Martin's Musings

When I saw on CBS’ Sunday Morning today that there was a pancake batter in a can product called Batter Blaster, I was simultaneously horrified, skeptical, and curious. I mean, pancake batter in a can? With a name that sounds more like a comic-book villain? Seriously? But as someone who likes his pancakes (and waffles) on a Sunday morning, I decided I had to do what any other self-(dis)respecting person would do, and try it.

According to the website, Batter Blaster isn’t available everywhere, but it can be found at Stop & Shop (near the eggs and whipped cream), so I went there. Five dollars and a conversation with an amused and excited fellow shopper later, I was home and cooking. The batter (which, by the way, is made mostly with organic ingredients) didn’t come out in the same whipped-cream style that I’d seen on TV (it was much runnier, despite my shaking of the can), and the pancakes might not have been the thickest ones I’ve had, but they were, as advertised, light and fluffy. Tasty too. I was very impressed. So I kept on cooking and had myself a very good breakfast.

And there you go. I’ve learned something today: Pancakes from a can can actually be good. And now, when I want to have pancakes or waffles on a Sunday morning, I don’t have to worry about mixing up the flour and eggs and other stuff. I just have to look in my refrigerator. Score.

Just wanted to post a quick little thing about my experience last night at Post 390. I’d wanted to go to this Back Bay hot spot for a while now, and had been there for drinks a month ago, but it wasn’t until last night that I actually sat down to eat. Sara K and I both tried the Beer and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese (yes, I said Beer and Bacon Macaroni and Cheese), and it was fine, but the place truly won me over with its dessert. I had the Chocolate Layer Cake, with “Mom’s fudge frosting” and vanilla creme, and all I can say is wow. Just wow. The cake was moist, very sweet, and nearly perfect in every way. The frosting was an ideal compliment, and just incredible. It was worth trudging out on a very cold evening and waiting more than a half hour for a table just to eat this very tasty treat.

I eat a lot of cake — indeed, too much cake — so it takes a lot for me to really rave about one piece in particular, but I have to say, this Chocolate Layer Cake (not to be confused with the Sliver of Dark Chocolate Cake) was worth a quick public shout-out. So there you go.

You might think from its kitchy, retro décor that the Friendly Toast is just some too-hip restaurant that’s almost too cool for its Cambridge locale. But after my first visit on Sunday, I can safely say this much: don’t judge a book solely by its cover. Continue reading →

I’m a fan of any place that demonstrates good customer service, so I thought I’d post something here about my meal last night at Tupelo, a southern food joint in Inman Square. My friend Nina and I ate there for dinner, and to make a long story short, her food was not to her liking (it was too salty and a little overcooked). So even though she had eaten about half of it, she said something to the waiter, and he offered to get her something else. Not only did he bring that something else, but he also brought her a side dish that she had asked about earlier but hadn’t ordered. In addition to being very friendly, the waiter checked on us multiple times to make sure we were alright, and always had a smile on his face.

The kicker to the experience is that when the check came, neither Nina’s original dish, the replacement, or the extra side dish was on it. That showed a commitment to customer satisfaction that’s pretty rare these days, especially at a time when many small businesses are feeling the pinch of a tough economy, and we were really impressed. And for the record, I very much enjoyed my meal. I had the barbecued half chicken; it was prepared well and was delicious.

Tupelo was chosen as the Best Restaurant in Inman Square by Boston magazine earlier this year, and it’s not hard to see why. I’d recommend this place and look forward to going back.