Food Network's Top 5 Diner Dishes in America Include Items from Modern Diner, Agawam Diner at # 1 and 2

A popular food-based TV channel, magazine, and website has come out with its picks for the five best diner dishes in the United States, and items from a couple of New England diners have come out at the very top of the list.

According to the slideshow/article from the Food Network, the custard French toast from Modern Diner in Pawtucket, RI, and the chicken pot pie from Agawam Diner in Rowley are at #1 and #2, respectively, with items from diners in San Francisco, La Jolla, CA, and Austin also making the grade. Both of the New England spots have been visited by our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants), with the latter being featured in a review that can be found below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/AgawamDiner.html

Modern Diner can be found at 364 East Avenue in Pawtucket while Agawam Diner is at 166 Newburyport Turnpike (Route 1) in Rowley.

For a complete look at the picks from the Food Network, please go to the following link:

Top 5 Diner Dishes in America

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Food Network Includes The Pilgrim from Mike's City Diner Among Its Top Thanksgiving Dishes in America

A popular food-based TV channel, magazine, and website has come out with its picks for the five best Thanksgiving dishes in the United States, and a sandwich from a dining spot in Boston has made the list.

According to the slideshow/article from the Food Network, Mike's City Diner in the South End has been included for "The Pilgrim," a sandwich that includes roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and gravy, with the post noting that all of the ingredients are made in-house. The Washington Street eatery was the only New England spot to make the list, though Rotisserie Georgette in New York also made it for its stuffed and crisped potato.

For a complete look at the picks from the Food Network, please go to the link below:

Top 5 Thanksgiving Dishes in America

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Matt O'Neil of The Blue Ox in Lynn to Be on Food Network's "Beat Bobby Flay" July 2

The chef and owner of an upscale North Shore restaurant is going to be making his debut on the Food Network later this week.

According to a press release, Matt O'Neil of The Blue Ox in Lynn will be participating in a special grilling-themed Independence Day episode of "Beat Bobby Flay" on Thursday, July 2 at 10:00 PM (EST) along with Brian Cartenuto of Tucker Duke's Lunchbox in Valparasio and Deerfield Beach. The Food Network page for the upcoming episode gives away little, only saying that "Fireworks erupt when super competitive chefs, Brian Cartenuto and Matthew O'Neil, flex their culinary know-how. Only victory will satisfy in this Independence Day battle, as Rachael Ray and cookbook author Jessica Seinfeld set their sights on beating Bobby."

The Blue Ox is a dining spot that our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) has featured as an under-the-radar place to go to for New American fare in an upscale but casual environment. The review can be seen at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/BlueOx.html

The address for The Blue Ox is 191 Oxford Street, Lynn, MA, 01901.

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[Note: Please join the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook Group Page to get more info on dining spots and also chat with others about Boston-area restaurants.]

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Cuchi Cuchi in Cambridge to Be Featured on Food Network's "Craziest Restaurants in America" Tonight

An eclectic dining and drinking spot in Cambridge is going to be in the spotlight this evening.

According to an article in The Boston Globe, Cuchi Cuchi will be featured on the Food Network's "Craziest Restaurants in America," with the Main Street spot being part of an episode that is titled "Weird, Weirder, Weirdest." The web page for tonight's show does not give specific information on the episode, but it could be looking at the restaurant's old Hollywood vibe as well as the burlesque-type outfits worn by the waitstaff, along with the international small plates and unique cocktails. The show will air at 10:00 PM (EST), and as the Globe says, there won't be a viewing party at Cuchi Cuchi because it does not have a TV.

Cuchi Cuchi is located at 795 Main Street between Central Square and Kendall Square. Its website is at http://www.cuchicuchi.cc/

The website for "Craziest Restaurants in America" can be found at http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/craziest-restaurants-in-america.html

Follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Interesting Restaurant Interiors]

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Aurum in Jamaica Plain Featured on the Food Network's "Buy This Restaurant"

A Middle Eastern restaurant that opened in Jamaica Plain last month is going to be featured on a Food Network show this evening.

The Boston Globe mentions that Aurum will be the focus of tonight's new "Buy This Restaurant" episode, which airs at 9:00 PM. The article says that the show will look into the process of opening the Lebanese meat pie spot and how restaurant broker Keith Simpson helped owner Matthew Virzi and manager Andrea Belanger find the right space for the eatery. (For more on this episode, please go to the following Food Network link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/shows/buy-this-restaurant.html)

Aurum opened its doors a few weeks ago, taking over the Centre Street space where Kennedy's Fried Chicken had been.

