2016 08 16 23.13.45

Lucerne String Cheese: This economical snack is surprisingly tasty. The cheese is much stringier than most competitive brands, and the flavor is satisfying (but a tad salty). Good budget option. 3.5/5.0

recommended lucerne string cheese 3.5
2016 08 16 20.31.37

G.H. Cretors Chicago Mix popcorn: A sweet and savory popcorn mix that is more sweet than savory. The caramel coating is thick and crispy, but the cheese flavor is comparably lackluster, with a flat flavor profile. The popcorn texture is also not as fluffy as other options – The Chicago mix from TJ's is better, for example. 2.5/5.0

cheddar caramel ghcretors chicago mix popcorn 2.5
2016 08 13 12.37.03

Neighborhood Restaurant Cream of Wheat: This hot, iconic dish from the popular Somerville brunch spot is great even in the summer heat. When I first had it five years ago upon returning to Boston for grad school, it turned me on to making Cream of Wheat at home, though I could never quite get the consistency and flavor that they are able to accomplish. It's creamy and spiced with a texture almost similar to tapioca pudding but with much smaller granules. I will forever associate this dish with Cambridge and will sorely miss it. 4.0/5.0

recommended neighborhoodrestaurant cream of wheat 4.0
2016 08 12 21.27.18

Berryline Watermelon Froyo with Mochi: Watermelon and yogurt aren't two flavors I've imagined together, but Berryline expertly marries them into a wonderfully refreshing summer treat. Slightly tart but just sweet enough, the seasonal flavor is subtly impactful. The homemade mochi is good too, with a chewier consistency than the larger chains. 4.0/5.0

recommended cambridge boston yogurt berryline watermelon froyo mochi 4.0
2016 08 07 15.00.36

Dunkin Donuts Croissant Donut: I've been working a lot from the Arsenal Project in Watertown, and I commonly find myself very hungry without many options. Right next to the makerspace I've been working at is a Dunkin Donuts, and for the first time in about a decade, I found myself making a purchase from this establishment. I figured I would get the most interesting option, which for me was the croissant donut. The donut is glazed with a thick, crystalized sugar coating that's far too sweet and masks any potential crisp... (read more) 2.5/5.0

fakecronut dunkindonuts croissant donut 2.5
2016 08 06 15.03.49

Sophia's Greek Pantry Honey Greek Yogurt: Sophia's Greek Pantry is a Greek grocery store in Belmont that sells homemade yogurt in a variety of flavors, including ouzo, coffee, and your typical assortment of fruit options (e.g., strawberry banana, blueberry). You can find the yogurt at the back of the store, where it's sold in small, medium, or large containers. The quality and consistency of the yogurt is phenomenal: thick, creamy, and smooth. After looking up information about its ingredients online, I was surprised to find that... (read more) 5.0/5.0

exceptional belmont sophiasgreekpantry honey greek yogurt 5.0 sophias