use of public transportation- which FASCINATES me, btw. i commented on this repeatedly throughout my trip, because i feel so sheltered in sacramento. being thrust into the milieu of humanity on the T was so... invigorating. and occasionally smelly, loud and uncomfortable. all so exciting for a country mouse like me.

my first day involved a verrry relaxing mani-pedi, lunch (omg, best chicken salad sandwich of my life) at sel de la terre, wandering through copley place, rediscovering richart chocolates, and a quick snack (almond pear tart) at l'aroma cafe on newbury st. trekked over to youn's neck of the woods for dinner at redbones bbq in davis square/somerville, yummy ice cream from jp licks, then candle pin bowling.

second day, lunch at chacarero (yummmmmy chilean sandwiches), eaten on the common with jen and youn. went to ICA, then an exceptional "1/2 birthday" dinner at no 9 park, and eventually ended up at clery's.

third and final day- lunch with sonya at cambridge one for "yuppy pizza", finished off with fauxberry yogurt at berry line. afternoon was spent wandering through jfk library- which i highly recommend. and yet another solidly tasty dinner: 4-course tasting menu for $45 at ten tables in cambridge. then, food inc at kendall square theater with the girls & ravi. i'm sure a lot of people will say this after watching this movie, but seriously- it has changed the way i look at all food, and hopefully will seriously change the way i eat.

many, many thanks to my fabulous hostesses- youn and jen, for a very much appreciated whirlwind stay in boston. can't wait to visit again!