Minn, Minn

Never would I have thought I would ever celebrate my favorite holiday – July 4^th – landlocked in the middle of the country with not a beach insight. But after having spent an amazing long weekend with old friends, I’m still laughing and reminiscing 2 months later.

OK – so it’s pretty safe to assume more liquids were consumed than actual solids that weekend – but if it weren’t for the libations, we wouldn’t have found this amazing breakfast stop.

A quick jaunt from our hotel was the most indulgent breakfast place I’ve ever been to – Ike’s. We knew we were at the right spot, when we walked up and found a line outside waiting for the doors to open.

So why is this Choo-Chew worthy? It’s simple: Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Any time you attend a sporting event downtown, you can take the LRT from Ike’s to the game and back for only 50 cents! John Candy would love it!

Gloucester - I hardly knew her!

Jen here!

I celebrated my birthday a couple weekends ago and it validated my appreciation for the most important things in life – family and friends! To me, there is nothing better than sitting around a table with your besties – eating, drinking and laughing. The week-long celebration was a true birthday success!

Green Land Café: A cherry on top!

Hi - Matt here!
A couple weekends back Jen and I went out to celebrate her birthday with two very special guest diners – Jack and Debbie, Jen’s parents.  We picked Green Land Café, which is located right in downtown Salem. It is very convenient from the train stop – just 200 yards down Washington Street.  Greenland takes pride in “fresh thinking”.  They have shaped their restaurant around sustainability and organic ingredients, grown and harvested locally. Their commitment to sustainability shows throughout the restaurant – including the bar constructed from the building’s original oak doors that were found in the attic when the restaurant was being built.

(photo courtesy of greenlandcafe.com)

Soma - SoMany Good Drinks!

Jen here! A few Saturday nights ago Matt and I headed to Soma to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of his 29^th birthday!

Although we didn’t arrive via choo-choo, Soma is located on Cabot Street only a quick 10 minute walk away (.5 mile) from the Beverly Depot train station. So it is easily accessible by commuter rail or car.

We reserved the overly large square table in the bar (our favorite table) and enjoyed many delicious dishes and drinks with 4 guest diners: Rich & Sarah and Chris & Keira.

Not enough North Shore restaurants have such a stylish, yet comfortable ambiance that draws you in and wraps around you. The dark wood floor, big cozy booth and perfect chillaxing music makes you feel relaxed and excited at the same time. Soma gets an A for lighting. The hanging jelly fish lights dance above you at the bar and the perfectly lit dining room creates a cool vibe. (Oh! And I think they were one of the first restaurants ever to have the Xlerator, which is my favorite invention of the 21^st century. It beats out the Dyson Airblade any day of the week.)

Beyond super cool bathroom technologies, Soma has one of the best drink menus around. The martinis range from perfect pre-dinner libations (The Strawberry Basil Martini or Bourbon Soma Smash) to perfect-ending liquid desserts (The Banana Bread martini – my fave!)

We started with a few delicious appetizers – Classic Caesar Salad for Mr. Matty, Rhode Island style fried calamari for Rich and beet salad with “zingy” dressing for Sarah. Round 1 was a success.

Entrees were the piece-de-resistance. After inquiring with our waitress “what’s the deal with the seasonal vegetable soup” and her response being “it is amazing,” I went right for it – no more questions asked. It was fresh spring vegetables, vegetable nage, parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil served in a gorgeous bowl. She was right – it was amazing.