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CONTENTS departments 14 currently in boston 14 20 24 shopping 30 maps of cambridge & boston 36 62 36 FEATURES museums 40 What’s Hot in sightseeing Boston Dining 8 48 We’ve got everything you need to know about the great dining city that is Boston—including the hottest restaurants, chefs and trends. restaurant guide Romantic 12 Boston boston in focus Impress your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day with our ideas for an evening of romance. 46 freedom trail PANORAMA’S PICKS Follow the red-brick path Likeness: CURRENT EVENTS: 14 The MUSEUMS: 36 through 16 historic sights Hasty Pudding Man and Woman Portraits of Artists by Other Artists of the Year Awards 20 The at the Institute of Contemporary Beanpot Hockey Tournament at Art SIGHTSEEING: 40 Ice 59 the FleetCenter 22 The 2005 skating at the Charles Hotel in the south end Harvard Square Flamenco Festival SHOPPING: DINING: The Hub’s hip arts and 24 The new Marc Jacobs store 48 33 Restaurant & Lounge on Newbury Street 49 HIGH 5s: Burger Heaven dining destination 61 the north end ON THE COVER: On February 20, THE LION KING must say A taste of Italy here in The Hub goodbye to The Opera House. But there’s still time to share in the magic. Don’t wait 62 until it’s too late. Visit The Opera House box boston confidential office, ticketmaster.com, or call 617-931- • Unearthing the legacy of 2787 for tickets. See ad on page 7 for per- the Boston Tea Party formance schedule and listing on page 22. 63 Wallace Smith as Simba in “Endless Night” from THE LION KING National Tour. theatre district dining ©2004, Disney. Photo credit: Joan Marcus. Great eating before or after the show 4 PANORAMA JANUARY 31–FEBRUARY 13, 2005 5 January 31 to February 13, 2005 PANORAMA, Volume 54, Number 19 Jerome Rosenfeld Chairman Tim Montgomery President/Publisher Christopher Wallenberg Editor Scott Roberto Art/Production Director Christine Celli Associate Editor Kristin K. Carr Design/Production Associate Elizabeth Bridleman Production Assistant Diana Aramburu Editorial Assistant Jacolyn Ann Firestone Vice President, Advertising Dennis Lloyd Sales and Marketing Consultant Rita A. Fucillo Director of Marketing and Public Relations Patrick Manchon Senior Account Executive Jessica Barry Account Executive Peter Ng Information Technology Manager George Ghareeb Technical Consultant Melissa J. O’Reilly Business Manager PANORAMA is published bi-weekly by Jerome Press Publications Inc. Editorial and advertising offices at 332 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210. Telephone (617) 423-3400. Printed in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission of the publisher. PANORAMA is a member of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, The Back Bay Association, The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Boston Concierge Association, the Harvard Square Business Association, the Newbury Street League and the Downtown Crossing Association. PANORAMA is audited by Business Publications Audit of Circulation, Inc., an independent audit bureau recognized by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. PANORAMA is online at www.panoramamagazine.com a magazine affiliate 6 PANORAMA Everything you need to know about the great dining city that is Boston—including the hottest restaurants, chefs, trends and more by Christine Celli and Christopher Wallenberg uzz. It’s a hard thing to create and even harder to capture, particularly in our instant gratification, attention-deficit-disorder society. In Boston’s flour- Bishing dining scene, what’s hot and what’s not can change faster than J. Lo switches husbands. So to compile our Hot List, we’ve ferreted out those restau- rants, culinary artists and food trends that are on everyone’s lips—right now— but that have the staying power to endure beyond their buzz-worthy status. HOT CUISINE: ITALIAN Once upon a time, if you wanted great Italian food, you went straight to the North End. But now there are celebrated Italian eateries all over town, from Via Matta in Park Square to Teatro in the Theater District, and two newcomers have further stoked this fire. Umbria (295 Franklin St., 617-338-1000), which opened with a splash in the Financial District last fall, focuses on the nuances of the oft-over- looked Umbria region of Italy. The impeccable team of Marisa Iocco and Rita D’Angelo execute the more robust, meat-centric Umbrian dishes for hungry diners. in On the other hand, La Morra (48 Boylston St., Brookline, 617-739-0007) reminds us that Tuscany is still a lovely place to be—except perhaps for Atkins dieters. Reunite with pasta made to perfection on a 1940s-era machine or savor the succu- lent roasted meats that have made this northern region of Italy a popular refer- ence for Italian-American chefs for decades. HOT CONCEPTS: SIBLING RIVALRY and MERITAGE Beantown’s now got its own version of TV’s “The Iron Chef.” Brothers Bob and David Kinkead square off in a battle of recipes at Sibling Rivalry (525 Tremont St., 617-338-5338), a high-concept new eatery in the South End. What’s the hook? Each brother creates a dish based around a particular ingredient—be it beets, ginger, clams, cod or whatever else they decide. The results are tantalizing. While Bob uses duck confit to enliven a salad of red cabbage, endive, apple and Roquefort, David fashions an entree of laquered duck meat kissed with port and accompanied by chestnuts, sauteed quince and roasted vegetables. This is one familial food fight you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re an oenophile, a wine novice who wants to learn more or just a fan of the critically acclaimed, hit movie Sideways, you’re sure to love Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel (Rowes Wharf, 617-439-3995). Nationally renowned chef Daniel Bruce has created an ingenious wine and food pairing menu that helps illu- minate and enhance the flavors of both. Diners choose a wine category—sparklers, light whites, fruity reds, robust reds, etc.—then pick one of four corresponding dishes. Both small and large plates are available for each selection, so patrons can experience a number of combinations in one meal. HOT FRENCH: PIERROT BISTROT In 2004, the Hub bid au revoir to two classics in French cuisine—the landmark restaurant Maison Robert, and the legendary chef who brought French cooking into our homes for decades, Julia Child. Fortunately, just when we feared the Eiffel 8 PANORAMA JANUARY 31–FEBRUARY 13, 2005 9 Sure, celebrity sightings in HOT CHEFS After nearly 20 ment for the mouth,” these small, delightful bites, Beantown are hardly HOT HEALTH FOOD: LUCY'S GABRIEL years honing his or mini-appetizers, are meant to whet the palate commonplace, but Fad diets come and go, but some nutri- FRASCA and kitchen skills before the meal begins or cleanse it between when they do happen, tional suggestions persevere. Keep it fresh, PINO MAFFEO under Boston’s courses. And the amuse bouche seems to be Noir (at the Charles keep it low fat. Which is why the varied top chefs— popping up everywhere these days. Of course, it’s Hotel, Cambridge, 617- menu at Lucy’s (242 Harvard St., from Gordon the whim of the chef that will determine what 661-8010) seems to be Brookline, 617-232-LUCY)—which Hammersley to Michael Schlow—Gabriel appears at your table. But Pino Maffeo at L (see the locale. We’re includes everything from pizza and french Frasca (pictured below) finally got his chance sidebar) seems to be having the most fun with guessing it’s the dark, fries to slow-cooked pork and an artisan to shine as executive chef of Spire (refer to the concept.