Fire Power
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Kirkland Tap & Trotter
425 Washington St.,
Somerville, MA 02143
(857) 259-6585
www.kirklandtapandtrotter.com
Whoa, it's Memorial Day already. Summer really snuck up on you, didn't it? So much so, you forgot to make plans to get away from the city, unlike 99.9% of the local population. Instead of creating an elaborate lie involving a Hangover-esque madcap scheme and an insane billionaire sheik, get a leg up on your globe-trotting (or at least, state-trotting) friends by checking out one of this summer's hottest new spots before they do: La Brasa in Somerville.
Meat is This long-awaited dining hall of wood-fired meats come from L'Espalier vet, Chef Daniel Bojorquez. The focus on all things wood is evident as soon as you step inside to take in the interior's gorgeous rough-hewn aesthetic. First, cross under the high beamed ceilings and past the walls of haphazardly slanted wood planks and white-washed brick. Before taking a seat at the rustic wood tables topped with simple white napkins, stop to admire the huge, custom-built fire pits and wood-burning ovens where the flame-mastering chefs roast massive quantities of meat. And it's not just any meat. There are ribs with cilantro chimichurri, harissa-grilled chicken cooled down with yogurt sauce, and zatar-roasted lamb saddle with curry couscous, apricots, and mint. Finally, you'll reach the rolled-steel bar that runs the length of the restaurant to find a seat on vintage bicycle-style leather stools, which give off a dull shine from the factory-like light fixtures. By now, you're pretty thirsty. Luckily, La Brasa's got kegged mezcal cocktails and rum punch for quick refreshment, plus a full cocktail program that includes chile-infused Campari and a cardamom-flavored pisco mixture. The vibe is laid back – plates come out as they're ready, a beaten-up piano dominates one corner, and sporadic plant life adds a little green to the browns and um, other browns of the wooden interior.
More: Boston's Best Boozy Brunches
For the uninitiated, KT&T is the newest restaurant from James Beard Award-winning chef Tony Maws (of Craigie On Main fame), boasting an open kitchen, communal tables, exposed brick and lots of wood. The Kirkland is the rare Boston eatery that takes as much pride in its brunch as its lunch and dinner, offering a breakfastized version of its carnivorous menu every weekend.
More: E.S.P. Eat. See. Play. Boston
Experience the less traditional side of brunch with the spice crusted pork chop with two fried eggs, the grilled Florida shrimp with creamy semolina polenta, or the KT&T hot dog hash with a soft poached egg and hollandaise. It's not all meat and seafood, however, not with whole wheat pancakes with cherry compote and scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms on the menu. Nor is it all about what's on your plate, with a wide variety of creative cocktails and nearly 40 different beers waiting to be consumed.
The food pyramid never looked so good.
By Jesse Husid
