• Written by Anna Ing
• onSeptember 27, 2011

Photo by Anna Ing

Feng Shui’s motto is “Taste, Quality and Style” and they deliver it in spades. It is off Route 9 (west bound next to Chuck E Cheese) 801 Worcester St, Natick, MA with other locations in Cohasset and Chelmsford with fourth location in Tyngsboro on the way. Named after the study/science mix of Chinese Astronomy and Earth, Feng Shui diners are welcomed into a dining with soothing muted colors, various rooms and relaxing atmosphere. Plus there is an extensive menu with hibachi, sushi, mixing the best of Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

For starters, the Minced Chicken with Pine Nuts with hoisin sauce (Chinese glaze/dipping sauce) and lettuce leaves ($9) came out. The hoisin sauce mixed well with the chicken mixture and the crispy lettuce leaf gave a nice crunchy accent. The Rainbow Maki ($13) eel, avocado, cucumber & tobiko, spicy mayo wrapped with assorted sashimi and Snow Mountain ($13) has tempura shrimp, tobiko, with snow crab and mayo along with tempura ake (inside/out). Both rolls were fresh and delicious. Their version of General Gau’s ($12) has tender breaded bite sized chicken pieces in an orangey and slightly spicy sauce garnished with steamed broccoli crowns. Caterpillar Roll filled with unagi (eel) and covered with avocado is satisfying combo that is both rich and creamy.

A buffet is available during lunch time from Monday to Saturday and all day on Sunday. Though the choices were a little limited, all the choices are very fresh, appealing with sashimi, hot entrees, dumplings – ha gor (shrimp) and shumai (pork and shrimp). Complimentary soup choices of miso, won ton and hot sour are included. For only $5 more, one stir fried lobster is available: with black bean sauce or ginger scallion style.

A perfect ending was the Flute Limoncello ($6), a parfait that was refreshing, light, tart and delicious. The meal satisfied used no MSG, and unlike other Chinese restaurants light handed on their use of oil. After a few repeated visits, the food is consistently fresh, delicious, with excellent hospitality and service. Feng Shui delivers an enjoyable dining experience eating quality Asian Fusion cuisine.

• Written by Anna Ing

Boston is a city full of great food and a city that enjoys a plethora of Japanese restaurants. One recent standout that comes to mind is Fish Market Sushi Bar [170 Brighton Avenue, Allston, MA 02134 (617) 783-1268]. This tiny hole in the wall joined the sushi scene and has been satisfying fans with creative, fresh and tasty maki rolls, and sushi. This simple, tastefully decorated space – in tans and whites – features a sushi bar predominantly on the right. At the moment Fish Market does not have a liquor license, so it is BYOB. Two close Hong Kong buddies hailing from Quincy decided to join forces to open their own restaurant and Fish Market shines and delivers quality with its excellent food. Also it doesn’t hurt that their sushi chef apprenticed at the Japanese cuisine pioneer Oishii Restaurant, so you already know that everything will be great.

Photo by Anna Ing

First start off with their now famous Avocado Ball $12 which packs in a lot of punch. It came out topped with a lemon slice and a pickled umezuke (pickled Japanese plum closer to an apricot) while the avocado covers up a center filled with two delicious kinds of roe ( tobiko or fish eggs), cucumber and tuna sashimi (white and regular) mixed with a great lemony mayo. Next came the nigiri sushi (usually raw fish over small amount of rice)-mackerel (distinctive but not for everyone), super white tuna (mutzu) so full of flavor along with a piece of sumptuous seared foie gras (goose liver) topped with a piece of truffle (fruiting body of underground mushroom). Each bite of the nigiri yields a mouthful of freshness and flavor! Plus the nigiri portions were generously sized! One lovely appetizer dish -Scallops and Uni $6 consisted of 2 pieces of sashimi style scallops topped with uni (sea urchin) $6 paired together well with the sweet scallop essence along with the taste of the sea from the uni were accentuated by the yuzu (Japanese citrus fruit) and Japanese basil dressing.

Photo by Anna Ing (SAMPAN)

Next came the makimono (variety of rolls) that were ordered-the Jalapeno Twister $9.50, White Tiger $9, Baked Spicy Scallop $9.50 and Caterpillar $9.50. Each of these rolls had avocado, flying fish roe (tobiko) by varying twists and tastes to set them apart. First off the Jalapeno Twister with the jalapeno slices atop each piece gave a light spicy heat to each slice cooled with the salmon, cucumber, and added kick from the jalapeno sauce drizzled on it. The white seaweed enveloped the White Tiger Maki with tuna as well causing a clever switch and contrasting appearance too. The Baked Spicy Scallop incorporates well with a nice spicy scallion mayo along with crabstick and scallop over avocado maki. Finally, the classic Caterpillar Maki packs plenty of avocado slices over the rice, covering up the lovely eel, cucumber and avocado maki roll. For reasonably priced, quality, innovative sushi remember to check out Fish Market Sushi Bar the next time you’re in the Allston-Brighton area.

• Written by Anna Ing
• onSeptember 13, 2011
• Filed under Restaurant Reviews

 

Joining other Hot Pot places in Chinatown (though more are of the Japanese shabu shabu style) is Hot Pot Buffet. In business for over a year, a constant flow of traffic has funneled right in this two level restaurant located [70 Beach Street, Boston, MA (617) 338-0808] adjacent to the welcoming Chinatown Gate. The restaurant is open Monday through Friday 11a.m.-4p.m. for lunch or 4p.m.-2a.m. for dinner and costs only $14.95 a person for lunch and $20.95 a person for dinner. Sundays and holiday lunches are not offered. Hot Pot Buffet offers fresh ingredients, no MSG and very little oil for a tasty and healthy dining experience.

Photo by Anna Ing

Hot Pot (aka steamboat) has a history of over 1,000 years and is enjoyed all over China with variations in other countries. It is a fun way to share a meal and eat with friends especially if you like to cook your own food.  It is very easy! First you choose your desired broth out of four options- Chinese Herbal, Mala (Spicy) Soup, Black Chicken Soup and the House Special Broth. Then you can pick your desired food to cook. The sheer variety of food options is amazing and there is something for everyone! Lobster is at market price ($8.95 each on a recent visit) along with 19 other seafood items to choose from ranging from salmon fillet, shrimp, clams, crab legs and fish tofu. Then there are six types of noodles, 33 items under vegetables (tofu and rice cake too), as well as four types of dumplings, six types of seafood and meat balls, and 11 choices of meats. A few exotic items that stand out are the Beef Tongue, Fried Pig Skin, Pig Blood, Quail Eggs, Pork Intestines, Fried Gluten Balls and Wood Ear Mushrooms.

Now comes the fun part! Once you get your broth and food, then you wait for the broth to boil and then you slowly put in your food. The items you choose will determine the cooking time, for example tofu and noodles take longer to cook. Veggies and the thinly sliced meats cook very quickly after a few swishes in the hot broth with your chopsticks. Sa cha sauce (made of chilies, shallots, garlic, soybean oil, dried shrimp and brill fish – which gives it a nice savory slightly spicy tinge found in Fujian, Chiu Chow and Taiwanese cooking) is offered for dipping.

Hot Pot is a great group meal. You can take your time and eat whatever you want. But the best part is the broth at the end of the meal. The soup will have garnered an abundance of flavors from all the food that was put into it and it is the highlight of the meal! It is the best part for me!  To top it off, sliced oranges were offered with the bill at the end. So if you are hungry and want something healthy, check out Hot Pot Buffet.