Marathon Market and Deli

In my opinion, every town should have a place that does sandwiches the right way. Making them fresh to order and I am not talking about having a Subway or Quiznos in your town is acceptable. I am speaking of a deli or sub shop that is not a chain. It is a place where they remember you. In my hometown of Ashland, Marathon Market and Deli serves as a bastion of the sandwich making arts. Their sandwiches are made fresh and to order. Marathon Deli though makes its claim as the wrap kings. Their specialty wraps are fantastic. I recommend most of them. The Hickory, Mayflower, Raging Bull, and Buffalo Chicken Wrap are some of my favorites. When I am home I usually have to have  wrap from Marathon to make the trip complete. So if you are in the Metrowest Area and have a sandwich craving, try Marathon Market and Deli. Enjoy!

sauteed shrimp with mushrooms.

This is a great meal that is easy to prepare. Serve with pasta, rice, couscous, or with a vegetable of your choice.

Ingredients:
shrimps
sliced button mushrooms
sliced white or yellow onion
soy sauce
lemon juice
toasted sesame seeds
paprika
chili powder
garlic powder
dried basil
sesame oil
salt and black pepper


Method:
In a saute pan, cook the sliced onions until they turn translucent. Then add some salt, pepper, and dried basil. Cook this for a minute and add the sliced mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms until they are sauteed which would be four minutes. Then add the shrimp, chili powder, more dried basil, toasted sesame seeds, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook until the shrimp curl up into a C. When this happens, add the soy sauce, sesame oil, and lemon juice. Cook for another 30 seconds and the dish is ready to serve. Enjoy!

roasted eggplant puree

This is an easy dish to make using all of the delicious eggplant that the season has to offer. It is very simple to make and it makes for a great side dish to any summer meal.

Ingredients:
Eggplant
olive oil
garlic powder
dried basil
cardamom
cumin
chili powder
chopped scallion
salt
black pepper

Method:

Coat the eggplant or eggplants with olive oil and place on a baking sheet with aluminium foil. Set your broiler to high. Place the eggplant under the broiler for 4 minutes per side. The eggplant will be down when a toothpick comes out clean and does not stick. Once removed from the broiler, make an incision and remove the flesh. In a bowl combine the spices and herbs with the roasted eggplant. With a potato masher, combine the ingredients with olive oil. Mix until everything is combined. You can serve it hot or cold it does not matter. Enjoy!

Dah Mee

I am always looking for something different. A cuisine that i have not had a lot of is Korean. If you are in the Metrowest area, check out Dah Mee in Natick, MA. They specialize in Korean, Japanese, and Thai cuisine. I would stick with one when you go. I decided on the Korean menu and it was the right choice. The miso soup was good, but the appetizer and main dish were really special. The appetizer was a Korean vegetable pancake called Bin Dai Duk. It was served on a hot cast iron plate. It was crispy on the outside and still warm and gooey in the center. Then for dinner was the Ok Dol Bi Bim Bap, which is rice served with Korean beef, sesame oil, chili paste, assorted vegetables, fried egg, and served in a hot stone pot. It come to table sizzling just like the pancake. I highly suggest this when you go. It simple, but its delicious. For something different try Dah Mee for some Korean delights. ENJOY!

Cabbyshack: the best chowdah evah

New England is known for its bounty of the sea. The seafood is considered some of the best in the country. So its no wonder that New England has some of the best seafood restaurants. One of my favorites is the Cabbyshack in Plymouth, MA. Right on the water, the Cabbyshack is a great place for seafood. Its known locally for having the best Clam Chowdah, which is a bold statement. The chowdah is the best I have had ever, and I have had a lot of chowdah in my life. It is so thick that you can stick your spoon in the middle of the bowl and the spoon will stand up on its own. Besides having the best chowdah in the country, there is a wide variety of seafood delicacies such as fried clams, massive lobster rolls, fish and chips, and boiled lobsters. If you are ever near Plymouth, MA, definitely stop by and have a bowl or cup of chowdah by the sea. I guarantee you will love it. Enjoy!