Dawn "Feathers and Sunbeams™" E.'s Profile

Oh yeah.  So it's not just Jessica Weagle anymore.  She's pretty much taken over most of the building she's in, added 4 more therapists, and now can do COUPLES massages.  The prices?  Don't worry.  They're still not painful.

Don't have anyone to get a couples massage with?  TAKE ME.  

That is all.

"The wonderful thing about tiggers. Is tiggers are wonderful things.Their tops are made out of rubber. Their bottoms are made out of springs.They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. But the most wonderful thing about tiggers is I'm the only one. III'm the only one!"

Move over Tigger.  There are more of us now.  This is not the first event where I found myself at home on ice afterward, but it was the first event where I found myself home, on ice, and not drunk.

Pop Chips... Popcycles...  if only there was Popeye's... (Hi Damien.)

Mr. Champion and I were fortunate enough to be invited on what would be the best double date/birthday dinner ever.

We arrived on a blustery winter night freezing and a touch car sick (or maybe that last part was just me) to be instantly greeting with warmth and joy both in the faces of our hosts and the atmosphere of the space.

Although we had a reservation, I popped over to the bar to get a round for my group ('twas a celebration after all) and discovered not only did they have beer from the Berkshire Brewing Company, they had their OWN BBC Branded beer and it was DELICIOUS.  Champion and I both drank this exclusively for most of the night (I say most because I had coffee with dessert).

Our server was enchanting through and through.   I think it's possible I enjoyed the service more than the food, and the food was excellent.

We started with the grilled cheese (it's fancier than it sounds) and crab dip appetizers.  Although the crab dip is apparently a favorite at Gibbet and was very delicious, the grilled cheese won the first race.  Amazing local cheeses of the day (this was cheddar on sourdough and sun-dried tomato goat on - I think - ciabatta) with a reduced tomato bisque for dipping.   I think the crab dip would have been higher on the list had it been served with crusty bread or crisp veggies or pita chips instead of the boxed crackers it came with, for me, anyway.

I really wanted to try the butternut squash and apple soup so Champion and I shared a cup (lots of food on the way, you see) and not only was it excellent, it was light and fresh and a perfect palate cleansing in-between choice.

For dinner we all ordered as follows:

Me:  Steak Frites - Med Rare
Champion:  Meatloaf
Birthday Boy: Filet Mignon with salad wedged and mac and cheese (subbing the full starter salad for a side was $2 extra)
Dr. Handsome: Dry-aged Bone-in Sirloin with mashed potatoes and mushrooms.

My steak was cooked perfectly throughout and, even know Mr. C prefers his a bit more well done, he enjoyed it immensely as well.   I'm not exactly sure what makes up "bone marrow butter" except, of course, bone marrow and butter, but omg.  Yes.   The little arugula salad (with onions marinated in awesome) it came with was a great contrast to the most perfect fries ever.  Let me say that again.  The most perfect fries ever.

Then there was the meatloaf (yay sharing).  Holy crap.  This is something your moth needs to experience on it's own.   And mashed potatoes.... yes please.   I also had a chance to sample the mac and cheese which was really great as well and the mushrooms ride (shiitake, portobello and oyster) which was light and allowed the individual flavors of the mushrooms come through.   I did not taste the other cuts of meat but the boys seemed terribly pleased with their choices.  I did get to taste the Madeira au jus (which was less au jus and more gravy) and didn't much care for it, and sadly, I went the entire meal without trying blue cheese compound butter.

And then there was dessert.   Although I didn't need it, I ordered coffee.   It was "good for restaurant coffee" but I was a bit disappointed.  Here we have a place that goes out of it's way to locally source delicious fresh meats and veggies and dairy and the coffee is unexpectedly generic.  There are several amazing local roasters (Karma Coffee, Terrior Coffee, Armeno Coffee Roasters, Armeno Coffee Roasters - they're so good I had to list them twice, even Red Barn and I'm sure more I haven't discovered), I'm baffled as to why Gibbet Hill hasn't partnered up with one of these folks.  COME ON!  Oh, but the dessert I had made me forget about the coffee.  

Chocolate Pots de Crème (with salted caramel).  Dr. Handsome had carrot cake, which I tasted and it was good.   Birthday Boy has the milk and cookies, which I tasted and they were good.  But the Chocolate Pots de Crème was this rich layered pile of deliciousness the likes of which I rarely find outside of my own kitchen.  It wasn't a big portion but I couldn't finish it.  I REALLY WANTED to finish it, but there was simply no more room.  Next time, and there will be a next time, THIS will be my appetizer.

