Radius Restaurant Week Summer 2011

Tuna Tartare Amuse Bouche with ginger jelly. Beautiful~!

Radius Restaurant

8 High Street

Boston, MA 02110
(617) 426-1234

Food: 4.4/5.0
Service: 4.7/5.0

Note: I have a tendency to procrastinate on writing time-sensitive posts which end up being irrelevant after the time window passes, so this upcoming Boston Restaurant Week presents a good opportunity to revive expired posts from the back burner! I'll start this revival by sharing what I ate for Summer RW 2011.

Everyone knows how much I adore Radius, but this occasion was extra special cos Mum was in town to visit and incidentally, RW corresponds with her birthday! I made a note to my hostess and I was thinking ok, maybe the restaurant is going to decorate mum's dessert plate extra nice with a candle or something...but no. 

They went a notch further! Every staff we encountered while walking in and moving around was congratulating "Happy Birthday, Susan". Granted we didn't know them but this unparalleled customer service demands my glorious salutation. Mum was first surprised and then basked in the glow of all that attention. Towards the end of the night, she even got a birthday card signed by all the wait staff! 

Food-wise, I'm never disappointed. Everything was perfect, from the dishes to presentation, to timing of the delivery, re-filling of rolls and water, dessert, and finally palate cleansers.

Chowder topped with delicate bites of oyster. Umami to the last drop

Herb Basted Cod with summer vegetable "tart", herbed cous cous salad, tomato vinaigrette. Cous cous was a tad dry for me but it mopped up the sauce well. Cod had a nice crust on the outside and fish was tender.

Slow-roasted pork on a bed of roasted mushrooms and asparagus-perfectly cooked and tender despite the thickness.

Birthday Dessert and Happy Birthday Girl :)

My usual goat cheese, cheesecake dessert. Goat cheesecake with huckleberry ice cream-Tart and creamy, not cloying at all. Lace cookie provided just the right amount of crunch.

Seriously, How thoughtful was this? Listen up other restaurants!

Petit sweets after our check was paid. Citrus jellies, mini choux and chocolate buttons (?)

I'm thinking of getting some items for my supper club. Thoughts?
Stainless-Steel Amuse-Bouche Spoon, 5"

Di Bruno Goat Cheese Sampler

Eating Algerian Pasta Bullets or Berkoukes

Care for some Pasta Bullets ? (Cousin Sam)

Berkoukes or pasta bullets are a traditional staple in Algeria. They are made using  the same process as cous cous, except in a larger size.  Taste-wise, it's like pasta, except chewier... and I'm all for chewy foods! Boba pearls give me the same level of satisfaction, I might add.

I was introduced to this dish when I was in Tomboctou (Timbuktu).  In the picture above, the berkoukes were cooked before being tossed in tomato-based sauce (the only similar taste I can relate to is ketchup) and mutton. I am guessing the mutton had been simmering for some time, hence the meat was tender and not at all tough.

Anyone besides me thinks that "pasta bullets" sound cute? Where can we get some Berkoukes?! An alternative that's more readily available and no less yummy would be Les Moulins Mahjoub Couscous M'hamsa Tunsia nom!