It’s been a totally cray day filled with work and travel and family and BAH. I’d be lying if I said we haven’t been enduring quite a bit of food porn over the last few hours, and we feel totally terrible that we didn’t get a chance to share it with our baby queso ( aka Just Add Cheese DUH) and you guys sooner. I arrived in DC just a couple of hours ago for quite the family affair of a weekend, and within just minutes of landing we were already jumping face-first into a total food porn situation that cannot be ignored. Even my excessive allergy attacks this week could not keep me from devouring the monstrosity you see before you. The Carrot Cake Sundae courtesy of Serendipity 3 in Georgetown aka the only kind of Hunger Games I care to be a part of. Death by pollen count? Psshh more like death by Carrot Cake. Good night!

Italian food has a special place in my heart. Being half-Italian, I grew up living off of my Nonna’s homemade meatballs. I ate so many I’m honestly shocked (and equally elated) that I didn’t turn out looking like one. When I was in college, I decided to do my semester abroad in Italy. Living in Florence for five months, and travelling throughout the country during my stay, I was housing every food item in sight; visiting the gelateria daily, scooping up fresh balls of bufala sfusa at Mercado Central, and indulging in the best kebabs known to man during the wee hours of the night. Okay, I know kebabs are not Italian, but for some reason they taste better in Italy. Just like everything else. Given my caloric intake during my time there you’d think I would have doubled in size, but I actually managed to lose weight – which only fueled my love for Italian food that much more. 

It’s been a while since I last stepped foot on Italian soil, but every once in a while I end up at a restaurant that somehow brings me back. And this dinner I had at Posto, was one of those times.   

There are always a few food items I can’t resist when it comes to ordering. Most of those food items reside on the appetizer list. I’ll never get sick of sharing small plates, that’s just my style. My must haves?

Carpaccio –  here we have Vermont grass-fed sirloin courtesy of Boyden Farm, topped with a healthy dose of parmesan and arugula, drizzled with black truffle aioli and sprinkled with croutons. Tender beef, tangy cheese, crunchy croutons, rich truffles…I can’t.

What is there not to love about a deep fried ball stuffed with risotto and cheese? The arancini at Posto happen to be made with Lemon risotto which was totally refreshing.  

Guess what’s hidden under that massive mound of melted mozzarella… MEATBALLS! Nonna’s Meatballs, to be specific. No but literally, the menu lists them as such. Note – if you ever see the word Nonna in front of the word Meatball on a menu, just order it. You know it’s going to be good. These guys were made from a combination of free range beef, pork, & veal, drowning in a dish of pomodoro sauce and mozzarella, served ”Al forno”.

After our primi courses, it came time for segundis — Spicy Crab Linguine made with Jonah Crab meat, serrano peppers, guanciale, lemon, mint, and chives, topped with a lil’ bit of pecorino Romano; the Classic Bolognese comes made with a mix of pork, veal and beef, oregano, and parmesan served over tagliatelle pasta; and the Beef Short Rib which comes topped with a generous portion of Potato gnocchi and parmesan crema. All of them were awesomesauce. If I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be the Short Rib Gnocchi, but I’m glad there were plenty of us in attendance to take down all three.

And then there was pizZA!

The Trentino (above) topped with caramelized Vidalia onions, Italian fontina, roasted green onions, parmesan, and two farm fresh eggs, and the Honeycrisp Apple (below) topped with roasted apples, Gorgonzola crema, applewood bacon, caramelized onions, arugula, and vin cotto.

To be honest I thought the pizza prices were a bit steep. I’m used to eating at Za religiously, where a pizza the same size goes for $7-$10. At Posto, most of the small-to-medium sized pizzas were priced around $16 which I found a bit ridiculous, but everything in the touristy city of Florence was overpriced as well so it added to the whole vibe of being back in Italy.

What’s not pictured here is the Tiramisu, which was phenomenal and maybe the best I’ve ever had (and I don’t even like Tiramisu) and the homemade Rosemary bread which paired perfectly with the chili-infused olive oil that resided on our table all night long. I couldn’t help myself from pouring it all over everything.

Posto really provided the perfect place for our family-style Italian affair. Aside from the great tasting food, the service was great and the ambiance was ideal for group get-togethers, romantic date nights and casual quick bites at the bar. So basically anytime would be a good time to go, except Sunday nights, because they’re closed.

187 Elm St.
Somerville, MA
617-625-0600

*ps I know my titles cheesy, but I couldn’t help it. Step off me.

My trip to Lone Star came at the perfect time, right in the middle of taco fever, so my basis for taco comparison was pretty on point that day. It took me two visits to Lone Star to form a solid opinion, but I have finally come to some conclusions….

