Crabcakes and Tapas

I feel like I should be on a fruit and water diet after this past weekend.

It starts with Chick-fil-A on Saturday for lunch. Do NOT get the lemonade unless you're prepared to be spitting out lemon seeds. A lot of them. It is good lemonade though; I just wished they thought to filter out the seeds.

After a bit of shopping (let's be honest, it was returning on my part), we go to a cooking class at Sur La Table.

My station

I really wanted to like it more. But it wasn't much of a cooking class. We mixed a few things. Scooped them into bowls. Tossed and plated a salad. And then we ate.

We got one of these for 5 people. And it was only to fry crabcakes and then toast breadcrumbs.

Summer salad (with peas, yuck) and a crabcake.

Baked cod with toasted breadcrumbs. Bland.

No crust blueberry pie (it was really more like a blueberry pancake baked in a cast iron pan).










I may have to use that crabcake recipe though. Super easy.

We weren't sure how big the portions would be at the class, so we made plans to have dinner at Bocado.

And what would a meal at Bocado be without sangria?

And fried goat cheese.

Tres leches cheese with chorizo and serrano ham.

Patatas asadas.

Esparragos con gambas - shrimp and asparagus salad. And more goat cheese.

Gambas al ajillo - these shrimp were really good. But why would they think one piece of bread would be enough?

Pork belly on polenta - I didn't eat this but it looked very dry.










I was much too full to really enjoy the food, but the serrano ham was really good. And the bread. And of course the goat cheese.

Sunday started with dim sum at China Pearl in Quincy. And then I had dinner with Sam and Nhi at Gustazo in Waltham. They really need to get on that liquor license, because then I would definitely come here again. As it is, I probably still would.

Gustazo is a small-ish, but cozy, place on Main Street. The server was really nice and accommodating, but one of the food runners was not super helpful in explaining what the dish was when she placed it on the table. She quickly said the name of the dish in Spanish, and well, it was a bit lost on me.

If you go the small plates route (and I totally recommend that you do), they do come out as they're ordered. So try to save space for the later ones.

Tamal en cazuela - soooo good. Rich and creamy, but with corn. And then the pork. Delicious.

Tostones - I liked these. But I only ate one, because they're on the filling side.

Frituras de calabaza - this is a squash fritter. And it was too soft, especially with the goat cheese mousse. I would have liked a crispier exterior.

Camarones al ajillo - this was amazing. And that bit of toast is perfect. Just enough salt so you taste it, but it's overwhelming.

Maduros con tocino - this was interesting, but had a lot going on in a tiny, albeit very pretty, bowl. And the sugar caramelized and then hardened and became a bit messy.

Costillas a la guayaba - fall off the bone sweet and meaty deliciousness. Minus the beets. But that is because I am no fan of beets.

Cazuela de coliflor asada - surprisingly creamy and perhaps a bit too rich to eat too much of.

Churros con chocolate - yum. Soo perfect. I could have used an additional two or three churros so I could continue eating the chocolate though.








Definitely worth a stop. The portions are great for sharing, the prices are very reasonable. And it was just a great meal. (Would be that much better with a glass of wine, though.)

BONUS:

Just getting started at dim sum.

Just in case any of you have forgotten his name.