Primetime Emmy Awards 2010

Though not a part of the three months known as "awards season" the primetime Emmy awards is one of my favorite broadcasts because it honors so many of the shows I look forward to watching every week. It also means, in the two hours before the broadcast, E! interviews and dissects the fashion of all the A list celebs on the red carpet.

Let's kick it off by high five-ing the celebs who absolutely murdered it on the red carpet. My top pick of the night is Claire Danes, who is literally glowing in this Armani Prive sequin, column dress. Claire took home a statue for her performance in the HBO mini series Temple Grandin.

Secondly, Heidi Klum. Not only do I adore Project Runway and envy your clear obsession with your husband and family, but damn girl! Do you know how to pick a dress! Heidi is rocking a short, strapless dress by my favorite designer, Marchesa.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus. You have an 18 year old son yet you have the body of an 18 year old. Major props for sporting a Narcisco Rodriguez gown with a sheer empire waist! I also love the hair and the blue earrings. Bravo!

Lea Michele! Glee goes super glam! I love this navy, ruffled Oscar de la Renta gown and this hair and necklace choice is perfection.

Jon Hamm. Can a man look better than this?

Cory Montieth. One word: yum. Both Cory and Jon Hamm wore suits by master designer and tailor, Giorgi Armani.

Not only did this year's primetime Emmy awards deliver some incredible fashion, but the show itself had several highlights. My favorite moments:

- Eric Stonestreet wins for his role as Cam on Modern Family! So well deserved. I cannot wait for season two!
- Steve Levitan wins for writing on Modern Family and gives a hilarious acceptance speech. Par for the course.
- A fantastic George Clooney/Modern Family video package.
- Top Chef wins for best reality competition series! One of my absolute favorites! Padma could not contain her excitement on stage. A stark contrast to her usual game face at judge's table.
- The most fierce "best actor in a drama series" category in years! Hugh Laurie, Jon Hamm, Kyle Chandler, Matthew Fox, Michael C. Hall and the ultimate victor, Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad. I finally added his show to my Netflix queue!
- Jimmy Fallon's musical montage including spoofs of Elton John, Green Day and an epic imitation of Boyz II Men. Classic.
- George Clooney receives the humanitarian award. Does this man have a single flaw?
- Modern Family wins for best comedy! Hurrah!

Did you watch? Who makes your best dressed list? Did your favorite shows win? Who was robbed? (Besides Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton from Friday Night Lights).

A big thank you to Just Jared and Fab Sugar for their excellent photo coverage of the red carpet!

Dining Out: Union Bar and Grille

Tonight I went with two of my best girlfriends to Union Bar and Grille for Restaurant Week. Union is located on Washington Street in the South End. Although I had never been, I heard wonderful things about the restaurant from my cousin, another dining out enthusiast.

Before arriving tonight I tweeted how excited I was to check out this restaurant. I received a reply right away from the restaurant saying they were delighted to be mentioned and would have a booth waiting for us when we arrived. How lovely!

When we walked in, we were greeted by the manger who said, "Are you Molly?" Why yes, yes I am! He said he was thrilled to meet us and walked us to our booth.

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and has a warm, cozy, welcoming atmosphere. The tables are in the center of large, dark leather booths. Butcher paper covers each table and our particular table had a small silver lamp and a single pink rose in a silver vase.

Once seated we were delivered a cast iron skillet of corn bread. It was delicious and the perfect start to the meal.

We perused the Restaurant Week menu and saw they were also offering a wine special. A "flight" of wine, which includes three 3 oz glasses of wine called the Take Off, Mid-Flight and Final Approach. How cute! Between us we had two flights of white wine and one flight of red. Our server (who was FANTASTIC) told us about each wine as he placed it on the table. Its so nice to learn about what you're tasting!

For the first course, two of us tried the arugula, tomato, and grilled corn salad served with zucchini ribbons and fresh herbs. The presentation was beautiful and it was dressed perfectly. We literally cleared our plates. Not a kernel of grilled corn left.

We also tried the peach and golden tomato gazpacho. While it tasted mostly like tomato, it was sweet from the peaches. The texture was unusual for a gazpacho. Probably not something we would order again.

