Farm and Fable Opens in Boston's South End

A vintage cookbook and kitchen shop has just opened in the South End of Boston.

According to a post on its Facebook page, Farm & Fable is now open on Shawmut Avenue, with Eater Boston stating (via The Daily Candy) that the new store offers classes, demos, and "cookbook book club potlucks" along with cookbooks and various kitchenwares. The articles mention that owner Abigail Ruettgers left her career in law more than a year ago, working at Flour Bakery while making plans to open a business that combines food and antiques.

The address for this new shop in the South End is: Farm & Fable, 251 Shawmut Avenue, Boston, MA, 02118. Its website will be at http://www.farmandfable.com/

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Cheesy Items from Places in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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Holyoke Center in Cambridge's Harvard Square Becomes Smith Center; Status of Restaurants Unknown

A building in Cambridge's Harvard Square has a new name, and renovations are on the way--and what this means for the restaurants within the space is anyone's guess at this point in time.

The Harvard Crimson is reporting that the Holyoke Center has officially changed its name to the Smith Center, with Harvard University (the owner of the building) saying that the first three floors will undergo construction starting in 2016. The fate of the two eateries on the first floor of the center--Al's Harvard Square Cafe and Oggi Gourmet--is unknown right now, as they have not been included in the planning process up to this point.

The Smith Center is bordered by Mass. Ave., Mt. Auburn Street, Dunster Street, and Holyoke Street on the eastern edge of the square.

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Tara Restaurant in Waltham Reopens After Being Seized by the State

Last week we reported that a Waltham restaurant had been seized by the Department of Revenue, and now we have learned that the eatery is open once again.

The Waltham News Tribune is reporting that Tara Restaurant on Moody Street is now back in business, as the owner worked with the state to create a payment plan for back taxes owed. The article says that the place was able to reopen last Thursday, the day after it had been seized.

Tara Restaurant offers a mix of sandwiches, pizza, pasta dishes, grill items, and Chilean fare. It is located at 288 Moody Street in Waltham's "restaurant row." The website for the spot can be found at http://www.tararestaurant.net/

[Earlier Article]
Tara Restaurant in Waltham Has Been Seized by the State

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Highlights for the Week Ending November 15, 2013

A few more stories and articles centering on the Boston-area restaurant scene came out over the past week, including a popular restaurant in Cambridge closing, a "restaurant row" coming to Quincy, and the celebrity brothers behind a burger spot making a reality show. In addition, our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants) included an updated review of an Israeli restaurant in Brookline, a photo of a brownie from a bakery on the Brookline/Boston border, and a new discussion on cooking and fall foods.

Below are links to these and other items from the past week:

Boston Restaurant Talk

Chez Henri in Cambridge Is Closing

A "Restaurant Row" Is Coming to Quincy

Wahlburgers Reality Show Coming to A&E

Tuscan Grill in Waltham Has Closed; New Concept Slated for Space

DePasquale's Homemade Pasta Shoppe in Boston's North End to Move, Become Bricco Salumeria and Pasta Shoppe

Boston's Hidden Restaurants

Updated Review: Rami's in Brookline, MA

Chat on Cooking and Fall Foods

Photo: Bouchon Brownie from Clear Flour Bread, Brookline, MA

Closings and Openings for November (So Far)

Pizza from Fiorella's in Newton for National Pizza with Everything (Except Anchovies) Day

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DooWee and Rice in Somerville Closes, Plans to Collaborate with Wonder Bar in Allston

An Asian restaurant in the Powderhouse Square section of Somerville has closed after being open for a bit more than a year, though it is apparently not gone for good.

Eater Boston is reporting that DooWee & Rice shuttered over the weekend, with chef/owner Duy Tran deciding to focus on an upcoming location of the restaurant in London as well as a proposed dining spot under the Wonder Bar in Allston. The article mentions that a new spot called Teriyaki House is slated for the DooWee & Rice space, with @TheDrewStarr saying (via the Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook page) that it is not related to the Teriyaki House restaurants in the Back Bay/Fenway area and South Boston.

[January 7, 2014 update: Plans for its collaboration with the Wonder Bar are moving ahead, as The Restaurant Hub blog of The Boston Globe mentions that DooWee & Rice will be hosting an NFL playoff party this Saturday night with a menu that includes pork, salmon, and chicken baos as well as other items. The restaurant's Facebook page also says that they are getting ready to do a trial run of food on a Thursday through Saturday stretch very soon (more details to come).]

DooWee & Rice first opened in September of 2012, offering Asian fusion cuisine that included such items as Vietnamese eggrolls, bao baos, braised pork and rice, and marinated noodles with beef.

The address for this now-closed restaurant in Somerville was: DooWee & Rice, 868 Broadway, Somerville, MA, 02144.

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Update: Central Wharf Co. Is Replacing Jose McIntyre's in Downtown Boston

[Ed note: This article was updated on November 27 to reflect confirmation of this happening.]

It looks like a new restaurant and bar is coming to downtown Boston, apparently replacing another dining and drinking spot that it owned by the same restaurant group.

The Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog is reporting (via The Improper Bostonian) that The Glynn Hospitality Group is planning to open a new spot called Central Wharf Co. on Milk Street, with the address indicating that it may be taking over the Jose McIntyre's space in Downtown Boston. There doesn't appear to be any other information on the new spot (menu, opening date, etc.); as soon as we get more information, we will post an update here.

[November 27 update: The Boston Hospitality and Tourism Industry Blog confirms that Central Wharf Co. will indeed be moving into the Jose McIntyre's space, as the post shows pictures of Central Wharf signs now being up at the site.]

[November 27 update #2: One of our readers says that Central Wharf Co. is now open.]

The Glynn Hospitality Group runs several other restaurants and bars in the area, including The Black Rose, Brownstone, Clerys, Coogan's, Dillon's, Granary Tavern, Hurricane O'Reilly's, and Sterling's. Its website can be found at http://www.glynnhospitalitygroup.com/

The address for Jose McIntyre's (and the upcoming Central Wharf Co.) is 160 Milk Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

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[New article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Cheesy Items from Places in the Boston Area and Beyond]

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