Modern Pastry

Modern Pastry - Exterior

One large, one small. Both AMAZING.

On The Road...Boston, MA
I'm going to come right out and say it in three words. BEST. CANNOLI. EVER. To think, my research said this was a close 2nd in Boston but I've tried what that person called the best and it didn't even come close to the cannoli greatness served at Modern Pastry, a Boston staple since the 1930's.

Rating - 5/5 - PERFECTION. I've never had a cannoli this good, anywhere. Ever. My favorites in NYC and BK take a backseat to this gem.

Their site - http://www.modernpastry.com/

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Blue Door Pub

BDP - All Gone

On The Road...St. Paul, MN

Lots O' Tots for $2

It's my second week back from my brief stint in the Twin Cities but let me tell you, they left a lasting impression. The people were awesome and the food was even better. Yes, I know. I don't do gourmet dining and go for the basic dogs, burgers, brats, pizza, etc. but that stuff is so good that I can't pass it up. Preliminary research led me to a number of places and I just had to figure out how to get to St. Paul to make a visit to the Blue Door Pub. A lot of independent sources all gave the BDP rave reviews and I needed to see it for myself.

El Guapo - The Good Looking One

We stroll up to the BDP, decked out in NY Yankee gear (this was our post game meal) and were told to eat outside. At least they'd be willing to serve us unlike some of the savagery that goes on in Boston. All kidding aside, we were ultimately allowed to eat inside to take advantage of happy hour beer specials ($2!!!!) and baskets of tots for only $2!! I mean, if you wanna give away your food, I'm all for it. We found out a little too late about the spicy tots but that was something special! Tots with a dusting of cayenne pepper really hit the spot. The people here were really cool, very friendly. It was not that small but there was a great crowd and it was just a really good time.

Medium Rare w/cheesy center

By now, you've become familiar with the Jucy Lucy and the BDP has their take, conveniently called the "Juicy Blucy" and there are a wide variety of Blucys to choose from. I chose the special B.O.M., "El Guapo" that featured home made pico de gallo and Monterrey Jack cheese. I also selected this specific Blucy in honor of my friend Ed who was not on this trip.

I am making this vow, if their "challenge" exists the next time I am in the Twin Cities, I will do it in 2 days (split 5 and 5). I sure do hope I am there for more than 2 days even though I'll be conveniently close to the Mayo Clinic. What's the challenge? Well, as defined on their site: THE CHALLENGE: Try one of each kind of Blucy (there are 10 of them on the regular menu). THE RULES: Always carry your punch card with you. And stay true to the items listed. The order in which you complete the Blucys is irrelevant. Remind your server to punch your card! THE TROPHY: The winner t-shirt. A custom made limited time winner t-shirt. THE GLORY: We will treat you to your 11th burger and then we hope you start the madness all over again!

Rating - 5/5 - This is so incredibly delicious I can't even describe it. Everything is fresh and amazing. The pico de gallo had some good heat and was perfect. The bun, outstanding. The burger, huge! Everything about the BDP is just head and shoulders above many of the burgers I've ever had.

Their site - http://thebdp.com/?page_id=16 (I go straight for the jugular to point out the delicious Blucys

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Louie and Ernie's

Louie & Ernie's Exterior

I recently set out on a mission, a Bronx mission. For me, the Bronx is ripe with tradition - baseball and hip-hop come to mind. And the list of legends from both areas that were "born in the Bronx" are the who's who in baseball and hip-hop lore, respectively. The Bronx is also often unnoticed in the NY food scene, specifically pizza, but there are neighborhoods that were flooded with Italian immigrants and the food and culture still thrives.

I went to the Bronx, searching for some GOOD pizza and my research yielded a few spots, traffic only allowed me to hit up one. That one, had the fate of the Bronx on its shoulders. Could it deliver?

I have heard the name so often. Louie and Ernie. Louie and Ernie. This is your neighborhood pizzeria just maybe not in your neighborhood. Word on the street is that the calzone at Louie and Ernie's is a must have, especially if you get the calzone with prosciuttini. A slice and a calzone, why not? I'm a growing boy.

I started with the slice and I thought it was average. I've been to a multitude of neighborhood pizza joints in a number of neighborhoods across NYC, and rarely are those neighborhood joints so stand out that they are elevated to the top of the pizza chart. Louie and Ernie is really no exception. The pizza was average, just average.

Turning my sights to the calzone it was interesting. And not a good interesting. The dough on the exterior was deep fried having a similar taste and texture to a zeppole. The filling would have been relatively flavorless if not loaded up with black pepper. The prosciuttini had no flavor and this thing was just a major, major disappointment for me.

Rating - 2.25/5 - the pizza was average. Nothing really was outstanding. The sauce was bland. The cheese, bland. The dough/crust was good but lacking that crunch I crave. If I did a rating for L&E with the calzone included, it would have been brought down to a 1.5

Their site - doesn't exist but they're located at 1300 Crosby Ave.

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Pizzeria Regina

Pizzeria Regina - 11 1/2 Thacher

On The Road...Boston, MA
Look up "best pizza Boston" and you'll find Regina at or near the top of every list in beantown. I took my brother along for this trip, more like he took me along as he drove me to the North End to indulge my pizza cravings. I had a long list of places at which we should eat and Regina was definitely on the list. Before I get too deep into my review, I really could care less if the staff has a bit of an attitude and that's their little gimmick. I get it, that's fine. I've been to enough places like that and can handle it. Besides, I could care less how nasty the staff is if the food is good.

Pizzeria Regina - Pepperoni Slice

The food, the pizza. Pizzeria Regina's staple item for North Enders since 1926. Regina serves a big slice. A greasy slice. A relatively bland slice that lacks flavor, crunch, and that special something that makes me want to go back for more.

My brother had a very similar reaction. He was not impressed with the pizza and was kinda let down. We've shared a number of great slices together at my home in NY and his home in MA. Focusing on just the MA pizzerias we've hit up, Regina did not live up to top billing, not even top five and I've cleared a good chunk of the most recent top 20 from boston.com

But if we want to go into their attitude, if you've been there you'll know that at the end of the bar there's a tiny triangle of counter space that is barely bigger than the pepperoni slice pictured above. I was standing right there, out of the way and they were insistent that I "move by the red bucket" since our food was ordered to go. Over and over and over they demanded I move. I was confused to say the least and I moved to the red bucket, at which point they finally handed us our food, guaranteeing that we would not eat inside the pizzeria. 

Rating - 2.75/5 - the pizza was average. I did enjoy the taste of the slight char from the brick oven. However, it was really greasy, not just the pepperoni )which is inevitably greasy) but the plain slice was greasier than Elvis' hair.

Their site - http://www.pizzeriaregina.com/

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