So I saw the crappy reviews, but I knew something maybe you didn't - THOSE reviews are for the OLD Rafiki.   The new Rafiki has a new chef, a new menu (French Provencal), a brilliant staff, and a planet (and flavor) conscious attitude.

There are two kinds of places that you want to go back to over and over again.  The first is an intimate space, for yourself and a friend or a date, where you know what you like and you savour your meal, maybe share an item or two.  The second is the kind of place you'd go with a group, share everything, talk and toast and laugh and dine.  Rafiki, I think, manages to be both places.

On this experience, I came items with a modest group, which allowed us to share and try a lot of different menu items.  Let me break them down for you:

Classic French Onion Soup - I shall not lie, this was not my favorite onion soup ever.  I like my onion soup to be beefy and heavy and rich and this was not that.   This managed to have all the elements of comfort food and still somehow be light and lovely.  So, you know, it's not my favorite ever, but it's still really damned good, and, probably, more authentic than the heavy stew I often crave.

Petite Cassoulet (with duck confit, andouille sausage, white beans, and a little homemade soda bread biscuit) - Already, here, I'm picking up a theme that you'll see me repeat item after item.   This is a stew.  More specifically, a sausage and bean stew.  Had I made this at home it would have been also delicious, but it would have also been a heavy brick that would sink to the pit of your stomach and insist on being the meal itself.  Despite being all sausage and beans and thick and stewy, the petite cassoulet also managed to be airy and gentle on your palate and your stomach, which works out well, because you're going to want to eat your main course.

Tuna Tartare (which citrus and other yumminess) - This was a palate cleanser and, also, delightful.  Twas simple and, yes, light.

Polenta Napolean - Of the starters, this was my favorite.   The flavors here were simultaneously simple and complex.  I literally fought with one of my dining companions over the last bite (think "hungry Hungry Hippos," seriously, that's the comment that was made from another)!

Pan-Seared Duck Breast - Oh my.   Dude.  I don't even like duck.  This was like a steak.  A sweet and savory pile of deliciousness that luckily landed in my mouth.  While so many of the dishes that I expected to be heavy turned out to be light, this dish I expected to be light, and it was pleasantly rich and filling instead.   I am rethinking my future desires to order duck.

Seared Scallops - The part I likes best about this was the grapefruit salad.  Citrus is a strong trend in the foods and it definitely lends itself well to seafood.   While my least favorite of the entrees, it was still very good.

Handmade Gnocchi Filled with Goat Cheese - Dear Boyfriend, I am really really really really really really really sorry I didn't order an extra plate of these for takeout to bring home to you.  You're not angry with me because you just DON'T KNOW what you missed, but when I bring you here and feed you this, your anger will be retroactive and, for that, I am sorry in advance.  Oh.  My.  Effing.  God.   These things are giant, filled with wonderful goat cheese, and then... then.. FRIED.

For dessert we were lucky enough to sample something not yet on the menu - a stacked crepe cake with layers of marscapone cheese in a citrus raspberry sauce.  This thing starts off tart and just barely sweet but finishes in your mouth as rich and buttery while still, somehow, being (*surprise!*)... light.

The cocktails we sipped through the evening were well crafted (or well poured - if wine - and I appreciate the correct glassware choices) and the staff  was all delightful.

It was a slow night, so our entire group had an opportunity to chat with the co-owner Dan, Chef Jeff Burgess, and several other staff members, many who I missed because I fell into a long and engaging conversation with Dan who's passion for getting the right ingredients from the right sources is legitimately inspired (also, this dude is mad interesting, so if you've got a chance for a chat, take it).   Chef Jeff was also passionate about his work and took the time to explain what goes into every bite.

Okay, so this place is not cheap, but for upscale French dining with as many locally sourced seasonal ingredients reasonably possible (sometimes, you know, flavor comes first), it's really inexpensive for what you're getting, and, also, worth every penny.

I will absolutely be back.

So I'm flip flopping.  Bah.   Take it.  It's just so nice to sit at the bar here, chat up locals, and eat bar food.

It's the end of the red line, easy to get to and parking is usually great. Getting out, however, sucks.  SUCKS.  It could be 10am or 11pm - expect to wait from 5 to 20 minutes to leave.