For dinner, we sampled all three options! Starting with the hanger steak served with blue cheese stuffed tomatoes and grilled mashed potatoes. I'm a vegetarian and this meal looked incredible!

We also tried the blue fish served over basmati rice, grilled corn and pickled, sweet onions. While we weren't sure exactly what type of fish blue fish actually is, it got devoured quickly!

I had the fettuccine with spinach and basil leaves in a tomato/onion sauce. It is supposed to come topped with shrimp, but they offered to serve it without the shrimp as a vegetarian alternative. While the pasta and it's sauce were quite delicious, you could tell the dish was lacking a key component (the shrimp in this case). I did see another pasta option on the regular menu I would love to try on my next visit.

For dessert we tried the raspberry spiked brownie with pistachio ice cream and the strawberry ice cream soda. The brownie was warm and decadent and the ice cream and whipped cream were the perfect compliments. Both brownie sundaes literally disappeared.

The ice cream soda garnered the attention of everyone else at the surrounding tables. It was dripping over the sides of the soda glass with pink, frothy goodness. The whipped cream was heavenly and the strawberry soda makes for a sublime summer treat!

As we were finishing our dessert the manager stopped by again to say he would like to treat us to dessert on our next visit. How sweet!

As we got up to leave we all agreed this was one of the best dining out experiences we had ever had. First, the restaurant itself is gorgeous. Secondly, the food was fresh, flavorful and beautifully presented. Lastly, the service was absolutely exceptional. Both the manager and our server went out of their way to make sure we were welcome, comfortable, happy and enjoying our evening.

Thank you Union Bar and Grille team for one of the best nights out I have ever had in Boston. I can't wait to return!

Dining Out: Friendly Toast

Yesterday morning I met a new friend for brunch at the Friendly Toast in Kendall Square in Cambridge. I had heard about the Friendly Toast in the buzz leading up to it's opening. It was covered by all the Boston press and my parents actually checked it out while they were in town in July.

The restaurant is located right in the heart of Kendall Square next to the Cambridge Brewing Company. We arrived at 11:00 a.m. and there was a 15 minute wait. We sat outside in the sunshine waiting for our name to be called.

We were eventually seated at a table in the back room of the restaurant which has floor to ceiling windows along one side. The walls are covered in kitschy knick knacks that look like they were pulled straight from your grandma's basement.

At first glance the menu looked incredible. The brunch offerings alone were fantastic. I was tempted by the pumpkin pancakes and the french toast with raspberries and Grand Marnier. I ultimately decided on an egg dish called the Guy Scramble. Its scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, avocado, black beans and salsa. It was served with home fries and cayenne-cheddar toast. Every single bite of my meal was incredible. I would order that again in a hot minute.

My dining companion ordered a dish called the Ole Miss. It was cayenne-cheddar toast topped with chipotle sweet potato puree, sausage, scrambled eggs and melted cheese. Her plate also came with home fries.

Both of our meals were delicious and I made sure to check out the lunch/dinner menu and those options looked tantalizing as well. I was particularly pleased to see there is an entire section of the menu dedicated to flavors of hot cocoa.

While the service at Friendly Toast is incredibly slow, the atmosphere is fun and the menu is a laundry list of drool-worthy choices for all three meals of the day.

Shop: Boutique Fabulous

When I first graduated from college I moved into a gorgeous apartment in Inman Square. I fell in love with so many local spots walking distance from my place, including the best gift store on the planet, Boutique Fabulous.

Boutique Fabulous is located on Cambridge Street right in the heart of Inman Square. The store is on the same block as East Coast Grill, Christina's Ice Cream and the All Star Sandwich Bar (which I have reviewed). You can spot the shop by it's purple awning.

The owner of Boutique Fabulous, Mara Anka Kustra, has incredible taste. The store offers housewares, home decor, furniture, vintage clothes, jewelry, handbags, stunning paper cards and gifts. Every time I need a birthday gift, housewarming present or want something new and fun for myself this is my first stop.

Yesterday I dropped in looking for birthday cards and gifts for two girlfriends. Not only did I find wonderful presents for them, but I found a little something for myself!

I purchased this beautiful necklace made by Bee Jewelry. It has a long silver chain, two delicate, fabric flowers and large, glistening crystals.