10 Things You Should Know About Lone Star Taco Bar

1. Great drinks. Apologies for no drink photos – that place is DARK (see #2). They have a great selection of tequila and mezcal, thoughtful cocktails made with each. My favorite was the El Diablo (Reposado tequila, mezcal, lime, jalapeño and habanero agave syrup served over ice with a chili-lime salt rim) mostly because it includes both tequila and mezcal, which made for a spicy/citrusy/smoky drink.

2. That place is DARK. It’s really, really hard to see.

3. The salsa is bomb and it comes in a huge bowl. It’s the perfect traditional chunky, tomato-y salsa. BUT it’s not included, which is whack. It’s salsa, come on.

4. The tacos are small…borderline too small. I had a great meal and was certainly full after three, but I don’t understand why they can’t be normal size.

5. (IMO) The best tacos are the spicy beef and the barbacoa. We loved the cabbage on the fish tacos, but concluded that they tasted kind of fishy, literally.

6. The pickled jalapeños taste like mustard. Once you realize it, you won’t be able to think about anything else.

7. Although it was a valiant effort from Lone Star, Toro still takes the cake when it comes to providing the best aioli-drenched cheese-covered Spanish corn this city has ever seen.

8. Even though $4 is a little steep for tiny tacos, you can still get away with a super cheap meal from Lone Star, perfect for a pre-Paradise Rock Club outing.

9. Lone Star has two awesome vegetarian taco options: grilled avocado with sweet corn relish and griddled queso OR braised tofu.

10. I wish I lived closer to Lone Star because I want to go back and try everything else. It’s perfect for a casual and quick lunch, dinner, or anytime taco fix.

Here’s what we tried…

Tuna Ceviche with avocado and mango

Dallas Spicy Beef Tacos — fried tacos with spicy beef, mushrooms, chilis, and longhorn cheese

Fish Tacos – beer battered fresh white fish, pickled cabbage slaw, and chili mango aioli

Grilled Avocado with sweet corn relish and griddled queso

Grilled Street Corn with cotija, cilantro, chili lime aioli

Want more pics of Lone Star? Daisy got some really great ones that night.

477 Cambridge St.
Boston, MA
617-782-8226

The drinks were great (plenty of mezcal!!) and the atmosphere was fun and lively, but there were hits and misses with the food. The queso fundito and chorizo taco were favorites, making it worth the trip, but I didn’t love the salsa and the steak tacos. Has anyone been yet? I think I need to check it out once more before forming a solid opinion.

Here’s what we got…

Guacamole “El Mero Mero”
avocado, cilantro, sea salt & white onion.

Queso Fundito
“cheesy cheesy goodness” (Oaxaca, Chihuahua & Manchego cheeses) w/ tomatillo & crispy tortillas

El Jefe
Monte Alban Mezcal, Lunazul Reposado, grapefruit, sugar, Xocolatl Mole Bitters

Margarita de la Casa
Agavales Blanco, Combier, lime juice

Ceviche del Mar
Maine Redfish, Red Snapper & Sea Scallops, avocado salsa, lime, scallions, pickled red grape, radish

Crispy Maine Redfish
savoy cabbage & jalapeno slaw, baja mayo

Skirt Steak ”Asada” 
Archer Angus, ME, garlic mojo, roasted poblano rajas

Chorizo de la Casa
with farm egg “soleado” & papas, chipotle mayo

…and just one more shot of the cheese, just because.

I’m curious to hear other opinions!

219 Elm Street
Somerville, MA 02144

So I finally got around to trying out Zo this week after countless recommendations from coworkers and foodies online and it totally lived up to expectations. I went with the Original Gyro — authentic Greek 100% lean pork rotisserie topped with tomato, onion and tzatziki, wrapped up in a warm flour tortilla. It was ZO good that I actually continued to eat it even after I was full, finishing off the entire monster-sized wrap until I felt like THIS. And what a great feeling it was.

3 Center Plaza
Boston, MA
617-227-0101

*warning – these guys are only open for lunch.

If you’re from the New England area, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Joe’s American Bar & Grill. Having grown up in Milton, my adolescent self grew quite fond of their massive loavess of oven baked bread pretty quickly. The menu is pretty standard and stocked with lots of easy crowd-pleasers, and while I can’t say I make it out to a Joe’s nearly as much as I did when I was younger, the Atlantic Ave location has proven to be the perfect place to soak up sun on the patio while taking in views of the harbor and enjoying some fresh seafood and huge salads with coworkers. This location has more seafood on the menu than the other locations, and I’ve heard to brunch is pretty good too.