If didn't know Central House was there, you wouldn't find it.  The sign is small and unassuming and the entrace(s) is(are) a little obscure.  

It's literally an apartment in a multifamily home, where the living room and maybe a bedroom have been combined to form the bar area.

If you look into the kitchen, you can see rows and rows and rows of giant cans of I don't know what and I'm pretty sure I don't care.   You're not coming here for the local farm-fresh foods, you're coming here for a beer or three, a game on TV, some good company and maybe something fried or grilled to eat.

I've never had the food, so I can't judge on that.  But the beer is cold and well priced, the service is friendly and prompt, and the clientele range from old boys who will chat you up to goth cheerleaders (I swear to GOD this happened).

If you're having dinner in downtown Westborough, I can't think of a better place to pop in for an after dinner drink.

I just really wish they'd put a fire in that big 'ole gorgeous fireplace.

(PS.  Most of the decor is by Budweiser.)

This...  is a long time coming.   I did not review my experience initially because I didn't have any comparative analysis for my experience, and I thought maybe all neurosurgeons might have the same demeanour, because maybe that's how they needed to be to be good at what they do.  Since then, I have seen two other neurosurgeons (both whom I reviewed), had wonderful experiences with each, and have made it through very complicated spine surgery and am walking today because of those wonderful men.

Let me start by saying I only had one visit with Dr. Macon.  He might actually be a brilliant surgeon, I don't know, I don't want to know.

I was referred for shoulder pain (and I think maybe some numbness) that seemed related to what turned out to be a disc bulge in my neck.  My primary care at the time, who was wonderful but not the warmest woman ever, referred me with the caveat that Dr. Macon may not be the "fluffiest" of individuals, so, okay, I suppose I was forewarned.

I went to my appointment and was informed that I, in fact, had this bulge and that there was a surgery he could do to correct it that could limit the range of motion of my neck.  Fine.  I asked abouts risk and there was something like a 10% chance of paralysation.  I asked about risks not doing it.  Seemed the risks were the same either way.  I asked for an OPINION.   That's his job, right, to give me an opinion of what he thinks would be the best course of action for my issue.

Dr. Macon would not give me an opinion.  He robotically told me about the issue, gave be scary images of being paralysed no matter what I do, and refused to give me a suggestion on what course of action to take.

I really wish I have to words to describe how devoid of warmth and compassion he was in our interaction.  I really wish I accurately describe how desperately I pleaded for some sort of actual medical advice and he consistently replied with something like "I can't tell you what to do; I can just give you your options."  

No, Dr. Macon, you can't tell me what to do, but you can offer a suggestion.  *I* am not a neurosurgeon.  *I* do not know which choice is best.  That is *YOUR* job.

I left.  Defeated.   I cried the second I hit the elevator.  I thought, perhaps, maybe I was just emotional in the moment but I'm tearing up a little now, as I write this.   This was the worst interaction I have ever had with a medical professional in my life, and it is my sincerest hope that you never have to experience the same.  There is actually a bolded note in my medical records never to refer me to Dr. Macon.  Ever.

I did not have surgery on my neck.  I had physical therapy.  It turns out I also had a disc issue in my low back and my subsequent visits to neurosurgeons were for that issue, which had ruptured and required surgery, but those surgeons took the time to look at the MRI for my neck even though it was not why I was there just because they were on the same disc, and, without my EVEN HAVING TO ASK, offered me an OPINION on what I need to do about it (in this case, that is was not yet something I should worry about), because, you know, that's what good doctors do.

So, once again, Dr. Macon was never actually my surgeon, so I'm not reviewing his abilities as such, but if you're the sort about person who, when faced with serious health choices, maybe even life or death ones, you require some basic human interaction before making those decisions, well, maybe you might want to take my experience into consideration.  

That said, I hope you never need to see Dr. Macon, or any surgeon, ever.  Good luck.

I'm all for a small look business but this FEELS like a chain store.  In fact, it feels more like a chain store than the chain stores.   It's vast and cold and not at all cozy.  You know, the opposite of what I want in a book store.

The wifi works though and, in the cafe, the food is edible.

I've only  had Pho Ga here, so take that for what it's worth, but I've had lots of Pho Ga here.  I pretty much order takeout any time I'm driving through Waltham (so, you know, once a month after the chiropractor).

The Pho Ga is richer and fattier than others I've had, but being fatty doesn't make it greasy, it just makes it... I dunno... more.

Obviously I'm a fan, since I keep going back for more.