Dining Out: Met Bar and Grill

Yesterday I met two girlfriends at the Natick Collection for shopping, gossip, and of course, a delicious meal. When the Natick mall expanded to become the chic Natick "collection" it welcomed a host of new, fine dining restaurants including Sel de la Terre, P.F. Changs, the Nordstrom Cafe (a personal favorite) and the Met Bar and Grill.

I had been to the Metropolitan Club in Newton, but had not yet experienced the Met Bar and Grill at the Natick or Dedham locations. Armed with serious post-shopping appetites, we decided to give it a whirl.

The hostess sat us in a high top, round booth that had a Japanese pagoda photograph on the wall behind us. Other high top booths had images of Paris, New York City, and other international locales lining the walls behind their tables. It was very beautiful.

Our table had a lazy Susan in the middle, allowing us to spin around our food and share easily. The table was a lacquered red, which was charming and fun.

The menu was enormous with everything from soup to salad, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, steak, fish and a make your own burger menu!

We decided to start with the spinach and artichoke dip flatbread pizza. Honestly, we picked it because we love spinach and artichoke dip and the idea of that coming on a pizza seemed too good to be true. The pizza was sublime. Perfectly crispy crust, a delicious mixture of melted spinach and cheese, topped with four lightly crisped artichokes. We highly recommend this appetizer!

For lunch two of us ordered the Caprese sandwich which comes with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, arugula, breaded eggplant and pesto on ciabatta bread. It is served with french fries and a pickle. I order the Caprese frequently at restaurants but was attracted to this one because it included eggplant (unusual). The side of french fries tasted like McDonald's (truly the highest compliment you can pay a french fry) and the pickle could have come from any top tier Jewish deli.

We also tried the veggie burger, which seemed to be homemade and was thus a bit messy to eat. The veggie burger also came with french fries and a pickle.

Although we were already stuffed after rounds one and two, we decided to check out the dessert menu. We wound up ordering the pecan toffee pie and the mocha milkshakes, spiked with espresso vodka. The pie was yummy, but could have been served at a higher temperature. I like my pie hot. The milkshakes were incredibly delicious and left you walking out with a delightful buzz.

While the Metropolitan Club is rather pricey, the Met Bar and Grill serves up the same caliber of food, in an equally beautiful atmosphere, with a more reasonable price tag. As there were many more items on the menu we wanted to try, we will absolutely be going back!

Visit the Met Bar and Grill in Newton, Natick or Dedham.

Screen Actors Guild Awards: And The Actor Goes To . . .

Last night awards season continued with the Screen Actors Guild awards (SAG) on TBS. Actors often cite this awards show as their favorite because the nominating committee is made up entirely of their peers. The opening of the show always includes a few fun, short monologues from famous actors on how they got their start in the business. This year's opener included Jon Krasinski, Sofia Vergara and GLEE's Cory Monteith.

The awards show was only two hours (phew!) and had some very memorable moments. Sandra Bullock presented Betty White with the Lifetime Achievement award and Betty's first words were jabs at Sandra. Classic.

GLEE won best comedy ensemble over heavy hitters 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Modern Family, further proving what joy they have brought to the world of television.

Sandra Bullock won best actress in a film over Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren! Now that has to feel amazing.

When the cast of Inglorious Bastards accepted the award for best film ensemble, the actor at the microphone said, "Quentin Tarantino assembled actors from all of the globe for this film - Austria, France, Newton, MA." Ha! My hometown gets a shout out thanks to it being the birth place of B.J. Novak.

And of course, we have to talk fashion! First let me say, bravo Giuliana Rancic for wearing a much prettier dress at the SAG awards than you did at the Golden Globes. Dramatic improvement. Secondly, with Ryan Seacrest on vacation, Ross the intern from the former Tonight Show with Jay Leno joined as Giuliana's cohost and he was fantastic! He behaved around the celebrities just as I would and showed a level of genuine enthusiasm that Giuliana sometimes lacks.

On the carpet I was loving Lea Michele of GLEE who wore a beautiful, emerald Malandrino gown.

I also lusted for the short, white, embellished gown worn by Marion Cotillard. While its difficult to see the beauty of the dress in a photograph, on television it was stunning.

Christina Applegate, who is one of my fashion favorites, wow-ed again in this ice blue Roberto Cavalli dress. With beautiful detail on the shoulders and down the back, this was a perfect choice.

Lastly, I was surprised by how much I liked Anna Paquin's short, bold print number. I thought it was young, fun and the mod hair do she sported to go with it was fantastic.

The Grammys are up next on our awards season tour. Be sure to tune in January 31st on CBS.

