June 28th 2013: Playing Dodgeball at the Wang YMCA

Today after work, I had a dodgeball match at a fundraiser for the Wang YMCA in Boston, but before that, I decided to grab some takeout Mediterranean food from Ani Takeout, pretty similar in style to Pizza Days in Medford, in the town of Belmont, getting the Armenian Burger Dinner and the Lamb Kabob Dinner.

Lamb Kabob Dinner

Armenian Burger Dinner

All the food was actually really good, although I did not want to eat too much before the dodgeball match, so I left most of it for later.

Dodgeball itself was pretty fun, although my team only won 3 matches out of 7, and we got to eat Chicken and Rice from the Chicken and Rice Guys as well.

Playing Dodgeball

Chicken and Rice

After the match was over and the winners got their DVDs of the movie "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story", we headed to Shojo in Chinatown for a quick drink and fun conversation before finallh heading home for the day.

April 21st 2013: More Explorations While Doing Food Truck Stuff

Today, I started out with my food truck deliveries in the northeastern town of Chelmsford, passing by a few places while doing so.

Ginger Ale Plaza, 14 Littleton Road

Aldersgate United Methodist Church

Town Common,
Wright Street and Princeton Street

Russell Millpond,
~300 Boston Road

Next in Billerica, I passed by Nutting Lake on Yale Street and Canterbury Street, which has a beach on the other side from where I was.

In Burlington, I passed by an office park, the Network Drive at Northwest Park.

In Medford, the Oak Grove Cemetery and the old Gleason School at 160 Playstead Road

Oak Grove Cemetery

Old Gleason School

In Belmont, after passing by a few places in town, 

Old Fire Station, 50 Leonard Street

Belmont Savings Bank

Old Building, 57 Leonard Street

I was successful at using my Groupon at Moozy's this time, 

getting a Rainbow Sherbet ice cream, The Arsenal (Fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced tomato, fresh basil, and extra virgin olive oil) grilled cheese sandwich, and the Oakley Sandwich (Sliced lean pastrami, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing).

Rainbow Sherbet

The Arsenal

The Oakley

The ice cream was pretty good, while the Oakley was just like a Reuben sandwich. The Arsenal, on the other hand, tasted more like a salad than a grilled cheese, making it much less appetizing.

Next, in Cambridge, after passing by an old firehouse on the corner of Gore Street and 3rd Street,

I tried out a Mediterranean takeout place, Falafel Corner, located in Harvard Square.

Here, I got a Falafel roll-up, a Beef Shawarma Roll-up, and a Lamb Kebab Roll-up for free with my groupon. This place is pretty small, but the food is pretty cheap and not too bad either.

Falafel Roll-up

Lamb Kebob Roll-up

Beef Shawarma Roll-up

The flowers were blooming on the shores of the Charles River, so I decided to take a few pictures here.

Finally, in the city of Boston, the signs of spring were everywhere, with fountains at Concord Square and Braddock Park being turned on.

Braddock Park

Concord Square

Chandelier at Four Seasons Hotel 

Here, I decided to have an Indian dinner at Mela Restaurant, a nicely decorated place in the South End area.

To start things off, I was given a complimentary teacup of Vegetable Soup, which wasn't too bad. 

The Masala Tea I got was pretty flavorless though.

For my meal, I decided to get the Mustard Lamb appetizer (Lamb rack chops, marinated in yogurt and mustard sauce, cooked in Tandoor), and the Duck Jalfrazi (Tender pieces of boneless duck sauteed with mixed vegetables and spices).

Mustard Lamb

Duck Jalfrazi

Both dishes were excellent, with me not having had Indian food in a while, but that was not the end. I also got the Coconut Creme Brulee, 

and although I could not tease out the coconut taste,it was extremely delicious as well. One more restaurant to add to my list in Boston.

With that, I spent the rest of the night finishing off my deliveries before heading home. Looking forward to another week of doing more food truck stuff.

