My wife is going away....

[Gordough]

and I plan on ruining my diet for a few days. :-) If you could eat 3 meals (take out only please - I prefer not to dine alone and my friends will rat me out if I go out with them!) what would you get? Suggestions in Boston and the western suburbs would be great. Thanks!

[tamerlanenj]

India quality---vindaloo extra extra spicy, naan, rice, samosas, raita. perfecto

[wittlejosh]

Fried chicken from Poppa B's, fries from wherever, and some shorts with an elastic waistband.

I also like the Salt-and-Pepper Combo Plate from either New Jumbo Seafood or Peach Farm. The S&P Deep-Fried treatment for prawns, squid, and pork chops.

[NYA Joe]

You must do BBQ, which most wives cannot fully comprehend, and which certainly is a diet-killing artery-clogging clothes-ruining man-meal of char-burnt carcinogens. For BBQ takeout, you can't beat M&M...a truck in a grungy lot, and a massive smoker. 192 Hampden St. in Dorchester...open until 3am on Sat. To really enjoy your second bachelorhood, go at 2:30am...

[catsmeow]

NYA Joe's right. M+M is a must!!! Addicting!

[pollystyrene]

Fried clams and o-rings from Dairy Joy in Weston; sandwiches from the Parish Cafe in Back Bay; Pizza from Pizzeria Regina in the North End followed by cannoli or a lobster tail from Mikes.

[trufflehound]

Western burbs? All you can eat( weekdays 2:30-4:30 and Mon and Wed 8-10), bone in wings at the Chicken Bone, a side of sexy fries with gravy, a couple cold ones. You are all set baby.

[Delhiwala]

A couple of hot dogs from Speeds with everything on them would be a great meal....

[bear]

Burger idea is fabulous, but wait until W is home. Great sensual couples treat.

But eat lots of garlic while she's away. Hounds, what are the best take-out garlic-laden dishes?

[MC Slim JB]

Garlic: it's what's for dinner. Some garlic-heavy favorites:

Anything yu-shiang style from Mary Chung, loaded with garlic as well as dried chili. I like the pork version especially.

Linguini with anchovies, EVOO, and garlic from Carmen's Kitchen or with mussels, garlic and EVOO from Vinny's at Night.

Shrimp in garlic and oil, and frog legs in garlic and brandy from Taberna de Haro, though I don't know how well they'd travel.

Fettunta from Trattoria Toscana, though I haven't seen it on their menu in a while.

Gaprow chicken from Khao Sarn or Dok Bua.

B'baw mouan and somlah machou from Elephant Walk (Cambodian soups topped with fried garlic, yum).

[digga]

Garlic-laden? Anything Korean. Really. Can you take-out bulgogi?

On another note, is there anything similar to an Chicago-style Italian beef in Boston? Man, talk about dripping-down-your-arms, best-to-be-eaten-in-the-privacy-of-your-home good.

[MC Slim JB]

I've never seen anything like a real Chicago-style Italian beef in Boston (or anywhere outside of Chicago, for that matter). If you find one, be sure to post about it here. I greedily woofed down many an Italian beef in my days in Chicago. Maybe it's one to try to get Schlesinger at All-Star Sandwich Bar to add to his menu.

[limster]

The squid ink pasta aglio olio at The Daily Catch on Hanover would be an obvious one.

Pork belly slices with garlic "mud" (suan4 ni2 bai2 rou4) is a classic Sichuan appetizer. It''s mildly spicy, with a light chilli vinaigrette.

The Teochew-style pork ribs with caramelized garlic at Best Little Restaurant.

Raw garlic with korean grilled meats; Koreana's version is decent. Better yet is the ganpoongki (Korean-Chinese fried chicken) with garlic sauce at Buk Kyung I & II.

The garlic and olive oil puree (toom) that is served with the lebanese sausages (soujouk and makanek) as well as other dishes at Reef Cafe.

Some Northern Chinese hotpot places serve candied garlic as a side dish (Little Q would be an obvious place to start looking) but it's not a take out dish.

[cornFusion]

Don't forget to get those WONDERFUL petits fours from South End Formaggio for dessert ... perhaps with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot pink.....

On the other hand.... you could invite us all over for potluck and we could bring the yummies and keep ya company!!! (we promise not to rat you out)...

[Gordough]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. You are the best! So far I am thinking Regina's one night, peking duck another night and then the third night I am undecided.

[yumyum]

I like Slim's idea of a big juicy burger -- be sure to use every dish in the house and make a HUGE mess in the kitchen. Leave the plates in the sink until the next day. Eat burger while juices drip down your arms over the sink. Let the dog lick the plates. You get the drill.

[MB fka MB]

I'm sorry, yumyum, but somehow it seems that you just haven't yet learned how to really LIVE. :-) Sheesh - I'm calling you for my next diet-busting day!

Okay, my 2 cents for 3 meals:
Chinese from Wang's in Somerville (scallion pancake, peking meat sauce noodle, pork and smoked bean curd)
Pizza from Armando's - half plain, half eggplant and garlic, maybe I'd throw in a sicilian slice, too
And I'd push you to break the takeout-only rule and have a burger at the Druid in Inman square, followed by Ice cream from Christina's to take home

Don't forget lots of good beer!

