2010 Dining Awards

[justbeingpolite]

I just came across this today. Did it just come out today, Slim?
Anyway, nice job, and a nice resource for anyone looking for something new to try, or something new (or a new revision) they've missed.
A few that I've hit recently, that you're right on about:
East by Northeast
Trina's Starlight Lounge
Erbaluce

I also recently, on many chower's advice, finally made it to Angela's Cafe. Well worth the trip. Loved the mole enchilada!! Did I miss the award for this restaurant, or did you not have a category for it this year?

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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

East by Northeast
1128 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

[Bob Dobalina]

A link to the web version...http://stuffboston.com/dining2010/

[justbeingpolite]

Whoops! Sorry, meant to put the link in my original post (or did I and it got moderated?).
Thanks, Bob

[Mr Bigglesworth]

Is Ruth back in town or in town often enough to cover these places? I thought she moved to Denver several years ago.

[MC Slim JB]

The awards are very free-form on purpose and vary greatly from year to year. I think we cited Angela's in '08 or '09. I know when I got the Phoenix gig, that was the first place I wanted to review, and did.

The writing duties for this year's awards were split between Ruth Tobias and me, and we selected most but not all of the winners. I'm pleased when I can: a) crack jokes about the scene, and b) recognize some chowish places that don't pop up in other local awards lists, like Griyo Lakay, Lee's Store & Grocery, Cafe Mamtaz and Floating Rock.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[9lives]

Nice job to both of you!

[tatsu]

Great job, an insightful and on the mark set. and a nice departure from traditional "best of" lists, which are usually about 50% right, or worse. (I'm always reading them and exclaiming, "NOOOOO! SO WRONG!") The formatting of the web page was a bit tedious, all the clicking back in forth between 30 or so pages. Obviously that is no fault of your own, but a single page option would of been welcome.

Liked your somewhat whimsical pick of saddest closing, Razzy's. I wonder if the Abbey Lounge made a previous list of yours in the "sad closings" dept.

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Razzy's
585 Somerville Ave, Somerville, MA 02143

[MC Slim JB]

I have no input into layout: I just provide words.

I paid tribute to the Abbey in my blog's "Devil's Dining Awards 2009" piece, basically where I put the recognition I wanted to hand out that didn't fit the awards pieces I do professionally (usually because the snark factor is too high for my editors' comfort). I did a "Saddest Closings" award in there, a five-way tie between Reef Cafe, Oran Cafe, Uncle Pete's, Rangoli and Poppa B's.

At Stuff, I've handed out something like a "Saddest Closing" award a few times. In 2009, it was a tie between Aujourd'hui and Icarus, both landmarks in their way, and partly emblematic of the how recession was killing high-end dining. In 2008, I gave it out a "Biggest Loss" award to the B-Side Lounge, a landmark for different reasons.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

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Poppa B's
1100 Blue Hill Ave, Dorchester Center, MA 02124

B-Side Lounge
92 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Aujourd'hui
200 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116

[StriperGuy]

That was really nice work.

[BostonZest]

We'll do a feature on it on Thursday. Busy making reservations to follow your path. Great job. While I don't agree with all of the awards, I'll be happy to give those where I've dumped out after one visit a second chance if they made this list.

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[StriperGuy]

Is that the royal "we?"

[BostonZest]

Sorry, bad habit, I was referring to BostonZest. I often make the same mistake when I should say "my husband and I."

One recommendation in our piece is to go out and pick up a copy of the magazine so you can keep it and check off the places as you go to them. The Copley Square Library had a big stack yesterday. (Near the Boylston Street entrance)

Penny
http://www.bostonzest.com/

[yumyum]

I really enjoyed this piece, and I always like the combination of Slim and Ruth. Really happy to see some of my faves featured .. Erbaluce, Bergamot, ExNE... and excited to try others I haven't been to. Haitian in Dorchester FTW!

To the other poster who wondered how Ruth can do this work from Denver, she does get back quite often and is an eating machine when she does. Believe me, I've seen it. It's nuts.

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Erbaluce
69 Church Street, Boston, MA 02116

[MC Slim JB]

It's true: Ruth is like the human wood-chipper. Keep your hands and feet well away.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[BobB]

Kudos, MC, and special thanks for highlighting my new personal favorite, Bergamot.

[aadesmd]

Great job! Seeing your Editor's picture, I would work there pro bono.

[MC Slim JB]

Indeed, she is not hard on the eyes. (But she's spoken for.)

Funny you should mention working pro bono: what I do is not far off. My professional compensation most often does not cover my research expenses. Not only does it not pay the rent, it doesn't cover the cable bill, especially factoring in the hours it takes to do the research and the writing.

It does cover some of the cost of dinners out that I'd otherwise be paying for out of my own pocket anyway, because that's one of the main things I do for fun. I'm not complaining -- I love the work -- but I'm clearly not in it for the money.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/