The address for Aurum is 377A Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130.

[Earlier Article]
Aurum (Middle Eastern Restaurant) Is Opening in Jamaica Plain

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Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Is Featuring Boston Burger Company in Somerville, October 8, 2012

Over the past few weeks, Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" has featured segments on Italian Express Pizzeria in East Boston, Cutty's in Brookline, and Tupelo in Cambridge. And tonight, a Somerville restaurant that focuses on burgers is going to be featured on the popular Food Network show.

According to the Facebook page of Boston Burger Company, the Davis Square eatery will be shown on a brand new episode of Triple D, which airs tonight (Monday, October 8) at 10:00 PM. Based on the Food Network's website, it appears that Guy will be looking at a macaroni and cheese burger at the dining spot, along with dishes at Anthony's Seafood in Middletown, RI, and Guerrilla Street Food in St. Louis, MO.

In addition to its Davis Square location, Boston Burger Company also has a branch on Boylston Street in the Back Bay of Boston.

For more information on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," please go to the link below:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.


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Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Is Featuring Tupelo in Cambridge, September 24, 2012

Earlier this month, Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" featured segments on Italian Express Pizzeria in East Boston and Cutty's in Brookline. And tonight (Monday, September 24), another Boston-area restaurant will be featured on the show. According to the Facebook page of Tupelo in Cambridge's Inman Square, the Cambridge Street dining spot will be shown on a new episode of the popular Food Network show at 10:00 PM. The restaurant was one of several places that Fieri went to on a recent trip he took to the Boston area, with Italian Express, Cutty's, Angela's Cafe in East Boston, and Boston Burger Company in Somerville being some of the others.

Tonight's episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" will also feature Patti's Pierogis in Fall River along with Angelo's Civita Farnese Restaurant and Mediterraneo, both in Providence, RI.

Tupelo, which first opened in April of 2009, is a Southern-style comfort food spot that features such dishes as fried oysters, crepes, gumbo, pulled pork, blackened catfish, and chicken and waffles. Its address is: Tupelo, 1193 Cambridge Street, Cambridge, MA 02139. And its website can be found at http://tupelo02139.com/

For more information on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," please go to the following link:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html


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Update: Italian Express in East Boston, Cutty's in Brookline Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Tonight

About a week ago, we reported that Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives was going to feature Italian Express Pizzeria in East Boston on his Food Network show tonight. Now we have learned that this won't be the only local restaurant to be shown on this evening's episode.

According to the Food Network's website, Cutty's in Brookline Village will be joining Italian Express Pizzeria on the Triple D episode tonight, with the episode titled "Massachusetts Madness." Cutty's, which is known for its handcrafted sandwiches, had been visited by Fieri on his most recent trip to the Boston area, with the Food Network host also visiting both Italian Express and Angela's Cafe in East Boston as well as Tupelo in Cambridge and Boston Burger Company in Somerville on the same trip. It looks like Guy will be looking at Cutty's roast beef sandwiches, as a recipe is shown for it on the website, while a haddock margarita with pan roasted potatoes is apparently going to be shown for Italian Express Pizzeria.

The "Massachusetts Madness" episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives can be seen on the Food Network at 10:00 PM tonight (EST). For more info on the episode, please go to the link below:

Massachusetts Madness: Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives

[Earlier Article]
Update: Italian Express in East Boston, Cutty's in Brookline Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives


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Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Is Featuring Italian Express Pizzeria in East Boston, September 3, 2012

A few months ago, we reported that Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" was filming at Italian Express Pizzeria in East Boston, and now we have learned when the segment on the dining spot will be aired on the show. According to the restaurant's Facebook page, Italian Express will be featured on the popular Food Network show on Monday, September 3 (which is Labor Day) at 10:00 PM. The eatery was one of a few spots that Fieri visited on his most recent trip to Boston, including Angela's Cafe in East Boston and Cutty's in Brookline. Italian Express Pizzeria is a place that our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) has featured as a little-known spot to check out, with a link to the review being found below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/ItalianExpress.html

The address for Italian Express is: Italian Express Pizzeria, 336 Sumner Street, East Boston, MA, 02128. Their website is at http://www.italianexpresspizzeria.com/

For more information on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives," please go to the following link:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/index.html

[Earlier Article]
Guy Fieri Rolls Through East Boston


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Bobby's Burger Palace Is Opening in Burlington

It looks like a small group of burger restaurants from a celebrity chef and Food Network personality will be coming to the Boston area, making this the chain's first location in Massachusetts.

