Bitter and basic.
No. 82 Everyone's mood or the best new cocktail?
We woke up to snow covering our patio furniture yesterday and it was April 12. It’s raining right now and 38 degrees. If spring doesn’t come soon I may actually need to take a tropical vacation that so many others deem ‘necessary’ this time of year. I always laughed it off. Maybe they’re right. [Insert White Lotus music here.]
Oh hello, everyone, are we all here again to whine about the weather? Maybe. If you don’t live near Boston, I hope it’s far nicer out. The weather around here seems to be on world’s longest winding road to the end of winter and move on to spring. I needed my winter jacket several times this past week, it won’t stop raining, and each time it is decent out, I’m at work and get to enjoy the sunshine from afar. What is happening?!
In an effort to not continue dwelling on the grossness outdoors, I’ve deemed this week’s edition to be “fluffy.” Nothing earth-shattering to report on, save for my recent discovery that less truly is more when it comes to hair product (read: this isn’t news for most people).
I’ll share with you a handful of lightness to keep your Sunday easy-breezy, as if we were all on vacation, gazing at the ocean with a light wind, and something refreshing on the small table next to us. What a dream!
Since a tropical getaway is not on the table right now, Seth and I opted to go out a couple times last week. My dinner-order stance remains: I rather have several smaller dishes than one big one. I love a main course, but I always prefer variety. And an opportunity for dessert.
The Bancroft debuted their new spring menu and I was delighted! Of course, the gluten free options vary slightly from the regular offerings, but nonetheless I was thrilled by some of the new additions. Always tell your server of your dietary needs!
If you make your way to Bancroft, I highly recommend the new asparagus bisque which is served with Vermont goat cheese and truffle oil. Delicious! I’ve been on a soup kick recently, and this one hit the spot. For dinner, I opted for the sauteed sea scallops appetizer and a side of fries. Scrumptious. A few small plates made up one excellent dinner. I love variety! Seth went the opposite route and veered more traditional: roasted beets and pistachio salad to start, then had his favorite Giannone Farm Brick Chicken for dinner. So good!
Because I couldn’t help myself, we also tried one of the new spring desserts: Flourless Chocolate Trilogy Cake. OMG. It was fantastic and somewhat great for sharing - ha! How am I becoming someone who often (not always) needs “sweet” to end their meal? Life is wild.
By the time Friday night arrived, we were amidst a shockingly decent spot of weather, so we drove west out to Concord to visit another favorite: Woods Hill Table. It’s always nerve-wracking to show up before 7pm without a reservation, but we usually take the risk because we like the torture and anxiety of waiting for seats. Especially when we’re super hungry.
I chose hope that evening and ordered a cocktail called Bitter and Basic while waiting by the fireplace. Luck was on our side and we managed to be seated at the bar with just a brief, 20-minute wait. My drink was barely halfway finished. Not bad at all!
I love that Woods Hill Table is very season-forward and their menu always reflects what’s fresh, local, and appropriate for the weather. But they always keep a few “staple” dishes (read: extremely delicious and popular) on the menu. If the wood-grilled broccoli were ever removed, I’m not sure what I would do. It is superb. And it’s broccoli. A miracle!
Once again, variety reigned supreme so we shared a couple appetizers - that awesome broccoli and the grass-fed beef tartare - before ordering dinner. This restaurant exudes a vibe that encourages one to linger (thus creating a long wait for seats) and so I rarely decide on dinner before having a few bites. I also would have tried the celery root and potato soup, my soup mood continued, but it was sold out.
Of note, WHT also labels every dish for allergens which is extremely helpful and kind. Kudos to them for making ordering their great dishes that much easier for everyone. I love a great meal, but I love a great menu that’s easy to review for my dietary needs even more.
Moving right along, Seth spotted a dessert special on the chalkboard behind the bar while I was (still) debating dinner options. The sign read “Ice cream: Cookie Dough - GF".” I nearly spat out my last piece of broccoli. Are you kidding me?! What is this magical moment?
Gluten free cookie dough ice cream is one of the hardest flavors to find in the gluten free world and seeing that sign gave me enough spark and joy to get through the rest of 2025 with ease. Jokes aside, I knew then and there to order a smaller dinner so that I could order ALL of the ice cream they had available.
Not a joke: I considered asking if they could pack several servings that I could bring home. I did not actually make this request, but I kind of wish I had. Crazier things have happened in this world. Especially these days.
Wow, this is a long-winded essay about dinner. I’m sorry. I’m very passionate about what is on my plate. If I’m going out to eat, it better be stellar. Food (and life) is expensive so I have viciously high standards for dining out experiences. Lucky for the restaurants, right? Yikes. This is a friendly reminder to tip well! :)
For dinner, following that ice cream discovery, I opted for a duo of delicious: smoked pork ribs and a side of tallow fries. Ugh, too good. Ugh, so, so messy. Being the too-friendly weirdo I am, I really enjoy chatting with others seated at the bar. However, chatting with one’s neighbors while trying to gracefully eat ribs is barely feasible without one hundred napkins. I did the best I could! I hope no one was offended or bothered. My fingers were so sticky I couldn’t snap a photo.
Those ribs were ridiculous. I’ll order them again. The side of fries was necessary because if GF (read: no cross-contamination in the fryer) fries are on a menu, I am ordering them every time. It’s a life rule. Duh.
For what it’s worth, the larger main dishes are also excellent; had my mood been different, I may have gone for the spring risotto or steak frites. Overall, the food and experience at Woods Hill Table is wonderful every time and it’s probably for the best we don’t live around the corner. ;)
And of course, I had to order the ice cream special. It was as awesome as expected. How can I request for the flavor to become a permanent fixture on the menu? Or just ask for batches of it be sent to my home. I’ll pay for shipping!
Now that I’ve gone on for too long about dinner and I haven’t even had breakfast, perhaps it’s time for that? I once had a vision about writing this letter to you on Saturdays - in advance as they say - but I tend to prefer being “in the moment” and writing it out in real time on Sunday morning, coffee next to me, and letting whatever “speaks to me” go onto the proverbial page. It’s like when Instagram used to really be “instant” and not so curated and planned and perfect-looking. I can’t be bothered!
If I had time and energy to pre-plan everything, who knows what this letter would look like. Maybe it would have more structure. Maybe it would be less fun to write. Maybe I’d have more readers? Ha. My writing is what it is. If you like it, great. I am thrilled you are here. Tell your friends. ;)
It’s still raining. I need to eat something that’s not from a dinner menu. We are soon to grocery shop and every other “Sunday Thing” we usually do. Next time the sun is shining I may have to skip this session to get the heck outside. Let’s hope for sunshine, shall we? I’ll go check the weather app.
Happy Sunday, everyone!
Cheers and joy,
Mollie