I can already picture wearing this necklace with several of my favorite outfits. I was already in love with the necklace when the store clerk offered to wrap it up. She placed the necklace into this beautiful box with purple tissue paper and a purple ribbon. Love!

If you're in need of a unique, stunning gift, Boutique Fabulous should be your first stop. Mara's taste is unparalleled. Join their email list for promotions, sale information and coupons.

New Discovery: Fiorella's Express

Every Thursday night since I graduated from college I have dinner with one of my best college girlfriends. Two years ago I moved just down the street from her and now our Thursday night dates frequently consist of trying out new places in our neighborhood.

Tonight we decided to order take out from a new Italian place in Oak Square called Fiorella's Express. This is the second location of Fiorella's on North Street in Newtonville.

We had both been left menus in our mail boxes last week so we took a quick look and decided on a few different items. We walked down to pick it up and while this second location is definitely designed for take out and delivery, there are 6-8 small tables where you could sit to eat if you prefer.

To start we had the garlic bread sticks which were toasted, thin strips with exactly the right amount of seasoning. They came with a generous side of marinara sauce for dipping.

We also ordered the Caesar salad which is made with an eggless dressing. The lighter dressing allowed you to eat a bit more salad as it was not as heavy as your typical Caesar. While I could have used more parmesan cheese, I did love the mix of light and dark croutons.

For dinner I tried the fettuccine primavera which had the most delicious pasta (I think it was homemade), mushrooms, onions, broccoli, artichokes, roasted red peppers and a tomato basil sauce. All of the vegetables were incredibly tasty and the tomato basil sauce had a superb flavor. The portion was definitely enough for two people.

My college bestie tried the Mediterranean veggie wrap which is broccoli, artichoke, roasted red peppers, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette in a wheat wrap.

All of the Fiorella's Express food was supremely delicious and classic Italian. The service was excellent (especially the girl who took our order over the phone) and the location is optimal if you live in Brighton Center, Oak Square or Newton Corner.

The next time you need a great meal in a pinch, dial up Fiorella's Express.

Dining Out: Miel

For the past few years every cycle of Restaurant Week I go out with two of my girlfriends. We dress up and we each wear pearl necklaces. Its our own little way of signifying a special occasion and honoring this fun tradition in our friendship.

Tonight we had a reservation at Miel in the Intercontinental Hotel on Atlantic Ave in Boston. The Intercontinental is an absolutely gorgeous hotel. From the moment you walk into the lobby you feel transported. That feeling carries into the two featured restaurants, one of which is Miel.

Miel's decor and menu whisks you away to the French countryside. I think the restaurant is one of the most beautiful in the city.

We were seated at a table right in the window with a view of the outdoor patio and the water. There were some dark clouds overhead so I insisted we sit inside. I would love to go back and dine al fresco!

The Miel Restaurant Week menu offered so many great choices. We started by ordering drinks; a glass of Merlot, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and a white wine sangria. The sangria was perfectly sweet and served with fresh raspberries, blackberries and an orange wedge.

While we waited for the first course to arrive our server brought a basket of warm olive bread. I had to stop myself after two pieces.

For the first course we tried the salmon tartare which had a beautiful presentation:

The clam chowder which was rich, creamy and very filling:

And a house salad (a last minute vegetarian substitution) that had fresh greens, juicy tomatoes, crisp green beans, artichokes and a creamy balsamic dressing. Everyone was happy with their selection and practically licked their plates!

For the entree course we all ordered the artichoke gnocchi served with zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms and shaved asiago cheese. While the portion was extremely small, every bite was heavenly. The gnocchi was soft and flavorful and the vegetables were expertly cooked.

For dessert, two of us had the flourless chocolate cake which was served with two dollops of white chocolate mouse and a raspberry glaze on the plate. The other dessert was a cheese plate offering several varieties of cheese, a chutney, and a few crackers and crisps.

The meal at Miel was divine and the atmosphere was so tranquil that we didn't want to get up! The chairs are wide arm chairs and lend themselves to ultimate relaxation.

On our way out we asked the hostess if she would take our photo (part of the tradition) and not only did she agree, but she encouraged us to stand in front of the fireplace, she took a vertical shot, a horizontal shot and a close up! What service!

I highly recommend Miel for a date, a meal when the parents are in town or a celebratory occasion.