Best Gelato in Boston/Cambridge – Jialu Cai

Dare I say it? Whole Foods has the best gelato in Boston/Cambridge, MA.

For its main distinction from ice cream, good gelato should be dense, containing little or no air. Anything in the North End won’t disappoint you, but after 12 years in Boston, I can confidently say that the gelato bar at Whole Foods is the best I’ve tried. In fact, the gelato bar at Whole Foods is so good nationwide that private frozen dessert businesses in Laguna Beach forced it to shut down http://www.ocregister.com/news/gelato-315911-whole-foods.html.

Flavors that wowed me were strawberry, a fragrant and sweet concoction with real seeds, and Madagascar vanilla bean, a rich and exotic creamy taste of heaven, a delicious complement to the strawberry. I see vanilla as the anchor to an ice cream brand – you can tell the goodness of the entire brand by the quality of its vanilla. I’m not a fan of hazelnut but I tried it anyway and it tasted exactly like a Ferrero Rocher or Nutella.

Next time you’re in the vicinity of a Whole Foods market, why not stop in and visit the gelato bar? It’s a hidden gem that will sweeten your day. If you like it, they offer loyalty punch cards that get you a free cup or cone after your fifth. The one I went to is 115 Prospect Street in Cambridge, conveniently located between Harvard and MIT. With more than 20 locations in Massachusetts you’re not going to miss a Whole Foods.

You think Sushi In The Hub Is Expensive?

Boston Sushi restaurants Duozo, Oishii, Oya and Fugakyu in Brookline have nothing on the owners of the popular upscale Sushi Restaurants Kyubey amd Itamae in Tokyo.  They recently paid $396,000  or $596 per pound for a 754 pound Blue-fin Tuna caught off the coast of Northern Japan, which set a record for the highest price ever paid for a Tuna.  Why would anyone pay that much for a fish?  Fatty blue-fin better known as “o-toro”  can sell for 2,000 yen ($24) per piece at high-end Tokyo sushi restaurants.

Source: Associated Press

What does this record sale of a fish show us about Real Estate?

Well, for the most part, NOTHING, but it does tell us that  Luxury sells!!  Even in this slowly improving economy, people from around the World are willing to pay for quality.  This is reflected in the pace of sales in the white hot Luxury Real Estate Market in Boston, MA. Twenty two(22) $4,000,000 plus properties have sold in Boston over the last 6 months.

Provided Courtesy of Aram Boghosian/Boston Globe

Winn Company and The California State Pension, developers of the Columbus Center project over the Massachusetts Turnpike, have agreed to a settlement payment of $5.5 million to Boston, MA, according to The Boston Globe. The settlement money is to be used towards the restoration of a parking lot(Bad) across from 33 Restaurant, and green space(Good), both located next to The Albert Pope Building at 221 Columbus between Berkley and Clarendon. The building is well known for its luxury condos and one of Boston’s best restaurants, Mistral. The “Air Rights” project would have added retail, apartments, condos, green space and most importantly, a cap over the eyesore we call the Turnpike which causes all sorts of noise and air pollution to residents of certain parts of the Back Bay and South End of Boston.

Luxury Residential Group advice to the State – go forward with capping the highway and build a beautiful, tree lined green space that will hopefully be the home of a great dog park, jungle gyms for kids to play on, a relaxing seating area for those outdoor Back Bay lunch breaks, and hopefully bring enjoyment, life and positive energy to an otherwise grey, noisy and downright unattractive part of town. This will also help create a vibrant, active area of Boston that will help bridge The South End and Back Bay.

Craig Anne Lake

Craig Anne Lake, tells us why she decided to live in the South End of Boston, MA.

It was funny to me that when talking to a client recently about the South End (he was about 50 years old and went to school at BU back in the day), he was astounded that I lived there.  His perception of the South End was that it was crime ridden, dangerous, and seedy, which at this point couldn’t be farther from the truth.  When I drove him down Tremont – he was in utter shock at how nice the neighborhood was, and said he could not believe the turnaround.

The South End has become a mecca for young urban professionals, but also boasts diversity.  It is known to be a very gay friendly area, and let’s face it – gay men have great taste!

Having lived in NYC for 8 years, I love being able to walk out my doorstep to grab a cup of coffee at Starbucks on Tremont St. or at The Buttery on Shawmut Ave. as well as numerous restaurants.  In addition, I like the mix of gentrification and unique boutiques and love the artsy feel of the area.

When asked what my favorite bars and restaurants are in Boston, they are mostly located right in the South End:  Masa, Union, Stella’s, Toro, B&G Oysters, The Beehive, Noche, Picco’s, The Buttery, Stephy’s on Tremont (the little sister restaurant to Boston’s Newbury St. staple Stephanie’s), and more.  In addition, $2 Taco Tuesdays at 647 Tremont is a favorite of mine (although, it sometimes also turns into Tequila Tuesday, which makes for a somewhat difficult Wednesday)!  Regardless, the South End is a great place to socialize.  (More on all of these restaurants in a Blog to come).

Moreover, I find the people in the neighborhood to be, well, neighborly.  We have stoop parties (one got so big the police came and broke it up).  I moved to the South End in April, and I already have neighbors that would water my plants for me while I am away. I feel fortunate to have amazing neighbors all of different ages – some just married, some married with kids in college, some single, and so forth.

The South End has become one of the trendiest areas of Boston.  It is a fantastic neighborhood to live in, but there are parts that are still up and coming.  The area around Tremont and Mass Ave. is really developing as demonstrated by the new Parish Café that has opened (a favorite spot for many at the Boylston St. location right next door to my office).

Don’t be fooled by the “Checks Cashed Here” place, this part of the South End is the place to buy a condo, where in years people will be shocked at how amazingly nice the area has become.

Another hot up and coming area that is developing quickly is SoWa (South of Washington St.).  New condos and lofts are going up left and right.  It’s where BSC is located along with restaurants like Myer’s and Changs, Toro, and Gaslight. 

These are the areas that in 5-10 years people will be asking themselves why they didn’t purchase when that Craig Anne Lake told them to do so.   For now, as a renter, I am definitely keeping my eye open for great opportunities, and I am ecstatic to live in what I think is the best neighborhood in Boston!

1. Legal Seafood? NO

2. Aquitaine? NO…well maybe but still NO

3. Capital Grille? Nope

We will give you one more guess…………Ok, give up?  The answer is:

The Metropolitan Club, the sexy Bar and Grille located in Chestnut Hill, MA.  The wildly popular, lounge style, martini bar is well know for its delicious infused vodka’s and cocktail libations.  One look at the drink and food menu, one can see why this concept will match, if not exceed the excitement and popularity it has brought to Chestnut Hill and Newton, MA. We welcome The Met Bar to the neighborhood and hope  the Back Bay Associations do not give them too hard a time with their licensing and zoning.

Just a small sampling of the deliciousness patrons can expect when dining at The Met: