Winter Destinations - Boston, MA and Mystic, CT

E and I have visited places over the past month and a half ... I just haven't gotten around to blogging about them. So, here are delayed reviews on two places we went.

BOSTON, MA - In an unseasonably warm day in January, we headed to Boston to walk around the city.

We ate lunch at Houston's (60 State St., 617.573.9777). I had been to Houston's before in Dallas and New York, but E had never been. It is a very sleek looking restaurant - a large metal statue greets you at the entrance and dark cherry wood abounds. The seating in the restaurant consists solely of booths of all sizes.

The service was extremely refined and efficient, and the food was great. We started with the chili - E is on a search for the best chili in New England, so we try it wherever we go. It was good, but it wasn't something E would get again.

His lunch entree, though, is something he would eat again and again. He got the Evil Jungle Thai Salad - steak over a salad with rice noodles, various types of lettuce, mango and a vinaigrette dressing. The steak was seasoned with something a bit spicy, and E declared it the best salad he's ever had. I had the grilled chicken salad - something I always get and enjoy at Houston's.

We then walked around the Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall area and over to the North End. We were going to get cannolis at Mike's Pastry, but the line was very long, so we went back to Quincy Market. E got gelato, and I got cookies at Boston Chipyard. It was a great way to take advantage of an unseasonably warm day.

MYSTIC, CT - We went to Taste of Mystic last summer where I had a portobello with alouette cheese which was amazing. We decided to give the restaurant serving it a try a few weeks ago - Captain Daniel Packer Inne. We ate in the pub which was a small section downstairs. The regular pub seating was full, so we ate at the bar.

I had the portobello to start, and E tried the baked angus sirloin and black bean chili. It was outstanding chili, and he really enjoyed it. For lunch, I selected the almond crusted goat cheese medallions described on their menu as "medallions of goat cheese coated with chopped almonds and fried golden served on a bed of crisp field greens with an orange cashew vinaigrette". It was delicious.

E had a po' boy - "slow roasted pulled pork simmered in our house barbecue sauce and carmelized onions served on a baguette with melted cheddar cheese and served with sweet potato fries". He enjoyed it, as well, but he was a bit full after devouring the chili. He said when we go to Captain Daniel Packer Inne again he'll definitely have the chili but probably pair it with a salad or something else light.