2005 Food Recommendations: Installment 3

New food reviewed by Andrea: Lamb

I've always rejected lamb on the basis of it's gamey taste and pungent odor. It's not so usual on menus, so thus not hard to avoid. But in the past three weeks I have tried it not once, not twice, but three times! The first time was at Matt Murphey's when G ordered the Winter Mixed Grill-- it sounded cozy and hearty, featuring also duck and Irish bacon. But the first taste of lamb and I could barely swallow. I felt like I was eating in a petting zoo and couldn't gulp my Guiness fast enough.
On Monday Mihee e-mailed me asking if I was up for a free dinner (the catch: a 5 minute spiel on American Express Financial Services) at an upscale Greek restaurant, Meze Estatiorio (or something like that) in Charlestown. I ditched yoga and joined her on a Monday night adventure using Boston's finest public transportation (as we were crowing over how proud we were for figuring out which bus to take, the bus deposited and picked up the regular riders, leaving us in the diesel fumed dust. A "local" informed us that we could probably walk, so we did. We arrived just after 7 and met our date for the evening, one F. (rhymes with red) W. (rhymes with ebster), an AE rep dressed to the nines. He surveyed us (jeans and backback, late 20s ennui) and spared us the long talk (also, the others invited never showed up), likely knowing he'd get no money from us. He told us to order whatever entree from the menu and he would cover it. We never saw him again. Our waiter recommended the lamb-- the restaurant's specialty (Mihee had called earlier inquiring if there were vegetarian options. The response, "No vegetarian! We're Greek!"). Mihee went for the chops, and I opted for fish stew, surprising the waiter. I told Mihee of my disdain for lamb, but said also that I'd try it. When our dishes beautifully arrived (at $30+, they should be beautiful!) I had a bite and could not distinguish one hint of the gaminess I normally detest! I started envisioning a culinary turnaround-- I'd be able to expand my gastronomic pleasure at many an ethic restaurant! It was with this optimism that I let G cook for me at his ranch, last night. He'd purchased a marinated and frozen leg of lamb from Trader Joe's, and I said I'd help him eat it. It cooked beautifully-- crispy and well seasoned on the outside, and pink and juicy on the inside. He sliced me a couple slices, and took the rest of the behemouth for himself. It was easy to eat-- tender and delectable, with only a slight taste of the farm. Too bad G couldn't enjoy it as well; he was too busy dissecting out all the unsavory bits of fat (seen and unseen) to eat. I guess it's back to the sanitary, flash frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts.