Lunch with Crescent Drangonwagon at Ducali

Last weekend I had the privilege of dining at Ducali in the North End along with some fellow bloggers and cookbook author Crescent Dragonwagon. I was particularly excited to meet Crescent, who I have been a fan of for years. I received one of her earlier books, Passionate Vegetarian, from my mom about ten years ago. During lunch, Crescent answered all sorts of questions about beans, her favorite recipes, the writing process and more. She is an excellent storyteller with a warm personality. Her newest book includes dozens of creative bean recipes inspired by a wide variety of cuisines: Black Bean Fauxjoada, a meatless version of the Brazilian feijoada; Tamale Pie; Maya’s Magic Black Beans with Eggplant and Royal Rice; and desserts like Sesame Seed Chickpea Flour Cookies, and Red Bean Ice Cream. The book also includes a guide to dozens of varieties of beans and directions for cooking and use. It is an excellent resource for bean fans and skeptics alike. 

The setting for this pleasant afternoon was Ducali, a pizza restaurant and bar in the North End just across from the Charlestown Bridge. We started out with an appetizer of Carciofi-  Broiled Artichoke served with homemade garlic aioli. 

Lakota Bakery

You may have never heard of Lakota Bakery, but there’s a chance you have seen or even tried their buttery, flavorful cookies. They are regularly sold at shops and cafes including Cardullo’s, Darwin’s, Formaggio, and others. Occasionally if I find myself in Harvard Square and wanting a small treat, I’ll stop into Cardullo’s and pick out a Lakota cookie. If it exists though, I’m always curious to check out the bakery’s own storefront. And exist it does, on Mass Ave. in Arlington.

The shop is small with two glass cases displaying over three dozen varieties of cookies, including almond macaroons, sandwich cookies, shortbread, linzers, and drop cookies. Most cookies are adorned in some way another, with a drizzle of icing or a coating of chocolate. I am often skeptical of “pretty” cookies because they so often go for looks over substance. Lakota’s succeed at both.

Oro Bakery

I love when I come across a blog whose authors are as enamored with dessert as I am. What’s even better is when those authors regularly share gorgeous photos of their snacks and recommend quality establishments. One blog that exemplifies this is Lunch Studio. Architects in New York, authors M and Y post photos of their lunch and dessert every day. Many of their favorite establishments pop up on the blog frequently. One place that caught my eye several months ago was Oro Bakery and Bar. Owner Dorina Yuen has an impressive background in pastry, with time spent at Bouley and Fauchon as well as bakeries in Paris.

On one of the unseasonably warm days last week, my mom and I took a walk to check it out. The space is tiny with an unassuming exterior. Inside is a stainless steel counter with a dozen or so pastries out on display. There are a few tables and a bar at which to stand and enjoy a coffee drink. We surveyed the pastry offerings and picked out a few to try.

Tortaria

Tortaria is a new Mexican sandwich that opened just last week near Union Square in New York. It’s a casual joint with a vibrant interior modeled after a traditional Mexican roadside bodega. You order your food at the counter and seat yourself at either an individual table around the perimeter or the large communal table in the center. There is also a bar showcasing more than three dozen varieties of tequila.

Come dinnertime the space is packed with young professionals and NYU students. If they’re initially attracted to the stylish atmosphere, they’re returning because of the good food.