Recommended Places to Visit: Belmont

Recreation

Water Bodies

Claypit Pond
Underwood Street and Concord Avenue

Hiking
Beaver Brook Reservation
66 Mill Street

Architecture

Monuments

War Memorial
Royal Road and Common Street

Places of Worship

Boston Massachusetts Temple
86 Frontage Road

Plymouth Congregational Church
582 Pleasant Street

Open Door Baptist Church
300 Pleasant Street

Cornerstone Baptist Church
54 Brighton Street

First Armenian Church
380 Concord Avenue

The First Church in Belmont Unitarian Universalist
404 Concord Avenue

Payson Park Congregational Church

365 Belmont Street

Christ Lutheran Church

597 Belmont Street

All Saints' Church
17 Clark Street

St. Joseph's Church
130 Common Street

First Church of Christ, Scientist
199 Common Street

Holy Cross Armenian Catholic Church

200 Lexington Street

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
15 Ledgewood Place

St. Luke's Catholic Church

132 Lexington Street

First Baptist Church

129 Lexington Street

CrossRoads Evangelical Church

51 Lexington Street

Immanuel Community Church

471 Trapelo Road

Belmont United Methodist Church

421 Common Street

Schools
W.L. Chenery Middle School

95 Washington Street 

Mary Lee Burbank School

266 School Street

Commercial Buildings

Belmont Savings Bank
2 Leonard Street



Town Facilities

Payson Park Reservoir
Payson Road and Oakley Road

Fire Department

299 Trapelo Road

Town Hall
455 Concord Avenue

Homer Municipal Building
19 Moore Street

Public Schools Administration
644 Pleasant Street

Public Library

336 Concord Avenue

Belmont Lions Club
1 Common Street

Benton Library
75 Oakley Road


Historical Buildings

Old Waverley Village School

~438 Trapelo Road

Old Wellington Hill Railroad Station
~1 Common Street near Belmont Lions Club

Old Fire Station
50 Leonard Street


Old Building
57 Leonard Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Breakfast
Sweet Peach Diner
628 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Southern Peaches and Cream Stuffed French Toast
Southern Pulled Pork Benedict


Western

Savinos Grill
449 Common Street
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Quail
Grilled Lamb Top


Tried:
Mediterranean
Ani Takeout
687 Belmont Street
Recommended Dishes:
Armenian Burger Dinner
Lamb Kabob Dinner

Dessert
Moozy's
2 Trapelo Road
Recommended Dishes:
Rainbow Sherbet
Kahlua Fudge Ice Cream
The Arsenal
Oakley Sandwich

April 20th 2013: Trying Out Several Places While Dealing with Food Truck Stuff

Today, I had to deliver food truck rewards to different parts of Massachusetts, and while doing so, checked out a few restaurants where I had Groupons as well.

In the town of Canton, after visiting Bolivar Pond at ~165 Bolivar Street in town,

I headed to Chubby Chickpea, a Mediterannean takeout restaurant in town that also has a food truck operating on the streets of Boston.

With my groupon, I decided to get the Sampler, consisting of Eggplant, Falafel, Beef and Lamb Shawarma, and the Hummus, coming with pita bread, tabouleh and Greek salad as well.

Sampler

Hummus and Salads

Overall, everything was so oily it was disgusting, although the thinly sliced eggplant was pretty good. Never coming back here again, or even trying the food on the truck.

I headed next into Quincy, where I decided to eat more at Bistro Chi, a Chinese establishment in Quincy, after passing by the Glad Tidings Church in town.

This hip dining area is right next to the Kama Lounge in the same establishment, although the lounge was not open this time of day.

With my Groupon, I decided to get the Goji Berry Beef Soup, the Shrimp Stir Fried with Mango in Taro Nest (jumbo shrimp wok tossed w/ mango, snow peas & baby corn in house white sauce & served in a fried tarot nest), and the Beef and Pineapple Satay Chow Foon (Stir fried beef with green peppers, onions & pineapple in satay Chinese Barbeque sauce served over a bed of flat rice noodles).

Goji Berry Beef Soup

Shrimp Stir Fried with Mango in Taro Nest

Beef and Pineapple Satay Chow Foon

I did not expect the soup to taste as good as it did, thinking it would taste strongly of MSG, which it did not. I was a little disappointed that the satay sauce was not really satay suace but a spicy suace, although the dish was still good. The shrimp with the crispy nest was excellent, of course. I was not expecting this from a Chinese restaurant, but I have to say this is one of the best Chinese meals I have had so far, although I guess it has more of a twist to the food.

In Brookline, I decided to get some sushi at Gari Fusion in town. This sushi place is pretty small, though nicely decorated.

I decided to go for the unique stuff, as always, going for the Shirome Soup (Grilled white fish with Japanese nameko mushrooms in an Asian herb chicken broth with sake), the Kinuta (Marinated daikon radish rolled with shallot, cucumber, pickled ginger, scallions, asparagus, jalapenos, and salmon), and the Gari Bruschetta Twist (Fried nori sheet and rice with tuna chunks, mico greens in a spicy sauce).

Shirome Soup

Kinuta

Gari Bruschetta Twist

Although the dishes were pretty original, I have to say that taste wise, it wasn't as amazing, though still good. I definitely recommend to give this place a try for the experience, but I don't know about going back again for seconds. Fugakyu nearby is definitely better in all respects.

Moving on to the town of Belmont, I was hoping to be able to use my Groupon at Moozy's, an ice cream shop, to get some Panninis, but by the time I got there, the panini machine had already been shut down, so I was unable to use my groupon, although I had already gotten a Kahlua Fudge ice cream by that time. It was a little too bitter for me though. It wasn't a total loss though as I managed to chance upon an underground reservoir, the Payson Park Reservoir on Oakley Road and Payson Road.

With that, I headed home for the day, having delivered half of the rewards. More to do tomorrow.