Here are just a few of my favorites >>>

Crispy Calamari  quickly fried with cherry peppers and served with marinara sauce

Black Skillet Roasted Mussels tossed with extra virgin olive oil and kosher salt

Lobster Quesadillas stuffed with lobster meat, tomato, scallions and cheese

Crab Cake Salad mixed greens tossed with avocado, tomatoes, roasted corn, corn bread croutons and fresh herb vinaigrette topped with on of Joe’s special crab cake drizzled with Cajun remoulade

Ahi Tuna Salad (my personal fave) which comes with a generous portion of seared sashimi tuna topped with spicy aioli, served with fresh salad greens, avocado, red onions, sesame seeds and fresh herb vinaigrette

Joe’s American Bar & Grill
100 Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA
617-367-8700

The cocktail list is full of colorful drinks made with in-season ingredients. Our favorites were the Blood Orange Margarita and the Tamarind Margarita made with fresh tamarind, Wahaka Joven Espadin mezcal, Cointreau, fresh lime, and a hint of chipotle.

Because there was no way in hell we were ordering just one of the ceviches listed on the menu, we went with a sampling of three. The Frontera Ceviche (Hawaiian albacore, lime, tomatoes, olives, cilantro & green chile on tostaditas), Tropical Tuna Cocktail (Sashimi-grade Hawaiian bigeye tuna, tomatillo guacamole, honey Manila mango salsa) and Yucatecan Ceviche (Steamed Mexican blue shrimp & calamari, lime, orange, habanero, avocado, jicama, cucumber & cilantro). I was hesitant about the albacore tuna one, I guess it just makes me think of canned tuna, but that turned out to be the landslide favorite, mind = blown.

Sopes Rancheros, from the street food section of the menu, are crispy corn masa boats filled with savory shredded beef, roasted tomato, avocado, and homemade fresh cheese. I saw pics of these guys on their website and given my vice of shredded beef, it was the first thing I ordered. The corn pockets soaked up the sauce on the bottom and the juice from the beef but still kept its shape. And fresh cheese? Yes.

When someone in my party ordered the Smoked Chicken Taquitos (roasted tomatillo salsa, homemade crema, anejo cheese, guacamole) I was admittedly unexcited about it, mostly because the duck flautas were listed right above it. Alas, most people love chicken and I can’t have everything I want, so that was that. I turned out to be pleasantly surprised by this though! The chicken was super juicy and flavorful with a little spice.

Now for the grand finale, the Shredded Beef Enchiladas with chile-spiked shredded beef, roasted tomato sauce, Samuel’s cheese, crispy onions, and cilantro. Hands down the best enchiladas I’ve ever had. A lot of things can go wrong with enchiladas. Oftentimes the tortilla becomes soggy from the cheese and sauce or the meat inside gets dry when they’re baked, but each element was just as amazing as the finished product. The tortilla was the most impressive though!

Rick Bayless, marry me. Kthx.

449 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60610

735 E University Dr Tempe, AZ

Hope to see y’all on Tuesday.

Shoot us an email with any questions — justaddcheese@gmail.com.

- Jacki & Meesh

Tickets usually go for $25 each, with enough servings for a total of 60 guests (so you can see why this thing sells out so quickly). The menu is simple, pork buns to start followed by your choice of ramen.

Yum yum pork bun! It’s no secret, I lahvs the pork. This one came braised in soy, rice wine, ginger, and star anise, served on a bao bun accompanied by a quick pickle, cilantro and roasted peanuts. Normally you get one, but I couldn’t help it, I ate 3.  Luckily it wasn’t enough to spoil my craving for Ramen.

The Ramen – noodles made with a medley of flours, giving it just the right bite. The broth, your choice of a Shio Tare salt-base or the soy-based Shoyu Tare — throw in a mix of pickled bamboo shoots, nori, scallion, Charsiu pork shoulder, and a six minute egg with the yoke still a bit runny and you’ve got yourself a bowl of nostalgic delight.

Reminding you of the Ramen you once loved and putting it to shame all at the same time, you’ll never look at the noodle dish the same way again.

Volunteering was great because it gave me an opportunity to meet the staff and see a little of what goes on behind the scenes. Here we have Yukihiro Kawaguchi, the Guchi Man himself, crafting another smile-inducing, heart-warming, stomach-satisfying bowl of Ramen.

And because the world is always a better place because of pork…

They decided to make a pork bun the size of… a frisbee? It was enormous, and I’m assuming it broke a few world records.

I must say that I’m pretty bummed I didn’t get a photo of dessert, which were Yuzu Macaroons made with a white chocolate yuzu ganache, flaky salt and black pepper. Thanks to Tracy Chang for making the delicious treats, I definitely spent hours obsessing over them as I continued to toss them in my mouth like skittles.

Overall I’d say the event was a major success. Everyone was impressed with the food, and the elusive nature of the dinner certainly adds an element of surprise and excitement you don’t get from just any dining out experience. The staffs energy was infectious, with a mix of Gallows employees, O Ya experts and a few volunteers working together to execute the whole thing. If you’re not one to go to bed early on a Sunday or Monday (which is when the pop-up usually takes place) there’s certainly no where else you’d rather be, and rumor has it that the team hopes to make this thing more of a bi-weekly affair. So make sure to follow them on twitter and keep an eye out for when the next rounds of tickets go on sale; I guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy yourself.