By Mary Eileen Gallagher
Parents Weekend – what a wonderful phrase. Parents Week-end, unfortunately, does not necessarily mean no worries for the rest of your days. However, when the folks flock into town this weekend for Homecoming and other festivities, and to make sure their children are alive and passing their classes, there are a few things you can look forward to.
The first: A major trip to the supermarket is more than probable, as stocking up on all the bulk staples seems to quell a parent’s anxiety. Flats of vitamin water, hearty soups at 10 for a dollar, and bags upon bags of chips – cha ching!
The second: A weekend dinner at a restaurant, a real restaurant, will give your frugal taste buds a refreshing reminder of how good food is when plastic “sporks” and paper cups are not the accompanying dinnerware and the trash cans do not say “Thank You.” In other words, you will realize great food exists outside of Qdoba, Wendy’s and BHOP, and all on your parents’ credit card.
Third: Family and food usually equal “home.” And although your parents are coming to visit you and not vice-versa, recounting stories of school, hearing updates from your neighborhood and analyzing the current state of Boston without the Red Sox in the playoffs, all while sharing a delicious meal, are completely wonderful.
So whether you plan to feast at your favorite chain restaurant, venture out and dine in the historic North End or impress your parents with your culinary wizardry in your own apartment kitchen, remember to savor not only the flavors but, most importantly, your family. And always leave room for dessert.
Sit Down to Italy
For a delectable dining experience, guide your parents to Boston’s historic North End. An exit off the Green Line or Orange Line at Haymarket and a skip across Boston’s infamous construction site will transport you into an Italian oasis just waiting for your exploration. For an adventure, cruise Hanover Street, browsing the menus posted in the window for something that delights you. It truly seems impossible to go wrong at any eatery here. However, for the straight-shooter, enter Italian enchantment by dining at Pomodoro.
This warm and rustic, eight-table restaurant is a gem of the North End. Upon tucking into its wooden tables, an artful menu and soft bread with an entire plate of oil for dipping will welcome you to this nostalgic nook. Don’t take offense to the bare d