Taking the Stage: Back To School

Last year MTV debuted a new show about students at the Cincinnati School for the Creating and Performing Arts (SCPA). I fell in love with the show from the very first episode, and blogged about it each week. I was thrilled to learn the show had been renewed, and in advance of the season two premiere, MTV is airing a bonus graduation episode and a trailer for season two!

In the bonus episode we get to watch the seniors graduate (a very tearful scene), see a final performance that brought together The Definition and Black Rain, and an awkward final talk between Jasmine and Tyler.

We also found out what happened to each cast member after the show! Jasmine went to New York City to dance with Alvin Ailey for the summer, Malik and Shakira both went off to the same college in Chicago, and Mia and Aaron moved into a house together to start a band. It was really fun to see where they all wound up. Thank you, MTV!

In the audition special we are introduced to six new SCPA students:

1) Ian - An aspiring actor and rapper, I was more impressed by his mother's acting chops than his. When she gets the call that he's been accepted, she punks him before delivering the good news. Bravo, Mama!

2) Anna - A dancer suffering from scoliosis, Anna has to work twice as hard as the other dancers. She also seems to be attracting some attention for one of the aspiring male dancers.

3) Carlton - When not checking Anna out, Carlton is trying to become SCPA's next triple threat (It would help if he didn't have such a lame first name). Carlton cites Michael Jackson as his dance inspiration. He gets off on the wrong foot by showing up to the auditions in street clothes. Bad move. Mr. Bjoza is not loving you.

4) Emily Silber - The last of the auditioning dancers, Emily is the first to raise her hand when the teachers ask who is brave enough to kick off the solos. I like her already.

5) Adam - Hailing from Tennessee and sporting the sexy, Southern drawl Adam is a singer/songwriter who wins the teachers over immediately. For his audition he sings a song he wrote called "Sad love song." I can already tell he is going to be the new darling of the music department. With Mia gone, there is plenty of room for a new star.

6) Emily Sones - Emily is the youngest of the new cast. She is a singer/songwriter who is overcoming anorexia. She uses songwriting to channel her feelings. During her audition she faced away from the teacher which I found very odd. Emily hopes SCPA will be a new start for her.

While I enjoyed getting to know the new cast, there was more drama in the final, two minute preview than in the entire half hour special! A taste of what we have to look forward to:

- Tyler gets cast in a movie (and also hurts his ankle; cue one, glistening tear).
- Mia returns! It seems Tyler still counts on her as a confidant. If that girl doesn't have a record deal yet, something is not right in this world.

- Carlton repeatedly challenges Tyler, refusing to accept his domination of the dance program.
- Adam lusts after fellow song writer Emily Sones, who wanders her way over to Ian.
- Tyler and Emily Silber hook up and break up! Tyler says, "what can I say, I'm attracted to talent." Yup, we've heard that before.

I am beyond ecstatic for the return of Taking the Stage! The season two premiere airs Thursday January 28th at 11:00 pm.

Rental Review: Post Grad

Last weekend while babysitting my ten year old twin cousins, we decided to watch a movie on demand. As they are too young for rated R movies we settled on Post Grad.

The movie stars two of my favorite television characters Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel of Gilmore Girls) and Matt Saracen, QB 1 (Zach Guilford of Friday Night Lights). The movie chronicles the summer after their college graduation as they try to figure out their next moves.

While the plot is 100 percent formulaic and predictable the supporting cast is actually made up of some heavy hitters - Michael Keaton, GLEE's Jane Lynch, Carol Burnett and a very steamy Rodrigo Santoro.

If you are in the mood for a short (90 minutes), light, happy ending movie, add Post Grad to your Netflix queue.

Jersey Shore: As We Go On, We Remember

Now that I've stopped weeping, I can talk about the end of the first installment of the greatest guilty pleasure show of all time, Jersey Shore.

Last night, MTV aired a final episode followed by the cast reunion. In the final hour Pauly, Vinny and the Situation have one last boys night out. Meanwhile, Ronnie and Sammi go on a romantic date (after she picked him up from jail that morning of course) and in the end, the Situation and Snooki have a little smooch fest in the hot tub. Fight the gag reflex. I know its difficult.

The final episode ended with a Real-World-like goodbye where each house member left one at a time, saying their goodbyes to each person before getting into their cars to head home. Isn't it strange they hardly drove on the show, but they apparently always had their cars?

In the reunion special the entire cast returned, including Angelina, who admitted she regrets leaving the show (I bet you do, idiot). The MTV host, Julissa, put the Situation in the hot seat first and for some reason he came across as more incoherent than usual. I reached for my fast forward button.

