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[friendlytravels]

The Batman (Reeves, 2022)

In this new iteration of everyone’s favorite DC superhero, Robert Pattinson plays a Batman that is closer to Edward Cullen than it’s ever been—a troubled, emo orphan looking for vengeance. His main antagonist is an eerily-close-to-reality Riddler, played by an always awesome Paul Dano.

Gotham is truly gothic, the score is fantastic, and Zoe Kravitz steals the show. My favorite parts were the fight scenes in the dark, in which you see glimpses of beautiful choreography.

The movie feels more like a thriller than an action movie, and it is an interesting departure from the Nolan saga. At almost three hours it was a bit too long though.

Eagerly awaiting the sequel, I give it 8.2/10.

#E&M #Borg

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Asia Cuisine [Ithaca, NY]

If this was available in Concord, we would get it every week. Featured are kimchi chicken stir fry (right) and broccoli in brown sauce (left). Cheap, generous, and delicious—but remember, you can only get a balanced meal if you adopt the Korean dining culture, which is to share the dishes! A

(Also featured: Matías, still *shook* from The Batman and sipping miso soup in search of composure)

#E&M

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Archimedes [Cambridge, MA]

The Italian areas of Switzerland were likely first settled by the Celts before, during the time of Jesus’ birth and death and under Cesar Augustus, they became part of the Roman Empire. Its fall brought about the changing of the guard multiple times: from the Visigoths to the Franks before falling under the influence of the Duke of Milan in the 12th century, and later, incorporated into the Swiss Confederates.

It is this multicultural medley—Celtic, Roman, German, French, and Italian—that inspires Boston’s hottest culinary couple: Thalía Gerzsò and Gabriele Albertini. Mix Albertini’s Swiss-Italian flavors with Gerzsò’s French-inspired Mexican décor and it’s not hard to understand why Vogue Magazine named Archimedes one of America’s must-visit restaurants of 2022.

Nestled into the corner of Otis and First and only a short stroll from Cambridge Crossing’s budding beer scene, Archimedes styles itself as European “chic a la cozy.” “The restaurant experience has become too impersonal,” Gerszò told us over white wine (a lovely Vouvray from the Loire valley in her native France) as the sun set over the Charles and customers started to pour in. One of the hottest seats in town, Archimedes is usually booked months in advance, but “sometimes we do get cancellation,” Gerszò said, so it’s always worth a call. Her vision is to offer the experience of a lovely, perfectly cooked meal at the stylish home of a friend. “We want people to relax, to feel fashionable, and to feel like they belong.” It doesn’t hurt that her husband, a former Cornell and Harvard-educated engineer turned chef, crafts a delicious, innovative menu rooted in the soul of Mediterranean cuisine.

Gerzsò, herself a former human rights lawyer, says that she “went from helping people get citizenship to helping citizens from all walks of life come together over a lovely meal.” “Thalía loves helping people,” Gabriele added, “and I love making them happy.” Albertini thinks of his food like the physics he studied in the Ivy League. “It’s all about measurement and proportion,” he says. “The end result can be beautiful. But it takes a lot of passion and hard work.”

Our aperitif was a boldly balanced Revolver cocktail: 2-1 Rittenhouse Rye and Mr. Black coffee liqueur, sweetened with two dashes of orange bitters and a flamed orange peel. For dinner we had the the Poulet Rôti with local fingerling potatoes and a punchy béarnaise sauce. The chicken was a succulent, tender, buttery, bacony delight. The potatoes were crisp yet melted in your mouth. And for desert, the pièce de résistance: a carrot cake brought by Peter and Tony from Whole Foods that had nuts and almost killed Jake. “Are American food allergies even real?,” Albertini asked with his trademark smile. Such is the authentic, earthy, old-world feel of the place. A true continental treasure.

Five stars.

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La Saison [Cambridge, MA]

If you're looking for some of the best croissant crumbs in town, this is the place! It has everything. Proximity to Fresh Pond. Lots of customers demanding your attention. Nice staff, generous with doggy biscuits. Excellent coffee to keep your owners busy while you enjoy the crumbs.

A+

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Argos Warehouse [Ithaca, NY]

This drink is called Fish House Punch. Jamaican rum, brandy, peach liqueur, lemon, demerara, and angostura bitters, nutmeg. Delicious. Plus some awkward first-date conversations around us to accompany brief moments of silence. A minus.

#E&M

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Overpriced -but decent- continental breakfast

Went to Tatte so we could experience some European delicacies. Although the place screams «I am a millenial addicted to Peloton and avocado toasts», Tatte has the decency to call a pain au chocolat a pain au chocolat (and not this chocolate croissant bullshit).

The Paul Hollywood of coffee -aka Gabriele Albertini - declared that the coffee was too nutty. He appreciated the millenial aesthetic, however.

A- T&G

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The Heights [Ithaca, NY]

Never knew a place like this existed! Fancy schmancy. The waiter was a bit too annoyingly attentive, but I guess he was just doing his job. Good food, good wine. Skip the chocolate cake! And prepare for a morning of deep regret with a protruding belly. A minus.

#E

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Ciao [Ithaca, NY]

Went with Alex and Young. Alex devoured his plate of chicken parmesan in five minutes. The rest of us mortal souls finished our massive plates of pasta half an hour later. Watched some interesting Korean election videos. I’d give it a B plus.

#E&M

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P&J's galley kitchen [Cambridge, MA]

A long, venerable Italian tradition says that pizzas should be circular. New Yorkers, likewise, call a pizza a pie because of its roundness. What's useful about a circle, those ancient Roman chefs realized centuries ago, was that the shape allows you to cut nice, potentially equal, triangular pieces that are (for the most part) easily held, or folded, and eaten. Yum.

This new, snazzy, stylish, against-the-grain American-Italian fusion kitchen breaks that mold. What might seem like the chef's raging inability to shape dough is actually intentional. The result: pizzas in the hip, definitely-not-a-mistake shape of Khazakhstan. The flavors: Prosciutto e Arugula and beef/mushroom/onion. The rating: 2.98/5.

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Thompson & Bleeker [Ithaca, NY]

Awesome food, but sat right next to a “cool” undergrad couple that said—literally every two minutes—“that’s naaaasty,” “LOL SHUT UPPP,” and “oh my gawwwd.” Like two reaction bots. Straight B.

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Ithaca Bakery [Ithaca, NY]

Went to get breakfast. The person at the counter could not get my name right. “What’s your name?” “Eun A.” “Eva?” “Ooooona.” “Can you spell that?” “E-u-n-a.” Proceeds to write LUNA. Coffee was mediocre. That’s a C.

#E&M

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The Rook [Ithaca, NY]

Pierogies on a bed of sautéed red cabbage. Winter salad with goat cheese and caramelized almonds. Fried chicken with collard greens. Lucky hare London gentleman. A solid A minus.

#E&M

[friendlytravels]

a bowl next to the fireplace at P&J's apt

Ordered the Kibbles. Hill's Gastrointestinal Biome. Tasted INCREDIBLE. Best meal I've ever had and unlike anything else I've ever tasted. Five stars.

[friendlytravels]

Sofra Bakery & Cafe [Cambridge, MA]

Went with Paulii. Lots of Cambridge moms there. They also sell spices and olive oil. Next to us, two HBS students, bro and chick, carried on an appallingly inauthentic, trying-to-be-cool/kill me conversation that not only ruined the eating experience but likely the next 2-3 weeks of my life and any remaining faith I had in humanity. I don’t want to say it was worse than the invasion of Ukraine, but, I won’t not say it. Food was excellent btw.