I feel pressure. Here I am blogging and sometimes it’s tough to come up with something to write about. So we have to keep doing our research for 2 at the bar and that means finding blogworthy restaurants and travel. Not a bad assignment. It is a little tough with Roy on his latest health kick called “Business Plan for the Body”. It’s really Weight Watchers but he’s counting calories instead of points and he’s doing a good job at it. But we all know Roy will get bored and be on to something else hopefully before we go to Mexico. In the meantime, I’ll try to keep you interested in our comings and goings.
60 degrees in Boston on January 7-how often does that happen? So we had to take advantage of it and what better way than holiday returns, taking a good walk with Romeo, playing frisbee with Romeo (he’s really my 2-year-old child) and watching the movie Senna on our new Apple TV (LOVE IT!). Senna was a Formula 1 race car driver from Brazil. It’s a documentary about him and it’s excellent – check it out.
Then it was off to AKA Bistro – Lincoln, MA. As you know, we’ll go anywhere. Actually it’s not too far from us and this little restaurant has some good buzz. We meeting some old friends that we haven’t seen in way too long.
AKA is a small bistro in the center of Lincoln. Lincoln consists of a train station, post office and fire station and maybe a couple of stores. It’s one of Boston’s nicest burbs and so a perfect spot for an upscale little bistro. Entering the restaurant you’re met by an open kitchen, a bar and a communal table; that’s in one room. The other room is the dining room; small with only probably 10 tables. The restaurant is French/Japanese. That doesn’t mean fusion; part of the menu is French and part is Japanese. All the principals came from working with Ken Oringer at Clio and UNI so you’ll understand when I tell you that the Japanese/Sashimi menu is really good. The sashimi won Best Sashimi in Metro West and that’s saying something because we have outposts of Fugakyu and Oiishi out here in the hinterlands!
Before dinner began a big platter of rolls was brought to the table with a choice of French baguettes or fresh herb buttermilk biscuits. The biscuits were really good – I ate two! We started on the Japanese side of the menu with some rock shrimp tempura with spicy Korean aoli, a mix of five types of seaweed salad and Kobe beef dumplings in a sukiyaki consomme. All delicious. With that we had a bottle (make that two bottles) of a Clos des Allees Muscadet. I love that they serve the wine in Riedel glasses – a nice touch. I guess we liked the wine – a lot! We never felt rushed; Roy asked if our table was being turned over and the waitress told us not to worry. We finally ordered dinner after catching up with our friends. I had a Tartelette Savoyard with raclette cheese, garlic and foraged mushrooms and a side of carmelized brussel sprouts with lardons; Roy had moules frite as did my friend and our other friend had sturgeon. I was disappointed with my choice. I expected more of a real tarte; this was served pizza-like with a flaky pastry. Not my favorite. Everyone else enjoyed but agreed that the Japanese plates were the best. Dessert was a creme brule and an espresso rounded out the dinner. As a little treat at the end of the meal mini Madeleine’s were brought to the table. A nice touch.
Did I love it – no. But I did love the Japanese plates. Roy says he’d like to go back and I’d definitely go back to give it another try and explore the Japanese/Sashimi menu.
That’s it for now….see you at the bar!