[ginnyhw]

http://studentweb.hunter.cuny.edu/~mu...

Sounds like the Russell Baker memorable meal in the NYT called "francs and beans"

[yumyum]

Now that I think of it, ginny, you are right ... franks and beans is the perfect bachellor-for-the-weekend meal for obvious reasons.

I really must insist that the OP strew beercans, pizza boxes and take-out containers around the place, at least until 15 mins before the return of wife.

[sailormouth]

Oh no, they should be there for at least fifteen minutes AFTER her return.

[qianning]

So when does/did it start? Please do let us know what you did so we can enjoy your decadence in our virtual spaces....

[Gordough]

It's this coming weekend. I am definitely doing Peking Duck from King Fung and probably Regina's or Santarpio's for pizza. I am still undecided on my third dinner. Also, now that Speeds is around on Saturday's, I think I will head there for lunch. :-)

[Bob Dobalina]

Hard for me to better the suggestions already made...the ducks idea is faboo...but since we're brainstorming... with such good weather this week, you might consider a drive to Ipswich to hit the Clam Box...if you decide to eat in, you'll blend right in. You could also eat at the bar at Santarpio's. Sit in your car in front of Kelly's. Go to Belle Isle Seafood in Eastie. The bar at O'Sullivans is fine for solo dining...the list goes on and on...(not westerns burbs I realize.)

For take-out...I am willing to bet that many places would make up a take-out order given your desperate circumstances ;) -

Still healthy but you could gorge yourself on inordinate amounts of take-out sushi at Oishii Too in Sudbury.

[finlero]

Kelly's is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me on two fronts: of course it's greasy and hi-cal, but I also know there are perhaps better places around town for similar food. Having said that, it's consistent, and pretty tasty. My two favorite menu items are the roast beef sandwich (horseradish is a must) and the lobster roll.

Specifically on the western suburbs tip, I'd point out there's a Kelly's at the Jordan's Furniture in Natick.

[MC Slim JB]

Wow, lots of great ideas already! I do that Formaggio home picnic about once a month. You definitely want to get some soppressatta and other cold cuts, and maybe a four-cheese sampler of about 1/4 lb. each -- the staff are great help to aspiring but semi-ignorant cheese lovers like myself. Great cookies up front, Toscanini ice cream in the freezer, too.

I think Indian food travels well, doesn't suffer too much from reheating (except the breads). My latest crush is the Desi Chinese menu at Grain and Salt, though their Pakistani and Punjabi dishes are also quite worthy. You've got Blanchard's nearby for some nice beers to go with. Bengali dishes from Royal Bengal, or maybe a dosa from Rangoli or Tanjore or Bhindi Bazaar would be a nice change-up from the standard Punjabi/Moghul-focused menus. (Hmmm: do dosas travel well? I've never taken one home.)

Another thought, if more labor-intensive than simple takeout: if you have a meat grinder attachment for your stand mixer, or a food processor, you could get some high-quality beef from a good butcher and grind it at home for burgers. I've had amazing results using fatty sirloins and quality chuck roasts from Savenor's and Whole Foods. Get some good Iggy's or Clear Flour kaisers, a quality cheddar, etc. Thank you, Mark Bittman. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage... I'm never buying pre-ground beef for burgers ever again.

What about a rotisserie chicken (pollo a la brasa) from a Peruvian place like Rincon Limeno or Machu Picchu? Those are fun to eat when no one's around to witness the mess.

[bear]

Slim, dosas get pretty soggy as take-out, but if you put them in the toaster oven, they do crisp up a bit. Still awesome and worthy, especially with all their yummy sides, but not as crispy as eat-in.

[bear]

Eat Chinese take-out straight from the carton. Go to Shangri-La in Belmont, Beijing Star in Waltham, or head into Chinatown to any of the places frequently mentioned.

[gini]

I'd get half a roast duck or some roast pork from Hong Kong Eatery. Then I'd get a Peking duck from King Fung Garden, maybe on the same day.

Really like the pizza and bbq recommendations too. In addition to cheese, Formaggio also has great cured meats, olives and a nice little deli case. Don't forget a loaf of bread.

[Blumie]

... and a bottle of wine.

[ChefJune]

...or three!

[lissy]

I love the idea of doubling down on the duck!

[yumyum]

Pick up an excellent pizza from Regina's and eat the whole thing on the couch with the remote and the game.

[mjg0725]

Best idea ever - make sure to order a large Gordough!

[Snowflake]

If I was going to ruin my diet and wanted to do it in the privacy of my own home, I would head to Formaggio's Kitchen and compile a killer cheese plate complete with nice meats.

[Blumie]

Blue Ribbon BBQ.

BTW, dining alone at the bar can be real treat at some restaurants. I would not be at all uncomfortable at B&G, Mistral, No. 9 Park, Union, Franklin Cafe, Gaslight, to name but a few.

[gini]

I recently had a really nice dinner at the bar at Union - service could not have been friendlier, though the newest bartender (recently moved up from NY because of a girl) has no idea about wine or spirits. Oh well, he was eager to please and the rest of the bar staff more than made up for it.