The perks of tasting menus: Part of the fun is the element of surprise, and part is being served something that you wouldn't ordinarily order—and discovering a new, unlikely favorite. That's how it happened with me and the Grilled Trout ($22) at Il Casale. More

Ever since leaving his post at Beacon Hill Bistro, Jason Bond has spent most of his time at his charming Area IV dining room, Bondir, where he crafts award-winning plates from the best (and often locally sourced) pork, parsnips, grapes, scallops, and polenta he can get his hands on. Here's where you might find him in the off hours. More

Cheong fun, or Cantonese steamed rice rolls, is my holy grail of dim sum dishes, which makes its Vietnamese cousin, bánh cuốn, my default appetizer when I go for a bowl of pho at Pho Hoa. More

Mark Bittman, in a 2002 New York Times article, called No. 9 Park's Prune-Stuffed Gnocchi appetizer "a no-holds-barred spectacle." Ike Delorenzo, in a 2009 Boston Globe retrospective on five of the all-time-best dishes in the Hub, dubbed it "marvelously clever." And Globe restaurant critic Devra First spelled out a bold truth when she said this is "possibly one of the best dishes ever served in a Boston restaurant." More

My dad is what you'd call a meatatarian. He's always loved all things meaty, the fattier the better. Aged rib eye steaks and medium-rare prime rib covered in compound butter. Foie gras seared until crisp with a liquid custard center. Pork belly confit'ed in its own fat, served deep fried and crispy. Slabs of fat-laced tuna belly. Grilled hamachi collar bones. Potatoes cooked in goose fat. Peking duck with crispy skin, and anything served with bacon. You get the idea. Why am I telling you this? Because here is my goal: I'm going to get my dad to eat an entirely vegan meal without even noticing it. More

I really don't like conventional Baked Alaska. Meringue is far too sweet and too lean for me, and I've never been a huge fan of cake—especially sponge cake. But if there's one thing to know about Oleana, it's that nothing is conventional, particularly not the dessert menu. Pastry chef Maura Kilpatrick's reputation for dreaming up some of the most inventive sweets in town starts here. More

We're big fans of Bondir, Jason Bond's intimate restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This video showcases Bondir's Heirloom Keener Grits with Roasted Pork Belly & Broccoli, Shaved Dahlia Bulb & Black Truffle Chili Vinaigrette, a dish resplendent with Jason's support for sustaining local communities—and with his love for grits. More

It all started when my friend (and occasional Serious Eats collaborator) Kate Shannon asked her culinary school instructor and famed cookbook author Helen Chen where she likes to eat Chinese food in Boston. Chen's reply: Joyful Garden in the Day's Hotel in Brighton. The Days Hotel? More

There are certain neighborhoods in Boston that are known for great Mexican food, but Waltham isn't one of them. When I think of Waltham, I think of Brandeis, Gordon's Liquors, watches, and some good Indian grocers on Moody Street. I'd never thought of it as a taco destination, until recently. More

In my mind, the best part about having steak for dinner is the leftover steak sandwich for lunch the next day. Squishy white bread, mayo, and steak with good tomatoes (when available) is pretty unbeatable. But it took the sandwich geniuses at Dave's Fresh Pasta to revolutionize my steak sandwich toppings. More