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By Margarita Martinez | Tuesday, May 14, 2013 |
Most people don't think of Medford as being a culinary destination, but that just adds to the hidden gem appeal of Medford businesses. There is a Modern Pastry location, so those in Medford do not have to endure the North End crowds in order to get great cannoli. If you live in New England and cook Japanese food, then you probably know about Ebisuya Japanese Market, which is a great place to get Japanese ingredients and imports, such as Japanese candy and magazines.

(Patricia Alvarado Núñez/WGBH)
And there is Bistro 5, an Italian restaurant owned by Chef Vittorio Ettore. Right off of the West Medford stop on the Lowell Line, this restaurant truly feels like stepping into another place and time. The lush gold and red colors and fabrics create a very moody and intimate experience perfect for enjoying the food of Tuscany. The ambience and food make you feel a bit like you're at Carnival, but without the crowds, floats, and parties.

(Patricia Alvarado Núñez/WGBH)
Like most Americans, I love Italian food. When I speak to people about Neighborhood Kitchens and ask for restaurant suggestions for our show, the most recommended type of cuisine is Italian. I prepare Italian food often, grow lots of basil and tomatoes, and keep lots of good olive oil, pasta, garlic, and vinegar on hand to quickly prepare delicious Italian-style meals - imagine my excitement at traveling to West Medford to learn how to cook Tuscan food with Chef Ettore!

(Patricia Alvarado Núñez/WGBH)
I loved his tips for making risotto and biscotti. These are items that I make at home, but I learned about the heritage of these dishes and how to make them better from Chef Ettore. For instance, while I have made biscotti, at Bistro 5 I learned how to made cantucci, a drier form of biscotti enjoyed in Tuscany. I am also used to enjoying my biscotti with espresso, but this time I enjoyed it as a lovely dessert by dipping it in a sweet glass of vin santo.
Chef Ettore, a chef with a joyful passion for life and food, truly knows how to include people in the process of cooking great cuisine. Along with Bistro 5, Chef Ettore owns A Tavola in Winchester just north of West Medford. In Winchester, Chef Ettore runs a “Seed to Plate” program at Ambrose Elementary School. He has a garden at the Sandborn House Historical and Cultural Center where he teaches 4th and 5th

(Patricia Alvarado Núñez/WGBH)
grade students how to plant, harvest, cook with, and compost ingredients. The program culminates with a meal prepared by Chef Ettore and the students and shared with the teachers, parents, and students using ingredients grown throughout the year. It is obvious that Chef Ettore wants to pass on to the younger generation a passion for food, from eating it to growing and sourcing it, just as his family and community did for him while growing up in Tuscany. Those of us who participate in his “Seed to Plate” program and visit his restaurants are reaping the rewards.
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Sunday, May 12, 2013 |
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Friday, May 10, 2013 |
Watch Neighborhood Kitchens 205: Recipe Tofu Xao Sa Ot . See more Neighborhood Kitchens.
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By Margarita Martinez | Monday, May 6, 2013 |
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Pho Le, owner Duyen Le (Patricia Alvarado/WGBH)
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Sunday, May 5, 2013 |
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By Margarita Martinez | Thursday, May 2, 2013 |
There are only a few Boston neighborhoods other than Jamaica Plain that have such diverse people and offerings of things to do. There are parks to visit, including Jamaica Pond, Franklin Park, and the Arnold Arboretum. Although we shot this episode in the winter, these are some of my favorite places to visit in the spring and summer. And what better thing to do on a warm day than go for ice cream at the original J.P. Licks. Right near J.P. Licks on Centre Street is a natural foods market, a kitchen supply store, a yoga studio, bistros, cafes, and so many cute, creative, and distinctive businesses. One such place is Tres Gatos.
Part music shop, part book store, and part tapas restaurant, Tres Gatos is a unique treasure. I don't know of another place in Boston where one can purchase a Charles Mingus record, an Alabama Shakes CD, and David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, all while enjoying churros and chocolate. Sales of CDs, records, and paper books have been down for the past decade, but Tres Gatos owner David Doyle, like so many other book and music enthusiasts, believes that there is still a market for these types of shops. I, too, miss the feeling of community when visiting independently-owned book and music stores. Purchasing books, music, and movies online is void of the pleasure of browsing items in person and talking to store owners and managers about what they recommend for a good read and listen. Doyle has come up with an excellent solution for making a music and book store profitable in the digital age: hire an amazing chef and open up a lovely and intimate tapas restaurant in the same location.
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