Dinner to take on the plane tomorrow?

[Fig Newton]

San Francsico Chowhound, here. I'll be flying back to SF tomorrow from Boston. I have a car and some time in the afternoon to pick up dinner somewhere around town to take with me on the plane. Any suggestions? I'd prefer not a sandwich if possible (but will give up on that requirement if there's something TDF that I should try). Would prefer that it's not crazy smelly (Santarpio's garlic pizza is out).

Without outside assistance, I would probably head back to Formaggio Kitchen and load up on a picnic-style dinner.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

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Formaggio Kitchen
244 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138

[9lives]

I like the charcuterie option. I usually hit Salumeria Italiana but IdfFormaggios is more convenient it's equal to or better.

Keep inmind that liquids will be confiscated and I had a TSA agent take some homemade, semi liquid Mexican salsa taken from me recently..think consistency of apple sauce..let me keep the burrito for a nice snack when I got home.

Legal Seafoods has a devcent restautant in Term B..US Air and maybe C

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Salumeria Italiana
151 Richmond St, Boston, MA 02109

[itaunas]

I would think that the Rincon Limeno ceviche is going to cause you issues at security and its not like there isn't plenty of good ceviche in the Bay Area. However, some of their sauced dishes like aji de gallina would keep for a bit and are not that smelly (a rotisserie chicken from El Chalan next door is probably more aromatic and they skin won't be crunchy but nice with sauce) If you have a GPS Chicarron from Latino Restaurant (910 Broadway, Chelsea) is best hot but fine within an hour or so and you can select other bits from their warming oven, or full plate if desired. Cafe Polonia's Pork Chop doesn't take you too far out of the way and you can find some temporary parking (double if necessary). You could also weigh in on the lobster roll debate by going to Belle Isle seafood.

Portugalia has a nice sampler platter, but not certain what else they make carries well. The Snack Bar (Senhor Ramos) has some stewed items which carry well but ask them for little liquid. Bobo de camarao from Muqueca is too much liquid and moqueca doesn't carry well. Courthouse seafood closes at 6:30, but also has a lobster roll and some things like fried smelts carry better than others. Skampa has a New England style roast beef, but you didn't want a sandwich. Keep in mind that there was a recent traffic pattern change in the direction to the airport from East Cambridge so although this would usually be a good option, its going to be slow at rush hour. Izzys a bit further away has a nice version of chicarron de pollo, octopus salad, some things from the warming oven.

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Rincon Limeno
409 Chelsea St, Boston, MA 02128

Cafe Polonia
611 Dorchester Ave, Boston, MA 02127

Muqueca
1010 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02139

Skampa
424 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

Izzy's Restaurant
72 Spring St, New Bedford, MA 02740

[Nab]

These are great ideas, itaunas. I was just racking my brain to think of some Portuguese treats. All good ideas that will travel well (get the lobster salad in a separate container and make the sandwich on the plane, if possible) and still be tasty at room temperature. Formaggio is a good idea, but SF has that all that stuff anyways, and it's just not as fun. And fried stuff can be hit (chicken) or miss (clams) after a few hours of sitting in styrofoam.

If you've got a middle seat, the answer is easy -- bring the stinky tofu.

[barleywino]

some boneless fried chicken curry from Cafe Mami (Porter square), maybe a baked pork sung bun from Yi Soon bakery (Allston), and a lemon curd tartlet from Flour bakery...tell the TSA to run the curry through their most powerful x-ray machine, that'll warm it up nicely for you

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Cafe Mami
1815 Massachusetts Ave Ste M4, Cambridge, MA 02140

[Prav]

Good idea with the filled Chinese buns, as they're delicious, portable, and probably the least smelly. And will produce the least trash that you'll have to sit around with for a while.

[beetlebug]

Formaggio is usually my plane food. I would also add a clear flour demi baguette (if you are travelling solo), some local apples (not the best apple year but still darn tasty), a few of the Lakota cookies (in the cookie case) and salty oats cookies (either in the bread bakery case or the 6 pack is by the chocolates. I'm partial to the chocolate salty oat cookie).

The salamis are great and you can request that they a specific amount of slices v. weight.

Lastly, whatever bread you decide on, try and call ahead and have them hold it for you. Otherwise you may be sol.

Cheese, bread, salami, fruit and cookies. What more do you need?

[fantundo]

Make sure not to get a soft cheese. I had some taken from me at security for too closely resembling a gel!!

[FoodDabbler]

That's funny. And, of course, the smell will do nothing to convince a harried TSA official that it's safe.

[Gabatta]

Go back to Formaggio, you won't beat that. Many of my plane staples are indeed sandwiches, so I can't be of help. Can't go wrong with Formaggio though.

[meatluvr]

Go to Kantin in the 88 market in Allston. Get the BBQ three delights. You will not be disappointed! It's not very smelly or messy but it is gosh-darn delicious.

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Kantin
1095 Commonwealth Ave Ste 203, Boston, MA 02215

[kimfair1]

Or their salt and pepper chicken. It will clean out your sinuses on the panes as well! You could also stop at Gallaria Umberto and get some arancini, panini, or a calzone. Less messy than pizza, more contained.

[BBHound]

Stop at Rincon Limeno in East Boston near the airport and get some of their fabulous ceviche.

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Rincon Limeno
409 Chelsea St, Boston, MA 02128

[FoodDabbler]

The advisability of ceviche will depend on when Fig Newton plans to eat. If it's over New York it might not be a bad idea. If it's over Colorado, it might not be a good one.

I live close to Formaggio, so they're my go-to place for in-flight food. I carry olives, sliced dry salami, hard cheese, etc. I prefer not to eat food that's too pungent on airplanes.