The Boston Herald reports that Bobby's Burger Palace is planning to open this fall at the Burlington Mall in Burlington, with the 72-seat eatery featuring burgers that can be "crunchified" with potato chips as well as red hot sauce, blue cheese, queso sauce, avocado relish, and more. The 3,300-square-foot restaurant will also offer such items as salads, grilled cheese sandwiches, fries, onion rings, milkshakes, and malteds. The new dining spot will move into the first-level space where Eddie Bauer used to be.

[January 11, 2013 update: Eater Boston states that the new Bobby's Burger Palace plans to open in Burlington on Sunday, January 27.]

[January 27, 2013 update: The Facebook page for Bobby's Burger Palace indicates that their Burlington location opens at 5:00 PM today.]

[January 18, 2013 update: A bit more information has been given on the opening of Bobby's Burger Palace in Burlington courtesy of Bullfrog and Baum. To celebrate its first Boston-area opening, the burger restaurant will donate $1 for every burger (including ground turkey burgers and chicken breast sandwiches) that are sold between January 27 and February 3 to People Helping People's Burlington Community Food Pantry, which provides food and other services to folks in the community.]

Bobby's Burger Palace currently has locations at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, Garden City, NY and Lake Grove, NY, along with a few other spots in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington, DC. Their website can be found at http://www.bobbysburgerpalace.com/

Thanks to the Boston Business Journal for bringing this to our attention.


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Chuck Draghi of Erbaluce in Boston's Bay Village to Be on Food Network's "Sweet Genius" June 7, 2012

The chef/owner of a restaurant in the Bay Village neighborhood of Boston is going to be appearing on a Food Network show that centers around pastries.

Eater Boston is reporting that Chuck Draghi of Erbaluce on Church Street will be on the Thursday June 7 episode of "Sweet Genius," with Draghi competing against three others to try to win $10,000. The show, which is hosted by pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel, will air at 10:00 PM.

Other local chefs/bakers who have been on the show include Victoria Donnelly of Cakeology in downtown Boston and Steve Butters of Butter Cafe and Bakery in Walpole.

For more information on the Food Network's "Sweet Genius," please go to the following link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/sweet-genius/index.html


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Guy Fieri Rolls Through East Boston

Earlier this week, we reported that Food Network host Guy Fieri was back in Boston, checking out several Boston-area restaurants, including Cutty's in Brookline yesterday. Today, it looks like he is spending his time in a neighborhood of Boston that is known for its many dining spots.

Based on a photo posted on his Twitter page, the host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives went to Italian Express Pizzeria on Sumner Street (apparently with Mayor Menino) as well as a possible trip to Angela's Cafe on Lexington Street, based on an article from Eater Boston as well as general posts on the Twitter site. Eater Boston also mentions that Fieri may also be going to (or may have already gone to) Yankee Lobster on the South Boston waterfront.

Both of the East Boston restaurants that Guy Fieri went to (if he did indeed go to Angela's Cafe) have been featured on Boston's Hidden Restaurants, which is our sister site. The reviews can be found below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/ItalianExpress.html

http://www.hiddenboston.com/AngelasCafe.html

If any of you have seen Guy Fieri out and about in the Boston area this week, please let us know (links to photos would be very welcome).

[Earlier Article]
Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives" Is Filming at Cutty's in Brookline

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Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives" Is Filming at Cutty's in Brookline

Food Network host Guy Fieri is back in town, this time filming at a restaurant in Brookline for a possible episode of his popular Food Network show.

BostonTweet is reporting (via @lillyj) that the host of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives is at Cutty's on Washington Street in Brookline Village today, presumably filming for the show. Their filming at Cutty's does not necessarily mean that the eatery is guaranteed to be on Triple D, but the chances are very good that it will be shown in an upcoming episode.

[May 17 update: According to one of our connections on the Instagram site, Guy Fieri's car was seen at Cutty's at around 1:00 PM today (photo shown with a geotag attached).]