When Ronnie and Sammi came up for their spotlight interview, the host went to show a "never before seen" clip which caused Sammi to storm off stage. She did return, and they aired the clip, after which she and Ronnie proceeded to break up on stage. Haven't they broken up twice every episode? I'd bet every penny to my name they are still together and still making each other miserable. Is that the blender I hear? Share some of your Ron Ron juice.

Snooki closes out the hour in the hot seat and Julissa shows a humiliating montage of all the guys she tried to hook up with. Snooki has apparently been shopping around a reality show "Snookin for Love." After seeing that pitiful montage, I hope she gets her show so she can attempt to find one guy who is actually into her. You know, since reality dating shows have so much success.

Jersey Shore has already been renewed for a second season with the same cast. VICTORY DANCE! I can honestly say, Jersey Shore was the most sublime, escapist hour of television. No matter what was going on in your life, you could always count on Thursday night for serious laughs, high drama and a sense of wonderment. I think it can best be described as watching animals at the zoo. Or as Ashton Kutcher commented last week via his Twitter account, "Jersey Shore is like "Cops" before the cops show up." Well said, my friend. Well said.

Thank you Vinny, Pauly, Ronnie, Sammi, J-Woww, Snooki and of course, the Situation for keeping it fresh (GTL baby!), beating up the beat, creeping, and smushing on our TVs every Thursday night.

See you next summer!

Grey's Anatomy: Oh Boy . . .

After a huge night last week with the first episode of 2010 and the subsequent Private Practice crossover episode, I wasn't sure if week two could live up to the return episodes, but Shonda and her crew found a way to keep stirring the pot!

Last week the previews teased the return of Izzie. Once back at Seattle Grace Izzie finds her reception luke warm at best. Her feeble attempts to win Alex back are too little to late and he lets her know in a tragic speech toward the end of the hour. Game over, Izzie.

Meanwhile, Derek want to tells the board that the Chief is drinking again. Meredith calls "post-it" and makes him promise to keep that between them as husband and wife. Derek offers to hire Izzie back to Seattle Grace if he can tell on the Chief, and Meredith takes the bait.

In the final scene of the episode Meredith wakes the Chief from a drunken nap and the board is waiting outside his door. I look forward to where this story line goes. Will the Chief retire? Will Derek become Chief? Will this tear Mer and Der apart?

This episode Sloan returned from L.A. and confessed to Lexi that he slept with Addison. Feeling relieved that they are even, Lexi also shares she slept with Alex. Sloan turns his back on her immediately saying "I can't believe you would do this to me." Double standard much?

In the most interesting twist of the night, Teddy reveals to Owen that Cristina was willing to give him up in order to keep Teddy as her mentor. Upon hearing this, Owen rushes to Cristina's apartment and tries to show his worth with a passionate make out. I hope it worked, I really like them together! I have been waiting for someone to thaw Cristina's heart since Burke left.

I appreciated the cute Callie/Arizona chicken pox story line. A nice way to lighten the mood with all these other high drama moments!

This week Entertainment Weekly reported that two actors have been cast to play the young Chief and Ellis Grey on the February 18th episode. This could be a fun "how it all started" flashback.

Next week: the Chief or not the Chief? That is the question.

Golden Globe Awards: Best and Worst Dressed

I know I sound like a broken record, but I love awards season! Last night was one of the "big three" (the Golden Globes, the Oscars and the Grammys) and I had some girlfriends over for a viewing party. With finger food and movie candy on the coffee table, we were ready and eager to take it all in.

The Golden Globes are a fun awards show for the following three reasons:

1) It honors both television and film so you get to see twice as many of your favorite stars
2) The show airs live making it almost impossible for producers to censor outrageous moments
3) They serve the guests copious amount of champagne, upping the chances for aforementioned outrageous moments.

While I do love to see my favorite actors and actresses honored, I get most excited about the fashion!

Last night the stars braved the rainy red carpet and did their best to strike a pose gracefully for the photogs and all of us home watching.

Let's start with the train wrecks, as they are more entertaining and will allow us to end on a high note. My picks for worst dressed are:

1) Jane Lynch - In her breakout role as Sue Sylvester on GLEE, Lynch wears exclusively track suits (and once a zoot suit) and probably should have picked a black, tailored, Yves Saint Laurent pants suit for this occasion, but someone gave her some horrible advice and she picked this metallic, seaweed green colored frock. Epic fail.

2) Anna Kendrick - Spending time with Rob Pattinson and George Clooney must have clouded Kendrick's judgement because she chose a gown that looked like a giant snowflake. While it was Marchesa (one of my favorite designers) it was too busy.

