Yes, that's right, I used a Steely Dan lyric/song name as my title. Though it's such a commonly used phrase, I'm sure no one would have realized that, hence my little explanation.
I go "home" next week. Home will always be Massachusetts. I am wishing & hoping for some crisp fall weather. Some cool, refreshing, sweater and boot wearing, zero humidity, perfect fall weather. A little foliage wouldn't be so bad either.
No matter the temperature, I will be going apple picking. All my life my family has traditionally and annually gone to Applecrest to apple pick. Applecrest is a pick your own apple and pumpkin farm that also has a bunch of crafts and folk art type stuff, along with home made pies, and cheese, and donuts and cider, etc.. - yum! I believe on the weekends they have all sorts of good things to eat such as corn on the cob and chowder as well. Far be it from me to break tradition, when I have the opportunity to keep the tradition going!
Applecrest Website
And apparently, Applecrest has now added a creamery???? Oh, I can't wait!
There will also be a trip into Boston, with a primary focus on the North End. Galleria Umberto, in particular. Man, oh man. Umberto's. You have to get there before they sell out of what you want. They only make so much a day, and once they sell it all, they close shop - and the lines are out the door, literally. I'm convinced Umberto's has THE BEST arancini on the planet. Seriously. I made sure to sample various arancini when I was in Sicily, and honestly, it did not compare.
In addition to Umberto's I'm sure Modern Pastry will be visited as well. Everyone will say that Mike's Pastry is the best, but Modern is the hidden jewel. My Dad recently informed me that he saw Parisian macarons being sold in Modern Pastry...so I'm pretty confident in saying I will be making a stop there.
One last place I need to mention that is always visited at least two times minimum when I come home - Kowloon. Oh do I love Kowloon. I love everything about it. From the volcano painted on the wall with the lava effect that looks like real lava a-brewin' to the trio of fountains in the heart of the restaurant that I always request to sit by, to the cheap plastic colorful lei they will give you with a large party. Not to mention the food - South Florida is severely lacking in the Chinese food department. I have not found one place that comes close to Kowloon. And find something similar to Kowloon's duck sauce? Forget about it. Same goes for the famous "Saugus Wings" and crab rangoon, and...hell...and everything. I love this place.
OK, non food related - my old stomping grounds: What used to be known as "Boston Street Cafe" is now called "O'Brien's." I admit, in my early 20's I spent many, many, many a night at that place. Especially the Tuesday open mic night every week. I met a lot of great friends and extremely talented musicians there, and actually got started singing in a band from frequenting the stage at open mic. The ties I made there have lasted and I always go back to sing when I am in town. For the past few years, Lenny and I have had most of the night to play all the songs we want..kind of a VIP treatment. ;) The same will happen this trip, and I really can't wait to be back in my element!
So, I'm hoping for a great *cold* non-humid trip home. And I hope to have some great foliage opportunities, I need to put my camera to more use!