Cutty's is known in part for its handcrafted sandwiches that include bread from Iggy's and locally-sourced ingredients, along with sides such as house-made potato chips and pickles. A few sandwiches offered at the dining spot include egg salad, roast beef, slow-roasted pork with fennel, ham pimiento, and a spuckie with salami, capicola, and mortadella. Their website can be found at http://www.cuttyfoods.com/

Guy Fieri has featured several Boston-area restaurants on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives, including Rino's in East Boston, Greek Corner and Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage in Cambridge, and the Lobster Shanty in Salem. (He also went to the now-closed Little Depot Diner in Peabody.) For more on the show, please go to http://www.foodnetwork.com/diners-drive-ins-and-dives/

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Steve Butters of Butter Cafe and Bakery in Walpole to Be on Food Network's "Sweet Genius" April 19, 2012

The chef/owner of a cafe and bakery in Walpole will soon be appearing on a popular Food Network show that focuses on pastries.

An email from Image Unlimited Communications indicates that Steve Butters of Butter Cafe and Bakery in the center of town is going to be on the April 19 episode of "Sweet Genius." Chef Butters will be competing with three others on the show (which is hosted by pastry chef Ron Ben-Israel) to try to win $10,000. The show will air at 10:00 PM.

Steve Butters is a graduate of the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts and has worked at such places as Mashnee Island Grille in Buzzards Bay as well as Metropolis Cafe, Flat Iron Tapas, Aquitaine, and Union Bar and Grille in Boston. The website for his Walpole spot, which is located at 935 East Street, can be found at http://www.buttercafeandbakery.com/

For more information on the Food Network's "Sweet Genius," please go to the following link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/sweet-genius/index.html

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News Elsewhere: Is Guy Fieri Opening a Restaurant in New York City?

It appears that the host of a popular Food Network show may be thinking about opening a restaurant in the Big Apple.

According to Food Republic, Guy Fieri of "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" is apparently contemplating a new restaurant somewhere in New York City. The article mentions that the Food Network host said to a crowd of people at the Times Center in Manhattan (as part of a New York City Wine and Food Festival interview), "You want to hear a secret? There might be a Guy Fieri restaurant coming to this island."

Currently, Guy Fieri--a West Coast native--owns six restaurants (four Johnny Garlic's and two Tex Wasabi's), but all of them are located in California. The Food Republic article states that the New York City restaurant would not be a branch of Tex Wasabi's, but does not say anything about Johnny Garlic's.

Thanks to the Fork in the Road blog from the Village Voice and Grub Street Boston for bringing this story to our attention.

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The Little Depot Diner in Peabody Has Closed

A North Shore diner that received national attention thanks to a popular TV show has closed its doors.

According to The Salem News, The Little Depot Diner in Peabody shut down this past Friday after being in business for more than 60 years. The article mentions that the folks behind the eatery are hoping that new owners can be found for the 1929 Worcester Lunch Car diner on Railroad Avenue, but for now, the spot is closed until further notice.

In November of 2009, Guy Fieri of the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" featured The Little Depot Diner on his show, focusing on such items as mulligatawny soup and Boston baked beans. The restaurant was one of a few that Fieri visited in the Boston area during that time period, including Sam LaGrassa's in Boston and Louie's Restaurant in Providence.

In addition to the items mentioned above, The Little Depot Diner also featured such items as French toast, pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, corned beef hash, hamburgers, and hot dogs.

The address for this now-closed diner in Peabody was: The Little Depot Diner, 1 Railroad Avenue, Peabody, MA, 01960.

For more information on the closing of The Little Depot Diner, please go to the Salem News link below.

Peabody diner serves its last breakfast

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Duff Goldman to Visit Four Boston Eateries on Food Network's "Sugar High" Tonight

A celebrity pastry chef who headed up a popular Food Network show that recently ended will be featuring four Boston eateries on his new show tonight.

According to the Food Network's website, tonight's episode of Duff Goldman's Sugar High (called "Boston Desserts - Doughlicious!") will be focusing on Beantown from 10:30 PM to 11:00 PM on the Food Network, looking at treats from the Ashmont Grill in Dorchester, Daddy's Fried Dough Food Cart at Boston Common, Modern Pastry in the North End, and Myers + Chang in the South End. The website mentions that Duff will be looking at sticky toffee pudding at the Ashmont Grill, Boston cream fried dough at Daddy's Fried Dough, sfogliatella at Modern Pastry, and lemon ginger mousse and homemade fortune cookies at Myers + Chang.