3) Tina Fey - Not quite sure what was going on here, but this conjured up memories of those cupcakes dolls they used to advertise when I was a kid.

4) Elisabeth Moss - While Mad Men is a hit show, this is not a hit style choice. The hair blurs the line with her TV character and the billowing dress looks like she is trying to hide something under there. A baby bump perhaps?

5) January Jones - A second Mad Men offender! Perhaps these ladies have spent too much time dressed in 50s garb and not enough time with their present day stylists! First, this head band is atrocious, severe and the hair underneath it looks like it hasn't been brushed in weeks. Second, if I had Jones' bangin' body, no way would I cover it up in a boring, black, floor length snoozefest. In fact, with the umbrella, it looks a bit like she's attending a funeral. Like how I said "a bit"? How very Rick Gervais of me.

6) Jennifer Morrison - While the story behind this dress is adorable (it was a Christmas gift from her husband) there is entirely too much fabric here and the color is just ho-hum. Diagnosis: overly textured fashion bore.

7) Chloe Sevigny - Its hard to even articulate why I hate this dress. I know its Valentino, I know he's an Italian fashion genius, but this just feels all wrong. Too much ruffle, way too much movement when she walked, and she looked like a floating head above a lilac amoeba.

8) Mariah Carey - First let me say, Mariah Carey has been my pop diva idol since kindergarden, so I mean no disrespect. But honey, put the girls away. Please. We're begging you.

9) Jayma Mays - While I love the GLEE star on the show, the bottom of this dress looks like a Halloween, spider web costume! Sad.

10) Diane Kruger - With Pacey on your arm, its tough to look bad, but this hot pink frock seemed a bit off. The ruffled neckline seems to have gotten away from itself and the misplaced white bow at the waist added to the confusion.

10.5) I refuse to give her her own line item, but another seriously overstyled person on the red carpet was E! host Giuliana Rancic! I love her reality show with her hubby, but last night she looked like an L.A. extreme alien! Her hair was recently colored super blond and she was wearing a blinding, silver, Pamella Roland gown that was more of a distraction than anything else. Sorry, G.

Now onto my fashion winners! My picks for the best dressed are:

1) Jennifer Aniston - Hot. Damn. Seriously girl, I hope Brad Pitt, John Mayer, Vince Vaughn and any other Hollywood man you dated saw you looking ridiculously on fire last night. Now that's a Valentino done right!

2) Kate Winslet - In a black, one shoulder, Yves Saint Laurent gown, our favorite Brit looked elegant and feminine in this dress that hugged every curve in a way you can only dream possible.

3) Jennifer Garner - Mrs. Affleck is the well documented first celebrity client of stylist Rachel Zoe and together they hit it out of the park with this glittering, Atelier Versace number. It seems unbelievable this woman has an infant! While the hair was a bit blah, the gown was enough to honor this ensemble.

4) Courtney Cox - Nominated for Cougar Town, Cox looked as young and fierce as her first day on FRIENDS in this black dress by none other than Victoria Beckham! I love the beaded embellishment at the waist and her hair is absolutely stunning.

5) Jane Krakowski - Part of what would emerge as the "purple trend," Krakowski looked sophisticated and feminine is the jewel toned, J. Mendel gown.

6) Sandra Bullock - Also rocking purple, this Bottega Venetta gown was sheer through the skirt and partly sheer in the back. What a fun surprise! The rich color pumped more energy into this already sparkling actress.

7) Vera Farmiga - Clooney's love interest from Up in the Air donned a black, Dolce & Gabana dress that had applique black roses. Very dainty and elegant.

8) Kate Hudson - While I admit this dress is a bit "out there," I am giving points for originality and the incredibly fit body wearing it! This white gown is by one of my favorite design duos, Marchesa. Although their signature look often includes florals, this gown also had a feminine touch over the neckline. Please ignore the hideous, white, platform pumps.

9) Cory Monteith - Now some love for the fellas! GLEE's sheepishly cute Finn sported a Hugo Boss, black suit and silver tie and looked like awards show perfection. Well done for your first time out, Gleek!

10) Chase Crawford - Although he will always be Nate Archibald to me, I guess the E! red carpet hosts have to call him Chase. Crawford's head to toe Dolce & Gabana look would make Chuck Bass proud. Alarmingly handsome.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on who got it right and who needs a new stylist. Please leave comments on any picks I missed!

For more dish from last night's show, check out my friend's live blog, which she typed while watching the show right next to me on my couch! She's hilarious and this play by play is priceless.

Congratulations to all of the nominees and winners last night. Special shout outs to winners Mo'nique, Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, the cast of the Hangover and the cast of GLEE. Thank you for entertaining us and we look forward to your next move!