Duff Goldman started Charm City Cakes in Baltimore about a decade ago, eventually heading up a Food Network show called Ace of Cakes that focused around Charm City Cakes. That show, which began in 2006, wrapped up early this year, with his new show Sugar High premiering earlier this month.

The "Boston Desserts - Doughlicious!" episode will also be shown early Saturday morning at 1:30 AM.

For more information on Duff Goldman's new Sugar High show on the Food Network, please go to the link below:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/sugar-high/index.html

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Poe's Kitchen at The Rattlesnake to Be Featured on the Cooking Channel's "United Tastes of America" on August 30

A Back Bay restaurant that features an eclectic mix of South American, Mexican, and North American foods is going to be featured on a popular cable network that focuses on cooking.

On Tuesday, August 30, Poe's Kitchen at The Rattlesnake will be shown on United Tastes of America, which airs on the Cooking Channel at 10:00 PM. It appears that the episode will be on burritos, which makes sense as The Burrito Bowl took place at Poe's Kitchen this past February.

United Tastes of America looks into the various aspects of American foods, including their history and science, as well as how they relate to pop culture. It is hosted by Jeffrey Saad, who was the runner-up in 2009's "The Next Food Network Star" on The Food Network. The show will apparently be shown on the Food Network as well, likely on Sunday, September 4, at 8:00 AM--we will check the channel's schedule next week to confirm.

The Rattlesnake first opened in 1990 on Boylston Street, eventually expanding from the second and third floor of the building to the first floor, which more than doubled the capacity of the place. In the winter of 2009, chef Brian Poe worked with The Rattlesnake to start up Poe's Kitchen at The Rattlesnake, a lunch and dinner spot that features both a rooftop deck and a street-level outdoor patio.

The address for Poe's Kitchen at The Rattlesnake is: Poe's Kitchen at The Rattlesnake, 384 Boylston Street, Boston, MA, 02116. The phone number is (617) 859-7772. And their website can be found at http://www.rattlesnakebar.com/

A link for United Tastes of America can be found at http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/united-tastes-of-america/index.html

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Food Network Personality Duff Goldman to Be at Michaels in Weymouth on Saturday, August 20

A specialty arts and crafts store with a handful of locations in the Boston area just opened a new outlet on the South Shore, and a celebrity pastry chef will be paying a visit to the store this weekend.

A flyer from Michaels in Braintree indicates that Duff Goldman of Ace of Cakes (a Food Network show that recently ended) and Sugar High (a new Food Network show) will be at the recently-opened Michaels on Bridge Street in Weymouth on Saturday, August 20 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The flyer mentions that the TV personality will be signing aprons at the store, which opened earlier this month.

Duff Goldman founded Charm City Cakes in Baltimore in 2000, with the reality-based show Ace of Cakes (which centers around Charm City Cakes) premiering in 2006. The show ended early this year, and his new show Sugar High, which focuses on finding sweet treats all over the country, premiered earlier this month.

The address for the new Michaels in Weymouth is 729 Bridge Street, Weymouth, MA, 02191.

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Owner of Teranga in Boston's South End to Compete on "Chopped" Tuesday, June 28

The chef and owner of Boston's only Senegalese restaurant is going to be on the next episode of a popular Food Network show.

An email sent to us by CBH Communications indicates that Marie-Claude Mendy of Teranga in the South End of Boston will be participating in Ted Allen's show "Chopped" next Tuesday (June 28). The episode, which airs at 10:00 PM, will pit Marie-Claude against other chefs, taking everyday ingredients and using them in a three-course meal that will be reviewed by a panel of judges. The winner of the episode will be awarded $10,000.

Marie-Claude Mendy first opened Teranga about two years ago on Washington Street, bringing to the neighborhood a place to get West African dishes such as grilled tilapia, fish balls, grilled chicken with vermicelli, lamb stew, herb-stuffed whitefish, and accra (black-eyed pea fritters). The address for the restaurant is: Teranga Restaurant, 1746 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118. The phone number is (617) 266-0003. And the website can be found at http://www.terangaboston.com/

A web link for "Chopped" can be found at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/chopped/

[June 29 update: Marie-Claude Mendy won last night's "Chopped" competition, beating three other chefs and winning $10,000 in the process. A link containing a bit more information on the episode can be found here, including when it will be shown again: Thyme Flies: Chopped]

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